One Perfect Day in Las Vegas With Kids

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Las Vegas also known as Sin city in Nevada is popular for its' casinos and night life for adults. So, what's in for kids? or parents with children?

Here is this post about the best fun things to do with kids in Las Vegas:

We flew to Las Vegas for our South west Utah trip covering Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand staircase Escalante, Capitol Reef and Goblin Valley State park. 

Read the previous travelogues here:

Zion National Park - Part1

Zion National Park - Part2

Bryce Canyon National Park

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

Capitol Reef National park

Goblin Valley State Park

Arches National Park

Canyonlands National Park

How to Reach?

The economical option is to fly to Las Vegas if you are far.

Here are some flight options:

Options to rent a car

Where to Stay?

We stayed in Sahara resort. It's a nice place and economical. We got a room on 14th floor with a nice view of Strata Tower. 

The View from the hotel window

Here are a few other options:

Kid-Friendly places in Las Vegas:

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1. Water fountain show and Flower show at Bellagio

The first thing you do in las Vegas is to take a cab to drop you on the Strip. Outside the Bellagio hotel, the musical fountain show is great to watch. The show is every 15 mins after 8pm and every 30 mins in the morning till noon. This show is free to public.

After the fountain, check out the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The flower show is excellent and good for photography.

2. Coco Cola Store

This multi story building with a big coco cola bottle sculpture is in the middle of the strip. 

It's a good place to walk inside, check Coco cola merchandise and taste different flavors from the world. We got the tray and tasted different flavors of coke. It's fun.

3. M&M Store

This definitely excites kids. M&M store is full of fun stuff. All merchandise, different M&M candies which kids can pick and choose what they want.

The colorful candy machines are a treat to watch even if you are not interested in chocolate and M&Ms.

4. Newyork Newyork

The Big Apple roller coaster ride in Newyork Newyork is fun to ride for the kids. Kids must be 54 inches tall to ride.This is on the opposite side of M&M store and you can also watch the replica of Brooklyn bridge there. 

We loved the waterfall there, where we can also touch the water. 

The sculpture 'Bliss Dance' which is 60 ft high at the center of City park is beautiful.

5. Hershey's World

This is next to Newyork Newyork and kids will love it. As usual, big candy machines, different types of chocolates from Hershey's, great smoothies are a few things which interest kids.

Every store will have some cute branded sculptures outside if your kids want to take a photo with Hershey's kiss sculpture or similar.

It's really impossible to cover all cool places in just one day. So, we could cover only these.

But, if we visit next time, we don't want to miss these:

Flamingos at Flamingos Hotel

Gondolas at the Venetian

Mandala Bay Aquarium

Meow wolf

Circus Circus

High roller Observation Wheel

The Eiffel tower

Mirage Hotel Volcano

Egyptian Pyramid and a lot more..

I know, this list is endless. 

A word of caution:

You can see a lot of performers on street with little to no clothing, so expect kids to ask questions on why they wore those kind of costumes. Many people distribute cards about porn content, so, try to avoid those.

The strip is always crowded, so please keep children nearer. 

So, that's it about experiencing Las Vegas with kids.

Until next time,

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2023

Effective Tools to keep track of Daily Activities

In our busy lives, it's important to effectively keep track of daily activities so that we don't miss any important tasks. I am a detail oriented person with a memory which is not very sharp. I tend to forget things easily and depend heavily on checklists. I use tech everyday to make my life easier.

Here are my favorite tools that help me to track my daily activities:

Evernote

I am not sure if you have heard / tried this app, but it's a must on every phone. I have been using Evernote since 7 years or more. I am a dedicated user of this app.

How is it useful?

• To save grocery checklists
• To save blog post ideas
• To save info about travel - accommodations, places to see, restaurants to eat
• To save important info 
• To save a screenshot

One advantage is this app can be accessed through cloud. So, we can make checklists on phone and can view them from any other device like a laptop on evernote website by logging in. This makes it easier to sync. 

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

When I work and on my laptop, I open the website and create notes. I will check them later through my phone.  That's the cool and useful feature for me.

Calendar

This is not a tip really. Most of you might be using your calendar app on phone to manage reminders , tasks and appointments.

How is it Useful?

