Happy Birthday, Sis

Happy Birthday Sis
(My Sister's Best Friend and My Sister)

Today is my sister's birthday

She is a beautiful person inside and out

Happy Birthday.

xoxoxox

Porn in a Cup Challenge 2011

Well, its not that Dasha needs extra energy, and she definitely does not need to be challenged - but there was no resisting a trip to Pulp and Bean in Crown Heights, Brooklyn to have a go at the 10 shot espresso, officially called Dieci (Italian for 10) and lovingly referred to as Porn in a Cup.

Of course, there needs to be a party around such an event, or ????

So after making tee-shirts and "game rules", Me, Yahtzee and our coffee loving Manhattan friends headed over to Brooklyn for this outer borough excursion.

Tony Fisher is the owner of Pulp and Bean and was an excellent host, making sure our Dieci's were made to perfection and we enjoyed the experience. We needed to be in good hands, because collectively we had 60 shots of espresso!

This guy was the most impressive fo sho, sucking up his porn in 15 minutes.

So what does it feel like to have 10 shots of espresso? Well I can tell you, its a real buzz  - light headedness, shakiness, ones speech is a little faster! - and it wasn't without moments of nauseousness.

In the end, we had about 55 of the 60 shots between the six of us. And the subway ride back to Manhattan was, well - very energetic.  Metro Charlie captured it all on video, so stay tuned (and thanks Metro Charlie!)

Best of all, I think some of this energy spilled over to the Pittsburgh Steelers tonight.

Pittsburgh's going to the Super Bowl!

A good slide into the new year.

Three Couples.

And One Mission.

To ring in the New Year, a few of us Manhattanites planned to venture to Utah for skiing and boarding in Park City Mountain and Canyons Resort  as we ring in 2011.  

It was not as simple as one would think.

With all the snow that fell in NYC over the holiday, getting out of the city proved to be quite a chore.

Passerby's push a cab out of a tough spot on East Houston @ Lafayette

Somehow, we all managed (on three separate flights no less) to get out of Manhattan and land in Salt Lake City within one hour of one another. As we got our car rentals  (of course, we all had rented our own cars) we were made aware of our second challenge, to get up the mountain due to high winds, a snow storm and brutally cold weather. It looked fairly harmless from our view below, so without the recommended 4-wheel drive and chains to get up the mountain, we persevered (after a fancy lunch at the New York, that is!). I mean, it certainly did not look as dangerous as the streets at home.

We made it without incident although the roads did become icy as we honed in on our destination.  When we arrived at our fab slope-side apartment, we unpacked, relaxed a bit then made a trip to the grocery store so we could adequately fuel up each morning before hitting the slopes.

Stunned by the grocery cart convenience from the car park to the flat

the now infamous Nutella morning ritual

The honorary Bulgarian developed a sweet tooth and baked amazing cookies and brownie

(ah, yes - that is purposely noted as singular.  Take special note of the cutting machete)

I guess its fair to say we all craved sweets throughout the trip. On our last night we ordered a sampling of desserts after dinner but nobody was prepared for the size of the 6 layer chocolate cake...except me!

We did hit the slopes and the conditions were amazing. I think we all agreed it was some of the best "champagne snow" ever.  It was very cold however, single digits in fact. We had to wear masks most of the time but the great powder was well worth it. Thanks to this, I even made it down a few blacks with a bit more style than usual.

Group Speed Demon

CB is so smooth, they even named a slope after her 

crucified on First Temptation 

Ski Bunny

Kamikaze King

Lean Mean Green Machine

Lucky for us, we all managed up and down the slopes ok despite the lack of safety bars

Look Mom, no hands!!

But we had to hold on REALLY TIGHT

In between runs, we found time to relax on the slopes and for a little apres ski

And after a rigorous day on the mountain, we headed to the outdoor hot tub. This was a unique experience in that we had to endure a 45 second walk in a bathing suit to/from the ground floor tub from our 3rd floor flat. The real entertainment came with watching one another run up/down the stairs and along the balcony as fast as possible. 

Europeans! A cold sauna

Naturally, this was followed by more time in front of the fireplace

Our resident North Carolinian was on task every time

Caught the guys all on their bb's and notepads during a quiet moment

Mostly it was just one excellent trip out West with great fun and great company.

Thanks for the good start into 2011 guys.

                                                                                                          xoxo - Dasha

Little promises

In 2011, I resolve to shop less and practice guitar more. Make time for the improv class and finish my screenplay/ narrative. Continue cooking with Yahtzee on Sundays and learn to make Mom's chicken soup. Prepare for half marathon. Talk more often and more German with my inlaws and Dad. Read my way through the book back log i have amassed. Follow maik's good advise with extra gusto. Go on a trip somewhere I never been. Save more. Wash stella. Find parking spot for Dumb. Be a good sister.

What are your goals for the upcoming year? Any resolutions in 2011????

Ein gutes rutsch ins neue jahr - x Dasha

Christmas.

As the stockings hung by the chimney with care imply, it was a full house in Pittsburgh this year. 

I spent the holiday with my family and it was extra special this year because my Aunt and Cousin also visited. 

We did Secret Santa this year too, which was a first and quite fun.

I will be sporting a very pretty vintage polka-dot dress and ostrich feather beret in the coming weeks

Dasha as "Secret Santa"

 Family time consisted of many activities in and about the Hays Compound.

SNOWBALL FIGHT!!!! 

(not a winning strategy to play against a teenage boy)

 Or whilst sporting suede pants instead of snow pants...

Shoveling Dasha Style

 Mom made cookies..mmmmm

Which was followed by a trip to the gym

one cookies, two cookies, three cookies, four..

 Michelle brought over her guitar and at some point over the course of the several days, everyone picked it up to strum a few chords.  Its an addiction that runs in the family.

The Natural

The Aspiring

The Expert

Lots of cooking

The Christmas Ham

We made several "merry christmas" calls, including a "herzlichen weihnachten" to our family in Germany.  Dad practiced a little German in anticipation of that one.

Papa ist der Beste

Talking to Tall Boy

Lest we not forget about the right smoking session we girls had while waiting for Santa (New Year's resolution # 278)

Oh, and watching the Steelers kick  *&^% on Thursday night!

I think the Jukebox wars and singing was the actual highlight @ VIFWA

The true magic was in every smile on the little faces of my Niece and Nephew 

A special reading of The Night Before Christmas

Stocking Surprises

Not sure if my Nephew likes his Puppy Hat as much as I like my Piggy

Undeniable bond between a Father and his Son

This smile just shines and warms hearts everywhere

Little Elf

And in the giving

Snow Bunny

Artists

Sisters

To Republican, Love Democrat (who says Xmas isn't about magic)

This was from our little XMAS at Urban Disco

I am now home again and waiting on this special man to return from his visit with our German family so we can begin our slide together into 2011

And begin the dig-out

Return home to NYC Monday Night - West Broadway

Our Home
Unloading was a right chore

I hope your Christmas was as full of family, love, magic and tradition as ours.

More from Urban Disco in the new year.