Friday, November 30, 2012

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

Sunday, November 25, 2012

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?

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

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?

Smile!

i can't even begin to tell you how excited i am for the holiday season (although its basically already begun) so i found this cute little recipe on making gingerbread and snowman heads! so easy, colorful, and fun! i can't wait to make these with my friends and sissys! find the recipe and ways to decorate here.




{discovered on Bakerella}

Monday, November 19, 2012

mistakes are always okay

i used to be terrified of every and any mistake possible. and i think i have a lot of that to blame on my upbringing and then not allowing myself to ever make those mistakes. i've sincerely learned as i've become more independent and grown up that they really are okay.. i would not be the person i am today and although i have my good and bad days i'm proud fo who i have become. i have worked so hard and tirelessly to break away and be "me" i'm still working very hard at it and don't think i've perfected it, as yet but i'd like to get as close to it as possible.

i still make mistakes and feel that embarrassment and guilt initially but soon after (and maybe after some  convincing from my boy) it really is okay and there has been so much throughout my life that if i could get up from, that i could do it again. and how bad could it really be?

i think that people (including myself) focus way too much on what other people think and that's a major flaw in our society as a whole. you should want to be happy for you. you should want to look and feel beautiful for you. you should study what you want to and follow the career path of your choice. and again, i'm still working on all of these things myself but i think that once you have that determination to want that for yourself, you will slowly but surely be able to achieve it. i believe it. and i believe in you.

mistakes mean that you're trying and as long as you keep learning and growing, they are okay. and when you have that moment of "feeling dumb" after make yourself some tea or hot chocolate and eat a brownie...always makes everything better ;)

xx,
Mrs.Dr.

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?

Sunday, November 18, 2012

do one good deed a day (at least)

the other day i let some people go ahead of me in a line not only did i really not want to be waiting in but didn't even need to be. and that's when my boy texted me..."your good deed of the day" and it made me think..why don't we do more of these? don't you always have the greatest feeling after helping someone out in even the smallest way? let's do it more. that feeling is so worth it but more than that you're making someone else's life that much easier and better for a moment and hey at least one person likes you (even if it's a stranger)


Friday, November 16, 2012

dear God

so anyone who knows me knows how much i love children and the adorable/innocent/crazy things that they do. i stumbled upon this while on pinterest the other day and just hadddd to share. so funny.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

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.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Smile!

I found this while browsing on pinterest the other day and I am determined to visit at some time in my life. It's a Shawl Museum. There are a few around the world in which I've unfortunately have never visited (plan to visit the exhibit at The Met at some point next month). Anyways, this is so beautiful and I do love my scarves and shawls and always welcoming new ones from all over the world to my collection. (on my trip to China earlier in the year I bought 4 scarves- all from different cities!) The photo below is from the Pavlovsky Posad Shawl Museum in Moscow, Russia. Absolutely to die for. Please click on the photo (and link above) for more!


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

little letters.

i love this little idea, adopted from the rockstar diaries (taza and husband). it brings self-awareness, thankfulness for the beautiful life you live, is a little silly, and a lot adorable. so here is my first entry of "little letters" hope you enjoy!



dear coffee,
every so often i forget how amazing you are and really get me through my long days like today. thank you for being there to keep me awake and alert. i would be dead without you (quite literally)

dear home,
i hope you're on your way back to 'normal.' i miss you and can't wait to share my love and encouragement.

dear baldwin, 
you've been my home for 15.5 years now and i'm terrified to see what Sandy has done to you...but i promise i will do my best to kiss all your boo boos better.

dear sissys,
it's been far too long since the three of us have been together. (almost) one week now and i couldn't be more excited for the annoyance, shouting, and dirty looks but even more for the slobbery kisses, laughs, and special moments.

dear cold,
welcome back...boo.

dear pumpkins,
thank you for all of your sacrifice to my belly this autumn! i've been enjoying many pumpkin spice coffee & lattes, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, and even a little jack-o-lantern of my own this past halloween!


love,
mrs.dr.

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}

Monday, November 12, 2012

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.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Signed, Sealed, Delivered.



i still cry every time i watch. it makes me so proud for my country, future, and more. i love you, Mr. President.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

in a parallel universe

i know this is a little terrible. but come on. i'm dying. tell me this isn't hilarious
{found on 9gag}

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

everyone...meet Chloe

Chloe has been displaced from her house in New Jersey after the terrible storm and she is now my best friend! She's actually my room mate's dog but spending the weekend with her has been more than wonderful. Now...I want a dog more than ever and not to mention since boy was up here this weekend he, too fell in love with her. She's just so perfect and loves people food (especially turkey bacon- LIKE ME!), wears a sweater (pink, argyle nonetheless), loves the height of the window in our apartment to people-watch, and her little tude is more than anyone can handle. She left today and I must say, it's the saddest longing I've felt for a while, the little pitterpatter of her feet, knowing she just wants to be with you, it's just so unconditional and he has certainly agreed to a dog (as long as it's a bulldog, he says) so cute to see him with her... anyway look at her little face! How can you (or anyone) resist?!







Thursday, November 1, 2012

the frankenstorm

Hope you all had a calming Halloween (especially after the stress here in NY). I can relate to this as my hometown on Long Island has been demolished and support is needed from everywhere. My parents are still without power, their home, and one of their cars. Although they've faired well compared to homes on the Bay who have completely lost their houses, it hurts to be so far away at a time like this. Not to mention my city, NYC and friends and family there who are still suffering through major loss. I hope for all the best for everyone and can't wait to go home to support everyone and everything. For anyone who may want to contribute to Hurricane Relief, please see the link as it has ways anyone can contribute and also some heart-wrenching photos of the destruction.

To all of you who have been affected, may recovery be swift, may support be abundant, and may your family and friends be safe.