Favorites of the month April 2017

Favorite Routine: Tone it Up’s  Daily Moves

Do you work out at home? Or, do you WANT to workout at home because you’re too lazy to go the gym? Don’t worry, Tone it Up’s K&K has you covered! I too, like many of you, used to be too lazy to go the gym or a fitness studio. So, I started working out at home. I used to design the workout routines for myself, but soon I got bored of doing that too. I have been following Tone it Up since a couple of years. I started following their ‘Daily Moves’ 3 months back and I must say, workouts have become more Fun since then. With these daily moves, I don’t have to worry about how am I going to workout each day and also, you don’t get bored to follow the same routine for a month or week. 
Add a shortcut of this link on your home screen to keep reminding you to work out every day.

App: Grammarly

As the name suggests it helps us to correct our grammatical mistakes that MS Word spell check sometimes doesn’t detect. While I write my blog posts, Instagram posts or professional emails, I use Grammarly to detect silly mistakes and to make sentences effective.
You can download the Grammarly HERE. 

Favorite food: Mango!

I always prefer eating whatever is in season! And the best things you get in Summer are, none other than Mangoes! HERE is everything you need to know about Mangoes. Happy Eating Mangoes this summer!

Video: Elizabeth Gilbert & Marie Forleo on Fear, Authenticity and Big Magic

I have mentioned both Marie Forleo and Elizabeth Gilbert on my blog previously. Marie Forleo’s MarieTV was in my favorites of the month last time. Elizabeth Gilbert is one of my favorite authors, who wrote ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, ‘Big Magic’ and many other wonderful books. I have written a whole 'book reading experience Big Magic’ and it has impacted me in a very positive way to keep creating and living a creative life. I recommend this book to everyone always. 
When I saw two of my favorite personalities in one video, I knew it’s going to have a lot to offer. It’s a little too long, but you will surely gain a lot from it. And if you have read the book, you are going to enjoy it a lot! Watch the video Here!

So that's it for this month! If you like this post make sure to press that G+ button! Share this post with someone you love and care about because Sharing is Caring!

Much Love!

Chitra Takle XOXO

Favourites of the Month September 2016

Hola Amigos! It’s been months I have posted monthly favourites, so I decided to post some for you so that you can try them too!!

Favourite Book: The Bingo Theory by Mimi Ikonn

It’s been 3 years I follow Mimi Ikonn on her social media and she’s been such an inspiration throughout! I have always looked up to her and I was very excited since I knew she is writing a book. Finally, she made her book available worldwide and I bought it without giving a second thought. Obviously, the book is awesome and had to make into my monthly favourites. I am going to write a book reading experience in my next post for sure, because the book has helped me a lot to know about myself. And so, it will help you, definitely!

Read what the book is all about HERE. Mimi’s YouTube channel and link for buying the book are listed below. If you read the book don’t forget to comment on this post and let me know what you think about the book! 

Mimi’s Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MimiIkonn

Buy the book here.

India:  https://www.amazon.in/Bingo-Theory-revolutionary-guide-relationships-ebook/dp/B01F0RCVQI

USA: https://www.amazon.com/Bingo-Theory-revolutionary-guide-relationships-ebook/dp/B01F0RCVQI#nav-subnav

Favourite Song

I have always put songs from international albums in my monthly favourites, but this time I couldn’t help! This song is stuck in my mind! If you aren’t Indian you will definitely enjoy the beat! 

You can listen Laung Gawacha ft. Avneet Khurmi HERE

I even love their album cover!! So, colourful, edgy and quirky!

Monsoon Essentials: CROCS

Since it is Monsoon here, in India, one of my favourites is a monsoon essential: a footwear! And without a doubt, CROCS it is! I have been using same pair since 5 years! Yes!! Literally F I V E years! These ones are comfortable, durable, affordable and never going out of style! Also, I have received many compliments. There are many varieties available at CROCS, Mine are shown below.

