Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New

Tradition As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into highgear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods --Merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. Thisyear will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuineconcern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at giftgiving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yesthere is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit ina shirt box, wrapped in Chi-nese produced wrapping paper?Everyone -- yes EVERY-ONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificatesfrom your local American

doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck ormotorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of alocal cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who isstruggling to get his repair business up and running.and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restau-rants and leaveyour server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet atyour hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you RE-ALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chineselights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, aboutfifty cents stays in the com-munity. If you have those kinds of bucks to

hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's ap-propriate for all ages who are thinking about somehealth improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owneddetail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or abook of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extrava-gant givers who think nothing of plonking downthe Benjamines on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful giftreceiver would like his drive-way sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, ordriveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering giftcertificates. And, if your in-tended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what abouta half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remem-ber, folks thisisn't about big National chains -- this is about sup-porting your home townAmericans with their financial lives on the line to keep their

On the Cover: Photo of Mt Charleston: Bill CastlesPhoto of Winter Trees (inside cover): “Images of Intent” Layout Design: Cindy Rodriguez

Senior Editor: Cindy Rodriguez

Staff Editor / Writter: Juanita Lewis

Staff Photographer: Roger Seymour

Contributing Writters:

Chef Darnell, Magdalena Brandon, Tiffany Andersen, SK+G Public Relations, Tanya Allason, Joy & Asso-ciates, Phase 1 Sports, Dinosaurs and Roses May and Willie Lagdameo, Maria Vanrossen, Michelle Moller,

Bill Adkins, Sheila Reinhart

Note From the Editor: It has been a pleasure designing and publishing this magaizne. Merry Christmas to all the readers and thank you for all your sup-port. Vegas Scene Magazine is a local magazine which intends to atract read-ers looking for helpful informaiotn, places to visit, and way to better your life. For more information and advertsing please contact us at: 702-218-8509.Cindy Rodriguez

A cherished haven in the mountains, Mount Charleston Lodge is no great secret to locals. The Lodge is located on the top of the moun-tain in Kyle Canyon's Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest. Just a hour's drive away from the valley, at 7,717 feet elevation, locals know that Mount Charleston is a prime place to go to escape the traditionally scorching Vegas temperatures while still enjoying the outdoors. However, The Lodge also has an allure like no other in the city for the winter months.

The same 50 miles of marked hiking trails, sprawling mountain landscapes and beautiful peaks can become covered in a fresh blan-ket of snow in minutes, sometimes as early as November. Thanks to the Mt. Charleston Lodge, it's easily accessible and provides a lot of fun for the entire family. Outdoor activi-ties include snowboarding, skiing, sledding and are really limited only as far a child's imagination is when it comes to playing in the snow. Build a fort, have an epic snowball battle between you and your friends, build a snowman!

When your fingers are too icy from having fun outside, come on in, because it's just as fantastic inside the Lodge. There is a charm-ing lounge area that can hold 200 people, soaring 20 foot ceiling, and a large fireplace in the center, surrounded by huge windows that show off the majestic mountain scenes and panoramic views. Imagine sitting next to a roaring open fireplace in the middle of a quaint and comfortable sitting area where you can watch the snow swirl silently all around you.

They offer a special holiday menu, the con-tents of which are varied: if you'd like to

On the cover ... Mount Charleston’s Winter Wonderland

stick with the traditional holiday fare, then there is a choice between a turkey or ham feast, the sides being mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, green beans and cranberry sauce. However, there is also the option of the slow roasted garlic and herb crusted prime rib, or the grilled salmon, both of which are served with house salad and soup along a choice of pie. Not to mention they also have a regular menu full of delicious choices as well. The lounge also serves their famous Mt. Charleston coffee and hot chocolate, which would be a welcome comfort for any chilled guest.

Other holiday treats include a celebration of Yom Kippur on the 17th and 18th, and Christ-mas celebration at 8am and noon, and a New Year's Eve Party. The Christmas events in-clude a chance for pictures with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, something that no child or parent would ever forget.

The simple comforts of the Lodge in the win-ter months are really just what the holiday season should be all about. Time away from the hectic rushing, frantically hunting down gifts and standing in lines. Time that should be spent with friends and family, enjoying a different part of the city that can often be taken for granted. The mountains that have surrounded the valley are beautiful remind-ers of the natural landscape that used to cover Las Vegas. Appreciating that natural beauty doesn't have to be a chore or a laborious road trip. The Mount Charleston Lodge is just 30 minutes away from the Strip. The greatest gift your loved ones might want is more time together, so why not enjoy a few days of your holiday at the Mount Charleston Lodge this winter?by Juanita Lewis

On the cover ... Mount Charleston’s Winter Wonderland

Working out and taking care of yourself is great for people of all ages, but for personal trainer Mike Waters it's more than just a business. He is passionate about what he does which makes a professional better at what they do. Mike Waters is a trainer, and motivational speaker. He writes for Vegas Scene Magazine’s Health section has a weekly blog at www.sportsfit-nesshealth.blogspot.com and owns a private gym here in town. He provides more than physical training, he builds character.

Phase 1 Sports “Making Athletes

He has turned being an athlete into something that benefits a person very much like playing sports itself does: far beyond the field. Playing sports and being a complete athlete re-quires time, dedication, per-severance and hard work, and the benefits far out ways the simple thrill of winning a game. It's about accomplish-ing a goal, achieving what you have worked for, building camaraderie with your team-mates and pulling out inner strength and drive you might not have known that you pos-sessed.

Mike Waters business Phase 1 Sports strives to bring out the best in local high school athletes who dream of college scholarships, to younger chil-dren in middle and elementary school who want to hone their craft at an early age, to adults who simply wish to train

Photos by: Roger Seymour

under professionals who can make them better. He trains and oversees the training of athletes of all ages and types, regardless of the sport or me-dium they take part in. Phase 1 Sports works with estab-lished professional athletes as well, training them simply to "become better athletes". Waters was kind enough to answer a few questions for our Profile Spotlight about himself, training athletes and following your dreams.

Vegas Scene: Mr. Waters, where are you from originally, how long have you been in Las Vegas?Mike Waters:- I am originally from Southern California, and have been in Las Vegas since 1999. I originally moved to Vegas to play football at UNLV.

VS: how long have you been involved in sports, what were you involved in as teenager?MW: Sports has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I played football, baseball, and track in High School.

