My Inner Shakti

finding strength in everyday things

2022 – Midyear Review

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In the corporate world, regular reviews/check-ins with your boss are both necessary and required. The midyear review is a point of reflection to look at goals, accomplishments, and all that’s left to do.

Since I don’t have a corporate job at the moment, I thought I’d do a little midyear check-in on this blog. If nothing else, it’s a great way for me to reflect on the year so far!

So far in 2022…

  • We got Covid!
  • My BIL got married
  • Kaiden turned 5
  • I launched my very own coaching business
  • I co-launched a podcast (!!)
  • Kaiden and Mila got their first Covid vaccines!
  • The most exciting one for me by far is seeing Kaiden grow and transform this year. When we first moved to Atlanta, he had a really hard time. Now, he’s super talkative, friendly, open, and somewhat willing to try new things (ha!). He has the biggest heart and is just so loving and kind. He’s the best big brother and is just the sweetest with Mila. Obviously, kids are like moving targets, but I truly love being this boy’s mama and can’t wait to see what the next six months bring for him!

In terms of goals, I didn’t set specific ones for the year, but overall, I started with the world ‘try’ in mind. I didn’t want the fear of the unknown to keep me from new experiences. I also wanted to continue working on my health and fitness and my parenting. All super broad but that’s the general gist.

I’m happy to report that I’ve tried a lot of new things so far this year…

  • Swapping out my stable corporate job for the momprenuer life and Awarify Coaching
  • Launching a podcast with my friend and fellow professional coach, Amy Galvin
  • Pushing myself on the Peloton and trying to break previous records and increase my strength and overall fitness over time
  • Really trying to take a more child centered approach with both Kaiden and Mila. By no means am I saying that we make them the center of our world, but more so, trying to understand their perspectives before diving into my own. Slowing down, doing one thing at a time, and staying as rested as possible helps.

From a friends and family perspective, the first half the year has proven to be a lot of fun. We’ve spent tons of time with family and close friends – dinners, birthday parties, game nights. It’s so hard to coordinate schedules, but we do what we can with who we can when we can. Life is too short to wait for the right/best time. Figure out who you want to spend time with, make that time, and then spend it. New life motto!

From a travel perspective, we haven’t made many moves yet. We had our family of four vacay to FL in May, Vishnu and I went to South Carolina for a friend’s wedding in June, and I’m currently in California visiting my grandparents. We have a few fun things coming up in the next couple of months. It’s not the world travel we were imagining last year, but it’s something and it’s with people we love, so there’s that!

The rest of the year will go by in a flash I know it!

We have…

  • Kaiden’s pre-K graduation
  • The start of kindergarten
  • My sister’s baby coming soon!!!
  • Mila starting daycare (we think)
  • A girls’ trip (for me)
  • A couples’ trip to FL with friends
  • Disney with Kaiden
  • Mila’s first birthday (how?!)

I think my words for the second half of 2022 are going to be ‘breathe, relax, and enjoy.’ Life is moving at warp speed and sometimes I let this overwhelm me. This in turn doesn’t help me be the best version of myself for anyone, so I’m going to try my very best to ground myself in whatever’s happening around me and really be there…soaking it all in like a sponge. Now is all we have anyways, right?

Currently – June 2022

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Taking it back to really old school blogging with this post! Sharing a few of my current favorite reads, listens, foods, etc.

Currently reading

I just finished Book Lovers and absolutely adored it! I’m currently reading Every Summer After and really enjoying how the story is unfolding. Two great summer reads!

Currently listening to

Podcasts! And lots of them! But my current favorites are Good Inside with Dr. Becky, We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle, and Healthy in Real Life with the Fitnessista.

Currently eating…

Berries – blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. Can’t get enough!

Yogurt bowls – Full-fat Greek yogurt, cinnamon, peanut butter, mix of berries, and Purely Elizabeth chocolate hazelnut granola. SO SO SO GOOD!

Egg toast – toasted bread, Greek yogurt cream cheese, fried egg, and Sriracha. Could eat this every day and not grow tired of it!

Currently watching

Believe it or not…nothing! This is Us just finished, and we also finished the Ozarks recently. I’m kind of enjoying our TV free nights (and getting to bed earlier!).

