"Changes"

Lately I feel as if I’ve been changing. I look at the person I was a few years ago and the person I am today .. and I really think I am becoming an adult. Not so much when it comes down to responsibilities because I don’t have to pay any bills or even have a job for that matter, but the way I think, the choices I make, and what is important to me. Just a few years ago I was that girl who didn’t give a shit about school. It was the least important thing on my “list of important things”. Everything outside of school was so much more important.. friends, boys, experimenting, “drama”. All that stupid stuff that teenagers who go down the wrong path go through. Its crazy that this once-an-underachiever is now the girl who is not satisfied with anything less than an A. I’m really proud of myself. Because I WAS that person- failing most of my classes, might not be graduating on time, skipping school, doing things that good little girls aren’t supposed to be doing. But I got my shit together and I cut the bullshit. I did what I had to do and I graduated high school on time whilst most of my so called "friends" had already dropped out or gotten g.e.d.s. And now, in my second year of college I am a completely changed person than I was in high school. I’m not proud of everything I have and haven’t done. I sometimes wish I didn’t mess up in high school and partake in activities that are less than flattering to my image. I regret not doing my best in high school and being all that I can be. But you know, I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I had done anything differently. So I guess I’ll take my choices and my mistakes because at least right now I know what is important to me. The important thing is that ive taken most of my mistakes as lessons learned. I really feel a steady change inside myself. I know I’m growing up and it kind of scares me.

Snow day.

I had a pretty great day today. I woke up this morning (..well if you count two thirty pm to be morning..) and it was snowing! At first there was just a little snow sprinkled on the ground but by the end of the day walking, driving, or simply being outside was an impossible (yet beautiful) nightmare.

Anyway… Irina came over and we decided that mother nature was not going to keep us in today. We ventured out to Sally’s beauty supply store because it isn’t to far from my house and we’ve never been there before. We both bought some goodies : ). I bought some new make-up, hair treatment products, and skincare products that I’m really excited to try out. I was hoping there would be more make-up than there actually was so next Wednesday, when I go shopping with the bitches I will definitely stop by Beauty 35, which is another beauty supply store my friends told me about. After Sally’s Irina and I got hungry and chose to eat at ihop even though it was a tad late for breakfast. We split an eggs, hash browns, smoked sausage links, and cinnamon French toast topped with strawberry preserves and whipped cream dish…in addition to that we were really in the mood for some waffles so ofcourse we got ourselves some damn waffles! Our food was really good…considering it was ihop…and also six pm … and dinner time… were quite odd I know.

After ihop we went to another store and bought some clothes… nothing too exciting.. the really fun part was the oh so easy time getting home. Let me tell you…blizzards are fun! And walking/eating/breathing snow is double the fun! Although the walk home was annoying it was one of those times where you cant stop laughing at the situation you’re in. Like I said…it was a simple but silly day.

La Mangeoire

I know this post is a bit late but finals have been keeping me ridiculously busy and away from the blogger world.

Last Friday, my closest girl friends and I went out to La Mangeoire to celebrate Alex’s birthday. La Mangeoire is a homely little French restaurant situated in Midtown. The food was delicious and served in just-right portions. I had steak which was an orgasm-cooked-to-perfection. It was a great night especially since I got to have my favorite dessert: Creme Brulee. My plate was practically LICKED clean : )

{the gang}

{birthday girl and i}

{me, all smiles w/ my creme brulee} 

p.s. my friends pointed out that it looks like I am wearing a snuggy, which makes me giggle a bit every time I look at these pics. =b

winter-holiday-time!

Christmas time has always been a favorite of mine. But this year I don’t feel that whole Christmassy vibe. Perhaps it’s because there is no pretty tree in my household this year. Or maybe it’s because I’m not focusing on anything else except finishing up this semester. Whatever it is I’m always a little stunned when I see Christmas lights around...time to get with the program and return to hibernation-hot-chocolate-abc-family-christmas-specials-mode. Especially since the weather lately has been a little less than pleasant..unless you’re into that face-pinching-so-cold-you-cant-breathe weather. ugh summer why did you leave?

I’ve mentioned in the past that I broke my camera and was going to buy a new one sometime soon. I finally ordered my Panasonic Lumix and now I’m counting down the days until it’s delivered. I just want to click click click away!

Oh and I was born in Jewish family so I guess I consider myself Jewish although I am really not so big on the whole religion thing. & although I’m Jewish I still celebrate Christmas because come on! who can give up something as awesome as Christmas? I can’t pick sides I want it all so today Happy Hanukkah to all my jews : )

Winding down...

This semester is quickly coming to an end, in two weeks from now I will be taking my very last final and be a free woman for the next month and a half! The next two weeks are going to be a whirlwind of writing papers, preparing presentations, finishing up some last assignments, and studying for finals. Forgive me if I do not post much these weeks, it’s only because I just don’t have the time and do not want to bore the blogger community with how much schoolwork I am doing.

This past weekend was kind of a quiet one with the exception of a ladies night on Friday. The girls and I ventured out to the city to a popular Mexican restaurant, Blockheads. After some yummy three dollar margaritas and a full tummy we headed to a local bar where we spent the rest of our night. Needless to say it was a pretty awesome night. Great people + interesting conversation + alcohol = never fails. Saturday I spent writing a term paper and Sunday completing a group project. Here are some pictures from my Friday night:

In your wildest dreams.

For the past few weeks I’ve been having bizarre dreams. You know those type of crazy dreams where you either wake up thinking

a)WHAT THE EF is wrong with me that I am dreaming about this?

