How to make time to read - 3 simple tips #WriteAPageADay

This is my favorite topic to talk about. How to take time out of our busy lives to read?

I love reading a lot. I love thrillers, mystery, horror, contemporary, women's fiction, historical fiction, and travel magazines. My friends often ask me how do you get time to read.

Here are some silly tidbits that help me to squeeze in some time to read.

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Kindle App

I have started reading more when I am reading through the kindle app. I don't have a Kindle - e-reader. I am postponing it for a long time. I might buy some day.

But, the Kindle app on my phone itself is handy. I can read anytime, it updates my reading progress even when I read a little from my laptop on Kindle cloud reader or on my phone. I need not be online to use the Kindle app which is a big plus for me. Whenever there is no internet and I feel bored, I will start reading.

I read while waiting for the kid while picking him up from school or while making the idli/ dosa batter :-) Explore those silly options and small reading slots. 

No Daily target for reading

I believe that we should never read by force or as a rule. Reading is an activity I enjoy. I don't want to make it stressful. So, I don't set a time to read every day. Ya.. that's my tip :-) Don't set a time and do it when possible. 

For me, the time before I go to bed is good. 15 to 20 mins a day sometimes and none on weekends. It completely depends. Sometimes when some book is too good I am tempted to read during lunch break or in the middle of work (that's a secret though )

Pick the genres that you like

This tip can't go wrong. Many of us struggle with reading habits when we pick a book that is not interesting. If there is one genre that interests you, you will feel difficulty putting it down. Trust me on this.

I see many people trying to read the best-sellers like Rich Dad Poor Dad, Who Moved my Cheese etc., But, they don't enjoy non-fiction and feel it boring. Instead, if they pick some other genre, they might continue reading it. 

So, read a variety of books from multiple genres to know which one you enjoy, and try books in similar genres until you get into the habit of reading.

Let me know in the comments if any of these tips work for you.

Until next time,

Word count: 414 words

The Domain, Austin TX - A Cool place to spend a few hours #WriteAPageADay

Since it's been a year since we moved to Austin, We are exploring more places.

The Domain

The Domain is a beautiful place to shop, relax, eat, and roam. The Domain is an office, retail and residential places altogether. It has plenty of stores to show and multiple restaurants to eat. I see many people coming with dogs to just walk around.

Address:

11410 Century Oaks Terrace
Austin, TX 78758

The place is very neatly designed and is one of the hottest spots in the Austin. In the evenings, it's lit well with holiday lights, restaurants with live music and different outdoor art installations. 

The Domain features 100 upscale and mainstream retail stores. The Museum of Icecream is a great attraction too. The Domain is the most happening place and there are many cool Instagram spots to capture. 

There are many kid play areas, designed in a beautiful park-like setting. Many restaurants have live music and it is the best place to enjoy evenings. There are many free parking lots around. There are many high-end stores like Louis Vuitton and also regulars like Macy's. There is something for all ages and all types of people. 

Here is one Instagram-worthy restaurant - The Yard Milkshake bar.

Isn't that amazing? It's strawberry shortcake flavor.

How did you like this place? do let me know in the comments.

Until next time,

Word count: 228

5 Texas State Parks on my Travel wishlist #WriteAPageADay

 I love making these wish lists for any state. I do a lot of research and note down important information in the Evernote app. It's easy to refer to these notes both on my laptop and my mobile.

Texas has 89 state parks. Wow! I didn't know that before we came here.

This is the state parks map. 

When I searched for the best state parks to visit in Texas, I got many recommendations. But the criteria to visit differ for everyone, right? 

My Criteria are these:

- Within 5 hrs of Austin

- A lot of hiking options

- Scenery with mountains/ rock formations/lake/beach

- Kid-friendly and easy hikes

- Availability of food options and not very remote

Here are the best 5 state parks that meet the above criteria for me, and they are on my travel wish list.

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1. Dinosaur Valley State Park, Glenrose

Address: 

1629 Park Rd 59Glen Rose, TX 76043

Hours: 8 am to 5 PM

Online reservation needed

There are multiple things to do. Dinosaur tracks, hiking, fishing, paddling, swimming, mountain biking, etc., $8 is the entry fee. We can easily spend one day checking the dinosaur tracks and walking along the river. There is also a safari park near Glenrose. The Park is around 3 hours from Austin.