• To save kids class times and set reminders
• To save doctor appointments
• To save meetings
• To set reminders for specific tasks like buy gift for a friend

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

I also use Samsung health app to keep track of my steps and daily activity level. I use a notepad which sticks to my fridge to note down grocery items quickly without even opening the phone. I also take a screenshot of grocery list while visiting store or tear and paper and carry it.

Do you use any apps to keep track of your daily activities? Please do share them in comments.

Until next time,

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2023

Dance Recital and Preparation

This is the most exciting time for the year. It's like Christmas or Thanks giving to me, as it's the time for our Annual Recital.

Most of my blog readers might know that Iam a professional classical dancer and I own a dance school - Kala Deepika Dance Academy in Austin, TX.

Annual Recital:

This is an event that we do every year to showcase whatever students have learned in that current year. It's a good way for parents to see how their kids are progressing.

This is the most anticipated event of the year to parents and students alike.

PC: www.pixabay.com

Planning:

The planning and practice takes place almost 1 year ahead. With the recital date on radar, I start teaching specific songs to each batch and make them practice rigorously. 

It's sometimes challenging to schedule practices and train kids also considering their off days. Even the students who couldn't attend all classes should perform. So, it becomes tough and I plan extra classes for those students.

Schedule:

I have several batches of students at different levels and I usually select the songs that they can perform comfortably. I usually choose songs which they might have practiced a lot in the current year.

Then, I make a schedule with all the songs so that each batch gets some breathing space and rest in between. We plan on someone singing the prayer song. We check our times and decide on the whole show timeline. This will help us to decide the time of the recital, and stage rental.

Image by Asi from Pixabay

Logistics:

Through all these years, I have been learning a lot about planning logistics for a performance. It starts with a stage or auditorium rental, and confirm the facilities we need like focus lights, mics, speakers etc.,

Then, choosing a Event RSVP software to collect the RSVPs, get an estimate of guests. This helps us in planning to arrange food, water etc., for our guests.

Execution:

The important part of the Recital is the execution. Choosing an MC, writing a script, and preparing the final schedule.

For little kids, A stage rehearsal and a dress rehearsal are very important so that they can perform comfortably in their costumes on that day and know where to stand on the stage.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Cleanup and Wrap up:

Preparing a good vote of thanks speech, taking as many photos as we like, and networking with people is as important as event itself. 

Cleaning up of the place before leaving, thanking the guests, and discussing the feedback form parents are all necessary to plan the next recital in an efficient way.

So, that's crazy amount of work to plan a recital. Wish us luck for our Annual Recital on September 10th. It's going to be fun and challenging of course.

Until next time,

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2023

The Last to Vanish by Megan Miranda - [Book Review]

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Book Details:

Title : The Last to Vanish

Author: Megan Miranda

Genre: Fiction, thriller

Publisher: S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books

Print length: 336 pages

Blurb:

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“This eerie thriller…can stand next to Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and Stephen King’s The Shining.” —Booklist (starred review)

New York Times bestselling author Megan Miranda returns with a gripping and propulsive thriller that opens with the disappearance of a journalist who is investigating a string of vanishings in the resort town of Cutter’s Pass—will its dark secrets finally be revealed?

Ten years ago, Abigail Lovett fell into a job she loves, managing The Passage Inn, a cozy, upscale resort nestled in the North Carolina mountain town of Cutter’s Pass. Cutter’s Pass is best known for its outdoor offerings—rafting and hiking, with access to the Appalachian trail by way of a gorgeous waterfall—and its mysterious history. As the book begins, the string of unsolved disappearances that has haunted the town is once again thrust into the spotlight when journalist Landon West, who was staying at the inn to investigate the story of the vanishing trail, then disappears himself.

Abby has sometimes felt like an outsider within the community, but she’s come to view Cutter’s Pass as her home. When Landon’s brother Trey shows up looking for answers, Abby can’t help but feel the town closing ranks. And she’s still on the outside. When she finds incriminating evidence that may bring them closer to the truth, Abby soon discovers how little she knows about her coworkers, neighbors, and even those closest to her.

Megan Miranda brings her best writing to The Last to Vanish, a riveting thriller filled with taut suspense and shocking twists that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Purchase Link:

Amazon

Audio book

Audio book is free with Audible Trial. 

Try Kindle Unlimited to access millions of books. 