VS: What did you want to do for a living?MW: In my earlier years I was never a big fan of school, it was more about sports for me. So I knew I wanted to be into some type of sports business, just wasn't sure what direc-tion. VS: What in your youth has helped prepare you for where you've ended up today (ie. owning your own business that has helped the careers, of not only established athletes, but of young people as well)MW: It's a long story, but in a nutshell. My business is ev-erything I wish I had growing up as a young athlete: mentor, role models, trainers, tutors, recruiters, etc.

VS: How and when did you get started training people?MW: I Started training people part time just for fun my first year out of college. A year lat-er it turned into a business. I had my first client and trained him in my back yard in 2003. From there I had consistent growth that led to where we are today in a 10, 000 square ft facility.

VS: Were there any particu-larly influential coaches/train-ers you had, what is the most important thing you've learned from them?

MW:It would be difficult to pick one; I've learned a num-ber of things from a number of different coaches and train-ers through the years. The most important thing I have learned is that they all loved what they did! VS: What is the most impor-tant thing you've learned from having your own business?MW: The two most important things that I have learned are: 1. if you love what you do, it doesn't feel like work. 2. In business you always have to be willing to change with the times. VS: Are there any disadvan-tages/advantages to training a younger person as opposed to an established athlete?MW: Training younger ath-letes vs. established athletes are equally rewarding. As a trainer you can mold a young athlete and teach them proper technique, mentality, etc. And with established athletes you value the commitment and dedication. They treat it more as a job.

VS: Do you train all athletes specifically for their sport?MW: Yes I train athletes of all sports, or anyone that has the desire to train and look likes an athlete

VS: Can anyone of any age or athletic ability join one of your fitness classes? MW: Yes, we have many dif-ferent programs that cater to athletes, kids, and adults. So no matter the skill level we have a program that will fit.

Waters also has a bustling online community in which he brings together the high school athletes he trains, and the recruiters from various colleges that may show in-terest. There is a compilations of game footage, articles about particular players, that can detail their progress and prowess on their own par-ticular playing field. Among the testimonials are students that later went on to other colleges of their choosing, various state and Ivy League schools. Phase 1 Sports would certain-ly be a worthwhile investment for any athlete who wished to become truly focused in their craft and give it their complete dedication.

If you're interested in learning more about Phase 1 Sports, please contact them at 702-641-0011, or visit their web-site at: www.phase1 sports.com. By Juanita Lewis

The Essentials of Health and Beauty Vol. 1 by: Tiffany Andersen Stay Tuned to next volume in January Issue..New life new you! The Essentials of Health and Beauty. What actually makes up health and beauty? Is it only what we see with the naked eye? Or does it go much deeper than that? Let’s take a look at the definition of health (health – soundness of body and mind). If health is soundness of body and mind, why does society think of it as some-one who just “looks good on the outside?” Now let’s take a look at the definition of beauty (beauty –qualities that give pleasure to the sens-es or exalt the mind). Interestingly enough, the definitions of the words “health” and “beauty” both use the word mind in their definition. In re-ality, we should be looking at how to create a positive mind set to have the true essentials of health and beauty. Now let’s take a look at the word mind (mind – the part of an individual that feels, perceives, thinks, wills, and especially reasons). It would make sense then, that the way we feel or per-ceive things has everything to do with how we reason or make decisions on things – that, in turn, will actually affect the way we look to the average person. In other words, if we wake up on the wrong side of the bed because we stayed up too late, then odds are we might have a bad day because every-thing else is thrown out of whack too. You might

look great on the outside, but internally you’re still upset because you are running be-hind at work and can’t seem to catch up. Those feelings end up affecting your every move. You hurry through with things that you would normallynot want to, and you risk not giving 100% to the job. Worse yet, you’re short with someone who was just trying to be safe and ask a few more questions than you have time to answer. Inessence,yourattitude toward that personbecomes almost bitter, cold,short,orjustplanugly.Thenintheeyesofothersyouac-tually lose the ability to bepreserved as beautiful, andithasnothingtodowithhowwell your hair andmake-uplook, or how great of shapeyourbodyisin.

I have known some of the most beautiful people, and when I hear them say some-thing negative or unkind about a person or a certain situation I automatically get a low-level feeling in my heart that makes me feel icky too—like they could be saying it about me as well. I literally look at that person different and no longer see their outer beauty as beauti-

ful. I see the inner soul, which looks grim, angry, sad, and yes sometimes even ugly. It saddens me that society puts such a strong hold on the outer shell of a person in order to call someone beautiful. On the flip side of that, I have known some people who may not have been blessed with the outer shell as well as others, but their heart is so kind and pure, that to me, they are more beautiful than all the beauty queens in the world put to-gether. Just being around a person like that brightens even the darkest of days and their light that may be held in society’s mind as an unfavorable “shell” seems to glow in every room. Ithinkweareallguiltyofdo-ing and saying things we arenotproudof.Unfortunatelyweareafterallonlyhuman. Our sinful nature has been born in us since Adam bit the apple, or one might say since Eve lead him to the apple. Ei-ther way, the mind will have a tendency to wander to the dark side occasionally when we all wake up on the wrong side of the bed. What we must do when that happens is remem-ber that love heals, and anger kills. The amount of research done on metaphysical ill-

nesses and diseases associated with an “ill mind” or negative attitude is massive. Quite literally, the word stress is the number one reason for all diseases. Stress leads to toxins in the body that are called free radicals. Those free radicals create oxidation in the body, which in turn creates all major diseases and ages the body at an increasing rate. We are most commonly taught how to fight free radicals with supplements and beauty prod-ucts, but what pill will combat a negative attitude? If you think it is an antidepressant, you will be sadly mistaken. Antidepressants are drugs that suppress the nervous system, and in the long run it’s kind of like giving you a lobotomy. Ask yourself: do we really need to deaden the nerve fi-bers in the brain for the relief of emotional issues we just can’t seem to get a hand on? Don’t we want to “feel” some-thing? In my opinion, a drug will never replace nutrients that actually repair the body. All of my upcoming articles for my column will not only focus on internal supplements for the health of the body and skin care products. More importantly, they will encompass a way to help

combat emotional issues, which lead to a negative mind set. After all, it is “The Essentials of Health and Beauty” we all seek in life. As we have now discovered we must be healthy in the mind first, before the outer appearance will shine. There is one thing I know for sure. When you are hav-ing a bad day, and you just can’t seem to get your hair or make-up right and you feel horrible on the inside, there is still one thing that we can all put on that brightens even the worst of days. One thing that in my opinion makes everyone beautiful is a big friendly smile with a positive attitude that will make even the worst of days look and feel better. A happy person is infectious; so is an unhappy person. If we could all only learn how to be truly happy and see the good in all situations even when it seems impossible, I think we would all have internal health and beauty for life. For now, my best advice is to use the international sym-bol for peace and happiness and put on a big happy smile today.

