Christopher Todd to appear on KTNV Channel 13 in Las Vegas

Christopher Todd will be demonstrating a few easy and affordable holiday decorating techniques as a teaser to the class being held at Whole Foods on November 12th. If you are in the Las Vegas viewing area, please tune in to KTNV Channel 13 on Tuesday morning, November 3rd at 9:00am.

Christopher Todd featured in Luxury Magazine

Check out the November issue of Luxury Magazine and read Christopher Todd's article on setting the perfect Thanksgiving dining table!

Have you planned your "Whole" week?

Check out all of the exciting things happening at Whole Foods on Las Vegas Boulevard! From cooking classes with some of the most extrordinary chefs in the world to fresh flower classes, wine tastings and oh yeah, don't forget party classes with Christopher Todd! Check out their calendar of events and see what's happening!


http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/lasvegas/storecalendar.php

Say Cheese. . .Ball!!

As we get ready for all of the holiday celebrations, there is one thing that all of us could use. . .more time! If there is anyone on Earth that knows about that, I promise you that it is me!! That being said, I know a lot of tricks for making it seem like you have all the time in the world to make your parties perfect. I am going to share one of those tips with you today.

This appetizer is inexpensive, super quick and easy and all of your guests will be asking you for the recipe. (please just direct them to my blog!!)

For this appetizer, you only need 3 ingredients: Cream Cheese, Ham and Green Onions.




Step one:
Open 2 blocks of cream cheese and allow them to soften.



Step two:
Using one package of sliced ham, dice the ham into cubes.
I use thin deli-sliced honey ham. The flavor is great!



Step three:
Dice 5 green onions.




Mix all of this together and shape into a ball.

As a little extra, I like to add pecans to the top once I have the formation made.



Garnish and add crackers and you are ready to party!





This recipe literally takes no more than 5 minutes to make and costs about $6!

ENJOY!!!

To Tree or not to Tree. . .

Although it seems like Christmas is far in the future, Christmas decor will start going up in about 6 weeks! For the people that love to decorate, this is exciting, for those who hate it, well, that's when you call me!

If there is one thing that will help with "keeping your spirits bright" is first of all, make sure you have some good spirits! Second, SHOP EARLY!!! This is why I am telling you now!! It is so frustrating to be displaying your decorations and need an additional extension cord or an extra package of ornament hooks. What is twice as frustrating is getting to the store and everything being gone!! Just as a reminder, next time you are making a quick trip to Wal-Mart or Target, add all the "extras" to your list! You will be thanking me later!!

Tulip Time!

Just a reminder for anyone who lives in Las Vegas. . .Now is the time to refrigerate your tulip bulbs! We are in zone 9 and they should be kept refrigerated for 6-8 weeks before planting. Planting should be around the first week of December. Star Nursery has a great selection right now. If you live in the Northeast, or any area up to Zone 5, tulips should already be planted. If you are in Zone 6-8, this is the perfect time to plant. Perhaps you were looking for a project this weekend?


Normal planting of tulips is 6" deep, but in the desert area where the soil is sandy, you should plant them a couple of inches deeper. This is also beneficial because the soil is cooler the deeper you plant the bulb. Plant in full sun and in a well drained area.


I like to plant bulbs in all the same color and my favorite color of tulip is orange. If you like to mix colors, I would suggest mixing complimentary colors like pink and purple or orange and red, but nothing drastic like red and yellow.
When you plant a lot of plants together in all the same color, this is called color blocking. If you will notice large hotels or shopping centers you will see that they use this technique. The solid color looks much more appealing than many mixed colors. Look around and you will see what I am talking about. Below is a picture from the Conservatory at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. They always use color blocking in their displays.

Flower Centerpiece that Anyone can do!

Arranging flowers isn't everyone's forte, but I am going to show you a quick and easy (and very inexpensive) way to make a great centerpiece for a table.

Step one:
Select a Container
You can use almost anything for a flower container. If you don't have a regular vase, try a small candle holder or even a juice glass. I have even used a tooth brush holder! I recommend using a ceramic container or colored glass to disguise the floral foam. If you use clear glass, you will need to use leaves, moss or stones to hide the foam. Spray paint also works great on clear glass!


Step Two:
Fill the container with Foam
You can find foam at any craft store, Walmart or florist. The foam from a florist is the best quality, but it is also a bit more expensive. Always soak your foam before putting it in the container. The best way to soak foam is to fill your sink or a container with water, place the foam on top and let it soak until it is saturated. Do not "force soak" the foam by pushing it under water. Doing this creates air bubbles in the middle of your foam. If your stem is put into an area of the foam that was never saturated, your bloom will not have any access to water.



Step Three:
Choose your favorite flower
If you choose to design with a smaller bloom, you may want to use a grouping of 4 or 6 stems, depending on the size; however, in this arrangement, I am using a single large bloom to show you how you can create something beautiful with such little effort. For this arrangement, I am using a Dahlia, but you could also use Fugi Mums (or Spider Mums) or Gerbera Daisies. Depending on the container, cut your stem about 1" long and place in the center of the container (or arrange accordingly if you are using a grouping of stems).



Step Four:
Trim with moss or greens
After your bloom or blooms are in place, use green sheet moss or Spanish moss to fill the edges. If you are working with green sheet moss, it is best to wet the moss before you start using it. This makes it much easier to work with and a lot less messy!


Step Five:
Enjoy!
That's it! That's all it takes to create this small and beautiful arrangement. Make one of these to set as an accent in your kitchen, bathroom or nightstand, or create a series of these to use as a centerpiece on the dining table. The ideas are endless!

Christopher Todd and Whole Foods Market

I am teaming up with Whole Foods Market of Las Vegas to present two workshops on creating perfect dinner parties and events for the holidays! If you are a Las Vegas resident, or if you just need another excuse to come to Vegas, I would love for you to join me at the Whole Foods Market on the Las Vegas Strip. The classes will be November 12th from 6:00pm-8:00pm and December 3rd from 6:00pm-8:00pm.

Along with a ton of party tips, we will be sampling some great food and we will also have wonderful gifts and prizes!

I look forward to seeing you there!

The holidays are approaching!

It is hard to believe that another year has rushed by us so quickly and we are approaching the holiday season once again.

I am going to be sharing holiday decorating tips, delicious recipes for quick and easy appetizers and much more over the next few weeks so please keep checking the blog.

Also, if you have a party or design question, please send me a message!