OK maybe not “forever” but they are just about the longest-lasting live flower ever. I have had blooms last more than 3 months! Compared to a cut flower bouquet, orchids just go on and on and they will do it again year after year.

Orchids are not delicate as commonly believed and are the most varied flower species with literally thousands of shapes and colors.

Look at this outrageously beautiful Phalaenopsis commonly called the “Moth Orchid” from its gracefully rounded petals.

Deep Red Cattleya Orchid

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Deep Red Cattleya Orchid

Another great family of Orchids are the Cattleyas, most commonly used as corsages, like this beautiful deep red specimen.

Orchids can be single large beauties or a dramatic spray of exsquisite blooms like this deep yellow oncidium..

Deep Yellow Oncidium

Swarovski crystal is perhaps best known for its playful animal figures but did you know they have true miniature art glass pieces that draw the eye to their incredible faceted detail.

A perfect gift with a sparkling difference for that special someone or simply to look great in your own treasure display. 4 fully faceted clear crystal orchid blossoms with Fuchsia Rain crystal centers, buds in fully faceted clear crystal, unfaceted branch.

Dimensions: 8 1/16″ x 4 15/16

Swarovski Crystal Forget-Me-Nots

How about a delightful bouquet of picture perfect
Swarovski Forget-Me-Nots

A floral gift to last a lifetime!

Faceted clear crystal flower pot with three blossoms in faceted Sapphire crystal; rhodium plated details.

Size: 1″ W x 1-3/4″ H.

Or how about this delightful pair of lovebirds with just the right color accents to highlight their sparkle. The contrast between the multifaceted heads and bodies in clear crystal and the colored tails in Light Sapphire and Peridot creates a charming appearance for these Swarovski Crystal Budgies.

Swarovski Crystal Budgies

Screensavers used to be so boring! Morphing colors, dancing lines, who needed it? Well let me tell you just how far one ScreenSaver category has come. First, a brief background-Screen Savers were more important with older CRT (cathode ray tubes) bulky computer monitors since an image left on the screen for hours on end could wind up being permanently etched onto your screen as a ghost image. Now, with most thin LED monitors we use our favorite screen savers to protect our privacy more than our screens.

Screensavers can range from the simple morphing of colors to intricate designs in motion to slide shows of our pets. They can be set up in countless ways to come on after a set period of no activity (you’ve left your desk for that coffee break) and can be password protected to stay on and hide that new job search from the boss while pretending to finish that important “research”.

Now I’ve found a screen saver that makes my visitors and guests do a double take!

Here’s A Quick Way To Bring The Beauty Of Lush Freshwater Aquariums To Your Computer With Unsurpassed Realism

As an avid aquarium hobbyist all my life I have owned (and cleaned) most every type of freshwater and saltwater aquarium from tiny 2 gallon models to whopping 200 gallon reef systems. In other words, I know a little something about aquarium fish! And so I was very interested in some of the simulated aquarium screen savers that first came out some years ago.

Sure, the screensaver backgrounds were pixilated and the fish jittery in motion but the concept was here to stay. Now take a quantum leap forward and check out www.DreamAquarium.com.

Let me tell you these folks have captured a live aquarium almost perfectly. Several rotating backgrounds to select that move and sway ever so slightly just like the real thing. But the fish! Dozens to choose from and you can populate your aquarium just as you like.

The behavior, swimming and schooling of each species are just like real fish!

The movements are exactly like the real thing and from my years of cleaning out real fish tanks I would know! You can have several different setups and tanks from schools of Red Cardinals or Discus to gloriously colorful community tanks from Swordtails to Angel Fish. They even have a crabby crab to include who never seems to catch that nearby swimmer.

I have a two monitor setup and these fish will swim across to the other monitor! As I said, I’ve had more than one visitor first think I had a tank on my desk and then look twice remarking how incredibly lifelike Dream Aquarium really is. And at $19.95 it’s a great bargain too.

Click the link and go download their demo of the most amazing screensaver you have ever seen www.DreamAquarium.com – you won’t be disappointed.

Tell me what other outstanding screensavers you have come across-

Online dating sites have now matured to the point where meeting someone online can be quite respectable and a lot less risky in a well built and more safe environment like Match.com.

Although window shopping through the Match.com site is free, the ability to interact or respond with other singles, requires a paid membership. There are many levels at which you can join that allow you to test the waters at your own pace.

You can start small and upgrade as your confidence increases. Match.com allows you to step into online dating at your personal comfort level.

First Time Online Dating Tips

• Be more wary of listings without pictures. In real life we meet interesting folks face to face the first time and the honesty level increases when you both have a current picture. Match.com allows you to post as much or as little about yourself and about who you are looking for and my recommendation is to keep it short but interesting. Long outpourings of lifetime hopes and aspirations may be of interest later in the game.