Written By Tiffany Andersen Licensed Medical Esthetician, Holistic Health Practitioner, Master Herbalist, Certified Nutritional Consultant, Sports Medicine Professional. TiffanyisanindependentcontractorinLasVegasNVandworksatRenewMedicalSpa.Youmayvisithernowatwww.TiffanyAndersen.comorwww.TheNaturalZone.com

Ethel M's Holiday Cactus Garden ETHEL M CHOCOLATES STARTS STRING-ING LIGHTS FOR 18th ANNUAL HOLIDAY CACTUS

GARDEN

Under the direction of Botanical Garden Custodian, Steve Bowdoin, Ethel M Choco-lates will start stringing more than 500,000 holiday lights in preparation for the 18th An-nual Holiday Cactus Garden. Covering more than three-acres and featuring more than 300 species of plant life, the seasonal attraction is a free holiday tradition for Southern Nevada Nov. 16 through Jan. 1.This will be the fourth consecutive year Bowdoin and his team of four will oversee the detailed light installation.

This year, Ethel M will replace roughly 25% of their light inventory with energy-efficient LED lights – bringing the total percentage of LED lights on display to roughly 50%. Ethel M Chocolate Factory & Cactus Garden n Drive, Hender-son NV 89074

HolidaySurvival Guide

December is clearly the busiest month of the year. There are many activities that everyone has to do – from decorating for the holidays inside and out to shopping for gifts for the entire family, friends and co-workers, to sending holiday greetings and planning for holiday par-ties, the big Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas day get-together.How do we survive the daunting tasks associated with this big holiday month and have the time to enjoy and take in the sights, sounds and smell of the season? Here are some tips.

Gift Giving Ideas...

When it comes to gift giving during the holidays, do some private investigating to find out the things your loved ones enjoy the most. If they are a foodie, find out what type of cuisine do they like the most. Then create a personalized recipe book with 10 recipes of the type of cuisine they enjoy. You may also want to include a list of places to shop for in-gredients for these recipes.

If they are a baker, make or order a custom apron with their name on it (i.e. pas-try chef Annie), a couple of unique recipes like biscotti and red velvet cake and some unusual baking spices like cardamon, natural high fat coco powder, ground cloves and Madagascar vanilla beans. These would make any baker

happy and jolly.

For the man or woman who loves to be on the grill, make some special rubs and spice blends for chicken, beef, pork and fish. In their gift box, I would also include a unique barbecue sauce using unusual but in season ingredients like quince or kumquats.

For those who love to make jams and jellies for winter time, I would do jams, jel-lies and preserves that evoke flavors from other parts of the world. Jalapeno and kumquat jam, cherry to-matoes and poblano chili jam, pear and ginger jam, classic citrus orange, tangerine and lime marmalade are just a few gift ideas for someone on your holiday shopping list.

For the dessert loving person on your gift list, I would make a gift basket with an assort-ment of sweet treats: mini pumpkin and bourbon cheese-cake, one-of-a-kind white Russian fudge, gingerbread truffles, cinnamon and walnut biscottis, apple spice cookie and mini Krispy Kreme doughnut bread pudding.

Planning the Christmas Eve Menu

This year, you have been asked to host your first Christ-mas Eve dinner. You want it to be traditional but with a new twist on everybody’s favorites. A great idea for making your menu this sea-son different is to infuse international flavors into your holiday dishes since Christ-mas is celebrated all over the word. Here’s a sample menu I came up with up to give you some creative ideas:

Cajun Creamy Cheese Crab Spread Great Southern spread using fresh crab meat that is excellent with bread and vegetables for your ap-petizer tray

Apple and Brie SoupFresh seasonal apples and French brie cheese are combined in this rich velvety soup

Rack of Pork with Spanish Maderia GravyNothing is more elegant than a rack of pork presented tableside

and served with a 25 year old Spanish Maderia wine gravy. Truly a dish for a special occasion

Oyster and Wild Mush-room StuffingLand meets sea in this won-derful, flavorful stuffing. Fresh oysters and wild exotic mushrooms with fresh herbs combine for a delicious side dish

Pumpkin and Chorizo Ravioli with Gorgonzola Cheese SauceWhat an explosion of flavor in your mouth with spicy chorizo sausage, seasonal pumpkins with a hint of Bourbon and creamy rich Gorgonzola cheese sauce

Garlicky Brussel SproutsIn season brussel sprouts are braised with garlic, apple cider vin-egar and bacon until al dente.

Tequila Poached PearsWhat a way to end a meal with these pears that are cooked in aged tequila, lime zest, fennel seeds and pear cider. A drizzle of port wine chocolate sauce is the perfect finishing touch to a holiday Thismenuisajourneythroughthedeep southofLouisiana,a trip tobothSpainandFrance,venturingonbothlandandseaandfinishingupwithatriptoMexico. Chef Darnel Simply Dine

Tasty Treats for the Holidays...

Tupperware Recipes

Candy Cane Blossoms

View or PrintSHARE your recipes HERE

Ingredients: (makes about 4 dozen)48 HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Candy Cane Mint Candies 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened 1 cup granulated sugar 1 egg 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons milk Red or green sugar crystals, granulated sugar or powdered sugar

Instructions: 1. Heat oven to 350°F. Remove wrappers from candies. 2. Beat butter, granulated sugar, egg and vanilla in large bowl until well blended. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add alternately with milk to butter mixture, beating until well blended. 3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in red sugar, green sugar, granulated sugar, powdered sugar or a combination of any of the sugars. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. 4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and cookie is set. Remove from oven; cool 2 to 3 minutes. Press a candy piece into center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

Here is a great new recipe that we have! Maria Vanrossem

. Our fudge is made the old fashioned way, one batch at a time. The compo-nents that go into our fudge making are 1 part chemistry, 2 parts dedication and 3 parts overwhelming love; of the product and each other. Fudge’s origins began back in 16th C England in the form of “ tablet”. We pride ourselves in offering new, daring and innovative variations of the origi-nal form, after careful consideration and experimentation. Once you have tasted our fudge we hope you will remember us for all your “special occasions” - Holiday Gift Giving, Mail Order, Hostess Gifts, Wedding Favors, Corporate Gift Giving, Showers, Cocktail Parties and Catered Events. We also have 5 Fundraising With Fudge Programs that are easy, different and fun to choose from for Educational, Healthcare and Cultural organizations. We are always happy to arrange a meeting to explore different ways to raise money for our community.yer brains out”.

