The scenic and spectacular El Rojo Grande Ranch (which of course is Spanish for The Rojo Grande Ranch) is an extraordinary piece of property sited on 173 acres amid the picturesque red rocks of Sedona.  This amazing acreage is divided into three major sections: the Residential Complex, El Rojo Grande Ranch equestrian facility, and The Park at El Rojo Grande Ranch.

The main luxury home of the Residential Complex encompasses over 6,700 square feet and showcases a Southwestern style interior that melds the home with its breathtaking surroundings. Check out the view from the living area below- it’s okay if you’re into the whole jaw-dropping beauty thing. Terraces, patios and a pool allow further enjoyment on the environment. Additional residential space is offered in a large guest house, as well as caretaker’s quarters.

At just over 9 acres, the equestrian facility offers a veterinary clinic, offices, multiple barns, storage areas and arenas, and even a locker room and shower for ranch hands.  The park is 2.5 acres at the base of the dramatic red rocks with picnic tables, grass areas and stone fireplace.  You can enjoy it as a peaceful retreat or as a gathering place for special events.  After seeing the pictures and reading the features of this slice of Southwestern sophistication, the $29,000,000 price tag seems like a bargain.  More gorgeous photos and information on El Rojo Grande Ranch can be found here. The property is listed by Russ Lyon Realty Company.

What to do after a meal when you sense a bit of truffle or caviar stuck between your teeth?  Well, surely you don’t pick your teeth at the table, and after retiring from a luxurious dinner you certainly can’t sip brandy or wine in the parlor with a wooden toothpick dangling from your mouth. E.K.D.O. has a solution to this most pressing predicament…the Icepik.  Icepiks are bejeweled sheaths that slip over a toothpick so that while the wooden point inside your mouth is picking your choppers, the 18k gold and precious gems are brightening up your mouth’s exterior.  Prices for handcrafted Icepicks range from $800 to $3,000- the cost of the diamond encrusted version shown here.  I can’t wait to get one of these and I’m holding out hope for a Q-tip version and a handkerchief woven from thread of gold.

It is the largest metropolis in the United States, a global center of commerce and finance, and a city filled with amazing luxury homes.  An extraordinary place that constantly has the watchful eyes of the media and the world’s citizens gazing upon it, New York City receives even more attention than usual on New Year’s Eve. The Big Apple is one of the globe’s top destinations for the annual celebration, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to the famous ball drop. This year, the luxurious Peninsula New York is offering two special packages for those who wish to bound through the merriment in style. For $2,008 (get it?!) you can experience the “New Year’s Eve Gala Package” that includes a one-night stay in a Grand Luxe Room, a five-course dinner for two and a spot on the dance floor at The Peninsula’s New Year’s Gala.

Those longing to see to see the Waterford Crystal ball descend the flagpole atop One Times Square may opt for The Peninsula’s “Ball Drop Spectacular” package. This includes an overnight stay in a Deluxe Suite, private in-room dinner for two, and private escort from the hotel’s prime Midtown Manhattan location to a VIP viewing area in Times Square; where you can see the ball drop and then join in a festive rendition of Auld Lang Syne. Just don’t forget to bring your complimentary bottle of champagne provided by the hotel.

For more info on the New Year’s celebration in New York, check out the official site of Times Square.

This unique cocktail shaker is one way to help your holiday party really take off.  The Dual-Fuel Cocktail Shaker has a body of nickel-plated stainless steel and brass that recalls the first romatic years of avaition design.  A lift off nose makes pouring the concoctions created in the turbulence-filled fuselage a breeze.  Each wing of the shaker doubles as a flask, perfect for the party host who wants to protect their personal supply.  The wings could definitely come in handy after a long night of serving up Cranberry Martinis to demanding holiday revelers.

The crisp wintertime air that has been howling through Chicago the last week or so has been enough to suck the breath right out of lungs of the city’s citizens.  In a very different way, the crisp, cool and contemporary design of the Iceberg Table will also leave you breathless.  The table was designed by Montreal-based Periphere; perhaps drawing inspiration from the frigid Canadian winter.  Unique in every way, the laser-cut steel table is a functional piece of art. It is available for purchase (for a cool $3,500) at Generate.