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Our Family’s Covid-19 Experience + What Helped with Loss of Smell/Taste

written by Parita 2 Comments

After nearly two years of doing everything possible to avoid Covid, it entered our lives/home.

Let me start with the punchline – the anticipation of the virus was much worse (for us) than the actual experience of having it. Again, this was our experience, but I know it varies for everyone.

And just for the record – Vishnu and I are both double vaccinated and boosted. Kaiden and Mila are not yet vaccinated.

What our Covid days looked like, except we were masked throughout (this was taken this past week)!

How it started…Vishnu…

Vishnu came home from work on a Friday and said he didn’t feel too good*. All the flags went up. Since he was a little symptomatic, he took a rapid test but it came back negative. He still didn’t feel good the next day, so we scheduled a PCR test. The results came back on Monday morning…negative.

Given these results and the fact that the rest of us felt ok, we assumed Vishnu had a bad cold.

*Body aches, headache which then progressed to a mild cough, cold, etc.

Vishnu didn’t test positive (on an at home rapid) until Thursday.

And then there was Kaiden…

And then on Wednesday, when I picked Kaiden up from school, he told his brain hurts (headache?). Again, all the flags went up, but seemed ok otherwise, so I wasn’t too worried.

That night, Kaiden woke up crying and super warm. I took his temperature – 101.2. I gave him some Tylenol and put him back to bed.

The next morning, I had Kaiden taken a rapid test, and it came back positive before the control line even showed up. Oy vey!

I took Kaiden’s temperature regularly on Thursday and Friday, and it peaked at 99.8, so Wednesday night was the worst of it for him. No cold, no cough…nothing!

Although he was ok physically during the day, Kaiden did start waking up in the middle of the night after testing positive. Some nights he’d cry a little and fall back asleep, and other nights he’d be inconsolable for like 10 minutes. I really think this has some thing to do with Covid because 1. it definitely wasn’t happening before and 2. after asking about this on IG, a few people said they experienced something similar with their kids. He still occasionally wakes up, so we’re keeping an eye on him for now. I may bring this up with his pediatrician if it continues for longer than a month or so.

And then there was me…

My experience was also mild but a little strange. I took two rapid tests at home after we learned that Kaiden tested positive. The last one I took was on Saturday, and it came back negative. So I assumed I was superhuman and avoided the virus altogether.

But something told me these were false negatives because while I didn’t have any crazy symptoms, I did have a slightly runny nose and a tickle in my throat (that later led to me losing my voice a little).

So, I signed up for a PCR test at CVS that Monday. The results came back the next day…POSITIVE. I knew it!

My symptoms didn’t get any worse/prominent until I lost my sense of taste and smell that Saturday (over two weeks after being exposed to Vishnu). I’ll get to that in a minute.

And then there was Mila…

The biggest silver lining in this whole ordeal was that Mila (and Kaiden) didn’t show a single symptom at all. In fact, she was her smiley happy self the whole time.

After talking to her pediatrician and my sister (who’s a pediatrician), we decided not to get her tested, as the assumption was she probably had it and was asymptomatic.

Precautions

As you can imagine, taking any sort of precautions with a 4.5 and 3 month old was hard. We did the best we could, especially up until learning I was positive too. We wore masks at all times, I tried to disinfect major areas/surfaces, and most importantly, we kept Kaiden away from Mila (the hardest part).

The first few days were the toughest, but Kaiden mostly understood. All I can say is thank goodness for PBS! My boy watched a ton of TV those 10 days, but we got through it. We survived!

Loss of taste and smell

So like I said, I lost my sense of taste and smell almost a week after testing positive via a PCR test. It was the strangest experience, and I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to do it justice. But it really felt like it was there one minute and gone the next. In fact, my best friend and her family came over on Saturday, and we had Thai food for dinner. I could definitely taste what I ate.

However, that night before bed as I was going through my skincare routine, I noticed that I couldn’t smell my face serum (which has a very strong scent). I took the bottle over to Vishnu and asked him to smell. He said he could definitely smell it. I then tried to smell different things in the bathroom and nothing. It was completely gone!

