Looking back with a fortune cookie camera

Looking back at 2011...

HEHEHEHEH

Anyway, it is time to look forward to new things now.

Did you make the list?

More Fortune Cookie photos here.

Pirate attacking the piñata

Part creepy, part therapeutic.

On my defense, this was a Festivus* party. 

We also had the Airing of Grievances**...not sure I liked that part or not! :D

* a non-religious, non-commercial holiday, celebrated on Dec 23rd. Conceived by Dan O'Keef, a writer, it gained its popularity for being featured in a Seinfeld episode in the late 90's. Its highlights are: a pole instead of the Christmas tree (too bad it was not a pole for dancing heheh); a simple dinner - we had meatloaf, spinach and mashed potatoes, which I love anyway; the Feats of Strength, see self-explanatory photo above; and the Airing of Grievances**, where participants complain about each others or about the world in general.

If you are still reading this post, just want you to know... I admire you! :)

Get the party started!

During the recent festive weekend there has been an intriguing addition to the usual party gear...

PIÑATAS!

I cannot tell you how much fun it was beating the piñatas to death,

without risking a life sentence! ;)

Plus, I had to eat chocolate and candies afterward!

Of course I took these photos before the murder, tomorrow I will show you the creep ending...

Surprise brunch -- beware of the cat!

Santa gave me a super-cute cats mug (thanks Santa baby!), but one of them must have escaped.

Look at what happened this morning during brunch!

I found a cat in my pancake!

Of course I ate the little beast, with some maple syrup on top... but now I don't feel that good.

:)

A Swingin' Vintage Party on Vintage NYC subway trains

Last week I mentioned a fun-packed event I have been to.

As you can see, I was not kidding

In less than four hours, I took 500 photographs... I think I have experienced the Stendhal syndrome!

Dish of the day

After three days of feasting, this is what I am having today

nothing!

Although exerting willpower is not one of my strengths... and the almond biscotti are staring at me.

Santa is coming to town!

Here he is, I hope he remembers my new address!

Merry Christmas to all of you, I hope you are spending the day with your loved ones...

eat, drink (responsibly) and be silly!

 

Merry Christmas from UpGemini's home

Yep, this is my little Xmas corner in my little Brooklyn apartment.

I wish you a merry Christmas folk... and look for Santa tomorrow,

do you think you've been good enough to receive presents? ;)

New York Holiday windows 2011

I haven't seen them all, so I might go back - suicide mission? ;)

1. and 2. Bergdorf Goodman, 3. Saks Fifth Avenue

Dyker Heights Christmas lights

Probably the Gingerbread House is my favorite, "simple" but effective.

If you click here, you can see last year photos.

Sneak peek

Coming soon...

photos of an event that took place last weekend in NYC

FUN FUN FUN 

A variety of Santas in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, NY

From gorgeous

 

to odd!

What the heck is the last Santa doing? Fainting like in the old movies?!?

creepy ;)

You might remember Dyker Heights's lights from last year.

Tomorrow, I will post more photos of lights and wonderful craziness.

Old time Christmas

I have never been a big fan of train shows... 

and indeed I have not taken many photos of the actual trains, now that I think about it! ;)

However, I could not help falling in love with this old time festive little world. 

This mini New York city is on display in Grand Central's Transit Museum Gallery until Jan 16th.

Tourists advisory NYC

In case you were tempted to visit the Rockefeller center on a Friday night or during the weekend, please be advised: 

you might lose your companions, your way back, or just your mind... it is packed!

However, isn't it pretty up there?

{I can't stop singing "Santa Claus is coming to town", help!}

SantaCon NYC 2011 part II

bits of Santa's life from DUMBO, Brooklyn

 

texting his elves friends, being (drunkenly) happy, and discussing important staff with a Christmas tree

December is such a busy time for Santa!

Mini-Christmas

Mini-me Christmas tree and mini-me gifts, 

part of a Dolls' House display at the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC.

How cute!

Ten days to Christmas, can you believe that?

M.A.K.E. cupcakes not war!

step 1. have a scrumptious cupcake (this was a strawberry cupcake with peanut butter cream!!!)

step 2. get delighted and inspired

step 3. make one!

felted cupcake made with the Simplicity Needlefelting machine, YAY!

Space food... candy?!?

Did you know that candies were part of the food supplies on the Space Shuttle???

"coated chocolate snack" eh? That's another good reason to dream of being an astronaut! :D

These were on dispaly in Washington, DC, at the Air and Space Museum.

I have much more to report on SantaCon NYC and on my trip to the capital... tomorrow tho!

SantaCon NYC 2011

Just an appetizer...

more photos soon, now I need to sleep.

Good night from Washington (impromptu short trip).

Mind-blowing eye candy

How to make the best out of a sugar rush? (or anything, really)

just...

!

Don't sit there waiting for the right inspiration or moment.

When in doubt, take action!... and I am telling this to myself first :)

Santa in the sun

Santa sunbathing at the green market in Union square, NYC.

Less than 18 days left 'til Christmas, he better hurries up!

Entering Christmas mode

This year I am having troubles feeling the Xmas atmosphere.

It might be the incredibly hot temperature (hello, global warming), it might be Mercury up there (...).

Anyway, this is very unusually Scrooge-y of me!

This has to come to an end! UpGemini is officially entering Xmas mode :D

And look what I have made yesterday!

I went to this Etsy Lab in Brooklyn, and had one of the best times ever!

Simplicity crew, Michelle if I remember well (sorry, a bit spacy lately :D), demonstrated how to use the Needlefelting machine!!! 
It looks like a sewing machine... but it is not (with my great delight)! It is much easier and funner to use! You layer and layer fabric, felt, lace etc and the crazy needles turn it into felt!

I made more, I'll show you next time.

Where's George?

Dollar bills with (short) story embedded.

If you find George that says "track me", you can see where he has been!

Just enter its serial number here http://www.wheresgeorge.com/

Mine haven't traveled that much, they left from Northport, NY, eleven days ago.

Oh well, it's time to spend them! ;)

Volcano brunch aka dutch baby!

These days I'm all about (trying to) transform my thoughts into constructive things.

MAKE DON'T THINK!... 'cause we know what happens when a Gemini (or anyone else to be true) starts over thinking, right? :P

This morning I woke up in a bad, cranky mood. However, instead of exploding, look what I have made

A volcano pancake!!!

You might also know it as "dutch baby" (cute name, indeed).

Want to try it? It is therapeutic and soooo easy to make!

2 eggs

1/2 cup regular flour

1/2 cup milk

pinch of salt

2 tablespoons of butter

jam, maple syrup or whatever you think might be good with it!

Preheat oven to 380F and place a cast iron skillet in it.

Whisk the eggs until light yellow, then add the milk, the flour, the salt and stir.

Put the butter in the skillet and let it melt. When it is melted, add the batter. Bake until browned and puffed (and IT WILL PUFF, that's my favorite part! :D). It should take between 20-30 minutes.

Serve with jam, maple syrup or simple powdered sugar.

Enjoy and drink a pitcher of mimosa with it if you feel like it might help your mood! ;)

Unconventional security guards

A bunny keeping an eye on the cars

 and a cow protecting the tip jar.

In New York city, you never know what's next! 
I can't wait to see what other animals might be doing! :D

Gallopping ideas vs Gemini's sky

struggling to translate ideas into facts...

not an easy task when you are a Gemini and you have Mercury retrograde!