My Review:

I loved the plot and the suspense it carried till the end. The story starts with multiple disappearances at a small town near Appalachian trail. Abby joins as an employee at an inn after her mother dies. The inn owner Celeste takes care of Abby as her own family.

There were 2 mysterious disappearance near Shadow fall trails and the mystery was never solved. After Abby comes, one more girl hiking Shadow falls vanishes. No trace of anything.

Eventhough all town people want to forget these mysteries and move on to make the town safest for tourists, Abby feels like she is at the center of everything happening around and finds some clues and investigates connecting the dots.

In this digging, she finds interesting and disturbing about her life and how she is connected to the town.

The mystery is maintained till the end. Most of the characters are sketchy not sharing any details with Abby considering her as an outsider. Characters of Landon, Trey, Celeste and Sheriff are interesting along with Abby's.

We really feel the small town atmosphere reading the book and visualize the Shadow falls trail. We keep on guessing as reader who might be the culprit.

I would recommend this book to readers who love Thrillers.

I gave one star less only because it is confusing at a few points. The why part for many actions are not clear.

Overall, A Wonderful read and couldn't put the book down.

My Rating: 4/5

About the Author:

Megan Miranda is the New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls; The Perfect Stranger; The Last House Guest, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick; The Girl from Widow Hills; Such a Quiet Place; and The Last to Vanish. She has also written several books for young adults. She grew up in New Jersey, graduated from MIT, and lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children.

Her next book, The Only Survivors, will be published on April 11th, 2023.

Follow @MeganLMiranda on Instagram, @AuthorMeganMiranda on Facebook, 

or visit www.meganmiranda.com

Until next time,

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2023

5 Tips to boost your mood

Did you ever felt too tired some days? Like you were just dragging yourself the remaining day until night? These do happen for all. 

For me, the mid of the week is the most tiring one. On wednesdays/ thursdays, I am super tired, waiting for the weekend to just enjoy a relaxing afternoon nap or wakeup late without hurrying about anything.

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How to lift up our mood when we are super tired/ bored/ depressed?

First of all, we need not have energy at all times, we need not feel happy at all times and it is ok. Being tired is body's response for giving it a lot of stress. So, before we think about boosting the energy/ lifting up our mood, we should think about resting and slowing down.

However, there are a few days when we need to be there even though we are tired, like sending kids to school, attending an important meeting in office, preparing and presenting something important at work , taking care of a sick family member etc., So, those are the days we need ways to boost our energy and keep us going.

5 Tips to boost your mood:

1. Listening to music

This is on the top of list always. Music changes the mood. Right mood gives energy. Listening to your favorite music for sometime and then proceeding with your tasks is one way.

Image by Firmbee from Pixabay

2. Right Food

Food gives energy and good mood. There are a few food items which give instant energy - coffee, dark chocolate etc., Our brain needs more nutrients for its energy reserve. Foods rich in protein like eggs, fruits and nuts give energy. Eating our favorite foods can change our mood to be happy. Desserts are good mood busters if we are not concerned about calories.

3. Keep yourself hydrated

It's important to drink more water to conserve energy. If we feel dehydrated, we might feel dull, weak and low on energy. Food items rich with water like cucumber, melons, strawberries, citrus fruits help a lot. 

Image by Christine Sponchia from Pixabay

4. Power Nap

When body gets too tired, quick way to regain energy is by a power nap. A quick nap of 10 to 15 mins , if not possible, till 20 mins will make us energized. Did you ever try? A nap always lifts up our mood and makes us go back to the same boring task easily.

5. Hobbies 

Hobbies change our mood very well. I love drawing a Zentangle or a little drawing to change my mood and feel better. Reading a good book also lifts up my mood any time. Playing games and preparing some crafts is enjoyable. Gardening gives happiness and satisfaction.

Image by Markus Spiske from Pixabay

Other things that lift up my mood are scented candles, a clean house, good show on TV, choreography for a dance item, hiking in the nature, vacations and a lot more.

What are the ways you lift up your mood? Do let me know in comments.

Until next time,

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2023

Pennybacker Bridge, Austin TX

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Pennybacker Bridge in Austin is across Lake Austin that connects northern and southern sections of Loop 360 highway. This is commonly called as 360 degree bridge. 

This bridge constructed in 1982 is named after Percy V. Pennybacker Jr, who was a pioneer in the building technology and designed many bridges for the Texas highways. Now, that's about the history.

