dear 2011

What a year it has been. It is not one that I would rank particularly high on the scale of the years I have lived. It has not been particularly kind to me, but I have survived. The past 365 days have not been a total waste. In them I have learned about myself. In a way the year has allowed me to learn a lot in a short amount of time. Likes, dislikes, dreams, hopes, in a way they are more for front in my mind then I could have imagined them to be a year ago.

My dear year, you come full circle. It started with me on the ground. There was so little for me to hang on to. So little that I dared wish or hope for. Now, the circle has been completed, but I think the year may have outdone itself on completing the circle and gone past where you should have left me. Either way I have been stripped of the last in order to be built up from the ashes.

In my brain nothing really makes sense. How I could be so broken, yet so willing to accept all that has happened to me. A year of pain, and lost hopes is nothing to be ashamed of, and I feel no shame. For me 2011 was a year I wish I could erase, yet, if erased I would not know all that I know of myself. For it was a year of internal growth. On the outside I may be broken, but I think that was the plan all along. I do wish the beginning of the year could have warned me of what was to come. But maybe the way 2011 started was a pre-curser for what was to come, one that I refused to believe.

I'm sure this year was amazing for many people. A year that many wish they could relive and cherish moments that fleeted to fast. To feel the joy of the days as they pass. I am glad that people have had a good year. I may have a slight tinge of jealousy wishing that I too had had a year worth ranking high.

For me there were many days of bliss and moments of happiness, ones I wish I could relive. The year can be counted a successes, I have survived. Maybe a little worse for ware, but still striving forward. What has been built might have fallen, but from the ashes I will rise upon the wings and soar. Because what more is there for me to do?

My dear year, you have completed your course, you have run your race. The world has successfully traveled around the sun. The year has run its corse and is now ready to be over.  I have no pity for you 2011, you have lived each day to its fullest. It's an inspiration to everyone. You have felt all the pain, fear, hopes, love and dreams of the world. The year has carried us on it's shoulder and is now ready to pass us all onto 2012.

2012 is a year full of hope. The slate is unmarked. The path untrodden. It is a year ready to yield its self to us all. O my dear 2011 I have no hard feelings for you. You have carried out the task and brought many happy days, painful days, joyace days, days of grief and days of sun. 2011, you have heard our dreams, some you have fulfilled, some have been rejected. Hope will carry the worlds unfulfilled dreams them onto the future.

The future is what I am longing for. So as the clock ticks it's last few hours of 2011, Father Time is preparing to welcome 2012, a new Baby New Year into life.

Fair well 2011.
Please know you have a friend in me.

Love,
Christi.

P.S. 2012, be kind. Please.

cookie takedown

Who would have thought I'd find roses still in bloom in Brooklyn in the middle of December. 

Also, who would have thought I would come across two vintage mini-coopers. Right in a row. They were so small and cute. 

 Then we got to the Cookie Takedown.The Takedown was at The Bell House. The chandlers were so beautiful.

There were so many amazing cookies and every one was different. Everyone put so much work into their cookies.  Susan did a great job on her Apple Burger cookies.

The prizes that the various winners received were spectacular. Baking sheets and mixing bowls, spatchulas and wooden spoons. Everyone received something, just for participating. I'm not going to lie, I was pretty jealous. But everyone earned what they received. It was a great experience. 

christmas in the city and korean food

I love Christmas. It is my favorite part of the year. The lights, the trees, the window displays. I love it all. In New York City Christmas seems to add a whole new layer of excitement. I love seeing all the trees being sold on the street, the smell of pine trees filling the air. It's like magic.

On Mark and my way to Korean (my favorite) we found this cute little park. It had beautiful trees that had a few leaves still hanging on. It was such a great space. The kind you stumble upon unexpectedly and will forget about and quite possibly never be able to find it again, but I do wonder what the park would look like in the summer. 

And on to Korean food. Yummy yummy Korean food. The place that Mark and I like to go was just written up in Time Out New York. We didn't know this before we got there and were surprised by the amount of people that were there. The food is amazing, so I'm really glad they were written up, but it was nice to have a good place that was somewhat unknown. 

I love all the appetizers that come with meal. We also ordered fried dumplings. So good. Defiantly not something to pass up. 

Korean food come out of the kitchen so hot. This was the first time I didn't burn my tongue, and trust me it took a lot of restraint to not dig in as soon as it came out. 

After Korean food we walked uptown. It was very fun to see stores all ready for Christmas 

Lord and Taylors windows were very well made.  I think I would enjoy being a par of the team creating the holiday window displays. They are filled with magic. When I look at them I feel like I'm looking into a dream.

We came across a store that was very wonderfully name, wouldn't you agree?  In the windows there were beautiful Fabergé eggs. 

As we walked by Grand Central Station We saw this beautiful tree hanging upside down with crystals hanging off of it. Mark and I, went over to take a closer look. I thought it was quite magical.

Sometimes the things you come across on the streets of New York. Steam pipes pumping smoke, people, children street lights. It's never boring.

I'm in absolute love with these Christmas lights.

 Christmas is so great in New York.