Things I am Grateful for From the Past Week

I know it has been a while since my last post but things have been so hectic!  Despite how busy life gets sometimes, especially during times of adjustment and change, it is always important to stop for a moment and really think about the things or people that make you feel grateful and blessed.  I know that I am truly blessed with everyone and everything that I have in my life right now and just wanted to share.

The movers finally delivered all of my things last Sunday for which I was extremely grateful.  After 9 days of living in an almost empty apartment and having already started my new job here in Charlotte, I was pretty excited to get all of my things.  I am still working on unpacking and decorating a little bit every day and promise to post pictures of our new place as I complete my decorative and organization projects! Something I have completed and absolutely love is an idea I found here and also on another friend's blog.  The idea is perfect for Swarup and I because we met, married each other, and now will be living in 3 distinct locations.  In addition, Swarup LOVES maps; I don't know where his fascination comes from but he loves exploring and traveling and can get lost in a map - no pun intended. After checking pinterest for just a couple more ideas (and a quick trip to Michaels for some frames!), I came up with my own variation of this personal wall decor.

 We Met ~ Trenton, NJ ~ July 3, 2009

We Married ~ Richmond, VA ~ May 22, 2010

We Lived ~ Charlotte, NC

I think this is the perfect compliment to our bright colored bedding and dark solid wood cherry furniture.  Not to mention how much personal meaning it has for our relationship...

Speaking of relationships, friendships are relationships that you should never take for granted.  For this reason, I never take my best friend Joyce for granted.  Last week she was extremely selfless and drove 4 hours (each way) to visit me for a couple days just to keep me company and help me unpack and get settled in.  I'd still be living out of boxes if it weren't for her.  Thanks for being the first to visit Joyce and for helping me get my closet put together ;) Oh, and I hope you enjoyed shopping in my closet ;) 

I repaid her for her help and kindness with drinks, brownies, more drinks, and lots of food. Love you!

I know I have mentioned Sherri & Brad in a previous post but I feel the need to thank them again now for everything they have done to help me get settled in while I'm waiting for Swarup to finish up residency and join me in just a short month!  While we have only known Sherri & Brad for 10 months, it feels like we have been friends forever.  They are definitely some of the kindest people we have met and did I mention they are extremely fun to be around?!  We are so incredibly happy for these two who just got engaged a couple weeks ago and became homeowners last week, congratulations you two - we're so excited for you!

Brad & Swarup are missing from this picture!

Still on the subject of relationships, my husband is the most important thing in my life and everyday I am grateful that we found each other.  Although Swarup and I aren't able to spend much time together we feel blessed for the amount of time that we actually are able to spend together and make the most of our time together.  I picked him up at the Charlotte Douglas International airport for the first time last week to bring him home to OUR new place together.  Though it was a short visit that even included a 3 day trip up to Richmond, VA for some friends' wedding, we were so excited to be able to spend time together in our first place together here in Charlotte.  

We are both really excited for him to finally move down here next month and explore all that Charlotte has to offer together.

While Swarup was here, I finally received my ATT (authorization to test) from NABP (National Association of Boards of Pharmacy).  This is like the key to the lock.  Until you get this, you can't sign up to take the NAPLEX or the law exam.  Waiting around to get this number is almost as nerve wrecking as studying for and taking these exams because things become a lot more real once you've signed up for the exams.  Lucky for me, I get to spend the entire month of June in a state of nervous frenzy.  NAPLEX on June 26th and MPJE (law exam) on June 30th.  And Swarup moves in July 1st.  Hallelujah!

Last thing for now is an update on the new addition to our family - Miss Bella Misra!

Here she is just 23 days old and looking as cute as ever :)

Miss Bella

Today the breeder sent me the weekly pictures of our little future puppy and I just had to share some because she is so cute! We are so in love with her already and haven't even met her yet.  We can't wait to make her part of our family at the end of July :) 

Bella was born on May 9, 2012, she is only 2 days old in the above picture. 

