thrift store finds!

!!!!!! i made one of the most amazing discoveries today. thrift shopping. (and no, i do not mean that awkward macklemore song :D) i was walking around doing some errands (although it was below 0 degrees out today eeeegghh) and found these adorable mason jars for just 99 cents!! how could i not get them?! have bene dying for mason jars (most likely to decorate with) and this was the perfect place to find them. i went to 3fifteen at the Marshall Square Mall on University Ave. they had SO many neat things to decorate with, vintage clothing, vases, baskets, shoes, mirrors, jewelry, and even amazing furniture. (i felt like all of my desired creations from pinterest could happen from the store and very uniquely yet cheaply) what i think i love most about 3fifteen though, is that their profits all go to the Rescue Mission, who feed, shelter, and clothe those in need. absolutely amazing. 

i definitely think i will return soon and let you guys know what else i get!! makes me feel great that i can enjoy these items but also give back :) hope you can all find something that makes you feel this way.

little letters

dear apartment,

thank you for letting me in! i promise to be very good to you and finish adorning you soon :)

dear syracuse university,

i'm excited to start tomorrow but also very nervous...please don't be too hard on me!

dear body,

i know i have to get in shape again...working on it!!!

dear snow,

now that all of what's left of you is pretty much gone and i have yet to see a beautiful, white snow storm i'd love if you could bring one soon for me to play in :) please?

dear car (name to soon be announced),

i love you and thank you so very much.

all my love,

nanda bear

a weekend challenge

so one of my favorite blogs, Sometimes Sweet posted this morning about a weekend challenge that i'd love to share. I think it's perfect for me, especially since this is the weekend right before i start grad school in this whole new chapter.

the challenge includes the following:

1. Try something new.

2. Make someone smile.

3. Do something for myself.

these are things i really need to do right now and think they are perfect. as Danielle says, nothing has been or will be planned. i will just allow everything to unfold and be ready when these three things happen and let you know how it all goes! please do join us :)

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

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.

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

gratitude

since thanksgiving is this week and this weekend i've been feeling a little down..i thought it would be nice to make a little list of the things i'm thankful for today.

smiles

puppies

chocolate

waffles

pancakes

good books

sweet tea

pumpkin spice

cuddling

sisters

my boy

best friend

space heaters

shampoo

my dslr

music

nyc

macaroons

what little things make your day worthwhile?