Wikipedia

2. Caddo Lake State Park

Address:

245 Park Road 2
Karnack, TX 75661

Hours: 8.15 to 4.45 PM

Online Reservations needed

Entry is $4 

The scenery amazed me when I saw the state park photos on Instagram. The bald cypress trees and Spanish moss make this lake look misty and surreal. There are boating tours as well. We can fish, paddle, hike, or stay in a cabin. The park is around 5 hrs from Austin.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/oneeighteen/48465107426

3. Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Address: 11450 Park Road 5Canyon, TX 79015

Hours: 7 am to 9 pm

Entry is $8

This is the second-largest canyon in the USA. There are 30 miles of hiking and biking trails. This park reaches an elevation of 3400 ft. above sea level. 

wikipedia

This is the only exception in my criteria, as it's around 8 hrs from Austin. But, this is one of the not-to-miss places on my list.

4. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

Address: 16710 Ranch Rd. 965Fredericksburg, TX 78624

Hours: 6.30 am to 10 pm

Entry is $8

Fredericksburg is a nice, charming town with many wineries. This massive pink granite dome is beautiful with hill country views. We can hike, bike, rock climb, stargaze, or bird watch here.

There are 11 miles of hiking trails. It takes around 45 mins to climb to the top. This  Park is around 2 hrs from Austin. 

5. Colorado Bend State Park

Address: 1201 Colorado Park Road, Bend, TX 76824

Hours: 6 am to 10 pm

Entry is $5

We can hike, fish, paddle, or take a cave tour here. The hike to Gorman Falls is popular. It is a 3-mile round-trip hike on rugged terrain. 

This park is around 2 hrs from Austin.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jrandallc/4558086413

There are many other parks on my wish list, including Pedernales Falls State Park, McKinney Falls State Park, and Inks Lake State Park. 

Waiting for spring and summer for more outdoor time. What about you?

Until next time,

Word count: 547

The Oasis on Lake Travis, Austin TX #WriteAPageADay

The Oasis is a place in Texas hill country overlooking Lake Travis. It is an outdoor restaurant in Austin and is also called the Sunset Capital of Texas.

With many restaurants, shops, sculptures, and breathtaking views of Lake Travis and the surrounding area, this is the best place for any special occasions and special dinners with family.

OASIS

OASIS, Austin

The Oasis treats its guests with spectacular Sunsets. 

Address:

6550 Comanche Trail
Austin TX, 78732

Hours of Operation:

Monday through Friday: 11:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday: 11a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday: 11a.m. - 8 p.m.

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Lake Travis

The View of Restaurant

History:

The Oasis on Lake Travis is founded by Beau Theriot 39 years ago. This was completely burnt by fire in 2005 due to a lightning storm but was rebuilt.

Sculptures

There are many traditions in the Oasis. One such tradition is Lover's locks. Couples can buy a lock from the OASIS gift shop and lock it on the balcony.

Lover's lock

Dining at the Oasis is a beautiful experience overlooking the Lake. No reservations are required. While waiting for the table, we can roam around the deck and enjoy the stunning views.

Here is something about Oasis by Chat Gpt :-)

"The Oasis on Lake Travis is a beloved restaurant and event space in Austin, Texas, situated on a picturesque cliff overlooking Lake Travis.

 

The Oasis boasts stunning panoramic views of the lake and the Texas Hill Country, and is especially popular at sunset, when visitors can witness a spectacular show of colors over the water.

 

The restaurant serves a variety of dishes, including Tex-Mex specialties, seafood, and steaks, and has multiple bars and dining areas to accommodate different groups and occasions.

 

The Oasis is also known for its live music performances and events, such as the annual Fourth of July fireworks show, which attracts thousands of spectators. Whether you're a local or a visitor to Austin, the Oasis on Lake Travis is a must-visit destination for its views, food, and ambiance."

A cool place to have dinner watching the Sunset in Austin. Would you be interested to try?

Here are some more photos of the Oasis and its beautiful views. 

Until next time,

Word count: 214 (Excluding the text from ChatGPT)

My Top 5 Productivity Tips #WriteAPageADay

 How do you stay productive? For me, it's not easy to stay productive. I tend to step on multiple activities and my restlessness overtakes my enthusiasm. Eventually, I waste a lot of time.

