Reading Challenge 2019

This year is mostly about pushing boundaries. I have always been more productive when I have a list in hand. So, I will be taking up a variety of challenges just to keep myself motivated. The first one is a reading challenge. I usually manage to read at least 30 books a year. This year I have set a goal of 35. I found the Pop Sugar reading challenge which covers a variety of genres. Going to give it a try! Here's my list in case you want to do this too :)

Pop Sugar Reading Challenge 2019 (20/40)

✔	Challenge Prompt	Book Title	Author	Genre
	A book becoming a movie in 2019	The Nightingale	Kristin Hannah	Historical Fiction
✓	A book that makes you nostalgic	Swami And Friends	R.K.Narayan	Kids
	A book written by a musician (fiction or nonfiction)	Moonwalk	Michael Jackson	Memoir
✓	A book you think should be turned into a movie	On The Come Up	Angie Thomas	Young Adult
	A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads	The Great Gatsby	F. Scott Fitzgerald	Classics
✓	A book with a plant in the title or on the cover	All the Names They Used for God	Anjali Sachdeva	Fiction
	A reread of a favorite book	I've Got Your Number	Sophie Kinsella	Chick-lit
✓	A book about a hobby	The Book Ninja	Ali Berg, Michelle Kalus	Contemporary
✓	A book you meant to read in 2018	Educated	Tara Westover	Memoir
✓	A book with Pop / Sugar / Challenge in the title	In Watermelon Sugar	Richard Brautigan	Fantasy
✓	A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover	Poirot Investigates	Agatha Christie	Mystery
	A book inspired by Myth / Legend / Folklore	The Song of Achilles	Madeline Miller	Mythology
	A book published posthumously	The Trial	Franz Kafka	Classics
✓	A book you see someone reading on TV or in a movie	Love Story	Eric Segal	Romance
	A retelling of a classic	Great	Sara Benincasa	Retelling
	A book with a question in the title	What If?	Randall Munroe	Science/Humor
✓	A book set on college or university campus	Fangirl	Rainbow Rowell	Young Adult
	A book about someone with a superpower	Akata Witch	Nnedi Okorafor	Fantasy
✓	A book told from multiple POVs	What If It's Us?	Becky and Adam	LGBT
	A book set in space	The Loneliest Girl in the Universe	Lauren James	Sci-Fi
✓	A book by two female authors	The Lottie Project	Jacqueline Wilson, Vicky Ireland	Kids
	A book with Salt / Sweet / Bitter / Spicy in the title	Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet	Jamie Ford	Fiction
	A book set in Scandinavia	A Man Called Ove	Fredrik Backman	Fiction
	A book that takes place in a single day	A Midsummer Night's Dream	William Shakespeare	Classics
	A debut novel	The Secret History	Donna Tartt	Mystery
✓	A book that's published in 2019	I Owe You One	Sophie Kinsella	Chick-lit
✓	A book featuring an extinct or imaginary creature	A book about a mythical creature	Katie O'Neill	Graphic Novel
	A book recommended by a celebrity you admire
	A book with love in the title	Love & Gelato	Jenna Evans Welch	Romance
✓	A book featuring an amateur detective	4:50 from Paddington	Agatha Christie	Mystery
	A book about a family	The Recipe Box	Viola Shipman	Fiction
✓	A book author from Asia, Africa, or South America	Best of Laxman Vol. 4	R.K.Laxman	Cartoons
	A book with a zodiac sign or astrology term in title	The Star-Touched Queen	Roshani Chokshi	Fantasy
✓	A book that includes a wedding	The Bride Test	Helen Hoang	Contemporary
✓	A book by an author whose first and last names start with the same letter	The Little Book of Positivity	Lucy Lane	Self-help
✓	A ghost story	We Have Always Lived in the Castle	Shirley Jackson	Horror
	A book with a two-word title	Mary Poppins	P.L. Travers	Kids
✓	A novel based on a true story	The Perfect Nanny	Leila Slimani	Thriller
✓	A book revolving around a puzzle or game	The Westing Game	Ellen Raskin	Kids
	Your favorite prompt from a past Popsugar Reading challenge

2019 for Love and Laughter

Happy new year!!

