in my new apartment...

it's been crazy and busy adjusting to my new apartment and town of Syracuse. tons and tons of unpacking, getting ready for school, and so many errands that i have no idea what i would have done without my car! all in all i'm well and it's been amazing to finally have my boy nearby. i finally get to see him everyday, make him dinner, and sleep together every night. things that made me realize that 3+ years long distance was worth waiting for. i love you, boo.

it's been so irritating to have to unpack then organize then clean and all over again the other day (with school stuff and errands all day long)! i stay rest assured that it'll all be organized and ready soon and that i'll beginning grad school in just a few short days, now...i'm secretly terrified.

here are the three of my favorite things around here...

ONE. gulgula! a great, Guyanese (which boy and i both are) dessert! it's like a small doughnut, very yummy and right from home :) we both brought an assortment of Guyanese/home treats (milo being among them) and have been feasting on it all. it's a little sad to have this here in the beginning but a bit nice, too.

TWO. insomnia. cookies. 'nuff said. my boy brought them home for me today (2 amazing choco chip cookies! nom!) they're so soft, moist, gooey, and perfect. find the nearest near you and get there STAT. actually...wait they deliver!!!! they're so worth it and was the perfect ending to my day. *thank you, boy.

THREE. these pieces of art are the only two that are decorating this place right now. the piece on the left is created by one of my best friends who is a design major and so, so artsy and creative. this is perfect for us as we've had the dream to be in NYC, together some day being working young women! with the text "GO GET IT," i feel and see her love and encouragement everyday. Thank you SO much, love! and beside that is my name written in Chinese :) I got this when I was in Shanghai last year and it was incredible, a trip of a lifetime. (p.s./hint: this is probably a give away of my identity :|)

...of course two of the three of those are food. but i love food...especially the sweet-not-so-healthy-fattening ones :/ but those are always the best, aren't they?! anyways, more updates on my new life soon! by the way, have you noticed my new 50mm f/1.8 II camera lens?! i love it!!!!

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!

giving thanks

thanksgiving was special this year. i got to make a vegan pecan pie! it was a hit! my dad and baby sister (who are vegans) loved it! so did everyone else. i also made some special sweet potatoes.

it was also the first time my sisters and i were reunited after going back to school and my younger sister started college. it was so strange but we laughed nonstop for hours the first few hours we were together again. it felt amazing and it's a little bittersweet to have to return to school tomorrow with the last few weeks of the semester (final exams and projects eek) and then GRADUATION in just a couple weeks...so unbelievable.

i loved being with my grandmother.. one of my best friends, my inspiration, and my number one role model...love her and miss her so much. someone i am very thankful for.

so thankful to have been with my wonderful family (that overwhelms me at times), the amazing home food i ate all weekend (definitely gained 10 pounds), and my special home.

what did you do for thanksgiving? what are you thankful for?

gratitude, part II

things i'm thankful for around my (two) homes...

1/  the fact that i have two! i guess that's the perk of being in college. i have my apartment in binghamton that's all mine and full of my independence but i have my hometown home where i can always return to for those days i need home food and the love and comfort of where i grew up and soon i'll be moving into my very own vintage apartment in syracuse which i couldn't be more excited for

2/ cleaning endlessly. i guess living with friends you realize just how different everyone's habits are. my friends joke that i'm the "mom" of the apartment and clean up after everyone (which i really should stop doing) but i love cleaning and feeling like everywhere is clean and mine!

3/ my big comfy bedS! i'm lucky enough that i have two! and i love them both and love when i get to sleep in them. ahhhh

4/ returning to my family every time i'm in baldwin. there's really no place like home. whenever i'm getting sick of binghamton or overwhelmed with life...going home is the perfect thing for me. and boy the food is amazing. (thanks, mom!)

a typical night. homework, reading, chai latte, 

my favorite blue pen, lappy, and of course a pumpkin.

what about your home(s) are you thankful for?

click here to see part one

my favorite blogs (currently) & story

As a new blogger I've had some inspiration and some leeway in how to begin and some tips simply by reading and enjoying. I'm thankful to be in and from NY where bloggers cover topics from love and romance (like this) to so many of the strange things in life but everyone loves it! I've been drawn to blogs for years but never quite had the guts to start one of my own. Though, I've had so many ideas for all types of blog topics. For a whole year (January 2011-January 2012) I did a project called "365 Days: A moment in the life..." where I took a photo of a special moment of each day and documented it. I will share it sometime with you once I reveal my actual identity and when perhaps, some more people in my life become aware of this blog. THEN there was that whole phase of me struggling to be a female minority not only in college but in the corporate wold, then I realized how negative the blog would actually be and if my identity were to be revealed for that...I may never get a job again.

But finally, after following my favorite blog "The Rockstar Diaries- Love, taza & husband baby eleanor and kingsley, too" for the last year or so I became so inspired to write about my life, love, and path to my career as it's just..who I am and I've wanted to share my "story" for a while. Also, while growing up I realized all of the struggles that everyone encounters but also the importance of realizing that everyone has these struggles and how you hangle them is the difference. So, I also wanted to share with young girls, girls my age, young guys, guys my age, or anyone to feel the support and have this realization, too.

So...back to tazaandhusband. Their blog is simply about their life and, now, children. I've noted that they've started right before they were married (met in NY where they both attended school) up until now where in the last few years they have gotten married, made a move to D.C., have had two ADORABLE children, and recently just moved back to NYC. I love their style, taza's writing, how she tells her stories, her family, etc. I often tell my boy how much I want to be like them and they're a great model for what I would love someday. He agrees, loves them too but always stresses that we will have our own story and family which is obviously important to remember.


A few of the other blogs that I frequent...

Sarah and the City: "Just a girl with a love for chai tea, red velvet cupcakes, post-it notes, colored pens, and nail polish." I started following this blog when Sarah was planning her wedding. She loves J.Crew and SO DO I. So this is how I first stumbled upon her blog. She has great tips and style for all types of wedding "things" and what girl doesn't think about planning their imaginary wedding?

Undressed Skeleton: Everyone wants a healthy lifestyle but Taralynn McNitt's story and tips make her blog so special to me. Since I've began college I've struggled with my weight and thus appearance. The "freshman 15" extended to the last few years. She is a young woman who has inspired me to live a healthier lifestyle which I am now beginning and her story (read here) is just inspiring and makes me feel that I can do it. She has a feature right now actually, entitled "15 Tips for Healthy Students"...can't wait to get started! 


Suri's Burn Book: The ridiculous/hilarious one. "Just because you don't have a Ferragamo handbag doesn't mean you can behave like a child. (I'm looking at you, Shiloh.)" A "different" form of celeb gossip that I can't help but love. Everyone blogs about..everything. This is just SO darn funny and who doesn't love Suri Cruise, her outfits, her parents' divorce drama, and most importantly her supposed crazy thoughts. I'm dying laughing just thinking about some of thing things "she says."


Happy Reading!