However, with experience, I have learned many tips which will help me stay productive. Here are a few of them.

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My Top 5 Productivity Tips:

1. Remove distractions

An easy way is to keep your phone in some other room or keep it with you in silent mode. The phone is the first distraction for many of us. Don't you agree? 

A phone with an internet connection and a couple of social media apps is a terrible combination for distraction.

Turn off notifications for the apps that you don't care much about. 

When you are bored, try walking even if it's inside the house in the middle of work. Observe and watch things and people around you. If you can stick to this rule, you will definitely come back to your task quickly.

2. Enjoy the work you do

If you are doing some task due to the force of someone in the family or friends and if you are really not interested in the task, it's very tough to stay productive.

Enjoy the work you do. If not, at least think of ways to make it less stressful. 

Ex: If office work is not something you enjoy or it becomes too stressful, take a coffee break, say hi to colleagues, walk around the office, fill your water bottle, stretch your legs, take deep breaths, and come back to work.

That way, we can be more productive than not taking any breaks at all.

3. Focus on a single thing at a time

I don't know why some people give importance to multi-tasking, but I feel multi-tasking is not for someone who wants to be productive. Focusing on a single task at a time makes us more productive.

Taking a lunch break? Focus on lunch and don't check your phone or work emails.

Attending a zoom call? Focus on the agenda and don't get deviated from the topic.

Multi-tasking might save time in the short term, but will be stressful in the long run.

4. Relax and Replenish

We are humans and not machines. We are not supposed to work all day without relaxing in the middle.

Taking a power nap of 15 mins in the middle of the day is not a waste of time. This improves productivity. It makes you more active for the rest of the day.

Social interaction is important for humans. Chatting with friends, playing with kids, and watching TV are helpful too. 

Don't get overburnt. This improves your productivity for sure. A well-oiled and well-maintained machine only can run in the long term. 

5. Set times for tasks

Setting time for a task helps me to focus better. Instead of multitasking, I set a time for each task and move on. There are no strict rules. If you cannot complete a task in the given time, you can extend it. But the point is to stay focused on the task completely for that period of time.

You can be as flexible as you like. 

For ex: Every day, set a time to close office work. Once or 2 days a week is an exception and it is completely fine. But, family time shouldn't overlap with Work time often.

These are my top tips for productivity . What tips work for you? Please suggest me in the comments.

Until next time,

word count: 595

Word of the year 2023 - Mindfulness #WriteAPageADay

Last year, I set my word of the year as 'Change'. 2022 has been a year of a lot of changes - settling in Austin, searching for a new house, moving to a new house, starting up dance school from scratch again, learning 2 new software languages at work,  traveling to India twice, and bringing the parents to the USA. As was my wish, I could adapt to all changes in 2022. 

This year, I want to settle in. After so many changes, it's time to get back to normal. Get back to coziness at home, continue to progress at work, relax on weekends, plan vacations and think of extracurricular activities for kids. 

My Word this year will be 'Mindfulness'.

Why?

There are too many things on my plate right now. I am always hurrying between my checklists and jumping between tasks - Work, family, cooking, kids, dance school, books, blog, and so on.. This is making me stressed. 

I decide to be mindful instead of hurrying to complete a task. The world can wait and a few mishaps don't matter after all. 

I am reading books one after the other, even in those times while I am waiting to pick up my kid from school or when we are watching TV. This obsession should stop slowly. I should learn to focus on the task that I am doing, and relish the moment instead of multitasking. 

I plan to observe kids after the school bell rings, enjoy the music on my car FM before the bell, and listen to the kiddo while driving the car. When we watch TV at home, I want to focus on TV and enjoy it instead of trying to read at the same time.

This might be tough to implement, but let me try.

A new goal for the new year is to be fully present in whatever task I do and cherish each moment. 

What is your word of the year for 2023?

Until next time,

word count: 330

5 Practical Love quotes on Valentine's Day #WriteApageADay

 Love is in the air! I love this season of red roses, chocolates, and heart-shaped balloons. It's interesting to see many gifts for her/him in stores. The stores are decorated with reds and pink all over. 

Happy Valentine's Day if you celebrate!

 Love is not a fairy tale. It's not always a mushy romance from novels. There is more to this emotion. It has deep meaning and it is tough to win. It is tough to maintain and needs some care in the relationship. It should be nurtured like our house plants with care and understanding.