Currently looking forward to

Kaiden’s 5th birthday party and his actual birthday! He’s been talking about it for months, and I’m so excited to celebrate my sweet boy! Five really seems to be a turning point for us. He’s a much better listener, he’s able to communicate in a gentler way (most of the time), and he’s just so so affectionate and sweet (especially with me!). And not to mention some of the things he says…just hilarious.

I’m also looking forward to launching a PODCAST! My friend and fellow coach Amy and I are doing the dang thing and starting a new exciting project together. I can’t wait to share more! The trailer will be up in mid-July and the first episode will be ready for your ears at the end of July. AHHH!

Almost 5 years ago! Can’t believe it!

Currently thinking about

Intrusive thoughts! I have so many tools at my disposal to combat and work through unhelpful thoughts, and yet I find intrusive thoughts so hard to get rid of. These are hypothetical thoughts that take me down rabbit holes that are super dark and grim. Not fun at all.

My currently strategy is to remind myself that everything is ok right now and take as many deep breaths as I need. Any and all strategies take practice and repetition, so I’m working on it. It’s definitely better than it was a few months ago, but I’d like to not even go there if at all possible.

Currently trying

Daily stretching and a nightly sleep meditation. I use the Peloton app for both and absolutely love all the classes. I could definitely use a bit more zen (see above) and these two (almost) daily practices are helping.

Currently dreading

This heat wave we’re experiencing. It is BRUTAL! I used to go for daily walks with Mila round noon, and now we don’t leave the house. It’s super hot and uncomfortable, and I’d definitely need another shower if I attempted outdoor walks right now.

Currently wearing

Joggers and tees of course! But other than that, I found a few comfy summer dresses at Old Navy (dress 1, dress 2, and dress 3) that I’m loving. And I’m also loving the Lululemon stuff I picked up earlier this year and a few weeks ago. Vishnu got me a sizeable gift card for my 37th birthday, but then I got pregnant and decided to wait before buying anything. I’m not a Lulu shopper, so I stuck with basics like leggings, a sweatshirt (can’t find a link) and these really comfortable back in action tees that feel like butter!

Well, that’s all I’ve got for now! Hope you’re all currently doing well!

June 2022 – Happenings and Goals

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How are we almost half way through 2022? And how we been Georgia residents (again) for almost a year? Craziness!

The year is speeding by for many reasons, mostly because we have two kids I think. It’s like what they say. When you’re in the day to day grind, time slows down a little. Then when you step back and take a more macro view, you can’t believe how fast it’s all going!

June happenings

It’s also probably going quickly because we have so many big things happening (and a few that have already happened). For one, my BIL’s wedding was this past weekend! Ya’ll, this wedding was two years in the making (they pushed it forward because of Covid), so it felt extra special. Great fun was had by all! However, by the end of it, Vishnu and I were both ready to get the kids back to a routine! Exhausted doesn’t even begin to describe how we felt.

And next up, specifically this month, we have my sister’s baby shower, which will be so fun! I’m extra excited because my two aunts (mom’s younger sisters) will be in town for it, and it’s been over two years since we’ve seen them (maybe even longer!). I’m in charge of games for the shower, and I have a few good ones ready to go. I’ll share more after this weekend as to not ruin the surprise for my sister and BIL!

After that, Vishnu and I will be headed to Hilton Head for his med school friend’s wedding/receptions. You guys have no idea how excited I am to have 48 hours to relax and know that my kids will be well taken care of (each set of grandparents is taking a kid). On the flip side, I’m also a little nervous because this will be the first time I’ll be away from Mila for more than a night. The first time was when I landed back in the hospital a week after giving birth. I keep telling myself it’ll all be ok. Vishnu and I need this time!

And THEN…we have the main event for June…my little boy’s 5TH BIRTHDAY PARTY! I can’t believe he’s almost 5! This is the first big party we’re having that he’ll actually remember, so I’m super excited. We’re going with a Paw Patrol theme…I’ll share more afterwards. It’s going to be emotional for sure!

Other than that, I’m still wrapping my head around how hot it is already! It’s 90+ degrees in Atlanta most days of the week now! I’ll take this over a Chicago winter any day though. I always say, it’s so much easier to peel layers off versus pile them on!