• Put your best foot forward, but be real. Make your first post as you would dress for your first meeting with an interesting prospect- appropriately and attractively but not frumpy or too causally clad. Match.com helps you in every step of the way in composing your first posting.

• Go slowly on arranging a first actual meet. Exchange some emails and a phone conversation or two to establish the new acquaintance.

• Don’t give out your address or other personal information at these first contacts. If it still seems a go, meet in a public place for just a chat or cup of coffee only. Then if things don’t pan out for either of you there is no further feeling of obligation as there might be after an expensive meal or evening.

• Take it slow and fully expect that there will be a few No, Thanks but do not be deterred. Get right back into the game after a No Thank You! Online dating has had too many success stories to give up too soon and while you might not meet the Perfect One right at first, you just may have some new friends along the way!

BQquicktake:

Match.com has established themselves as the place to finally start that search for that Perfect Match!

You can smell the heady aroma of fresh electronics a mile away! In other words, you’ve convinced your conscious that you deserve a new machine. Your old computer no longer does what we want to do, where we want to do it or as quickly as we need it so it’s time to acquire fresh silicon. But before you snatch up the first nifty setup in the display, you might just take a moment or three to consider what you really want out of that new machine.

1.)    What do I want to do with a new computer?

People don’t often stop and take some time to consider what the primary task they expect to perform with their computer. Will I be coding software, managing websites, creating Word documents or analyzing spreadsheets? Will I be surfing the web, checking the news, looking for great buys or do I spend my hours generating, sending, and responding to email? Or am I a gamer giving my thumbs a real workout trying to reach level 212? Are Twitter and Facebook like oxygen to me?

2.)    Where do I want to use it?

If my desk is my favorite perch where I always sip my coffee and hit those keys then we’re probably looking for a desktop computer, one we can set up out of the way, position that monitor perfectly and sit back to enjoy. And we’d want a pretty good size monitor to ease our eyes and maybe even watch a video or movie.

If I have 2 or three places that I like to compute, like my desk at work, my den on the weekends and my bedroom when crazy Aunt Liz is yammering in the kitchen, then perhaps a good sized laptop is in order. Still very respectable computing power and sizeable screen, but not too much trouble to lug around and boot back up.

A Laptop computer is both mobile and fully functional.

But if you’re on the go most times and can’t stand the thought of being disconnected from the rest of the online world, then a netbook or computer notebook may be just the ticket. Smaller and less than half the size and weight of a traditional laptop, notebook computers are increasingly taking over the laptop market. There is some reduction in capability and screen size but that is more than made up for by its portability. Many notebooks are now just another accessory like a purse or a billfold and with Wi-Fi use ever expanding you never need be netless.

A compact Netbook computer easily comes with you!

3.)    How functional do you want it to be?

These are increasingly great times to buy a new computer. Competition is fierce and both the quality and capability of these magic machines continues to just get better. It all boils down to your budget but great setups can be gotten for modest wallets.

Remember these basics when you start shopping:

The Processor is the brain that does the thinking inside your box and now are often paired like a set of  twins (duo) or two sets (quad). And the speeds at which they work are expressed in a number like 2.67GHz. The higher the number the faster things happen but beware, most super fast Processors are just not needed by the average user. If a program takes two seconds or four seconds to open won’t bother most of us but if you have a couple of graphics intensive games and videos rolling, then maybe you’ll need that super speed.

Next is the RAM or random access memory which is sort of like the capacity a computer has to think about two things at the same time. The more RAM the more your computer can do at the same time. RAM used to be small, like 256Mb or 512Mb but these days at least 1Gb is better and several are very nice to have.

Another component to look for is the HD or hard drive. That’s how many bookshelves of information and data your computer can hold. The bigger the HD, the more applications, pictures, data, movies, etc can be stored on your computer. Computers used to hold very little; only one or two shelves (megabytes), then they learned to build a lot of large bookshelves (gigabytes) in the hard drives and computers are now starting to show up with whole buildings full of bookshelves (a terabyte) for storage. But keep in mind: the more you store in one place the more you can lose if you don’t have your info backed up! That means not keeping all your eggs in one basket. A good rule of thumb is to have at least one extra hard drive (they can be separate from the computer and portable) near the same size as your HD inside your computer and back up the information daily.

Lastly is how nice do you want your monitor or screen to be? You will want to look at size and resolution. Remember size is measured diagonally from inside the monitor frame. Also, we sit closer to a computer than a television so unless you’re a graphic designer, you won’t need a huge desktop monitor. In the old days a 15” monitor was hot stuff but these days a 20-25” is pretty standard for a desktop and around 17” is ok for a laptop. Netbooks can be event smaller. The other factor is resolution, which is a measurement of how close together the tiny pixels of light can be. The closer together (higher resolution), the smoother the picture. A small screen with a high resolution is nicer than larger monitor with a low (“grainy”) resolution. Most monitors have adjustable displays that let you play with what looks best for your eyes.