We are beginning a new year and what better chance to reinvent ourselves? Over time, making these new year resolutions have become a part of me. They are like markers for my journey through the months, nudging me in the right direction whenever I feel lost. I have picked up new stuff, focused on my positives and learned to let go when I should. That's the power of words.

So, let's do the ritual one more time!

Highlights of the previous year.

1. We bought a new car. It was so out of the blue, almost an impulsive buy.
2. Singapore vacation. Finally, the five of us went on a holiday abroad. We had so much fun!
3. I got promoted!! I find it hard to believe that I have been working for 8 years now. I can't fool around anymore. I am a senior. No longer the spoilt brat of the team (actually, that part doesn't change :P)
4. Now, the big one. We bought our own house!! I thought this will never happen.

I have so much to be grateful for. I have done well financially. My family and friends have been a pillar of strength during all my tough times. I hope I never let them down. Here's what I have planned for the days ahead.

* Be more active socially
I find life so much better when I am on my own. But socializing is important too. It gets the mind out of the rut.

* Read more, craft more
This is a forever goal. I plan to create a reading and crafting challenge to keep myself motivated.

* Set up my room
I get butterflies whenever I think of this! It's going to be so exciting :D

* Shopping!!
I think I have scrimped and saved enough. This year I will value quality over price. Also, I am dying to own something from a luxury brand.

* Perfect the smokey eye look!
I can do my make up fairly well. Getting the smokey eyes right is a bit of a challenge. This should be fun :)

* Stop hoarding
Seriously!! Repeat it a million times.

* Fight negativity
Easier said than done. Often, we ourselves hold on to the hurt. If something is affecting your peace of mind, get rid of it. Few minutes of courage and days of perseverance is what it takes.

* Which country will it be this year?
How can the year be complete without a vacation abroad? :P

I have spent three decades putting the important people in my life above me. My nature is such that even love feels like a debt. I am at a point where I don't feel like that anymore. I have done as much as I can without holding back. I don't have to worry about my dear ones anymore. I will always be concerned about their well being but I am no longer responsible for their happiness.

A year of no regrets is what I look forward to the most.

M-J time

Christmas is almost here. What better way to celebrate it than visiting friends? So, I went to M's place this week. Even though it's just the second time I am going to her home, I feel very comfortable there. She has set up her home beautifully! Everywhere I see, I can spot something cute or quirky. We were so excited about spending time together that we forgot half the things we thought we'll do :P

But the best part was in the evening. We went to her mom's place to pick up her daughter J. If you have never been treated like a celebrity, you should envy me! As soon as I stepped in, the whole family surrounded me. There were smiles and hugs and excited chatter! It feels so good to actually meet the people you have always been hearing about. I had a huge grin stuck on my face. M's parents have been living in that house for more than 15 years!! Veterans :D Their home is like a museum and I could explore it the whole day!

When we came back to M's place, J promptly took me to her room. And very kindly told her mom "Amma, you can go if you want"! ROFL!! We played few games and of course, Amma couldn't stay out. This is how the conversation went.

J: Amma, will you play with us?
M: Do you want Amma to play?
J: No

It was hilarious!! I wish I had taken pictures. Why do I always forget it :(

Growing up I did not like kids so much. Maybe because they took away the attention from me :P But when kids are at a tender age, probably below five or six, their innocence just wins me over. J would look at me with wide eyes even when I was on the phone. I have never felt so much love from a kid before <3 One day, she will grow up to be a smart, young lady, all too soon. I sincerely hope she remains the sweet little child at heart.

Home is where the heart is

It's a big day today! We booked an apartment!! :D

I have been waiting to move into our own house for ages. I just have to close my eyes and I can imagine a neat and tidy house with well-done interiors. There are plenty of shelves and cabinets to ensure everything in the house will have a home. A shoe rack for the dozens of footwear I have but rarely use. A comfortable couch placed strategically in front of the TV. A balcony to let in plenty of air and light, with a small table and couple of chairs to enjoy the evening breeze. A dining room which also has a cabinet to hold our precious crockery. A well-stocked kitchen, ready to cater to every craving. Cozy rooms with ambient lights and matching curtains along with a full-length mirror, of course! 

