For Christmas this year, my Dad bought himself a Bose speaker with a universal remote to control his entire media center. Luckily for him, he had both of his technologically-inclined sons home to help set everything up.

My brother got started first, setting up the universal remote as I was off helping my mom. Everything went just fine until he tried to pair the Apple TV with the remote. He told my dad it couldn’t be done, but I wasn’t so sure. So, when I got home, I asked around the office and was told it __was__ possible, but not how to do it. I did a little digging and found that it is actually very easy to pair any 3rd-party IR remote to the Apple TV. It just takes a few steps.

On your Apple TV, go to the Remote menu found in this path *Settings > General > Remotes.* Once there, you should see a menu option called “Learn Remote.” This option will walk you through some simple navigation tasks like pressing and holding the Down button on the remote for a certain amount of time. Everything is displayed on the screen for what it wants you to do and should be a walk in the park.

Apparently, you can also set up basic navigation functions but since I don’t have a 3rd-party remote to test this, I can’t say whether or not it will work. The guide that I found detailing how to pair the remote mentioned that it didn’t work for him, but it may just not have been possible with the brand of remote he had. In any case, basic navigation functions do work and we should all rejoice! Now you only need one remote to control all of your electronic devices in your media room.

New Year’s Eve is the perfect time for friends and family to get together and ring in the New Year. A time to celebrate the past year and get ready for a fresh new start! Some people stay in for a quiet night and watch the ball drop, some have a party at their house and invite friends over to eat and drink, and others go out and celebrate with a night on the town. However you choose to spend the New Year, there are a few apps out there to help you start the New Year off stress-free and in an organized manner.

I like to think that there are two types of people when it comes to events: The planners and the non-planners. I love planning. Planning a party, planning a vacation or just simply planning my weekend.

There are a few apps out there that can make planning that last minute New Year’s Eve soiree a breeze. Let me introduce “*Evite*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fevite%2Fid431685286%3Fmt%3D8%26uo%3D4%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30. “*Evite*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fevite%2Fid431685286%3Fmt%3D8%26uo%3D4%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 is a free app (for iOS — and Android) that allows you to send out invitations and manage your guest list. It’s also a website and allows you to go back and forth between the mobile app and website. “*Evite*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fevite%2Fid431685286%3Fmt%3D8%26uo%3D4%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 has a bunch of New Year’s-themed invitations to choose from. Pick whichever you like the best and then enter in all your party information. It’s pretty stinkin’ simple, which is what we like these days. “*Evite*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fevite%2Fid431685286%3Fmt%3D8%26uo%3D4%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 will send you push notifications for updates, new RSVPs and when one of your attendees writes a comment. After you’ve sent out invites and gotten your guest list, pop on Pinterest and get some recipes for appetizers and a fancy Champagne drink…that would be my plan at least.

For those of you non-planners, meet “*Eventbrite*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Feventbrite%2Fid487922291%3Fmt%3D8%26uo%3D4%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30. If you’re not up for planning a killer party but don’t want to sit home and watch the ball drop, this is just the app for you. It’s another free app where you can search for local events by keyword, location, date or type. Some of the categories that events are grouped into include classes, festivals, food/wine, music, fundraisers and more. A lot of events are free, but if tickets are required, you can purchase them right on the app and the tickets will be stored under the “My Tickets” tab or in Passbook.

Hopefully these tools will be helpful in planning a fun New Years Eve — in whatever fashion you choose! 2012 was certainly a good year for us and we hope 2013 will be even better!

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The world didn’t end at the end of the Mayan calendar, but how did I do on my guesses for 2012?

*WEATHER*

__”A mild winter with record snowfall in March but an early spring.”__ I’ll give myself a 50% on this one. It was a mild winter and early spring but no record snowfall
__”Dry hot summer this year.”__ Yup, it was dry, but not exceptionally hot.
__”It will not be below -20 F at my house this year.”__ Very true; it barely got below 0, but it was 0 this morning.

*SPORTS*

*MLB* — __”While I think the Cubs will be better, this is not their year. So, I am picking the LA Angels as World Series winners!”__ Nope, Hapy was in heaven as the Giants won the World Series.
*NBA* — __”Shortened season because millionaires and billionaires were feuding. While I would love to see my beloved Celtics add a banner, I am actually choosing the Chicago Bulls over the LA Clippers for the NBA Finals.”__ Whoa, way off! The Heat defeated the Thunder and the Celtics took the Heat to game 7!
*NFL* — __”Packers win the Super Bowl over the Pats, 36-24.”__ Well, it was the Giants over the Pats, but the Pats lost, so all is well.
*NHL* — __”Some team where there is natural ice in the city will win the Stanley Cup.”__ Way wrong, as there is no natural ice in Los Angeles and no NHL hockey this year.

