If you know me, then you know I read a lot. Because I'm a young, female entrepreneur, and I've been running my business successfully for many years now, I make it a point to continually read many books that support the journey I'm on to create a meaningful life, business and contribution to society. Business books are not ALL about numbers and economic strategy. Not all of them are going to teach you about things like marketing. I have discovered that some of the very best books for contributing to the success of my businesses (I now run more than one! Besides Sanskar Teaching, my best friend and I own a short term rental in Fredericksburg, Texas. Take a look at Koselig Hus here), plus our family owns several hotels. Working on multiple businesses simultaneously can often bring up unexpected trials, challenges and emotions. It's quite possible that overcoming the stumbles that are associated with my fears, confidence, philosophical outlook etc actually have a greater impact on my ability to be successful than knowing how to make a website or advertise a business. Besides these books, I'll let you in on a little secret: I started Sanskar Teaching in conjunction with and after taking Marie Forleo's B-School. This inspiring and highly informative (albeit expensive) course is cornerstone to giving me the confidence and specific necessary skills to get started with Sanskar Teaching and has been the basis of making me successful at it. I highly recommend you take a look at these videos of hers that introduce the program and see if it just might be right for you. In the meantime, keep reading! I recommend taking these books seriously if you own, run or plan to start a new business. of all that I've read, these are my favorites. Feel The Fear and Do it Anyway by Susan Jeffers Total Money Makeover A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell Secrets of Six Figure Women by Barbara Stanny The One Thing by Gary Keller The Millionaire Nextdoor by Thomas J. Stanley Playing Big: Find Your Voice, Your Mission, Your Message by Tara Mohr Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris Conscious Capitalism by John Mackay Full Frontal PR by Richard Laermer Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger The War of Art: Break Through The Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battle by Stephen Pressfield Fascinate: Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion a nd Captivation How to Make Your Brand Impossible to Resist by Sally Hogshead Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant by W. Chan Kim

Let's talk shoes! I am very particular with what I wear, caring deeply about style and comfort. Part of this is because I have something called Hyperhydrosis which causes my feet to sweat more than the normal person. So the shoes I wear make a HUGE difference in my life. You have seen all over social media Birdies and Rothys shoes and I've bought and tried both, so I want to give you my take on them. Enjoy the video!

For giving and for decorating during the festival of Diwali Diwali, like every occasion presents its challenges when it comes to coming up with gift ideas...it's why I publish these gift guides through out the year. I hope you find them helpful. What's absolutely wonderful about doing these...is that through the process I discover some pretty amazing, unique things to buy myself! I welcome your sharing in the comments below YOUR ideas so you can help me and we all help each other. Diwali Celebration Sweets Box $39.95 to $59.95 depending on size box 14-Piece Set: Boule Pistachio: Crunchy hazelnut is rolled in pistachios. (2 pieces) Charlotte Sesame: Crunchy sesame shell is filled with silky chocolate. (2 pieces) Rocher: Crunchy almond is rolled in hazelnuts. (2 pieces) Bjewia: Almonds and pistachios are topped with dried roses. (2 pieces) Buche Hazelnut: Crunchy hazelnut is combined with white chocolate and berries. (3 pieces) Buche Pistachio: Crunchy pistachios are combined with white chocolate and lemon. (3 pieces) 23-Piece Set: Boule Pistachio: Crunchy hazelnut is rolled in pistachios. (2 pieces) Charlotte Sesame: Crunchy sesame shell is filled with silky chocolate. (2 pieces) Rocher: Crunchy almond is rolled in hazelnuts. (2 pieces) Bjewia: Almonds and pistachios are topped with dried roses. (2 pieces) Buche Hazelnut: Crunchy hazelnut is combined with white chocolate and berries. (3 pieces) Buche Pistachio: Crunchy pistachios are combined with white chocolate and lemon. (3 pieces) Yasmina: Soft mixture of almond and pistachio. (2 pieces) Crown Walnut: Crunchy walnut with white chocolate and almond. (2 pieces) Baklava El Bey: