Be Part of Earth Hour 2009

Earth Hour 2009 is set for March 28th at 8:30 local time. No matter where you are in the world you can participate. Turn off your lights and any other electrical items for one hour. That's it, just one hour without electricity. Can you stand it? Last year my family and I turned off the circuit breaker to our house and went completely black. It felt good to do something for my planet. The kids complained for a few minutes then we began to enjoy the quiet and the peace as we curled up in blankets on our back porch.

My only disappointment was that my city, Las Vegas, did not really participate in Earth Hour 2008. No one seemed to know about this event or care that it was going on. Tourists still walked the glowing neon streets, nothing was allowed to interrupt their fun.

This year is different. The tourists will have a different kind of treat. I'm proud to say that Las Vegas is a flagship city. The list of casinos and business who plan to turn off the neon is impressive and expansive. If they all follow through with their commitment the strip should be dim if not completely black. Now that will be a historic occasion.

I'm kind of sad that I won't be in town. I want to see and participate in this event. But again, where ever I am and where ever you are, you can turn off the lights and make a difference. Just imagine what would happen if we all did this once a week, or once a month?

Here is a link to my post about Earth Hour 2008. Enjoy!

Christmas Surprises

Since moving to Las Vegas, NV I've struggled with the warm weather. I love snow, white blankets that remind me that Christmas is near. I've had trouble getting used to twinkling light in palm trees and caroling in short sleeves.

God must have known that this Christmas has been especially difficult for me. I just wanted to ignore the whole thing. He sent snow...4 inches of snow to remind me that all is well in the world.

My children built snowmen, sprawled on the ground making snow angels, and had snowball fights. Todd and I went for a long walk around the neighborhood and caught snowflakes on our tongues. We threw a few snowballs too.

I am so grateful for this Christmas surprise. I needed it. My family needed it. Thank you, God for the lovely gift.


Speaking of giving gifts, I think I've found the perfect thing for the women in my life....a pajama gram. Isn't this awesome? I can send my mom or my sister-in-law pajamas in an organza hat box. I would love to get something like this...hint, hint, the red, velvet ones would be great.

If I order by the 23rd the comfy pajamas will be delivered in time for Christmas morning. They also have kid pajamas that come with a stuff doggie and a dog house. I can't get over how cute I think this is!

The best surprise of all is for something wondrous to happen to someone I love.

I can't say who yet but I have a close friend who's been contacted by the Oprah Winfrey Show!

She responded to a question on Oprah.com a few months ago...just for the fun it. It's the law of attraction at work. Be careful what you ask for. Now a producer wants to speak with her and possibly book her as a guest on an upcoming show!

I am still in shock, praying and visualizing her sitting on Oprah's stage. The world will love her and her sense of humor as much as I do. Her time is coming. I can feel it!

Have a Merry Christmas everyone. Remember to give and be gracious and grateful, not just now but all through out the year.

God Bless all of you!

The Great Santa Run - Seeing Red in Vegas

Every December thousands of people in Las Vegas, NV put on Santa suits and jog around the Freemont Street Experience in a 5k run/walk to benefit Opportunity Village. They bring their dogs, their kids and their friends to share in the festivities. If you happen to be here having a great Vegas weekend then look out you hotel window on December 1st and you will see a wave of red and white flooding the street below.

Why do they do it? Well, it could be because they like dressing up as Santa or it could be that they like the feeling of helping Nevada's favorite charity. Opportunity Village was founded in 1954 by a group of local families hoping to help their intellectually challenged children. They saw a need and met it.

Now, so many years later Opportunity Village is the largest not-for-profit organization in the valley. They have a myriad of programs designed to inspire, integrate, and empower the mentally challenged. Dottie is an example of the people who use these programs to get their adult lives off to a prosperous start.

Dottie was born with Downs Syndrome. She was educated in the public school system but her family feels that because of her challenges she was isolated socially. She found Opportunity Village shortly after graduating and told them that her goal in life was to work in a kitchen on the Las Vegas Strip.

After intensive training at Opportunity Village Dottie was offered a job at the prestigious Capital Grille on the strip...the job of her dreams. “Her excitement is inspiring,” said Buck Kish, Dottie’s dad. Dottie relishes the fact that she’s working a real, paying job in the community and is eager to finally be doing what she trained so hard for. What she loves most, though, is that she’s now like everyone else.

Siegfried and Roy of the famed white tiger show are the honorary team captains this year and Mayor Oscar Goodman is the honorary head Santa. What makes it even better? After paying the $45 entry fee, which goes to supporting Opportunity Village, participants are given a Santa suit of their very own. They get to keep it and pass on the cheer for the rest of the season. Now they can be Santa anytime they wish.

Best of luck for a successful 2007 Santa Run with a record breaking number of Santas! If you would like to dress up in a red suit and yell HO, HO, HO here is the link to get involved or just to make a donation to the cause - The Great Santa Run.

Merry Christmas Opportunity Village!

Evos - A Different Way To Eat Fast Food

"Let's stop at Evos." This is my son speaking.

Stop where?" This is me playing the confused mother.

"The healthy fast food place I told you about. Remember?"

I didn't. But playing the I-always-remember-everything-mother-of-five and intrigued that my teenager would even use the dreaded word healthy and food in the same sentence, I answered. "Oh, yeah. That sounds good."

And it was more than good. From the moment we stepped into Evos at 10895 S. Eastern Ave. in Henderson, NV, I was sold on the concept of fast food without the guilt. The resturant was clean and shiny, the lime green paint and art work inviting, and the food choices intriguing. Looking at the menu, I expected the sticker shock that goes along with eating health conscious food but no. The items were reasonably priced and I could eat here for around the same price as other fast food chains.

