My husband has been reading the book Atomic Habits by James Clear, and shared something the other day that really stuck with me: Instead of just setting goals, focus on building small habits. As someone who loves making goals, I was curious about how I could shift my focus to small, daily habits that could help me achieve the lifestyle I want.

Here are some of the habits that I’m working towards:

1⃣ Staying active – Morning walks (whether it’s solo or with a friend), hitting the gym once or twice a week, and doing HIIT workouts or yoga at home on the other days.

2⃣ Creating a cleaning routine – I’ve started spreading out my chores throughout the week, so I’m not stressing over cleaning the entire house in one day.

3⃣ Staying organized – I’m working on having a place for everything and using the “one touch” method so I can just get things done right away.

4⃣ Embracing new experiences – I’m trying to attend more community events and set up playdates for the kids so we can make new memories and experiences together.

5⃣ Staying connected with friends – Texting, calling, and meeting up for lunch or coffee to make sure I’m nurturing the friendships I value.

What small habits have you incorporated into your life to make it easier or more enjoyable?

Let’s share and motivate each other! Drop a comment below!

Sincerely,

There’s just something about fall that makes it my absolute favorite. Maybe it’s the crisp air, the warm drinks, or just the excuse to slow down and savor the little moments.

Here are my fall-time favorite activities:

1. Sipping on a cup of warm apple cider or hot chocolate
2. Getting cozy by the fireplace with a comfy blanket
3. Watching Hallmark movies once the kids are in bed
4. Enjoying a bowl of warm, delicious soup
5. Spending the day apple-picking with the family
6. Taking the boys to the pumpkin patch
7. Baking some yummy cranberry muffins
8. Bringing out all of our Fall decorations to make the home feel extra festive

What are your favorite fall traditions or must-do activities? Let me know in the comments!

Sincerely,

That being said, one thing I am not looking forward to at the start of the school year is our early morning school routine, which means getting up at 6:30 am so we can be up and out the door by 7:25 am at the latest. This is a struggle for me as I’m a night owl, but a mother’s got to do what she’s got to do. I have some tips that have been helping me stay efficient in the morning so we can get everything we need to do before getting out the door.

1. Take out your child’s school clothes the night before.
Luckily, this is an easy one for us since Shahzaib has a uniform for school, but laying it out the night before, along with his socks and undergarments, helps us save time in the mornings.

2. Get your child’s lunch box ready.
I will typically place Shahzaib’s juice and snacks, as well as his fruit or vegetables, in his lunch box as long as it isn’t anything that will get spoiled overnight. I’ll also refill his water bottle and put it inside his backpack so we’re not scrambling in the morning trying to find it.

3. Keep breakfast simple.
We keep our breakfast options to a minimum; it’s either cereal or toast with butter and/or jelly. Some other options could consist of frozen pancakes, waffles, or oatmeal.

4. Create a weekly lunch schedule.
I prepared one last year to help me with what to make each day for lunch. Did I use it? Well, kind of…I didn’t stick to preparing the same meal every Monday, Tuesday, etc., but used it as a guide for lunch ideas throughout the week.

5. Daily chore chart
I created this during the school year last year as a way for us to keep track of all the things we need to get done before heading out to school and before bedtime. It was helpful as Shahzaib was able to go down the list and see what things he had left to do before leaving for school.

6. Get to bed on time.
This is probably the most important one, but getting your kids to bed on time is crucial. We’ve not been the best at this since we’re just coming back from summer break, but on days when Shahzaib doesn’t get to bed on time, it’s a struggle getting him up, changed, and down for breakfast, but on days when he does get to sleep on time, it’s so much easier getting through all our morning tasks before heading off to school.

I hope you found these tips helpful; if you have any others that you do that help you have a productive morning, please share them with me in the comments below. Thank you!

Sincerely,

I was blessed with another baby boy just eight days after my birthday. His birth story was quite an adventure, which I’ll share in a future post, but thankfully everything worked out seamlessly in the end, and he arrived safe and sound on October 21st at 12:25 pm.

During my pregnancy, I used to wonder how it would feel to have another baby after so long, how would Shahzaib adjust to being a big brother, would I be sleep-deprived and overwhelmed this time around too? Thankfully, the journey so far has been amazing! Shahzaib is the best big brother ever, and loves his little brother so much. He’s been extremely helpful in getting diapers/wipes when I need them and helps place the pacifier back in the baby’s mouth when it comes out. I have not been feeling as overwhelmed as I did with Shahzaib, maybe since I knew what to expect this time. I keep reminding myself to take it slow and to enjoy every minute of the newborn phase, especially now that I know how quickly those moments fly by. If you are also going through this stage of life, know that it doesn’t last forever, so enjoy it while you can!

Now that the secret’s out. I have a lot more baby-related content coming soon. So stick around for that plus more in the coming year…

Sincerely,

Hopefully, you find this content interesting and want to follow along for the adventure. Subscribe to my blog below so you can be notified each week once my new blog post is up. Thank you, and I hope you have an amazing 2024 as well!