Regina Leath

Carnivores are King at Fogo de ChaoBy Denise Michaels

Meat lovers rejoice! If your idea of a great meal includes slabs of a vari-ety of meats savored in a single meal – Fogo de Chao could become your personal notion of hog heaven.

Located in the former Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse at 360 E. Flamingo near Howard Hughes Drive in the restaurant row area, Fogo de Chao is a new addition to the Brazilian Steakhouse concept here in Las Vegas.

The décor is modern, classic steakhouse. Lots of wood finishes, sparkling glass, creamy linens and crystal on every table. Everything is spotless and well-organized. Service is gracious, friendly and helpful.

My husband Ernie and I both ordered a glass of wine from the extensive wine list. We could see the beautifully-stocked, climate-controlled wine room from our table behind a glass wall. There’s a selections of wines by the glass available. My Cabernet Sauvignon was rich and deep with blueberry notes. A perfect accompaniment to all the meats that would soon grace my plate.

First, you start with the salad bar. The skylit display, topped with a colossal spray of exuberant flowers on top beckons. We found fresh salad staples and several atypical choices like marinated artichoke hearts, perfectly blanched asparagus, seasoned redskin potatoes, Waldorf salad and cheeses you cut off a gigantic wheel. Everything is fresh and colorful. However, it’s just a tease for what’s to come.

Our server, Heather, was attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. You aren’t handed a menu at Fogo de Chao. Instead, you’re handed a coaster: green on one side and red on t’other. Set it on the edge of your table on “green” and it instructs the men dressed as Brazilian Gauchos to bring more meat cut off massive skewers into serving size portions onto your plate. Flip the coaster to “red” and it signals the Gauchos, “Please, for goodness sake, stop.” At least for now.

Side dishes brought to our table included garlic mashed potatoes, grilled polenta and fried bananas, which my husband went ape for, begging for seconds.

We were offered easily a dozen types of meat during our visit. Nothing exotic or weird, simply different cuts of steak, chicken, pork and lamb. Everything is simply seasoned with sea salt, pepper, maybe a little lemon or garlic. A manager told us they use better cuts of meat so they’re natu-rally flavorful and don’t require a lot of marinades or sauces. It’s a perfect choice for people adhering to a gluten-free diet. Even the cheesy biscuits are gluten-free. Or, if you’re on a low-carb program you can have a lot

of fun at Fogo de Chao. My husband stopped eating beef and pork five years ago. For him, the Gauchos stopping at our table with big hunks of beef and pork on skewers was a bit disconcerting, when he just wanted more lamb chops and chicken. Gradually, they get in the groove and bring only your meat-licious preferences. I don’t eat beef or pork often, but I got in the spirit of the place and tried a little of almost everything.

For vegetarian types you can order just the salad bar. You won’t go hun-gry. But if you’re the type of veggie who may be sensitive to hot slabs of meat endlessly paraded around, it might not be your best option. If you’re a carnivore who loves meat, it’ll be your idea of having just died and gone to heaven.

Here’s a rundown of the meat choices I sampled:

Rib Eye? Juicy, succulent and full of rich, beefy flavor.

Filet Mignon? Like butta’ it’s so tender. I mean cut-with-a-fork tender.

Baby back ribs? Outrageously porky, especially with the mildly spicy Chimichurri sauce: a blend of olive oil, garlic, fresh parsley, red bell pep per and other spices served on the side.

Lamb Chops? Tender, petite, flavorful and flown in from New Zea land. The bones are perfectly Frenched, making a nice little “handle” to gobble ‘em down effortlessly.

Parmesan Pork? Wonderful pairing of Parmesan and pork, but slightly dry. Wish I’d had the Chimichurri sauce for this. It would’ve made everything perfect. Chicken? Served skin-free. The chicken breast is wrapped in bacon. A Cognac marinade seasons the drumsticks/thighs.

Linguica? A Brazilian-inspired pork sausage, originating from Portu gal. Bold, spicy, porky flavors predominate.

Finallywebothhadourfillofmeatandsaladandsaid,“Nomas!”Heatherpromptlybroughtusdessertmenus.ErnieorderedthePapayaCream,alighttropicalpuddingwithafruity,papayatang.I’machoc-olateloverandtheMoltenChocolateCakelookedtempting.However,IoptedforKeyLimePie.It’shomemadeintheclassic,creamylime-y,

Caribbean-stylewithacrunchy,grahamcrackercrust.

We left more than satisfied with our meal. Dinner felt elegant, in a fun, casual way. No pretensions or stuffiness here. In a place where carni-vores are king, Fogo de Chao is an unapologetically decadent experience where succulent, juicy, delicious meats play the starring role.

The holidays are coming! The holidays are here! Duringthistimeofcelebration,herearethreewinesjustintimefortheholidays:areddessertwine,awhitedessertwineandasparklingwine.

Our red dessert with – Ceres Moonlight from Wine Shop at Home – is made from the classic varieties from the Oporto region of Portugal. The wine is a blend of Touriga Nacional, 37%, Tinta Cao, 26%, Alvarelhao, 24%, Souzao, 7%, Bastardo, 3% and Tinta Roriz, 3%. All of these varieties were picked and crushed into small open top tanks. During the fermentation, the grapes were mixed vigorously to ensure good color extraction. When the fermentation was two thirds complete, neutral grape brandy was added to arrest fermentation. The wine was then pressed off and transferred to barrels for aging. This wine will age well for 10 to 15 years.This Port-Style wine has dense aromas of plum, allspice and bing cherry with hints of earth and dark chocolate. The flavors are sweet and extracted with layers of complexity. The length of flavor in this wine is amazing both on the palate initially and through the layered and complex finish. Enjoy this wine with a fruit salad, dark chocolate, pecan pie or strong cheeses such as stilton.

Our white dessert wine – Ceres Starlight from Wine Shop at Home – wine is made from 100% Muscat grapes. The grapes were harvested at 23.2 degrees brix and whole-cluster pressed to reduce skin contact and flavor influence of the stems. The juice was fermented cold in stainless steel tanks and fermenta-tion was stopped at 9% alcohol leaving around 7% residual sugar. This wine should be consumed within two years of release.This Ceres California Starlight has aromas overflowing with tangy pineapple, white peach and tropical fruit with hints of tangerine and yellow apple. On the palate, this wine has a light crispness from the CO2 remaining from fermentation. The flavors are sweet and refreshing and create a long finish layered with fruit. Enjoy this wine with pumpkin pie, bread pudding, melon wrapped with prosciutto or mild cheeses such as moz-zarella.