Pennybacker Bridge Overlook

This view point is amazing overlooking the Bridge and the Lake. 

I have seen this Bridge and Overlook in many Austin travel magazines, news channels and blogs. This seems like an Austin trademark kind of place.

The trailhead is just before the Pennybacker bridge/ 360-degree bridge. There is not a lot of place to park cars and the Sunset is the busiest time.

Trust me when I say this simple hike with little elevation will blow you away. The view of the bridge, lake and the surrounding houses is a treat to watch. It never disappoints.

There are 2 paths to hike. One is to scramble through rocks and climb higher elevation in less time. Other is meandering towards the right side, which goes up slowly, and has a clear path between trees.

After going to the top, you can walk right side to get more views of the lake and many people come here for surprise date nights and have picnic watching the Sunset as well.

That's a cool romantic spot :-)

So, that's about a nice hiking spot in Austin with a beautiful view.

Accommodations in Austin:

Affordable options to fly to Austin:

Until next time,

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This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2023

5 Best Podcasts that you should listen to today

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Podcasts are like a radio talk series or audio blogs. Podcasts are usually themed around a specific topic and are free to listen to through podcasting apps. 

What's great about Podcasts?

I have recently started listening to podcasts. I always try to learn more about health, mind, body, soul, and how to lead a meaningful life. There are many podcasts where the host explains scientific terms in a simple way with examples. 

Podcasts are a great way to pass the time while driving / stuck in traffic. I also listen to them while cooking or cutting vegetables, or folding laundry. 

How to access podcasts?

On my Android phone, I installed the 'Spotify' app. I search for good podcasts and subscribe to them. I open this app and play these episodes whenever I want to listen. This app is free with many podcasts. But you might get ads in the middle.

Another free app is 'iheartradio'.

If you use 'Audible' for audiobooks, that's a great place to listen to podcasts. If you want to get a good deal on an Audible subscription, click here. 

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Here are my favorite podcasts that I suggest you listen to today:

1. Huberman Lab

I am amazed by this podcast and the information it gives about the latest research. 

Huberman Lab discusses neuroscience: how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health. When you read about it, this might look like a boring pure science, but Huberman excitingly explains science in simpler terms.

He brings all the new scientific research about neuroscience to the audience. He does a lot of interviews with other scientists and researchers on interesting topics like tips for longevity, how  smells impact our biology, how to improve fitness, how fasting impacts our health, how sleep helps in good health, what is the correct way of drinking water, etc.,

I find his talks very good and I feel involved. His talks make me think beyond the topic and also help me incorporate a few tips into my everyday lifestyle.

2. The MelRobbins Podcast

Mel's research-based advice in simple steps is very easy to incorporate into personal lives. The podcast is fun with real-time examples and practical tips. 

Mel is the author of many best-selling books, and her podcast is ranked #1 in the world. 

3. Feel better Live more with Dr.Rangan Chatterjee

This is my recent find and the best podcast of all. Dr. Rangan wants to simplify health. He won't talk about complex diets/exercises/protocols. He suggests tips and advice on how to focus on basic pillars of health - Food, Movement, Rest, and Sleep.

I like that he gives clear health advice. He doesn't talk about medicine, but he talks about how the basic pillars of health can be a medicine. His 5-minute strength training workout video is viral on YouTube. Check that out. 

4. On Purpose with Jay Shetty

You might have seen him on social media a lot. Jay Shetty is a British podcaster and a life coach. He is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller - Think Like a Monk

His podcasts are mainly about how to avoid negativity in life, how to stop overthinking, and how to relax your mind, etc. He gives many practical tips and tools to reduce anxiety and achieve success. I like the practical approach from his podcast. We can learn many tips from his podcasts and implement them. 

He also interviews famous personalities, including US President Biden. His positivity and curiosity interest me in his podcasts.

 

5. The Mindset Mentor

This podcast by Rob Dial is about finding motivation and focus in our lives. He talks about various topics related to personality development, like improving communication, reducing anxiety, improving a positive mindset, improving productivity, and realizing the power of optimism.

Rob is a coach, speaker, and viral content creator. He is based in Austin, TX. 

His podcasts really change the way we think, and they make us a better person.

Have you tried any podcasts? If so, which podcasts do you like in the wellness category? Please do share your recommendations.

Until next time,

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2023