I also wish for a reading nook, tucked away in some corner <3 

Okay, back to reality! I still cannot believe we finally booked it. I know it's going to take a few years to call it our own. Nevertheless, it's a start. Long back a friend mentioned that he wanted to live in his own house by the time he turned 30. Unknown to him, the idea planted itself in my head and spread its roots deep into my heart. The years of budgeting and planning finances finally paid off. We have been scouring our area, visiting every house suggested by friends, relatives and agents alike. But this is where our destiny was waiting for us.

I hope I am not exaggerating when I say we found a near perfect deal. It is a 2 BHK apartment, situated on the main road, very close to the metro. There are two wings, only one of which is completed as of now. But we ran into a lot of people we know. I and my sister are buying this house primarily for our parents. We want them to settle into a comfortable colony and create a world of their own. Not independent of us but one where they won't miss us terribly. They will be safe and secure. They won't have to struggle for small household repairs. More importantly, they will be surrounded by friends and family (my cousin too has bought an apartment here).

If things go well, we should be able to pay off the loan in a few years. I am so grateful to God for making my wishes come true.

EDIT: We upgraded to a 3 BHK! How are we going to manage it! Panic mode on!

Singapore Swag

I have been feeling too lazy to blog. There are so many things to do that writing inevitably takes a back seat. But looking back upon these wonderful reminiscences sometimes helps to get through with a difficult present. So here I am. I have been lucky to go on two international holidays within a span of six months. I went to Thailand in December and holidayed in Singapore just two weeks back. I always wanted to take my parents abroad and my sister's birthday was coming up. It was a perfect opportunity to go out as a family. And that's what we did!

We arrived in Singapore on May 11th, early morning. This country is so neat and organized! We settled down for a bit and headed to Singapore river safari post lunch. We went to Bugis street the next day to get shopping out of the way. Marina Bay in the evening was cool and pleasant. We had a lot of fun at Madame Tussaud's and Trick Eye Museum on the third day. The last leg of the trip ended on a high at Universal Studios. That completed four days of our whirlwind trip.

We took the MRT (train) everywhere which was highly convenient. Not much of a problem with food as Indian cuisine is easily available. I found the general public polite and helpful where as the authorities seemed a bit rude. Honestly, four days is too less for Singapore. There are so many exciting things to see and do. Yet, I am happy that my parents had a lot of fun especially my dad. I kept reminding myself to take a lot of pictures. I am sure somewhere down the line, we will sit back and look at these pictures with lots of funny stories to share.

Look 20 Feel 18

2018 has arrived and it looks so promising already! The world is full of opportunities. We can make the best of it provided we try. I have always believed that life is all about learning, evolving and enjoying the process at the same time. I rarely competed with others. I have been my benchmark. The ultimate goal of my life is to be the best of me. Right now, I feel I have the scope to do a lot more in life. I just have to be more outgoing.

I have already chalked up few things for the upcoming year. As the days start rolling, we tend to get busy with our daily life. Making a list like this won’t let us lose sight of the things that matter to us.

To begin with, I plan to take my parents on a vacation. I know they will be the most comfortable with me around. After the Thailand trip, I think I understand how to plan a budget trip without cutting corners.

Last year, we did a slew of theme parties. I am starting off this year with an aviation themed one. I intend to up my game and use up at least half of the craft supplies I have amassed :P

The girls want to go on a trip to Andaman. I want to be better prepared for the water sports there. So I am thinking of enrolling for swimming classes.

I am getting a lot of appreciation for my fashion sense these days :) This has made me pay more attention to my outfit, hair and makeup.

Also, my sister has looked up some events which seem like a lot of fun. Big plans for this year. Fingers crossed!

