fantastical

I’ve seen this word 3 times today. I love it! It’s fantastical!

dragostea din tei

Nooma Nooma! This is a result of our doorman at work playing his ringtone…I get this song stuck in my head and end up watching these videos…

The original version by O-Zone. Notice the cheezy boyband attire and dance moves. Hilarious…

The fat guy singing in his webcam version…hahahhahaha
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happy 2 year nyc anniversary!!!!

Officially been in New York for 2 years today!!  Yay to me!!  And yay to all the other Poly ppl and friends still here from California!  Still having an awesome time here can’t wait for what’s next…

swagbucks update

Just cashed in for another $5 Amazon card.  Brings the total up to $60 of free money to use.  New wii game here I come!

Here’s my referral link if you want to help me earn some points and get started earning your own too! (thanks for the help):

http://swagbucks.com/refer/vivchin

And just a reminder, swagbucks is a search engine where you get rewarded “bucks” for random searches.  No surveys or gimmicks.  No personal info, except where to send your redeemed prize when you earn them.  Yay for free stuff!

***(Please see earlier post: “swagbucks = free $$$” from April 13, 2009 for more info on swagbucks)

slow elevator sign_fairway

So the elevator at Fairway market in the UWS is a bit slow if you want to head up to the 2nd floor where the organic food is.  Thought this sign in the elevator was pretty funny.

 

(image by: vivien chin)

1,2,3 @ 14th street

cool weathering down at the 1,2,3 track @ 14th street

 

(image by: vivien chin)

101 salads

Found an NY Times article on 101 simple salads to make.  I want the Crab, Avocado, & Cucumber salad in the top image!  Ready to try making all 101 salad recipes.  Delicious!

(images from NYTimes)

radio flyer red wagon

my current obsession…i want one!

butternut squash lasagna

Made this delicious Butternut Squash Lasagna yesterday.  It was sooo amazing! My mouth is watering just thinking about it.  Very easy to make just takes some prep time. (Thanks Kristin for the find!)  The recipe is one that I adapted from the William’s Sonoma Skillet Lasagna Recipe.  My instructions below are for making the lasagna in a glass bread pan sized dish (about 2.5 large servings), so just double the recipe if you need to make more.

Ingredients: (servings = 2.5 large servings)

_olive oil, to cook with
_1/2 yellow onion, diced
_2 garlic cloves, minced (I like garlic so I added more than this)
_salt & pepper to taste
_1/2 lb Italian sausage, casings removed (Sweet sausage is what I used and it was great!)
_2 tbs unsalted butter
_1/8 cup all purpose flour
_1.5 cups milk
_1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (I used 1 cup because I wanted it cheesy)
_1/8 cup flat leaf parsley minced, fresh
_1/2 tbs sage minced, fresh
_5 sheets or so of lasagna noodles, cooked al dente
_1.5 lbs of Butternut Squash, peeled and sliced into wide sheets.

Instructions:

(1)  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

(2)  Cook lasagna noodles until al dente and set aside for assembly later.

(3)  In non-stick frying pan, heat olive oil.  Cook onions until soft and translucent on med-high heat (about 8 mins or so).  Add garlic, salt, and pepper to taste and cook for another 30 secs.  Set onion/garlic mix aside in a bowl.

(4)  Cook sausage (casings removed) in frying pan, breaking them up into pieces while cooking.  Cook until brown and cooked through.  About 8 mins.  When cooked, add sausage to onion/garlic and mix together.

(5)  In frying pan, melt butter over medium heat.  Add flour and cook, stirring constantly for 1 minute.  Slowly stir in milk and increase heat to med-high.  Cook until thickened, 8-10 mins approx.  Turn heat off after thickened and add parsley, sage, and 3/4 of the cheese (leaving the rest for topping).  Salt and pepper to taste.

(6)  Lasagna assembly.  Pour a portion of the sauce to cover the bottom of the glass bread loaf pan (or baking container you are using).  Put a layer of lasagna noodles to cover sauce (I had to cut the noodles into smaller pieces to make it easier to layer in the bread pan).  Add another layer of sauce, then sausage, and a layer of squash.  Add another layer of noodle to cover the squash.  Repeat the sauce, sausage, squash, noodle layering until you reach the top of the pan, making sure to end with sauce on top.  Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.

(7)  Bake pan of lasagna in oven until brown and bubbly on top.  Approximately 45 mins, but check every so often as each oven is different.  When done, set lasagna out to cool for 15 minutes before serving.  Top with parsley if you like.

