funk 'n waffles

so ammu and i made a great discovery last weekend. we have been meaning to go to funk 'n waffles since he moved to syracuse last semester but after a fun night out, the morning after we were dying for some great thick waffles and anything else that went well with it :)

ammu got the mackinac and i got a waffle with cheddar and two eggs. the waffles are so fluffy and their syrup is amazing, with it...though you really don't even need it. they're so so good. they have all types of sweet AND savory waffles and i hope to go back soon to try something else. maybe something with ice cream and nutella?? i mean but really, how could you go wrong.

the vibe in there is also really awesome. check out this pic i creeped. i know, i know this goes beyond creeping but i just had to. i love the shirts they wear and the records everywhere. i didn't get to take a good pic of the art in there but it's also awesome. once again...i need to bring my dSLR back to take some good pics. regardless, it's really cozy and the food is amazing i give this another A+ rating and plan to make it another "spot," here in syracuse.

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.

make someone smile

this post is a bit overdue..i know but anyway my weekend challenge from last weekend spilled over into my last week a bit but it was still amazing. being a guyanese girl, i never really meet many other guyanese people. one of my first graduate school classes, i walked in and saw a tall, brown guy. a brown guy! AND HE WAS GUYANESE! we immediately connected and once telling him of my ancestry and past he was smiling and excited to continue and build this relationship.

i'm certain that what i learn from him will be more than from the class itself and i look forward to building the relationship that i could with a guyanese scholar, which is something i would like to be identified with by the end of my degree(s)...a female first-generation Guyanese-American scholar. :)

these two little feet

i spy two little toddler feet. these two little feet would not nap. repeated "no ni-ni (night-night)" even when i pretend slept next to him he poked and played with my arms and hair! it was actually very hilarious but became very annoying. eventually these little feet fell asleep and at first bottom in the air (adorable!)

i would definitely say that my first day at Syracuse University was a success. grad school is so different than undergrad but also really exciting as everyone else in your program has the same goal and is passionate about the same things and i really enjoy that. i'm sure once it has all sunk in i will have more to elaborate on and share!

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

weekend challenge: doing something for myself

and now #3! all weekend i've been decorating and prepping my apartment and it's finally all unpacked and the decorating is gradually coming together. this is something that's definitely doing something for myself. i'm loving my apartment more and more and am excited to have the next chapter of my life here. :)

thought this was the perfect place for this piece and very appropriate for this time (please excuse the unmade bed, rarely like this...i swear!)

so my mantle is now another step closer to being done. i thought the black, white, and red theme was perfect (inspired by my piece from China) and it looks great so far. found the awesome red frame from Target for $1! that place is incredible! definitely going back for some other home decor stuff! (also need to print some new pics- one for the red frame!)

Laci's!

so going on with the weekend challenge... #1 is now complete! "try something new" the word "new" has been used over and over again this past week with my new apartment, city, and so on but last night ammu and i went to Laci's Tapas Bar.

it. was. amazing. and that is an understatement! the service was incredible...we even made jokes of wanting get to know the staff there better and we easily concluded that we'd like it to be our new "spot" here, in Syracuse. the tapas were also perfectly sized, were delectable, and were some of the best things i have ever tasted. boy and i shared the lobster ravioli, lamb chops with apple-mint chutney, and the garlic chicken flatbread. the items on the menu were so unique and perfect for anyone wanting to try any type of new food. i would 100% recommend Laci's and it was so funny that we literally stumbled upon them when looking up "food" on our iPhone map, so we also surprised ourselves.

the space was so, so cozy and great and i regret not bringing my camera to take and show you some pics!! but i promise we'll return soon, and when we do there'll be a photo-overload ;)

 *all photos from Laci's Tapas Bar website.

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 :)

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 new stomping ground.

a lot has been going on around here! my winter break has come to an end and i have just returned to Syracuse to begin my new adventure! new school, new stomping ground, with my new whip! i've slowly but surely been moving all of my belongings and organizing my new one-bedroom apartment. i've fallen in love with it and not to mention my new car! i'm very much in love with her, who, on my way up to Syracuse was officially named! yay!

i know i know...i owe you tons of explanations and photos. i promise them later in the week. til then all of the animals have been going crazy in the world!!! check out yahoo news.

peace and love,
Mrs.Dr.

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 baby's birthday weekend

so as i mentioned...this past weekend was my boy's birthday. it was very interesting (i finally met his friends), very fun (SU football game, food, presents), and very productive (finding my new apartment!). he was very happy with his presents (yay!) and i even got him some macaroons that he keeps bragging about (boooooo!) they got delivered AFTER i left (double boooo!) hopefully he'll save some for me.

 PJ's! we're their new regulars.

and their lobster mac and cheese is incredible.

 i'm already an obsessed, new fan. go, orange! :-*

'Cuse win versus Louisville

 pastabilities. where we had my boy's birthday dinner.

more good food. dying.

the incredible macaroons.

33 days until graduation

so the countdown has begun. 33 days until graduation and guess what i did today? remember that little apartment i told you about last post...i think it's happening! i'm really excited to do this and even more excited that it'll officially all be on my own. of course i have my days where i'm beyond exited to move on and then the days where just a few more months would be nice. today is definitely one of the days i'm excited to be moving on. everything is settling in and things are actually getting easier. the only thing is once we're back from thanksgiving i know things will pick up and i'll want those few extra days... but there's no stopping the future now... here i come 'Cuse!

{photo at SU this weekend when I was there}

and the apartment hunting has begun...

so it's official that i will be moving to Syracuse this January. it's all starting to set in that me and my boy are about to finally be living less than 10 minutes apart walking. we can't begin to tell you how excited we are. this weekend was my boy's very special day (his birthday...more later) and the first day of the weekend i spent tirelessly going from apartment to apartment looking for the right one. needless to say it turned out to be a very difficult and tiring thing to try. and although i fell in love with one very special apartment (of five).. i'm still not sure it's "the one." it's cozy, bright, and very vintage (not old) maybe i'll just have to let it settle in for a little.

also... please search "dream apartment" on pinterest. it's gosh darn incredible.

Mrs.Dr. has returned...

and with incredible news!! (drum roll please!) i got into grad school!!!!! it has been a very long week for me and then a great weekend with my boy (more on that later) but i thought you all deserved a quick catch-up. right when i was at the pit of stress and overwhelm i received an email directly from the chair of the department who i've completely fallen in love with (again, more on this amazing, inspirational woman later).

i got into Syracuse University's MS Early Childhood Special Education program. i am really proud of myself and feel really accomplished. the program has proven over and over as something that is perfect for me. the emphasis on experiential learning, the faculty, and so much more is great for me and really excites me. as of now, it's absolutely the school i will be attending this Spring and there is a complete, amazing added bonus- my boy and i will be NOT long distance for the first time as long as we've known each other. EEEEK!!!!

more later, i promise. getting ready for a very long day! (see photos of what should be "my new school" in a few months!