Updated: January 2025

Hey friends!

Welcome to my “Now” page — a little glimpse into what’s been keeping me busy and inspired outside of work. This idea is Inspired by Derek Sivers.

You’ll notice there’s a lot I geek out on, from stuff I’ve learned and art projects to random DIYs and everything that lights me up. This is my happy place, and I wanted to share it with you.

I do my best to keep this page alive and updated as things happen, so check back anytime if you’re curious about what I’ve been up to!

🌿 Greenish Thumb

When I moved into a house with a backyard in Greenville, I barely stepped outside for weeks — I was so busy settling in. Then one day, I got myself a basil plant (because, obviously, fresh pasta sauce), and that’s where it all began.

That little basil plant and a small 2×3 raised bed from Facebook Marketplace kickstarted this whole gardening thing. A couple of months later, I thought, “Why not build more beds myself?” Fast forward to today, and I’ve built a 4×8, a 5×5, and a 4×4 bed with scrap pallet wood — thank you, YouTube University!

I’m super into square foot gardening now, growing veggies, herbs, and even medicinal plants in small spaces. The only flowers I grow are marigolds and pest-deterrent blooms because my garden is all about food sustainability.

Bog Water: I’ve recently started making something called bog water, its natural fertiziler (organic gardening ya know). Basically, I collect leaf mold (that rich, decomposed stuff from under old trees) and steep it in a bucket of water with fruit and veggie scraps. After a bit of fermenting (yep, it stinks), I mix some into my watering can, and voila free fertilizer.

Eggshell Fertilizer too: I also save eggshells, wash and bake them, then grind them into powder with a coffee grinder for a calcium boost. It’s easy, effective, and my plants are thriving!

Growing up in an Indian household, reusing was just what we did. Back then, I’d roll my eyes and think, “Why are we so frugal?” But now I get it—it’s about conserving, respecting what you have, and finding smart ways to make things last. Mom knew what she was doing, and it feels so good to carry that forward now.

Oh, and composting!

If I’m gonna do something, I go all in. So now I’ve got:

• • Bokashi Composting: Quick, kitchen-friendly, and turns scraps into compost in a month.
  • Classic Composting: Old-school but so satisfying when you get that rich, dark soil. (Also takes the longest)
  • Vermicomposting: Worms! (After a lot of research on Vermicompost and raising worms) I bought red wiggler worms off eBay. These lil guys work overtime, and my plants are loving this stuff.

Olla Irrigation: I learned about these clay pots (used in Mexico) slowly release water into the soil, letting plant roots take just what they need to stay hydrated and I HAD to try it. Buying them was pricey, so I DIY’d my own using wine bottles and little unglazed pots as caps. Now, I’ve got a water-efficient system that keeps my plants happy — it’s the best kind of nerdy win. (I refill water every 2ish weeks)

🎨 Doodles to a (Self) Published Book

Remember those doodles I used to share? Turns out, you guys loved them and kept asking for a coloring book So, I turned them into one! (maybe I’ll do that kids story book too). It’s been amazing seeing people connect with my art. You can grab a copy here.

🐟 Pond Life

After diving into composting and organic gardening, it felt natural to create an ecosystem — which, of course, meant building a pond for bees and birds to drink from while pollinating my garden.

It began as a $6 kiddie pool from Walmart, and now it’s evolved into two stunning 250-gallon ponds, built volcano-style with pallets, tree stumps, mulch, and cardboard. Added a fountain, a DIY bog filter, and thriving residents (one koi and 20 mini goldfish), and I’ve created a backyard oasis that feels like it’s always been there. Even when the pond freezes, the fish are loving life. And honestly? So am I.

🌟 Giving Back

When I moved to Greenville, I didn’t know anyone. I checked out Meetup.com but didn’t find much, so I started hosting my own events — and that’s how What’s Up GVL was born.

The meetups are on topics (like my interests) that I built a website to keep everything in one place. Now, instead of juggling multiple links for different meetups, the links are all in one place and easy to navigate.

All the workshops I offer are free because it’s not about making money — it’s something I do to give back to the community and meet new friends. If you’re curious about our events and want to join in, you’re always welcome to check it out and join the fun!

🗨️ Puede Hablar Español (kinda!)

I’m now 700+ days into learning Spanish via Duolingo! The event I run, LingoFest, helps me connect with like-minded, growth-oriented people and gives me the perfect opportunity to practice my skills. For example, I’ve hosted conversational meetups where I can test out phrases and improve in real-time — and even managed a full chat with someone who didn’t speak any English at all! My Spanish isn’t fluent, but it’s functional (and fun!). It’s still a work in progress, but hey, progress is progress! (Should probably do a blog post about my language learning strategies.)

🛠️ Works in Progress

This spring, I’ll be teaching improv at the OLLI Program at Furman University. I’ve also been hosting free improv workshops once a month, and it’s been so rewarding to see people step out of their comfort zones and embrace their creativity.

Work-wise, I’ve been doing some freelancing, but I’m really focused on finding a stable role in operations or executive support. I love diving in to improve workflows, keep things running smoothly, and support leaders so they can shine. It feels like an exciting time to figure out what’s next, and I’m really looking forward to seeing where this new chapter takes me!

Sounds like a lot? Maybe it is, but I just love learning and being better than I was yesterday! You know what they say: you’ve got to be like the river — keep flowing, keep learning. Otherwise, you’ll end up a little puddle, and puddles get dirty. River water stays fresh!

Drop a comment below or message me if you want to chat about gardening, ponds, art, or anything else that’s bringing you joy these days! 🌱✨