My Inner Shakti

finding strength in everyday things

Hello + Thinking Out Loud

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Hello hello! It’s been a minute since I’ve blogged. It’s not that I didn’t want to or didn’t have time. I’ve just been exhausted the past week or so. Like I could fall asleep anywhere at any time. I finally felt a rush of energy today, so I thought I’d come on here and share something a little different. A way to play catch up/check in I suppose…

One of my favorite experiences in December – girls’ night cookie exchange party!

Ok here we go…

Habit I’m trying to break: This one is easy. I’ve been falling asleep on the couch every night waiting for my pump time, and it really messes everything up. I need to either go to bed and wake up to pump or I need to just stay awake and suck it up.

Habit I’m trying to continue: Drinking tons of H2O every single day. When I don’t, I feel it physically, mainly in the form of headaches.

Best experience in November/December (so far): I honestly can’t pick just one. Most days look and feel the same, but I don’t mind that. I’ve loved everything we’ve experienced and am looking forward to a cozy winter.

Getting me excited for winter: The weather! Georgia winters are the best. And after five Chicago winters, I’m ready for a mild one. I often find myself complaining after dropping K off at school about how ‘cold’ it is. But I then remind myself that it could be a lot worse. A LOT WORSE!

Current thing I’m learning to love about myself: My postpartum body. Looks aside, I’m learning to love and appreciate how strong and capable my body is. Not only has it created life, but it’s carried me through a rough postpartum time and so much more.

Current thing I do love about myself: My ability to get shit done. Once I put my mind to something, I have to find a way to make it a reality. Period.

Book(s) I can’t wait to read: Hmmm…good prompt! I haven’t created a 2022 reading list yet, but I know Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown will be on it.

Task(s) I haven’t done yet that’s driving me crazy: I have a list of Awarify to dos that I have yet to tackle. Soon, my friends, soon!

On the docket for this weekend: Christmas day brunch with the fam bam! We’re hosting this year and are just so excited to celebrate with our families and experience this holiday with Kaiden in our own home.

Hope y’all are having a good week so far!

Wednesday Thoughts and Things

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I first typed “Friday Thought and Things” and then thought, “Wait. That doesn’t sound right.” This alone should tell you how our days are going…fast and slow depending on what’s going on at the moment.

It’s crazy to me how so much happens in a day but then when you look back, you’re like what did I even do! Right now, my goals are to make sure Kaiden is ok emotionally, Mila is fed and sleeping somewhat regularly, Vishnu and I check in with each other every day, I get my pumping sessions in, and I TRY and sleep when I can (not very successful with this one). Everything else can wait! Oh and there’s also bottle washing and laundry. With regards to the latter, we’re usually pulling washed clothes out of the basket or dryer for days before things get folded and put away. Such is life right now!

Life isn’t as routine as I’m making it sound. In fact, I’d say we don’t have a true routine down just yet. Vishnu and I feel like we’re getting close though. Let’s take this morning for example, Vishnu started work at 7 (from home). I woke up at 6:50 (despite setting an alarm for 6:15). Kaiden woke up as soon as I started heading downstairs. As I was getting his breakfast ready, Mila woke up crying. Long story short – it was chaos between feeding Mila, getting her back down, getting Kaiden to school, etc. Needless to say, I was thankful for Mr. Television!

Life also isn’t as stressful as I make it sound sometimes (on here and on IG), but we’re definitely feeling some stress around the viruses that are circulating right now. At the same time, we feel ok with some of the measures we’re taking. For example, we’re only seeing people who are healthy and vaccinated (and thankfully, most of our family and friends have gotten their booster shot as well). For example, we’re going to a Friendsgiving dinner this week and taking Kaiden. I don’t feel super stressed about that. Mila will stay home. And for actual Thanksgiving, we’re getting together with both of our families, but we’ll have Kaiden wear a mask and so will we. And if anyone wants to hold or get close to MIla, we’re going to ask they put on a mask too. While earlier on in the pandemic, we said no to pretty much anything that had us about and about with people, we’re now taking a different approach where we weight out risks and benefits and go forward from there. Feels a bit more freeing to us too given that Covid is probably going to be a part of our lives for the foreseeable future.

