~Home Sweet Home~

I’ve been to a lot places around the world. Some of my best trips were to Greece, France, Spain and my most recent Italy. But when it comes to my favorite place on the planet, it would have to be my home. Like they say, there is no place like home.

It’s funny. In high school most people can’t wait to leave home and go off to college living in a four-walled crammed dorm. I was one of them, but it’s wasn’t until college and spending nights in disgusting heat in a small bed and eating gross food that made me grateful of my home. Now that I'm at college, I want to be at home. Funny right?

I’ve lived in the same house since I was a two-year-old. So for me, this is really where it all began. It’s where all the bonds were formed with family and friends, all the crazy childhood sleepovers happened. But now that I’m all grown up, home is a state of mind. It’s the thing that keeps me grounded. It’s where I can always go and blend right in.

I have my own apartment now, but it will never be home. There can be many houses, but only one home. For me, home is the various flower arrangements mom has placed in almost every room of the house. The comfort of soft and fresh sheets. Delicious aromas leaving from the kitchen. Newly brewed tea always waiting to be sipped. The warm, pale yellow color on the walls. The millions of picture frames filled with years of memories. The simple familiarity of everything around me. My dad reading a book, newspaper, or anything with words on his favorite chair. My mom brightening up my day with her huge smile and comforting hug. Home is where I feel the safest. Home is where I feel most like myself. Home is where family is. Home isn't a place, it's more of a feeling. That is home to me.

Even though it took me a while to realize, no matter where I’ve been or seen, nothing can beat home sweet home.

What's On Your Life List?

Did you see the movie "A Walk to Remember" with Shane West and Mandy Moore? The movie wasn't much, but the concept is great: What things do you really, truly want to do before you die?

For the past couple of days, this movie has been playing over and over in my head. It's a typical love story of a popular "bad" boy who falls in-love with the good girl in school. However, one aspect of the movie stuck by me. Jamie's list. In the movie, Jamie has terminal leukemia and has stopped responding to treatments. She then shares with Landon her bucket list of things that she wants to accomplish before she dies. The rest of the movie is dedicated to Landon helping her reach all of her goals. This quickly inspired me to create my own life list as well.

My Life List

1. Write and publish a children's book 
2. Live in Italy, Spain or Greece for at least 6 months
3. Move to New York City after I graduate from school 
4. Ride a camel 
5. Go stargazing
6. Get a Yorkiepoo or a Cockapoo puppy 
7. Stay up the whole night till sunrise talking with a good friend 
8. Pet dolphins 
9. Play in the rain, like I did when I was a child
10. Go sailing 
11. Learn to roll Sushi 
12. Go on a road trip 
13. Soak in the beauty of a sunset 
14. Go horseback riding on a beach
15. Go camping 
16. Take my parents on a vacation spot 
17. Visit France, Italy and Greece again
18. Design my dream home
19. Adopt a child
20. Have dinner in a location that looks over New York City
21. Start my own business 
22. Make a difference in someone's life
23. Plant my own tree and watch it grow
24. Plant my own vegetable and herbs garden
25. Take a dancing class
26. Knit a scarf
27. Kiss on the top of the Eiffel Tower 
28. Start a Quote Journal that will store all of my favorite quotes and sayings 
29. Learn to play the drums 
30. Have a star named after me 
31. Find my soulmate 
32. Have the wedding of my dreams 
33. Publish a piece in a Magazine 
34. Celebrate New Year's Eve in Times Square 
35. Receive a huge bouquet of roses for no reason 
36. Experience pampering at a spa
37. Have my palm read
38. Volunteer in a 3rd world country
39. Teach myself Italian 
40. Organize an event that benefits a charity
41. Get my Masters (possibly even my PhD)
42. Go on a skydive or bungee jump 
43. Visit Australia 
44. Be a parent 
45. Decorate my own christmas tree
46. Study at the Library of Congress
47. Ring a church bell 
48. Visit Dubai 
49. Go to every state in the U.S
50. Go to a spice market in a foreign country 
51. Make a new recipe for a company
52. Take a hot air balloon ride 
53. Try a new food that I usually wouldn't 
54. Read the Newspaper everyday 
55. Try to be a vegetarian for a week 
56. Reach my ideal weight
57. Have a no-technology weekend without phones, laptops and a TV.
58. Make a scrapbook 
59. Visit the White House 
60. Own all of the Grey's Anatomy seasons 
61. Tell the people that I love that I love them more often 
62. Attend Rachael Ray's talk show
63. Watch a surgery from the gallery 
64. Own all 10 of the Friends seasons 
65. Throw a surprise party for a friend or relative 
66. Stay in touch with family in Pakistan more often 
67. Write personalized hand written letters to close friends once in a while instead of an e-mail

