• The interior of an abalone shell has a sparkling, iridescent quality to it with colors like pink, white, soft gray and blue. This is where you will find beautiful mother of pearl that is used to make jewelry and other items. But is it also possible to find many home décor items that feature this material. A mirror framed in abalone will add sparkle and interest to a powder room. Placing a beautiful abalone shell dish on a side table brings the feel of the ocean into the room. Votives that have been strung with mother of pearl add an extra touch of shine to your candles.

• Sea glass is simply broken pieces of glass that have been worn by the tumbling waves into smooth and colorful shapes. Commonly found in colors of green, turquoise, milky white and clear glass, candle votives and vases made from recycled sea glass are available. Use these colorful stones as vase fillers or scatter them on a dinner table for added ambience. What a great way to decorate your home and be environmentally responsible at the same time.

• To really brighten up your garden, choose containers finished in a beautiful aqua blue glaze that is reminiscent of the ocean. Tucked in amongst your earth tone pots, these containers will add a pop of unexpected color to any outdoor space.

• Mosaic tiles in beautiful shades of blue and aqua can create an underwater effect when used on shower walls, pool surrounds or outdoor furniture such as table tops.

The psychology of color tells us that cool aqua tones can be soothing and invoke feelings of calm and serenity. Touches of this color throughout your home just might help the stresses of everyday living float away until the time comes for your coastal getaway.

Architectural Salvage Yards and Warehouses

Items found in an architectural salvage yard have been obtained from buildings and homes that have been dismantled or partially destroyed and are often considered junk because they have not been cleaned up or refinished. However, that old adage “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure” certainly holds true if you are looking to authentically recreate a specific design style. You can find old doors, iron elements that include door knockers, lighting fixtures, railings and hardware, unique window frames in arched or gothic shapes and outdoor or garden items that include benches, finials etc. Since these items have not been refurbished they are often very affordable and part of the fun is the hunt for a “diamond in the rough” that you can bring back to life yourself.

Antique Stores

Antique stores have always been a great resource for items to complement a specific decorating or architectural style. Most often you will find furniture, accessories, artwork, sculpture, and textiles that are in excellent condition and have been refinished or refurbished to bring the pieces back to their original glory. Some dealers specialize in larger items like interior doors, hinges and doorknobs, leaded and stained glass windows, fireplace tools, large chandeliers and other lighting fixtures as well as furniture. However, you will pay a premium for items that are in excellent condition; but the excitement of being able to take a piece home and use it immediately is sometimes worth the extra expense.

Old world design for the exterior of your home would include arches, pointed gothic style windows, stone exteriors, dark wood doorways and window frames and rustic iron elements used in stair railings, hinges and other hardware.

The interior of these homes often feature large stone fireplaces, distressed wood floors, iron stair railings and wall sconces, heavy wooden beams and stained glass windows. Decorative items would include rich and luxurious fabrics done in jewel tone colors like burgundy, gold and green. Heavy tapestries would hang on the wall and upholstered furniture and draperies would feature large bullion fringe.

This is a style that is certain to turn your ordinary home into an old world castle for you and your family to enjoy.

• You can turn an ordinary fireplace into a beautiful stone fireplace through the use of stone veneers that cut down on the cost of material and labor. Be sure to add a hearth to the design for additional seating and include a rich velvet cushion for that opulent look.

• Many homes built in the latter part of the twentieth century have cathedral ceilings. If your home is one of these and you are looking to create an old world feel, add dark stained, rough beams to the area. These can be real wood beams or faux beams that are lighter in weight and less expensive.

• The use of iron elements will certainly add an old world feel to your home décor. Consider wall sconces, chandeliers, drapery hardware and iron railings with gothic points or quatrefoil cutouts for an authentic look.

• Stained and leaded glass windows are common design elements found in old world design. Choose unusual arched or gothic shapes to complete the look.

• Distressed wood floors provide a rich and aged look to your home.

• For your furnishings and wood elements (stair handrails, beams, cabinetry), choose a dark stain for a moody and old world feel.

• Choose the rich colors associated with this design style like deep burgundy, opulent gold and dark hunter and forest green. Fabrics should be luxurious in look and feel and include velvet, satin, damask and jacquards. Be sure to use lots of heavy fringe on draperies and furniture. Hanging intricately woven tapestries on the wall will also help you to create the old world style you are looking for.