June goals

  1. Really delve into mine and Chitra’s next book club book – Influence. I actually read this back in 2009 in business school and have been wanting to reread for a while now. Funny side story – I only realized this was the same book after I finished the first chapter. But it’s all good because this book is a great read from a business perspective.
  2. Read a fiction book. Hoping to dig into something when we go to Hilton Head. Saturday during the day is pretty free, so you bet this mama is going to park her butt on a pool chair (hopefully with a beverage in hand) to read!
  3. Find some summery clothes! I have a VERY minimal summer wardrobe since I was pretty pregnant last summer! Need to find some staple pieces stat!
  4. That being said, this month I want to clean out and declutter every closet in our home. The plan is to donate everything that no longer fits/that we no longer need or want. Wish me luck!
  5. I don’t know if this one will get done this month, but I need new professional photos! I found a local photographer so now I just need to schedule the time. This also means I need to get some new clothes for said pictures. So maybe I need to figure out #3 first! I’m ok with pushing this one back to July/August too. We’ll see…
  6. And of course, I’m still going to continue with my forever goals of moving every day (intentional 4-5 times a week), drinking half my body weight or more in water, cutting back my time on social media, meditating daily, and going to bed by 10 pm.

Phew! That’s all I’ve got for now. I hope your June is equal parts fun and chill. Here’s to being almost halfway through 2022!

Friday Stuff [#4]

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Helllllooo Friday! Thought you’d never get here! I’m excited for this weekend because it’s the first after Vishnu started fellowship. He’s been working a lot this week, so it’ll be nice to spend time as a family.

With that, let’s get to it. Fittingly, this is my 4th Friday Stuff post, and I have four things to share.

The Baby-Sitters Club on Netflix

Stop what you’re doing and watch this show! If you were a fan of the books growing up, this one is a must. I LOVE it, as demonstrated by the fact that I finished season one in two days!

The cast is perfect, the story lines aren’t too over the top or cheesy, and the modern twists are fun.

Question for you guys – who was your favorite character growing up? I’m nothing like her but I loved Claudia. She was so spunky and fun. But if we’re talking about who I was most like, it’s definitely Kristy (minus the tomboy part).

First week of fellowship

For Vishnu, this week has been busy and hard. He leaves the house no later than 6:45a and gets home between 5:30-7:15p. This is a very big change from his residency schedule the past few months, and while I miss him, I know he’s going to love the experience and that it’s going to set him up for success.

As far as K and I are concerned, we’re doing good. We have a morning routine we follow, and if it’s just the two of us, an evening one too. So far, I’m loving 3! Kaiden is so funny and his antics always make me laugh (for the most part). And I’m very lucky that he’s eager to go to school in the mornings. If that wasn’t the case, the whole thing would be super hard and a little miserable!

Nightgowns

Every time I got to my sister’s place, I end up online shopping after seeing her purchases. That’s exactly what happened after she showed me the Costco nightgowns she bought recently.

Our room has been super hot lately, and I don’t help the situation by wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt every night. I thought maybe these gowns would help me stay cooler. We shall see!

Tatcha SPF

I love my Drunk Elephant SPF, but I wanted to try something new for every day use. I know this is a bit on the pricier side, but I’m ok with spending a little more on skincare, since I don’t spend much in other categories (especially right now).

I went with Tatcha because it’s a clean brand known for really good products. And I have super sensitive skin, so I have to really careful about what I use. I’ve worked too hard to get my skin to the point it’s at right now!

I’ll share more thoughts once I’ve actually used this, but I’m hoping it’s nothing but great!

Well, that’s all she wrote! Hope y’all have a great Friday and weekend. 🙂

Friday Stuff [#3]

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Well, quarantine life put a hold on my random Friday posts. Hopefully I can be a bit more regular with these but no guarantees!

With that TGIF, amiright?! It’s been a good week, but I’m ready for the weekend and some quality time with Kaiden. He’s just SO FUN right now. As always, his cuteness almost always makes up for his outbursts. Almost!

Anyways, lets get to some Friday stuff…

Birthday Plans

It’s Kaiden’s birthday on Monday! Woo hoo! I feel like three is a big deal because he finally gets it…kind of! Since we cancelled our original plans for a party at his soccer school, we’re keeping it low key but also incorporating some of his favorite things into the day. First, Vishnu and I are going to blow up like 50 balloons and leave them all over our living room floor so he wake up to a pool of balloons! We got him a couple of gifts (more Magnatiles + dinosaur figurines). I’m going to order some delicious cupcakes, we’ll probably go to the park, we may watch Frozen or Coco, and finally, we’re going to do an immediate family birthday Zoom call. I CAN’T WAIT!

