4 snacks to know more about you

 Prompt: 4 snacks to know more about you

I am not sure if this prompt is even relevant to me, as I don't eat snacks often. But that's more reason to write about it. I am particular about my snacks, and here goes my snack story :-)

I am particular about a few things when it comes to snacks.

• No fried foods
• No tea on an empty stomach
• Just fruits alone are not a snack. 

Chana chat:

A high-protein snack. Easy for busy moms. I soak it in the morning whenever I remember, then put it in the Instant Pot for 15 mins in the evening in pressure cook mode. I add a little tempering with red chillies, salt, turmeric, chilli powder, jeera, mustard seeds, and curry leaves, and sprinkle lemon juice. 

I am particular about not eating this in large quantities, as it feels heavy and might not make me feel hungry for an early dinner. So, portions matter. 

https://www.pexels.com/photo/vibrant-chickpea-and-roasted-vegetable-salad-34429559/

Protein Bar:

I am not promoting this product, but I like Rx protein bars. Very good option after an intense exercise. Easy to carry and my go-to snack while travelling. 

Lemon bread and chips (my cheat days):

Unhealthy snack option for cheat days or craving days, whatever you call it. A nice lemon-flavoured slice of bread and jalapeño chips :-) It's a quick snack with no preparation. Lemon bread and chips from the HEB grocery store last for a few days. 

https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-view-of-sliced-sponge-cake-on-a-plate-beside-a-lemon-8538303/

Cookies and Tea:

Another partially unhealthy option. I always have basic pistachio Good Day brand cookies at home for a quick snack along with ginger tea. I make tea especially with less milk, more water, sugar, a little ginger, and cardamom. That makes digestion easier for early dinners. 

https://www.pexels.com/search/tea%20and%20cookies/

I add 2 types of fruit in the evenings, but fruit alone doesn't feel like enough as a snack. This month, we are trying kiwis and Pears. Bananas on an empty stomach don't work well for me, so that's out. 

https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-close-up-shot-of-slices-of-kiwi-fruits-with-a-fork-10493955/

So, that's about my snacking saga. What do you prefer as a snack? Do let me know in the comments.

Until next time,

This post is part of Blogchatter Half Marathon.

A Place I love going back to - Colorado

Prompt: A Place I love going back to

The first place that came to my mind when I read this prompt is Colorado. Our home for 5 years, with a window facing Pikes Peak. This view has become an important part of our lives. The mountains, clouds, and sky change colors and appearance with the season.

If we don't consider the high altitude, dryness, and severe cold for a few months, it's a paradise to live in. 

I started my blog when I started working in Chennai as a fresher around 2006, I guess. But if you observe my blog posts and history, there is a huge difference between my posts before and after my Colorado visit and stay. My blog has become more colorful with those lovely Instagram-worthy pics and has been buzzing with travel content from Colorado.  

If you don't believe what I am talking about, check these 2 pages:

A to Z places in Colorado

Index of all travelogues

Why I love Colorado?

Mountains:

 I am always a mountain person and not a beach person. I love how mountains change in appearance with snow, dark clouds, on summer days, and in the fall season.

 They look majestic and remind us that we are small, and our problems are tiny compared to nature and its power. They keep me grounded. They give me hope that we can set high standards in our lives and can really achieve them.

https://www.pexels.com/search/colorado/

Alpine scenery:

Winding roads, dangerous curves, scenic views, wildlife, and unexpected weather. The joy of being on top of a mountain, enjoying the scenic beauty, is not comparable to any other experience. The fresh breeze on the face and the play of light between clouds are not easy to explain unless experienced by us.

Snow:

The first experience of snow can make any normal person write poetry. The experience is like white little flowers falling from the sky. The blanket of snow the next day after snowfall is as mesmerizing as snow itself. The trees and leaves are heavy with snow, but shining with a new glow. Even adults become kids making snowmen :-) But cleaning the car after snow is not a pleasant experience; I agree :p

https://www.pexels.com/photo/snow-covered-forested-mountain-landscape-38455729/

Summer afternoons and Rainbows:

At high altitudes, we should never be hiking in the mountains. On hot summer days, weather usually becomes unpredictable. Rains, hail, and sleet are common. The amazing colors of the sky during sunset are a gorgeous experience. Rainbows make a grand appearance often. 

