Friday, December 31, 2021

The farewell month

End of another year.. So many unexpected things happened this year. And am glad to say that I feel liberated and stronger than ever.

At the beginning of the year, I watched a show called 'Emily in Paris'. It inspired me to pick up learning French again. Now, am ending the year watching season 2 of the same show :) One of the most enjoyable shows I have seen. The lead Emily is a treat to watch.

The biggest news of this year and probably my entire life will be the birth of my nephew - Aarav. Our family was going through a rough patch and this little guy appeared like a ray of sunshine. I could be addicted to watching his videos randomly. His antics keep us laughing all the time. It's unfortunate that I haven't met him yet. But I know I will be the best maasi ever!

I have a running list of things I want to do in my life. I don't plan for it but somehow it gets checked off. Ever since I saw the blue Tiffany box, my heart has been set on owning a piece of their jewellery. To my surprise, my sister gifted me Tiffany's bracelet!! I am yet to wear it but I keep looking at it because it feels really special. The next event triggered a lot of bucket list checks. Remember, how in June I whined about travel being out of the question? Never did I expect to travel abroad and that too to South Africa! That means I completed four of my bucket list items - Visit a new country, Visit a new continent, Ride first-class and Visit a UNESCO world heritage site. Who would have thought 2021 would be the year which will check off the max bucket list items!

2021 has also been a year of learning for me. Sometimes, I feel like I create a box around me and restrict my own abilities. Now, I strive to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. Be it in my cooking or wardrobe, my social circle or my thinking. This has helped me get in touch with myself. I am also trying to adopt a Minimalist lifestyle. I see it as a natural progression. 

Every year, I reflect on the months gone by and plan my bucket list for the next year. However, I love the list I compiled in January, 2021. There's still so much more left to accomplish. So, I will be continuing the same list and fingers crossed, I may have checked off all of them by the end of 2022.

Sunday, September 26, 2021

Gangavathi

Looks like every post now will have a mention of the pandemic. Me and cousins were sick and tired of staying indoors, waiting for things to get better. Hence, we did not think twice when we were invited to the quaint town of Gangavathi, close to Hampi. We drove to the place and as were entering it, we could see people roaming without masks. Small groups of people were chatting in abandon with no concern for social distancing. My cousin looked around to see if there was at least one person wearing a mask. Upon spotting such an individual, he remarks "Look, that guy is wearing a mask. Marle (crazy guy)!" The joke was so on point that we couldn't stop laughing!!

That's the reality now. Anybody abiding the law or following rules and regulations are frowned upon for not being smart enough to outwit the authorities. Anyway, we moved on as per the location pin sent to us and landed in the middle of nowhere. No sign of the resort. After asking around we observed, true to its name, "The Hidden Place" was hidden amidst thick shrubbery. We went into a large expanse of land with a natural stream from the Tungabhadra river flowing by.

What followed is a refreshing experience amidst nature. Gangavathi is a mix of the old and the new. It has a fusion culture. Thanks to Hampi, it has a constant influx of foreigners. You can find several cafes dotted along the path that cater to continental food. However, the decor of these cafes is rustic, lending an old-world charm to the whole setup. I learnt to enjoy a steaming cup of coffee in the chill weather of Gangavathi.

The cousin who hosted us is extremely nice! He wants people to have fun. There would be a large spread of food for every meal. The day's activities would be planned in advance. Our every need was taken care of. And even after coming home, the party wouldn't stop. There was an impromptu karaoke session and someone sang "Ae zindagi gale lagale..". At the point where the lyrics goes "Humne bhi tere har ek gham ko, gale se lagaya hai, hai na?" my cousin would go "Ha ha ha..". It was hilarious. The host's wife is named Vaidehi and for the most part of the night, we kept chanting "Vaidehi Vaidehi..". These memories are going to live with me forever.

