my special 2012

this year has been filled with changes- both good and bad but so many life-changing ones. probably most importantly, my ending of my undergraduate career at binghamton university and next year starting at syracuse. i'm so so blessed and thankful for so much of the support i've received in making it to this point and proud of myself for making it! and i'm excited for what 2013 will bring for me.

i've started my little blog here a little later in 2012 (august) i can assure you that 2012 will be one of the most memorable of my entire life. and although the one thing i truly dislike about NYE is the reflection of the year past and looking forward to the year to come...i'm going to try it:

a few reasons why 2012 is so special..
- i brought in 2012 while in one of the most amazing countries in the world: China
- i had a very special belated valentines dinner with my boy (surprise, candlelight, homemade, three coures) i'm so very thankful for him
- i embraced my life and what i wanted it to be and made the very wonderful decision to start a career in early childhood special education
- i've made so many special friends this year, ones who will always be in my life and who i am so blessed to have. i love you all and i'm looking forward to even more friends i'll be making in Syracuse!
- i've made the very interesting decision to grow my hair
- had a wonderful vacation with my family to Punta Cana, DR
- watched my amazing boy graduate from NYU at Yankee Stadium
- watched my little sister graduate from high school (so proud of you sissy)
- watched my baby sister's dream come true (going to India and meeting Sri Paramahamsa Nithyananda)
- Ammu and I had our very first vacation together to Los Angeles
- became a great believer in "don't sweat the small things"
- started my little blog: Mrs.Dr.!
- had a third-year anniversary with my boy
- re-discovered turkey bacon (oh em gee)
- lived in my first apartment
- made the decision to graduate college a semester early
- made the decision to go to graduate school
- fell in love (even more) with Wiz Khalifa
- Obama was reelected
- started baking again as much as i love
- graduated from college :)
- got my first car!!!!
- moved into my second apartment
- stood up for myself in the best ways possible

looking forward to 2013 because...

- i start graduate school at Syracuse University

- i get to make some more (grad school) friends!

- Ammu and I begin the next chapter of our relationship not being long distance !!!!

- learn more about my special dslr/photography

- getting a new 50mm 1.8 lens to help me with that :)

- i will have my first very own apartment (with a beautiful fireplace!)

- do something cool with my hair

- start my career!!!

- start exercising more and become in tune with my fitness

- continue to do yoga for my mind, body, and soul!

- explore a new city and school!

- get closer to complete independence!

bring it, 2013! i'm ready for ya!

a little inspiration

"Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones. And when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in Peace. God is awake." 
-Victor Hugo

a special christmas treat!

Since moving into my first apartment in Binghamton in August, my roommates and I started baking A LOT. Whether it was our general college over-eating, stress, loving sweets (obviously), we made tons of cakes, pies, cookies, pancake-cakes (yes you read that right), brownies and more.

So of course, this has extended well beyond my last semester in Binghamton. On Christmas Eve I made  Vegan Strawberry-Chocolate Brownies. It was the first time I ever made them, with my own special recipe and they were a hit!

the original recipe:
*the soy yogurt & strawberry puree serve as egg substitutes

what's needed:
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1.5 cups all-purpose flour
6 oz soy strawberry yogurt
1/2 cup strawberry puree
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

1. preheat your oven to 350 degrees
2. mix all of the dry ingredients with a spoon in a large bowl
3. once mixed, add the oil and vanilla extract and mix well until a darker batter begins to form
4. add the yogurt and puree and mix well until all ingredients are mixed well
5. taste the batter! it's incredible and there's no risk of getting salmonella since there are no eggs!
6. in a 9" by 13"pan, grease and pour the batter into the pan, evenly
7. bake for 30 min (or longer) and do the usual tooth pick trick to make sure it's fully baked

if you'd like to use cookie cutters or just to cut them immediately:
8. let the brownies cool for about 30 minutes then put it in the fridge for about 20 mins
9. then take a fun, festive cookie cutter and cut the brownies and sprinkle some sprinkles, frosting, marshmallows anything you'd like to decorate!


happy baking, friends! xoxo

Happy Holidays!

I know I've been completely MIA and a lot has changed (now an alumna of Binghamton University, new apartment, first car, and tons more)! But I'm wishing you all a very warm holiday season and will catch up soon!

Xoxo
Mrs.Dr.

study jamz

this is the last week of my undergrad career....what?! i know, right?! well since it's the last week all of my final projects, papers, and tests are this week. which leads me to my amazing music that's keeping me motivated and going.

Lindsey Stirling is a new, special favorite. she's a violinist and dancer. being a former violinist it's inspiring and i really want to pick up my violin again soon.

below is my current 'study jam' Crystallize. hope you enjoy and i really, really hope i could see her on tour when she's in NY at the beginning of next year!!

12 days until graduation

guys..it's really settling in now. less than two weeks until graduation. as close as it feels i still can't believe it. i think that now more than ever i'm wishing there was just a little bit more time left. especially with my boy being here this past weekend we reminisced of all of the times we had here and how binghamton will never quite be the same for me (or us) again.

i think that change has always been difficult for me...especially moving from phase to phase (high school to college, for instance or changing majors..one too many times for me) but i think that one thing that college has shown me or perhaps something i'm just used to now is that change is constant and at this point in my life all of these changes are good things. i'm really embracing this change from undergrad to grad, moving to Syracuse (someplace i never really thought i'd be..but am blessed it happened this way), embarking on a career path i finally am 100% sure is perfect for me, and so much more i'm sure.

it's funny how all of this landed in my lap. in august, beginning the semester i had no idea if i'd be graduating, or if early childhood really was my niche, if i did get into grad school where i would be...and the list goes on. i've come to enjoy these really quick-paced changes. it's even thrilling (and a little crazy) to think that in a few months things could be completely different.

but like i said i'm excited but also really sad about leaving this place. as much as i've bashed it and tried to escape sometimes, it's been one of the most amazing times in my life and the ways in which i've grown in a personal level, i couldn't have done it without you bing. i love you even though i never want to admit it.,

and to you, i'm glad that i've started this blog so that i can share these changes with you and hope to support you through my experiences.

xx,
Mrs.Dr.

binghamton...you've been good to us.

so my boy is here for his last visit in binghamton...ever. so strange that it's the last one before i graduate which is just two weekends away now (omg). he's sound asleep after a very long day and big med school exam. also, in honor of movember he has shaved his god awful mustache (sayonara!).

anyways, binghamton you've been so good to us during my time here. you've certainly taught us what a real winter is like, what "upstate NY" living was like, and you've brought us together in ways i never thought i could be close to someone. i really can't believe all the times we've spent here...good and bad i love them all.

never thought i'd say this.. but we promise to visit. how could we not? thank you, for everything binghamton.

photos: {Jonathan Cohen}