The next morning, I tried a spoonful of PB to check my sense of taste and again nothing. It literally felt like creamy goo in my mouth. I even went as far as putting sriracha on my tongue. I definitely got a hint of spice but nothing that I needed a glass of water for or anything like that.

Later that night (Sunday), I talked to my friend who’s an ENT, and she suggested starting a high dose zinc supplement (which I got from Sprouts) and trying smell therapy.

What is smell therapy you ask? My friend told me to deeply inhale/smell either vinegar or coffee beans (not ground coffee) for 1-2 minutes 1-2 times a day. She said to really imagine what I know vinegar to smell like for the entire 1-2 minutes.

I started the zinc on Sunday and the smell therapy on Monday, and by Wednesday evening, I had my senses back, except for PB, which still tasted like crap until Thursday evening.

I was really nervous I was to lose these sense for the long haul, especially after reading about some people’s experiences online. I count my lucky stars for smart doctor friends and the fact that my experience was less than a week long.

How we’re doing now

I’m happy to report that everyone’s back on track!

Kaiden even went back to school for three days before we got a phone call that another kid in his class tested positive. For us, that means he can’t go back for five days, which puts us at Tuesday.

While we physically fared ok this time around, the mental games this virus plays with you is something else. I was so scared for Mila and even Kaiden. It was also stressful being at home with two kids who needed me in different ways. Thankfully, Vishnu was either off or working from home most of that time.

Bottomline

While this is definitely a nerve wracking time for parents, please don’t freak out until you have to. Don’t put yourself through the virus twice – once in your head and then when it happens IRL. Kids really are faring well with this variant, and while a positive outcome can’t be guaranteed, know that it’s largely out of your control at this point. This is the advice I would’ve gave myself a few weeks ago if I could’ve!

Written on January 28, 2022 Related:COVID-19, Uncategorized

Friday Stuff [#7]

written by Parita Leave a Comment

It’s been a while since I’ve come on here and just shared…stuff. Like all the stuff – thoughts, plans, things, etc. That’s what this post is all about. Get excited!

So first and foremost, we’re doing well. Chicago and the state of Illinois are a bit of a Covid mess, but we’re doing ok. We don’t go anywhere, except the grocery store and to school (and Vishnu goes to the hospital), and we have no plans other than staying home for Thanksgiving. We’re ok. Not great, not completely down…just ok.

I say this because I feel like a lot of people are probably where we are right now. Usually around this time of year, we’d be going home to Atlanta or having family fly up to see us. None of that. But we’re still blessed with all that we have so trying to keep the focus on that this year.

I do have this heightened anxiety that K’s school and/or classroom is going to shut down because of Covid. Every time I get an email from his school, I go into panic mode. I’m not nervous about having him home with me (ok, maybe a little) but more so about him not being in the school environment. He loves it and thrives in it. Being at home with your working mom isn’t quite the same thing. But we’ll deal with that if/when we get there. Deep breaths!

And while I don’t have super high hopes for 2021, we do have some exciting things happening that I’ll share about soon. I also can’t wait to sit down with my new planner and fill in some key dates – birthdays, anniversaries, coaching stuff. I’m taking M-W off next week, and I plan to use some of that time to do some planning and strategizing for next year. Can’t wait!

Other than that, things are pretty much the same old.

OH! If you’re a working mom (however you define working), check out the workshop my friend Amy and I are hosting on December 4 from 12-1:30 pm CST. It’s going to be amazing. AND…we’re throwing in a FREE 1:1 coaching session with either Amy or myself for each participant.

A few books to share…

For toddlers:

Be Kind – a super cute story about the importance and impact of kindness.

Twas The Night Before Diwali – a super cute Diwali story about a little monster who visits your home to eat your mithai. We’ll definitely be reading this all year as K really loves this one!

The Celebration of Diwali – another Diwali favorite. This one is centered more around the story of Diwali and why we celebrate it. Kaiden LOVES this one!

