Mr. Fitz

so ammu and i have decided we definitely want an english bulldog...yes i convinced him!! with the cute little pout, rolls, sweet eyes, and eeeeverything. we already picked a name! Fitzgerald (lol)...Mr. Fitz for short :) we found this perfect bowtie dog collar and he must have it!

me wanty!!!

eeeee stumbled upon this while procrastinatingly (....really need to finish my math hw) running through pinterest. The Lomography Diana F+ Camera is more than to die for and perfect effects of "diana" are what i've wanted to experiment not to mention how cute and vintage the look is of the camera! and film! although i lovelovelove my dslr i can't help but want to mess around with film. definitely not in my "poor college student" budget right now but a girl can dream! ;)

dinner routines

something i'm loving about my boy and i being together is how we take turns making dinner and have already created a routine! it's something i've waited for, for a long time now and i'm so excited to finally have nightly dinners with my boy. especially since the way to his heart is certainly through his tummy ;) i'm also enjoying cooking a lot more and am impressed with myself with all of my creations. maybe i'll blog some time about them.

ammu is currently making turkey chili (smells amaaazing) for us tonight and i can't wait to EAT! hope you're having a great dinner tonight with the people you love!

love,

Nanda Bear

*a photo i took last March of a window in NYC! 

Smile

i love macaroons!! SO much. i stumbled upon this link the other day on Craft Passion and had to share. especially for all of you who like to sew and create little nicknacks. click on the photo to see how to make the adorable little macaroon coin purses!

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. :)

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.

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.