Oursparklingwine–PetitCadeaufromWineShopatHome–isasuperbanddeli-ciousCaliforniasparklingwine.MadefromourexclusiveblendofFrenchColom-bard,Chardonnay,PinotGrigio,Muscat,Viognier,PinotBlancandSauvignonBlanc,thiswinepairswithjustaboutanything–ornothingatall.Thewineswerefermentedinstainless-steeltanks.Thentheyunderwentsecondaryfermentation.Thisprocesscreatesthesparklingwine’seffervescence.Thisproductionmethodproducesbeautiful,sparklingbubblesthatlastandlast.Thissparklershouldbeconsumedwithintwoyearsofrelease.OurPetitCadeauCaliforniaSemi-Secohasaromasofgreenapple,pearandflowerswithhintsoforangeandanise.Theflavorsarefruity,withalightsweetness.Thisspar-

Oursparklingwine–PetitCadeaufromWineShopatHome–isasuperbanddeli-ciousCaliforniasparklingwine.MadefromourexclusiveblendofFrenchColom-bard,Chardonnay,PinotGrigio,Muscat,Viognier,PinotBlancandSauvignonBlanc,thiswinepairswithjustaboutanything–ornothingatall.Thewineswerefermentedinstainless-steeltanks.Thentheyunderwentsecondaryfermentation.Thisprocesscreatesthesparklingwine’seffervescence.Thisproductionmethodproducesbeautiful,sparklingbubblesthatlastandlast.Thissparklershouldbeconsumedwithintwoyearsofrelease.OurPetitCadeauCaliforniaSemi-Secohasaromasofgreenapple,pearandflowerswithhintsoforangeandanise.Theflavorsarefruity,withalightsweetness.Thisspar-

klinghasgoodacidityandapleasantmediumweightonthepalatewithalongsweetfinish.EnjoythissparklingwinewithSushi,fruitbaseddes-serts,spicyChinesefoodorlightcheeses such as fresh mozzarella. Or, enjoy my favorite way: it all by itself!

DivaDesigns.comEmail her directly: DecantedDivaLV@gmail.comCall her to schedule your private tasting: 702.677.6923

LOCAL NONPROFIT RESALE SHOP OFFERS AFFORDABLE HOLIDAY FUN AND SHOPPING FOR FAMILIES Holiday shopping is in full swing and malls and stores are flood-ed with shoppers trying to get the best deals. But along with those great deals come long lines, crowds and stress. If you also happen to have young children in tow it can make for a very unpleasant shopping experience. Dinosaurs and Roses is offer-ing a laid back shopping alternative specifically targeted toward families. Dinosaurs and Roses will be holding a Second Sunday Holiday Art Festival on December 11, 2011 from 10:00am to 6:00pm. We are located at 6029 W. Charleston Blvd. (corner of Jones and Charleston). Parents can shop for unique art or get great deals on all kinds of items in the resale shop while children are enter-tained by face-painting, cookies, and hot cocoa. All sales proceeds are donated to local charities so your pur-chase will help somebody in need this holiday season. To date we have worked with the NSPCA, The Caring Place, Women’s Development Group, and Valley Outreach. Come enjoy the fun and festivities. Mention this article and receive 20% off on all children’s clothes.

LAS VEGAS – Tivoli Village announces events to be held at Las Vegas’ newest shopping and dining destination during the month of December.Santa, Carolers, Local School Choirs and Ensembles and Horse Carriage Rides at Tivoli Village-Throughout the month of December Children may take pictures with Santa, carolers will fill the streets with holiday music, school choirs and ensembles from Calvary High School, Sig Rogich Middle School, Becker Middle School and Cashman Middle School will perform and horse drawn carriage rides will be available for $5 each trip.

SANTA, CAROLERS, HORSE CARRIAGE RIDES, STORY TIME AT TIVOLI, FARMERS & ARTISAN MARKET AND PET ADOPTIONS

AMONG OFFERINGS

For exact days and times please visit the Tivoli Village events and offerings website.Story Time at Tivoli- De-cember 1 at 11 a.m. inside Land Rover and December 15 inside Bottles + Burgers at 11 a.m. Join local Las Vegas nannies from Nannies & Housekeepers U.S.A as they read beloved children’s stories, young children and families welcome. Fresh52 Farmers&ArtisanMarket-SaturdayDecember3,10and17from8a.m.to2p.m.The Fresh52 market features choice vendors with organic and pesticide/chemical free

SANTA, CAROLERS, HORSE CARRIAGE RIDES, STORY TIME AT TIVOLI, FARMERS & ARTISAN MARKET AND PET ADOPTIONS

AMONG OFFERINGS

seasonal produce, freshly baked goods, gourmet ol-ive oils, salsas, sauces, nuts, handmade modern crafts, artisans and more. Stop in The Walk In located inside Las Ve-gas Land Rover for perishable items such as pastas, honey, herbs and more. The Animal Foundation Pet Adoptions- December 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of The Dog House.Extraordinary animals from The Animal Foundation will be on display and available for adoption.Tivoli Village features a unique mix of retail-ers ranging from luxury brands to one-of-a-kind boutiques, as well as enticing restaurants.

The unique shoppingand dining destinationis located in one of themost affluent sections ofSouthern Nevada, nearthemasterplannedcom-munityofSummerlin,just11milesfromtheLasVe-gasStripandadjacenttoOne Queensridge Place.Tivoli Village is being devel-opedbyIDBGroupUSAandEHB Companies .Follow Tivoli Village onTwitter @tivolivillagelvor like Tivoli Village onFacebookat: www.facebook.com/tivolivillagelv

The Fresh52 market features choice vendors with organic and pesticide/chemical free seasonal produce, freshly baked goods, gourmet ol-ive oils, salsas, sauces, nuts, handmade modern crafts, ar-tisans and more. Stop in The Walk In located inside Las Vegas Land Rover for per-ishable items such as pastas, honey, herbs and more.

Live Entertainment- Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, times vary. Tivoli Village showcases lo-cal musicians every weekend, for exact times and musical guests please visit the Tivoli Village events and offerings website. Beginning Novem-ber 25, Santa, roaming carol-ers and local school choirs and ensembles will perform.

Tivoli Village features a unique mix of retailers rang-ing from luxury brands to one-of-a-kind boutiques, as well as enticing restaurants. The unique shopping and dining destination is located in one of the most affluent sections of Southern Nevada, near the master planned com-munity of Summerlin, just 11 miles from the Las Vegas Strip and adjacent to One Queensridge Place.