Ok, enough about that. Let’s talk Christmas. We put our tree up last weekend, and my mom was like aren’t you supposed to do that after Thanksgiving. I told her we don’t care because we’ve waited a long time to put up our own tree, and we want Kaiden to enjoy it for as long as he can. It’s his first tree too! We’ve always been in Atlanta for the holidays, but this year we’re obviously staying put. AND we’ll be together as a family, whereas in the past, it was pretty likely Vishnu wouldn’t be able to join us or only for a short time.

AND this year we have Mila!!! It’s her very first Christmas and we want to go big!

AND Vishnu and I are pretty much big kids right now. We’ve bought so many ornaments, matching family PJs, hot chocolate, etc. We’re ready baby!

Speaking of Vishnu, he isn’t working any major holidays until 4th of July 2022! Woo hoo! As much as I complained about residency life, attending life isn’t so bad. There are still some downsides, but the upsides far outweigh everything else.

In other personal happy news, I found the PERFECT postpartum holiday dress. It’s comfy, affordable, and comes in multiple colors and prints. I wore it for our family pics and immediate bought one more because I loved it that much!

Let’s go back and talk about Thanksgiving for a minute. What’s on your menu? For Friendsgiving, I’m bringing mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. For our family Thanksgiving, my in laws are ordering Indian food, but we are doing traditional desserts. I’m bringing pecan pie brownies. Can’t wait!

Ok, that’s enough thoughts and things from me! Have a great Wednesday!

5 on a Friday

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Happy Friday from our new place in Atlanta! We’re here and settling in. It’s been a little under two weeks since we’ve moved in, and I’m happy to report that things are slowly coming together

I thought I’d share 5 random but relevant things today as they pertain to our life right now.

  1. Transitions are very very hard for kids. I obviously knew this going in to our move, but man, the way Kaiden has been adjusting took me by surprise. He’s the sweetest, gentlest boy ever, but his emotions have been all over the place lately. Again, totally 100% understandable, but you never know what will set him off. I’m hoping our new home, routine, etc. start to feel more natural to him in a couple of weeks (because that’s when daddy goes to work and mama will have to do a lot of the routine on her own!).
  2. I’m not going to lie and pretend that K was the only one experiencing heightened emotions. I was right there with him, especially when we just moved in and everything was everywhere. I had to stop, take a deep breath, and talk to Vishnu about how I was feeling because it was causing me to feel super overwhelmed. Thinking about the baby and all that we need to do to prepare for her arrival is already a lot, but add on 40+ boxes and crap everywhere, and I thought I was going to lose my mind. Thankfully, my husband knows me well and said all the right things to calm me down.
  3. Speaking of my husband, he’s truly a rock star. He’s been working day and night to make this place livable and homey. I LOVE HIM!
  4. In non-moving related news, we LOVE our Peloton bike. Both Vishnu and I have been using it over the past couple of weeks, and while it’s definitely an investment, we’re so glad we made it. Definitely makes working out super fun…our legs hate us immediately afterwards, but they’ll thank us later!
  5. I’m going to be reunited with my sister (and BIL) after a whole month! This is huge for me/us because I used to see them at least once a week. They’re also moving to Atlanta but are currently in a transition state because the home they purchased is still being built. They’ve also been traveling a little this month, so they’re not quite back yet, but they’re here until Monday. And I’m so glad we’ll get to see them a bit this weekend! Kaiden is also super excited to see his masi and masa!

Ok, that’s all I have for now. I hope y’all have an awesome Friday and weekend!

Friday Stuff [#9]

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The weeks are really flying by around here. I can’t believe we only have two full weekends left in Chicago…and just as the weather is getting better too!