Mama’s reads:

The Henna Artist – I’m not quite done with this one but can’t wait to sit down with it over the next few days! It’s a really captivating story!

Majesty – This is the sequel to American Royals, and I can’t wait to read this! AR had a real cliffhanger of an ending, and I can’t wait to see where this book takes us!

Well, that’s all for this Friday, folks! Have a wonderful weekend. Be safe and WEAR A MASK! 🙂

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!

Written on November 20, 2020 Related:Friday Stuff

Weekend Things + Thoughts

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Weekend Things

Hope y’all had a good weekend! Ours was pretty fun. We saw friends, played games, ate good food, and had a good two days overall.

Kaiden did give us a run for our money after nap time yesterday (when he opted to quietly play instead of nap). I’m pretty sure it was because he was super tired, but still. I was ready for bedtime two hours before bedtime…if ya feel me!

Other than that, here are a few things I wanted to share from the weekend that may be of interest…

  • Monopoly Deal – The best game ever! We played for three hours on Saturday night.
  • This Peach Bellini from Aldi is DELICIOUS and the perfect summer drink! Highly recommend trying it if you have this store nearby.
  • This recipe for Eggplant Paninis from The Chutney Life is really good. I made a few adjustments but was definitely inspired by this recipe. Also, don’t skip out on the ciabatta bread. It makes the sandwich!
  • The Costco pajamas I mentioned in my Friday post came in over the weekend, and they are so soft and comfy. AND lo and behold, I didn’t get all hot and sweaty at night. Woo!
This is K’s towel cape…just like Elsa!

Thoughts

So I know there’s no point in some of these thoughts but they come and I want to share…

I keep thinking about what we would do if either Kaiden’s school had to shut down at some point or if Chicago went back to phase 1. The only reason I was able to survive the first few months of quarantine was because Vishnu was home so much. This time around, he wouldn’t be home like that. Oy vey! Probably one I should just stop thinking about because it’s super stressful. Woo sah!

I can’t believe FL reported over 15k cases yesterday all while opening Disney. Umm what?! I don’t get it. And I can’t help but think of the video from the Palm Beach meeting where all the mask naysayers went to town to defend their decision not to wear masks. God, I hope people start changing their tune soon. We can’t afford for them not too.

Ok, last Covid-19 related thought. I asked Vishnu what he thought the end game would be given the direction the country is heading in, and he said he thinks about 50%+ of us will get this thing. And hopefully that (herd immunity) + a vaccine + people using their common sense with masks/social distancing, etc. will help us get through this. Oy vey! My husband is a smart guy, but I sure do hope he’s wrong this time around.

No good transition from Covid talk, but I want to start a new comedy show soon, and I’m thinking it’ll be Parks and Rec. I’ve heard it’s super funny, and Vishnu always says Leslie Knope reminds him of me. It’ll be a good distraction I think.

Have you guys been shopping all the big sales going on right now? I’m so tempted, but then I’m like I have no where to go so why would I buy new clothes right now?! But then I’m like I should probably buy more home clothes because that’s where I am 99% of the time. But I don’t need more home clothes. I just want them! #firstworldproblems

Ok, this is enough randomness for today! Have a great Monday…make it a good one!

Written on July 13, 2020 Related:Weekend

Kaiden Starts Preschool!

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I shared on my IG page that Kaiden started back at school (PRESCHOOL!) this past Monday, and I just have to say that I love my little community…so much support and love for that little announcement.

I thought I would share a little more detail behind our thinking for sending him back, what his school is doing to minimize risk, how K is doing, how I’m doing etc. because while not everyone is in our same boat, I think reading/hearing other people’s perspective, especially in a situation like this, is helpful.

Our thinking behind sending K back

So the plan was always to send Kaiden back when Vishnu started fellowship, if school was open and if we were comfortable with the situation here in Chicago. This would’ve been on July 6th had we stuck to our original plan.

