2012 in Review

Do you ever wonder what the most important moments of the past year are?  Google Video makes a highlight video every year detailing how the world has changed. Check it out below, and tell us how have you changed in 2012?

DIY Holiday Wreath

Do you need a great holiday gift that is from the heart?  You can make your loved ones their own personalized Christmas Wreath.  Here is a great step by step guide to creating a great homemade gift for your friends and family.

Supplies:• An assortment of evergreen clippings (ask for scraps at a tree lot or use clippings from the bottom of your own tree)
• Staple gun
• Garden clippers
• Wire
• Round or octagonal wood frame
• Berry branches, pinecones, ribbon, ornaments or other decorations

Prep Work:
You can purchase basic round frames or build your own. To create your own, miter wood slats to form on octagon. The wood frame is relatively light, yet sturdy enough to hold staples and be reused each year. At the end of the season, simply remove the staples and save the frame for next year.

Cut evergreen branches that are 8"-18" in length. Depending on the size and fullness you're looking for, gather larger or smaller pieces.

Making Your Wreath:
Use the staple gun to attach each branch to the wood frame. For some of the thicker branches, staple from an offshoot instead of the main branch. One staple per branch is usually sufficient.
Overlap the branches as you add them and take a step back to look at your progress every few staples. The wreath will look a little wild and full at first, but that's okay, you will trim it later. As you near the starting point you'll have to slide the branches beneath those you already stapled in order to create a full circle of greenery all the way around.

Manicuring Your Wreath:
For the trimming it's best to hang your wreath first. Wrap a thick piece of wire around the frame and form a loop at the top.
Trim around the edges. Don't trim a perfect edge, but rather trim within an inch or two of the adjacent branch. You want the wreath to appear circular, yet natural. Trim the center so that you can see a hole, but not so much that you reveal the frame. Step back every so often to check your work and adjust.

Decorating Your Wreath:
Use found objects to keep costs down and create a natural looking wreath. Borrow ornaments from your tree or get creative with gift wrapping supplies.


For more information see Apartment Therapy.

Snow in Vegas

In this part of the country it is warm throughout the year.  Experiencing snow is very unlikely.  However, you can create a winter wonderland right in your home.  Keep reading to learn how to create snow right in your own home.

With my husband's office Christmas party just around the corner, I have already begun decorating. It takes a while to get all of our Christmas items up and set in stone.

Last year, the main focus of our house for the party was the Florida Room, which I turned into a Santa's Toyland. This year, the focus is once again on that room but this time, I'm turning it into a snow land.

Turning any room in your house into a snow land can be fun and it offers a slightly different twist to the more traditional Christmas theme. I chose the Florida Room because it is the room in which my guests most like to congregate. Additionally, the green curtains and blue carpet lend themselves automatically to the theme.

You can do something similar for your house by using some or all of the following ideas:

Idea #1. Start the theme with the Christmas Tree. This year I scaled back my 8' tree to allow more room for seating. Instead, I chose a smaller, thinner 6' tree, which I decorated in keeping with the snow land theme.

Think about placing cotton batting inside the tree to simulate snow. To make it glisten more, accent it with aurora borealis tinsel. Glittering snowball tinsel round around the branches works well too.

Choose ornaments that fit in with the overall theme. I used old world Santas, snowmen, angels and Christmas bulbs in clear, white and silver. Then, I popped it with color by placing red glitter poinsettias and snowflakes inside the branches as well.

Use a bow made of snowmen or a similar theme as a tree topper or pick out a glistening snowflake or star topper instead. Even an angel will work if you stick to clear or aurora borealis glass or plastic or choose something done in corresponding colors.

Idea #2. Temporarily cover furniture cushions and pillows with snow themed fabric.

The floral cushions in my wicker chairs were inappropriate for my snow land theme. So I used inexpensive ($1 yard) fabric in a snow theme to temporarily cover them. A simple running whip stitch allowed me to complete the job quickly. It will also make for easy removal once Christmas is over.

To pull the fabric together with the curtains, I replaced the curtain on my door to match the cushions. I left the other green curtains in place and simply dangled snowflakes from the tops of each. I also covered throw pillows in white felt and glued matching snowflakes to the front.

You can also replace throw pillows with store bought ones if you prefer. I added a couple that fit in with the theme but also popped in a bit more color.

Idea #3. Cover surfaces with a blanket of snow.

I used several different kinds of materials to achieve the look I wanted. For the large round wicker table in the center of the room I had to use white felt. It was the only fabric I could find that was large enough to cover the circumference. The fabric was around $5 a yard but one yard was all I needed.

