May was a mixed bag. It was made up of many things. Things that were good and things that were not-so-good. Like a potpourri where on the outside it is beautiful but not all elements are the best when you look into it. However, together the good and not-so-good elements make it a lovely combination.
It rained in Bangalore bringing the temperature down but a lot of trees couldn’t bear the storms and heavy lashes. Work was heavy but I was able to sail through. I have to now travel more than an hour for work and then an hour back but the commute is working fine. Mangoes are in season so I made the most of them. Mint chutneys, mango shakes and then as desserts. All this while trying to ensure that no bats have eaten those mangoes and infested them. I am sure you have heard about Nipah. Haven’t you?
Rather than talking in general, let’s talk about things that made me happy in May:
♥ A mid-week break right at the start of the month, made the week short and easy. I love the days I can afford an afternoon siesta and the labor day off provided that opportunity.
♥ We had pizza for dinner after a long time. VT and I prefer home-cooked meal. It’s important to eat healthy and after my allergies, it has been important for me to watch my food. So one day when I was craving for Pizza, we ordered it and that binge was fun.
♥ My morning alarm goes off at 5:40 am and you must have read my snoozing story. I go to Yoga 5-6 times a week and on most week days, I don’t miss a class. One day I woke up without snoozing my alarm, cancelled my class and slept. It was such a good feeling. Have you tried something like that?
♥ I read two books this month and I am glad I am back to reading. Far away from my goal but happy that I am back to reading every day. A House for Mr Biswas by V.S Naipaul and Complications by Atul Gawande were on my list and while I enjoyed both the books, the latter is a must read.
♥ I worked out 20 days this month and while 17 were Yoga, I loved Zumba and the functional training. I have taken up a 3-month Yoga pack until August and then I will switch to other formats. After making small changes to my evening routine, I am able to save a lot of time in the morning and that is helping me to work out before I leave for work.
♥ On my way to work one day, I asked VT if he would like to try kathal ki sabzi (Jackfruit stew)? Then like how Universe listens, same day when I was walking back home I saw a few people who were plucking jackfruits. I stopped to click a few pictures and instead I was offered jackfruits. For free. I asked Mum for a recipe and cooked. Such a blessing when universe conspires to make me happy.
♥ Have you tried looking at how numbers tell us story? This month – VT and I completed 12 years, our car is 5-year-old, I completed 8 years in Human Resources. A lot to count for, isn’t it?
♥ A lovely gesture by VU and her husband R who cooked peanut free pongal for me. I loved it so much that asked for a recipe but like you know, I haven’t been able to try on my own. Always grateful for kindness.
♥ Remember when I was talking about mangoes? We went to a farm to pluck mangoes one Sunday and had a good time getting to learn a few things about mangoes farms and trees. It was a new experience and I am grateful we got a chance.
♥ The GDPR rule and all the stuff bloggers had to do. Who said blogging was only writing? Grateful to Vinitha, Shailaja, Rachna and Sid for their tips and ideas on fixing up GDPR for happiness and food. The privacy policy is now live.
♥ Thankful to you readers who keep encouraging me to write. I loved the many hallway appreciation notes that I got this month. Your words make me feel good about blogging.
I am beginning to realize that this blog is getting photo heavy. I love sharing pictures and with heavy work load I know that it’s less of writing and more of photography. It would be good to know what do you readers think. Both writing and clicking is important for me but an opinion will help. After all when I write, you read. I am still trying to fit in writing on weekends or on days that I don’t have a call. It’s hard but again, both work and blogging are important. Like you can see, I have been in this confused state for sometime now. I am hoping June will bring some order.
How was May for you? Tell me what are you working on?
Linking with Vidya’s gratitude circle for May 2018.
happiness and food 
Nice to get to know you better Parul. I know what you mean, trying to find time for blogging. When I first started blogging I thought I could write a post in half an hour…but it takes more than that!
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Totally! Content, editing, pictures, promoting etc. I think a lot of work. Thanks for stopping by. My blog is a personal one so you will sure get to me a lot more here.
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Well well well 20 days of exercising now that is dedication.. the last i went ro the gym was in april.. 🤔🤔 i better get my act straightened and start again..
A lot of numbers too in may.. heres wishing many many many more good numbers your way
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Coming from you, I don’t believe this. You have to work out Bikram!
Thank you for your wishes.
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Thats a wonderful gratitude list Parul. Its sometimes these little moments that make our life so colourful! Loved the potpourri example you quoted
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Thank you Akshata!
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That jackfruit happy coincidence was lovely! I love kathal sabzi. Sadly, don’t get any here!
Happy 12 years to you guys! Your travel pics together gives me all the couple-goals! 🙂
Hope you have a fantastic month!
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Thank you so much! The couple goals part is something that Soumya keeps saying. You guys are sweet ❤️
Maybe the next time you are home, have kathal ki subzi 🙂
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Such a beautiful gratitude post. Congrats on all your milestones and on sleeping peacefully, cancelling your class 😛 Have a fantabulous June!
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Ha ha! Fun it was. Thanks for stopping by!
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What a lovely coincidence with the jackfruit! As for maintaining a balance between writing and photographs, I’d say do what you can instead of stressing out. Or do more photo essays. 🙂
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Thanks for saying that! I wanted to hear someone tell me that 🙂 thank you!
