Happy New Year 2018

Happy New Year 2018

Another year, another month, another week feels like new beginnings.

Do  I  need new resolutions, I  don't thinks so, I am  still working on being a better person. So lets continue with not being judgmental, or be less judgmental. I  think I am  doing  good so far, I give people benefit of doubt. I still have less patience for stupidity (working on it). Another one is to stay  healthy and stay  active. Kind of picked some things that do not have a start date or a end date (Lifestyle changes).

Past year 2017 is already  over I  don't want to look back or bring  any thing burden with me into new year. I  just want to past year to reflect on the good things that happened
I have read a lot more books
I have been more active on this blog
I learned to do yoga and meditate
I enjoyed my time with family.
Another milestone was road trips Canada and New Mexico.
Posted a lot of pictures on Instagram


Somewhere I have started feeling that we are getting old, not by looks but by maturity. It has become easier to let go of things. Many small things don't make me mad anymore. I  have been  clicking a lot of pictures, I  don't want to miss anything. We live in a very beautiful world. I am really thankful to have an  opportunity to appreciate and see this beautiful world.

The word I am adding  to my  life is Grateful. I will incorporate this word in my life more starting this year.

Book Club

Book Club

I am part of a neighborhood book club now, its a blessing, as I always wanted to join a book club, but was never able to.
All the book clubs I knew were farther from home, so going to attend on a weeknight after work and after taking care of the dinner for the family, always seemed like a fantasy. I know there might be so many moms out there who are like me. Once I am home I don't want to go anywhere if not necessary.

Since my book club is in the neighborhood, so very close by. Its a small group of 8 ladies. We keep on trying to encourage more ladies to join often. Our starting member is retired as an English teacher, she keeps the schedule and keeps track of suggested books. Books and hosts are decided 3 months in advance, so people have time to buy books and read. Its so interesting these days to see the technology we have some of us do Audiobooks, some use Kindle some read real books some of us also use libraries to loan the books, since all versions are available in libraries these days.

Many a times there's a member or two who has not read the book or was not able to finish it. We still like them to join and participate in our discussions. As they tell us where they lost interest or why they were not able to get into the book. My realization as I listen to lot of books while commuting to and from my work. Its easier to finish a book when  you are listening, even  if you are not fully into it. I love our book club meetings as the discussion starts with the book, and the author. We also talk about similar experiences related to real life. Story takes a different meaning to some people. sometimes my perspective changes to the story after the discussion.

Another thing that I like about the book club, they pick the books that I would have not picked usually. So its like a surprise to unfold and finish. We have read many historic fiction books. Its fun to discuss the books that has a movies related to  the story. Discussing old times with new times, old trends with new trends. Some books are from different countries. We had deserts from that country. Thanks to the internet availability we look at the pictures of that time periods of the places mentioned in the books.

Any one who's motivated enough to setup a book club I can suggest some ideas to keep it simple

1. We meet once a month with Wine and dessert (Host Provides)
2. We get to know our neighbors
3. Its fun to look at our neighbors homes, so differently and beautifully decorated
4. everyone takes turn in hosting the book club.
5. We are planning on including guys to the discussion as well, not sure how it will change our discussions of if it will change anything at all.
6. Host also leads the discussion doesn't have to be the host, but we want everyone to have this option.
7. Find Pictures of places mentioned in the book (Last book we read was about a trail, one of the members marked the map to show the trail)
8. Find food from that country
9. Find books from different cultures and talk about them
10. There will always be some books that no one will like, its ok
11. Find interesting facts about the book and the author (available on internet)
12. Find interesting quotes from the book (available on internet) 
13. Find interesting questions to discuss (available on internet)

Fantasia - A Book Club

Fantasia https://m.facebook.com/fantasia.bookclub/

Fantasia is a page I  created to  keep  a bucket-list of books I  have read.  I  wanted this page to  be a common  ground for the people to post any  books they  read and enjoyed and also  circle back to  the page when  they are looking  for a book to  read.

Fantasia is a Latin  word which  means Fantasy  Land,  when  I  heard this word I  thought  perfect  don't  we all  go into  a fantasy  land when  we read a book.  Our mind starts generating  these imaginary  places and people in  our mind. I  don't  know if everyone does but  some times I  also  start thinking  which  actors will  be best  suited for these roles,  if the movie is made based on  the book  I  am  reading.

This weekend there was a huge sale by  Half price books where the whole place was filled by  books. Wow,  so  many  books under one roof and all  books $2.00 and under. But  its was so  hard to  pick  few books out  of so  many. So  many books I  wanted to  read. So  many  authors I  would like to  read. I  came back  home with a box full  of books. I  really  feel  good seeing  that my  kids also love for reading. Its a very  nice feeling  when  they are trying  to  suggest  an  author or a book to  read. " Mom read this you  will like it." " Mom he is such  a great  author you  will  really  enjoy  reading  his books".

I  like all kinds of book,  but  dark  and depressing. I  love reading  Mystery,  Romance, Amish, Thrillers,  some memoirs and autobiographies.    I  also  enjoy  books from  different Countries.  these book  give an  inside glimpse of how people live in  different  parts of the world, there culture.  Many  a times I  am so  thankful to be born  in  a good family,  got married in  a good family,  they  helped me make better decisions and helped me be an  independent person. I am  a citizen  of a country,   Where I  always have independence to  choose my  career, path of  my  life. 

I  always refer to  the website https://www.goodreads.com/ to  get  a review of the books I  want  to  read. This website is such a  good resource to  refer to for a reader  like me.

New Learnings

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”
― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!


This morning  on  the 10th  day of January 2014,  I  feel  like I  have to  enroll  into  some classes again  and "LEARN" some new things, I did last  year  loved it. It was hard I  was complaining  as well,  why  did I  got  my  self into  it,  but  once it  was over  I  was happy  I  did it.

I  have been reading  books written  by Lisa See, she is an  awesome writer and she writes with  so  much  simplicity.

Above said was written in  2014 but was sitting  as draft to  be published. I  read and decided to post this today, as it  made me feel  that I  am  making  progress in  achieving  what  I  had wished for.

This is interesting  to  look back and see,  that I  am  doing  what  I  wanted to  do  I  felt the need to  learn,  this craving  to learn  has helped me  in  my  professional  growth. I  have achieved few milestones in  my  career  as well. I  have taken a lot  more educational classes since then.  I  have started my  learning  journey, and I  will  make sure that I  don't  stop learning.

I  am  also loving  leisure reading, Fictions. I  also have started listening  to  the audio books and enjoying  it. Created a Facebook Page "Fantasia" to  post about the book I  am reading, what  I  think  about  it  or some times with an  interesting  quote out of that book.

I  enjoy  looking  back  to  see the books I  have read and enjoyed. The list goes on ...