Fall colors:

The green leaves turn yellow and then red due to their inability to make chlorophyll at certain cooler temperatures with less sunlight. During fall, it seems like the earth shows off its amazing fashion show. 

My pictures never do it justice, and seeing the fall scenery in person is always the best. 

https://www.pexels.com/search/?q=fall%20colors%2Bmountain

That is the place my heart loves to go back to anytime.

Until next time,

This post is part of Blogchatter Half Marathon.

Lily. An unexpected journey by Volodymyr Samoiliuk

 

 This post may contain affiliate links; clicking on those links may earn us a commission without any additional cost to you.

Book Details:

Title: 

Lily. An Unexpected journey : A Cozy Chapter Book About Friendship, Feelings, and the Magic of Drawing (Ages 7–10)

Author: Volodymyr Samoiliuk

Genre: Chapter books, kids fiction

Publisher: SAYVI STUDIO S.L.

Print Length: 48 pages

Reading age: 7 to 10 yrs

Source: A review copy from the publisher

Blurb:

What if moving to a new home meant leaving everything familiar behind?

Lily’s life changes overnight when her family relocates to Spain. A new house, a new school, and a language she barely understands make her feel lonely, nervous, and completely out of place. Like many children facing a big move, Lily struggles to express her feelings and adjust to an unfamiliar world.

Everything begins to change when she discovers a mysterious old book and meets Ding-Dong — a tiny dragon with a gentle heart and a gift for inspiring courage and creativity.

Through drawing, imagination, and a little magic, Lily slowly learns how to overcome her fears, build confidence, and start making friends in her new environment.

This heartwarming illustrated chapter book combines fantasy and emotional growth in a story that helps children navigate change, friendship, and self-discovery. Perfect for families looking for kids books about feelings, social emotional learning stories, and comforting books about moving to a new house.

Ideal for readers ages 7–10, especially children:

• adjusting to a new school or country
• coping with anxiety or loneliness
• learning friendship and social skills
• building confidence through creativity

A touching story about change, resilience, and discovering that home is the place where you feel loved and understood.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

The story is about Lily, an 8-year-old who had to leave Kyiv for Barcelona unexpectedly. Since she is not mentally prepared for such a sudden move, she feels homesick. She is an innocent and lovely girl who believes in clouds and dragons and loves her bunny. It is not easy to settle in a new place where she doesn't know the language well. How she navigates through this phase is the remaining story. 

What did I love?

I loved the way the story is written in a heartwarming and empathetic way. I like the characters of Lily's parents who answer her questions with patience and love. Sarah seems like a regular teen sister in any family. 

The illustrations are great, with nice expressions on the faces. The book title is apt, and the cover looks great and relevant.

Overall

Nice story about friendship, emotions, estrangement, and believing in magic. 

⭐ My rating: 5/5

Until next time,

This post is part of Blogchatter Half Marathon.

7 reasons to un-follow me

Prompt: Give us 7 reasons to follow/unfollow you

I loved this prompt. Now, I am at an age where I choose my friend circle wisely; why not do the same for followers? The problem with an Instagram account is that it's public, and I cannot choose who follows me. As a blogger, I cannot make it private and use it to promote my blogs. 

https://www.pexels.com/search/?q=reading%20book%20with%20mountain%20view

Here are 7 reasons to unfollow me now on social media:

1. If you are expecting personal info

Some influencers love to share every nitty-gritty detail of their daily lives, and I am not one of them. I keep my privacy; I usually never share my family photos or kids' photos on social media. 