We had planned our trip only for the weekend. Soon, it was time to leave. Before heading to Bangalore, we made one last stop. It was a huge estate with the Tungabhadra river flowing just beside it. The view there is beautiful. We were amazed to hear from the owner that the place transforms during different seasons. During summer, the land turns dry and one can ride vehicles on it. With the advent of spring, sunflowers blossom in the same fields. One can also see flamingos flying in. As the rains start pouring, the plants get washed away and the river marks its path. And the river brings along the seals with it. Imagine seals climbing up to the shore. What a magical place!

The estate also had a dragon fruit plantation. Farmers are getting many exotic fruits to India and cultivating them here. This just shows that nature and science go hand in hand. The trip served as a good break for me. We don't have to travel far to experience different cultures. There is so much to explore around us.

Sunday, August 29, 2021

Movie Marathon - The Disney edit

I love taking up challenges because it exposes us to different genres and activities. Doing even half the challenge, will make us a better person. Not to mention, completing it is extremely satisfying. Reading challenges are my favorites. Though I love movies, I don't like to watch them alone. This means I have missed out on quite a lot of the classics. The time has come to set it right. So, here I am taking up a movie marathon! I know, I know, a challenge is not a marathon. But watching so many movies is a huge challenge for me and I am sure I will drag it out like a marathon :P Now, let's dim the lights and get that popcorn poppin' baby!

Disney Movie Marathon (30/60)
Classics (28/34) Others (2/26)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) Saludos Amigos (1943)
Pinocchio (1940) The Three Caballeros (1945)
Fantasia (1940) Make Mine Music (1946)
Dumbo (1941) Fun and Fancy Free (1947)
Bambi (1942) Melody Time (1948)
Cinderella (1950) The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949)
Alice in Wonderland (1951) The Sword in the Stone (1963)
Peter Pan (1953) The Aristocats (1970)
Lady and the Tramp (1955) The Rescuers (1977)
Sleeping Beauty (1959) The Fox and the Hound (1981)
One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) The Black Cauldron (1985)
The Jungle Book (1967) The Great Mouse Detective (1986)
Robin Hood (1973) Oliver and Company (1988)
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
The Little Mermaid (1989) Fantasia 2000 (1999)
Beauty and the Beast (1991) Dinosaur (2000)
Aladdin (1992) The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
The Lion King (1994) Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)
Pocahontas (1995) Treasure Planet (2002)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) Brother Bear (2003)
Hercules (1997) Home on the Range (2004)
Mulan (1998) Chicken Little (2005)
Tarzan (1999) Meet the Robinsons (2007)
Lilo and Stitch (2002) Bolt (2008)
The Princess and the Frog (2009) Big Hero 6 (2014)
Tangled (2010) Encanto (2021)
Winnie the Pooh (2011)
Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
Frozen (2013)
Zootopia (2016)
Moana (2016)
Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)
Frozen II (2019)
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)

Sunday, July 25, 2021

Ju-lyke it?

Hello July!

Can't believe the year is moving so fast. With all the misery spread around by the pandemic, I had forgotten that it's hike time in our company. So the unexpected salary increase took me by surprise and made me feel happy. I am grateful that I am at a point in life where I don't have to fret too much about money. God has been very kind to me.

Talking about small mercies, my cousin's wife is due in December. They lost their first baby and have been hoping to have one more ever since. I am so soo happy for them! We girls hosted a small baby shower for the soon-to-be mommy. We had fun games and yummy food. Everybody had a ball.

When we bought our house, we did not have much time to work on the interiors. Now that we have settled down, I am trying to make small home improvements. Going by my idea of a home for all, I got a mop stand installed which cleared the clutter in our utility. I had shelves installed in the kitchen cabinets into which went things that were on the kitchen counter, more space yayyy! My cousin helped me in getting a foldable work table. I also bought a monitor and keyboard to have a dedicated work space. No more bad posture.

I also like my home to smell fresh and clean. So, I may have splurged a bit when I got diffusers from Bath and Body Works. Oops! But you have to agree that they look oh so pretty! I also got reed diffusers for the washrooms and don't regret it at all. Not to be left behind, my father had the hall and puja room upgraded with a false ceiling. Although, I was skeptical initially, the final result blew me away. Now, when we switch on the warm lights everywhere, the house transforms into somewhere ethereal.