Sincerely,

Snack Ideas:

• Raisins
• Apple Slices
• Cuties (Oranges)
• Banana
• Grapes
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Veggie Chips
• Potato Chips
• Goldfish Crackers
• Cheese-its
• Pretzels
• Crackers
• Apple Sauce
• Yogurt Pouch
• Mixed Fruit Cup
• Cheese Stick
• Granola Bar
• Carrot Sticks with Dip
• Pita Chips with Hummus
• Celery Sticks with Peanut Butter
• Sweet Peppers
• Muffin
• Cookie

Lunch Ideas:

• Grilled Cheese Sandwich
• Cucumber Sandwich
• Shredded Chicken Sandwich
• Pita Pocket with Deli Meat
• Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
• Chicken Tenders/Nuggets
• Fish Fingers
• Mac and Cheese
• Pesto Pasta
• Quesadilla
• Pizza Bites
• Pasta Salad
• Hot Dog
• Pinwheels with Deli Meat
• Mini Burgers with Fries

Desi Lunch Ideas:

• Paratha with Yogurt
• Kabab Roll
• Pasta Keema
• Kitchari
• Shami Kabab Sandwich
• Patties
• Samosas with Chutney

Sincerely,

One of our favorite things to do when the weather is warm is eat popsicles outside on our patio, it’s something I’ve been doing with Shahzaib since he was small, and it’s such a fun bonding activity. I also wanted to incorporate some fun activities on the weekends and came up with the following list that I thought I’d share. The nice thing about where we live is that the cities around us host some of these activities for free, such as movie nights at the park, concerts and events downtown, farmer markets, and others, but even if yours don’t, several things can be done for little or no money that will leave your children with lasting memories:

• Movie at the park
• Drive-in movies
• Movie night at home or backyard
• A day spent at a water parks or splash pad
• Swimming at the pool
• Going to the beach or lagoon
• Camping
• Picnic at the park
• Concerts and events downtown
• County fair
• Farmer markets
• Activities at the library
• Local train rides
• Visiting a zoo or museum
• Day trip to a farm or berry picking
• Gardening/growing fruits and vegetables in your backyard

I hope you find this list helpful. If you do, please like and save it so you can refer back to it in the future. I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer .

Sincerely,

Since then, life has become so hectic for me. I never realized how much juggling was involved in being a working mom. The one benefit of this job is that I work remotely, but that comes with its own set of challenges. Anyways, nine months later, I am still trying to find a balance.
By the way, how is it May already?

We have something exciting coming up very soon, and I can’t wait to share it with all of you and take you along the journey. It honestly couldn’t have come at a better time since we all really need it. Any guesses as to what it could be? Let me know in the comments section below.

Otherwise, I hope you have a great week, and I’ll be back to share the exciting news very soon.

Sincerely,

After our time last year, my husband suggested that we make an apple pie to use up the apples before they went bad. It was a great idea, but the apples were so delicious on their own, that we ended up eating them before I got around to making one. My husband had the same suggestion this year, so before we finish them again, I decided to use them to make my favorite apple crumble recipe.

This recipe is so easy, and it tastes so good that I thought I’d share it with you too. I hope you guys like it, and if you do, don’t forget to let me know in the comments below.

Apple Crumble Recipe:

Ready In: 55 mins
Serves: 10-12

Ingredients-
8 cups granny smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1⁄2 cup firmly packed brown sugar, divided
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
1⁄3 cup old fashioned oats or 1/3 cup quick-cooking oats
1⁄4 cup cold margarine
25 reduced-fat vanilla wafers, crushed (about 1 cup)

Directions-

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Toss apples with 1/4 cup of brown sugar and 1 tsp of cinnamon. Spoon into an 8- or 9- inch baking dish.
3. Combine oats, the remaining brown sugar, and 1 tsp cinnamon in a medium bowl. Cut in margarine with pastry blender or two knives, until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add wafer crumbs, mix well. Spread crumb mixture evenly over apples.
4. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until apples are tender. Serve warm or cooled. Top with whipped topping.

Recipe courtesy of Kraft Food & Family Magazine

Sincerely,

After having taken such a long time off from work, I needed to prepare myself for this new change. There were several things that I did to help the transition go a lot smoother. If you happen to be going through a similar process or are considering going back to work at some point, I hope you find these suggestions valuable.⁠

Consider flexible work options

Try to ease yourself back into work if it’s possible. Consider looking into opportunities that allow you to work as a contractor, part-time, or even temporary work.

Make arrangements for childcare

Whether you plan to enroll your child into daycare, preschool, or have a nanny or babysitter watch them, it is essential that you do your research and make these arrangements beforehand. It will give you peace of mind when you do begin work, knowing that your child is in good hands. If possible, I would also suggest that you get your child familiarized with this new arrangement before you start as it may take a week or two for your child to adjust, in which case you may have to pick them up early until they are getting used to the new environment and schedule.

Get organized

Create a routine or set a daily schedule for yourself so you know what your day will look like, take into consideration your work hours, when you will be doing school/daycare dropoffs and pickups, etc. Having an idea of all the things that need to get done will help it feel more manageable.

Meal plan or other food services

Having a busy schedule with work plus the dropoffs and pickups can leave you with little or no time for cooking. Meal planning in advance can help with the guesswork of what to make the day of. Another option could be to look for a local home-based catering business that you could purchase your meals from if you’re tired from eating out all the time.

Cleaning services

Look into using a cleaning service that helps out with deep cleaning once a month or more frequently if you need it. Otherwise, allocate a day to different of the week to each cleaning chores, so you’re not left doing everything on one day.

Establish a bedtime routine

With such a busy schedule juggling work, motherhood, and all the day-to-day stuff around the house, it is essential you get a full night’s rest. Having a consistent bedtime and nighttime routine will help get your body get the rest it needs so you can be your most productive self.

Mentally preparing for the change

Transitioning back to work is a big adjustment, especially now that you have a child to look after. Realize that every day will not be picture perfect, and there will be times when you will struggle, so getting yourself in the right mindset and setting reasonable expectations is essential. It may not be possible to do it all every day, so you will have to learn to shift your priority daily to get whatever needs to be done, and that’s okay.

At the end of the day, don’t forget that you are doing your very best, and it is okay to ask for help when you need it. You don’t want to push yourself so much that it leads to feeling burnt out.

Sincerely,