So, if you are following me expecting my personal info, you can unfollow, as that's not going to happen. 

https://www.pexels.com/search/social%20media/

2. If you don't like travel or reading books 

My profile reflects what I like. I post regular content on family travel in the USA, my book reviews, and book recommendations. If these 2 areas don't interest you, you can unfollow me.

3. If you like just quick reels

I do share a lot of reels for my travel content, but the intention is not just quick content. I love to share some unknown places, quirky roadside attractions, some great places to relax in nature, great hiking destinations, photo opportunities, scenic drives, different travel experiences, etc., but not trending viral content on places. 

My intention is not to gain more followers but to provide genuine content to make travel planning easy and affordable. 

4. If you don't like quotes and positive affirmations

My goal is to be positive and spread good vibes around. If you don't like being hopeful and seeing positive content only, then this place is not for you. 

https://www.pexels.com/search/positive%20quote/

I believe I am a lucky person, and I am grateful for every small thing and opportunity that I come across. 

5. If you like hypocrisy

I share content that I genuinely believe in. I think twice before posting anything so that it doesn't cause harm or bad intentions in people. I try to avoid political content. I don't like sharing some good content just because everyone thinks it's right. I share content that I feel is actually right.

6. If hiking and connecting with nature is not your cup of tea

For me, driving a little long to hike to a beautiful place is ok. I share travelogues where we hike/walk 10k steps a day and sometimes more in a few national parks. If leisure travel is your interest and 8k to 10k steps a day seems too intense, you might not agree / not find my content very helpful.

7. If you are not looking for family travel content

I keep in mind how we can travel with 2 kids, limitations with food, areas where outside food is not available, and try to share tips. I understand the problems that come with traveling with kids. So, I always mention hikes specific to families with small kids. 

https://www.pexels.com/search/family%20travel/

If you are looking for an adventurous young couple travelogue, this might not be for you.

Here you go. I know, I have been blunt and pretty straightforward :-)

Let me know what kind of people you usually follow.

 Here are the links if you still want to follow me on social media:

Facebook 

Twitter 

Pinterest

Instagram

This post is part of Blogchatter Half Marathon.

Until next time,

Peach 🍑 - A color that describes today

Hello to my readers 👋

Blogging has taken a back seat recently, but Iam happy to get back to the groove in September with the Blog chatter half marathon. 

Rules doesn't seem to be that tough. 7 blog posts in 15 days. I can manage it, right? Let's see 🙈

https://www.pexels.com/search/peach%20color/

I like this prompt - A color that describes today 

This is about last Saturday. Last week we had Labor Day on Monday and so, a long weekend. I decided to take a real break from my extra duties. Magically, my kids' classes also got cancelled. Our weekly hiking trip got cancelled as well.

Nowhere to rush. No appointments. Time seemed to have frozen a little. 

https://www.pexels.com/search/peach%20color/

I remember the color peach as it's pastel. Not too bright to attract attention, but light, yet beautiful to look at. Seems like peaceful, and slow, lazy, calm days.

That day has been exactly the same for me. Peaceful, slow, not dominating, just going with the flow. 

I woke up late.  Cooked a basic yet traditional, homely meal with a daal (lentil dish), vegetable fry, and rice. Watched a nice comedy movie, had some rest at noon, worked on my thesis for a few hrs, and ended the day at the usual time after a simple dinner. Wow.. I miss these simple days now. No kids' classes, no dance classes, no appointments on my phone calendar. 

When did you have such a leisure day? Please do share in the comments. 

Until next time,

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon.

How to plan an Incredible 3-day Colorado Road trip (On a budget!)

Colorado is the 8th largest state geographically in the United States of America, and it has a diverse landscape, including deserts, the Rocky Mountains, and rivers.

How to get there?

Depending on your location, you can either drive to Denver or fly in.

Tips:

• Fly on a budget: Search for Thursday night flights if you can take off on Friday. Choose flights with multiple stops or red-eye options to lower the fare.
  
  
• Booking tricks: Browse flights in your browser's incognito mode, and try to search and book on Wednesdays.
  