I had a master list of places I wanted to visit, people I wanted to see, restaurants I wanted to eat at, etc. all before we move, and I’m pretty sure I lost that list a while a go. Instead of fretting about all of that, I’m just going to try and enjoy the moments as they come. We’ll be back here in no time to visit is what I keep telling myself.

We do have a couple of fun dinners/events over the next two weeks – Gaijin with my sister, Ever with Vishnu, my sister, and my BIL, and Vishnu’s fellowship graduation dinner. Looking forward to each and every one!

Anyways, enough about the move. Let’s talk about some super random Friday stuff…

Morning routines

We used to have a pretty solid morning routine and were able to to get out the door in under an hour from the time K woke up to the time he walked into school. But now? Now it’s kind of messy. We get through most of what we need to – changing clothes, breakfast…and then everything breaks apart. He wants to stay and play, he doesn’t want to brush his teeth, he wants to draw his teacher a picture, etc. I’m not sure what happened but I’m sure my stress of meetings, calls, and work doesn’t help.

I’m telling myself it’s a phase because most things seem to be with kids, so hopefully he stops with the full on tears at some point.

I swear…it’s the minute he hears ‘no’ and his world falls apart. It’s all age appropriate, I get that, but man…it’s hard to communicate with an emotional child, especially once the tears start.

I do think that by working on my emotions during his emotional moments will help. Vishnu and I talked about a few things earlier this week that I need to just put in place and try. Wish me luck!

Meditation

I’ve written about meditation a few times before, and to be honest, my ‘practice,’ if we can call it that, has never stuck. I think I put too much pressure on myself, and I put it off until the end of the day when I’m super tired and just want to go to bed.

This time around, there’s no pressure, but a real desire to give it a try. I’m trying to get 10 minutes in for the next 30 days in a row. Just me, my timer, and my deep breaths (and a lot of unwanted thoughts as of right now!). We’ll see, I’ll share more later because I do seem to be more motivated this time around…let’s see if that sticks!

Pregnancy wardrobe

When I was pregnant with K, I was going into the office quite a bit. So I decided to buy a few neutral pieces (pregnancy jeans, black pants, and a few tops) and rent everything else from Le Tote. Great choice for that time!

This time around, I’m working from home 100% of the time, so I don’t feel justified in renting clothes. BUT, at the same time, I’m going to be super pregnant while living through the Georgia heat, so my current winter wardrobe won’t suffice the way it has in Chicago (so far!).

I’m trying not to go overboard because…two and through if you know what I mean! Essentially I’ve invested in a couple of more tops, 4-5 dresses and a pair of jean shorts. I figure if I need more, it’s all within a fingers tap…hopefully it’s enough to get me to the finish line.

What are your pregnancy wardrobe must haves? Any favorite places to shop?

Good reads

The Best Beach Reads for Summer – So many are headed to the beach this summer, and you can’t go without a book in hand. This is a great list for anyone who’s looking for a good book or two!

3 Lies They Tell You in School That Hurt You in Business – LOVED this!

Naomi Osaka Shows That Prioritizing Yourself Over A Job Is Still A Radical Act – Didn’t think about Naomi Osaka’s decision in this way, but it’s so true. Nothing is worth our health and sanity! Great read.

Happy Friday! I’m solo parenting most of the weekend since Vishnu’s on call Friday-Monday (last shifts!). We have a few playdates/meet ups and a birthday party on the agenda. Wish me luck!

Friday Stuff [#8]

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What a week! I thought all the snow we were/are getting in Chicago was/is bad, but then Texas got hit with some crazy (to say the least) weather. I’m so thankful we live in a city that’s prepped for what it faces. I can’t imagine what people in Texas are going through right now. As if Covid wasn’t enough…

Other than that, I’m really looking forward to the weekend because Vishnu and I are going on a little staycation at a local hotel in the city, and my sister and BIL are going to stay with K at our place. Vishnu’s had some crazy days lately, so at my sister’s insistence, we decided to take some time for us. It’ll be my first time leaving K in well over a year, and our first solo vacation in longer than that. Although, 2 nights away barely counts as a vacation, but it’ll be a nice short getaway nonetheless.