Gym Membership

I cancelled my gym membership last week. I’m so so so sad, but I really don’t see myself going to a gym anytime soon. More than me getting sick from going, I feel like with a kid in daycare and a doctor husband, I should probably avoid places where I’m in super close proximity to people while breathing hard. Like I said, it pained me to have to do this because I LOVED the classes, the facility, the instructors, etc. It was my dream gym in that sense.

What am I going to do instead? Home workouts (YouTube + Peloton) and hopfully some running + walking…

Lunchtime Walks

I workout during my lunch hour, so I do a home workout for 30 minutes and then I quickly head out for about 20 minutes of fast paced walking around our neighborhood. It’s so nice to breathe in some fresh air while getting my steps in.

Books

I’m almost done with The Whole Brained Child, and I can’t wait to share more. It’s probably one of the best parenting books I’ve read (and I’ve read a few!).

Next up will be So You Want to Talk About Race. I’ve heard so many great things, and I can’t wait to delve in. And then it’ll probably be Well Behaved Indian Woman. Fun fact – I know the author! She’s also from Atlanta, and my best friend is one of her closest childhood friends. I’m so excited for Saumya and can’t wait to read her book!! I also downloaded Maybe You Should Talk to Someone on my Kindle, so that will be consumed at some point!

Headbands

Headbands are my new favorite accessory. They take my hair from greasy and unwashed to sleek and styled. I wash my hair 1-2 times a week, and for those days where you just need to put it up, headbands give your look a little pizzazz. I’m telling you, this is a trend worth jumping on! I can’t take all the credit though. My sister got me hooked with her leopard print headbands, and then I got these solid ones. LOVE!

Pedicure

I got my first pedicure in over 6 months, and IT. WAS. GLORIOUS! My salon took a lot of precautions so I felt ok going in – a mask requirement, hand sanitizer up walking in, and barriers between all the stations as well as between you and the nail technician.

AND THAT IS ALL SHE WROTE! Hope you guys have a great Friday and weekend. 🙂

No portion of this post is sponsored.  However, affiliate links are included. There is no extra cost to you, but I do receive a small commission on anything you buy through my links.  Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!

High 5 on a Friday

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Guys, how is it already January 17, 2020!? It’s really wigging me out with how fast this year is already flying by! And honestly, when I look at my calendar, it doesn’t look like it’s stopping any time soon!

Anyway, let’s get right to it – my five things this Friday…

One

My sister and I are headed to LA next weekend to visit my grandparents, and I could not be any more excited – to see them and spend some quality time with my sister! We don’t have any major plans…just trying to squeeze in some authentic Mexican food! My grandparents live with my aunt and uncle, so it’ll be so nice to spend some time with them too.

Unfortunately, I’m not taking Kaiden with me. He’ll get some good old quality time with his dada. I originally wanted to, but then thought against it when I realized I would have to do everything on my own. Of course, my sister would be there, but I don’t expect her to wake up two hours early (time difference) with us or go comfort a crying Kaiden in the middle of the night like I would of Vishnu. Not to mention all of his stuff, etc., etc. This would not allow for optimal quality time with my grandparents, and that’s the whole reason for the trip. Maybe I’ll regret this decision once I’m there, but I’m thinking it’ll be a-ok!

ALSO, on a related but separate note, I’ll finally get to try Nishi Mami’s Cookie’s when I’m in LA! I placed my order with the other day, and I’m so excited to do a taste test with the family! More to come!

Two

I owe you guys a 2020 reading/book update! I’m deep into the Nicholas Sparks’ book that I didn’t actually read (returned the other one to the library), and I’m really like it. It’s called Two by Two, and it’s a little different than his past books. Still very romantic and dramatic, but it has a different/normal feel to it. I’ll share more when I’m done!

Speaking of the library, two of the books I placed holds on are ready for pickup – The Next Person You Meet in Heaven and Ghosted! I’m so excited, but also a little nervous because this means I need to get my read on and fast! Maybe this is the fire I needed under my butt to make nightly reading a priority.