Fresh 52 Farmers & Artisan Market-Weekly on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

TivoliVillageisbeingdevelopedbyIDBGroupUSAandEHBCompanies.Fol-lowTivoliVil-lageonTwitter@tivolivillagelvorlikeTivoliVil-lageonFace-bookatwww.facebook.com/tivolivillagelv.

Fresh 52 Farmers & Artisan Market-Weekly on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Decoraing for the Christmas Holiday Working with different architetural spaces can be challenging. Always remember that a live tree can support your space. For example, a smaller space, purchase a tree smaller in diameter or perhaps a half tree. If need be move pieces of furniture to another room in your home to create the perfect spot! There are many options tochoose from when workingwith smaller spaces, you can

decorate with smaller center piec-es, or hang homemade ornaments to existing banisters etc. In larger spaces, the tree can be floated in the center of the room. This can be cre-ated as the focal point of your home by adding seating to either end of the room facing the tree. The use of white Christmas treelightsisrecommended. Asasuggestion,putthelightsfittheshapeofthebranch.Thiswillsave you time and the lights will havean even coverage. When decorating your tree, use less expensive balls and bows near the trunk and on sides that are hidden. Put your most spec-tacular and special ornaments on the outside. I n

choosing your color palette, select 3 colors that you want to work with and enhance them with coordinating wrapping paper designs. Remember to make room for gifts. They can be used to enhance the bottom layer of your tree. Continue the holiday experience to the outside by add-ing a wreath to your front door and add lights on your patio or balcony. If you are overwhelmed and want to hire an Interior Designer to cre-ate your Christmas Environment, please give me a call at 702-218-5415. Magdalena BrandonInterior Design and Feng Shui Specialist

THE PERFECT PRESENT FOR THE HOLIDAYS

The Gift of Giving by Pastor Bill Aikins

When I think of giving I wonder where giving came from or who came up with the concept of giving? The obvious answer would have to be “God,” the creator of all things. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Giving is a form of loving. It

is a gift from God. God is love and He has made His love available to us. We see in Romans 12:8 that Paul mentions the God given spiritual gift of giving. As God has freely given to us He expects us to give freely to others; not with conditions but, unconditionally. We must not give assuming we will get something in return. We should be giving as God gives; gracefully. Here’s a question. Where does giving lead to? I believe it leads to complete joy and fulfillment. As we fol-low God’s lead and give of what we are and have we are blessed as well as those we share with. That is the way God’s kingdom functions. As we are faithful to live life His way, all are provided for and blessed. All people benefit through the gift of giving. There is another important aspect of giving to talk about and that is receiving. One must receive a gift or one can’t give a gift. So we must be sensitive to those who want to bless us with a gift. If I may I’ll share an ex-ample of receiving. My wife and I pastor a small church and once a month we have the communion service with our members. As our church began to grow we needed another communion tray to serve the elements. We went online and ordered one. About this time one of our members became aware of this need and he offered to pay for it. We had already ordered and paid for it online and said to him, “Oh thank you, but no, we’ve taken care of it.” He persisted and said that he really wanted and needed to give this gift. God was leading him to give us this gift. The Holy Spirit spoke to our hearts and made us aware that we were depriv-ing him of giving. It was fulfilling and a blessing to all of us. This is how God’s kingdom works. You see, we must be both giving and receiving. Now let’s look at the ultimate gift. That can only be the gift of Jesus Christ. That most famous scripture says it all. John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” We read the wonderful Christmas story and see Jesus being born of the Virgin Mary in the humblest of circumstances. The shepherds are heralded by a host of angels declaring, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” As you read this Christmas story in Luke chapters 1 and 2, you will see what an amazing and wonderful gift God has given to all mankind. It is a way to heavenly glory, and eternal communion with God, through His gift to us all, Jesus the Christ.

In this modern environment, one would think that health is one big issue that has made the greatest stride since all of science has been behind it through the past decades. Consider further that the computer technology has succeeded in conquering the multidimensional visualiza-tion of the human body there-by contributing to immense understanding of anatomy and pathology. Think of how gene therapy is manipulating the cell to “cre-ate” body parts. See the robots operating on human beings. It seems like science has all the answers to all human condi-tions, in health and in disease, in good and in bad environ-ment.

Does science really hold all the answers?

Why do we still see so much distressing ailments, debilitat-ing conditions and incurable diseases all around us like cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s, congenital anomalies, arthri-tis, Alzheimer’s disease and a lot more? The more discover-ies are made, the more knowl-edge seem so inadequate and

VALUING ENERGY & ENERGY MEDICINEincomplete. The more new treatment is available, the more new diseases surface that need treatment.

In our analytical quest for an answer, we need to sit back and look at the perspectives of health from both new and old angles. Are we only look-ing at the angle of Sir Isaac Newton whose perspective is the mechanistic approach where the body is separated into parts and organ systems so that one can understand the workings of the body. This brilliant approach has created tremendous strides in science. But is it the only one?

Where is the connection be-tween the different bits of the body; between the body, mind and spirit; between the per-son and the environment? Cells form tissues, tissues form organs and organs form into systems. These are all designs for specific functions. they are all in constant change and movement. They are all in constant vibration. The vibra-tion results in functions, indi-vidually and in coordination with one another. This must be in balance, what is called homeostasis. This over-all

coherence is attributed to the endocrine and nervous sys-tem. But current studies show that there seems to be an intel-ligence that runs through the body and the mind connecting and somehow orchestrating it all which goes beyond what is currently understood by sci-ence.

Now the science of Quantum Physics presents another per-spective. There exists in the body a hierarchy of organizational levels. The simplest is that of chemical. It is where atoms are seen forming molecules, organelles, and so on and so forth. Quantum physics rec-ognizes what forms the atoms, the subatomic particles. The

subatomic particles are made up of energy, incredibly fast moving vortexes of photons and quarks that, when you look really close, disappear. The particles are so small, that what is seen actually is just the space in between, a vast space. This unseen energy is what the chemistry of life is all about. It is about how energy arranges itself to form matter. Energy is what makes atoms dance perpetually, makes atoms form molecules and molecules get to other molecules and to other mol-ecules. Energy is what makes things move, what allows stuff to happen. It is the unseen intelligence. It is the vital, moving and living force. Fundamentally, therefore, ev-erything that exists must have

ENERGY! And it is logical to put energy into the core sub-stance of the human anatomy, its dynamic infrastructure. It is the energy that causes the chemical interactions in the body. It is energy that makes the body function physiologi-cally. What drives the uni-verse? Energy is what drives all events in the universe. Energy is the most fundamen-tal property of the universe. People are part of the uni-verse. Energy is not static. It is always moving and flowing, whether in the body or out. The energy of all living thing moves and intermingles with surrounding energies of the universe, affecting each other favorably or adversely.

