New York in 4 Days (Day 3, 4 + Bonus Morning)

Posted on April 26, 2023 by Bhanu Misra Marya

➡️ Click here to check out my entire NYC in 4 days series!

So our last 2 days in NYC we kept pretty light. We decided on a few things we wanted to definitely see but did not stress if we didn’t get around to actually seeing them. So here was the list:

MoMA
Fao Shwartz
Statue of Liberty
Central Park
DUMBO

Although, I had a longer list (always positive!), with the kiddos we knew it wouldn’t have been possible to make it all happen (and that was OK).

Day 3 We wanted to keep it an easy day outside of the downtown core. We went to a mall in Hoboken, tried Chick-fil-A (hated it!) Later for the day, we had made ferry reservations for the Statue of Liberty so we headed straight there! The girls were really enamoured by the statue and it’s history. Glad we made it happen!

Day 4 Saw us with a start at the MoMA! After a quick bite to eat from a falafel vendor (there on every corner!) and few blocks down from Times Square – we were in.
TIP: Buy your tickets online before you go!
Like the theme for the last 2 days, we had a good idea of what we wanted to see in the art gallery, which was every Van Gogh, Picasso and Salvador Dali then had on exhibit. Anything else would be considered bonus! It was such an honour and treat to see these works of art in person. It confirmed for me that I made the right decision getting an annual pass to the AGO (Check out those trips here and here).

We finished the day by checking out Macy’s, having dinner at Olive Garden and packing to to hit on the road the next day…but not before getting a few shots at DUMBO.

Day 5 Now IYKYK that every influencer on the block wants their elusive picture at DUMBO. And I was no exception (well the influencer title is debatable 😆). So what exactly is DUMBO? Well it stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. Although it refers to the entire neighbourhood – it’s really popular because of the well framed view of the bridge (and if you look closely – the Empire State building!). Because of the locations popularity (ahem ahem social media) there are a few things I planned for:

Getting there early! Anywhere between 7:30-9am is your safest bet. I did read online that pretty much any day the weather is good, the street would be swarming with isntagrammers.
Consider taking the picture at a different angle. The road is either busy with people or lined with cars so move around the road and sidewalk to see where the different angles are and you can get the best shot.
Go on a day when the weather is bad! We went on a morning that was was windy and below zero. Only a few people were there and I didn’t feel rushed to get my shot!

Want to know more about our trip – feel free to reach out at thru les yeux at gmail dot com. Or leave a comment!

How to make better to do lists!

Posted on January 15, 2023 by Bhanu Misra Marya

Planner, Crystals, Productivity, Smart Goals, Work Smarter, Women in Tech, Lifestyle, Life Lately, Life Tips

To do lists are the micro levels of my big dreams. Big dreams are astronomical, may take months or years to achieve them, require persistence and consistency. Consistency is where our daily to do lists come in.

I do want to preface this post by saying the following:

we shouldn’t be slaves to our to do lists
to do lists don’t own us
to do lists are meant to serve us

So if your daily to do list, post it or weekly planner spread is making you feel bad about yourself – throw it out, take a beat and start over again when you are ready!

We shouldn’t feel productivity debt (feeling like you always need to be doing something and rest is not deserved unless your to do list is completed) from not completing everything on our to do list & there is nothing you NEED to do to earn your existence.

But when you are ready to schedule the day you want to make it amazing – read on!

Side note: I’m writing this as I was feeling overwhelm trying to use notion. Notion is meant to be a tool to keep your life organized but there was too much scope creep in their product – for me at least. The idea that it might also need to look aesthetic, link to a Spotify playlist and my Pinterest mood board was a little too much. So I realized I need to step back and figured others might need to too.

So how do we make our to do lists work for us?

Figure out your big dreams, goals, priorities and projects. But also think about the habits you want to build and routines you want to have.
Pick a medium that works for you. Could be paper or digital, simple or complex. You’ll also want to choose a template: Is it just 1 sticky note for the day, or multiple colour coded ones, is it a weekly spread planner or an hour-by-hour list of tasks. This can obviously change but it’s a great idea to try something out.
Fill your list with your daily living + tasks that will help you got to your big goals. Example are meetings, but also your workouts (goal: to focus on fitness). It could be having lunch with someone and blocking 2 hours in the morning for writing (goal: to write a book).
Pick something to fail at. Not everything has to be checked off and not everything has to be done well. So knowing what can be moved to another day vs a non-negotiable will help you stay intentional and not feel like you aren’t moving forward.

Remember – it’s all about getting to outcomes (not getting things done). Your to do list should be on your side helping you build intentional habits and keep you 1 step closer to your goals!

Hello New Year

Posted on January 1, 2023 by Bhanu Misra Marya

Welcome 2023.

Pouring champagne for our friends during #RockinEve

It’s 11pm on Jan 1 and I’m listening to a podcast.