In this picture she is 16 days old with her eyes open finally and some more hair.  <3

First Day of Work

Today was a big day.  It was my first day of work in Charlotte.  Though I chose to take a position with a company that I have worked for for about 6 years now, I still had the nervous first day of work jitters.  It's a new place, new store, new team, new job title.  I had already established a work family in Richmond with whom I felt so comfortable and it is always hard to form new relationships and connections after such solid ones exist.  I kept a very positive attitude and open mind on my way to work this morning not knowing what to expect at all.  I even gave myself a pep talk once I parked before I walked in.  However, as soon as I walked into the pharmacy I was greeted by such happy smiling faces of a pharmacist and two technicians who were excited to have me.  They immediately made me feel so comfortable and at home.  My jitters completely dissolved and I received such great pharmacist training today.  The day could not have been anymore perfect (unless I wasn't working of course).  Can I just say there was a frozen yogurt place called YoFruitty right next door?! Yum. And since I'm still a Graduate Intern I have the ability to leave the pharmacy premises while working ;) Today was definitely a success because I'm not dreading going back there again tomorrow :) I feel so blessed to have a job I enjoy.

For those of you who know me well, naturally I had to document this special day with a photo.  I even pretended to not care that we now have a uniform (navy blue tops with khakis).  

Anniversary #2

A lot has happened since my last post.  On Saturday I finally moved to Charlotte and am loving it here!  The movers will not be delivering my things until this coming weekend unfortunately but I've been getting by just fine with things I packed in my car.  I've had fun exploring my surrounding areas and figuring out the roads and where things are.  Some things to mention: our place is less than a mile from an awesome mall (yay!), a super Target, and several restaurants like On the Border and PF Changs :) I've been working on several Pinterest inspired projects for our new place that I can't wait to reveal.  I've spent a lot of time with our friends Brad (who will be Rup's co-worker at CMC) and his fiance Sherri (they just got engaged this past weekend!), they have been absolutely wonderful and have taken good care of me during this transition.  We are so lucky to have such good friends here already.  Sherri also got me to join Arrichion, the hot yoga studio she goes to and I absolutely LOVE the place and how each class makes me feel.  More about the move and our new place in later posts once we are all settled in and have all our things but now for the important stuff!

Today is a very special day, it marks the date of our 2nd wedding anniversary <3  I don't know where the time has gone because the first two years of wedded bliss have just flown right by!  We are so excited that our long distance relationship is finally coming to an end and we are going to be able to spend more time together (like a normal married couple!).  We are so lucky to have found each other and are truly blessed.  

                  

Presenting for the first time..... Dr. and Mrs. Misra!!! 

This was our first dance to "Lucky" by Colbie Caillat and Jason Mraz

Tomorrow is my first day of work at Rite Aid in Charlotte as a Grad Intern, I'm a little nervous but excited for this transition.  All of my hard work in pharmacy school has finally paid off!  Wish me luck for tomorrow :)

New Beginnings

Welcome to my blog!  After 2 years of a long distance marriage and 4 years of pursuing pharmacy school and residency training 600 miles apart, my husband and I are finally moving to and settling down in Charlotte, NC together.  We are very excited about beginning a new chapter in our life together and thought we'd share with our friends and family!  This journey officially started this past weekend as I graduated from pharmacy school in front of my husband, family, and close friends.  The whirlwind weekend of emotion was just the start to our exciting journey we are about to begin in Charlotte. 

 My in-laws flew all the way down from Michigan just for the day to watch me graduate.

 My proud husband.  We are the Drs. Misra now :)

 Couldn't have gotten thru pharmacy school without these girlfriends.

 Without these people (my parents, brother, and husband) in my life I would not be where I am today.

 Dr. Swati Misra or Swati Misra, PharmD

I hope you continue to follow our journey together.  More to come regarding our big move very soon.