I have also been cooking and baking. And I am enjoying it so much. However, after being bitten by the most deadly bug of the century, I started experiencing severe hair fall. It was so bad that wherever I went, I would leave a trail of hair behind. Finally, my dad took me to a doctor and he prescribed some zinc tablets and hair tonic. And just like that, the hair fall stopped. I couldn't believe it. Note to self, get medical advice whenever necessary.

Sunday, June 27, 2021

Halfway through

I can't believe how quickly June has flown by. I can't even remember what I did the whole month!

Quick update on this year's bucket list. The creative list looks a bit lonely with just a single tick. But I have actually worked on most of them, just not to the level I want to. On the learning front, I am quite happy with my French course and culinary skills. Time to focus on other things during the second half of the year. Oooh yes! I have been having a lot of fun. My most ticked list haha.. Good to see that!

Personal growth is not quite there yet. I haven't had much time to myself in the past few months. Will be trying to get on to more of it now. Travel is out of the question due to the pandemic. I will have to make do with online shows and virtual tours I guess :( I am dreading the next section. I have done absolutely nothing for my health. In fact, I have gone backwards with poor sleep and acute hair loss. Getting into a routine will hopefully help.

Organizing is a continuous process. One cannot organize everything and stop there. I have been cleaning out the closets and decluttering. I think twice before purchasing anything. This has taught me to respect my needs and curb my wants. Needless to say, it is saving me a bit of money as well :) I have been trying to do my bit for the community as much as possible. Staying at home is, in fact, a service in itself :P Jokes apart, I donated some more money to people in need. I hope it is of some comfort to them.

Another noteworthy task that I did is get my broadband connection changed to ACT. I have been struggling with the poor BBNL service for quite some time now. But my even worse 'standing up for myself' skills held me back. Finally, I mustered the courage to get the service changed and I was amazed at how easy the whole process was. Hello, superfast net speeds :D

That's it for June. But, wow! Are we at mid term already!

Sunday, May 30, 2021

May or may not

May has been a terrific month for me. The best month so far this year, I think! 😀 Despite the lockdown, I have accomplished a lot of things. First and foremost, I donated money to some organizations which are helping to fight the pandemic. I had been wanting to do this for a long time.

Nykaa had this huge summer sale. Bath & Body Works had Buy 2 Get 2 free on their entire range 😍 I love their products and this was a great offer. I have also been eyeing some products from Kay Beauty which is a cosmetic line by Katrina Kaif. I spent a whole day looking up offers, combining products and reading reviews. But, my conscience told me that I already own similar products and do not need any more cosmetics during the lockdown. I made a list of my stash and decided that I won't buy anything new until I finish at least half of them 😑 I went ahead and emptied my cart. I am so proud of myself for resisting the temptation.

I also did something very unlike myself. I had a political debate with my cousin 🙈 I am not politically inclined but his messages were ruffling some feathers. I saw the need for an open discussion. Most of the elders in the family are staunch supporters of Modi. The cousin thinks Modi should have taken stricter measures to curb the pandemic instead of focusing on elections and personal agenda. I do agree that Modi did not do a great job of handling the second wave, but it is not right to blame one person for the current situation. India does not have a good leader in its wings and Modi seems to be doing a good job, although he gets carried away at times. The citizens should provide constructive criticism in ways that can reach the right people instead of fighting over sensitive topics on WhatsApp.

