Loved this book 
Us at 14 
Nothing better than tea 
Junie 
Mango shake 
The 15th floor balcony
As I write this, the weather outside is beautiful. It has just stopped raining and I can hear activity on the road. It’s still thundering and it will rain again. Birds are singing. First day of June and also a Monday – it looks like some one was wanting to organize things on the Gregorian calendar.
May was a good month. If I forget the fact that we are dealing with a pandemic and soon it will be three months of being locked and working from home, I liked how May fared in my life.
Things seemed to settle down in May and I think I was better accepting that the world around us has changed. The acceptance leads to adaptability. I now have a spot at home from where I work, I eat my lunch in peace and I also log out of work at the right time without burning myself out on work.
Here are a few things (and you know my list is long) that made me happy. And no, I am not so organized so these are in a random order.
♥ Just yesterday I learnt that this blog made this to the 10th edition of the Directory of Best Indian Blogs, 2020. This was my fourth year in a row and the news made me happy. Blogging is important to me and it’s an important part of who I am. I am immensely grateful to you all who read and always send me the good vibes.
♥ On a personal best, I worked out on 26 days of 31 this month. My workouts ranged from yoga to some heavy duty ones. I also tried the #1000 Rep Challenge after drawing inspiration from Raji and Rachna. The workout left me sore but happy. That’s the kind of pain I don’t complain about.
♥ This month was a smooth(ie) month. I have always been a shakes and smoothies lover. So after workouts, I blend fruits with curd or milk and make a healthy drink and top it with seeds and raisins. That is my happy ritual in the morning. I was lucky to get Avocado and that made things better. If you are on my Instagram, you would have seen the many pictures I post every morning.
♥ I finished four books and they were all so good. I am getting better at managing time to read but my favorite time is still before bed. Which ones of these have you read and loved – Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate, It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens.
♥ May had two days of off – Eid and Labor’s Day. The long weekends made things comfortable and I was able to rest up and take some break. I also took a day off during the Eid weekend and loved that time off. At this time when we can’t travel or go around, taking breaks is very important. So I am being kind to myself and taking time off as I need.
♥ Persistent headaches had hit me during April so when the lock down was eased off, I went to get my eyes tested. And guess what? My eye sight has got better so my glasses were too strong for my eyes. I got a new pair and I love these new green glasses. Also, the headaches are now gone meaning it’s good that I am my own doctor.
♥ Remember the post I wrote about the stories during this pandemic? My folks are now safe and at home. I am grateful that they could fly and reach their respective homes. It’s a big relief. Home is such a thing that you long to leave yet long to come back.
♥ VT and I could finish some chores when the lockdown eased off. We bought a microwave, started working on our home front and other little things that were held up. Also, I am grateful that my helps came back to work and it’s been a month of their support to run our household.
♥ I have a sweet tooth and I couldn’t resist a lot of things that I had. Jalebi, home made sevai, besan laddoo, moti choor laddoo and a lot more. Some days I am glad that I don’t have a weighing machine at home. But grateful that I could eat what I wanted. We all know many don’t have that choice.
♥ VT and I also watched some good movies and shows this month – The Spy, Ford V Ferrari, Joker, Patal Lok, The Wire, The Lion King to name a few. VT is the one who looks up what to watch, researches and then we watch.
Through the month, we also tried to take quick walks after dinner and I am liking all the additional time we have with each other. It’s been good in a lot of ways and I can’t be more grateful. As we grow old, I am sure we will come back and revisit good memories from these days. This month VT and I also completed 14 years of knowing each other and falling in love. I baked a cake and clicked a picture for us. While the picture was beautiful, the cake was hard as a rock and also inedible. But hey – you can also say our love is rock solid like the cake.
Blogging scenes were decent but I could have done better. Mangoes were in abundance and so were weekend afternoon siestas. We had dosas after long and how delicious they are. We are getting pre-monsoon showers and they sure make me smile.
My list goes on.
How was your May? What are you grateful for?
Linking up with Vidya’s gratitude circle for the month of May.
happiness and food 
Oh thats such a sweet and lovely post to read Parul. I love the calmness that comes through in your writing. Thank you for reminding me of the little joys to be grateful for in this trying time.
