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.

Have you ever been to a different country that speaks the same language as you, but you can’t understand what they are saying? Or have you learned a new language, but talked to a local and didn’t understand as much as you hoped you would? It can be so frustrating to think you are going to understand something more than you actually end up understanding. You’re probably wondering, where’s the disconnect? This might be for 2 reasons: Some of this might have to do with the accent of the locals: for example, in West Virginia, they say the English word “hollow” as “holler”, and if you just hear them say it verbally, you wont have a clue what they're talking about. OR the people have common slang that you didn’t learn in your Duo Lingo or Rosetta Stone app. Sanskar Teaching aims to not only teach you the formal language but to make sure you know what the slang is… So, I’m here to fill in those gaps with Gujarati. Here are the top 10 most used words in Gujarati:

… none! There are zero cons to learning a new language. Adding a new dialect under your belt opens up so many new opportunities in life. I’m so grateful to have learned English when I moved to America at the age of 16 because it helped me grow and adapt in a new environment. This experience doesn’t apply to everyone, but in any situation, learning a language is healthy for your brain and an asset in your social life. With enough dedication and motivation, you can learn with Self-Paced Courses—or for an extra push, learn more about instructor-led Zoom classes that are also available! The graphic below features only some of the many benefits of learning a language. These are only SOME of the countless reasons to jump into learning a new language! I would love to know your thoughts in the comments–what are some more perks to working towards fluency of a different language?

Entering a Desi household can be overwhelming because we are so connected to our culture. Instead of feeling confused when unfamiliar phrases are thrown around daily, think of the opportunity to immerse yourself in our amazing culture and traditions by learning your family’s dialect! There are no downsides to putting in the effort to engage in a new culture. The infographic below features some of the many perks of learning an Indian dialect: My friends that have started learning Indian dialects have told me how much Adult Zoom Classes have helped them, and Self-Paced Courses even more so for a flexible schedule. If you or anyone you know is thinking of diving into learning a Desi language and culture, I wish you the best of luck! I know you can do it :)

Have you ever felt like you’re "not Indian enough"? My nieces have told me that not being a fluent speaker of their native language has made it difficult for them to feel connected to their community at times. Their inability to speak to their Ma and Dada fluently is the hardest, as they spend more time fumbling for words than making memories. Thankfully, they’ve decided to take group classes over Zoom, as well as practice daily conversations in their household to improve. I’m so proud of them for taking the initiative to work towards their goals of fluency, and especially so because they’ll be able to reap the benefits for the rest of their lives! Save the infographic below for some of those many benefits. Get your own kids motivated to learn with the several learning games we offer! My nieces' favorite is the Hindi memory game that has helped them expand their vocabulary. Make sure to join our mailing list to keep up with tips and benefits of language learning, as well as games to make it all easier!

“Any man can be a Dad, but it takes someone special to be a father.” A few years ago, I lost my dad. This makes Father's Day even more meaningful to me because I appreciate the idea of it that much more as I miss the wonderful man who was my father. These days on Father's Day I make sure I give extra special honor to all the important men in my life from my husband who is the father of my two beautiful children, my brother who has two amazing children of his own, and my father-in-law who lives with us and I cherish like a father. It's always a challenge for me to figure out what to give all these great guys. I want to give them more than a tie or a T-shirt. They deserve something special and unique. I search long and hard for ideas to share with you for the important men that you care about. So, here we go: Cole Hahn GrandPro Rally Sneakers The perforated leather makes for a stylish summer shoe. I like these in the color of Ironstone. They come in quite a few other colors plus the very on-trend color they call Acorn which is more like orange Quadcopter Drone What guy wouldn't want a HD Camera, Live Video, GPS return drone?! This one even has 'follow me' capabilities. Woot Woot. Blades are foldable. New Crew Backpack Water repellent with water bottle pockets and an interior laptop pocket. I love this coppoer/black color combo though it comes in Trench, Silver Como, and Black. Aviator RayBans Nothing is more classic than these polarized 1937 Aviators and every man looks amazing in them. These are the most iconic sunglasses in the world. Leather Charger Roll Up This is such a stylish way to keep the cords clean. AND it's on major sale right now!!!! Unlined leather and handy tie...you can even have it foil monogrammed. Digital Photo Frame This type of thing is a favorite for any dad. They can put it at the table and watch at every meal. Modernist design, this frame is only 10" diagonal and unlimited photo storage (that's the best part) As of this writing, it's on sale! And here is a link to one even less expensive here. Warpstreme Pants--an upgrade from Denim Breathes. Dries Fast. Holds its shape. Resists wrinkles. Nice, deep, hidden zipper pockets so that wallet never falls out~12 colors. Handmade Beard Oil If you have a beardy guy in your life, giving him some male grooming like this handmade beard oil will feel like a bit of luxury. Jojoba, apricot kernel oil, vitamin E and fragrance: aokmoss/sandalwood, Bay Rum, Lime/Lavendar/Lily/Patchouli. Sperry Baitfish Sandal Father's Day marks the beginning of summer and for that everyone needs a comfy pair of flip flops. With this gift you can never go wrong. The worn leather gives these summer shoes a rugged feel. Cryo Ball For the health-minded men in your life, this cold rollerball is the ticket for relaxing deep tissue massage. Professional athletes use and doctors recommend cold therapy for pain relief and reducing inflammation. Duffle Bag Is traveling starting to come back on your radar? Give your guy this Herschel Supply Co. overnighter with a wink and a nod that he might take you away somewhere fun. I hope this helps you get your shopping done early. More than anything, be sure you give the guys love and hugs for all they do for you and the family! 🧡