And remember-  when you buy that new computer start saving for the next one. There is no such thing as a permanent computer!

Outdoor fire containers now come in 3 basic categories; actual built fireplaces, fire pits built into tables or free standing cauldrons and the very popular “chimineas” which are free standing round chimneys with pot-bellied bases, open on one side or screened all around the base. And while there are many gas fired models that have their place in inside the home fireplaces, I like the look and smell of real wood burning firepits outside.

4 Tips when considering an outdoor fireplace:

1. All types and models get HOT ! Consider where pets and little ones might get too close and plan your location and height accordingly. Use basic fire safety and have some water (or extinguisher) nearby. And never leave a fire unattended.

• 2. Clay chimineas are sold everywhere these days but you might consider that hot clay pots can still burn and are more fragile if knocked over. There are many very good looking metal outdoor fireplaces that will look great and last years if properly maintained.

3. Plan and measure the location of your firepit carefully. Give plenty of room to move in closer or further away depending on conditions. And consider the total weight if you plan to move your fire pit or chiminea during times not in use. Fortunately, almost all models come with a sturdy cover to employ when not in use.

4. The smaller the chiminea opening, the less smoke you may encounter but it really limits the atmosphere stage. A more open model (firepit) let’s everyone gather around and you’ll be able to sense and smell the natural woo burning embers and remember if a smokey wisp comes your way: “smoke follows beauty”!

Inbuilt Masonry Fireplaces

Mosaic Masonry Woodburning Fireplace

If you’ve got the perfect location for a grotto-like installation, the handsome Mosaic Masonry FMI 42″ Fireplace might be a beautiful addition to your roomy outdoor space.  These unique fireplaces feature enormous firebox dimensions with a smooth face design in beautiful brushed stainless steel.

The absence of any visible sheet metal compliments true firebrick for an authentic masonry appearance ~Uncompromising quality~ – Fmi uses only the finest appliance grade stainless steel and kiln – fired clay firebrick. Solid 0.63″ stainless bar stock is used hand crafted and detailed log grates. This model truly brings the indoors, outdoors.

FirePits

Southern Heritage Fire Pit

A very popular fire feature is the “firepit”. We liked this Southern Heritage Fire Pit table model because all can gather around it and it is low enough to put your frozen feet up to if it’s not too warm.

Its durable 30″ square bronze colored steel bowl Natural slate detail with brick pattern all around and Spark guard screen make it a perfect choice for just the right space on your deck.

Chimineas

Mid-Western Rustic Chiminea

In the Chiminea category, we really liked the 360 dgree view of the fire on this model since most chimineas only have a window/door on one side. The Mid-Western Rustic Chiminea in a Stone color features a 360 degree safety screen which ensures warmth and a perfect view of the fire for all and the front hinged screen door provides easy access to the fire. A perfect centerpiece for your longer outdoor living.

Lalique Crystal Double Fish

Another unique work is this elegant double fish piece done in exquisite detail with dynamic motion elements. A true centerpiece of art in any home.

Baccarat Crystal Lucky Sapphire Butterfly

Another more lighthearted piece is the Baccarat Crystal Lucky Butterfly Sapphire which in addition being a perfect gift,  would also look perfect alighting anywhere in your home.

Diamond watches go to a whole new level with Jacob and Co’s Royal Collection. Founded in 1986, Jacob and Co have turned the diamond jewelry market on it’s head with their innovative and bold designs in fashion jewelry which prompted head of the family Jacob Arabo to extend his design talents into amazingly creative and breathtaking luxury watch collections. A real dazzling example is the Royal Collection with almost 20 carats fancy cut diamonds. You could not possible get any more diamonds on a watch!

Why should the Queen have all the fun?

Other unique approaches to watchmaking include the
Jacob & Co. Rainbow Tourbillion R5RG so incredibly eye-catching it will have everybody asking for the time.

And for the different drummer in you, look at The Manhattan RG with its off-center watch face with 18k Rose Gold Pave Diamonds set in a rose gold relief of the Big Apple.

The Rainbow Tourbillion

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Jacob & Co. Rainbow Tourbillion R5RG

The Manhattan from Jacob & Co

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Jacob and Co's The Manhattan

Armani is best known for his haut couture the Armani line of watches retains the designers classic lines and fashion statements. The
Emporio Armani Classic Womens Watch AR5724 is a dressed up watch for day or evening wear.

The sleek gold and silver design and understated watch face will leave you glancing at your watch in style. The Armani Classic Mens Watch speaks of a bygone era with its Roman numeral-ed face but set in a bold masculine case.

A timepiece for all time. Armani also makes designer bracelet watches with a fashion and fun appeal.

Emporio Armani Classic Mens Watch AR0933[/caption]

Armani for Fashion

Armani for Fun