a few of my favorite things around here...

so when i got my mason jars from the thrift store i struggled with thinking about what to put in them. i found these tulips over the weekend and knew i just had to put them in there! nothing like bright flowers to brighten up the apartment with the cold, dreary, snowy weather outside. 

 so anyone who knows me knows i change my iphone case just about every week or two. (yeah..a little excessive, i know) but i do get the cheapest ones on amazon/ebay so maybe that justifies it a bit? anyway i found this orange polka dot case and it's probably lasted the longest than most of my others and i love my phone and ipad more than i probably should but eh whattheheck.

the other mason jar!! hershey kisses. valentines edition. duh. what's more perfect than a candy jar?? exactly. 

ammu and i have been eating grapes by the bunch. no complaints..i really have to be healthier. these aren't the prettiest ones we've bought lately but obviously a favorite thing around here. 

my boy got me this pillow as a house warming present. love him. he says it's my motto..which is probably true: "if it's worth doing...it's worth overdoing." and also a dog on it! we're dying for a little friend (i hope we get mr. fitz soon) anyway this is the perfect addition to our little couch and living room and i can assure you it's being used well :)

my boy's amazing dinners he makes for us. i'm still loving and getting used to being together just about every day and i really love his cooking..really adorable how much he loves it. we're so blessed to finally have each other. 

a few of my favorite things around here...

so as i'm still settling in there has been this new feature that's come about... "my favorite things around here" it's only the second one but i sort of like it as an update and to share some cool photos, especially as my life here is unfolding. i'm still getting used to my new apartment and all of the decorating and making it "mine" is almost done! yay! but here are a few things (mostly all from my bedroom) that i'm loving! hope you enjoy :)

please meet Puffer, my puffin. this was one of the first little presents ammu gave me when we first started dating and he sent it to me on a monthaversary during the first few months of us dating :) puffins are my favorite animal! ever since, Puffer has come with me every where and has a little personality of his own. i love him and i'm sure he has plenty to say, himself ;)

i'm loving the amount of candles, tea lights, and little tchotchkes that are all over the apartment. just little things to lighten up the rooms and the little box on the right, ammu's mom gave it to me :) so a very special little addition to the apartment :) 

my Essie "go overboard" nails! it's been a while since i did my nails and although a spring color i think this is the perfect color for the cold, dreary, winter but also adds some color!

but i think my favorite thing of all are these feet right here; my boy's. being able to now see him just about every day has been amazing and something i've waited for for three and a half years, now. the little quiet moments of studying together, making dinner, and lunch dates between classes has been amazing and i don't know when this will all sink in but i'm so blessed and happy to finally have this with you, ammu <3 you're my best friend and my everything.

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!!!!

christmas is coming, christmas is coming, christmas is coming!

yep, it's happening! i still can't believe it but i sure do love it. decorations all around town have been up well before thanksgiving but i can never really appreciate the rush of that. now, it's starting to snow here in binghamton a little too regularly (every morning) but it does make it feel a little bit more like christmas is coming. in addition to the millions of christmas commercials, christmas songs playing everywhere, and everyone else's obsession. but how can you not love the enchantment?

 the perfect christmas tree.

in binghamton

the other day i came home to my room mate

making cinnamon sugar cookies... how much more christmas is THAT?!

the perks of my job. lindor truffles. mmm mm mm

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

A few of our favorite things...

As we've been a long-distance couple for almost 3 years now, we have many special moments and things that we love that help us reconnect and share our happy moments, together. Here are a few of our favorite things I'd like to share with you. (All photos we've taken ourselves.)

French Macaroons. They have amazing ones in NYC where we spend a lot of our time. (Close to where we both live and he spent his undergrad career at NYU). We would often share a box like this one over a weekend. Or he would surprise me with some for a special visit at my school, or for just a little bite whenever we would find someplace. Our favorites are definitely Pistachio, Raspberry, Vanilla and most Mocha/Coffee flavors. Some of our favorite places in the city are: Bisous Ciao, La Maison du Macaron, Mille-feuille, and Francois Payard.

Max Brenner's Chocolate Fondue. We are for sure foodies and dessert lovers. The one thing we bond MAJORLY over is our love for food and new things. Max Brenner has always been nearby to wherever he's lived during undergrad and also a place where we had our first date. You cannot go wrong with the chocolate filled aroma that surrounds you as soon as you walk in, the great atmosphere, food, fun, and DESSERT!

Flowers, small presents, little trinkets. Part of being long-distance is trying to express your love and missing one another as best as you can without actually being together. We often send each other little things like treats, stuffed animals (we now have too many and think have put a pause on that), little memorabilia from past things we've done, letters, and so on. It's important to send things unexpectedly, I know it has always brightened up my day to receive and unexpected package from "him." Just a tip: be original and sweet! He's actually rarely sent me flowers but this photo was the first time he had ever sent me them, and I couldn't help but brag at the time (we had been dating just under a year then...oh young love).

 

Sitting in the grass. We love it. (I think he more than I, a lot of the times, too!) It's important to always talk-- about anything and everything. We have a very special bond that I'm blessed to say we are very best friends. We always lay within each others arms, next to each other, across from each other, anything and just talk. Here, we're at the Griffith Observatory in LA this past July. Down time in a naturey setting is always fun and relaxing..for both..together!

Hope you enjoy learning a little more about US! xoxo