Hello new followers 👋🏼

Hi everyone! Since many of you are new here and have been curious to know more about me, I wanted to take a moment to truly introduce myself beyond just a quick hello. I'm Monika, and I'm so thrilled you've decided to join my little corner of the internet! First and foremost, a big part of who I am is being a mom to two wonderful daughters. Balancing motherhood with a career as a senior software engineer can be quite the juggle, but it’s incredibly rewarding. Every day is an adventure, filled with school runs, homework help, and lots of laughter. My girls are my world, and they often inspire the home-cooked Indian meals I prepare, making sure they get a taste of our heritage in every bite. Speaking of, yes, I absolutely love cooking! There’s something so comforting about preparing traditional Indian food from scratch, and I often share quick easy recipes on my page. My roots are deeply tied to my Telugu heritage, and being 'desi' is a huge part of my identity. You'll often see me celebrating Indian culture, whether it's through my love for wearing beautiful sarees – I truly enjoy styling them for different occasions – or through the festive traditions we observe at home. It's important to me to keep these traditions alive and share them with my daughters, even though we're living far from India. Professionally, I'm a senior software engineer, which might seem like a totally different world from skincare and cooking, but I find joy in both! It's a challenging and dynamic field, and I love problem-solving. This analytical side often spills over into my hobbies, especially my passion for Korean skincare. I’ve spent years researching and experimenting with different products and routines. You'll find my shelf packed with various Korean skincare products, from essences to serums, and I'm always eager to share my honest reviews and what's working for my skin type. I believe in a holistic approach to beauty, and skincare vlogs are something I really enjoy creating to guide you through what can often feel like an overwhelming world of options. Home for us is near Boston, a city I've truly grown to love. We enjoy exploring the local sights, like the historical Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, and finding new parks to spend time in. Starting this account in 2023 was a resolution for me, a way to connect with a wider community and share all these facets of my life – from my daily routines as a mom and engineer, my cultural experiences, to my latest skincare discoveries and favorite Indian home-cooked food. Thank you again for following along. I’m so grateful for this amazing community we're building. Please feel free to ask me anything in the comments – I love hearing from you!