Winter Holidays are Here ! -Llegaron las Celebraciones de Invierno !

I love how the Holiday Spirit and Lights all over the city have created comfort among the dreary grey cold winter streets of New York. I've found myself drinking hot chocolate more than ever (tried the first mint chocolate flavor for the first time in dunkin donuts last night) and also, eating more, as Holiday parties are starting to abound. 

And I guess there's much more going on than that intensity going around, more than the celebrations, gatherings and both shopping and window shopping (which is also a delight in NY). I think we are facing with many questions winter solstice, speculations about the Maya mystery and predictions from people who started talking about the shift, giving us dates to 12.21.12 or some going to 12.12.12.  

I think that for the typical New Yorker, these just mean numbers but since I was accompanied a few times by people who really believe in predicaments, I questioned if I should be here or not on these dates. After thinking about it for about 2 mintues, I realized: of course, where else would i choose to be? If something on earth was to happen to earth, New York seems like the fasted moving city to create solutions. That's why I love and and that's why I've been living here 18 years of my life. More than half my lifetime.

Food Glorious Food = Thanksgiving :)

And so the only Tragedy about last night is not bringing enough leftovers home lol. But seriously I'm still thinking about some pumpkin cheesecake I cannot find anywhere in Manhattan because it was homemade ! / la unica tragedia de anoche fue no haber traido suficientes sobras para el recalentado de hoy en casa jaja. Pero en serio habia un pie de calabaza con queso que no podre encontrar en ninguna parte de Manhattan porque fue hecho en casa.

Anyhow, I had a great Thanksgiving day as usual. The only difference is that this time, my siblings weren't able to accompany me to visit our family in New Jersey and I had to take the train from Penn Station. Being so, I was tempted to accept invitations from local friends to stay in town, however, Thanksgiving is mainly about spending time with family, being grateful for them and sharing food. 

That's why, in the end, I'm glad I ended up in New Jersey even though,  like a marathon that Thanksgiving seems to be, we started appetizers and drinks around 4pm and ended with desert and coffee close to 9pm for which I ended in a "food coma".  It was great though, it makes the holiday unique. / Tome el tren de ida y vuela a Nueva Jersey para ver a mi familia y valio mucho la pena, aunque parecio un maraton de comida ya que empezamos con aperitivos y tragos a las 4pm y terminamos con postre y cafe como a las 9pm. Es lo que hace esta fiesta particular.

It was nice to come back home and be in the train with another New Yorker. Home "is the city" and all of its action". Gratitude was at its fullest last night at every level... /Fue lindo llegar a casa en el tren con otro Neuyorkino. Nuestro hogar es "la ciudad y toda su accion"

I was discreet in taking fotos of my family, and I because..... we don't want to be judged by what or how much we eat ! LOL / Fui discreta en poner fotos de mi familia porque no quiero ser juzgada por lo que comemos y por CUANTO ! jajaja
If you like the tapestry hanging on the wall, its a Oaxacan Mexican handmade wool woven piece .  You can look at my friend's Allan's website http://www.berakahoaxaca.com/#!english or email me for more questions : ayaricg@gmail.com /  Si le gusta este tapete hecho a mano por Oaxaquenios, contacte a mi amigo Allan o a mi: ayaricg@gmail.com y yo le puedo ayudar a conseguir uno

Turkey and Beef Roast leaving the oven..../ El pavo y la carne ya saliendo del horno...

Desert time ! ummm still dreaming about this  ;) / Tiempo del postre y lo sigo soniando...

I think we all owe gratitude towards each other, every single person in this world is serving another, somehow... It'd be great to learn how to say Thank You in each language /  Creo que todos nos debemos agradecer, cada persona en el mundo esta sirviendo el uno al otro, de alguna manera. Seria bueno aprender a decir Gracias en todos los idiomas !

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Melody Beattie - Happy Thanksgiving  Weekend Everybody !!!

Makeup Artistry FUN !!!

My friend Olga,  a former New Yorker, now living in Miami is coming to town for a four day visit !!!! I decided to post some pictures of her theatrical make up designs because they are unique and I'm hoping that you, my reader, will want to have it done. If you are from New York and want to take advantage of Olga's creativity and do a make up session with her, take advantage of her days here ! She will be glad to do it and does make up of all sorts, including bridal, and everyday looks. You may call her  at :  646 773 1699  - Rates are per requests / Mi amiga Olga vendra de visita a NY desde Miami por cuatro dias este fin de semana. Por eso decidi compartir fotos de sus disenios teatrales porque son unicos y espero que tu, mi lector, quieras hacertelo. Si eres de NY y quieres tomar ventaja de la creatividad de Olga y obtener una cita para maquillaje con ella, le puedes llamar al: 646 773 1699 - El precio depende del pedido. Ella tambien hace maquillaje para bodas y de todos los dias.

Below is my friend Olga. I'm sharing some photos of a Theatrical session she did on my face in Florida this summer when I visited... and creative things she did on herself. I hope you like them and that you get a chance to express yourself this way ! Its an unforgettable experience for sure / En la foto de abajo esta mi amiga Olga. Comparto fotos de una sesion Teatral que hizo en mi cara en Florida cuando visite este verano... y las cosas creativas que se hizo ella misma. Espero que les guste y tengan la oportunidad de expresarse de esta manera ! Es una experiencia inolvidable.