Old world design elements can be used on the exterior of your home as well, especially if you are in the process of building a new home that overlooks a lake, ocean beach or beautiful mountains. The scale and grandeur of this style lends itself beautifully to large open spaces.

Regardless of whether you are looking to add just a touch of old world style to an existing home or want to build a new home from the ground up, incorporating many of these design elements will help you achieve your dream of owning your own castle.

Where are Honeybells grown?

Honeybells are primarily grown in warm and sunny areas like California and Arizona with the largest crop coming from Florida.

When are they available?

Honeybells have a relatively short season. They are harvested during the month of January, give or take a day or two, and shipped to markets for everyone to enjoy. Unlike other fruit that is picked from a tree, hoping they are ripe, honeybells signal they are ripe by simply dropping to the ground.

Where can I buy Honeybells?

Growers ship the fruit to markets and other buyers across the country, making it possible to purchase them at your local grocery store or farmer’s market. There are also many online suppliers who are able to ship the fruit directly to you after harvest. These packages often include orange blossom honey, chocolates, candy, gifts and sometimes a bib! As we said, the season is short so you need to buy them when you find them.

What is the difference between a honeybell and an orange or tangerine?

The honeybell fruit combines the flavors of an orange or tangerine with the flavors of a grapefruit, resulting in a unique taste. They tend to be juicier than the other fruits and, best of all, they are usually seedless. (occasionally nature takes over and a honeybee plants a seed or two but, for the most part, they are seedless)

What is the best way to enjoy a honeybell?

As part of a healthy diet, you can peel them and eat them straight out of your hand but you better use a bib as they are very juicy!! You can blend them with other fruits to create a delicious and healthy smoothie. Make your own juice and freeze for use throughout the year. A glass of honeybell juice in the morning is sure to wake you up! In recipes calling for orange rind or grapefruit sections, honeybells can be used as a replacement. Imagine a honeybell cheesecake or crème brule–decadent!

Take a moment to enjoy this unusual fruit during its very short season; you won’t regret it.

Colors of Mardi Gras

Typically, purple, green and gold are found in Mardi Gras party decorations and party favors. Purple represents justice, green represents faith and gold represents power. These colors can be found in the whimsical masks that are worn as well as the infamous beads. The gold coins, or doubloons as they are called, are also collectibles from the parade and a fun party favor.

Flowers

Flowers have been an important part of Mardi Gras celebrations for many, many years. For your celebration, choose flowers that represent the colors of Mardi Gras. For example, purple flowers include iris and some varieties of calla lilies, tulips and roses. Gold can be found in mums, daffodils and forsythia. Other popular flowers include local specimens like azaleas, camellias and magnolias.

Be creative with your floral arrangements.

• Wrap a plain glass vase with beads for a colorful presentation. Simply apply a spray adhesive to the glass and attach the beads.
• Use gold coins (doubloons) as a vase filler in place of sand, stones or marbles.
• Place a small vase inside of a larger one. In the space between the vases, place masks or colorful feathers to create a unique container.
• You cannot have too much bling at a Mardi Gras party. Use sequins, rhinestone picks or fun crystals in your floral arrangements for just the right amount of sparkle.

The people of Louisiana have adopted the Fleur de lis as a symbol of their culture and French heritage. Meaning “flower of the lily” this symbol can be found on the beads and coins of Mardi Gras. Using sequins and glue, apply the fleur de lis symbol to a vase of flowers or glue to a pillar candle for an “elegant” touch.

The purpose of Mardi Gras is to enjoy yourself so have fun with your décor and your party is sure to be a big success.

Serious Lovers

Romantic candle scents can range from musky aromas that are sensual and seductive to a strong floral scent that complements your gift of flowers. Illume offers scents with enticing names like Midnight, Sultry and Desire. Their His & Her collection features beautifully packaged candles that are sure to elicit an excited “Yes” from your partner. These candles provide a seductive 65 hours of burn time—imagine what you can do with that!

For those spontaneous moments the His & Her scent is also available in a “quickie” four pack of small votives that can be discreetly tucked into a handbag or suitcase.

Eco-friendly Lovers

For the couple who are just as committed to saving the environment as they are to each other, the line of organic soy and beeswax candles are a perfect choice for Valentine’s Day. These candles are packaged in pretty floral tins and boxes that would delight any eco-conscious lady or gentleman.