Or

b) I can’t remember what I was dreaming about but boy is it making me feel strange this morning.

Throughout my life if something is bothering me, if I have strong opinions/emotions about something or perhaps I am thinking about something frequently, I’d have recurring dreams about whatever that is.

One particular recurring dream I used to get and have gotten in the past week is where I am in a building that for one reason or another is burning down, I am on an upper level and the floors under mine are collapsing on each other. By the time it’s my floors turn, I am already on top of all the rubble and am looking for my loved ones. You can obviously imagine where this dream stems from, (9/11). Since I was 11 years old when it happened, I guess it was always a fear in my head which comes out in an unconscious state. This week I had a dream that I was in a building having cocktails with friends when a fire erupted in a far away building, and then another one closer, and closer and closer. Until most of the city was on fire and my building was next. I guess my building didn’t go on fire but I remember thinking “Wow, the whole city is burnt down, we have to start all over now..”

Another recent recurring dream I’ve been having is one that only deals with closet space. Since in my own house there is a lack of it, more closet space is something I am always yearning for (Hi, I am a female). And lately I have dreams where either my parents and I move into a new home where in my room I have four closets, or I find a new floor in current my house where there is a kitchen, a gigantic bathroom, and basically a walk-in closet bigger than the size of my actual room… These dreams to me are equivalent to that of a wet dream for guys.

Last night I dreamt of my old apartment. I sometimes dream about it because I guess it reminds me of my childhood and brings back only good memories. In this dream my dad and I were morphing (I don’t know?) into different shapes/animals (lol still don’t know), but it turned out an old friend of mine was back and was my neighbor. I guess I dreamt about him because I thought of him before I went to sleep.

I love dreaming, especially when I can vividly remember my dreams the next day. It’s interesting to see what your mind can conjure up while you sleep.. What kind of dreams have you been having?

Burst of nostalgia

Yes, it happens to be 3:51 am as I am writing this.

And yes! I do have an exam in the morning (well 12:50 doesn't count as morning to some, but in my case it's morning)..

And ofcourse I am looking through old pictures on my computer feeling nostalgic as ever...

particularly because of this:

and this :

oh and can't forget:

paradise is this:

{pictures from a dominican republic vacation last April} 

..I wish it were warm right now, and that I was laying on a beach somewhere getting nice and toasty...

I want to swim in the ocean ...and hold the hand of the one I love.  

Gobble Gobble...

Thanksgiving turned out to be a great success this year. How can it not when you’re surrounded by the people you love, eating the delicious food you prepared together. The girls and I arrived to Sasha’s house early to give her a hand with the cooking, although she clearly had everything under control! By the time we got to her house everything was either prepared or a work in progress! We all put ourselves to good use and had everything set up in no time. When we sat down to eat we made a toast to our fabulous host and each went around the table saying what we were thankful for. We only got to say one thing so I thought I should make my own little list.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for:

1. My family. Although we are a crazy bunch- my parents are always supporting me in everyway possible. I might not always show how much I appreciate everything they’ve given me, but I don’t take it for granted. I am really lucky to be blessed with such parents.

2. The most extraordinary group of friends anyone could only hope for (this is the one we all mentioned at dinner). My friends are my backbone. I have that type group of friends that doesn’t change as the years come and go. I think I’ve collected some keepers (win)! Being an only child, my friends became my family. I love each and every one of you, I hope our friendships last a lifetime.

3. The mistakes I’ve made. Although most days I bitch about them, if it weren’t for “mistakes” you wouldn’t be able to see things for what they really are. I know I’ve made a lot of mistakes this year, but I think at the same time they made me realize what’s truly important to me. And maybe even what type of person I want to become.

4. To be living and breathing. I’m thankful for my health, for the health of my loved ones, and to be able to live and grow day by day.

 {pretty picture of the scooped out tomatoes}

 

 

{Me doing my share in the stuffing of the stuffed tomatoes :)}

 

{final product of stuffed tomatoes}

 

{kitchen nazi grilling the vegetables}

{carmelized onion and goat cheese on crostini}

{THE turkey}

{cutting THE turkey..}

{our lovely little thanksgiving dinner all prepared!}

Check out Sasha’s blog for more mouth-watery goodness!

This young lady makes cooking simple, enjoyable and effortless.

I’ve learned a lot from her over the years.

Anticipating the Turkey...

I am particularly excited for Thanksgiving this year! In the past, Thanksgiving only meant a night or two that my parents went away to Atlantic City. Some years I held parties, other years seem to be a blur now. This year I will be giving thanks at my good friend Sasha’s house. It will be our third consecutive year spending this tasty holiday together (which I guess can now be called a tradition, & I LOVE traditions!). But this year I am joining Sasha in the kitchen! A regular person might not be as excited about this as I am, but I’ll have you know not just ANYBODY joins this kitchen commander in her Thanksgiving upheaval. This is the first year I have ever felt so excited about Thanksgiving, makes me hungry just writing this.

                                                       

In other news, I cannot wait for the  movie NINE to come out, it looks like it's going to be amazing!… I have a feeling it will be a {dinner, cosmos + a movie} night with the girls.

Another Day. Another Birthday Party.

My friend Mike celebrated his 21st birthday party at yet another Russian restaurant last night. We had a swell time with lots of alcohol and dancing! Here are some (well most of the) pictures:

 

{ofcourse I had to take a few pictures of the makeup}  

{Birthday boy and I}