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!

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}

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

Autumn

I'm starting to feel like Fall is becoming my favorite season. The changing colors, the crisp mornings, and perfect combinations of apple cider and pumpkin pie. I'm loving the temperature, the clothes and colors I can wear and I really believe that it's the last smile of the year. hope autumn lasts a little longer than necessary. i love it. so cozy and refreshing. some photos to accompany :)

happy, fall friends!

homemade apple pie with great company. yums.

Binghamton you are too beautiful for me, sometimes.

Raspberry colored jeans?! perfect for the fall. love love love. new favorite pants

the leaf my boy wanted me to leave behind...how could he! (he still has it in his apartment in Syracuse) heh no denying, babeh.

leaves, leaves, and more leaves. so beautiful

pumpkin spice latte-splattered book (eek) but, oh, SO good would do anything for one right now

pumpkins & gourds...what else screams AUTUMN?!

another feetsie, honors to wet Binghamton

no words.

when he's gone...

i was lucky enough to see my boy this weekend since we have a long weekend for the Jewish holiday. all we did was snooze. hey our days go from 8am well into the night because of all of our classes and work. i definitely sleep the best with my boy and i miss him so much so when i'm alone in my bed again :( our weekend together felt soo quick and even MORE luckily i get to see him again this upcoming weekend since my first grad school interview (eeek nervous barf puke nervous) but i finally get to see his place and new stomping ground. (missing our NYC, very much.) 

class work and all of my other activities are proven hard to manage and i get very little sleep and sometimes am a little grumpy so these weekends together definitely help me recuperate and sleep and eat.

speaking of eat, the one time mister and i went out was to The Water Street Brewing Co.. we were very hungry but had awesome food. a great fish fry wrap and a classic grilled chicken sandwich with FRIES, so so yummy. and as a brewery boy had a "cream ale" and i, an Argentinian Malbec (possibly a new fave)! i love discovering new sophisticated drinks (newly 21 and all) 

catching up on some school work and definitely missing my boy sitting beside me doing the same. see you soon, love!

first week back

so things have been more than hectic in the last few days. i'm finally settled in my new (and first) actual apartment...yay for growing up! finally got to see my boy this weekend AND school starts tomorrow (bittersweet)

we spent our third anniversary together and it was the best thing in the world to finally see my boy. it was almost theatrical the way we ran into each other and i jumped into his arms.. it was perfect and the perfect weekend. we had a great yummy anniversary dinner and adorable presents. he, a keepsake box for all of our letters and little gifts to each other and she a photobook reminiscing from the last three years together (he's so adorable!) he came from Syracuse for the weekend and we went to Tranquil Bar & Bistro for dinner where we had an amazing seafood (mussels and lobster) dinner...mmmMMMmmm. all along with endless laughing, playing, warmth. i missed him so very much and can't wait to see him again.

 i LoVe my new apartment! it's so nice being independent. it's new, big, and all mine. so sad i'll have to leave it in December when i (hopefully) graduate but then onto bigger, better, and more "me" things.

one more week

so this is my final week home on long island, ny (and in NYC). a little bittersweet. 

bitter because i'm going to be a senior. it took me a while to love my college life. it took a lot of adjusting and time to figure out what i wanted to do. then it was difficult to be away from my family and of course, my boy who was a heart-wrenching 3.5 hours away. now, that i am used to the independence, grown up so much, and everything binghamton has to offer. i love the space, the mountains, the valley, the serenity, and everything binghamton has taught me. if i really do graduate in december i will miss everything it has taught me. feels like that always happens, doesn't it? just when you start to love and get used to something...it's about to end. and i must say, change is difficult for me but this was for sure one of the hardest transitions of my life and am proud of the young woman i am today for it. 

sweet because i'm very ready for the next phase in my career. i can't wait to actually be in my field teaching children and changing their lives all for the better. that's one thing i was sure of with my career, no matter where or what i was doing at the time was that i wanted to change the world. and the more i think about it i'm excited and hope i can make so many children's lives better. i have already had a glimpse of that this summer and i could not be happier or more secure in what i want to do. so thankfully, although the path to get here has been very very difficult and sometimes, impossible to handle i am so glad i am here.

xo, Mrs.Dr.