Crunched pistachio enclosed in almond paste. (1 piece) Pineapple: Chopped almond and hazelnut topped with pistachio. (2 pieces) Almond Boat: Sliced almonds and caramel chocolate. (2 pieces) Diwali Celebration Outfit for 18-inch doll The celebration set includes: A colorful brocade choli top A floor-length brocade lehenga skirt A bright pink mesh dupatta, or shawl, with embroidered gold trim on one edge A bindi sticker card that includes stick-on earrings A gold choker-style necklace Two pink beaded bracelets on elastic A pair of strappy gold sandals A doll-sized diya with gold plating A booklet that highlights five different cultural celebrations Diwali Peacock Porch Banners There are 2 pieces of hanging banner flags. Size:12×71inch(30×180cm) Easy to hang:Here is an easy-hanging rope on the top of the hanging banner flag, which can be hung directly on both sides of the door. Colorful Lanterns-set of 6 Set of six mini lanterns, each lantern is finished gem tone color mercury glass and burnished gold metal accents This set includes one of each color: pink, red, green, purple, blue, and orange Each of the multicolored lanterns is lit with bright LEDs for a festive, romantic glow Each lantern is turned on by a discrete switch on the bottom and powered by 2 AAA Batteries (not included) Perfect for indoor or outdoor events, but should be protected from the elements Jasmine Garland These Jasmine rose strings are very beautiful can be used as a curtain or backdrop decor. They are approx 5 / 3 feet length. These are Handmade Indian Handicrafts Decorative plastic Mogra/Jasmine garlands Limited Edition Diwali Flavors Ice Cream Ghughra ice cream – Inspired by Ghughra, little pockets of pastry filled with a nutty, milky and cardamom spiced mixture. Single origin cardamom layered in freshly ground almonds and cashews, and mixing in the traditional ghughra trio of milk powder, ghee and sugar. Puran Poli ice cream – This ice cream takes the sweetened lentil bread, to a new level, with pieces of toasted, ghee-topped roti. Ras Malai ice cream cake – The iconic dessert is turned into an ice cream cake. We use the best Sach Foods organic paneer and blend it in our saffron ice cream, which is then sandwiched between our rose and cardamom cakes. It’s a milky and satisfying take on a celebrated sweet. Parle G. Masala Chai ice cream sandwiches – The popular and nostalgic Indian tea biscuit, Parle G, forever served with a cup of chai, sandwiches our signature Masala Chai ice cream (inspired by Pooja’s family chai recipe). They’re bite-sized deliciousness, and one is never enough! Back by popular demand, these have returned from past celebration boxes! Personalized Diwali Candle A beautiful candle perfect for celebrating Diwali this year. Featuring an intricate rangoli design, the candle displays the message 'Happy Diwali' along with a personalised message of your choosing. Celebrate the festival of light with this beautifully crafted 'glow through' candle! Celebration Kit Teach your little ones about Diwali, the festival of lights, with this creative kit that includes paintable coasters, felt pieces to make a toran and more. Holly Jolly Diwali Book Twenty-nine-year-old Niki Randhawa has always made practical decisions. Despite her love for music and art, she became an analyst for the stability. She's always stuck close to home, in case her family needed her. And she's always dated guys that seem good on paper, rather than the ones who give her butterflies. When she's laid off, Niki realizes that practical hasn't exactly paid off for her. So for the first time ever, she throws caution to the wind and books a last-minute flight for her friend Diya’s wedding. Niki arrives in India just in time to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, where she meets London musician Sameer Mukherji. Maybe it's the splendor of Mumbai or the magic of the holiday season, but Niki is immediately drawn to Sam. At the wedding, the champagne flows and their flirtatious banter makes it clear that the attraction is mutual. When Niki and Sam join Diya, her husband and their friends on a group honeymoon, their connection grows deeper. Free-spirited Sam helps Niki get in touch with her passionate and creative side, and with her Indian roots. When she gets a new job offer back home, Niki must decide what she wants out of the next chapter of her life—to cling to the straight and narrow like always, or to take a leap of faith and live the kind of bold life the old Niki never would have dreamed of. Diwali Chocolate Covered Oreos! Chocolate Covered Oreo's are EGGLESS cookies! Treats are decorated with edible embellishments, edible