Sawadika Thailand

I am just back from a vacation. Guess where I went! The land of smiles – Thailand!! Although we were advised that it is unsafe for women, our gang of 9 female warriors charged into the country. Right from the time you step onto their land, you can experience the Thai hospitality. They are warm, welcoming and very polite.

We landed in Suvarnabhumi airport and straight away took a cab to Pattaya. We watched the Alcazar show which was performed by ladyboys. Some of them were extremely pretty and graceful too. The production quality is top notch. The sets and performances are a sight to behold. Since the men were keeping a close watch on us through online means we went to walking street at 9 PM :P It was pretty calm during that time. We finished dinner and went for a Thai foot massage. It was amazing!! On the way back, we passed walking street and we could see it coming to life.

Alcazar Show

Next, we hired a full day cab and went to the Sanctuary of truth. It’s entirely made of wood (no metal nails too). Understandably, you have to walk around with a helmet. The temple is mesmerizing. It is dedicated to the Trinity – Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva. You can also see sculptures of Ganapati, Saraswathi and Narasimha. Our food experience in Pattaya had been lacking so far, but Black Canyon totally made up for it. After a delicious lunch, we went to the Sriracha zoo. I was in two minds about getting a picture with the tiger. Finally, I gave in to temptation, kept morality aside and went on to cuddle the giant cub in my arms. When I was feeding the tiger cub, it had a paw on my hand so that I don’t take away the milk bottle. I found it absolutely adorable! <3

Sanctuary of Truth

Next stop was Krabi. We checked in to the picturesque Beyond Resort and the coastal vibes in us went haywire. The sun and sand, beach and breeze – we were lost. The ocean waves and the moonlight took us to another world as we got our massages done by the sea shore. We booked the Phi-Phi island tour from the hotel for the next day. Sitting on the deck of the speed boat, we felt really adventurous. And now for the grand reveal – I overcame my fear of water and went snorkeling! *Whistle podu* Initially I was terrified, but when I looked into the blue green waters, all my fear was gone. The fishes came right up to us without any hesitation, as if they were inspecting us. The water was crystal clear and we could see the sea bed glittering with corals. It was a breath taking view!

View from Beyond Resort

Viking cave enroute to Phi-Phi Islands

We were sad to move out of Krabi but equally excited about shopping in Bangkok! We wanted to finish sightseeing first and hence went to the Grand Palace. A guy posing as a guide tried to misguide us by saying the Grand Palace was closed and it would open only at 1 PM. Luckily, we did not fall for it. We found a spunky guide called Jitra who took us on an express tour of the Palace. She was witty and feisty driving away anyone who tried to photo bomb our pictures with a stern “Oiii”! :D As soon as we were done, we hit the malls.

The Grand Palace

Bangkok is shopper’s paradise! The quality of the fabric is way superior compared to its price. Beautiful dresses, gowns and jumpsuits were available for as less as 250-300 bahts which is around 500-600 rupees in INR. However, size is definitely an issue. The Thai are petite people and you have to dig around a bit for bigger sizes in shoes and clothing. We went to MBK Mall for electronics and if you are good at bargaining, you can get items at throwaway prices. The Platinum Fashion Mall in Pratunam is dedicated to women. Bargaining is not entertained here and honestly, we did not even feel like doing so when the items were already available at such discounted prices.

All in all, this Thailand trip has been very satisfying. It gave me a much needed break and managed to rejuvenate me. I have been involved in every stage of planning this vacation and I am proud that we did most of the things on our list. This was a girls only trip which made it all the more fun. The only missing piece in this perfect trip is my sister. If she had come with us, I would have rated this the best vacation of my life! :)

Here is our itinerary. 

Thailand Trip Itinerary with expenses

List of things we wanted to try.

Green Papaya Salad (Som Tum)
Thai Fish Cakes (Tod Mun Pla)
Flat Noodles (Pad Thai)
Thai-Style Omelet (Khai Jiao)
Thai Coconut Ice cream / Fried Ice Cream
Mango Sticky Rice
Banana Pancakes/Crepes
Fresh fruits – Mangosteen, Dragonfruit, Rambutan
Thai Massage
Snorkeling