I have been obsessed with Carrom and Duolingo this month. I don't know how I made time for these two amongst all the other things I have been doing this month. I justify them by saying am learning a new skill. The Carrom game has a special carrom pass which has higher rewards as we level up. I love arcade games, so it was right up my alley. Same with Duolingo. They have levels named after gemstones. The diamond league is the highest and if you end up on top of the leader board, you earn an achievement. Safe to say, I fought hard to stay at the top and bagged it! 🙌

It's more than a year and a half now since I saw Akka. We have never gone so long without seeing each other. So, we have been trying to do things together. We read a cool book about tidying up. It's called 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up' by Marie Kondo. It's the KonMari method explained as a comic. Her methods make a lot of sense. But, I may have got a bit carried away when I cleaned up the shoe closet and trashed my cousin's expensive sneakers! Oops!! 🙆 So, I was saying that Akka and I have been trying to go minimal. Not only that, we did a happiness challenge and signed up for a masterclass too. Thank God for the internet!

I and cousin have been watching a lot of Masterchef - the 'Back to Win' S12 and the ongoing S13. No wonder then that we have been cooking a lot too. Sweets and savouries, veg and non-veg, healthy and junk - everything is in there. I am not only inspired by the food on the show but also by the judge Melissa Leong's wardrobe. Her outfits are amazing! Makes me want to revamp my wardrobe. We have also been catching up on movies and web series.

Last but not the least, I officially reached the 10th year milestone of my career. Wow! Has it been that long? 😀 I got monetary recognition from the company as well. I have so many gift cards that I need to use up! However, I am being conscious of the environment. Along with lifestyle changes, I am also working on decreasing my digital footprint. I cleaned up my inbox and unsubscribed from unwanted promotional emails.

Phew! That looks like an exhausting month and I want every month to be like that! 💃

Friday, May 7, 2021

Happiness challenge

It's said that happiness is found in little things. And, all of us are in need of some hope and joy now. The lockdown has made life boring. I have not stepped out of the house for three weeks now. To add to it, Akka and I are not able to talk as frequently as before. So we decided to do a challenge together which will help us feel connected. It's a happiness challenge wherein each day we perform a small activity that brings us joy. Here is the entire list!





Here's what I did on each day of the month.

May 01 - Donate (Hemkunt and Give India)

May 02 - Make your bed

May 03 - Eat a piece of chocolate (silk oreo red velvet)

May 04 - Write 3 things you are grateful for

May 05 - Cook a healthy meal (Stir fry chicken)

May 06 - Buy a meal for someone (Bite sized doughnuts)

May 07 - Exercise (I did warmups and stretching while watching TV)

May 08 - Read (Resumed my book. I was falling behind on my reading challenge)

May 09 - Clean out your closet (did other nooks and corners too).

May 10 - Go for a walk (after 4 long weeks of being cooped up at home)

May 11 - Enjoy a glass of wine ( had refreshing lime pudina juice instead)

May 12 - Sleep in or take a nap (been doing too much of that these days)

May 13 - Bake 

May 14 - Write a poem or draw (doodled)

May 15 - Write in your journal

May 16 - Pay someone a compliment (all the time)

May 17 - Bake cupcakes (chose to do buns instead)

May 18 - Have a cup of herbal tea (chamomile tea)

May 19 - Meditate

May 20 - Watch a classic film (Winnie the pooh)

May 21 - Phone a friend (had to call for something but ended with a good chat)

May 22 - Take a masterclass (from MCA on TV)

May 23 - Dress-up

May 24 - Yoga (did the basics)

May 25 - Dance to your fav song (always up for it)

May 26 - Get a plant/flowers (just got one from the garden to complete the challenge :P)

May 27 - Go outside (couldn't go out due to lockdown, visited my cousin's house in the same apartment)

May 28 - Put on make-up

May 29 - Light your fav candle 

May 30 - Listen to a podcast

Friday, April 30, 2021

April

OMG!!! April started off soooo well!! I am a maasi now 😀 My sister gave birth to a cute little baby boy! I still can't believe she is a mom now :D Thanks to the COVID restrictions and my office being difficult with work from home options, I am not able to travel to her place. I miss them awfully! 😔

Another high was me winning a quiz at work. Although I have to admit, I am a tiny bit disappointed that there were no prizes 😕 And then the worst happened. I was almost completing my shift at work when I came down with fever. My throat felt itchy and I had a feeling that I had caught the most dreaded bug of our times. After struggling for many days, I could finally get a swab test done at home. Boom! I had tested COVID positive 😟

I am a needy patient. When am not well, I want people around me to comfort me and pamper me 😂 Unfortunately, I was all alone in the house since dad was in Mangalore. Being in home quarantine meant I couldn't meet anybody. The fever combined with weakness and loneliness played with my mind. Depressing thoughts occupied my mind re-enforcing the feeling that this is my fate. I am meant to be alone my whole life!