For me the start of a new timeline (I say timeline because to me it could be the start of the school year, the final day of Diwali or Jan 1) is powerful. Beginnings are powerful, and we get a new beginning every time we see the sun rise, a new moon and a full moon. 🧿

My New Year Run – on a treadmill this year

The beauty for me is harnessing the power of beginnings

Captured this beauty during our family forrest bath (post processed in Fotor)

For as long as I can remember, I’ve tried to be mindful of the things I do on the first day of the new year. Some of those activities include:

Meditation, Journaling & Workout
Get outdoors
Study
Do something creative
Eat Health
Smile & be positive
Enjoy time with friends and family (and hug them and tell them I love them)

As you can see, these are really things we should all be doing daily, so doing this on the first day of a beginning really just sets the tone for the rest of that time line.

We aren’t perfect, and that’s okay – but thats why we should reset and re-try. Remember, energy grows where intention flows.

How did you spend the first day of the new year?

Starting the new year with renewed focus and intention

Posted on December 29, 2022 by Bhanu Misra Marya

It was a GREAT 20 days of blogmas! I am pretty impressed with my ability, consistency and ambition. I think it was the longest streak of blogging I’ve had in a long time. For January, I’ll be returning to more regular yet less frequent blog posts. Maybe, it will be twice a week and centered around a new theme – I haven’t confirmed my creative process yet! :P

<Admin reminder for myself> I’ve also yet to share all the posts on Pinterest so that will take some time in January also. So between editing titles (taking out the word “blogmas”), promoting on Pinterest (and twitter & instagram for that matter) I know I’ll be scaling back. </end reminder>

So here is my first post – post blogmas! It’s a multi day vlog showing my routines & habits. All things I want to continue focusing on in the new year. Whether that’s nature works, morning workouts, journaling, reading, meditating, doing well in my career – it’s a reminder that my Focus and Intention needs be all about consistency. So hopefully it inspires others out there who want to start (or stay on …like me) the journey of their personal development and self growth.

Click here for Blogmas 2022!

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Blogmas | The biggest lesson I learned this year

Posted on December 16, 2022 by Bhanu Misra Marya

I was recently scrolling through TikTok and some someone post about what the biggest lesson that they learned this year. Without even watching the full post – I immediately thought about mine…(goes to show how mindless show intense my multi tasking is!)

I figured it would make a great blogmas post…

The biggest lesson I learned this year was maintaining consistency with my self growth practices.

Now as I’m saying that I realize it sounds very simplistic. But I realized not being consistent actually creates bad habits. Or rather, being consistent creates good habits. And for me those habits are helping me grow and develop.

So here’s the kicker: I find myself only being consistent with my self growth and development rituals (quality journaling, outdoors walks, forrest baths, deep meditation, creating content, making art, reading, learning) when I’m needing to change* something. And then, as soon as I achieve* that something I for some reason decide to de-prioritize those rituals.

Maybe that de-prioritization comes naturally because that thing I achieved takes up more of my time. But I’ve realized that I can’t let it. I need to be consistent with my rituals because they are the only thing that will support me in the long run.

Want more? Follow my Blogmas 2022 journey here!

Blogmas | 50 ways to level up

Posted on December 3, 2022 by Bhanu Misra Marya

I love reading productivity and lifestyle hacks! But when they are written in the form of lists – they make it easier to follow! It’s almost like a mental checklist that I can create in my head and tick off the things that I am already doing and then plan for the things I want to try.

Sharing a list of 50 ways to LEVEL UP. From accessorizing your outfits to planning your week, this list includes tons of ways to do and be better. And even though it’s not in your face obvious, all of these activities help to nourish your mind and soul so you can show up and be your best self!

Would love to hear if you try any of these out! Or maybe what you’d add to the list?

Practice Gratitude
Invest in quality, not quantity
Read 1 book a month
Develop a skin care routine that works for you
Dress well, always! (even at home)
Pick and use a signature scent
Learning everyday is a must
Focus on your mental health
Plan your day, week, month & year to focus on your goals
Listen to podcasts or Ted Talks
Pamper yourself regularly
Make your home cozy
Prioritize your friendships
Meditate
Wear clean shoes (whitest whites, polished or stained)
Use a silk pillow case
Clean your makeup brushes regularly
Create > Consume
Regular face massages
Cut out toxic people and activities
Take yourself out on a date, be comfy being on your own (without feeling alone)
Have a hair care routine
Get 6-8 hours of sleep
Habit stack, time block and batch create
Work on building your confidence & self-esteem
Organize your home
Watch TV shows/movies that inspire your sense of style/fashion
Build your online brand (personal & professional)
Buy yourself some flowers
Be your own stylist with what you have in your closet (take pictures and create outfits)
Maintain good posture
Don’t think about other people’s opinion of you (it is their own reflection)
Wear a natural make up look
Elevate any outfit with 1 luxury handbag
Do things that you are afraid of
Schedule in “self care days”
Exfoliate your skin
Try one extravagant accessory (gloves, channel broach, beret)
Train yourself to relax without a screen
Wake up before 8am and go to sleep before 11pm
Start a yoga or pilates practice
Challenge yourself
Do 2 face masks weekly
Progress > Perfection
Keep your space tidy
Journal daily
Create a vision board
Build a morning routine
Accessorize your outfits!
Walk & Exercise daily

Want more? Follow my Blogmas 2022 adventure here