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Life Lately…

written by Parita 7 Comments

Life lately has been full of a lot of excitement.  One of my best friends just got engaged on Sunday, and I’m so over-the-top happy for her!  I honestly felt like I was reliving my own engagement when I found out about hers.  I love love!

AZ

Me and Rosh hiking in AZ!

Life lately has been full of packing.  Lots and lots of packing.  My dad is flying in on Thursday night, and we’re driving down to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday – me in my car and my dad in a U-Haul.  Thank God for my dad!

Life lately has been full of omelets.  My sister called today just as I was finishing dinner, and when I told her what I ate, she laughed.  I’ve been eating an egg white omelet with black beans, goat cheese, and salsa for dinner every other night for the past week and a half.  What can I say – it’s easy and filling.  And anyway, it’s hard to cook when most of your pots, pans, and kitchen gadgets are packed away.

Life lately has been full of funny ideas.  The particular incident I’m thinking about has to do with our new apartment and Vishnu’s inspection.  After getting the keys, he went in to take a look and then called me to let me know everything was good to go.  Almost.  He told me that we would most likely have to put our dresser in the closet because there was no way everything was going to fit in our bedroom.  My initial response was, “You want to put the dresser in the closet?!  What are you talking about!?”  He told me there’s no space for all of our furniture.  I then proceeded to go online and take a closer look at the layout and dimensions for our apartment.  I didn’t know what he was talking about – the master bedroom is huge.  I laughed at his ridiculous comment, but he was still convinced that the dresser was going in the closet.  When he got back to his apartment, he decided to measure all of the furniture to see if it would indeed fit [like I believed].  I got a phone call afterwards, and lo and behold, the dresser will not be going in the closet. 

Life lately has been full of nerds.  I’m done with the first five seasons of The Big Bang Theory.  LOVE THIS SHOW!  I can’t wait for season six to start in September!

One of my favorite scenes!


Life lately has been full of sleepless nights.  And this is frustrating.  There is nothing better then getting into bed, closing your eyes, letting your body relax, and falling fast asleep.  But no.  I get into bed, toss and turn, and get up at least twice throughout the night.  I would be surprised if I was getting a full six hours a night.  This has got to change…ASAP.  I’m really hoping being back at home for a while will help remedy the situation.  *Fingers crossed*

Life lately has been hectic but fun.  Lots of fun. Smile

What has life been for you lately?

Written on May 16, 2012 Related:Life, Moving

FLL Here I Come

written by Parita 7 Comments

It feels like I’ve been researching my butt off lately about all things Fort Lauderdale and the area we’ll be living in.  I know some of you are probably thinking that it would make more sense for me to wait until I move down there to start looking up grocery stores, gyms, malls, etc.  If that’s what you’re thinking, you don’t know me!  I am a planner through and through.  I also have this need to know attitude.  Oh and some control issues but whatever. 

Based on my research, here’s what I’ve learned about my soon to be new city…

1.  Publix, Costco, and Whole Foods are all located in one central area.  This will make Sunday afternoon grocery trips a lot easier.  Oh adulthood, how you have changed me!

And for weekends where we want to go really crazy, there are a number of fun farmer’s markets relatively close by.

2.  I was a little surprised to learn this, but Fort Lauderdale is home to a good amount of healthy restaurants – vegetarian, vegan, raw.  Even from my limited personal experience eating out in the area, most every restaurant has delicious vegetarian options available.  It’s going to be awesome!

3.  Now that I’ve listed a couple of pros, I feel that it’s ok to talk about a con.  So, there are no affordable gyms, yoga studios, cycling studios, etc. near our new apartment complex.  ZERO.  And the word affordable is key here.  I can’t afford to pay $25 a class or upwards of $200 for a monthly membership.  No way Jose. 

However, if I remember correctly, the apartment gym isn’t all that bad – with a decent amount of cardio equipment and free weights.  And I really don’t mind workout DVDs, so I should be ok.  Jillian and I are going to be BFFs again!

4.  This goes without saying, but Fort Lauderdale is located very very close to the ocean!!!  I can’t begin to explain how excited I am about this.  I’ve always wanted to live near water.  Yay!

5.  As far as adventure is concerned, we have a few plans up our sleeves!  We’d like to make it out to the Everglades sometime soon.  Vishnu wants to do a guided tour so we can hang out with the alligators.  Me?  Not so much, but we’ll see (Vishnu hates it when I say that).  We’ve also been talking a lot about water activities.  Oh and cruises!  Neither of us have ever been on one, and well, as fate would have it, cruise ships can pretty much be found in our backyard! 