We opted to send him back two weeks sooner for a few different reasons. One, you guys, Kaiden was so bored at home and getting super restless. Vishnu spent one morning with him and was like, “Par, he has to go back sooner than later.” So we talked and decided this past Monday was a good time to start back.

Two, my work day can be VERY call heavy. Some days, I have up to 6 hours of calls. Juggling that, with work that needs to get down after my calls, plus Kaiden is A LOT. I’ve been able to manage the past few months because Vishnu’s been home more. But once he starts fellowship on July 1st, I’m on my own for the entire day plus some.

Three, our school has been very proactive with everything and ensuring proper protocol was in place before they opened. That gave us a lot of comfort in our decision (for now).

And four, Kaiden thrives when he has some structure, and as much as I want to provide him that at home, it’s impossible given how much my work schedule varies. And the opportunities he gets to socialize, learn and develop at school just aren’t possible at home right now.

New protocols at school

As happy as I am that our school is super strict about their operations now, it also makes me sad that things won’t go back to the way they were any time soon.

Anyways, in terms of new protocols, let’s start with drop off. No more stroller storage. Only one parents (with mask) allowed in the school lobby for drop off. Only two families in the lobby at a time (6 ft. apart of course). Temperature checks for child and parent. Hand sanitizer for child and parent. Teacher takes child to classroom (I haven’t even seen Kaiden’s new room yet!).

In terms of the day to day – trying to get kids to wear masks when possible. Kids are kept apart as much as possible (for example, when sitting for story time, they are spread out on the rug versus right next to each other). Lots of handwashing. Lots of outside time. No mixing of teachers and kids between classrooms. All teachers and administrators wear masks 100% of the time. No outside teachers/class – so music, Spanish, and yoga is virtually done. Reduced hours (used to be 7a-6:30p, now 8a-5p)

Then for pickup – only one parent again (with mask). And a quick departure!

How Kaiden is doing

Ok, so Monday was ok until I gave him a hug goodbye. That’s when he started screaming, “I just want to go home.” His teacher was right there and whisked him away very quickly. I called later in the day to see how he was doing and was told he only cried for 5 minutes. At pickup that day, he was all smiles and a chatty Cathy!

On Tuesday, he started crying the minute we stepped out of our apartment and didn’t really stop. Again, they told me he calmed down pretty quickly. And like clockwork, Mr. K was super happy at pickup. We went to the park after school and looked for helicopters and sticks. He didn’t stop talking the whole time;

That brings me to day 3 (yesterday). He cried a little at home an hour before we had to leave, but I told him we weren’t going anywhere yet, so he calmed down quickly. And then, like I had been since last Friday, I talked about how brave and strong he is. And how it’s ok to miss mama and dada, but just like every other day, I would be there to pick him up in a few hours. I then talked the whole way to daycare and played little games to distract him. We let him bring Mr. Elephant given I would have to bring him back home. HE DIDN’T SHED A SINGLE TEAR! Something I said must’ve stuck because he was so strong and brave! So very proud of my little guy! And pickup was again a cinch.

So while Kaiden is super happy when I pick him up and very chatty, he still has random meltdowns once we’re home. He is almost 3 after all!

Overall, I think it was a good decision to send him back because, like I said, he’s like me and thrives with a bit structure like me!

How mama is doing

When Vishnu fist mentioned sending K back 2 weeks early, I broke down and cried. I wasn’t against the idea…it just caught me off guard. I had July 6 in my mind and was planning towards that.

I was honestly fine with everything (day before, morning of, drop off) until we came home that first morning to a Kaiden-less apartment. I sobbed for 5 minutes before getting to work. I definitely watched videos of Kaiden whenever I could and eagerly waited for updates from the school. I did my best to keep my mind off the fact that he wasn’t home with us. But I couldn’t help but look back at the couch imagining him sitting there talking to me or asking me for more milk! Overall, I did better than I thought I would!

The next two days were honestly fine. I still miss him obviously, but my main focus is to help him transition and bringing my emotion into it won’t help…it’ll only make him more nervous.

