Gratitude list for 2024

Bye Bye 2024. It was a great year! 

Welcome, 2025. 

Hoping for more smiles and peace this year.

I wish you all a happy new year 🎈 🎊 

You know the drill. I keep blogging aside for some other important commitments and realize it's the end of the year already :-) poof! I can write a gratitude list at least.

Here comes the list!

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Travel:

This has to be the first point to be grateful for :-) 2024 has been a great year for travel even with a return to the office. I am grateful for our company's policy of Unlimited PTOs. If not, it would have been a boring year.

While the India trip has been great, we could squeeze in a small family vacation to Goa. Thanks to my sis in law. That has been both a relaxing and rejuvenating trip in 2024. We made many beautiful memories.

We could visit Niagara Falls and Washington DC with parents. This is my second visit to those places, but Niagara always makes me wonder in awe. This time, we hiked, unlike our earlier trip which was sightseeing. The monuments in Washington DC and the Statue of Liberty are worth the second visit. 

Image by Peter H from Pixabay

We finished the year by visiting Hot springs and Great smoky mountains National parks. I expected very less from Hot springs, but we all loved it. Weather is also great. I want to come back to Arkansas as we couldn't visit many waterfalls in the state. That's for another day.

Visit to Great smokies is amazing. We missed going to Clingman's dome due to road closures, but hiked some beautiful trails with great views and waterfalls. We also enjoyed the scenic drives of the park. Airbnb that we stayed was very good with mountain view and it's cozy and comfortable. 

Family:

2024 is great year for family bonding. With parents' visit and we vising our sister's family, it's all memories that we gathered. Due to India trip, and spending time with family, it's been a great year. 

We all worked together for our Annual Recital and enjoyed our vacations. I cannot ask more from God. Just happy and thankful 🙏

Dance:

I completed 2 semesters in MA Kuchipudi. It is a wonderful learning experience in 2024. It's a privilege even to interact with such great Gurus.

Dance classes went fine and we could do our Annual Recital successfully in November. It is a pleasure to see the dance school growing and more students learning Kuchipudi.

Personally, I couldn't practice much in dance other than focusing on teaching this year. Health problems took priority over dance, but Iam glad I took it slow this year, because health is the most important thing in my life.

Health:

Overall, it was good. I am grateful for the access to regular health checkups. I could focus more on health and slow down in my life. I regret wasting my mornings in 2024 without re-starting yoga. I cherish those days when I could walk in the evenings. 

I am grateful that I could hike to beautiful viewpoints in 2024. 

Not perfectly fit, but the fitness journey continues.

Miscellaneous :

Books:

Not a great year for reading. I could read around 13 books in 2024. But, I read many good books like Lessons in Chemistry, The Villa, The Homecoming, The House of Eve, The Magnolia Palace, None of this is true etc.,

I also became a review team member for Penguin Random House. I am receiving a lot of good books already. So, excited!

Image by Capucine from Pixabay

Work:

Work life is wonderful. I am thankful to my manager, I could maintain a healthy work-life balance in 2024. I could automate many new and complex scenarios in Cypress and could attend Cypress conference sessions. It has been a great learning experience. 

Return to work is stressful, but I have to see how we manage it in 2025. I am excited to learn and use AI tools this year like GitHub Copilot and Google's vertex AI. Hoping for more challenges and good learnings in 2025.

Amazon Vine:

I got accepted as an Amazon Vine member. So, I got a chance to review a lot of Amazon products for free. I have been an Amazon Affiliate for quite some time, but I couldn't earn much affiliate income. Basically, I didn't focus on this part in 2024 due to other priorities. 

Roses and thorns:

That's about the wonderful year. It was not all roses though. The beginning was tough with my family getting sick. The ending was disappointing with the stressful return to the office. Juggling between work, dance classes, and MA Kuchipudi has been challenging. 

But, we will get there. Hoping to face challenges with a smile and make 2025 better.