Now, don’t get me wrong, there are a handful of things I don’t really like about the city already, but I don’t want to cast too much judgment just yet.  I’ll wait until I move down there to do that. Winking smile

Seriously though, I can’t wait to share more about our new life – the ups, the downs, and everything in between.  Get ready!

What are some pros and cons of the city you live in?

 

Written on May 11, 2012 Related:Marriage, Moving, Relationships

Bittersweet Times

written by Parita 18 Comments

Saying goodbye is not easy for me.  In fact, for me, farewells usually involve tears.  It’s been that way ever since I was a little girl.  I remember crying when my cousins moved to North Carolina (I was five years old).  I cried a lot when my best friend Megan moved away.  There were lots and lots of tears when we made our move from RI to GA.  And it’s pretty much the same story with every other goodbye since. 

What can I say, I’m an emotional person!

Times may be changing though because I didn’t shed a single tear at my goodbye lunch today at Olive Garden.  That’s not to say I wasn’t on the brink of tears. 

olive-gardensalad

Before I go on about my emotional self, can we just talk about how much Olive Garden has improved over the years?!  My friends and I used to go a lot in high school, but since then, I‘ve only been a handful of times.  The quality of the food has vastly improved over the past 10 years.  I was impressed by the Minestrone soup, fresh salad (four bowls worth), and warm breadstick that was my lunch.  And everyone else’s meals looked equally as delicious.  Next time, I definitely want to try one of the desserts.

olive garden desserts cups

YUM.

Ok, so back to me.  I’ve been with my current company for almost two years.  And because of the leadership program I’m a part of, I’ve had the opportunity to live and work in three different geographic locations (AZ –> MA –> and now FL).  I’ve learned a lot along the way, but honestly, the people I’ve met and gotten to know are what have made the past two years so special.

I remember my last team meeting in Tucson.  I was an emotional wreck.  As soon as I started tearing up, about 2/3 of the team joined me.  And right before I left Marlborough, I hugged one of my coworkers for two minutes (while crying). 

So as you can imagine, I was super impressed by my sense of composure today.  The team in Florida has been awesome to work with.  I seriously have had the best luck with coworkers.  It’s just that there are so many fun things happening in the next two months…I’m honestly just too excited to cry.  Also, I know that I can always visit since St. Pete is only 3.5 hours from Fort Lauderdale. 

I like to call these bittersweet times.  I’m leaving a company that has provided me with some amazing opportunities over the past couple of years and coworkers that have made the journey worthwhile.  However, I know that keeping in touch with everyone will be easy with all the technology that’s available. 

And anyway, there’s no reason to get sappy just yet…I still have 1.5 weeks left.  They can’t get rid of me that easily!  We’ll see how I fare next Friday (my last official day).  Will Parita’s tears make an appearance??  Only time will tell!

Are you an emotional person?  Do you cry easily?  If not, how do you show your sadness?

 

Written on May 9, 2012 Related:Food, Life, Moving, Restaurant

Apartment Hunting Success

written by Parita 11 Comments

Thank you all so much for the sweet comments on my last post.  It’s nice to know I’m not crazy! 

I think this weekend validated that I worry too much because Vishnu and I found an apartment!  It took a whole day of searching, but we did it.  I didn’t take any pictures, but I’ll be sure to once we set it up in a few months.  The place we decided on was actually the second to last one we visited, and we both loved it the minute we stepped inside.  AND it’s in our price range, which after six hours of searching, I thought was going to be impossible to make happen.  Woo hoo!

Since we knew Saturday was going to be dedicated to apartment hunting, we decided to make Friday evening a date night.  Pizza, fro-yo, and a movie were on the agenda. 

FLL 002

First, we headed to Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza for dinner.  Vishnu’s been a few times and has only had great things to say, so I knew I’d love it too.  We decided on the Eggplant Marino pie.  The crust, the sauce, and the tender eggplant were all wonderful.  However, an important ingredient was missing – the cheese.  I think this particular pie could’ve used a few slices of fresh mozzarella.  Regardless, we’ll be back again to try the Roasted Cauliflower pizza!

It just so happened a fro-yo place was next door.  And since I’ve been craving frozen yogurt for months now, we had to make a quick pit stop.  Check out our cup of goodies…

FLL 005

That, my friends, would be a cup of peanut butter, Oreo, and cappuccino frozen yogurts topped with crushed Oreos, almonds, and Snickers.  Vishnu said he only wanted a “few” bites, so we shared.  Bad idea.  This cup was pretty much split 50/50.  Next time, I’m getting my own!