*POLITICS*

__”There will be a third-party Presidential Candidate that receives at least 10% of the popular vote.”__ Nope.
__”Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee.”__ Not bad, Don…
__”Barack Obama will be re-elected based upon an improving economy but in a very close contest.”__ I’m giving this one to me.
__”Democrats will barely maintain control of the US Senate.”__ True.
__”Republicans will maintain control of the US House.”__ True, sorta, depending on how you define “control.”
__”Governor Shumlin will be re-elected in Vermont.”__ No contest.
__”Record number of freshmen US Reps will be elected.”__ Not by far. 67 this year compared with 94 two years ago.

*ECONOMY*

__”Overall economy will grow.”__ Yes, it did…albeit slowly.
__”Unemployment nationally will fall below 8%.”__ Yes, it did.
__”Interest rates will remain at historical lows.”__ Yes, they did.
__”The Chinese Yuan will continue to appreciate.”__ Yes, it did.

*APPLE*

__”The iPad line will expand to include multiple models aside from color and carriers (i.e. size, power, etc.).”__ Yup.
__”Apple will release a revolutionary television that changes the game (once again). We will never watch TV in the same way.”__ Not yet!
__”More Apple Products (i.e. iPad and MacBook Pro) will incorporate Siri.”__ Yes.
__”Apple will post successive record breaking quarters.”__ Yes.
__”Apple will make a surprise acquisition.”__ Not that I am aware of…

*SMALL DOG ELECTRONICS*

__”Small Dog will acquire or build three new stores in 2012.”__ Nope, but we are opening one in Rutland soon.
__”Small Dog will have over 100 employees by the end of 2012.”__ Nope, closer to 70 right now.
__”Small Dog will have 5 employees who were, at one time, CEOs of their own companies.”__ Only three.
__”Small Dog will have a syndicated talk show.”__ We have a talk show on WDEV but it is not yet syndicated.

*MISC.*

__”There will be scientifically confirmed intelligent extra-terrestrial life.”__ Nope.
__”There will be one astounding medical break through.”__ Nope.
__”Peace will come to two regions that desperately deserve peace.”__ Sadly, we have more wars not fewer.

I’ll be back next week to look in that crystal Mac Cube casing and see what 2013 will bring.

_Dear Friends,_

We finally got the big dump as the winter storm put a nice two feet of snow down here in the Green Mountains. We are busy replenishing our inventory from the holiday rush, handling exchanges and returns and looking forward to 2013.

I had a really good time at my daughter Autumn’s house on Christmas playing Santa for the grandkids. They tried really hard to go slowly in opening their gifts, but the excitement was too much and soon the living room was strewn with wrapping paper. My favorite gift this year was the homemade hippo calendar that my granddaughter, Gracie, made for me.

Read on for a recap of what really became of my predictions from last year!

Emily Leibowitz currently works in our showroom here in Waitsfield, having joined our team at the end of August as a Sales Associate. Emily was born in the Big Apple, but was raised in this lovely state of Vermont.

She and her family lived at the Battlegrounds here in the Mad River Valley when she was younger, but eventually moved to Shelburne where they built a house. Every summer and on school vacations, they would travel back to the Mad River Valley and visit the bridges and the local standby, The Den. Emily later attended St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY, majoring in Fine Arts and minoring in Education and also played intercollegiate tennis.

After school, her original plan was to be a teacher like both her parents, but that quickly changed when she got a job as an Account Manager at the quickly growing Dealer.com. After working there for five years, she was ready for a change and was longing to travel. She had once missed out on an opportunity for an all expenses paid, 10-day trip to Israel provided to all Jewish young adults between the ages of 18-26, so later on, when she found out about a 10-month English teaching fellowship to Israel, she had to do it! She left Vermont to embark on her journey to a country with great historical and cultural complexity, and there she met some very special people and kids who she still keeps in touch with to this day.

Last year, Emily spent Thanksgiving in Rome and traveled to Petra Cliffs (where Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was filled — kinda cool!). She also traveled to Wadi Rum in Jordan, experienced the capital of Amman and spent three weeks in Dharamsala in the Far North of India. While in India, Emily volunteered at a Tibetan Refugee daycare center. She really connected to India and hopes one day to go back and spend more time in such a warm, friendly place.

After spending some good time traveling, Emily found herself back in the Mad River Valley and working here at Small Dog! When not on duty here, she loves playing with her housemate’s dog, Ella, hanging out with family and friends, singing, trying out new restaurants and going on adventures. We’re happy to have Emily here and if you find yourself in Waitsfield, VT, make sure you stop in to say hello!