5 Great Holiday Vacations for ALL AGES!!

Dreading the holidays already? Do you want to say enough with the presents, let's go away this season? Well, here are some places to go where you are guaranteed to have a fabulous time. If it is with your family, with kids or you & your significant other, there is a vacation waiting for you!

#1. Disney's California Adventure

To all who believe in the power of dreams... welcome. Here we pay tribute to the dreamers of the past... The native people, explorers, immigrants, aviators, entrepreneurs and entertainers who built the Golden State. And we salute a new generation of dreamers who are creating the wonders of tomorrow ... From the silver screen to the computer screen ... From the fertile farmlands to the far reaches of space. Disney's California Adventure celebrates the richness and the diversity of California ... Its land, its people, its spirit and, above all, the dreams that it continues to inspire.

—Michael Eisner, February 8, 2001

This theme park was constructed as part of a major expansion that transformed the Disneyland area and its hotels into the Disneyland Resort and consists of five areas: Sunshine Plaza, Hollywood Pictures Backlot, The Golden State, A Bug's Land and Paradise Pier. Each area is meant to resemble various aspects pg California, its culture, landmarks and history.

This is a great vacation for families with children of all ages. There is plenty to do & it is also in close proximity to Disneyland which has a Holiday Parade every year from December 25th-January 2nd. Why California Adventures over Disney World in Orlando? Disney World attracts a much larger crowd for the well-known Holiday Parade. This attraction maximizes park capacity which for some, makes an un-enjoyable experience, for example, lines are longer & restaurants shorten menus for holiday rush. At California Adventure, you get a similar experience & less of a mob.

#2. Cruise
















A cruise is a wonderful vacation for families, singles, & couples! There are numerous ports & destinations that would please just about everyone. Some great departing locations would Tampa, Atlantic City, New York, Boston, Ft. Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, & Los Angeles. If you can avoid flying during the holidays it is a little less stressful & cost effective. Some deals that I found were:

Royal Caribbean
5 Night Bahamas Cruise departing from Port Canaveral, FL for $487 per night.

Princess Cruises
7-day Mexican Riviera departing from Los Angeles, CA for $1299 per person.

Princess Cruises
7-day Western Caribbean Cruise departing from Fort Lauderdale, Fl for $1299 per person.

#3. Killington Resort, Vermont

If your family loves the winter activities and cuddling up to the fire, Vermont is the Winter Wonderland for you! With snowmobile tours to shopping there is everything & more! During the holidays they keep their guests entertained with daily activities & shows such as U2 tribute, shows & live music. The Killington Resort also has many dining areas, spa & health clubs & shopping areas.


#4. Great Escape Lodge-Lake George, NY

This is another family friendly vacation, located in the beautiful Lake George area. This year there will be an all-new celebration featuring dazzling lights, holiday-themed shows, festive foods & even an appearance from Santa himself! One of the best parts about Great Escape is that they have an Indoor Water Park! What is better than swimming indoors while watching the snowfall outside?

#5. Biloxi, Mississippi

Now here is the Altantic City of Mississippi! Most of you are going where the heck is this place? I've never heard of it before, but if you like Altantic City you will love Biloxi! This city has multiple resorts & casinos with reasonable prices compared to Altantic City with the same atmosphere. Located on the shore, some well known quality resorts are the Palace Casino Resort, Beau Rivage Hotel & Casino & the Casino Magic Biloxi. These resorts are equipped with casinos, swimming pools, restaurants, spas, etc. Some even allow the other members of your family, pets!

So while you are considering who's house to go to for the Holiday Festivities & think it might just be easier to get away...look at your other options with a few of these vacations.

Until next time...

What are you thankful for this year?

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks... So I thought about what I am thankful for this holiday season and I want to share it with all of you.

My health-There are so many terminally ill people in the world, that I am thankful that I am healthy.

My family, friends & loved ones- The saying goes, "You can pick your Friends, but you can't pick your Family!" The saying is true, but at the end of the day, they are still your family and will be there for you and love you everyday no matter what.

My successes this year- I am grateful that I have the opportunity to be here at Perfect Productions. My extended family here makes work not seem like work some days. I am also proud of myself for completely my schooling and continuing with a design background when most students do not enjoy their major as much as I enjoy mine.

What are you thankful for this holiday season?

Have a Safe & Happy Thanksgiving!

Traditions - The True Spirit Behind Thanksgiving!

Today I am writing about thanksgiving traditions, and there are many, but perhaps the biggest tradition of all is Thanksgiving itself.