Growing up in Baroda, India I grew up speaking Gujarati (and my extended family speaks still speaks Gujarati). I moved to the United States when I was 16 years old and learned English, so I consider myself to have a great ability to teach Gujarati to people. I am a strong believer in passing down our culture to the younger generation, which is why I started Sanskar Teaching to teach the language and culture to these younger generations. Like I always say, learn the alphabet first when you are starting to learn Gujarati. This Gujarati alphabet chart ((barahkhadi) shows the Gujarati letter in black with the pronunciation written out underneath it in blue. This way you will be able to learn the English pronunciation and start to dissect the roots of English to Gujarati translations. This Gujarati alphabet chart will help you start your journey to learning Gujarati, and when you are ready for more, come visit our live group class listings at Sanskar Teaching and we will make you fluent! Join our mailing list using the form below for more Gujarati learning tools delivered right to your inbox.

We have created a calendar that simply shows all the Hindu Indian Festivals for 2022. Don't miss out on any of them this year, download and print it for display in your home, or just keep it handy on your phone to refer to throughout the rest of the year! (we create one every year, so if you downloaded the calendar in 2021, make sure to come back and download it every year!)

One of the most popular languages spoken in India is the Hindi language. The first thing someone should do when they are starting to learn Hindi (or any language for that matter!) is to learn the alphabet - you can't learn words without learning the letters! The Hindi Alphabet has 49 characters as shown here on this chart. In Sanskar Teaching's FREE Alphabet Chart we show the Hindi letter outlined. Below the letter, the English pronunciation is written out so you can learn not only what the alphabet looks like, as well as how to pronounce the Hindi alphabet letters. A couple fun facts about the Hindi alphabet: The Hindi Alphabet is also known as the Devanagari alphabet, because the Devanagari alphabet is the alphabet used to make up many different dialects, such as Sanskrit or Marathi. Hindi is written from the left to the right, just like English. Use this PDF to get a head start on learning Hindi, and when you are ready for more, come visit our live group class listings at Sanskar Teaching and we will make you fluent! We have many FREE resources so you can learn about Desi culture over on our Youtube, Freebie page, and blog. When you're ready to take language learning a step further and become fluent in Hindi, check out our live classes here. Join our mailing list below for more Hindi learning tools delivered right to your inbox.

Maggi Noodles are the “Instant Ramen” of Indian households - they are easy instant noodles spiced with a mixture of delicious spices. This is very common with young adults and college kids or kids in general. A lot of people like to add their own spices to these noodles and I like to make mine a little healthier and spicy! There are so many things you can add to these noodles like a variety of veggies or protein. For this recipe you can’t go wrong with how many veggies and proteins you want, so just measure depending on how much you want in your dish that night (but I will give you an idea!) You will need: 2 Maggi Noodles and the spice pack 1/4 cup Peas Small red onion 1/4 cup carrots One tomato A protein (chicken, eggs, chickpeas, tofu…) Chili powder (amount based on your spice liking!) Pinch of turmeric (optional) Garlic Saute the onions until soft, and if you’re adding a protein, add it now and cook. Add the other veggies and cook for a minute or two until mostly cooked. Add the spice pack and extra spices, and then cook the noodles in the same pan as directed on the package. Taste, and add more spices if needed! It is the easiest dinner, and you can make it much healthier with all these add ins.