Nirupama P.R.V.'s Blog: Catty Opinions of a Book Loving Couch Potato, page 19

A Fun Place called Library

This is another post about the fun we had at our local library- the Arlington Heights Memorial Library.

The theme this time was ‘Under the Sea’.

Just like the surface of the ocean belies the amazing wondrous world beneath, this stand is deceptively simple and understated. For behind in its little shelves were masks, puppets, toys and more.

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Trying on the cute masks:

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And of course we put on our own little puppet show with these adorable sea friends:

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Making pretend sand castles with beach toys:

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So, we essentially got to put in the puppet show, play shopkeeper at a beach shop, make sand castles, enjoy a masquerade and so much more.

I am always by the minimalistic but fun principle employed in the kids section at the library and indeed all kindergarten classes. It’s simple and self explanatory, enjoyable, cleanup is easy and quick.

What do you like about your library’s kiddie section? What are some tips you learnt over time from your visits?

Let me know your thoughts and tips in the comments below.

Read Aloud

I like reading aloud to the kiddo. It’s a great bonding experience and way to introduce new books, authors and concepts to the little darling.

But with T becoming more proficient at reading herself , reading to her is lessening quite a bit.

However, I discovered a great way to continue the practice with ReadAloud books. Courtesy our library, we got some ebooks with the Read aloud option. We had so much fun reading and following along.

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Bonus: I even got some great tips on voice modulation and read-aloud tips from the narration.

Have you tried read-along/ read-aloud books ? What’s been your experience?

Let me know in the comments below.

Games We Play

This week’s post is a recap of some of the amazing games and crafts we played at the Arlington Heights Library.

I love how they are simple, fuss free yet creative and fun for the kids (and parents too!)

The first craft was a summer coloring scene. With a simple example-

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And easy directions –

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And fun stencils-

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What I loved and do not show here are the tables set up for kids to actually do the craft. I found that a lot of kids gravitated to those tables, happily did the artwork , cheered each other on (so mannerly and encouraging) and then even cleared up their spots so others could use it. It was amazing. I can totally see myself making those simple setups so cleanup is a lot simpler and easier at our home as well!

Reading Challenge – July Updates

With the new month beginning, it is time for a round up of how I fared on the 2019 Goodreads Reading Challenge.

This past month, I actually read pretty well. With 3 books finished, I am ahead of track! Woo-hoo!

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What did I read?

1. I finished Melissa Ambrosini’s Mastering Your Inner Mean Girl. This book was our quarterly book discussion title and I had so much fun reading and pondering on the discussion questions. My answers can be found here.

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2. My second book was ‘The Scribe Method’ – a great guide for those who want to write and publish a book. It has steps for all the stages of getting a novel out. Even though I am a published author, I felt this is so detailed, anyone planning to write a book should read it.

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3. Monday Morning Mentoring- This was an excellent book on management of written in a style that seems very similar to the One Minute Manager Series. What I also enjoyed was that it provides some very useful tips (indirectly) to being a great mentee.

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How’s everyone else faring on the Reading Challenge? How do you make time, especially in summer?

Leave me your thoughts in the comments below.

Book Review: Mastering Your Inner Mean Girl

This post is a book review of Melissa Ambrosini’s book Mastering Your Inner Mean Girl.

I read this book as part of my workplace book club, run by the Women’s Resource Group. It’s well written, useful with a conversational narration. I really liked the tips on quelling our inner critic (we all have one) and enjoyed reading it thoroughly.

Below are the questions from our book discussion with my answers.

Book Club Discussion Q & A

1. What were your favorite takeaways from this book?

My favorites were: ‘Choose Love Over Fear’ and ‘Flex Your Love Muscle’. I enjoyed those two chapters and especially the sections for parents, like the Special note for Mamas, the ‘be the example’ for kids.

2. What do you think about her style of writing? How many people wrote in the book? Or visited her website?

I found the conversational style engaging. I tried to write in the book (with a pencil) but could not bring myself to do it. I love books too much! I did visit her website.

3. Favorite quote from the book?

“Money is simply a unit of energetic exchange.” So apt!

4. How would you define ‘your mean girl’?

My mean girl is my inner critic who keeps piping up about various ‘should dos’ and social expectations.

5. What are some things you do currently out of love?

People I spend time with, activities with my kiddo, reading, learning (books, courses, etc)- I make time for them no matter what.

6. How do you define ‘your truth’?

Still trying to verbalize this. 

7. From all the authors tips on how to master your mean girl what is the hardest for you?

‘Choose Love over Fear’- simply because I come from a culture where one’s behavior also reflects on your immediate family, especially parents. So, I still the ‘toe the line/conform’ and people please for fear of how it might reflect on my loved ones. I hope to do better on this aspect.

8. Energy is brought up often in terms of relationships. Can you relate to what she talks about there? Any stories about people you know with really good energy or bad energy?

Definitely, some people are so optimistic- their energy and enthusiasm is just infectious. And I find I gel so well with some folks (close family, best friends) that I feel rejuvenated. Like when I talk to one of my sisters, even if on the phone, I am laughing and smiling and so perked up- that energy is enough to get through the busiest of days. 