That's the reason I want to share a few practical love quotes on this day.

Last but not least..

Until next time,

Word count: 119 words

5 Tips to write a better blog post #WriteAPageADay

Though I am not an expert in blogging, I have been in this blogosphere(is that a word?) for more than 10 years and I have learned a lot of tips from other bloggers and incorporated many and saw some success. So, Why not share the knowledge that I gained? 

Here are my 5 tips for writing a better blog post:

I won't talk about Content. If you are a blogger, you already know that a blog post is centered around a topic / main content. We, bloggers are here to write and share our content. So, of course, that's the essential part of blogging.

But, my tips are about everything else like infographics, images, signatures, tags, headlines, promotion blah blah...

Narrow down on the Topic :

It always helps to narrow down the topic. A focused blog post explaining a specific topic is the best for SEO.

If you are planning to write a post on the best places to visit in Austin, try narrowing it down further. You can add the number to the title to make the list smaller and easier to read.

You can also focus on specific needs like 

5 best places to hike in Austin

5 best family-friendly places in Austin

5 state parks near Austin

5 best Spring break destinations around Austin

5-day trips near Austin

5 best weekend Gateways from Austin

Add Nice Images:

Pictures are an essential part of a blog, especially for a travel blog.

Original images taken by you are the best. But, if you don't have original pics, search for non-copyrighted images on sites like pexels.com, and pixabay.com. You can also search on Google, click the Image tab, and apply the filter 'Tools >> Usage Rights -> Creative commons license'.

Don't forget to add a watermark of your blog address or social media handle on your original pictures.

Research Deep:

A simple topic or a complex blog post - both of them need research. When we are writing for a larger audience we should know what our readers look for in our blog post. 

If it's a travel post, I search on google with the place name and see what others search for and what topics come on the top of the results. 

I also collect information on the Geography and historical significance of the place to include in my post. 

Read content twice and edit:

I always stress good editing. Many people write good content, but only a few people write content without grammatical errors and in a professional way. 

It puts me off when I read any post with spelling mistakes. I use the Grammarly plugin to correct my posts. It's free to use and very helpful.

I read my blog post twice before publishing it. I check if the tone is casual, friendly, and not preachy. I see that my post has some researched facts and is useful. I see that my post is not based on rumors. I try to give a personal touch to all my posts. 

Design social media images and Promote:

Even though you write the best content, if it doesn't reach the audience it goes to waste. Promotion helps our post to reach more people. 

I design my social media promotion images on canva.com. Such a free, reliable, and the most efficient app. I design at least one Pinterest image for my readers to pin my post and one Instagram image with my blog watermark.

So, here are my basic tips to write a better blog post. What are your tips or suggestions? do let me know in the comments. 

Until next time,

Word count: 597

The Broken Darkness by Theresa Braun - [Book Review] #WriteAPageADay

 Book Details:

Title: The Broken Darkness

Author: Theresa Braun

Genre: horror, thriller, short stories, an anthology

Print Length: 264 pages

Blurb:

In her debut collection, Theresa Braun explores the inner workings of the human heart and what it is we most desire—forgiveness, acceptance, love, fame, or merely to escape who we really are. Whether we are battling ghosts, demons, mythical monsters, the past, or other dimensions, we are really facing the deepest parts of ourselves. 

These thirteen tales of horror and dark fantasy may appear to be a matter of good versus evil, but they are all a reflection of the hidden corners of the soul that are often shades of broken darkness. The characters in these stories must face their inner and outer terrors or else suffer the consequences.

Purchase Link: Amazon

My Review :

I always love reading short stories. Liked this book but I felt a few stories are not very clear to me. The plots / the details are confusing. The narrative might have been better.

I liked that the stories selected in this book are of good variety. Each one's plot is unique. Except for a few, I didn't feel the stories are scary. A few are really good and unpredictable though.

Loved the following stories:

Dead over heels
The ending is completely unexpected and the story is interesting. I wouldn't say scary but intriguing.

Guilty as cell
Loved it. A story about not texting while driving

Stillborn
Interesting and unpredictable. Loved the story and ending.

Dying for an invitation
A true vampire story and is narrated well. Loved it.

Stay tuned
The story is gory with a lot of violence.