FLL 007

Our night ended with a late show of The Hunger Games.  Vishnu and I both read the book, so our expectations were set super high.  I think for the level of detail in the book, the movie was well-made.  It was good – the set, the cast, the story.  I did, however, leave craving more.  More depth, more emotion…I don’t know.  But in order for that to happen, the movie would have to be another hour or two longer, so I get it.  It was good, and I’m truly looking forward to the next two movies!

I can’t wait for regular date nights! 

Before I peace out, a quick reminder – the next time I blog about my silly worries, please feel free to tell me to chill out!  Please.

Happy Monday, everyone!

 

Written on April 9, 2012 Related:Food, Life, Moving, Restaurant

One Big Ball of Stress

written by Parita 14 Comments

You wouldn’t necessarily know it from reading my blog, but lately I’ve felt like my stomach is constantly in one big knot.  In other words, I’ve been a little stressed.  It’s not a bad thing (don’t worry, mom), as I truly believe the little everyday stresses are what keep us moving forward. 

I’ve been thinking a lot about the things that are constantly on my mind, and I know no one is going to believe me, but the wedding isn’t one of them.  In fact, I can’t wait until the wedding because I know it’s going to be a ton of fun.  The things that do weigh heavy right now are finding an apartment that both Vishnu and I like, finding a job in my new city, and being a good wife.

Stresses

Let me explain…

As far as the apartment is concerned, I did the research and compiled a list of 10 places for us to check out this weekend.  However, without knowing where I’m going to be working, we’re basically just going with a central location.  And to top it all off, none of the places on my list wowed me.  I know I sound like a brat when I say this, but I want our first apartment together to be nice and a place we both want to come home to.  We’ll see.  I’m 99% sure there’s nothing to worry about, but this has been on my mind for a while now so I thought I’d share.

The next thing that keeps me up at night is the good ole J-O-B.  With Vishnu being in school for the next three years, I’m going to be bringing in the $$$.  Currently, I have two potential opportunities in the works, but I won’t know anything concrete for another few weeks.  Everyone keeps telling me to take time off after the wedding and not rush the whole work thing, even if it’s just a month.  But I don’t want to.  What would I do all day?  Anyway, with all the effort I’ve been putting in and plan on putting in over the next couple of months, something should materialize (*fingers crossed*).

And finally, the whole wife thing.  I don’t know brought this on, but I’m afraid I won’t be a good wife.  Now, if one of my friends came to me with this thought, I know I’d be able to talk them out of it by sharing that no one is perfect, every relationship is different, and that there is no right or wrong way of being a wife.  However, when I try to tell myself those things, I get more stressed out.  This one really baffles me because Vishnu and I have been dating for so long, and I truly believe I’ve been a great girlfriend.  If I had to guess, I think I’m more nervous about being responsible for someone other than myself and not being good at that.  I’ve shared this with Vishnu, and of course he thinks I’m being ridiculous, but I can’t help it.  I know, I know…one day at a time – that’s all anyone can do, right!?

Phew…I really needed to get those thoughts off my chest.  I feel a little better already.

Like I said earlier, stress doesn’t necessarily have to be a negative thing as long as it’s handled properly.  By talking to Vishnu, friends, and family, I’m usually able to stay calm and focused.  Working out regularly and eating nutritious, healthy foods does wonders too.   Otherwise I’d look like this all the time…

stress

What’s something that has been stressing you out lately?  Get it off your chest…I promise you’ll feel better!

Written on April 6, 2012 Related:Life, Moving

Freak Out Moments

written by Parita Leave a Comment

People who know me really well can attest to the fact that I experience a lot of freak out moments.  When I can’t find my keys, when I’m running late, when I’m lost, etc. – pretty much any situation where I’m not in control. 

Well, this latest move to Florida was full of those kinds of moments.  And it’s really funny because this was my 6th time having to coordinate some kind of move, and I experienced more freak out moments this time around then any other.  Fun times!

Freak out moment number one occurred when the movers were packing up my things.  I was in my kitchen doing something or another when I realized that I didn’t pack all my undergarments in the bag I was taking with me.  I ran to my bedroom, almost collided with one of the movers, and saw that they hadn’t gotten to my dresser yet.  Relief washed over me!  Not only did I not want them touching those things, but I also did not want to have to go buy new ones. 