Enjoy!

(image from Sarah’s Cooking Blog)

moonwalk_40 years

40 years since man (Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins – Apollo 11) first landed on the moon on July 20, 1969.  What will be next for us?….

redhook_water’s edge

Redhook–one of my favorite parts of Brooklyn.  Riding along its water’s edge was something I haven’t done before ’til yesterday.  Great views of this what still remains of industrial times.

 

(images by: vivien chin)

ink calendar_oscar diaz

Using ink spreading across paper through capillary action to show the date…GENIUS!  Love this calendar designed by Oscar Diaz.  Each month a bottle of ink spreads across the paper embossed with dates, filling in the numbers.  I want one!

Here’s a project description from dezeen:

“Ink Calendar make use of the timed pace of the ink spreading on the paper to indicate time. The ink is absorbed slowly, and the numbers in the calendar are ‘printed ‘ daily. One a day, they are filled with ink until the end of the month. The calendar enhances the perception of time passing and not only signaling it.  The aim of the project is to address our senses, rather than the logical and conscious brain.”

(images from dezeen)

drampom_roger arquer

Lamp that uses water vapor to diffuse light by designer Roger Arquer.  The glass lamp has water at the bottom which form water vapor as it’s heated up by the heat from the light bulb.  Simple, fun idea.  I like it!

(image from dezeen)

bossy bear

“bossy bear is very bossy”…This children’s graphic novel by David Horvath has the cutest characters–Bossy Bear and Turtle.

swagbucks update

Just cashed in for another $5 Amazon card.  Brings the total up to $55 of free money to use.  New wii game here I come!

Here’s my referral link if you want to help me earn some points and get started earning your own too! (thanks for the help):

http://swagbucks.com/refer/vivchin

And just a reminder, swagbucks is a search engine where you get rewarded “bucks” for random searches.  No surveys or gimmicks.  No personal info, except where to send your redeemed prize when you earn them.  Yay for free stuff!

***(Please see earlier post: “swagbucks = free $$$” from April 13, 2009 for more info on swagbucks)

black & white clock

Black during the day, white digits at night.  Love this clock by Vadim Kibardin.  Made with polycarbonate and OLED lights.  I want this!  Very cool.

 

(images from Likecool)

stone sky_turrell

Installation by James Turrell for Norman and Norah Stone at their Napa estate.  A perfect stone pavillion set on an infinity pool with viewing to the sky in the interior of the cube.  Beautiful reflections of the sky on the face of the stone are stunning.  (Thanks Stella for the find!)

(images from Stonescape and Into the Studio)

super michael jackson bros!

Michael Jackson + Super Mario Bros = Awesome!!!  This video is the best of both worlds.  Thanks moi for the find!

pineapple!!

Fresh cut pineapple…so sweet and delicious.  Best thing ever!

pineapple chicken

Made pineapple chicken from scratch with fresh cut pineapple and some white rice.  Best dinner ever…yum yum

 

(image by: vivien chin)

today’s desk view: hula hoop!

Crazy hula hoopers today in Union Square.

 

(image by: vivien chin)

“i’ll be there”

Favorite song from Michael Jackson’s Memorial Service at the Staples Center yesterday.  “I’ll Be There” sung by Mariah Carey & Trey Lorenz

attack of the lacoste crocodile

The Campana Brothers take the Lacoste Crocodile logo to a whole new level.  The Campanas + Lacoste created these limited edition shirts with inspiration coming from the Campanas’ Alligator Chair.

(images from Dezeen)

running of the bulls_pamplona

The running of the bulls for the Festival of San Fermin happened today in Pamplona, Spain.  Running down a street with a crowd of other people and giant bulls chasing after you sounds pretty crazy to me.  But tons of people do it anyway.  Regardless it’s a pretty cool site to see eventhough it’s a crazy thing to do.

 

(top image from LIFE [magazine])

coney island_etc

The randomness that is Coney Island.  Amusement rides, sideshow acts……

The subway station.  Gotta love that crooked L!

Crazy ferris wheel…Wonder Wheel

Ghost Hole.  Classic carnival haunted house ride.

FOOD!!