Snow blankets can be purchased for smaller surfaces almost anywhere that Christmas decorations are sold. I used that material for my large rectangular table. These blankets retail for anywhere from $4 to $10, depending upon their size the features (e.g., glitter, glisten, etc.)

You can also use cotton pull-apart stuffing to make snow banks on large surfaces to cover really small areas. That material is inexpensive and can be found at any arts & crafts store, at Wal-Mart or fabric stores for around $4 a bag.

Increase the glitter factor with white glitter netting from Michael's Arts & Crafts. It can be draped or round a surface. The cost is about $7 per 84" by 15" piece.

Add snow flakes made from foam, fabric, or tinsel to accent the surfaces. Also think about using glittered white poinsettias.

Don't forget the snowmen. The ones I used happened to be wine bottle covers that will house Christmas gifts for some of our party guests.

Idea #4. Decorate surfaces.

I found cute little cardboard houses at Dollar Tree that doubled as gift boxes for party guests. They were perfect for decorating the top of one of the room's tables.

Add a bouquet of flowers or a plant to bring extra pizzazz to any surface.

Idea #5. Add some stockings on the fireplace.

Even a small fireplace in the room is still perfect for stocking accents. The top or mantel also provides another surface upon which you can place plants or other decorations.

Idea #6. Sit snowmen around the room.

I picked up the giant snowman pictured at a yard sale for $5. He sits inside the door to greet guests as they arrive.

Sit other woodland creatures around on the floor, between chairs, etc. Although they are not pictured, I have the perimeters of the room strewn with snowmen, old word Santas, reindeer and more. They cover up extension cords, trash cans and other things I don't want attention called to. They also add warmth and charm to the space.

Idea #7. Pipe in music with a snow theme like "Winter Wonderland," "Frosty the Snowman," or anything else appropriate. It will help set the mood and help calm the guests and remove the stress of their day.

Have fun with the theme. Get a bit wild and crazy with ideas if you want. The whole idea is to make a fantasy room that you and your guests will enjoy.

For more information see Yahoo.com

Holiday Decorating for Apartments

Do you want to decorate your apartment for the holidays?  Everyone wants to be festive, but you do not want to spend a lot of money if you are leaving for the holidays.  Here are some great inexpensive tips on how to make your apartment a holiday wonderland.

• Personalize and hang stockings for your family. – this can be a fun project and very inexpensive. Purchase plain stockings and paint, glitter, felt, etc. and create your own designs for your stockings.
• Remember in Elementary School when you used to make paper snow flakes in art class.  Flashback to those times and make your apartment a winter wonderland with this easy art trick.
• Hang ornaments from the stairs and or ceiling.  Just make sure you do not damage the walls or ceiling while doing this.
• Use some ribbon and ties to put around chairs and lamps.  This adds some festive spirit to even the smallest furniture.
• Make a giant present out of your door by using some wrapping paper and a bow.  It instantly looks festive and adds so much holiday spirit to your apartment.
• Use holiday cards that you receive to decorate the walls in your apartment.
• Play Christmas music on your ipod or on Pandora!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope everyone has a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! Spend some time with your friends and family and remember everything in life that you are thankful for.

Thanksgiving in Vegas

 Just because you are in Vegas, it does not mean that you can't have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  Here are some great places in Vegas that are cooking up a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for you to enjoy.



Just because you’re on vacation in Las Vegas during the Thanksgiving holiday doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in traditional food. Many restaurants on the Strip offer classic Thanksgiving meals with all of the fixings. Or if you’re looking for something a little more non-traditional, you can find some pretty interesting twists on turkey and mashed potatoes, too.





Here’s a list of some of the places where you can indulge in a Thanksgiving feast in Las Vegas this year:

Pumpkin pie at Tender

Executive Chef Saul Ortiz puts a Mexican spin on the traditional turkey dinner with the creation of the Turkey Tinga Enchiladas and Turkey Tinga Torta available exclusively during the month of November at Tacos &Tequila inside Luxor Hotel and Casino. Tinga is a traditional preparation style in which shredded meat is sautéed with tomatoes, onion, garlic and chipotle adobo. Priced at $16, the Turkey Tinga Enchiladas are a savory combination of slow braised turkey, chile pasilla sauce, Oaxaca cheese blend and crema fresca. The Turkey Tinga Torta, priced at $13, is made with slow braised turkey, chipotle aioli, lettuce and tomato served on fresh bolillo bread. For dessert, the restaurant will offer a pumpkin pie shooter mixed with Patron XO, Bailey’s Irish cream and Goldschlager, priced at $9.