Image by HeungSoon from Pixabay

I wish you all the same. Make your 2025 better!

Until next time,

Best tips for 1 day vacation at Universal Studios, Florida

We have visited 3 Universal and 2 Disney theme parks in our vacation. The theme parks are huge and there are many awesome and not-to-miss rides. It is overwhelming to plan a trip to Disney / Universal. Before reading this 1-day Universal Studios theme park itinerary, please read this basic planning post.

Universal Studios covers wonderful themes for all ages, including the Harry Potter world, the Minion world, and Hollywood. Here are the tips and travelogue for one day.

The purpose of this post is to make your planning easy. The list of rides and activities depends largely on the age of the kids, your interests, patience for long wait times, energy, preferences, etc., This current guide is made in mind for a family with 2 kids aged 9 and 11 years. 

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Tickets and App:

We purchased 3 park , 5 day tickets. 

From Universal site, that means -

The 3-Park 5-Day Base Ticket Dated entitles one (1) guest admission to ONE (1) Universal Orlando Resort theme park per day: Universal Studios Florida, OR Universal’s Islands of Adventure, OR Universal’s Volcano Bay. Ticket is valid for any five (5) calendar days during an eight (8) consecutive calendar day period which commences on and includes the date selected. The ticket will expire in full on the expiration date printed on ticket. Unused days shall be forfeited.

Check here for ticket prices. Ticket prices will vary depending on season. Also, consider packages including accommodations and early access. 

Installing the Universal App is very important for you to scan tickets at the entry, check wait times for the rides, navigate in the park, check food stalls, and restaurants, order food online, check show timings, etc.,

Here is the link to install Universal Android / IOS app. 

Express pass:

Let's discuss Express Pass. Express Pass allows you to skip long lines, especially during peak seasons like Christmas. 

If you have early access, can wait for 2 hours without missing rides, and don't have very young kids, you might not need an Express pass at all. We didn't use an Express pass, and it worked fine for us.

If you don't have more time to spend in the park, here are the express pass options.

Early Access:

One of the best benefits of booking a vacation package or multi-day ticket is the Early Park Admission. 

Rides that might be included in early access (these will change by season and peak days): 

• Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and 
• Olivanders

Park is usually open at 9am and early access is at 8am. Please check the Universal app the day before for the correct list of rides with early access. Some days, early access is not available.

We got early access due to the package we booked.

Our Itinerary:

1. Harry Potter and the Escape fromGringotts 

We first went to this popular ride and the waiting time was around 1.5 hrs or more even with early access. Loved this ride. But, if you have motion sickness, it is tough. 

We didn't do Olivanders and Hogwarts Express. Hogwarts Express needs a park hop ticket. 

We walked through the San Francisco and New York theme areas. 

Image by Kes Sinanan from Pixabay

2. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit

The lines are big for sure. This is a thrilling roller coaster ride with speeds reaching 65 mph.

3. Transformers - Ride 3D

This is a 3D simulator Dark Ride. Good for people who love transformers. The theming is good. 

You will feel real 3D effects. You will experience A motion platform, 3D effects, and intense battle sequences. 

We couldn't do Revenge of Mumy due to large lines, but I heard it's good. This is a roller coaster thrill ride. 

4. Fast and Furious Super Charged 

This is a motion-based dark ride.

5. Despicable Me Minion Mayhem

The lines are too long, but this is worth it. A fun shooting game for kids. The theming is good. Not a thrilling ride though.

We did this and liked it.

6. Illumination Villion Con Minion Blast 

Another fun family activity. But, lines are always long for Minion stuff.

7. The Bourne Stuntacular

Wonderful show and it is very highly recommended. We loved this a lot.  Don't miss this show at all.

8. E T Adventure

After lunch, we tried this family fun ride. It's not a thrill ride, but amazing. Everyone with kids should experience it. A simple old-style ride.

The Simpson's ride and Kang and Kodos Twirl are basic old-style rides. We didn't try them.