This is just the beginning. I hope to add-on new items and of course scratch off my list.

I highly recommend you to create one. How much does it cost? Probably 30 minutes to an hour. What do you gain? Significant clarity and focus on what you want from your life. It's an invaluable exchange. So, go grab a pen and piece of paper or open a new document on Word, and start living!

Congratulations to the Class of 2010!

Vitamin C said it perfectly in her song, Graduation. 

"As we go on we remember, all the times we had together. And as our lives change from whatever, we will still be friends forever."

Time flies by fast, especially when you're having fun. I can't believe I completed my junior year just today with my last brutal exam. Better yet, I can't believe some of my best friends completed their senior year and will be leaving me soon!

Once senior year rolls around, graduation is the main event. It's not like high school where there are various distractions like the infamous senior week or glamourous prom. It's hard to think about anything, but graduation--the cap and gown and making the most of the time left as an undergraduate. As the big day, which is only a couple of days away, gets closer and closer, I want to take the time to tell my close friends who are graduating that I love them and that I will miss them! 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Fatima Chaudhri: I have known you since we were babies wearing diapers. Though, we didn't have the choice when it came to being friends, since our parents--actually grandfathers were friends, we did have the choice when it came to being sisters. I love you and wish you all the best after college. You are one of the smartest people I know, and I have no doubt that you will do wonderful and big things in the world! I know you are sad about the fact that you are graduating, but as one chapter of your life closes, kick-start a new one! Always remember, "you are my person" and that I love you!

Mac Mace: You came into my life only three years ago as my best friend's boyfriend. But now, you are one of my best friend. More importantly, you are one that has touched my life in a very positive way. Ever since I have known you, you always strive for the best and have fun doing it! You have inspired me in more ways than you will ever know. You have taught me to never give up and to always push myself with whatever challenges come my way. Thank you! I hope you continue to inspire others like you have inspired me the past couple of years. Best of Luck! 

Jijo George: In our lifetime, we meet many types of people. Never did I imagine I would meet someone that gets me so well and can make me laugh when I don't even feel like smiling! Over the past semester, you have been there for me and helped me with my stupid problems. I hope I can do the same for you one day! Thanks for being such a great friend! 

Vaani Malhotra: I don't know where to begin. I've known you for only a year but it literally feels like a lifetime. It all started with Phi Gamma Nu. I can't even imagine not knowing you. It was definitely fate, or Alex, who brought us together! Either way, I am so happy I met you and that we became such good friends! I admire you for always seeming to have it together, even when you don't. Thanks for being a great friend! Love ya!

Congratulations to the Class of 2010!

YOU WILL BE MISSED! 

My Mother Joined Facebook.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ME! MY MOM JUST JOINED FACEBOOK. MY LIFE IS OFFICIALLY OVER. 

So, you've finally caved. You've accepted a friend request from your Mom, Dad, crazy aunt, and your college roommate’s mother. So have I. 

My mom sent me at least five friend requests before I gave in. Oh, little does she know, she has all the privacy settings set against her. All she can see is my profile picture, and still that's too much. Remember those days when in school, your mom would yell out from the car to say "love you" or "have a good say at school, Sweetie" in front of all your friends. This is worse. It's there for the whole Facebook to see on my wall. I know what you're thinking, why don't I just delete the comment. Been there, done that! What happens next you don't want to know.... she reposts it until I keep it up. Yikes...This makes me want to go back to those middle school days. It's not like I can unfriend her now.... UGH! Family. Can't Facebook with 'em, can't unFriend 'em! 

This was posted with all the love for my mom.