Tender Steak & Seafood at Luxor Hotel and Casino will celebrate Thanksgiving with a holiday feast prepared by Executive Chef K.C. Fazel on Thursday, Nov. 22. Priced at $49 per person, the three-course dinner begins with a choice of butternut squash ravioli made with sage maple reduction and pickled ginger; garden greens salad or pumpkin and Fuji apple soup. The main course will feature slow-roasted American heirloom organic turkey with dried fruit and foie gras sourdough stuffing topped with sage giblet gravy. Classic accompaniments including fresh cranberry orange relish, sweet potato puree with maple butter, braised Brussels sprouts with garlic, and green beans in spicy almond oil will be served family-style. Guests may choose from three desserts: caramelized pumpkin maple pie, Pennsylvania Dutch apple tart or eggnog crème brûlée.

Twin Creeks Steakhouse at the Silverton is serving a three-course menu that includes smoked duck breast salad or roasted butternut squash soup, free range turkey with a foie gras stuffing, sage giblet gravy, Yukon gold mashed potatoes, haricots verts and cranberry pear relish. Guests can also choose between a pumpkin cheesecake or a strawberry trifle for dessert. Cost is $45 per person.


The Silverton’s Sundance Grill features a Thanksgiving menu that begins with a choice of soup or salad. Entrees include a choice of prime rib, oven roasted Tom turkey and salmon all served with traditional Thanksgiving fixings: green beans almandine, apple sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes with giblet gravy, bourbon sweet candied yams and cranberry orange relish. For dessert, guests can choose between pumpkin or pecan pie. Cost is $18.95 per person.

Pumpkin pie shooter at T & T

The El Cortez Hotel & Casino offers a delicious Thanksgiving feast with dining specials at both The Flame Steakhouse and Café Cortez on Nov. 22. The Flame Steakhouse offers a meal for $19.95, which includes a tossed green salad with choice of dressing or roasted butternut squash soup, roasted turkey, giblet gravy, sage dressing, mashed potatoes or candied yams, cranberry sauce and a vegetable medley. Dessert includes a choice of pumpkin cheesecake or apple pie.

Café Cortez features a meal priced at $12.95, which includes a tossed green salad with choice of dressing or roasted butternut squash soup. Dinner is one of two options. Option one includes fresh roasted turkey, giblet gravy, sage dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and green beans amandine. Option two is baked Virginia ham, brandy/pineapple sauce, sweet potatoes and green beans amandine.  Guests have an option of fresh baked pumpkin or apple pie for dessert.

On Thanksgiving Day, Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas is offering a prix fixe dinner menu. Begin with a choice of endive and blue cheese salad or fresh oysters on the half shell with apple mignonette. The second course features the choice of smoked salmon or hearty butternut squash and apple soup. The main course is herb roasted turkey with Jack Daniels gravy, garlic and sage bread stuffing, sweet potato gratin, haricots verts, potato puree and cranberry-jalapeno relish. Dessert options include pumpkin bread pudding or pecan and chocolate tart. The cost is $45 per person plus tax and gratuity.

Ranch House Kitchen at Town Square Las Vegas will serve a meal for the whole family on Thursday, Nov. 22. Diners are invited to feast on hickory smoked turkey, gravy, winter vegetable medley, stuffing, sweet potato mash, cranberry sauce and a corn muffin. Priced at $18.95 per person, the menu is sure to satisfy the entire family. Patrons can also watch all the Thanksgiving Day football games on Ranch House Kitchen’s 50 HD-TVs, including the Houston Texans versus the Detroit Lions, the Washington Redskins versus the Dallas Cowboys or the New England Patriots versus the New York Jets.

Cranberry gelato

Gold Spike Hotel & Casino hosts a three-day Thanksgiving dinner celebration at The Golden Grill from Wednesday, Nov. 21 to Friday, Nov. 23 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily.  For only $8.95 per plate, enjoy oven-roasted turkey breast, creamy mashed potatoes or yams, stuffing, turkey gravy, petite corn on the cob, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.

In honor of Thanksgiving, pastry chef Hank Sbraccia has crafted a twist to traditional holiday cranberry with his creation of cranberry gelato available on Thursday, Nov. 22, at Trevi inside the Forum Shops at Caesars. The new flavor is made from a combination of dried cranberries, vanilla gelato, a cranberry juice reduction and simple syrup. The festive gelato will be priced at $4.50 per scoop.

Rice & Company will celebrate Thanksgiving by putting a twist on traditional holiday favorites with the Thankful Dumpling, available throughout the month of November at Luxor. The dumpling is made with tender duck breast, cornbread stuffing, dried cranberry, onion and celery wrapped in a soy sheet and topped with crispy sweet potato, micro celery and cranberry-yuzu sauce. The festive dumpling is priced at $12.