This is Olga showing her duality: makeup and not / Esta es Olga mostrando su dualidad : con maquillaje y sin

Yup this is still me, just in a more "freaky" photo edit ;) / Si, sigo siendo yo solo en una edicion mas resaltada ;)

"The Job" CBS TV show with Lisa Ling

This show "the Job" is supposed to air in January 2013 on CBS. I've been watching tapings for three days because I really enjoyed it. I feel like its both educational and entertaining, speaks to the volumes of Americans who are currently unemployed... and motivates us who are employed to do a better job. Plus Lisa Ling is AWESOME ! / Este programa "El Puesto" va a salir al aire Enero 2013 en CBS. He estado viendo grabaciones por tres dias porque lo he disfrutado mucho. Siento que es educativo y entretenido. Le habla mucho a los millones de Americanos que estan desempleados ahora... y motiva a los que ya estan empleados a que hagamos un mejor trabajo. Aparte Lisa Ling es inteligente y agradable !

The Show is being taped at Manhattan Center on 34th st / El programa se esta grabando en el Manhattan Center en la calle 34

                               Right by the New Yorker  /  Cerca del edificio New Yorker

On set - the first day after elections, I got standing ovations for my shirt ;) / Recibi muchos aplausos por mi camisa ya que fue el primer dia despues de elecciones

                                                  Lisa Ling

                                                           Contestants / Concursantes

It snowed that day, the city looked Beautiful ! / Nevo ese dia, la ciudad se veia hermosa !

Mayas Message Re Global Warming (funny)

SORRY FOR THE TROUBLES.... 
.......we are conducting testings. 
Attention 
The Mayas

Observations and Victory during Election Time...

I'm so glad the President I voted for Won ! / Estoy muy contenta de que el Presidente por el que vote gano !

View from 30 Rockefeller building. My friend who works for NBC took this picture and shared it via facebook, on the night of election / Vista desde el edificio 30 Rockefeller. Mi amiga que trabaja ahi tomo una foto y la compartio en facebook en la noche de elecciones.

                         Photo taken at Times Square / Foto tomada en Times Square

Relief. I love to travel and it'll be nice to be accepted somewhat for my electoral preferences. / Me da gusto saber que el mundo me aceptara por mi preferencia electoral.

How much more time for change ? / Cuanto tiempo mas para ver mas cambios?

 I think this explains a lot of it.... / Creo que esto explica mucho....

Funniest photo posted by a friend on Election Night, as soon as Obama was anounced President again / La foto mas chistosa que vi de Obama durante la noche de elecciones, apenas anunciado como Presidente.

I think this was the coolest poster photo I saw by my Dominican friends on Election night  / Me encanto esta postal por mis amigos Dominicanos porque declara la fiesta y se burla, en cierta manera de la palabra "gratis" 

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2012/11/who-won-the-war-on-women.html  Read this article to find more details on how women WON their rights to keep their rights ;)

I love that women, including me, fought for their rights for health and reproductive desicions AND WE WON !!!!!!!!!!!!!! / Me encanta que las mujeres, incluyendome a mi,   lucharon por sus derechos de salud y desicion propia para reproducir Y GANAMOS !!!!!!!!!!

My experience during Hurricane Sandy

                               "Did Sandy leave Yet?" / Ya se fue Sandy? " 

It was a very scaring hurricane. I'm still paying financial repercussions and just got my internet back days ago. However, I know how well I did compared to others and I count my blessings. I have friends who lost all, still have no power, etc... 

Anyhow, i wanted to share how i prepped up in the Upper West Side of Manhattan... and my experience./
Este huracan causo mucho susto. Sigo pagando repercusiones economicas y apenas regreso mi internet hace dias. Sin embargo, se que me fue muy bien a comparacion de otros y cuento con mis bendiciones. Tengo amigos que lo perdieron todo, siguen sin electricidad, etc

En fin, queria compartir sobre como me prepare en la parte alta de Manhattan y mi experiencia...

Stored a months worth of food... That's how prepared I was ! / almacene un mes de comida, asi de preparada estaba !

Stored LOTS of water, filled my tuperwear and even my teapots ! / almacene MUCHA agua, rellene mis toper y hasta mis teteros

I even filled up my bathtub half way and other plastic containers with water / hasta rellene mi tina a la  mitad y tambien otros contenedores de plastico con agua

This was my view on the night of Sandy and I could still hear strong, shattering winds, that's how bad it was.../ esta fue mi vista durante Sandy y aun ahi oi los vientes fuertisimos como si fueran a romper todo....

 

I had never seen supermarket aisles this empty, specially for bread... / nunca habia visto hileras de comida tan vacias, especialmente las del pan....

Lady liberty stood tall through the end... / la estatua de la libertad se mantuvo firme hasta el final

and some took an opportunity to  scuba in the subways (THIS WAS A JOKE THAT WAS SPREAD AROUND ON FACEBOOK) / y algunos tomaron la oportunidad para busear en el metro BROMA QUE SURGIO EN EL FACEBOOK

In the end, I did realize that if anything bad was going to happen to me, I'd rather be in NY because government and people mobilized solutions very fast and I felt their support at all times. I loved to see the spirit of volunteers, information and help around me. In that sense, I was gladder than ever that I lived in NY / Y al final, me di cuenta que si llegara a pasarme algo, es mejor que me pase en NY porque el gobierno y la gente se mobilizaron muy rapido con soluciones y senti su apoyo todo el tiempo. Me encanto ver el espiritu de voluntarios, informacion y ayuda a mi alrededor. En ese sentido, estuve muy agradecida de vivir en NY

Halloween in NYC SPOOKY SPOOKY !!! ;)

No Halloween parade this year due to the unwelcomed visitor Hurricane Sandy. However, I still managed to take photos of some Spooky houses in my 'hood / No hubo desfile de Halloween gracias al huracan Sandy. Sin embargo, tome fotos de casa en mi vecindario QUE SUSTO ! ;)