Fun Lovers

If a more casual celebration is what you had in mind, consider candles that are fun and flirty like the deco blooms that feature luscious scents like gardenia, papaya and pineapple cilantro. Yum! These are a great choice for family celebrations or a group dinner.

The combination of the perfect place, the perfect companion and the perfect candle are a recipe for a perfect Valentine’s Day.

Tempur-pedic mattresses

Tempur-pedic mattresses are constructed of specially designed foam commonly known as memory foam. This idea came about in the 1960’s when scientists were searching for a way to relieve G-force pressure for the astronauts during difficult moments in flight. It is designed to relieve pressure and provide support as it conforms to your particular shape. There are no springs or wires to disrupt your sleep or poke your body. Research and testing now show that people sleeping on a Tempur-Pedic mattress have reduced pain and longer and more restful sleep.

For the ultimate in comfort and function, consider an ergonomic positioning bed. These beds offer the same memory foam comfort but allow you to control the position of the bed via a wireless remote. This makes it possible to truly spend all day in bed! Imagine working on your computer, handling important phone calls or just reading a book all day, all in the comfort of your bed. You can fully recline or elevate different sections of the bed depending on your needs. No more aching backs, tired legs or neck strain.

These mattresses are available for purchase in mattress, medical supply and department stores. While the prices are regulated nationwide, you will pay delivery fees normal for your area.

Pillows

Your pillow is just as important as your mattress. Depending on how you prefer to sleep, there are positioning pillows designed for side sleepers, back sleepers, and stomach sleepers. There is even a pillow designed to reduce snoring which makes a wonderful “gift” for your snoring partner. These pillows combine comfort with the same body molding technology as the tempur-pedic mattresses.

Tax Relief

Now that you know how to relieve back pain, how do you relieve IRS pain?

There are many manufacturers out there producing memory foam mattresses. However, Tempur-pedic’s memory foam is the only memory foam to be recognized by NASA. As a result, doctors feel comfortable in prescribing a new tempur-pedic mattress and pillows as a way to treat certain ailments. If your doctor provides you with a written prescription you may be able to deduct this as a medical expense on your tax return. It is important, however, that you check with your tax attorney and/or any applicable state laws before you show this as a deduction.

Today’s hectic and busy lifestyle can wreak havoc on our bodies. Tackling the day is much easier after a restful night’s sleep provided by the proper mattress and pillow.

Like many other areas of the country that have a particular style associated with their state, (hacienda in Arizona and New Mexico, Victorian in San Francisco, Colonial in New England) western style decorating is very common in states such as Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. This style can be found in private homes, vacation rentals and most hotels and resorts. It is what we expect when we visit these places. Many of these resorts and homes are located in wonderful mountain or lake areas that feature views of the surrounding landscape. However, towering ceilings and large expanses of glass can make a room feel cold and uninviting. Incorporating warm touches of wood and fabric is what makes these rooms so appealing. Elements of this design style include:

• Exposed wood beamed ceilings, walls and flooring. Using reclaimed wood adds to the rustic look.

• Weathered stone is used as a fireplace surround, a towering chimney or on the exterior of the building.

• Hand forged iron can be found in fireplace tools, stair rails, cabinetry hardware, light fixtures and accent furniture pieces.

• Upholstered furniture is usually over scaled and comfortable. Using natural materials such as suede and leather add to the comfort. Cowhide is often used as upholstery on a club chair, bar stools, throw pillows or as a rug on the floor and nail head trim is common.

• Mounted heads, antlers and horns of local wildlife add to the western feel. These include moose, elk, deer, fox and even some birds.

• Western art is so appropriate for these spaces. Subject matter includes paintings of buffalo roaming the plains, wild horses, paintings or photographs of the Teton mountain range, a serene river, a snowy landscape.

• The Native American influence is strong and can be found in textiles featuring colors and patterns of the local tribes.

• Texture is important when trying to warm up a large space. Baskets, rough wood furniture, worn quilts, fluffy rugs, and objects of nature such as twigs, pinecones, seeds and logs are all common elements found in this style of decorating.

If you find yourself fortunate enough to be visiting one of these areas, be sure to take a moment to enjoy not only the spectacular views and the fresh air, but also the design elements unique to western style.