After I ordered the Crispy Thai Trout Wrap, a Corn Dog off the Kid's Menu, and a Free-Range Steak Burger for my teenager, we stopped at the Ketchup Karma Bar to sample the four flavors. Garlic Ketchup was my favorite.

The food tasted terrific and I was even happier to find out that Evos is an enviromentally conscious company. The founders, Alkis Crassas and Michael Jeffers of Florida, have built a chain designed to contribute not exploit. The paper products are made from recycled materials with soy-based inks. The products used in the building process are eco-friendly. Even the lights in the bathrooms turn off automatically.

In an interview with Franchisewire, the founders quoted a business strategy that I feel will serve them well in the future. They stated, "There is a balance in everything. While there are vegetarian and vegan menu items, Evos is not a health food restaruant. We are a restaurant that offers food for everyone done in a way that's sustainable. We found a balance in health and taste, and we found a balance in making environmentally-sound decisions. You have to be a pragmatist, not an extreme idealist."

All I can say is, "Amen, Evos. Thanks for giving me an option."

And more options are on the way. Evos has three locations in Florida and one in Nevada but the good news is Evos recently signed an agreement with a sucessful developer to open 207 stores in 12 states over the next 10 years.

To learn more about Evos visit http://www.evos.com/

Evos - A Different Way To Eat Fast Food

"Let's stop at Evos." This is my son speaking.

"Stop where?" This is me playing the confused mother.

"The healthy fast food place I told you about. Remember?"

I didn't. But playing the I-always-remember-everything-mother-of-five and intrigued that my teenager would even use the dreaded word healthy and food in the same sentence, I answered. "Oh yeah. That sounds good."

And it was more than good. From the moment we stepped into Evos at 10895 S. Eastern Ave. in Henderson, NV, I was sold on the concept of fast food without the guilt. The resturant was clean and shiny, the lime green paint and art work inviting, and the food choices intriguing. Looking at the menu, I expected the sticker shock that goes along with eating health conscious food but no. The items were reasonably priced and I could eat here for around the same price as other fast food chains.

After I ordered the Crispy Thai Trout Wrap, a Corn Dog off the Kid's Menu, and a Free-Range Steak Burger for my teenager, we stopped at the Ketchup Karma Bar to sample the four flavors. Garlic Ketchup was my favorite.

The food tasted terrific and I was even happier to find out that Evos is an enviromentally conscious company. The founders, Alkis Crassas and Michael Jeffers of Florida, have built a chain designed to contribute not exploit. The paper products are made from recycled materials with soy-based inks. The products used in the building process are eco-friendly. Even the lights in the bathrooms turn off automatically.

In an interview with Franchisewire, the founders quoted a business strategy that I feel will serve them well in the future. They stated, "There is a balance in everything. While there are vegetarian and vegan menu items, Evos is not a health food restaruant. We are a restaurant that offers food for everyone done in a way that's sustainable. We found a balance in health and taste, and we found a balance in making environmentally-sound decisions. You have to be a pragmatist, not an extreme idealist."

All I can say is, "Amen, Evos. Thanks for giving me an options."

And more options are on the way. Evos has three locations in Florida and one in Nevada but the good news is Evos recently signed an agreement with a sucessful developer to open 207 stores in 12 states over the next 10 years.

To learn more about Evos visit www.evos.com

Free Hugs Campaign hits Las Vegas

Juan Mann says, "Sometimes a hug is all we need." How can anyone disagree with that? A hug is the universal sign of compassion. With it we say to one another, "I understand what you are going through." But Juan Mann and the Free Hugs Campaign take it one step further. He's made it his official mission to reach out and hug complete strangers, just to brighten someone elses day.

Juan's friends, the band "The Sickpuppies", were intrigued by how Juan spent his days. They videotaped him at a shopping mall, holding up his FREE HUGS sign and set the images to music. The band posted the video on youtube.com and the response was amazing. Millions of people were touched by the video depicting Juan's day at an Australian shopping mall and the reactions of the people who accepted his kindness. Oprah Winfrey was so moved by the Free Hugs Campaign she invited Juan to be a guest on her show.

People all over the world have caught the Free Hugs bug and planted themselves on busy street corners holding up scribbled signs that read FREE HUGS. One such kind soul was Daniel Kaufman, a fifth-grader from Las Vegas, NV. After seeing the youtube video, he pestered his mother to take him to the local shopping mall so he could be like Juan and make people happy. She hesitated, after all, this was Las Vegas - Sin City. For months she resisted, even though she secretly wanted to be the one holding the sign.

Finally she gave in and called the local police department to tell them her plans and make sure Daniel had their blessing to hold up signs at the Freemont Street Experience, a walk-thru tourist attraction at the north end of the famous Strip.

At first, Daniel was apprehensive and shy. In all honesty, his mother relates that she had butterflies, too. But she took the sign and got the ball rolling. After a few false starts and strange looks, people began to respond. An entire family, visiting from the South, hugged Daniel one after another. People took pictures with their camera phones. One man recited a Navajo Blessing as a thank you to the gracious young man.

"Now I've seen everything!" one man laughed as Daniel passed by with his sign held high.

Daniel's hope is that some of the people he hugged were inspired to start Free Hugs Campaigns in their own neighborhoods. "It really felt good. My face hurts from smiling."

For more information about the Free Hugs Campaign go to www.freehugscampaign.org or search youtube for videos from grassroots efforts like Daniel's from all around the globe.