images and FDA approved edible glitter and edible paint. Colors can be customized on request! Pure Brass Puja Thali The entire Pooja Thali set has been made of Brass which has a deep impact on both our spiritual and earthly well-being. It also has several scientifically proven properties that makes it the ideal material for Pooja related products. Pooja Thali Set includes - 12 inches end to end 1. Pooja Thali with handles 2. Liber Diya 3. Aarthi stick OR Agarbathi stand 4. Water Kalash/Lotta 5. Kum kum katori, 6. Small Spoon 7. Small water tumbler 8. Beads Mala/Chain Vegan Cashew Pistachio Ladoos These cashew pistachio ladoos are Indian Traditional Sweet perfect for every celebration. Each order goes out with complimentary cookie samples and thank you card. Vegan Option and No nuts Option are available upon request. Mithai Socks Are these the cutest things you've ever seen?! Handmade in California. Socks feature jalebi, ladoo, chum chum, barfi, and ras malai! Premium organic cotton One size fits most Diwali Decoration Craft Kit for Kids Everything that you need to assemble the craft is included. Colors might wary from picture shown but always include bright colors that kids universally love (red, yellow, orange, pink, green). Makes: Lantern - 5 Greeting Card - Diya Shape - 1 Greeting Card - Candle Shape - 1 Greeting Card Envelope - 2 pieces Foam Diya - 10 pieces For Decoration Stickers - 1 pieces Glue - 1 piece Double Sided tape - 10 pieces (to stick Diya's on to wall / doors). Instructions to make Diya's and Lanterns. Also included is multi-color and glitter paper based shapes and rhinestones that you can use to adorn your creation. Instructions are easy to follow. For little kids (< 5 years), I would advise parent supervision as some hand holding might be required but for bigger kids they should be able to take the kit and start making things on their own. The kit comes wrapped in a beautiful looking box and will spark interest and curiosity particularly for young ones. Sangeet Linen Napkins Loomed with 100% organic linen and lined with ecru detailing, these napkins are the perfect accent to any dish. Available in a range of subtle earth tones, every set takes on a relaxed texture, adding an understated elegance to your table. Handcrafted by a group of master weavers in Kannur, India, each set of six napkins are made start-to-finish in a fair trade environment. Sacred Rose Hand Cream by Ranavat Ranavat Sacred Rose Hand Cream is made up of sacred petals from Pushkar, India – the lakeside city dotted with white temples and red rose gardens. The Royals commissioned their rose-infused attars, jams and wines from these majestic gardens. Dip your hands into a bed of these roses, powered by sweet almond oil for vitamins A and E, sesame seed for soothing irritation and of course, pushkar rose for hydration and brightening. Click the photo or link in the title above to explore other wonderful gift products made by my friend Michele at Ranavat. Azad Leather Tray The guys in my life are the hardest to buy for...I think these little trays are perfect! These little fellows are not only a perfect gift, they’re the perfect catch-all trays for odds and ends in every corner of your home. Not only are they handsome, but they’re made from the leather scraps Made from ethically sourced leather from Kolkata, each tray is handcrafted in a leather workshop in Gurgaon. Since this is a natural product, each tray is one-of-a-kind – expect variation in markings. Made start-to-finish in a fair trade environment. Diwali Tealight Candle Holder Handcrafted metal votive holders have a buzzy gold finish that complement Diwali’s bright color bursts. The set is sized for votives with a finger ring and coupe shape that reminds us of our favorite heirloom teacups. Made of stainless steel with a gold finish. Set of 4. The Perfect Pot by Always Pan How about this Turmeric color?!? Combines every single pot and then some. Made with the same game-changing ingenuity that made the Always Pan a sellout, the Perfect Pot does everything from boiling to baking, crisping to steaming Diwali Fry Set This collection has everything you need for a delicious Diwali celebration filled with jalebi, gulab jamun, laddu, murukku, pakoras, samosas, or any other fried treats you can dream up! There’s the intricately perforated Skimmer Spoon designed by Lekha and the beautiful wire Cooling Rack designed by Manjit Thapp, plus two clay diyas to light your way in the dark. Surely with all this variety you have found something wonderful for yourself and those you love! May the light shine brighly in your life this year and always.