How about thoughts, emo-tions and spirituality? Can there be a human being with only the body, but without mind, soul and spirit? In the context of energy, the thought jumps into matter, the mind becomes the conscious body and the body becomes the subconscious mind. This is what Energy Medicine is all about. It gives energy the value person for him to be truly human. The body uses energy as its medium of infor-mation and communication.

More information on this go to:www.naturalwellnessonwings.com

up in smoke, let go. Let go of all the negative thoughts that you have been holding on to that keep you from enjoying your Self during the holidays. Give your Self the Gift of Who You Are. Write down all the things that you do for others. Write down all the things that you do for you. Make a list of all of your accomplishments. Thisexerciseisaboutyourecognizingyourworth.WeoftentakeourSelfforgrant-ed! Weshop,weclean,wetakecareofothers,wehandledifficulttasks,wearerespon-sible,wehelpourfamilyandfriends,wetakecareofourclientsoremployees,wedowhatwedooftenwithoutgivingourSelfanycredit. ThemoreyougiveyourSelfattention,thelessyouwillhavetheneedtohaveothersgiveattentiontoyou.During

Three Gifts During the holiday time, it’s easy to be stressed as we plan for the family gatherings, shop for gifts, and send out cards. We worry that we’re going to overlook someone or some-thing. There are Christmas programs to attend, holiday parties, and perhaps preparing for a trip. This is the time that buried feelings - resentment, frustra-tion and anger - want to rear their ugly heads. Feelings of loss, sadness, and melancholy also seem more apparent dur-ing this time. It’s also easy to feel that no one appreciates all of our hard efforts. It’s easy to become impatient. And, as hard as we try, it is also a time when things don’t work out exactly the way we want. There are upsets, spills, bro-ken ornaments. It never goes perfectly as planned. Here are three gifts that you can give your Self during this time to help you through the stress of the holidays: Give your Self the Let It Go Gift. If you have buried feelings, give your Self a Gift this holi-

day season by making peace with the past. One of my cli-ents had experienced a dif-ficult divorce. She was filled with bitterness and anger. She felt abandoned and betrayed. She dreaded the holidays and it affected her family. She had tried to stuff her feel-ings in an attempt to keep ev-erything as “normal” as she could for your children. She had never given her Self permission to be angry or to cry. It was only after she was able to write it out, like releas-ing a toxic poison, that she was able to find happiness and en-joy life again. A safe and effective way is to write a letter to the person(s) that is/are involved in your un-happiness (it doesn’t matter if this person is alive or from the past). Give your Self permis-sion to say all the things that you have never said or weren’t allowed to say. Release all those feelings that you’ve kept buried and as you write them down, keep asking your Self “is there anything more?” You will know when you’re complete. Then you can crum-ple up the paper and burn it. As you watch all those words that represent pent up feelings go

aCoachTrainingprogram, one of the requirements is for students to list their lifetime achievements. One of the students, who had emigrated here from Egypt as a youth, had low self esteem. He never gave himself credit for his ac-complishments. This exercise had a huge affect on him. He wrote his list on big sheets of poster paper. We hung his sheets up on the wall. He had an opportunity to soak in all that he had done in his life time. It was amazing. He spoke several languages; he had endured very difficult times in his youth, he learned a new culture and completed school. He took care of his mother and younger sister. He needed to see himself outside of him-self to appreciate who he had become as a man. Be mindful that you are a Gift. You are unique, like an exqui-site piece of Waterford crystal,

priceless, one of a kind. Give your Self the Gift to BE Perfectly Im-perfect! When something doesn’t turn out the way that you had planned, laugh. Laughter is the best stress reliever. Give your Self the gift to be human. Life is too short to waste time and energy on something that won’t matter a year from now! It’s not how great youdosomethingforsome-onethatisyourGift. Your Gift is your Beingness when you are with loved ones. I remember my mother would fret over the smallest details, like the icicles on the Christ-mas tree. She would spend hours making sure that each strand hung perfectly. To this day, I detest icicles! As she got older, she realized how important she was as a

person. She stopped judging herself by her performance. When I had my daughter, she was a terrific grandmother; she spent quality time with her in-stead of giving all that atten-tion to a tree! Give your Self a holiday treat. Remember it’s not about the stuff; it’s about the love we share for each other and lov-ing our Self in the process. Wishing you the Happiest of Holidays! Coach Joy

During the month of December, I have special ses-sion rates. Book now and save!

Master Life Coach, Trainer & Consultant Joy & Associates, Inc.

702-877-9798.

Get Ready for Authentic Suc-cess in the “New Normal”

By Denise Michaels

Even as you are hurtling toward the holidays at break-neck speed, in the back of your mind you are probably thinking about the goals you want to set for 2012. For many small business owners the holiday season is a slow-ing down time. A good op-portunity to hunker down and think about what you want next year.

I consider goals differently now because the world is changing so fast. In a post Arab Spring world, you must be flexible and adaptable. Goals must be set in Jello® not in concrete. Otherwise you:• Will achieve your goals faster than anticipated because of a new technology that didn’t exist before. This is the good news. • Won’t achieve your goals because you underestimated

the one-two punch this economy packs. Offers that used to result in a feeding frenzy of customers can be greeted today with thun-dering silence today.• May have a goal that becomes obsolete. A new discovery can result in a quantum leap to something better than imagined just months ago.

The economic foundation and constancy most Americans always took for granted has changed. Thousands of Las Vegans are scrambling to cre-ate financial abundance, good health, reduced stress and bal-ance in the midst of accelerat-ing changes.

The seismic shifts the last three years may have changed where you work, live, your relationships, and/or, your health. Truth is, few people have been unscathed by the spiral that re-sulted from the credit crunch and the Vegas housing bubble

that went, “Pop!” If you’re striving to return to the way it was – save yourself time and heartache. If instead you embrace a new way of working with change, you have an unprecedented oppor-tunity to create what you al-ways wanted in the first place but perhaps never believed was possible.

Insisting others must change seems simple, but it’s a path to nowhere. Assigning blame is what we see in the media, however it doesn’t solve how to move forward in “the new normal.” Only swimming with the flow of change rather than against it will help you create the abundance you’ve always wanted, financially,

“You can be yourself and have customers happily say ‘yes.’ Stretching outside your com-fort zone isn’t about becom-ing a “pushy” salesperson. Old-school approaches fail in a sea of smart consumers. Align with your customer’s values and goals and they will rightfully see you as trustworthy and helpful.”

