Baby steps.

Life is made of baby steps.
Well tonight I made a baby step.
I got the big american express bill in the mail- something I normally dread getting -  not that I spend a lot, just that when you're on student loans, any amount of money seems like a lot (since in reality you have NONE).
Well, tonight I decided I was going to face the music in a new way.
I calmly opened it up, and decided that for the first time I was going to stare what I had spent in the face, accept it, and figure out what I can do to be better.
So, I broke each thing I spent down into categories. And realized where I'd spent the most money and where I could spend less.  In reality, I thought it would be scary, but what I found is that it was liberating! 

I am going to graduate in approximately 10 months, and I am going to be okay. 
I am going to make my way.
And figure it out...it may take time, and its not going to be easy, but I am going to do it.
I want to be independent, and responsible, and self-sufficient, and still manage to make a real difference in the world.
And granted, I'm not there yet, but somehow I know I'll be just fine.

I've never been a big fan or Valentine's Day, I don't like it's commercialization, and I've always found it kind of silly that there is one day devoted to appreciating the people we love...when really, shouldn't it be everyday?

Well, despite this Nate and I had the most rockin Valentine's weekend.  Completely commercial-free, and completely us. 

It started Saturday morning when we went to a partner yoga valentine's workshop at yogaworks (I get a discount!- I love my job).  I quite honestly couldn't believe Nate volunteered to go with me so eagerly.  It was fun, kind of cheesy, but really fun.  It seemed like all the couples there were either recently engaged, newlyweds, expecting their first child, or had been together for 42 years.  (I want to be with someone for 42 years!)  And then there were Nate and I.  Afterwards we went to our favorite pizza place in the west village, Joe's Pizza.

On Sunday, we woke up and went to Donut Plant, this very famous donut place on the lower east side, that I had heard about from my friend Kate.  It's a little hole in the wall place that produces more gourmet donuts than you could imagine.  We waited 45 minutes in a line that trailed around the block.  And it was almost worth it.  The donuts were awesome.  We got glazed, chocolate (which tasted like REAL melted chocolate!), passion fruit, and creme brulee. The best was the creme brulee donut- its more like a large donut hole, with a hard crunchy outer layer, and delicious creme brulee filling inside- which I managed to spill all down the font of me! 

Nate has been talking about wanting to go rockclimbing for weeks, so after donuts I surprised him and took him to BROOKLYN BOULDERS.  Possibly the largest and coolest rock climbing gym in the city.  We took a class, learned all the knots, learned how to belay, and climb!  It was awesome, we had so much fun.  

It was a really awesome weekend.  I am really a very lucky girl. 

 

I love him. 

This is what happens when my roommate & I go to Trader Joe's on the same day:

Yesterday was AMAZING.

I woke up bright and early at 7:15, tip-toed to the window and peaked out at what was one of the more exciting things I've ever seen. 

SNOW. POURING. WITH BIG CHUNKY FLAKES. 

The storm had come. 

I quickly put on my warmest winter clothes and headed to Long Island- where the streets are plowed less, there are hills to sled on, and snowmen to be made. 

 Me with my snow-woman, Esmeralda. 

 

The hill we went sledding on. 

And Nate and I did just that!

I feel like I finally fed my inner child, who has never had a snow day in her 21 years of life!

Then, we FINALLY saw Avatar, which I thought was pretty excellent.

My, oh my.  Am I happy to be living in New York. 

The storm is a commin'! 

And I have regressed to a 5 year old. 

I am so excited!

All nyc public schools will be closed tomorrow as of this morning! 

Not NYU, of course.

Everyone is out buying snow supplies, and making plans to deal with the storm.

But there is this exciting energy in the air, that something is about to happen, the chaos is about to ensue, that the storm is headed towards us and there's no stopping it!

My class even ended early tonight so we could get home "before the snow started". 

My inner child needs a snow day.

My latest discovery.

My aunt got me this fabulous smoothie maker for Christmas which I've been using almost everyday.

Let me share my latest discovery with you. 

Chocolate Banana Goodness. 

It takes less than 5 minutes to make, is relatively healthy, and oh so delicious. 

1-2 Bananas 

1 1/2 Cups of chocolate soymilk (Silk is the best but any will do) 

1 Giant scoop of Trader Joe's French Vanilla Ice Cream