WELCOME TO SANSKAR TEACHING Here you can find tools to learn Indian languages and reconnect with your roots. Our goal is to bring children and adults closer to Indian values, traditions and language. So happy you're here! Love, Vaishali Explore Sanskar Teaching Discover tools to help you with your learning for Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Marathi & Malayalam, plus links to my most useful resources and requested products BUSINESS RESOURCES LEARNING GAMES COLORING BOOKS WHAT I'M WEARING LIVE CLASSES SELF-PACED COURSES Shop Recent Favorites SHOP MY STUFF Why Do We Traditions Language Recipes More All Things Desi Our Blog Vaishali A. Patel Janmashtmi Celebrations #WhyDoWe What did Janmashtmi Celebrations look like when you were younger?⁠ ⁠ For me, it was staying up untll midnight, welcoming the... READY TO READ The Best Books to read for Starting a Business Shoe Review: Birdies vs Rothy's Diwali Gift Guide FOLLOW @SANSKARTEACHING Learning is Better Together Sanskar Teaching Play Video Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Now Playing 04:29 Play Video Now Playing 08:06 Play Video Now Playing 00:59 Play Video Now Playing 00:43 Play Video Brand Partnerships Think you or your brand would be a good fit with me for a collaboration ? Let's chat. Send me a message. Name Email Subject Write a message Let's work together! SIGN UP NOW An Inbox you'll want to open Emails full of Desi inspiration, new products , learning tools and tips and exclusive content from Vaishali.

Resources to start a business The Resources you need to succeed at everything and to enjoy your best life! At Sanskar Teaching, I take it very seriously when I make a recommendation. I know you place trust in me and therefore I only ever will recommend resources that I've either created or that I use myself. This page is a highly curated and personal list of what I recommend. This list combines things I value and use in running my business as well as what I enjoy using in my personal life. I sincerely hope this is useful for you too. ​ Important Disclosure: We're proud affiliates for some of these tools, meaning if you click a link for a tool and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. My recommendations are based on my personal experience with and knowledge of these companies and their products, and I recommend them because they are genuinely helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we may receive. Please don't spend any money on these products unless you believe they will help you achieve your goals. KAJABI Offering online courses to our community has been magical for our business. It has allowed us to provide language learning at the pace of life. All of our online courses are housed on Kajabi because they make it so easy to upload content, design our custom shop and sell to students. Try Kajabi Teach:able Teacha:able is where we began our sharing of online courses because it is less expensive than Kajabi. It's an excellent place for you to begin as well. Easy to learn and implement. All my digital courses were houses on Teach:able for about 4 years. ​ Try Teach:able Marie Forleo's B-School Marie Forleo's B-School was essential for me starting this busienss. It taught me everything I needed to know to hit the ground running and is an important reason why I have found the success my business currently experiences. Highly recommended. ​ Try B-School Convert Kit I have used a bunch of different CRMs (mailing list managers) over the years and Convert Kit is by far my favorite. It has intuitive, simple design, an amazing Tutorials section, Lead Pages included and analytics that will blow your mind. The features are worth the investment. Try Convert Kit Type Form I use Type Form for a number of applications: hiring questionnaire for new teachers and employees, for customer feedback from students using my products, to determine the best language level for their students and so much more. It's so easy. Try TypeForm Wix I have used Wix for my website from the beginning. It is the easiest, most beautiful drag-and-drop that anyone can easily learn. Also the cost is super reasonable. (I spent an entire month once trying to design a site on WordPress...try Wix and be