While my Guitar gently weeps
This story is like a little mystery. Loved the characters and the plot. Simple, yet interesting.

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

My Rating: 3/5

About the Author:

Theresa Braun was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and has carried some of that hardiness with her to South Florida where she currently resides. An English teacher and adjunct college professor for over twenty years, she continues to share her enthusiasm for literary arts with her students.


She earned a Masters in English literature with a thesis on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. In her spare time, she enjoys delving into her own creative writing, painting, photography and even ghost hunting. Spending time with her family and traveling as often possible are two of her passions. In fact, her world meanderings are often backdrops for her work. Striving to make the world a better place is something dear to her heart. When she's not writing, she can be found looking for romance or shopping for antiques.

Until next time,

Wordcount: 455 words

5 Best Spring break destinations in Texas #WriteAPageADay

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We moved to Texas just a year ago. Many said Texas is flat and not scenic. Ok, I want to prove them all wrong as I have seen some great spots so far.

So, here is a post about the best spring destinations in the Lone star state.

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Best Weekend Gateways from Austin: 

Big Bend National Park:

My travelogue about this isolated and beautiful park is here. 

Big Bend National Park is South-Western Texas's most underrated and isolated national park. Due to its remoteness, it is not easily accessible. But, trust me when I say, it is as beautiful as the other national parks we visited.

Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend National Park

There are some great places to hike, with beautiful scenery of rivers, mountains, and canyons. The park is vast and it takes a minimum of 2 days to cover the best places. 

This is 8hrs drive from Austin. 

Accommodations near BigBend:

Corpus Christi and Port Aransas:

Here is my travelogue on Corpus Christie and Port Aransas. 

Port Aransas is a perfect Weekend Gateway for families and couples alike for a relaxing time on the beach. There are many more cool things to do other than beaches. 

Here are some beautiful beaches that we visited: Padre Island National Seashore, White cap beach, Rockport Beach, and Melquite beach.

Port Aransas

USS Lexington is a World war 2 aircraft carrier that now houses the Naval Aviation museum. This is nearer to North Beach in Corpus Christie. This is just steps away from Texas State Aquarium as well.

This is 4hrs from Austin. 

Accommodations near Port Aransas:

Palo Duro Canyon State Park:

This is on our next travel wish list. I heard a lot of good about this state park.

The rock formations are amazing and this park offers scenic views, historical sites, and miles of hiking and biking trails. This is the second-largest canyon in the USA. The canyon is 800 feet deep and covers around 30,000 acres. 

Palo Duro Canyon
PC: https://www.flickr.com/photos/49580580@N02/29849531957

There is a scenic drive that is around 16 miles long with multiple viewpoints. The Lighthouse trail is the most popular trail.

This is 7.5 hrs from Austin.

Accommodations near Palo Duro Canyon:

San Antonio:

If you want to visit a historical place, San Antonio is the best destination. San Antonio is home to the Alamo, a UNESCO world heritage site, and many historical buildings called Missions. 

The Alamo

Riverwalk is pleasant to stroll through, and a nice place to hang out, eat the best food, and shop. 

Japanese Tea Garden is a wonderful place for a family. 

If you have time, check out The Natural Bridge caverns as well.

Here is my travelogue. This is 1.5 hrs from Austin.

Accommodations near San Antonio:

Guadalupe Mountains National park:

We visited this park on the way to White Sands National Monument from Elpaso, TX. We couldn't spend much time, but an amazing place to hike. The view of the majestic mountains is unbeatable and it gives the actual feeling of how big is Texas.

This is 8 hrs from Austin. My Travelogue will be up soon.

Guadalupe Peak

Located in the Chihuahuan desert, this park is home to the four highest peaks in Texas. While you are visiting it, don't miss to check out Carlsbad Caverns which are just next door. Caves are around 20 to 30 mins away. Here is my travelogue of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. 

Accommodations near Carlsbad:

For this year's spring break, I am looking forward to visiting Palo Duro Canyon state park. 

There are a few other places on my list that are good day trips from Austin like Pedernales State Park, Enchanted Rock State Park, Colorado Bend State Park, Inks Lake State park, Dinosaur Valley State Park, Caddo Lake State Park, Caprock Canyon state park and the list just goes on..

Those would be for some other time. 

Until next time,

Word count: 634