Congrats on your anniv – though I am stumped how on earth did the cake turn rock hard? We need to chat about an easy peasy recipe for choc cake now. Shall DM on WA.
Envious and proud of your fitness regime – I hope you keep at it. And please eat without guilt- thats a terrific thing to do. I am waiting for the good mangoes to come now as I love this fruit to death.
Wishing you a more productive and blissful June.
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Congratulations on making it to the Indian Top Blogs!
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Sounds like a lovely month despite the lockdown Parul. I’m glad to hear you are doing well and savouring the moments. Happy anniversary! I have read The Hate U Give and really enjoyed it. It was very poignant! Hope June is a good month!
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This is such a happy post, Paro! Makes me smile 🙂
May was as dull as it could get for me. 26/31 days? Wow, you are my Everest! 😀
Wishing you a more productive June!
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Really enjoyed reading this sunshine post, Parul. And yes, I have been seeing your Insta updates of fitness. Super proud of you! You go girl! You sound calmer. Hope certain personal situations are better settled now. Thanks for the shoutout. Wasn’t that challenge fun? So good that all of us could egg each other on. I have loved doing Yoga in May. Really! Let’s find a new fitness challenge in June. And here’s wishing you a serene and happy June. ❤
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I am happy that your family members are back home safe. They were in my mind. Congratulations on being in the Top Blog List for the fourth time. I am jealous of you that your maid is back. In MUmbai, they won’t come back in next 6 months, it seems. How do you manage so much workout. i need your influence. I barely manage to walk twice a week. Beautiful post dear.
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Congratulations Parul for the 14th anniversary of you and VT. May the Lord grant both of you many more years of togetherness:) this month is a happy month for you, glad your blog made it to the top Indian blog. You are an inspiration and you deserve every blessings for the hard work and commitment you have, nice to know about your fitness routine. I have a sweet tooth too and enjoyed making some chocolate cakes, oats laddu and yesterday made til laddu. Mango shake looks yummy. I had been making mango juice for my daughter every day as she loves this fruit. Thanks for sharing:)
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Isn’t it wonderful that you had so much to be grateful for in the month of May? You have been doing very well with your work-outs and overall organising your daily life during the lockdown. Congratulations on the 14th Anniversary and for the listing in the Top Indian Blogs. Hope the month of June treats you equally well 🙂
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Congratulations on your anniversary Payal. Your gratitude list reminded to reconsider things am grateful for. I am full of gratitude as I think of a rooof and health in current situation.
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That sounded like a good May for you, Parul. Congratulations on your blog making the Directory of Best Indian Blogs 2020. Quite an achievement and may your blog reach a wider audience. Good to hear you are keeping fit with exercises and getting your eyes checked. It’s these little things we make time and effort that makes us feel better 🙂
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I am so happy to know that you had a blessed May, Parul. Reading this post definitely brought a smile on my face. 🙂
Congratulations on your Love anniversary.
Noting down those books you shared. I haven’t been getting anywhere on the reading front since the lockdown.
You are doing an amazing job of being consistent with working out, Parul. I try my best. But some days the interruptions are just too much, by interruptions I mean Akku who likes to get in my way. I love seeing your workout updates. It is inspiring to say the least. \
Wishing you an awesome June ahead! ❤
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Congratulations on your 14 love anniversary and I wish many many more years of togetherness .
I also wish may this pandemic gets over at its earliest .
Thank to God that your this month was good .
Wish to hear better in June .
Stsy safe and take care .
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You are the only one I know whose eyesight has improved after glasses. 😀What’s the secret? Super impressed by your fitness and even reading updates. Oh the mention of all the sweets and mangoes is making my mouth water. Hope you have a fabulous June.
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Love = rock solid! That made me laugh! Happy anniversary! Perfect way to see the silver lining, Parul!
Congratulations on making the top blogs list!
Four books is great going! I have all these books but haven’t read them yet. Just being complacent that I own them. So glad your eyesight is better – that is indeed good news! I am happy to read your post – and love the positive vibes. Good to hear about your fitness journey – so important right now, right? Please take good care of yourself. Starting the day with a smoothie indeed sounds delicious!
Thank you so much for being part of the gratitude circle!
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