[YouTube link for mobile viewing]

The holidays might be behind us, but we’re still reliving all of the fun that was had at #BBMUglySweater Fan Night in New York City.

Former NFL player Michael Strahan rocking his ugly sweater!

Members of #TeamBlackBerry sporting their favorite holiday attire.

On December 21st, 2011, the Social Media team at Research In Motion® (RIM®) celebrated the BlackBerry App World™ storefront, the BBM™ Ugly Sweater Expansion Pack, and of course the wonderful members of #TeamBlackBerry! With a special appearance by former New York Giants player Michael Strahan, guests rang in the holiday season in style – exploring some of the best apps that BlackBerry App World has to offer. Here’s what some of #TeamBlackBerry had to say:

@BlackBerry Thanks for the great time at #BBMUglySweater Fan Night willw.net/blackberry-bbm… Loving the new Bold 9900s. See you next time!—
Will Robertson (@willwnet) December 31, 2011

I've said it before & I'll say it again. @BlackBerry, you know how to throw a party #TeamBlackBerry #BBMUglySweater—
Shawn Robert Harvey (@TwistMyMind) December 22, 2011

@BlackBerry drove from chicago to your #BBMUglySweater event in NYC, enjoying it a lot. Worth it!—
Ken Gannon (@Yogehi) December 22, 2011

@BlackBerry had a blast @ the #BBMUglySweater Fan Night 2n in NYC!!! Thank you!!! I can't wait to set up my new #Bold 9900 #TeamBlackBerry—
Brittany Lormel (@MsBrittz) December 22, 2011

We always love hearing praise from BlackBerry fans. We had a blast talking with everyone about their favorite apps, one of which was of course the BBM Ugly Sweater Expansion Pack (which builds on the already-fabulous Avatar Builder app by allowing you to customize your avatar with your favorite ugly sweater)! Check out the great feedback we got from a few of our guests:

As the holiday season quickly fades out of view, we’d like to take one last opportunity to say thanks and wish you all the best in 2012!

In the meantime, this is the perfect opportunity for you to catch up on some of the cool posts you may have missed throughout the year. To get you started, I pulled some of my personal favorites:

6 of the best BBM-Connected Apps to share with your friends
My buddy Alex highlighted his top 6 picks for BBM™ Connected apps. Have you tested out any of these apps yet? If so, let us know your favorite!

BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930: 5 things you should know
A great last minute gift idea for your loved ones – the new BlackBerry® Bold™ 9900 and 9930 smartphones. Get the scoop on why these devices should be on the top of your wish list – read reviews from fans and check out some awesome videos highlighting the coolest features of these smartphones.

Inside BlackBerry Interview: Andy Toy, the (foursquare) Mayor of Waterloo
This interview with Research In Motion® (RIM®) employee Andy Toy is pretty awesome. Not going to lie, the only mayorship I can brag about is the coffee shop near my house, so I give props to Andy who basically owns all of Kitchener-Waterloo, based on his foursquare rankings.

Top 5 Travel Apps from #TeamBlackBerry
We love nothing more than to hear from you, #TeamBlackBerry, and this post is all about your favorite travel apps. For those of you who are travelling over the holidays – consider downloading these apps and travel safe!

15 BlackBerry PlayBook Reviews From #TeamBlackBerry
I have to admit the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet launch was one of the highlights of my year. I got the chance to meet #TeamBlackBerry in person and travel to some really cool places. Check out some of the initial reactions and reviews from fans across North America.

To continue the celebration while we’re away, don’t forget to check out the free holiday wallpapers for your mobile device by visiting mobile.blackberry.com on your BlackBerry® Browser. And finally, if you haven’t already downloaded the new ugly holiday sweater expansion pack for Avatar Builder – you should really check it out. I change my sweater every day and this is my latest look:

Our friends at @BlackBerryHelp will be available if you have any questions and we will be back in action on January 3rd, 2012.

Have a safe and happy holiday.

See you in 2012!

(Check out the sweet ugly sweater my avatar’s rocking!)

The holidays are coming up fast, #TeamBlackBerry – what are you doing to get into the spirit of the season? We’ve got one suggestion: Dress up your BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™) avatar with an ugly holiday sweater! Starting today, you’ll be able to use the Avatar Builder app – Girls or Boys edition and the Ugly Sweater Expansion Pack to get your BBM avatar in on the fun (note: it may take up to 24 hours for the application to appear in BlackBerry App World).

[ YouTube link for mobile viewing ]

Watch my video introduction to this cool new feature above and get step-by-step downloading instructions from our buddy Ty at Inside BlackBerry Help Blog. Once you’ve downloaded, share your ugly sweater with us and let us know what you think!

*The Avatar Builder (Girls and Boys Editions) apps and add-ons (“Apps”) are available as free downloads from BlackBerry App World™. Depending on how you connect to your network, data charges may apply to download these Apps. Consult your carrier/network provider for details.