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I have many things in my gratitude list this time- lots of travel with family, visiting relatives, having fun with cousins and catching up with friends. I went to the movie theatre after about a year to watch ‘Raazi’ and ‘Veere Di Wedding’ with my besties. Read a lot. Seriously. Completed ‘The Vegetarian’ by Han Kang the day before yesterday, and already halfway through another Danielle Steel novel. Why hadn’t I read her before? Her works are a complete package. I also watched some Korean drama series- School 2017, Sassy Go Go, and currently continuing Empress Ki. All are amazing. I might do a blogpost on all these happenings, but not sure yet.
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Wow looks like you had a lovely May! And your dedication towards fitness and health is amazing! Yes, it is good to take a break from all of that sometimes. I like a mixture of both pictures and blogs posts. I love your blog for your lovely pictures.
May started well for me but it didn’t end well. But yes, there’s always something to be grateful about!
Hope you have a lovely June 🙂
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Great going on the exercise front Parul and it’s nice that come is not driving you nuts. You know I also made kathal ki sabzi and biryani. Totally love this vegetable. 😊 About picture heavy, make sure you resize your pics and compress them before uploading. I also use a plugin to further compress the pictures. Glad that you got that GDPR done smoothly. It was easy, wasn’t it?
That was a lovely May. Here’s wishing you a beautiful June.
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What an inspiring gratitude list Parul, enjoyed reading, I love the pictures which has a great impact on your post. I also enjoy reading. So nice to know about your 20 days schedule, and congratulations to you and VT for completing 12 years, may you have many more years of happiness and harmony.
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I am commenting for the second time Parul, I saw the comment disappearing. Just want to congratulate you and VT for 12 years of togetherness, may you have many more years of happiness and harmony. This was an inspiring post, enjoyed reading the 20 day programme and I love the pictures you post:) they are beautiful and speaks for itself. Thank you for sharing.
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That’s a lovely list Parul in spite of a mixed May as you say. 12 years together sounds amazing! 🙂 I need your wisdom! Good on you for the number of days you worked out! Also, I miss mangoes as it’s at least 6 months before they’ll start to arrive here
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Thank you Sanch! We all want something or the other. Don’t we? I would love to be as strong and creative as you are 🙂 is your December plan firming up?
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Awwww so sweet Parul! Thank you so much!! It was our pleasure to make Pongal for you! :– D
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And I loved the gesture more 🙂 Pongal was no doubt yum!
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Quite a lot of milestones this month! 🙂
You worked out for 20 days? WOW, you are an inspiration now. I’m sure it does feel good to get back to reading. Take your time with the books, cherish it.
The jackfruit bit was such a pleasant coincidence. As must as you say you don’t like to cook, you must invite me for lunch sometimes 🙂
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A lovely list Parul. you know thats what i love about this graitude list. It gives us these little sneak peak into each others lives. and we realise we arent very different. Congratulations on completing 12 years of togetherness. May you have many many more. Its nice to binge on Pizzaas once in a way. I often do it, and family is glad that its a break from my cooking:).. GDPR did take us all this month, and thanks to some kind bloggers, we could all sail through it well.
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Sounds like you have a lot to be thankful for. I was going to keep a jar and when I feel grateful for something I’d put it in a jar and at the end of the year, I’d read all the things in the jar. I got busy and didn’t do it, but I want to next year. Life goes by so fast , it’s hard to keep up. You’ve accomplished a lot this last month. Congrats to you on that. 🙂
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I wanted to have a jar but like they say that small goals lead to bigger goals, I have a journal to list every day things. Now that makes it easier at the end of month as the monthly ones feed into my yearly gratitude list 🙂 thank you for stopping by!
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Yes! Please count me among those who encourage you to write. You have a lot to say, and say it well indeed!
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Thank you so much 🙂
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I really enjoyed reading your gratitude list. Sounds like an interesting month you’ve had. With much generosity from your neighbours too.
Your mention of mango chutney reminded me of growing up in South Africa, we had a mango tree in our garden and the whole family would come over and make a day of picking mangoes, chopping chillies and making a spicy mango chutney! So delicious!
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Looks beautiful 🙂
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Parul, This pieces of your blog show how much you loves your life & Nature at every moment. Excellent
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Lovely post, Parul. Came to read you after a long time, especially since time has been very tight and I’ve mostly been doing photo posts for quite some time now. Reminded me that I too need to get back to blogging. Loved reading a slice of your life over the Month of May. So much to be grateful for, isn’t it? Kathal subzi sounds delicious. Makes me yearn for mom’s cooking all over again!
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I don’t know how you make time for writing and blogging but do please continue to do so. Your posts are refreshing in their simplicity and always seem to come from a place of honesty.
I love kathal subzi but I hate the cutting and chopping, it’s so sticky. I try to get my vegetable vendor to cut it up and give it to me. You must try the dry fried version. That’s the most delicious.
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Thank you Tulika!
Yes, I also ask the vendor to do. I’m big on delegation. I can’t even break open a coconut 😉 Fried version of kathal? Hmm.. sounds interesting!
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Kudos on your fitness regime, Parul! The rains have certainly cooled the city, but it is heart-breaking to hear about post-rain accidents.
Love the jackfruit story! I’ve never tasted a savory dish with the fruit.
You click amazing photos–do keep them coming! I wish you a wonderful June ahead! Take care of your health. And yes, snoozing is great, once in a while!
Thanks so much for being a regular in the Gratitude Circle, Parul. I always look forward to your post. Hugs!
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