With that, I will say that I have this voice in my head telling me to not get comfortable with our new routine. Things could change at any time. So per my mama mantra, I’m taking things one day at a time and hoping for the best – for the teachers, for the parents, and especially for the students!

If you have any questions, leave them in the comment box or message me at myinnershakti@gmail.com. Happy to share more!

Written on June 25, 2020 Related:Parenthood, Toddler, Uncategorized, working motherhood

Where Do We Go From Here + Life Updates

written by Parita Leave a Comment

I think we’re now at day 95 in quarantine. CRAZY! I’ve obviously stopped sharing frequent updates like I said I would…because well, the past few weeks have been filled with a lot of conversation, reading, introspection, etc.

It’s actually not hard to believe how much our country and some parts of the world have changed since George Floyd’s murder. I’m proud of all the people protesting and demanding change, and I’m also glad the momentum isn’t slowing down, especially online. We have quite a way to go, but I’m praying this is the start of a movement bigger than any of us could have imagined.

We’ve watched the documentary 13th on Netflix and Just Mercy (based on a true story), and I plan to read So You Want to Talk About Race soon. I also bought a few books for Kaiden that will hopefully spark some insightful conversations with him. All things that should’ve been done sooner, but I’m trying to take the necessary steps to educate myself on systemic racism and how we can dismantle it.

There’s so much more I can and want to say about this, but it’s going to have to come in pieces because I want to craft my thoughts thoughtfully. As I’ve come to see on social media, when the conversation doesn’t remain factual and respectful, no one benefits.

I will leave you with this…PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do your part in helping to influence change now and in the future. Signing a petition or calling representatives may not seem like a big deal to you, but when we do them as a collective, they have a big impact. So many laws have been created or overturned as a result of every day people demanding change. Take a few minutes and just do it!

Life Updates

There’s no easy way to transition from that, but I wanted to share some life updates since the last time I posted.

For starters, the BIG update…VISHNU GRADUATED RESIDENCY LAST WEEK! Yay. It’s really such a huge accomplishment for him (and us a family). The past five years haven’t been the smoothest, but we did what we had to, and I’m just so proud of him for not only getting through this time, but doing it with such grace. He has one more year of training left (fellowship), and then we’re done done! Woo!

Kaiden enjoying his dada’s gradutation cake (Honey What’s Cooking chocolate depression cake made by my sissy!)

That may be my only BIG update to date. I’ve had some work wins here and there, and I love that we’re trying to address racism, discrimination and bias. I’m working with some passionate coworkers on different projects, and it just feels good to know we’re doing something that may impact the long term trajectory for our people around the world.

Other than that, Kaiden is nap time potty trained, which feels huge to us!

Well, that’s all she wrote because she (me) is tired!

I’m going to try and post here more regularly because I do enjoy sharing my off the cuff and random thoughts here.

Happy Thursday – make it a good one…

Written on June 18, 2020 Related:COVID-19, Life, Uncategorized

Days 58-74: Same Old But Lots to Think About

written by Parita Leave a Comment

I think my day count is right. Who knows at this point. I still can’t believe we’re 70+ days into our shelter in place. I naively thought we’d be ‘out of it’ much sooner.

With that being said, our days at home pretty much look like days 1-58. Still trying to juggle working with parenting. Still trying to juggle mine and Vishnu’s needs for time and space. Still trying to naturally squeeze in learning for K…in the form of every day activities and conversations. Still (sometimes) feel guilty for all the TV he watches, although he is definitely showing more learning comprehension from both the shows he watches and the books we read. So there is that. Oh and we still have a huge family love for all of our Where’s Waldo books. I think we’re up to 6 now! After I ordered two more, Vishnu ordered another two. Ha!

Other than that, we’re pretty much living the same old routine and life. I do try to spice things up with ‘fun’ activities. Most of which work well the first time around and by the 2nd or 3rd time, K is over it and wants to just run around. Ha!