Guests can give thanks at Sugar Factory American Brasserie inside Paris Las Vegas with a special Thanksgiving prix fixe menu on Thursday, Nov. 22. The traditional Thanksgiving spread will include sliced turkey breast served with giblet gravy and cranberry sauce, and all the fixings including: chicken apple sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes and a Parker House roll, priced at $34. For dessert, patrons can sink their teeth into a slice of pumpkin pie, priced at $9.95, or Sugar Factory’s signature pumpkin pie cheesecake, served with vanilla ice cream, garnished with clove anglaise and pumpkin seeds and topped with caramel sauce, priced at $10. Also on the menu will be Sugar Factory’s signature Spiced Apple Pie cocktail, made with Stoli Gala Applik, Schonauer Apfel, apple juice, rock candy syrup and garnished with a red apple slice and cinnamon, priced at $10, as well as the Cranberry Cinnamon Pie cocktail, a sweet blend of Licor 43, Nutella Liqueur, Stoli Vainilla, apple juice and cranberry juice, garnished with cinnamon and cranberries, priced at $10.

For more information see the Vegas Blog.

Election Day Fun Facts

Today is election day!  Did you get out and vote?  Here are some election day fun facts that you can read while you are waiting in line at the polls.

The finish line is almost here. Americans have weighed a plethora of questions in choosing their presidential candidate.

But amid the quadrennial explosion of political ads, bumper stickers and debates, some questions still baffle: Why is the Republican mascot an elephant? Why are Democrats linked to the color blue? And what happens if the candidates tie?

Below, a voter's guide to such perpetually confounding riddles:

Q. Why are presidential elections always in November, and always on Tuesdays?

It all comes down to weather, harvests and worship.

Back when voters traveled to the polls by horse, Tuesday was an ideal day because it allows people to worship on Sunday, ride to their county seat on Monday and vote on Tuesday - all before market day, Wednesday.

And the month of November fit nicely between harvest time and brutal winter weather -- which can be especially bad when you're trudging along by horse and buggy.

But since many voters now travel by horsepower instead of live horses, some people -- like the group Why Tuesday? -- are pushing to move election day to a weekend day to increase the country's historically dismal voter turnout. According to the group, 15 states do not allow early voting, and 27% of non-voters said the main reason why they didn't vote was because they were too busy or couldn't get time off to vote.

Q. Why do Republicans have an elephant and Democrats have a donkey?

Back in 1874, cartoonist Thomas Nast used an elephant to depict the Republican vote in his drawing "The Third-Term Panic." The cartoon was published in Harper's Weekly after the owner of the New York Herald reportedly criticized the notion of Republican President Ulysses S. Grant running for a third term. (Grant didn't end up running in the next election).

In the drawing, an "ass" -- depicting the New York Herald -- scares away other animals in a forest as the elephant -- or the Republican vote -- looks like it's about to stumble into a pit.

But that cartoon isn't where where the Democratic donkey came from. In 1828, Democrat Andrew Jackson's critics called him a "jackass" because of his populist views and his slogan, "Let the people rule." Jackson decided to run with it -- even using images of a donkey in his campaign ads. Later, Nast also used a donkey to depict the Democratic party.

Q. Why are Democratic states "blue," and why are Republican states "red"?

There's nothing magical about this color scheme. Essentially, the media made it up.

Sure, there are logical reasons to use red and blue -- both are colors in the American flag, and they look sharp on infographics because they're pretty much on opposite ends of the color spectrum.

But the seemingly arbitrary color assignments have actually flip-flopped over the years. In 1980, states won by Republican Ronald Reagan were colored blue; Democrat Jimmy Carter's states were colored red.

Even as late as 1996, major media outlets were divided on how to color-code the parties. But in 2000, when Americans were subjected to weeks of news about recounts, pregnant chads and electoral infographics, everyone seemed to get on the same page and shaded Republican-leaning states red and Democratic-leaning states blue.

Q. What happens if candidates tie in electoral votes?

It's possible that Barack Obama and Mitt Romney snag the exact same number of electoral votes. In that case, the 12th Amendment says the House of Representatives gets to pick the president. And since analysts expect Republicans to maintain control of the House, Romney would likely win the presidency.

In the same scenario, the Senate would get to choose the vice president. And because Democrats are expected to keep control of that chamber, senators could select incumbent Vice President Joe Biden to form a split administration.

Q. Why do presidents have to wait all the way until January 20 to assume office?

It used to be a lot longer. Until 1937, presidents didn't get sworn in until March 4 because it took so long to count and report ballots, and because of the winner's logistical issues in moving to the capital.

But then better technology kicked in, and the 20th Amendment moved presidential inaugurations to noon on January 20 -- allowing presidents to start taking care of business sooner.

For more information see KDBC.

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