Children are taught the story in school about how the settlers celebrated the first Harvest with their Indian Friends, and it became the First thanksgiving. Although this is true, this is not the holiday as we know it.

President Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November 1863, the first day of giving thanks for the blessings of "fruitful fields and healthful skies". 146 years ago the yearly tradition started but it wasn't until 1941, after President Roosevelt changed the date to the 3rd Thursday in November in order to extend the holiday shopping season, that congress actually ratified the holiday and the Tradition as we know it began.

The United Sates of America being the melting pot that it is - has taken some of its biggest thanksgiving traditions from other countries.

The Cornucopia, for example, is one of the most recognizable symbols of the holiday- but does anyone know where it comes from or what the meaning behind it is??

This Horn of Plenty as it is often times called originated in ancient Greece and was the symbol of abundance. it has evolved over the years into a curved basket, however originally it was a curved goat horn overflowing with fruits and vegetables. The Story says that the horn was the symbol of Zeus's nurse the Nymph Amalthaea - and that it would be filled with whatever the owner wished for.

Another tradition that we see on thanksgiving is the Turkey and trimmings - this is something that has evolved since the first thanksgiving as the settlers did not have turkey, they were giving thanks for gain and seed.

Today, Different regions of the United States prepare it differently, like coffee rubbed Turkey in Hawaii, Salt encrusted Turkey in New England or deep fried Turkey in the south. None the less, the Turkey has become a main stay for thanksgiving tables.

Not only is eating Turkey a tradition, but since 1947 every thanksgiving the National Turkey Federation give the President of the United States Three Turkeys - one of which is pardoned and sent to live out its days in the comfort of a luxury spa, while the other two are dressed and served up for the Whitehouse Thanksgiving dinner.

And what story about Thanksgiving traditions would be complete if I didn't mention the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade and Football.

The Macy's Parade with its lavish floats and larger than life balloons began in 1924 and is enjoyed by 46 million people all over the world, 2.5 million of which were along the Manhattan parade route last year. The first character balloon to make an appearance in the parade was Felix the Cat. Celebrities such as Miley Cyrus, Alicia Keyes, Tim McGraw and the Bare Naked Ladies. Other Characters that have graced the parade route are, Shrek, Mickey Mouse, Snoopy, Hello Kitty, Abby Kadabby and the cast of sesame street as well as, of course the Big Man himself Santa Claus.

The Football tradition dates back to 1876 when the first collegiate football championships were held on thanksgiving day. Recently the NFL has added a Thanksgiving day game and of course the old staple rivalries such as the sunshine showdown of the Florda Gators and the Florida Seminoles.

Not to worry if can't choose the winning team in football you may be able to score the wishbone from the Turkey and if tug and end up with the bigger side you can make a wish that will hopefully come true for you. This tradition dates back to 322 B.C. when the Romans brought it with them when they conquered the British. English settlers brought the game with them to the colonies and the rest is history.

Lastly an most importantly Thanksgiving traditions are all about giving thanks - this year consider a regional southern tradition. Place 5 Kernels of corn on top of a small envelope, by each of your guests plates. When you sit down to dinner tell your Guests the Story of the of the first harvest. Explain how the settlers went through some days with merely five Kernels of Corn. Tell them about the planting and harvesting of the crops and how thanksgiving celebrated that harvest. Then look to your guests and ask them to pick up the first Kernel of corn and put it in the Envelope to remind them of the beauty of autumn. Follow with the second Kernal to remind them of their love for each other, the third to remind them of their family love, the fourth for friendship and when they put the last kernel in the envelope they should give thanks and be reminded of Freedom - the tradition we fought for - and the most important of all. They should keep the envelopes with them throughout the year to remember the lessons of the 5 Kernels.

As you can see Thanksgiving is steep with Traditions - and I am sure each family and person has even more that they do to add to this list. So During this Holiday Season Perfect Productions would like to know...

What are your Traditions?? Please share them with us.

To all our clients, Friends and Family, Best wishes for a Healthy, Happy, Tradition Filled Thanksgiving!!!

Fall Centerpiece Ideas

Are you having your family over for Thanksgiving? Do you want to jazz up your dining room table a little bit without purchasing all new decor? Well I thought I could help with some neat, inexpensive decor ideas.

Natural Table Runner

For a pumpkin patch table runner look, arrange a line of miniature pumpkins or gourds in the center of the table and weave double-faced ribbon around them. Add some bittersweet stem for a blaze of color and you have a very simple & easy design.