happier! Try Wix Acuity Scheduling Acuity makes scheduling easy. As my company grew, I needed to do midterm reviews with each of my teachers. I also use this system to allow potential students to schedule trial classes and conferences. If you schedule appointments with anyone for anything, you need an automated scheduler like this one. Try Acuity Canva Canva has made it so even those of us without graphic skills can quickly and easily make anything beautiful: Instagram stories, Youtube thumbnails, logos, presentations, posters....you name it. ​ ​ ​ Try Canva Later I bulk create. This means I sit down and in one block of time I write a group of social posts all at once so I can then turn my attention to something else my business needs.. Later has always been my go-to and now I schedule Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and sometimes even TikTok post. Such a timesaver this platform is! Try Later Rocket Lawyer As a small start up initially it was really important to be able to use this service to establish my LLC, get my EIN, create employment contracts as well as brand partnership agreements. Use their forms or upload your own and add signature boxes. Electronic signing means the contracts are always there for reference online. Try Rocket Lawyer LikeToKnow.it If you want to see the things I use in my everyday life, this is the place to find them. Follow me on the LTK app where I post daily unique content that covers the clothes I wear, the home goods I use, gluten free and dairy free foods my family eats, gift guides appropriate for Desi families and more. ​ Browse LTK Products Gujarati Lexicon Gujarati Lexicon is a resource that aims to preserve, popularize and develop Gujarati language through the power of information technology. Lovers of Gujarati language can develop vocabulary, enjoy literature, read exclusive literature and join our mission through GujaratiLexicon.com. Check it out STAY IN TOUCH Instagram @sanskarteaching Facebook Page YouTube Channel: Sanskar Teaching LikeToKnow.it Amazon Shop Zoom Language Classes Digital Language Courses Pinterest Collaborations siri@sanskarteaching.com An Inbox you'll want to open Emails full of Desi inspiration, new products , learning tools and tips and exclusive content from Vaishali.

Sanskar Teaching LIVE CLASSES Discount Codes: Loyalty Discounts ​ Use code: GOODFRIEND2 Enroll in 2 sessio ns and get 10% off total tuition Use code: GOODFRIEND3 Enroll in 3 sessions and gets 15% off total tuition Sibling Discounts ​ Use code: SIBLING2 enroll 2 siblings in a live class and get 10% off total tuition Use code: SIBLING3 enroll 3 siblings in a live class and get 15% off total tuition Search Classes Save Some Money! Over the years, I have developed personal relationships with many companies whose products I use and admire. Every chance I get, I ask them to share the love with you, my community, by sending a little discount our way. This page is ever-evolving and I apologize right now if any codes have accidentally expired before I can update them. Meanwhile, I'm out there gathering more money savers for all of us and putting them here, so check back frequently. And if you get on my mailing list, I will occasionally send you an email letting you know what new discounts are on deck. Discounts For My Favorite Brands: Live Language Classes: Use codes*: SIBLING2 for 10% off SIBLING3 for 15% off *Only applicable when registering 2 or 3 siblings, respectively* ​ Desi Entertainment Streaming Service Use code: SANSKAR 50% off Ayurvedic Natural Skincare Use code: SANSKAR 20% off Indian Clothing Use code: SANSKARTEACHING10 or VAISHALI10 10% off Indian Food Grocery Delivery Use code: SanskarTeaching10 10% off Handmade Jewelry Use code*: SANSKAR 15% off *Not applicable on charity or limited collections* Loungewear Use code: SANSKAR 10% off Multicultural Kids Books & Games Use code: HAPPYINDIGROW 10% off Use code: SANSKAR $5 off LingoDoDo Language Learning Toy Desi Arts & Crafts Use code: SANSKAR10 10% off Indian Kids Book Use code: SanskarT10 10% off Indian Kids Books and Toys Use code: JJSANSKARTEACHING 10% off Hindi for Beginners Workbook Use code: SANSKAR15 15% off the workbook Make sure to check back because these will change !