You know you’ve been anxiously awaiting its arrival. OK, well I have. Ever since the mad masses for Missoni last year, Target seems to be right on trend with what’s on trend. This time around, the mega store had joined forces with one of the most sought after retailer in high-end luxury fashions, Neiman Marcus.

The Target + Neiman Marcus Holiday Collection launches this Saturday, December 1st, and is available in both select Target and Neiman Marcus stores across the country, and on-line.

Together, along with the featured 24 of America’s preeminent designers, all members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), will donate a total of $1million to the CFDA.

If you thought Black Friday was an adrenaline rush for shopping junkies, here’s what is in store for those wanting first dibs at some of the hottest must haves for Holiday 2012:

• Controlled Chaos: starting at 8am, the first 50 anxious shoppers will have the opportunity to receive a colored wrist band and shop for 15 minutes before the doors open to the general public
• Item Limits: customers can purchase up to (5) of the same item per transaction
• Buyer Beware: there will also be a shortened return policy in place where all returns must be made to the retailer where product was purchased by January 5, 2013
• Get Lucky: while waiting in line hoping for your 15 minutes of shopping fame, Neiman Marcus (at the Fashion Show Mall location in Las Vegas) will be serving customers refreshments and getting you signed up for a chance to win a $5000 Neiman Marcus gift card.*

Now that we have all the fine print, mumbo-jumbo out of the way..onto the good stuff! Here’s a sneak peak at some of my favorites (For the complete list of gifts, visit nmdaily.com):

Just because we live in the desert doesn’t mean we don’t love the holidays! Las Vegas comes alive with plenty of attractions and activities for every age. Yes, it’s true, we might have to force it to snow, or create our own ice, but it is always impressive to see and experience all of what Vegas has to offer during the holidays. Here are some of my favorite spots around town:

Ethel M Chocolate Factory Holiday Cactus Lighting is technically in Henderson, located at the Ethel M Chocolate Factory. Every year, for the past 11 years, Ethel Ms has lit up their famous cactus garden with thousands of beautifully colored lights. A walk down the path leads you through over 300 varieties of cacti found in Southern Nevada, along with a few friendly faces like the M&Ms, eco-friendly LED lighting and final stop at Santa. Before or after, stop into the retail shop and grab a cup of hot cocoa. A bit of an indulgence, but one of the best hot chocs in Vegas. My favorite is the Mexican Hot Chocolate.

The Glittering Lights out at the Speedway is another family fun adventure to get your crew in the Christmas spirit! Head out on the US-95, and stay in your vehicle! Tune into Sunny 106.5 (or Sirius XM’s Holly) and listen to some of your favorite Christmas songs while you cruise through the 2.5 miles of scenic lights. What I also love about the Glittering Lights is the GoodWill Donation truck located near the entrance. It’s a great time to enjoy the festivities while giving back to your community here in Las Vegas.

The Nutcracker is an annual tradition in our family, and this year is not to be missed. A new vision directed by Nevada Ballet Artistic Director, James Canfield, it makes its debut at The Smith Center, where it shall claim its residency for years to come. As a local, the opportunity to see The Nutcracker performed at a world renowned performing arts center is enough to make me want to stand up and give a speech. It’s a moment I have been waiting for, and have already purchased my tickets. You can purchase yours, as well, with a special 10% discount found here. According to James Canfield, this version of The Nutcracker will appeal to all ages, and even to young boys who want to be apart of the fantasy as much as the girls. New set and costume designs that are sure to leave every age in awe. I also love that the musicians are local talent. Kudos to the Nevada Ballet! For an even more  Christmas-y experience, consider adding The Nutcracker Tea, a high tea at the Mandarin Oriental.

Opportunity Village’s The Magical Forest will really knock your socks off. I was very impressed with the set up, the decorations, activities, and holiday treats offered here. It really is worth adding to your Holiday itinerary, especially if you have little ones. Even the big kids will love it! The Magical Forest itself is an enchanting Winter Wonderland of trees and houses decorated with themes and sponsored by many familiar businesses throughout the city. Don’t skip the Nightmare Before Christmas in 3-D. The kids will love it! It’s quite a delight! Couple of things to remember- all monies made from the Magical Forest goes directly to support the Opportunity Village and its programs. I might suggest purchasing the Passport when you arrive- it will include entry fee and a wrist band which gets you unlimited access to all the attractions (mini-golf, carousel, slide and train ride), without having to deal with purchasing the right amount of tickets. Also, keep in mind, everyone who is working the venue are all un-paid volunteers, as it may seem a bit unorganized at times. The big picture is that it is a beautiful spot and gratitude to those who give their time over the holidays to help an organization synonymous with Las Vegas non-profits.

Town Square is one of the only spots in Vegas where is snows on schedule! It is a most festive spot south of the Strip- decorated to the nines with a beautiful tree, falling snow, Holiday Nights & Lights Community Concerts, and of course, the famous classic rendition of Normal Rockwell’s Christmas in a sweet little house where Santa sits waiting to take a photo with your little ones. In Vegas, it is one of the most talked about Santa photo opportunities around. Town Square is always a great place to be during the holidays as there is plenty to see, shop and do for all ages. It’s a definite must-see for your Holidays Vegas Style!