If you do not have a long table for the runner look, arrange the pumpkins & gourdes at different heights on pillars, plates & stands. Weave the ribbon around them & add the bittersweet for a similar look.


Pumpkin Candle Holders

To create these festive votive & candle holders place the bottom end of the pillar candle on the top of the pumpkin, tightly trace the perimeter of the candle's bottom with a marker. Cut a hole inside each pumpkin with a utility knife, and then carve out space for candles with a melon baller. If desired, stack 2 pumpkins/gourds on top of one another and secure from inside hole with straight pins. Wedge the candle securely inside. If necessary, keep the candle from tipping by wedging one end of a vine in between the candle and the cut edge. Tuck in a few leaves and sprigs of vine around the base of the candle to add some color. This is wonderful for a table arrangement as well as decorations around your home and it is really easy!

Do you have a centerpiece that you love, but it needs something added to it? Try these two candle ideas.

Corn & Candles

For a fall ambiance at your next thanksgiving feast, pick out some autumn scented candles & some glass votive holders. Make sure that when you put the candle in the holder that there is some room around the candle. Fill the space around the add some dried corn or acorns. Lite & enjoy!



Fruitfully Candles

Warm up your holiday table with a this fruitful centerpiece complete with dried oranges, lemons, and limes. Thinly slice the citrus fruits about 1/8-inch thick. Place a wire cooling rack on a cookie sheet, and then arrange the sliced oranges, lemons, and limes on the rack. Put the cookie sheet and rack in an oven preheated to 250 degrees for approximately two hours, or until all moisture is removed. Using a glue gun, connect the citrus slices to each other, forming a band around the base of each candle. Do not glue them to the candle. Once your candles are decorated, cluster them in the center of your Thanksgiving table and weave berried branches throughout to create a cohesive centerpiece.

I hope this helps to WOW your family & friends!

The Best Little City in the World, May Be the Best Place to Host Your Next Meeting, Event or Conference!

Not many people think of Reno, Nevada when you ask where do you want to hold your next sales meeting...in fact, up until last month, I wouldn't have even thought of it. After Visiting I can certainly say it is a top of mind destination for Events large and small.

Perfect Productions recently had the opportunity to visit the Peppermill Resort and Spa in Reno, NV, a definite eye opening experience. Having just undergone and completed a more that 550 million dollar renovation and expansion this is most certainly the "it" property for conventions, meetings and Special Events in the area.

The Resort boasts two distinct types of rooms that range from Standard Doubles and Kings to Duel Level Penthouse suites that measure out over 2100 Square Feet. The Peppermill Tower, with 1100 Rooms and suites, is located above the casino and has a light and airy decor, while the Tuscany tower, has 635 Suites is located above the New Tuscany Ballroom and is more traditional in style.

The Tuscany Tower Suites have both mountain and city views, hand painted Italian Art, and Private foyers, While the Peppermill Tower Rooms create a relaxing environment with custom furniture. Both Towers boast, Sony 42" LCD HDTV's, Goose Down or Hypoallergenic Pillows, Elegant Marble Bathrooms, Free Wifi and internet, Several Phones, European Soaking Tubs and Separate Marble enclose multi-head showers.


The Resort also has 17 Lounges and Bars as well as 10 World Class Restaurants from the coffee shop that started it all to, Bimini Steak House, Romanza Italian, Chi Asian Cuisine, Oceanea Seafood and White Orchid, Reno's only, Five Star, Five Diamond Private dining room.

If relaxation is the game, or if you need to unwind after a hard day the Spa Toscana is definitely the place to be - with 30,000 square feet of luxury and tranquility, it features 24 Treatment rooms, Ritual Baths, Saunas, Steam Rooms and Northern Nevada's only Caldarium with an indoor pool, hot and cold plunge pools and experience cascada showers - a choreography of color, light, sound and water. This combined with the 6,600 Square foot, 24 hour fitness room designed by Precor and the upper and lower outdoor heated pool decks there is something for everyone and I haven't even mentioned the casino.



But although all of that is nice - we can't choose venue locations by the amenities they offer alone - the best part about it is that this resorts Meeting space was amazing, especially the 60,000 Square foot Clear Span Tuscany Ballroom, Which can be broken down to 18 individual rooms, or any combination there of. By Pairing these ideal meeting space conditions with the impeccable and unmatched service you receive throughout the resort - meetings and conventions are never going to be the same.

As you can see we had a wonderful experience and can't wait to book it so our clients can see for themselves. So when your next event takes you looking for the hidden gem of Conference resorts you don't have to look far the Peppermill is the place to be!