Three

Vishnu and I never got K a Christmas present. That was very intentional. He got so many new toys from his grandparents, so it was a little unnecessary. My BIL and his fiancé got K a set of these Manve magnetic tiles. Kaiden did really well with them at first, and then he was getting increasingly frustrated every time they stuck to one another. It was getting to the point where I just had to hide them. I then noticed that K played with Magnatiles at school, so I asked his teacher if he gets upset when they fall apart or when things don’t go his way. Of course, he’s at school so he’s an angel. Ha! I asked Vishnu if he thought K would do better with actual Magnatiles, and he said, “Let’s find out.” So we got him this set and called it his belated Christmas gift. He still gets frustrated but not as much. I can that a win! Now Vishnu and I can play with the other set… 🙂

Four

I’ve talked about it a bit on Instagram, but Kaiden has been LOVING his weekly soccer class. We went to a free ‘tryout’ class when he was 18 months, and it was a disaster. But now? He runs around on his own and sometimes doesn’t even need or ask for us!

It’s kind of cool to see your kid excel and enjoy something without you having to push it. We’ll see how long this lasts, but for now, I really enjoy watching him concentrate, laugh, and have fun on Sunday mornings.

FIVE

I recently shared a post on Instagram about my workout system. Essentially, what I fall back on when motivation isn’t quite enough. If you recall, I shared a fitness challenge I did with my friends a while back. Well, now I’m doing that same challenge but with Vishnu, my sister, my BIL, my other BIL, and his fiancé. It’s a family affair!

Essentially, we have to get at least 12 workouts in every month. A workout = 30 minutes of intentional activity. You can’t double up. If you don’t get 12 in, you owe each person who does $5. Simple!

Hoping this, along with my system, keeps me accountable all year long!

Tell me…what are you reading right now? I’m building out my 2020 list and want to include some good reads this year!

No portion of this post is sponsored.  However, affiliate links are included. There is no extra cost to you, but I do receive a small commission on anything you buy through my links.  Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!

The Post That Was Supposed to Go Out on Friday…

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If the title of this post doesn’t speak to the state of my mind right now, I don’t know what does. Edited to be in the right tense!

You guys, the past few months have been so go-go-go.  And while we’ve had some downtime, I still feel like I’m constantly playing catch up.  But that’s how this season of life goes I suppose.  Anyone else with me?

Anyways, I could go on and on about how fast this year flew by, but I’ll spare you.  Let’s get to my five things for today…

ONE – We’re headed to Atlanta this Friday, and I can’t wait!  This year will be extra special because Vishnu will actually be joining us.  K and I will still fly down a little earlier, but that’s just a minor detail!  In addition to squeezing in some quality family time, I have plans to see some of my good girl friends too!  Like I said, I CAN’T WAIT!!

TWO – So that brings me to NYE. While K is still far too young to stay up until midnight, we found a solution to our ‘how do we celebrate this holiday in a fun way with a toddler in tow.’  A group of us (four couples) are renting a big house in Chicago.  All of us have two-year-old boys, so this is going to be a total blast!  The boys all go to sleep at the same time, so once they’re down, the adults can do their thing.  A win for everyone!

THREE – My work’s Chicago holiday party was last Thursday, and I co-organized it with another colleague of mine.  Let me start off my saying that I’m not an events person.  I can’t even organize a proper four person get together, never mind a 30 person one.  BUT, with that being said, it turned out beautifully.  The food was delicious, the overall mood was festive and fun, and most importantly, everyone had a great time.  Phew!

FOUR – I need to do a full review of this thing, but the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer Hot Air Brush (that’s a mouthful) is my favorite hair tool of all time.  It took me like a month of using it to finally figure out how to dry my hair smooth, but it works!  If you’re looking to put something on your Christmas list, this should be it.  You won’t regret it…and it’s currently on sale on Amazon!

FIVE – Kaiden had his first school performance last Friday, and I was stoked!  I loved seeing my little guy sing Jingle Bells and dance. This was the best holiday party to date that we’ve had at his school. Probably because he’s older now and has more fun himself!

HAPPY FRIDAY AND WEEKEND!

No portion of this post is sponsored.  However, affiliate links are included. There is no extra cost to you, but I do receive a small commission on anything you buy through my links.  Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!

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