That is when God decided that it was time to stop me from being a drama queen ✋ My cousin's family was diagnosed with COVID too. Their house is under repair. So, they decided to come to my place to quarantine with me! 😆 Initially, I wasn't sure about this arrangement. I was used to living like a wildling by now. Will I be able to adjust to them and forego my privacy?

But I also love this family because they are so much fun! They are very much like how our family used to be. They eat together, watch TV together and have a lot of conversation. At the same time, they give each other space. I love having people around and them coming was like a wish come true. I got to be in the safe space of my house, snuggling into their warmth. We cook together, share chores, bask in the evening sun, watch movies until late night and gossip about everything in the world.

This is how I imagined my life to be. And this is probably the benchmark I will set for my future life 😇

Sunday, April 11, 2021

The ARR magic

I am watching the Indian Idol A.R.Rehman special episode. I bought the Sony Liv subscription just for this episode. I would do this only for two people - my favourite SPB and the genius ARR.

I love ARR for his simplicity and level-headedness. One would rarely see him losing his cool or acting out of character. As soon as he entered, each of the contestants had a different emotion. One was overjoyed, the other in tears. The host pointed it out to ARR and all he said was thank you, am honoured. This is on the Indian Idol stage where even the parents can't stop being hyper. I couldn't stop laughing!

Throughout the performances, while the other judges cannot stop gushing and reacting, ARR is attentive and observant. He is supportive of the contestants, telling them the highlights of their performance. However, you can see that he is reminiscing about the song and how it was composed. He sees beyond the fandom. For him, the contestants are kids who have a long way to go.

Another aspect I noticed is that he reacts to musicians, not singers. It is also evident from his melodious instrumentals and haunting theme music. His tunes need no words to touch the soul. Indian Idol is such a commercialized show that the judges often forget the sanctity of their presence in the show. Gone are the days when the judges would guide the contestants on where they should focus. In today's age, judges come decked up and start whistling and hooting as if they have come to watch a concert. I hope ARR's humility stays with them and reminds them of their job.

P.S.I just want to tell Neha to shut up whenever she comments (on the mic!) in between a musical rendering.

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

March away

Okay, we are in March now and the reorgs at work haven't stopped. We have been moved to a new division which is doing well. So yayyyy to that! The new division is very organized and I have to make sure that I bring my A-game to it. So, when I went to the office this time, I set up my lab network and made a note of all the connections. I feel so much better about it now.

I have not been able to go anywhere due to the COVID situation. When my friends planned a weekend getaway, I was more than happy to tag along. Which also meant shopping!! :D So I went to Decathlon and Pantaloons and got a bunch of stuff. I usually go shopping on my own so that I have plenty of time to try out everything. And it paid off because I got some really cute outfits. I had to give away some clothes to make space in my closet for the new ones. That checked off one item on my 2021 bucket list!

Every year, a group of creative people come together and set up Soul Santhe. It's like a flea market with food, music and lots of stalls. I have been to this once before and thoroughly enjoyed it. This time I went with the girls in the family and had a good time again. I usually don't buy anything here because I find it too expensive. But the boutique stores are full of cute stuff that I love to ogle at :P

I finally put in new cartridges into the printer. I think the smaller things are harder to get off the list. And am glad I did this one. The bigger news is that I bought an OTG!! I have been wanting to buy one for so long. This is thee perfect size and I can't wait to bake in it. I have never baked in a proper oven before but I think I can figure it out. Earlier, I used to seek recipes that don't need an oven. Now, I have to do the opposite of that :D

But having an additional item on the kitchen counter means less space to work on it. So, I cleaned out the kitchen cabinets and moved the mixie and coconut grater inside them. I can just take them out whenever I need them. This makes so much more sense and the counter looks cleaner now. I love organizing and I believe that the way to having a clean space is by ensuring each item has a home. You take an item out, use it, clean it and put it back. No stuffing and hiding things out of sight only for it to tumble out later.