  
• Timing matters: Try to travel in non-peak seasons if your kids are in elementary or young. Fares will be lower if it's not spring, fall, or winter break from school.
  
  

Where to stay?

Denver or Colorado Springs is a great base.

Tips:

• Accommodation: Try to book an Airbnb with a kitchen, even if it's a little far from the city, and book for all 3 nights. It will save money when compared to hotels, and you can cook home meals on some days.
  
  
• Rental Car: Try to book your rental car through Costco if you have a membership and regularly check for lower fares. When you get a good price, you can cancel and re-book.
  
  

Budget Planning:

Here are the estimated budget details:

If you are driving, instead of flying:

Now that the basics are all sorted out, let's go to the itinerary.

Day 1 - Itinerary:

Morning: Denver to Pikes Peak (2 hrs 10 min)

• Pikes Peak Scenic Byway: This 19-mile scenic toll road reaching an elevation of 14,000 ft takes 2 hours if done slowly with multiple stops. Spend at least 30 minutes at the summit before returning down. Please check here for admission hours and fares, and read this post for more details on what to see.
  
  
• 

• Timing & Food: If you start early from your Airbnb, you can finish the drive by 3 PM. Try to pack a picnic lunch to have at the summit (fresh donuts will also be available at the top!).
  
  
• Royal Gorge: Royal Gorge Bridge is one of the world's highest suspension bridges, and features a gondola ride and zipline as well. It takes around 2 hours to reach Royal Gorge from Pikes Peak. Read this travelogue for more details.
  
  
• 

• Dinner: You can have dinner at Manitou Springs while returning to your Airbnb.
  
  

Day 2 - Itinerary:

Rocky Mountain National Park:

• Getting There: Rocky Mountain National Park is 1.5 hours away (66 miles) from Denver.
  
  
• Must-Do Highlights: This will be a full-day trip depending on your interest in hiking. The must-do highlights are the scenic drive on Trail Ridge Road (open only from summer through fall) and a hike to Bear Lake and Alberta Falls.
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• Food: It would be better to pack a picnic lunch. If not, you can get good food at Estes Park or near Grand Lake.
  
  
• Optional Add-On: If you have one more day, you can do a boat ride on Grand Lake and cover hikes to beautiful alpine lakes and mountain scenery. Follow this travelogue for more details.
  
  
• Sunset View: If you are traveling in summer and you still have some daylight while returning to Denver, you can visit Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison for sunset.
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• Dinner: You can have dinner in Denver or Estes Park.
  
  

Day 3 - Itinerary:

Considering that this is a half day to leave time to start your return drive or catch a flight, you can cover either the Mt. Blue sky Scenic Byway or Garden of the Gods.

Option A: Mt. Blue Sky Scenic Byway

• Location: 40 mins (32 miles) from Denver.
  
  
• Details: This is the highest paved highway in North America. The Summit is open only from Memorial Day to Labor Day, weather permitting. This road reaches an elevation of 14,130 ft above sea level in just 14 miles from the visitor station. Read this travelogue for more details.
  
  
• 

OR

Option B: Garden of the Gods

• Location: 1 hr 10 mins away from Denver (67 miles).
  
  
• Details: If you have been to Utah, I am not sure if you will appreciate it, but Garden of the Gods is a natural landmark and public park in Colorado Springs, famous for its natural rock formations. It is free to enter. Read this travelogue for more details.
  
  

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That wraps up the Colorado itinerary for 3 days! Please let me know in the comments if this information will be enough to confidently plan a vacation to Colorado from anywhere in the USA. If not, please let me know what this post is missing, and I will try to add more info as per your feedback.

In my personal opinion, you need 1 week or more to visit all the beautiful places in Colorado. I especially enjoyed visiting Vail, Steamboat springs, Great sand dunes national park, Black Canyon of Gunnison national park, Million dollar highway, Telluride, Ouray, Grand Junction, and many more places. 

This index of my travelogues has a lot of info on Colorado trips. Please check.

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon

Until next time,