9. Men In Black Alien Attack

This is an interactive Simulating ride. It's a very good shooting game with 3D. Loved this.

We felt, there is not much in Universal Studios except for the Minion stuff and Harry Potter-related rides. Others seemed a little laid back and old-style. ET adventure and Men in Black are worth a mention. 

Image by Eyang Sabur from Pixabay

Shows:

There are some good shows like The Bourne Stuntacular and Dreamworks Imagination celebration. Do try them for sure!

Character Encounters:

Photos with Spongebob and Transformers are fun. Minion Land is also fun to watch characters.

Photo Packages:

After you exit every ride, you can get photos. The below link has some photo packages. One-day photos are around $89 which is really expensive. 

Photo Packages at Universal

That's our itinerary for Universal Studios with early access.

We had complimentary shuttle access between the park and our resort, which was very helpful after a tiring day. Food at the resort is amazing and that made it easier to hit the bed early. 

The Endless Summer resort also has a few swimming pools, a lounge area, multiple restaurants, laundry, and all other basic facilities.

Here is the link to reserve Vacation packages from Universal.

Until next time,

 

Rides and Fun at Disney Magic kingdom - 1 day Itinerary

Disney is a dream vacation for many of us—both kids and adults alike. We see the magic in the Disney movies—the grandeur, songs, sets, fireworks, dance, good story, favorite characters, and whatnot. Let's plan a one-day itinerary at the most magical place in the world. 

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The purpose of this post is to make your planning easy. The list of rides and activities depends largely on the age of the kids, your interests, patience for long wait times, energy, preferences, etc., This current guide is made keeping in mind for a family with 2 kids aged 9 and 11 years. 

Please read this basic planning post if you are planning a vacation to Disney and Universal in Florida. 

Tickets:

We purchased a 2-day ticket with admission to 1 park per day. We covered the Disney Magic Kingdom and Hollywood studios each day. This cost was around $336 for each adult in Dec 2023. Please check this link for ticket prices. 

There is one more step other than the admission tickets. You need to make a theme park reservation for each date of your visit. 

Install the Disney MagicMobile app. Otherwise, you may use a magicBand for park entry or stop at the Park ticket window and show the ticket confirmation email, credit card used to purchase tickets, and a government ID to get the tickets.

Accommodations:

As mentioned in my planning post, we stayed in Universal's Endless Summer resort. Since we didn't stay in Disney Resort, we had to take a cab to the park. Parking is expensive if you drive and it takes more time to park and get to the entrance. 

Image by Fabiana Bigao from Pixabay

Lightning lane passes:

Disney is most probably crowded unless it's off-season. So if you don't want to miss any special popular ride like the TRON light cycle run, you need to purchase a lightning lane single pass / multi-pass through the Disney MyExperience app.

A single pass gives entry to one ride skipping the long queues. A multi-pass lets you choose 3 rides one after the other. 

Our Itinerary:

There are 4 sections in Disney Magic Kingdom, Florida - Adventure Land, Frontier Land, Fantasy Land, and Tomorrow Land.

We started walking to the left towards Adventure Land after taking a photo with the most popular Castle which is at the center of the park. This picture is a must!

In Frontierland, we just did the Big Thunder Mountain railroad.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad:

This is a wonderful roller coaster with big and small drops. So, it's good for families with kids above 6+ years as they enjoy well. But, we saw families with little kids also enjoying it.

This is the most popular ride with more crowds, so we completed it first. 

Image by nobu sato from Pixabay

In Fantasy Land, we went to the show Micky's Philhar Magic.

Mickey's Philhar Magic:

This is a fantastic 3D show with songs from Disney classics. If the waits are low, it's well worth the time.

Festival of Fantasy Parade:

Please check the timings in the Disney app. Usually, the parades are in the afternoon before 2pm.

This parade is an awesome experience. It was so exciting and I felt like a kid again watching all the Disney characters parade one after the other. 

