Tanya's Daily Scoop | Elisa's Daily Scoop New Year, New BeginningHappy New Year!!! Welcome to 2016!  Can you believe it's 2016??? I'm kinda in shock. Not only did this past year fly by, but this century is just speeding by as well!! Did you enjoy your New Year's Eve? Any exciting parties or events that you attended? Still on vacation or away from home in an exciting place? I love Tanya's "Happy New Year" in many world languages!!! I had a pretty low-key New Year's Eve. I have to tell you, I'm not one for going out much to ring in the new year. These days, my enjoyment comes from being home with the girls and relaxing. And that's exactly what we did. First, I made some kick-ass chicken fajitas. Then the three of us cozied up in front of the television and watched Home Alone. The kids had never seen it before and thoroughly enjoyed it. They left me all along when the movie was over and I proceeded to watch an adult movie; a British film called Separate Lies with Tom Wilkinson, one of my favorite actors! It held my attention, but it was sort of lame.  James Manning (Tom Wilkinson), a successful business lawyer, and his younger wife, Anne (Emily Watson), split time between a London apartment and a lush country estate. The couple's seemingly perfect marriage gets complicated when their handsome and wealthy neighbor, Bill (Rupert Everett), returns to town and Anne begins sleeping with him. After Bill and Anne are linked to a hit-and-run death, James, aware of the affair, must choose whether to protect his wife or come forward to the police. The performances were good, although Rupert Everett looked very strange - not sure if he had plastic surgery or what. In any case, I was zonked after this film and it was only 9pm!!! That is pretty lame, even for me. But, I decided to go upstairs and lie down. LOL The girls were face timing their barn friends and I instructed them to wake me up in case I fell asleep so we could watch the ball drop and wish each other a Happy New Year. Sure enough, I fell out!! But, I was happily woken up by my two loves at 10 minutes to midnight! We watched Ryan Seacrest and gang as they began the countdown while the beautiful 2016 Waterford crystal LED ball made its descent. 10 -9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 - 2- 1 H A P P Y N E W Y E A R !!  (credit: justjared.com)  (credit: timeout.com) Here are some of the most exciting New Year's celebrations around the world, which I was reading about from the comfort of my bed last night! New York City: Did you know that Times Square in New York is the most popular place "to be" on New Year's Eve? Both, in person and virtually, that is. Hundreds of millions around the world watch on television, waiting for the Waterford crystal LED ball to drop from the former New York Times building. More than a million people actually come to the center of it all on Broadway and Seventh Avenue, for this 100 year tradition! Rio de Janiero, Brazil Another one of the world's largest New Year's celebration is Réveillon, in Rio. The event takes place along the miles of beaches, where locals and visitors alike, dressed in white like Candomblé priestesses, throwing flowers into the waves at midnight for the African sea goddess Yemanjá. After ringing in the New Year, parties follow in the streets, bars, and restaurants. Las Vegas, Nevada If you enjoy fireworks, then Vegas is the place for you as the displays go on at an array of casino hotels on the famous Vegas strip. Catch the explosion of fireworks at the Bellagio or Paris Las Vegas! And of course, the indoor shows go on all night long after the stroke of midnight! Paris, France Speaking of lights, the "City of Lights" is home to the massive fireworks displays on New Year's Eve at the iconic Eiffel Tower. At midnight, the entire length of this structure is the scene of one of the most grand displays anywhere. London, England The waterfront along the Thames is one of the New Year's focal spots in London on New Year's Eve. Millions are in attendance to watch the sparkling display of color. Big Ben leads the way, counting down the 12 strokes at midnight. And the show continues as the famous London Eye wheel is the focus of a dazzling light show pulsating to British rock!! Christmas Island, South Pacific I just learned something new and I'll share it with you! Christmas Island, or Kiribati, located in the South Pacific republic of Kiribati is among the first location in the world to celebrate the New Year each year! Most of the island is a protected wildlife sanctuary, with a small population of only about 5,000 residents but if you are looking for an intimate New Year's - this is the place to be on December 31st!. Sydney, Australia And when it comes to waterfronts, Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge and surrounding buildings produce one of the most amazing light shows around the globe with its display of mesmerizing fireworks. Beirut, Lebanon Lebanon has some of the most beautiful beaches and a history rich in culture. These days, many think of Beirut as a war-torn city, but on New Year's thousands come together to enjoy the magnificent light show displayed on this capital's 1933 art deco clock tower in Nejmeh Square, the heart of central Beirut. Tokyo, Japan Buckwheat noodles are the food of choice in Tokyo, symbolizing health and happiness in the New Year. Bells ring in the temples for the midnight countdown. The celebration continues through January 2nd, one of only two days when the emperor opens the palace grounds to the public! I wish you the happiest day ever as you begin a new 365 day adventure!! -E xoxo  |