March turned out to be a good month. Looking forward to April now :)

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Karnataka Gatha Vaibhava

Alright! All about last week 😃 I went on a weekend trip to Chikkamagalur with my friends. We stayed in this rustic homestay called Western Woods. The plan started off with around 15 people and dropped to 5 by the time we were ready to go 😆 However, that did not deter us. The five of us got to stay together in the dormitory-style huts. It had two double beds on the ground floor and two single beds on the top floor. Looked more like bunk beds. It had 2 bathrooms as well. The whole place was impressively clean!

We started by 7 AM and reached by 10:30 I believe. We had the whole day ahead of us. So, we headed to a nearby pool. The tranquil water and serene surroundings seemed to take away the stress of our busy lives 😇 We lay down on the rocks for a while soaking up the sun. It looked as if it might rain. So, we headed back to the resort. We enjoyed hot bhajjis while watching the mandatory rain before Shivaratri 😋 The water spirit must have been in its element because we jumped into the pool right after and started playing water polo. All our unused joints got some much-needed exercise. Needless to say, we slept like logs.

The next day, I skipped the trek to Ethina Bhuja, a mountain that resembles the back of an ox. I don't particularly enjoy heights (read terrified 😖). Post breakfast, we went offroading in an open jeep. We were thrilled to bits when the jeep almost went up to the edge of the hill 😀 The weather was hot and humid. We took some pictures and headed straight to a hidden waterfall. The water was so clear that we could actually see the fishes swimming and the seaweed underneath. Back to the resort for lunching and napping. In the evening, we took a short hike to a hill named Devaramane to watch the sunset. The sunset was nothing unusual but the open expanse of mountains all around was breathtaking!

It was time to go home. We washed up and sat around a bonfire. Before I forget, the food here was delicious, which is rare in homestays. The owner of the resort began chatting with us and was saying that we should try the night safari the next time. This got us intrigued and we hopped on to his car for a nighttime stroll, hoping to see a few wild animals. Unfortunately, the only animal we saw was a rabbit scurrying away 😂 There were a lot of horror stories going around. But the night sky was so clear, illuminated by thousands of tiny star lights which are usually obscured by the pollution in the city, that nothing could frighten me. I felt one with nature 💕

The next morning, we were reluctant to say goodbye to this wonderful place. Though it had zero cellphone coverage, it helped us to connect with ourselves 😇 But we had more sightseeing to do. One can never tire of visiting the heritage cities of Belur and Halebeedu. I went back to feast my eyes on the marvellous sculptures and the amazing craftsmanship of the artisans of the 11th and 12th century. We always hire a guide because every carving there has a story to say. We had timed the visit totally wrong because it was peak noon and the sun was blazing on us relentlessly. And yet, we couldn't help being mesmerized by the fascinating stories of our land's history 🙆

The Western Ghats has already been declared a UNESCO world heritage site. The government is working on a similar status for Belur-Halebeedu. Visiting these archaeological marvels has rekindled my interest in knowing more about our legacy. Our ancestors were far wiser and skilful than us and am talking about eight to ten centuries back. Apparently, Sri Aluru Venkata Rao has beautifully summarized the rise and fall of the various dynasties in Karnataka in his book called "Karnataka Gatha Vaibhava". I am reading this book now and hope to experience what was once a glorious period of mankind.

