Gratitude List for April 2018 #GratitudeCircle

April month has been the most satisfying month of this year so far. I gave one classical dance performance on stage after around 8 years or so. I could read some good books. I have successfully completed #SuperBloggerChallenge2018 and gained some knowledge. I have started my Pinterest account and could see some growth in the first month itself.

I loved this quote and I could relate to it well. Many people think they will be happy with money/ power/ knowledge/ whatever. It leads to unhappiness if they cannot get to those.

Here are a few that I am thankful for last month:

1. Dance Performance
I believe in excellence and not in competition. I try to better myself in every performance and so my competition is only with me. This performance is different in one aspect. After delivering kids and crossing 30, the physical stamina plays an important role in the arts like the dance. I was afraid that I didn't have enough stamina to practice and perform like I did in my childhood/ teenage. Of course, Practice helped me to overcome this and I am happy for that.

2. Books
I stopped accepting more book reviews as I don't have much time to read due to my travel in June. So, all reviews I am doing in April and May are mostly the ones which tempted me to accept due to interesting blurbs. So, I read and reviewed only 3 books in April. Rising from the Ashes by Rubina Ramesh is a lovely take on a small story in Mythology. The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh by Carolyn Arnold is a thrilling and adventurous treasure hunt story. My Body is mine by Kayla is a helpful book to parents to teach about the boundaries of body and sexual abuse to their children.

3. SuperBloggerChallenge2018
I have joined this challenge with fewer expectations. My goal is to write an article every week for 10 weeks. But, I also learned a lot of blogging and social media tips. This helped me to create my Pinterest account and grow my traffic. It was also good to read many good blog posts throughout the challenge. Thanks to Amrita, Bushra and Utpal and my best wishes for their next series of Super Blogger Academy.

Super Social Biz

4.  Blogging Growth
Recently, I have subscribed to the newsletter from Shailaja V of Diary of a Doting mom. This is very helpful with many blogging tips. I have also started my Pinterest account recently. I am loving my experience with Pinterest as I am enjoying to design my pins. As of today, I got 50 followers and 8k monthly views just in one month. I am so happy to have started on Pinterest.

That's a great month for me. How was your April? What made you happy? Do let me know in comments.

Until next time,

Linking this to #GratitudeCircle hosted by Vidya Sury. Also linking to #WritingWednesdays hosted by Corinne and #ThankfulThursday hosted by Shirley.

Gratitude List for July 2017 #GratitudeCircle

Here comes the time of the month to share the joy of little of things in my life in July.

1. Travel:
Of course, this is on the top of my list. We had to cancel 2 trips in July due to several reasons, but I am happy that we could visit at least one place. Summer holidays for the elder one are getting over by next week and so, this might be the last 2-day trip and a long drive before school starts.

We went to Glenwood springs and hiked the toughest trail with kids. Even though we could manage with great difficulty, I feel grateful for our good health and fitness.This trip is also a reminder to stay healthy and be fit in future.

Hanging Lake, Glenwood Springs

2. Instagram photo challenge:
Inspired by the prompts provided by Pallavi Purani(@womod), I posted one photo a day in Instagram in the month of July. You can find me on Instagram as @ramyaelr. I love participating in these challenges as they make me think about the prompt, remember some good days and photos linked with the prompt and let me choose the best photo. I am grateful for the lovely memories I treasured so far in the form of photos. Here is a collage of some of the photos from June.

3. Morning walks:
It's good that I continued my morning walks this month too. I have also participated in a 5k walk for a cause for the first time. I think I can try 5k run next time. Since schools start from mid of August, I have to change the time for morning walks. I  hope, this works out as there is not much time before the fall season starts and morning walks become tough.

A foggy morning

4. Reading and Library visits
In July, I couldn't spend much time on reading but I am grateful to have finished 2 books. I have some good books with me as of now, but I am just waiting for free time to finish them. I could go to the library twice and got one book which was on my wishlist for a long time. I hope to read more in August.

It was on my wish list so long!

5. Surviving Summer holidays
I am grateful to survive summer holidays with 2 kids at home, who are always ready to fight with each other, create a mess, seek my attention and make me a referee in their fights. I am glad that I could introduce them to our mother tongue and acquainted them with some household chores. I am grateful that I could engage them without losing my sanity.

So, that is the list of small things that made me happy last month. How was your July? Do share your opinion in comments.

Until next time,

Linking this post with Quoted stories hosted by LifeBioScope and Rohank.

Also, Linking this to #GratitudeCircle by Vidya Sury and #WritingWednesdays hosted by Corinne at WriteTribe.