So much to see and do! You can find more Holiday ideas in Las Vegas on my Hip Happenings calendar, or follow me on Instagram #RSMLVHolidays.

Enjoy your holiday season!

In December, my husband and I are taking our two older kids to New York for their first time. We are so excited to share this experience with them, we can’t hardly wait. My daughter has had her bag packed for months! We have been planning this trip since the summer, but I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t head East without thinking about how Hurricane Sandy affected those living in New York and New Jersey. In good conscience, I couldn’t take my family across the country after a recent disaster and enjoy the benefits of the Big Apple without acknowledging people were suffering and trying to rebuild their lives. Being a resident of Nevada, especially Las Vegas, during a major economic crisis and recession, in a small way, I know how that feels. Every bit, every thought, every ounce of aid helps. Not to mention, I, personally, knew way too many people who were affected by Sandy. Whether they were direct family and friends, or friends of friends of family of friends, no matter the degree of separation, when it hits home that close, you know you have an obligation to help on some level.

It was all a matter of timing as well. For years now, my girlfriends and I have been anxiously awaiting the moment where our children were old enough to understand how privelaged their lives are. It is not even a matter of how well they live; it’s a matter of how they live. Our children are blessed with great health. They are strong. They can run on their own, breathe on their own. They have very loving families. Their parents, and in most cases, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins…provide for a strong family unit. You get the picture. Because we feel so blessed, we want them to understand that being who they are is not to be taken lightly. Whether it’s karma, a belief in a higher God, or gratitude to the universe, there is a strong desire to give back. And, you never know when you may need that helping hand.

Months before Sandy hit the East coast, my girlfriends and I had been talking about how we were going to provide to our own community over the holidays, and actively involve our children. Though, there are many organizations locally that need support, once we realized the devastation of the aftermath on the East coast, and how many of our direct family and friends were affected, it was too hard to ignore the obvious. A Giving Party was organized.

What is a Giving Party? It is when people in our community come together to give: time, resources, and/or monetary donations. In this instance, we felt strongly that there was an abundance of items in our house that we could give without having to buy. Those who participated were encouraged to look around for an overload of unused batteries, candles and toiletries; an abundance of gently used backpacks, mittens, blankets, and warm coats. In addition, those who could brought other supplies like rags, masks, gloves, diapers and non-perishable food items. Some offered to ship boxes, others dropped off gift cards and packing supplies. Subway of Nevada donated sandwiches, and other folks brought desserts and snacks to keep the Helpers energized.

Most importantly, it gave us all the opportunity to talk to our children about what happened. How families, just like us, were displaced and lives disrupted. We encouraged our kids to write cards and make crafts. Some of them even helped with the boxes. Several of the local Henderson and Las Vegas area schools participated by having their classrooms make cards to send. A huge thank you to Midbar Kodesh Early Childhood Center, John C. Vanderburg Elementary, and Evelyn Stuckey Elementary Schools, and Summit Ridge Day Camp. Their sweet, yet candid notes, are sure to be cherished, and hopefully offer a splash of color into a currently dreary scene.

Our Giving Party had over 16 adults and who knows how many children, 26 boxes shipped to 7 places in New Jersey and New York, and over $300 worth of Target giftcards. What helped to make a larger impact is that we pooled our resources together to accomplish more. The amount of items that came in were overwhelming. The number of people who wanted to participate was even more exciting. We did not all know each other, but we came together for a cause. I always believe in the power of numbers. When used with a positive intent, it’s a great thing.

I don’t want to discourage anyone from giving locally, but if you would like to contribute to the relief efforts from Hurricane Sandy, here are some of the places our Giving Party sent donations to:

Visitation Church
755 Mantoloking Road
Brick, New Jersey 087223

Sayerville Storm Relief
287 Cheesquake Road
Parlin, New Jersey 08859

New York Communities for Change (NYCC)
2-4 Nevins Street
2nd Floor
Brooklyn, New York 11218

Staten Island Relief
c/o St. Jacoby
5406 4th Avenue Sunset Park
Brooklyn, New York 11220

Breezy Point Co-Op
Disaster Relief Fund
c/o Lee & Kane
2175 Flatbush Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11234

This is another great article written by Danielle Smith of ExtraordinaryMommy.com on other great efforts to participate in during the Hurricane Sandy Relief. Fortunately, because so many of our friends and family live on the East coast, we were able to stay connected to up to date information and send boxes directly to those we knew who were in need. To be able to do that, to provide a personal contact or a grass roots organization with immediate assistance made everyone at the Giving Party feel as though we were able to act in the moment, and cut through the red tape. When you are across the country, there is a tendency to feel removed from what’s really happening.

“When you have a room full of moms who are multi-taskers and over-achievers, the power of getting things done and organized in record time is amazing!”

Ashlea Goddard, Giving Party participant

Our efforts may have seem big to us, but really they most likely only made a slight dent in the amount of aid needed at this time. But darn it, it felt good to come together, united for a similar cause, especially after a very heated and divided election year. No matter what, when we find something in common it speaks volumes and together we can accomplish so much when that energy is directed to achieve one goal. This time that goal was to give.