The following site lists some of the must-visit cultural landmarks of Karnataka.
https://www.trawell.in/karnataka/heritage

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Fab Feb

February has been very busy at work. I haven't had time to go out and have fun. Nevertheless, I made the most of my time at home by watching some web series 😛

I have been watching Anne with an E. I loved the book. The Netflix adaptation is great too. I did not expect to but am already on the second season 💁 There were a couple of web series that I had downloaded but never found the time to watch. I am done with 'Never Have I Ever'. I binge watched 'Emily in Paris'. Now, I can't stop dreaming of going to France (especially for those croissants!!).

I have also been learning French using the duo app. It made 'Emily in Paris' more enjoyable I think 😛 I am thrilled to know that I still remember what I learnt way back in 2008 😎 I am making steady progress with the theory. But the spoken language is too fast and I can barely keep up.

Am getting better at cooking. I made prawns chilli-pepper fry and a Hyderabadi style chicken curry. Both dishes had favourable feedback 😀 I am short on cash this month. I submitted the wrong proof for the home loan and now am
being heavily taxed for it. Also paid the overdue property tax with a penalty! #AdultingSoTaxing

The whole month, we have been preparing for Dithu's 10th birthday party. Finally, it's done. It was so much fun!! We even had a magician who performed quite a range of tricks leaving both the kids and adults amazed.

Sunday, January 31, 2021

Head start

Well well.. The first month of the year is already done! How and why is time flying so fast? 🙆

A quick recap of the month so far. On the work front, we have had a major reorg and a new manager. At present, this seems like a good move for us. We still have to go to work once in three weeks. I board the cab from my new place now. The commute takes only 30 minutes. But if I am honest, I miss the hour-long drive along the scenic NICE road. It used to be my me-time when I would clear my head and plan my day. Alas, good things don't last forever 😔

I have made a good start on my bucket list. I have created a vision board but couldn't print it out. I have pledged on Goodreads to read 20 books, which is by far my lowest target. But I have so many other things planned as well 😃 I have tried 3-4 new recipes with hits and misses. The cheesecakes, kori ghasi and dosa turned out really well while the white chocolates not so much. But hey, practice makes us perfect 😊

I haven't started learning anything new so far, but I am working out regularly. I have started intermittent fasting and that is helping my metabolism. And I visited two libraries! Howzzat! I enrolled in one of them and have been reading a lot. I plan to read at least one Kannada book every month and write detailed reviews on Goodreads. The Kannada section is lacking in this aspect. I haven't ticked off "Visit a library" because I want to visit the State Central Library near Cubbon Park. And in between all that, my plants are beginning to grow new leaves 😍

Jan has been a bit stressful too. I try to indulge in a bit of TLC for myself, whenever I can. A couple of Insta reels with my fam brought back my josh 😛 Hoping for an eventful Feb. I have some events lined up! Shhhh..

Sunday, January 3, 2021

2021 Bucket List

I have bought my first planner and to be honest, I think I was better off without it 😛 I have made a list of small and big goals for this year, some of them may be habits. I organized my bucket list for the year into different categories. As much as I love pen and paper, I love journaling in this blog too. So, I am putting up my things to do here as well which will help me check on them even if I don't have my planner in hand.

CREATIVE
Make a vision board
Make a photo wall
🗸 Take up reading challenge - I have taken up the Goodreads challenge and also plan to read at least 12 non-English books.
🗸 Take up doodle challenge - Joined a group at my apartment. It's only my first week but am killing it! (in a good way)
🗸 Try new Pinterest recipes
Create a new felt project
Have a 'creativity' day
Plan monthly surprise

LEARNING
🗸 New language - I am learning French on the Duo app.
Photography
Calligraphy
Skillshare class
🗸 Dance class - I will check this off because I joined one for 3 months.
🗸 Cooking class - Attended a baking workshop online.
🗸 New restaurant - Visited URU resto-pub which had huge trees growing right within
🗸 New cuisine - Had sushis for cousin's birthday.
🗸 Experience something new - Offroading in Mudigere.

