Year of the Horse 2014

This year, our family celebratory Chinese New Year dinner was very different.  We were missing Kathy & Tony. We didn't go to Chinatown or to my mother's.  And we didn't have Chinese food!  Instead, we met up on the Upper West Side in the 90's at a Japanese restaurant named Kouzan.  Almost felt sacrilegious!  But it was quite wonderful.  Food was scrumptious, atmosphere - elegant and bottom line...we were all together.  Happy Chinese New Year!

My roll combo...eel & avocado, salmon & tuna

Bento Box

Chocolate Pyramid dessert

Calling #34!!

Have you ever entered a raffle?  Or have your name or number picked out of a hat?  I'm sure you have...at least once in your life if not dozens of times.  And usually...typically...it's not your name, not your number that is chosen. Someone else across the room is all excited and smiling ear to ear.  Yeah...that has happened countless times to me.  Too many to even count.

I was at a Kelly & Michael taping a couple of weeks ago and I got #44 for their trivial game.  In Chinese culture, 4 is an unlucky number...so can you imagine getting 44!  Well...the number picked was #34...seemingly so close to my number but not close enough!  Par for the course...the guy who had #34, seated a couple of seats away from me, was cheering with happiness...

This past Monday, I attended a taping of Wendy Williams even though it was crazy, icy snow and rain.  The weather was miserable at best and the roads and streets were horrible to walk on...ankle-deep slushy puddles.  Yuck. And even though Winnie said I didn't have to, I got up early and went into the city.  At least they didn't make us stand outside in the cold and the staff was truly grateful that any audience members showed up.  As a "thank you" they had a raffle for several items.  Over-stock items from other giveaways and all those things are pretty good!  As you entered the studio, they give out tickets with a number on it. This is their procedure and is always done.  I am sure it's a way to keep track of how many people they have filling the studio.

I got...unbelievably...#34!  The first number called was....#33!!  I couldn't believe it!  Now...that IS REALLY CLOSE!  Only a digit away.  Sheesh!  But again not close enough!  Oh well...c'est la vie!

I was thrilled when they called Winnie's number, though!  And she got Nescafe's Dolce Gusto single cup coffee maker.  Which I already got when I attended one of their holiday giveaway shows in December.
That seemed to seal the deal...right?  No way would I get called when a member of my party won something already.  So it was with utmost amazement and of course, delight when #34 was called out!!  WOW!  I also got the coffee maker but the staff is so good that when I explained I already had one, they switched it out for something I really wanted...and have been wanting.  The Rowenta Automatic "Curl Active" Curling Iron...valued at $149!  The show is always fun and I don't go expecting anything but a good time.  So getting a freebie certainly made it worth my while but really...it's more the overall good feeling you get when you just..."win"...:-)

AG Kitchen

My sister, Evelyn, admonished, scolded, wondered sweetly of me because she hasn't seen any posting of the photos of the meal we shared when we met up for lunch on Feb 1st.  We dined at an eatery on the UWS called AG Kitchen.  Seemingly a neighborhood kind of place with a warm welcoming decor, it was a perfect place for us to sit back and catch up. :-)

So here they are, lil' sis...and it was a lovely time, as it always is, to spend some quality time together! xoxo

Evelyn's AG Breakfast Burrito
SCRAMBLED EGGS / BACON / VERMONT CHEDDAR / BLACK BEANS
GUACAMOLE / SALSA VERDE / SOUR CREAM

My AG Classic Burger with Garlic Fries

2013 Christmas Family Get-Together

Dec 22 - Sunday.  Everyone converged to Nyack where Bicky & Mark were kind enough to host.  It was an unusual and extremely warm day for December...73 degrees!  I made Pernil, tomato onion salad/relish and chimichurri.  Kathy brought along a spiral cut ham.  Bicky provided rice pilaf, sauteed string beans, Brussels sprout and sweet potatoes.  There was desserts galore: Bicky made a gingerbread cake, Kathy brought a chocolate mousse cake and I brought a chocolate trifle.  A glorious feast!

I took a ton of photos and it makes for a great photo essay:

The desserts from top: chocolate mousse cake,
gingerbread cake, chocolate trifle

Mom & her bonnet hood dryer

Bicky opening her Secret Santa gift

It's a scented candle!

Mom thought it hysterical that big box held the one candle!

Baz & his SS gift

Kathy is delighted(?) with hers:
Prairie Woman Cookbook

Tom got his book from Secret Santa

Kris opens her goodies from Secret Santa

Mark very happy with his wine and pilot point pens

Tony got an Auto Zone gift card and his beloved
chocolate jelly rings

Nikki's new cutting board

Trisha Yearwood's Cookbook &
Now That's What I Call Music CD

Miranda's turn

Lots of gift cards to her favorite store:
Urban Outfitters

One of many thank you hugs

Nikki's clever "money umbrella" gift to Xavier

Tom got new touch screen gloves and Nikki, a set of candles
From Xavier & Miranda

Aunt Bicky knitted a cowl for Baz

Three Generations

What's in the big box?

Nikki & her new sewing machine!

Merry Christmas!!

Dear Santa...no...Dear Wendy...

I was fortunate enough to receive confirmation to one of Wendy Williams' holiday shows.  Kathy I attended today and we made out like bandits.  It's hit or miss...although never really a miss - anything we get is always appreciated.

I was going to take my own photo of my stash but why, when I can just use Wendy's!

First up:  Olivia & Joy bag...both Kathy & I got the gold one.

Next...A Clarisonic Pedi system

Last:  An array of gifts!

From top left corner:  

Nescafé Dolce Gusto One Cup coffee maker with carton of cappuccino and free carton of choice

Gendarme cologne

J.R. Watkins Body Butter

Becca facial brush

Papyrus card

Legal Eagle Seafood shrimp

Tablet case/clutch/make-up case

Champagne glass (fits a whole bottle of champagne)

Timex Weekender watch

Wireless Call Notifier (hang it on your bag or belt and lights up when a call comes in and phone is on silent)

Boomphone -headphones that can also play externally & phone ready

USB bracelet from EBay

Apparently about $1000 worth. :)

We were lucky and happy gals as we lugged our goodies to a Dallas BBQ lunch.  

Happy Holidays!!!

Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Wings

The first recipe I've tried from Pinterest.  Easy, excellent and sooo delicious! (And no frying!)

Jazz Brunch in the West Village

Always great to see Ronna and the family!

                                 

From left to right: Derek, Ronna, Howard (Ronna's brother), Izzy & Mark

                      Ronna's cousins: Josh, his sister Pam & her son, Ben