Freak out moment number two occurred when I was driving to Enterprise to have my car picked up by the auto shippers and to rent a car for the remainder of my time in MA.  The shipper called 10 minutes before we were supposed to meet and told me they were running behind and that he would be about an hour late.  I was a little irritated but let it go.  I called my coworker and told her I would be a little late to work.  No big deal.  Then, when I got to Enterprise to pick up my rental, they told me that the only car they had was a Ford Impala, even though I reserved a smaller car way ahead of time.  Not knowing how huge and boat like an Impala is, I decided to just go with it.  The car shipper ended up being an hour and a half late, but I eventually got to work in my yacht.  (No offense to anyone who owns an Impala. Smile)

Freak out moment number three occurred when I boarded the plane for my flight to Florida.  I was one of the last ones on this very full flight, and there was no room whatsoever for overhead carry on items.  I was freaking out because the flight attendant told me that I would have to check my brand new Vera Bradley bag unless I could fit it under my seat.  I did not want that bag to be thrown around, so I went back to my seat and pushed it under the seat in front of me.  By doing that, I had no where to put my purse.  I was so frustrated at this point.  The man sitting next to me graciously offered to put my purse under his seat.  I thanked him profusely! 

Freak out moment number four occurred when I arrived at my new apartment complex and was about to go in to the leasing office to sign my lease and submit first month’s rent.  I thought I put my checkbook in my purse for easy access, but it was no where to be found.  I WAS SERIOUSLY FREAKING OUT.  I quickly opened my two huge suitcases and rummaged through my things.  All I could think about was my checking account being wiped out.  Thankfully I found a couple of extra checkbooks nestled away in my suitcase, but I still couldn’t find my current checkbook.  Once everything was settled, and I was all moved in, I started to unpack my stuff.  Guess what I found…dun dun dun…my checkbook!  I haven’t felt that kind of relief in a long time.  Phew!

I’m sure there were lots of other moments, but when I sat down and thought about it, these four came to mind! 

And if nothing else, I learned that it’s ok to freak out, as long as you can eventually get your s*** together and roll with the punches.  Oh and keep a sense of humor…that helps…a lot!

Or you can always call mom… Smile

keep_calm_and call mom

Source

And hopefully it’s not as bad as it seems…haha…

65231894572229737_zbFcH1xh_c

Source

Written on November 16, 2011 Related:Moving, Self

Guess Who’s Back + October Foodie Penpal

written by Parita Leave a Comment

The past week has been a whirlwind.  Looking back, I would say it’s been a fun whirlwind.  I had a few work things that ended up going very well, and the move out of my apartment was easy and pretty stress-free.  There’s still one more component left to think about (moving to FL), but I’ll just worry about that next week!

I was in TX the past few days for a short work related trip.  I actually forgot my computer charger, so I was forced to unplug.  I normally wouldn’t have minded a short break away from everything, but I definitely didn’t post my October Foodie Penpal post on Sunday. Sad smileA HUGE apology to Samantha who sent me a very thoughtful and fun package!

For those who don’t remember what the heck I’m talking about, the idea behind Foodie Penpal is for bloggers and readers from across the country to connect and swap their favorite food items on a monthly basis.

A little fun fact about my October Foodie Penpal – she’s also originally from Pawtucket, RI!  What a small world!

My goodies came in a huge box that was quite heavy (this definitely excited more than it probably should have)!

Foodie Pen Pals 001

Samantha’s package had a fun theme that resonated with me…everything tied back to our home state of Rhode Island in one way or another!

I was able to read up on a lot of fun RI restaurants…

oct foodie penpal 001

And I have a strong feeling that Samantha is a fellow coffee lover Smile…

Foodie Pen Pals 004

And finally, Samantha brought me into the pumpkin loop with some Cranberry Pumpkin bread.  It was “semi-healthy,” but more importantly, it was a super delicious snack. 

Foodie Pen Pals 006

Thanks for everything, Samantha!

If you’re interested in being a Foodie Penpal, please email Lindsay at theleangreenbean@gmail.com ASAP…like today!

Well, I’ve been up since 3:30 AM CST, so I’m off to make a quick dinner and watch some mindless television for the rest of the night. Thumbs up

Since I’m not a huge pumpkin eater, tell me…what’s your favorite way to eat this popular food?  What am I missing out on!?

Written on November 1, 2011 Related:Blogging, Food, Moving

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