I think Disney's magic is in this parade. While Mickey still is the main celebrity, the characters from Tangled, Peter Pan, and Little Mermaid also show up. The floats are big, and the decorations are great to watch. 

Peter Pan's flight:

I heard this is a great ride for families with children. But, the queue is always too big, we had to skip it.

Seven Dwarfs Mine train:

We used our lightning lane pass for this roller coaster ride. We loved the ride. This is not an intense roller coaster. But, good with a few drops and twists.

Haunted Mansion:

Loved this one. Had to wait long, but it's good. Not very scary/creepy and can be done with kids. It's a fun dark ride. For little kids/ infants, this might be scary.

We had lunch at this point and walked back towards Adventure land.

Jungle Cruise:

This is the most popular ride for families. I would say, it's not that great for families with kids 6+yrs as it's not worth the time standing in lines. There is always a big queue. 

This is an outdoor boat ride through jungles from around the world. This is good for families with little kids and toddlers.

Pirates of the Caribbean:

This is an indoor boat ride and a nice ride with small drops. You will enjoy this if you have watched those pirate movies and know the background.

Tomorrowland has many good rides, but by this time in the evening, the wait times are long for each ride.

Tomorrowland Speedway is just a simple go-cart for kids. Not that fun to wait more than an hour in line. 

TRON light cycle/run:

TRON is the newest indoor/ outdoor coaster that everyone is raving about. But, we couldn't do it due to long wait times. This should be done in the mornings I believe, we saw long waiting at all times of the day for this.

Space Mountain:

Space Mountain is another indoor roller coaster and I heard it's great too. We couldn't do it. The architecture of the ride looked great from the outside. 

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin:

We didn't expect much from this dark ride and shooting game. But, it was surprisingly good and enjoyable. 

We loved this ride as a family. 2 people can go as partners together. It's a quick ride though. 

By this time, we got very tired. We had some snacks and settled on the lawn before the castle. Multiple shows were happening on the stage like the Cinderella castle show. They are excellent. The spectacular fireworks show at the end of the night is an unforgettable experience at Disney!

Nighttime Spectacular: Happily Ever After:

This show with fantastic fireworks, lights, and lasers is one of the best experiences at Disney. It's like the best fireworks that I have watched so far in my life.

Image by Kohji Asakawa from Pixabay

 

You can miss any ride at Disney, it doesn't matter. But, never miss this show at the end of the night. It is tiring and not really comfortable to get a place to sit and watch without interruptions, but it is worth it. 

That was a perfect fitting end for us on that day. See you next with another theme park.

Until next time,

This post is a part of Blogchatter Blog Hop and link it to www.theblogchatter.com

Diwali in my new home by Shachi Kaushik - [Book Review]

 Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Book Details:

Title: Diwali in my new home

Author: Shachi Kaushik

Illustrator: Aishwarya Tandon

Genre: children's fiction

Publisher: Beaming books

Print Length: 32 pages

Source: A review copy from the author

Blurb:

Priya loves being with family and friends to watch fireworks and celebrate Diwali. But this year Priya and her parents are living in the United States, and no one seems to know about the holiday. Priya misses the traditions in India. But as she strings lights outside and creates rangoli art, Priya introduces the festival of lights to her neighbors. And even though the celebration is different this year, it's still Diwali.

A heartwarming story of celebrating in a new place and sharing the Hindu festival of lights with those unfamiliar with the holiday.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

This is the story many immigrant kids from India can relate to. When Priya moves to USA, she misses her culture and the celebration of Diwali in US. But, a festival is just not the place, decor etc., The celebration might be different, but it keeps us connected to our culture. 

There are some cultural activities as part of celebration that we do on Diwali. Rangolis, lights, sweets, traditional dresses and fireworks - there is a lot to Diwali. 

How could she share her joy with Americans? Can she find her way to share Diwali in her new home? That's for us to read and know.