Work is going well. We have a few big events/meetings next week and things should hopefully calm down a little (ish!). While it’s still super challenging to find time to sit down and just work (between calls and Kaiden), I ‘think’ I’m finding a rhythm that works for me. I call it the 24/7 work week where all days/times are open for working. I know that doesn’t work for everyone, but it does for me. It gives me more flexibility in terms of when I can get things done. Unless it’s time sensitive, I try and fit things in where and when I can. And that maybe on Thursday morning or Saturday afternoon. Thankfully my organisation supports this (at least for now), so I’m going with it.

Speaking of work, my friend Ruchika from @meditatingmommy invited me to do a IG Live with her. We actually did it yesterday but you can find the playback on Ruchika’s profile. We talked about being a mom/working mom at this time, setting boundaries, and how to say no. It was a great conversation, and I hope you’ll give it a listen.

Thought I’d share a fun K picture before taking this super deep…

It’s sad and crazy to think about how we’ve been quarantining in our home, three black Americans were murdered for no damn reason other than the color of their skin. It’s sickening, and it needs to stop.

These recent ‘events’ have given me a huge pause. Like what are we doing in this country. Not only are we being taken over by a deadly virus and all the behaviors and inequity that comes with that, but now police brutality and racism and hatred are showing up over and over again.

The problem seems so much bigger than any one of us. And that’s what always gets me. I get caught up in the, “What can I do?” mindset. And I’ve realized that there’s plenty we as individuals can do. We can ask more of our government officials. We can have open conversations with friends and family members. We can open up our homes for our kids to ask questions and learn in a safe space. We can make sure their books are diverse and talk about inequality, etc. We can make sure our group of friends reflects the world around us.

The bottom line is we can do something. It may not make a difference today or tomorrow, but I truly believe if every person took these things into consideration and did something to bring awareness, lessen judgment, eradicate hate, we could get somewhere.

Man, there’s so much I want to say about this. And look, I’m not perfect, but I’m just thinking about my childhood and everything I’ve experienced and the decisions I’ve made to date, and it all adds up.

I once had a conversation with a follower who’s now more like a friend who said that we (as in immigrants to the US) owe our success to black Americans. This is not to say other races have not been met with difficulty, hardship, etc. What we discussed was that it was that much easier for our parents and others who came here because they had people who went through/were going through/are going through the struggle, the oppression, the racism.

Any POC who says they know what black Americans go through/feel is a liar. No you don’t. Again, this is not to say your struggle is less than, but you don’t know the fear – for your family and friends, your children.

I read something from a black mom who said that she doesn’t want her son to be a hashtag. Let that sink in.

Anyways, enough rambling from me. It’s late now. I should go to bed. But I had to share these thoughts because I refuse to remain silent and feel helpless.

With that, I hope you have a good weekend.

Written on May 29, 2020 Related:COVID-19, Uncategorized

Days 50-57: Let’s Play Catch-up

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Another week behind us, and another week where I didn’t blog as frequently as I wanted. Mostly because I don’t have time but when I do, I’d rather sit and watch TV with Vishnu!

Anyways, let’s play a bit of catch-up on what’s been going around our apartment these days…

In no particular order…

Mother’s Day 2020

Mother’s Day 2020 – Overall, we had a great weekend. I got to do a few things for me and spend lots of QT with my two boys! We had yummy food, I got to read a bit of my new book, I napped when K napped, I worked out. Not too shabby given the current circumstances!

Par cuts Kaiden’s hair

Speaking of Mother’s Day, I cut Kaiden’s hair for the first time! We got this kit from Costco, watched many YouTube videos but found this one to be most helpful, and got to work. This is the first time I’ve ever done something like this (using the buzzer on Vishnu’s hair doesn’t count), and I was just so proud that it actually looked good! We didn’t want to use the buzzer on Kaiden, so a scissor only cut it was…which is why I was so sure I was going to mess up. But that YouTube video gave me all the confidence and tips I needed.