You can buy the similar ones HERE

Favourite Quote:

Quotes on Instagram and Pinterest are source of my inspiration and motivation (Literally!). Quotes help me to start off my day right and set the tone for the day!  I literally have a wall of quotes in my room, So yes! Here is my favourite quote for this month! When I read this quote, it reminds me that we should not hold ourselves back from doing what we want to do with our life and we should always take chances!

Favourite Video Tutorial for Painting:

Last month I wrote book reading experience for BIG MAGIC by Elizabeth Gilbert, and Big Magic has inspired me to live a creative life (in short, to always create, or to live your life as a creator). You can read the book review HERE. It was quite a while I painted and I love painting!! But I stopped painting because I was waiting for an idea to paint. Months have passed by and THE IDEA never hit me. But after reading the book, I realized that I am doing it the wrong way, I was too afraid to paint something and ruin the canvas and that was the biggest mistake! So, I went ahead and searched for some tutorials to get started. I came across this useful tutorial on YouTube. It is very easy yet effective painting for those who want to start painting. So, watch and enjoy!!

How to Paint a Moon & Star filled Sky by Amy Pearse:

That’s it for this month Guys!! Hope you have wonderful month ahead, share this with someone you love and care, because sharing is caring!!

Much Love,

Chitra XOXO 

Book Reading Experience 'Big Magic'

Holla beautiful people out there!

It’s been long time since I was supposed to write this and finally I am doing it! So without further due let’s get down to it!

‘Big Magic’ is written by famous author Elizabeth Gilbert who also wrote the famous, fabulous and my favorite ‘Eat Pray Love’. To know more about the author, click HERE.

This book will not only inspire artists but will also inspire all those who create. And in my opinion, every one of us is a creator! Because, knowingly or unknowingly we are creating on a daily basis. And you never know you are so talented, and its making you happy and making your life easier. You can be a student, a manager, a YouTuber, an engineer, a blogger, a singer, a dancer, a photographer, who loves to create things according to your profession or something totally not related to your profession. Author of this book however, is talking about creating with passion,  that gives you immense pleasure and completeness to your life.

Here are some interesting things you will find out in this book:

• If you are Elizabeth Gilbert fan especially, You will find her life stories related to ‘Eat Pray Love’
• Her conclusions about creativity that sound funny and childish but if you look at it deeply, you cannot deny them, because everyone who has an experience of sitting down to create something has surely experienced them.
• You can relate with what author has to say, and you will have experience of having heart to heart conversation with the author.
• Want to explore yourself as a creator? Author tells you some really brave things you can take up in your life; you just got to pick those while reading.

So, let me give you an idea what author is discussing in this book from each part of the book, Obviously I cannot and will not cover everything, I am going to reveal enough to make you to want read more! And I do want you to read the book. Whole book is divided in to 6 parts, so let’s get started with the first one!

Part 1: “COURAGE”

Yes, it definitely takes courage to live a creative life. Elizabeth explains why people do not go ahead fearlessly and create things they are passionate about. She gives a list of reasons of what could be holding you back from creating, and definitely you will find yourself somewhere in the list (well,  that’s the best thing). So go ahead, find your reason, know how stupid that reason is and give it up. Create fearlessly and live a creative life.

In short, make time and gather courage to do what makes your soul happy, whatever brings smile on your face and makes you forget pain and worries! All this, takes courage and this part of the book tells you why and how!

Part 2: “ENCHANTMENT”

I believe this chapter is for those who sit down and think for the ideas, may be artist (all kinds of artist) or may be business people who deal with employees and finances. I found it funny when Elizabeth says that, ideas have mind of their own and they search for that person who can convert them into a creation. She adds that they travel around the world seeking for their creator and if you don’t pay attention to them they will leave you and will search another creator. I found it very true because I have experienced this, when you see someone executing the same idea as yours, it is just that they brought that idea into life and you didn’t. Or it could be the case that two people have done something in similar way! Same scientific discovery being made by people living in different parts of the world is an example of this.