We live in a new environment that requires different skills. Dump the old. Instead, open up and apply the skills and strategies that work in “the new normal.” That’s when you can finally create the fun and abundance you missed all those years sit-ting in a cubicle. They will provide essential tools and strategies to make your life and business work in “the new normal” For more information and to register go to http:///www.DeniseMi-chaels.com/seminar/

emotionally, spiritually, in your relationships and in your health.

Whether you agree or disagree with the “Occupy” protesters fanning out across the country and around the globe, the only thing we truly have power over changing is ourselves. If you’re open to discovering how to make essential strate-gic moves now, life can im-prove in an instant.

Working harder may look like the solution. That’s our tra-dition: the “American work ethic.” Working smart and focusing on the highest and best use of your time is key. Also, working with the eleven energy surges discussed by Stacey Hall in her ground-breaking book, “Chi-to-Be: Achieving Your Ultimate B’All” is the secret to feeling an elevated level of prosperity and increased hope in every facet of your life.

Hall says, “There are times when it makes sense to take a rest stop and re-charge your batteries. Or, it may be time to surge ahead and get things done even if the result is not the picture of perfection you envisioned.” Many Las Veg-ans never considered owning a business a few years ago. Yet as the Fortune 500 and

large businesses in Vegas con-tinue to morph and re-shape sending jobs overseas, the lure of becoming an entrepreneur is undeniable. Benefits include increased flexibility, family time, time for health and per-sonal pursuits, and, an oppor-tunity to create greater finan-cial success. Greater wellness on every level. The trade-off is less of what we used to call “security.” Twenty years ago I met a woman who worked for a Fortune 100 manufacturer. She was laid off for the third time in five years. I asked, “Why not consider a different career?”She replied, “And leave be-hind all that job security?”

As a business owner it’s im-possible to get laid off. Many new business owners jump in with enthusiasm, but they possess few business skills. The skills to creating income in your business are marketing and selling. They are essen-tial.

According to Denise Mi-chaels, Author, “Testosterone-Free Marketing” its time to embrace these skills. She says, “Ignore new marketing and selling strategies and you don’t have a business – you have an expensive hobby.” Michaels continues,

Stacey Hall and Denise Mi-chaels are conducting theirbreakthroughworkshop,“OccupyYourLife…NOW!”in Las Vegas, January 26-28th,2012.

Gentleness in Weakness You are familiar with the phrase, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” The source of this“contempt” is the same reason why people are willing to hurt their loved ones in waysthey won’t offend a stranger. The reason one idolizes a fa-mous figurehead and refusesto believe that person is ca-pable of anything wrong, and also why people have mentaland physical affairs with an-other person instead of their spouse. Why do you ask? Knowledge of weakness. When one knows the weak-nesses ofanother person, that person becomes devalued in their eyes, subconsciously. Unlessidentified and changed, this deflating continues until they “fall out of love” or therelationship is severed. So what is it exactly that causes another person to view a per-son’s “weakness?” A weakness is one’s behavior that does not meet the expectations of an-other person.Some people compare human actions to God’s perfect ac-

tions and declare any actions that do not meet God’s stan-dard, are a weakness. In short, it is a lack of perfection as defined by the person judging. How is that judging? Do we have the right to judge when we are wronged? That sentence implies that judging is wrong. In some instances it is, and in others it is not. If judgement is meant to decide a truth in a neutral way, such as what is the ideal of ourjustice system, then judging serves a purpose for the com-mon good. If judgement causes one per-son to believe they are “better” than rather than “different” from another, it only serves to separate the one who judges from the judged. When judge-ment separates it cannot heal the relationship of the two in-dividuals. The original justice system was created to foster an envi-ronment for the offender’s re-pentance thereby allowing the offended to forgive and resto-ration the previous relation-ship tooccur. Boundaries cre-ate a neutral way to establish safety for all parties, clearly communicateexpectations and provide for an environment of healing.

They do not encourage or allow the behavior that nega-tively effects the relationship or the person to continue. Enforcing a boundaries can mean severing a relationship for the health of one or both parties.Many people view other’s weaknesses and begin judg-ment comparing them toexpected behavior that is not probable for anyone except Jesus. As one becomesvulnerable and reveals their faults to another, what they are looking for is uncondi-tionalacceptance despite their weakness. This person may be looking for a safe place to change, and is checking to see if you are it, or if you are going to hate them the way the rest of the world hates them. At the core of every individual exists the need for uncondi-tional love and acceptance. Itis when this need is met, people are able to live freer of destructive habits. This love istraditionally demonstrated to children from their parents. They raise them, disciplinethem and encourage them, all the while learning their child’s unique personality and“imperfections.”As children grow older and enter middle-school, they learn that the world does not

tive judgement? By using gentleness in weakness.Gentleness arises from the heart’s knowledge of love. The mind acknowledges thatthere are weaknesses of it’s own. The end result is interaction that sets boundaries andencourages a life of loving one’s self and others.Gentleness is not meant for wimps. It takes strength to not get upset, flying off thehandle, ranting and raving at how much a person is a fail-ure. It takes discipline to listento a person who did something you didn’t like. It takes know-ing your purpose to acceptanother person as they are without forcing them to change. Imagine the most judgmental person in your life, found out about your “secret sin.” Howwould you feel? What would you expect them to say? Would you even get a chance to say a word? Yet, what if all they said was, “You are loved.” The sin is repeated, and they only repeat, “You are loved.” Would that feel like what you expected? No. Yet why didyou fear them finding out? Because of their judgement.

Judgement separates while love unites.Think about the things you do that you hate. Would you like to stop them? Do you wantto love yourself despite them? You can and begin shifting your actions to those thatcreate your desired outcomes. The process takes a secure environment to reveal andlearn, and it takes you allow-ing others to do the same.

lovethem as their parents love them. They begin to take the love of their parents with themand own it for themselves. This grows into a healthy, self-love. This self-love is whatfuels them throughout their remaining life. A person full of self-love can look on another person in their “failures” and accept themwith out judging them as in-ferior yet coaching or guiding them toward behavior thathelps them rather than de-stroys them. In effect, they display gentleness in weak-ness. This creates an environment of safety that allows everyone to grow and rely on theother person to fill in where they are not as able.Most people do not receive this kind of unconditional love as children. All they knew growing up was judgement, therefore they live in and portray judgement. They do not know how to love themselves, nor do they know how to love an imperfect per-son. This judgement itself is a weakness, that everyone does, and when used against some-one, it is destructive. So, how do we avoid destruc-