FUN
🗸 Watch Disney classics - Steaming ahead on this one with 50% done.
🗸 Enrol in a library - Enrolled in a local library today. Just being amidst all those books is so exciting. Hope to utilize it well.
🗸 Make a music video - Made a couple of reels with cousins.
🗸 Nail art - I got it done twice and flaunted it extensively each time :P
🗸 Karaoke night - Did this at Gangavathi, super fun.
Colour hair
🗸 Game Night - All cousins got on a zoom call to play our fav game - Antakshari!!
🗸 Listen to a podcast - Listened to Little things on Audible!!
🗸 Watch a TED talk - Watched many but enjoyed SRK's the most!

PERSONAL GROWTH
🗸 Practice driving - I would say this is covered since I was consistently driving on NICE road when car pooling.
Publish an article
Publish a blog post every month
🗸 Take care of a plant - I ordered some plants for myself as a birthday gift. They look lovely.
🗸 Read a Kannada book/novel - I read a collection of humorous short stories at a time I needed it the most. Hope to keep reading more.
🗸 Add 25L to my savings by end of the year - Early retirement, here I come
Complete a puzzle
🗸 Buy a luxury item - Bought a couple of bags at Malaysia.
🗸 Check off a bucket list item - I am finally able to solve the Rubik's cube on my own. So thrilled!

TRAVEL
Visit a library
🗸 Weekend getaway - Went on a short trip to Sakleshpur and had a ball!
🗸 Visit a beach - Went to some really lovely beaches in SA.
Road trip
🗸 Girls trip - Can't believe this happened twice - Europe and Malaysia.
Attend a show/concert
Travel Solo
Go on a picnic
🗸 Go on a shopping spree - Bought a lot of necessary stuff at Decathlon and Pantaloons.

HEALTH
🗸 Lose 5 kgs - I fell sick and lost weight. I think this is the only way I was going to lose it :P
Complete 1000 km on foot
Run 5k
Meditate
Gratitude journal
Skip non-veg for a month
Visit a spa or wellness retreat

ORGANIZING
Create a capsule wardrobe
🗸 Baking supplies - I have a tiny little store now.
Stationery

COMMUNITY
🗸 Volunteer - Volunteered in the Rajyotsava event.
🗸 Donate blood - Did it once more and am so happy about it.
🗸 Donate clothes - Thanks to the shopping haul, ended up giving a lot of stuff to my maid.
Random acts of kindness
Shop small businesses

Saturday, January 2, 2021

New Year = Still the same me, but better

The New Year has already begun and I am in mid-transition. It's a long weekend and I am alone at home. This gives me a lot of freedom. I can do anything and maybe that's why am doing nothing 😮

We are in the middle of a pandemic. The unexpected COVID-19 attack put the whole world into a frenzy. Some countries handled it well especially the smaller ones. India is on the path to recovery. The vaccine is a ray of hope. A lot of people were severely affected by the restricted lifestyle. I did not believe I would be one of them. However, today I have come to accept it.

For a long, long time I knew that I was emotionally vulnerable. I was not coping well with all the mental stress. I tried to put up a brave face and believed that I was strong enough to overcome it. I was even quite proud of the fact that I had not broken down completely. But that's the thing about health. It's never straight forward. You focus on one thing and you are hit elsewhere! My coping mechanism was to take out all the negativity from my system and dump it elsewhere. This can be so toxic, especially for the people around me.

I am a perfectionist and I have forever longed to live a good life. I have an image of a happy future and I have been trying to manifest it for years together now. Just when I settle down and get used to a routine, the universe shakes up everything again. The frustration of it has affected my core. I find something to complain about anything and everything. I try to make positive changes but get pulled back into the same black hole. I assumed that 2021 will make me a better person. The truth is that we have to work hard at being a better person every day. And this change has to be holistic, all-inclusive. I cannot pick and choose to be kind and empathetic.

This year, I hope to keep myself busy doing things I love. Mistakes happen. Accept it and move forward. Live and let live. Find/create my own happiness. Be grateful for what I have 💖