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, June 27, 2021
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! 💃
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 08 - Read (Resumed my book. I was falling behind on my reading challenge)
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 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 😇
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.
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 :)
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
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.
https://www.trawell.in/karnataka/heritage
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