My Writing ideas to overcome Writer's block #WritingWednesdays

I write about books that inspire me and places that interest me. Sometimes, there will be a few dull days when my thoughts become stagnant and I don't get any motivation to think differently. A blog is a wonderful platform to express our feelings but we have to write good content and present things in a unique way so that the audience won't get bored. I try to improve my writing skills, read a lot, practice and hone my skills with every new post. Here are a few ideas which help me to overcome Writer's block. These also help me to avoid publishing the boring routine content in my blog.

Source:pixabay.com

1. Books and places
Since my blog is all about these two, these are my first motivation factors to write. I read 2 to 4 books a month and write reviews for most of them. I love sharing details about the tourist places I visit,  though I don't travel very frequently. Sometimes, a day out with children, a walk in the park or any special event that I participate also join my writing list.

2. Round ups and Gratitude lists
This is an easy and fun way to write when I am really stuck and doesn't have much time to write a post. I usually list down the books that I read last month with a brief description of each, linking all my reviews. A quick one, right? I love the idea of listing down all good things that made me smile as a gratitude list and I am practicing this every month.

3. List posts
I love making lists! Top 5 books that I liked or my top 5 parenting lessons or my top tips to manage a fussy eater. This is another unique way of presenting my content without thinking hard.

4. Making a note of ideas
I know, most of my fellow bloggers follow this as well. We tend to forget a few ideas when we can't write about them immediately. Ideas popup anytime ☺ during a shower or in the middle of night or during a public transit to office. I use Evernote to note them so that I can check these in my laptop and write in detail whenever I get time. This app syncs to both my smart phone and laptop, making it easier.

5. Reading
When I am badly stuck and demotivated to write, I take inspiration from other blogs, facebook groups, trending topics in social media, magazine articles etc., Reading generates more ideas. What do you say?

So.. that's about my writing ideas. What about you?

Writing this for #WritingWednesdays hosted by Corinne at writeTribe.
 This week's prompt - "Where do you get writing ideas from?"

Until next time,

The Reflections of Queen Snow White by David Meredith - [Book Review]

Book Details:

Title: The Reflections of Queen Snow White

Author: David Meredith

Genre: Fiction

Source: A free e-review copy from the author

Blurb:

What happens when "happily ever after" has come and gone?

On the eve of her only daughter, Princess Raven's wedding, an aging Snow White finds it impossible to share in the joyous spirit of the occasion. The ceremony itself promises to be the most glamorous social event of the decade. Snow White’s castle has been meticulously scrubbed, polished and opulently decorated for the celebration. It is already nearly bursting with jubilant guests and merry well-wishers. Prince Edel, Raven's fiancé, is a fine man from a neighboring kingdom and Snow White's own domain is prosperous and at peace. Things could not be better, in fact, except for one thing:

The king is dead.

The queen has been in a moribund state of hopeless depression for over a year with no end in sight. It is only when, in a fit of bitter despair, she seeks solitude in the vastness of her own sprawling castle and climbs a long disused and forgotten tower stair that she comes face to face with herself in the very same magic mirror used by her stepmother of old.

It promises her respite in its shimmering depths, but can Snow White trust a device that was so precious to a woman who sought to cause her such irreparable harm? Can she confront the demons of her own difficult past to discover a better future for herself and her family? And finally, can she release her soul-crushing grief and suffocating loneliness to once again discover what "happily ever after" really means?

Only time will tell as she wrestles with her past and is forced to confront The Reflections of Queen Snow White.

My Review:

This is the story of introspection of a queen through a magical mirror which can talk. The mirror says it shows only the reflection of her thoughts, her past scars which she couldn't forget, her positive attitude and courage which she forgot now.

We all have good times and bad days in our life. When we are in a confusing state or in depression, we should remember the days when we fought back in our life and won. Instead, if we are surrounded by the negative thoughts, the situation becomes tough. We always need to introspect regularly to know who we are, what we are capable of and how lucky we are to have our basic needs fulfilled. This is the gist of the book. The author conveys the message very clear through the magical mirror.

If you are looking for a story with twists, you can skip this. But, if you want to understand the importance of introspection in your life, this might appeal to you. 

My Rating: 4/5 

Ps: I have received this free review copy in exchange of an honest review and this is my unbiased opinion on the book.

Purchase Link:

About the Author:

David Meredith is a writer and educator originally from Knoxville, Tennessee. He received both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from East Tennessee State University, in Johnson City, Tennessee as well as a Tennessee State Teaching license. He is currently a doctoral student in Educational Leadership. On and off, he spent nearly a decade, from 1999-2010 teaching English in Northern Japan, but currently lives with his wife and three children in the Nashville Area where he continues to write and teach English.

Until next time,

Linking this to #WritingWednesdays hosted by WriteTribe.