It’s about that time-I hope the last few hours of 2011 find you happy, healthy, and surrounded by love! Have a great time tonight, be safe and I will see you all in 2012:)
love,
The Lucky Penny
A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I’ve played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.
~Edgar Guest
It’s that day of the week again-what day you say…why it’s FUZZY FRIDAY! The honor of fuzzy feature this Friday goes to none other then Siku, the fuzzy, funny, and fantastic polar bear cub who rolled and slurped his way to Youtube stardom this past week. Siku became an instant internet sensation, taking cuteness to a whole new level in a video posted online that shows him being all sorts of adorable after a bottle feeding by his caretakers. Born on November 22nd 2011 in Scandinavia at the Wildlife Park in Kolind, the little guy had to be removed from his mother after it became evident that she was not producing milk for the baby bear so the zookeepers decided to bottle feed him. It’s not just the cubs adorable face, roly-poly body, and precious suckling noises he makes in his video that makes him the top choice for this weeks fuzzy feature, but also the attention the bear cub will bring to the ever deteriorating polar bear population
Now most of us are aware that the reduction of sea ice in the Arctic has really taken its toll on the polar bear population, which currently stands at approximately 25,000 worldwide. There are several polar bear rescue funds set up today, including one by Coca Cola, whose polar bear Christmas commercials remain some of my absolute favorite every year, and the tubby cubby’s viral video will only help spread awareness of the ever growing polar bear plight. His handler, Ving-Larsen was quoted on cnn.com that Siku is the worlds newest, “ambassador for polar bears and global warming.” Well I sure wish him all the best with that as it sounds like quite a big title for such a tiny bear and hope he doesn’t mind being named this weeks Lucky Penny ambassador of fuzzy as well!!
Honorable Mention:
I thought it would only be right to have Cheeta the Chimp, the famous Chimpanzee from Tarzan who passed away this past weekend, as the fuzzy feature. However, after learning of all the controversy surrounding his death, as many believe that he may have been a Cheeta imposter (not confirmed but still very suspicious) I am holding off on a tribute to the beloved chimp until the mystery of his true identity is solved. RIP Cheeta or fake Cheeta- no matter who you turn out to be, I hope wherever you are, it’s bananas:)
More Fuzzy!!
Midnight Champagne Strawberry Kisses
In just a few short days, everyone will gather together to say goodbye to 2011 and welcome 2012 with celebrations all over the globe. Growing up, our family tradition was to watch the ball drop in Times Square on TV. My sister and I would usually make a sign welcoming the New Year and we would all count down together, 10, 9, 8….and my mother would take a picture of us at midnight. Living in New York City for the past 14 years, I have had the opportunity to attended an assortment of different New Years Eve celebrations sometimes dressing up and going out all night with friends, gathering together for dinner at one of our respective apartments, or at restaurant downtown. One year I even managed to see the ball drop in Times Square, squeezed in between a million people, eventually to be covered in confetti-definitely a fun time.
All of these celebrations were wonderful but my most favorite way to ring in the New Year is at home, with my boyfriend and my dogs. Sometimes people will come over and celebrate with us, but the last few years it’s just been the two of us (four counting the paws), drinking fine champagne, feasting on pounds of fresh seafood and watching the ball drop from the comfort of our tiny living room on the Upper East Side. My most favorite part of New Years without a doubt is the midnight kiss, the last kiss of the year and the first kiss of the new year all in one, it makes me smile just thinking about it.
As I was searching for a good New Years Eve cocktail recipe this year, I wanted to find something that embodied that sweet innocence of the New Years Eve kiss. After looking through countless recipes and conducting several taste tests this past week, I was not able to find what I thought would capture the essence of said kiss. So, I decided to create a little recipe of my own, its very simple, a bit sweet and quite lovely to look at-just as a midnight kiss should be. Hope you like it, Happy New Year!!
Ingredients:
Champagne or Prosecco
Vodka
Triple Sec
Organic Strawberry Sorbet
Fresh Strawberries
Sparkling Sugar
Directions:
(for 2 cocktails)
1-Fill Shaker up with ice and pour 3 ounces Triple Sec, 3 ounces Vodka, gently shake to chill liquor.
2-Slice Fresh strawberries into half inch slices and cover both sides of strawberry with sparkling sugar
3-Scoop one tablespoon Organic Strawberry Sorbet into each champagne flute