I liked that this story represented Diwali very well. I also liked that Priya's family invites neighbors and celebrate with them. It is not easy for immigrant kids to adjust to new place and new culture. This story helps such kids. 

I agree that recommended age is 4 to 8 yrs. The illustrations are good and inclusive of different cultures. Overall, I recommend this to all curious kids who love to know more about the Indian festival, Diwali.

My Rating: 5/5

PS: I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Until next time,

Sadie Soars into Space by Arezu Sarvestani - [Book review]

  Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Book Details:

Title: Sadie soars into space

Author: Arezu Sarvestani

Illustrator: Floss Pottage

Genre: children's non fiction, science and technology, board book

Publisher: Z kids

Print Length: 28 pages

Source: A review copy from Penguin random house

Blurb:

3, 2, 1, blastoff! Learn all about planets, asteroids, stars, and more as you journey through the solar system with Sadie in this space storybook for toddlers.

What are comets made of? Which planet is the hottest? Which one is the coldest? Join Sadie and her cat, Buckles, on a daring journey through the solar system to answer these questions and more. In this delightful tale, Sadie visits each planet, marveling at comets, asteroids, and more along the way. And with each stop, young readers are introduced to fascinating facts about outer space, sparking curiosity about the wide expanse of our universe. Sadie Soars into Space is an engaging and educational addition to any toddler’s library.

A constellation of STEM facts. There’s nothing toddlers enjoy more than asking “why?” Here, your budding astronaut’s questions are answered with scientific facts about our solar system.

Whimsical story and engaging rhymes. The inquisitive Sadie and her adorable cat are sure to charm little ones who dream of space travel and love gazing up at the night sky.

See the universe up close. Beautiful illustrations highlight the wonders of space in detail and full color.
An out-of-this-world author. The only space book for kids written by a NASA science communicator.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

My Review:

That's for the free/ gifted book, @penguinrandomhouse.

This is a good bedtime story for toddlers. Kids who love to explore space will like it for sure. It's not a basic solar system facts. I liked that they mentioned some lesser known facts about each planet and also covered like 140 moons for Saturn, what are Sun spots etc.,Pluto is covered as a dwarf planet. 

This is recommended for kids aged 1-3 yrs or toddlers. The illustrations are fabulous. Toddlers will love them. A board book is safe in kids hands and the quality of print is great. 

Overall, would highly recommend this to toddlers who love to learn about space.

My Rating: 5/5

PS: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Until next time,

Best Labor day deals on Amazon

 Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

I am an Amazon reviewer for such a long time and I am an Amazon affiliate associate as well. So, I want to share the best labor day deals to all my friends and followers.

I am sharing only heavily discounted items with discount percentage ranging from 80% to 99%. As an Amazon associate, I get access to deals early. If you like any of these products, please note that these deals are time sensitive. They are valid till Sep 6, 2024 only.

Now, without much ado, 

Here are the best labor day deals:

Smart Watch and Fitness tracker

Smart watch to answer and make calls, measure stats while running and biking, track heart rate, blood oxygen level, stress level and sleep , 7 days of battery life with 2 hrs charging. Priced at $16.99.

Area Rug with $35 coupon

8X10 washable rug, Grey and Black non slip rug for living room

Ultra soft modern rug

8X10 Ultra soft rug

Women Leather Jacket

100% leather slim jacket with zip front, racer style

Electric Hand Mixer

5 speed Electric hand mixer for baking with stainless steel attachments

with 12% coupon

Drone with Camera

1080 pixel foldable, Voice gesture control, 

one key takeoff/ landing

Office Chair with $25 coupon

Ergonomic, Lumbar support, Gaming chair, retractable footrest

LED Wall lights with 20% off coupon

2 pack 20 W wall lights, waterproof

Wireless Ear buds, Bluetooth headphones with $10 off coupon

Bluetooth headphones, 34 h playtime, suitable for android/ ios cellphone/ laptop

Until next time,