Parachute Jump

Burger guy

The beach.  Crowded…

Bumper Cars.  “Bump Your Ass Off” says the sign

Snake Girl.  Sideshow act

Sideshow Acts

Even more Sideshow Acts…

the cyclone_coney island

Classic image of the Cyclone

Images of the Cyclone now

One of the best wooden rollercoasters I’ve ever been on!  The Cyclone at Coney Island was built in 1927 and it’s definitely held up well.  I was surprised at how fast and intense the drops and turns were.  Very awesome thrill ride.  Only part that was sad was the price which was $8 for the first ride and $5 for a reride.  Big jump from 25 cents a ride when it first opend in the 1920s.  Still loved the ride tho.  Definitely a must do at Coney Island.  It’s one of the classics.

 

(classic image from westland.net)
(images of the Cyclone now by: vivien chin)

nathan’s famous hot dog stand_coney island

Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Stand around 1920’s

Nathan’s Stand on July 4, 2009 with crowds waiting for the hot dog eating contest

Some detail shots of the signage

Everyone’s hard at work to serve the 4th of July crowds.
Yesterday was my first trip to Coney Island since I moved to NYC.  Checked out the hot dog eating contest and afterwards, was still able to think about having food from Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Stand.  How can I leave Coney Island without trying these hot dogs?  I tried the corndog, and shared a hot dog and some bacon cheese fries (heart attack and artery clogger waiting to happen).  It was all delicious!  Love the mustard they use!  They have clearly been doing something right since they opened in 1916.  Classic Coney Island.

 

(black & white image from Nathan’s Famous)
(color images by: vivien chin)

nathan’s hot dog eating contest 2009

What better way to celebrate July 4th than to watch men and women stuff hot dogs in their faces for 10 mins?  Went to Coney Island today to check out Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contest.  Happens every year on July 4th at Coney Island at noon or so.  Nathan’s Hot Dogs has been putting on this contest since 1916 where people then only ate about 10 hot dogs in the alotted time (12 mins originally, but now down to 10 mins.) versus this year’s contest which resulted in the consumption of 68 hot dogs.  Most everyone there was rooting for Joey Chesnut (last year’s winner) or Takeru Kobayashi (6 time winner).  Personally I was rooting for Kobayashi.  Nothing crazier than a little japanese guy beating huge american opponents at an eating contest.  Where does he put all that food?  I can’t image eating 10 hot dogs let alone over 60.  Unfortunately, Chesnut won with 68 hot dogs against Kobayashi’s 64.5 hot dogs.  There’s always next year…

Swearing in the all important judges

The competitors…Chesnut and Kobayashi are dead center

The eating continues on for 10 mins…

The long table of water cups for hot dog bun dunking

The head to head battle between Joey Chesnut (left) & Takeru Kobayashi (right)

Sonya Thomas can definitely hold her own against the boys in this contest.

 

(images by: vivien chin)

fireworks by pes

Fun candy and money fireworks video by PES.  Happy July 4th!

swagbucks update

Just cashed in for another $5 Amazon card.  Brings the total up to $50 of free money to use.  New wii game here I come!

Here’s my referral link if you want to help me earn some points and get started earning your own too! (thanks for the help):

http://swagbucks.com/refer/vivchin

And just a reminder, swagbucks is a search engine where you get rewarded “bucks” for random searches.  No surveys or gimmicks.  No personal info, except where to send your redeemed prize when you earn them.  Yay for free stuff!

***(Please see earlier post: “swagbucks = free $$$” from April 13, 2009 for more info on swagbucks)

HAPPY JULY 4th!!!

film star = caltrans bldg by morphosis

Who else has noticed this building in alot of movies?  Maybe I’m just more aware of it being that I’m from California and have visited this building on a trip to LA, but the Caltrans District 7 building by Morphosis has seriously had a lot of screen appearances in movies and tv.  I just watched “The Island” tonight and saw it pop up on the screen in the background and it reminded me of how often the exterior of this building shows up in things I’ve watched.

Where I’ve seen it:

_Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie)
_The Island (Scarlett Johanssen, Ewan Mcgregor)
_Fun With Dick & Jane (Jim Carrey, Tea Leoni)
_Mission Impossible 3 (Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour Hoffman)
_Because I Said So (Diane Keaton, Mandy Moore)
_Alias (Jennifer Garner)
_Usher music video
_Maroon 5 music video
_and the many other appearances in movies, tv, & commercial that I’ve never personally seen)

LOLrio KART

Now I can race like in Mario Kart!!  This video is so cool.  MIT students built the LOLrio KART out of a shopping cart with upgraded wheels, NiCd aircraft batteries, and a 15hp brushless motor.  It can reach up to speeds of 45 mph!  Where can I get mine so I can start racing?

metallic lego speakers

 

I love Legos!  Lego-shaped speakers for your ipod in gold and silver.  Awesome.