9. Out of her tips to conquering her mean girl is there any of these you feel you do especially well at? And do you have additional tips for everyone else.

Relationships and money- I think I do well on those. 

My dad is an accountant- he taught me to gauge products and services in terms of value and not cost. (I forget the financial term and anyway the author’s phrase “Money is simply a unit of energetic exchange.” is cooler). This helps me use money on things that make life better, more fun, more relaxed and without regrets.

10. Did the book change your opinion on anything?

Not a change in opinion, but the point about not striving for “balance” and embracing ebbs and flows of life was a very different perspective. With a baby on the way, I think it will be worth keeping in mind.

11. Final thoughts, what did you think of this book?

Really enjoyed it- there were enough takeaways for me to apply – so, was quite a useful read.

Other Thoughts:

I have to point here that the premise of this book is similar to the book I read some time back titled: The B!#*} in your Head. I started reading with a nagging doubt that they might tread on the same topics. But the treatment and content are poles apart and this book was enjoyable in a completely different fashion.

So, have you read either? What did you think?

What are your tips for ignoring or better still conquering our internal critic?

Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below.

Chicago Diaries

I am always amazed by the brilliance of Chicago’s architecture and the fabulous creations of art in iron, glass and steel- gorgeous yet functional.

Some photos from a recent architecture tour:

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What do you love about your city? Do you consider architecture as art? What’s a skyline you can enjoy over and over again?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Monday Motivation

Dream it, do it!

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Monthly Reading Roundup- June

Half the year is up and it’s time to take stock of how I’ve fared on the 2019 Goodreads Reading Challenge 2019 not only for the month of a June but for the first half of this year!

A look at the basic stats:

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I am so glad that I am still on track with this resolution!

The books I have read so far are:

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In June, the books I read were:

This hilarious book on meetings and navigating them was funny , witty and a delightful read.

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This book by Peggy Klaus -it’s excellent. I also highly recommend reading another of her book: Brag!

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Now, I only read two books this month and started about a gazillion more. But, I’m having too much fun reading and soaking all that knowledge and witticisms. So, that’s a win already!

I won’t list every book but two that I find particularly ‘can’t-put-it-down’ are:

This book in Mentoring- written in almost the One Minute Manager style with only ten chapters, it is so useful and practical. Only half way through and I can already see concrete steps I can use.

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The second is this bestseller in multiple categories: a treasure trove of knowledge- that is what this book is! I highly recommend.

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So, what are you reading this month? How are you faring in the reading journey? Leave me your thoughts on the goals and the process in the comments below!

Reading Habits : but not for Books!

Today’s post is on some of the non-books reading that I get done.

Newsletters, magazines, blog posts (we have an awesome blogging community that can be wonderfully accessed right in the WordPress Reader pane itself) and articles on LinkedIn on Twitter- all these make up for at least 45 minutes of reading.

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Yes, 45 minutes -three whole quarters of an hour! Enough to finish a 25 minute video of the course am enrolled in with note taking, sufficient to grab a quick coffee with a friend or colleague, ample time to cook an easy meal (easy being relative here), enough to play a game with the kiddo or watch half the movie ‘Always Be My Maybe’.

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But of course, I do this in installments of 5mins. So, it’s more of a time maximizing strategy than anything else. I get a few extremely short passages of time where all I can do is wait, like waiting to get off the train at my station, In the shared cab to office, awaiting the said shared cab, quick lunches (I do try to club professional socializing most days), and so on. Since, i can’t do deep work, these slots are perfect for catching up with great articles. I prune my emails and social media, so am pretty much assured of extremely useful and personalized articles.

And occasionally you get rewarded for your reading by articles such as this one from @TheMuse!

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So, how about you? What do you spend time reading up that are not the conventional books (or even audio books) but are still worthy of absorbing and instrumental to life/ career? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Mission Space! Fun activities for Kids at Arlington Heights Library

The kiddo and I are frequent visitors at the Arlington Heights Memorial library, a cozy library close to the suburban train station of the same name. We love the books, toys, Staff and the exciting activities planned each month here.

With summer in swing, we were excited to discover what fun the library held in store for us. We were not disappointed!

The theme this month is space. And it reflects suitably in the summer reading program too.

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This is the first reading challenge that T will be finishing herself as opposed to our previous programs where I would read to her. I still read aloud to her but as a parent, it’s joyous to see her tackling new books all by herself! (Another reason we keep heading back to the library)

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Featured above is our favorite Imaginative play area : it had outer space themed puppet show and astronaut vehicle too!

Blast off!

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We had so much fun making the puppets fly and save the intergalactic world!

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Check out the friendly aliens whose spaceship needed rescuing!

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We also tried our hand at building structures. While not a new toy, the setup was so amazing that it added to our sense of intergalactic adventure.

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This super cool space station with its aliens is such a modern take on dollhouses. Free from gender stereotypes and friendly for all ages!

There was even a tent with outfits for brave space explorers and budding astronauts.

Craft activities this month follow the same theme. With Father’s Day being on the weekend, the week’s craft still was to make a card for Dads.

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The kiddo’s version:

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We loved all of it and can’t wait to go back for more!

What do you enjoy at your local library ? Join the conversation in the comments below.