Virtual baby shower

Have you guys attended an virtual events yet? We attended our first virtual baby shower this past weekend and it was so fun. Nothing like a real in-person party, but we still made the most of it and had a blast. Vishnu and I even won a baby Jeopardy game (go figure!).

Meditation for Kids book launch event

I also attended Tejal V. Patel’s book launch event, and let me tell you – it has me so motivated to bring meditation into all of our lives in full force! Vishnu and I talked about it afterwards and we are both in agreement that this is something as important as learning your numbers, letters, shapes, and colors. As Kaiden grows up, we want him to have a toolkit full of resources that will help him navigate his emotions and thoughts. But we also understand that in order for this to happen, we need to model what it looks like or at least go on the journey with him. So we’re committing to this as a family! Wish us luck!

I highly recommend checking out her book, Meditation for Kids, if you’re interested in this as well. Easy to understand and follow with 40 exercises to engage your child. It’s truly amazing!

Trader Joe’s

I made my first Trader Joe’s fun in eight weeks on Friday! To say, I was excited would be an understatement, as would say I blew our weekly grocery budget out of the water. Oops! My one product recommendation after this trip would be the Chili Onion Crunch. It goes with EVERYTHING! It’s condiment that’s spicy, crunchy, and just plain delicious. Vishnu also loved it. Next time I go to TJs, I’m going to have to grab like five bottles!

Mama Mina’s care package

Speaking of food, my mom sent us a couple of care packages filled with Indian snacks. So sweet and thoughtful of her, my dad, and my ba (grandmother) who all worked super hard to get everything ready. This just goes to show that a mom’s love never lessens with time. In fact, I think my thinks about me and my sister more now that we’re older! I’ve been having so much fun snacking on so many different and delicious things. My favorite little treat are the kachoris she sent. I eat them with ketchup or the red chutney I found in my freezer (also made by my mom at some point!). THANK YOU, MA/DAD/BA!

Little Fires Everwhere

Have you seen Little Fires Everywhere? If not, you need to! Vishnu and I finished the six episode Hulu show over the weekend. I read the book almost two years ago, and I wasn’t impressed with the show at first (too slow, I think), but then the second half picked up and it was on fire! Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington are the two leads, and they were spectacular. They brought the whole story to life! Highly recommend this one!

Becoming (the documentary)

I also started watching the Becoming documentary on Netflix but had to stop because it was late and I was tired. Just the first few minutes had me tearing up though! Can’t wait to watch the whole thing.

Where’s Waldo?

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that Kaiden is now obsessed with Where’s Waldo? He loves looking for Waldo, Waldo’s sister (Wanda), Bad Waldo, and Santa Claus (the wizard). And I would be lying if I said Vishnu and I weren’t into it because we are…big time! I wasn’t sure if he would find any joy in looking for tiny characters on a very densely illustrated page, but he loves it and it keeps his attention for more than two minutes…so win win win all around! Highly recommend checking out the books if you have a toddler. I think most would enjoy.

We have this one, this one, and this one.

The Power of Showing Up

I recently finished The Power of Showing Up. This is a parenting book more focused on the parents than the kids themselves. It’s about secure attachment, why it’s important, and how to build it. If you like reading about the psychology of parenting (I’m obsessed!), this one is for you!

The Gifted School

So now I’m on to The Gifted School, and it’s definitely an interesting read so far. I’m only 50 or so pages in but I’m excited to see where it goes. Hard to tell at this point, but I feel like it’s going to be a good one.

Reading goal

Out of the top three things I do for me and me alone at this time – exercising, working out, and reading – I feel like reading is the one that feels less like a chore. It still brings me so much joy, and the books are sort of an escape from our reality. All of that to say that I’ve committed to at least 5 minutes of daily reading. So far, I’ve been reading for 15-30 minutes, but 5 is my minimum. Woo hoo! Here’s to reaching my 20 books in 2020 goal!

That’s all I’ve got right now! Tell me how you’re doing. Hope things are well, but feel free to tell me if they’re not. Big hugs!

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!

Written on May 12, 2020 Related:COVID-19, Uncategorized

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