me before you Archives - My Inner Shakti

At the start of 2014 I boldly stated that I was going to read one new book every month. And I am happy to report that as of March 5, 2014 I am ahead of the game – three books down already!

Since I enjoyed each of these books, I thought I would share a little more about them (without giving anything away of course!) in case anyone else is looking to add to their reading list.

Book #1 – The One Good Thing by Kevin Alan Milne

The One Good Thing is a very sweet, somewhat predictable book about how one good deed leads to the next and so forth and so on. It was an emotional read that made me think about how little it takes to make a difference in someone else’s life. The underlying message in this book is definitely one that all readers can benefit from.

Book #2 – When I Found You by Catherine Ryan Hyde

This book surpassed all my expectations – such an interesting and unique storyline. From the moment Nathan (main character #1) finds Nat (main character #2) in the woods, both of their lives are connected and changed forever. And that’s all I’m going to say! But honestly, I wanted to dive into the pages and give each of the main characters huge hugs just to let them know that everything would be ok. It was emotionally gripping in that way…a book that gets inside of you and won’t let go until well after you are done.

Book #3 – Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

I honestly thought this was going to be one of those girl meets boy type stories, but it was so much more than that. It was pretty much impossible to put down, emotional, and witty. It’s a true love story. Will and Lou (the two main characters) will make you laugh, cry, and everything in between. Their stories, both together and as individuals, are absolutely tragic and beautiful at the same time.

As a heads up, the book addresses the very controversial issue of what constitutes a life worth living and who gets to make that decision. While I find myself on the fence, this book made me realize that sometimes there are no good choices.

Help me decide what book #4 should be! I’m looking for suggestions.

. Not having concrete plans this weekend was a little weird…and VERY awesome! There is something magical about knowing you have two days to do whatever makes your heart happy.

In this week’s Par’s Picks post, I mentioned that I had big plans to do absolutely nothing. Well, almost nothing. I listed a few things that I wanted to accomplish, and I really thought that by the end of Sunday I would be able to cross each one off my list. Let’s see how I did.

The first thing on my list was sleep. And I think I can safely say that I slept a lot this weekend. In fact, at one point, Vishnu looked at me (quite seriously) and said, “Par, I think you have a sleeping problem.” I looked at him (also quite seriously) and said, “I don’t have a sleeping problem, I had a sleep deficit problem and am working on fixing that.”

And anyway, this picture tells quite a different story… 🙂

Next on my list was a long run. Well, I did go for a run, but it wasn’t as long as I had planned. Instead of running 5 miles, I completed 4 before heading home. I didn’t make it out until about 9 am, and by that time, it was WAY too hot outside. It’s definitely summertime in Miami again! With that being said, I may move my long run day to Tuesday instead of Saturday. If I have to get up super early to fit it in, I’d rather do it during the week.

I also wanted to fit in some serious reading time this weekend. And I am happy to report that I was able to do that! I’m currently reading Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. My friend and former colleague Allison recommend it, and since I trust her taste in books, I decided to download it onto my Kindle. I am 100% engrossed in the book and have had a hard time putting it down.

Also on my list was a major closet cleanout. Sadly, this just didn’t happen. And I have nothing to blame but my laziness. That and the fact that our bedroom also serves as Vishnu’s study space. And with a big exam coming up next week, he really needed some quiet time. I figured the closet cleanout could wait until next weekend. That way Vishnu can help without any distractions (you’re welcome, Vishnu!).

And the last thing on my list was a trip to Trader Joe’s. You better believe this happened! I woke up at 7:30 am on Sunday morning, brushed my teeth, made myself look presentable, and drove 20 minutes to the grocery store. The whole process is a little time consuming but well worth the effort. TJ’s is so much cheaper than Publix. And I love that I don’t have to compromise on quality. I’m going to share some of my favorite TJ’s products in an upcoming post. We have quite a few!

Making delicious food wasn’t on my list but it happened! On Saturday night I made eggplant/veggie parm. We invited Andy over for dinner since Robin is out of town. I think it’s safe to say that we were all satisfied!

I also spent a good portion of Sunday afternoon baking up a storm. I made honey maple granola, sweet and spicy nuts (I used a mix of cashews and almonds), and banana bread muffin tops. Everything turned out so well. Excited for the week ahead!