We’re not planning on doing much. Prob just order room service in, and if the weather cooperates, maybe go grab some coffee and go for a couple of short walks. Vishnu wants to sleep. I want to do that + read + cuddle and watch TV. Can’t wait!

Oh and we want to use the Peloton bikes at this hotel. Apparently I called to ask a few questions today, and the person I spoke with said they would bring us bikes to our room! WHAT?! I’ve never heard of that! I’ll report back on what that’s like!

Oh in other non-important news. Vishnu and I watched To All the Boys: Always and Forever last weekend. To be honest, I liked it but didn’t love it! The first one was definitely my favorite.

Also, does anyone else watch HS rom-coms and feel like their HS experience was nothing like that? I mean, I know it’s a movie, but still… They’re so mature with their feelings/language/etc. Funny!

Oh, I also finished The Nightingale this weekend. Such a beautiful, heartbreaking story…definitely keep the tissues handy. I ugly cried my way through this one!

And I’m not sure if I shared this yet, but Vishnu and I finished Schitt’s Creek a few weeks ago. HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this show if you’re looking for a series to start. It took us like 8 episodes to really get into it, but once you start, you can’t stop! Definitely cried my way through the end of the last season.

That’s all I have for now! Just wanted to check-in and say hi. Hope y’all have a safe weekend. Sending all the warm vibes and prayers I can.

Friday Stuff [#7]

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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!

Friday Stuff [#6]

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Leave it to me to share a post about not blogging frequently only to blog again a couple of days later! I just can’t stay away. 🙂

With that, I thought I would share a few things that have either been on my mind or are good finds that we’re loving.

Here we go…

Parks and Recreation

I finished all seven seasons of Parks and Rec, and I LOVED every minute of it! If you’re looking for an awesome comedy series to watch (binge!), this one should be on your list. Leslie Knope for President!!

Kids Knives

I got K these Tovla knives a while ago, and the first time we tried to used them, he kept waving one of the knives in the air. A no go for a while! Then, last weekend, I let him use one to cut up some strawberries, and I think he actually enjoyed it. The look of pride on his face was priceless!

Toddler Masks

We’ve tried quite a few masks for Kaiden, and the ones that fit him the best came from…Old Navy! They aren’t super thick (but none of them are really!), but they don’t slide down his face, which is key.

Little Passports Subscription

My sister and BIL got K a Little Passports subscription for his 3rd birthday, and I must say, it’s pretty awesome. Every month, we get a new activity, along with stickers, a ‘toy,’ and an activity booklet. All catered to his age group. Kaiden loves opening his box every month, and I love how his creativity sparks every time. A great gift option!

Toddler Sunglasses

Kaiden hates anything that touches his face/head – sunglasses, hats, helmets, etc. BUT, when I realized it was ‘sunglasses day’ at school a few weeks ago, I bought these sunnies on Amazon because I didn’t want K to be the only one without a pair. 🙂 He’s worn them a few times afterwards but not quite a sunglasses lover yet.

Friends Reruns

Nothing better, am I right?! I wonder when I’ll be done with this show. Likely never! What’s a show that you never tire of?

Energy Leadership

I have to read the book, Energy Leadership, for my coaching program, and to be completely honest…I LOVE IT! It’s a really interesting read, and I think it’d be helpful for anyone responsible for leading teams, coaching people, leading a team (personally or professionally). Such powerful takeaways on every single page! Highly recommend this one!

Weekend Plans

We don’t have too much going on, except a play date with a good friend and her son, an ice cream party, and a visit to my sister’s place.

Hoping Vishnu doesn’t have to stay too late at the hospital. I want to have a wine and cheese night with him again!

Ok peeps, that’s all I have for today! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a wonderful 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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