These were just couple of examples among many ideas to which you will totally resonate. There are lot more interesting things in this part of the book that will blow your mind.

Part 3: “PERMISSION”

As the name suggests author talks about permission to live a creative life. And, obviously, as author says, “you don’t need anyone’s permission to create something you love”. Probably the only person who is stopping you from creating is only and only ‘YOU’!

Sometimes we stop ourselves by saying that, my creation looks like a copy, or its nowhere close to whom I am inspired by, I stand nowhere in this, I am not that great at it so I better not write this poem, not make that painting, I am not doing a justice to this creation, people would laugh at it or I would receive criticism.... and there are thousand other things in our mind that stop us from receiving happiness out of creating. Well, you know what Elizabeth says? NOBODY cares! You will start getting to know your own style only when you start creating in the first place! May be you need to copy, copy and copy until you make something Unique!

Elizabeth, by end of this part will make you believe, that we must create for ourselves, not for others; so that there would be no fear left of criticism. Create because it makes “You” happy!

Part 4: “PERSISTENCE”

We all know that Persistence is essential when you want to achieve the next level. Author says when you will decide to do something because it makes you happy; you have to be persistent at it. (Basically, that’s how much you should love it!) And she specifically highlights the parameter of “age”! It doesn’t matter what your age is! Age is just a number and has nothing to do with your passion to create. And once you start creating, you shouldn’t be worrying about failure. You shouldn’t be afraid of failing at it even if it is so, for years! Until and unless you are learning from it, it is worth Failing. Fail, Learn, educate yourself and may be, fail again and keep educating yourself, but never ever give up. Don’t worry about people not appreciating or not appreciating it “enough” when you publish your work.

Should you just believe in all this just because a famous author is saying it? NO! You should go and read the book and take an experience of being convinced to everything I stated above.

Part 5: “TRUST”

Do you believe that as much as you love your passion, it loves you back? NO? Well, It does! Find answer to this question in this part of the book.

Further, she tells that the process of creating, failing, educating for years, must be a journey of curiosity and happiness. If the process of creating is making you suffer, maybe you should go ahead and find something else to do. The process of creating is supposed to make you happy and should bring clarity and understanding towards the problems you are facing in personal life. It is supposed to bring sunshine in your soul. And if all it brings is pressure? Or all it needs is something bitter to come up from the past, in order to create your masterpiece? Please feel free to walk away from it. Because it is not supposed to make you suffer, it is supposed to pull you out of your sufferings.  

In the next chapters of this part, she discusses the “creative block”. Do you have nothing to write on your blog? Do you feel the writer/poet in you has left you? Do you feel you just made a mess out of your painting? Do you feel you are running out of ideas? Cannot think of anything new or unique? Go away from it for a while. Do something else. And while going away, have faith that you will get back to your passion to create something as fabulous as you’ve created in the past.

Part 6: “DIVINITY”

This is the shortest part of the book. And I am leaving this for you to read. This includes an interesting story about author’s stay at Bali.

 

So, those are the glimpse of each part of the book, hope it makes you want to read more! After reading this book you would surely be motivated to live as a Creator. Because we all are wonderful creators and creating with passion is fun life to live or let’s say it will make you feel more fulfilled in life. 

So, Go grab your copy on following links as soon as possible and I wish you a Happy Creative life!!

Links:

Amazon India: http://www.amazon.in/Big-Magic-Creative-Living-Beyond/dp/9384898996?tag=googinhydr18418-21&tag=googinkenshoo-21&ascsubtag=4a123d18-d8ad-46c4-8b0b-d0a78c7ef07f

Amazon USA:  https://www.amazon.com/Big-Magic-Creative-Living-Beyond/dp/1594634718/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469361020&sr=8-1&keywords=Big+magic

If you love this book, please share it to as many people as you can, because ‘Sharing is Caring!’

Much love,

Chitra XOXO