RaniMaria : things I love

It is very common for couples to become engaged after the groom presents the bride with a beautiful diamond engagement ring. For many couples the diamonds stop there but for many others there are diamond wedding rings. I remember being in weddings years ago where the engagement ring was a beautiful diamond piece of jewelry that sparkled and glittered in the sunlight. Then the wedding bands were plain gold bands that sometimes had a design engraved on them but usually they were your standard gold bands for both the bride and groom. Times have changed.

My wife wears a beautiful one-carat engagement ring and when we picked out her rings she wanted to make sure that she got a diamond wedding ring to match her diamond engagement ring. She got the diamond wedding ring to go with her engagement ring and the set looks beautiful. I had never really seen a diamond wedding ring before and, while I was pleased at how relatively inexpensive it was, I was really struck by how wonderful the set looked together. Then it came time to pick out my wedding band and much to my surprise the set she purchased also offered a diamond wedding ring for me. What, a man’s diamond wedding ring? It was an interesting idea but it required some thought on my part.

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What is ruby quartz? Apparently the answer to this question will depend on who you talk to. For some, the term ruby quartz is a substance that is found in the X-men movies and comics. The field leader of the X-men, who is known as Cyclops, uses ruby quartz lenses to protect those around him from his dangerous optic blasts that are out of his control. When you ask an X-men fan what is ruby quartz, you are very likely to be referred to this character and information. However, a lover of gemstones and jewelry will probably have a much different idea of what ruby quartz is.

What is Ruby Quartz? Real or Synthetic?

There are many different types of quartz that can be found today, and a number of them have become beautiful additions to many types of jewelry. One of the most popular gemstones that you can find in any number of jewelry settings is amethyst, which is purple quartz. Citrine, or yellow quartz, is another common stone used in many different styles of jewelry. Blue quartz, rose quartz and aventurine are all different quartz varieties that can create beautiful jewelry and accessory pieces. But what is ruby quartz?

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I’m really enjoying taking my time to renovate and decorate my first condo.  I never thought I would be a home owner but I got a second job, became very frugal and got a great mortgage broker.  Now my dream of owning my own home is realised and I am on track to pay the mortgage out in 15 years.

Through most of my life I have had secondhand furniture from friends and relatives, or I have brought things on eBay - a great place for those of us who are frugal whether by choice or necessity.

Now, however, I have a nice bonus from work and I can afford to choose some Italian Furniture that will stand the test of time as modern classics.   eRoomService.com is one of the best sites I have come across for modern furniture.

Check out their site for modern furniture to beautify your dining room, living rooms and bedrooms. You’ll be pleasantly surprised that their wide range of designer furniture doesn’t carry a corresponding designer price tag.  They even offer some ‘assembly required’ items which saves you even more money. Delivery time can vary according to the materials and finishes you choose.

Not only do they boast a wide range of contemporary furniture, they offer discount coupons when you sign up for their newsletter, a competitive pricing policy and two delivery options - curb side delivery and white glove service.

Cake decorating is not as difficult as it seems. We look at the elaborately decorated masterpieces and feel completely intimidated. Here are a few simple ideas and hints to make your cake decorating project a winner.

- Buy readymade cakes, or make your cake from a mix.

- Make sure you have several pastry bags, a coupler, a flower nail, and 6 icing tips- #824 large open star, #23 small open star, #104 small rose, #125 large rose, and #109 and #129 drop flowers.

- A turntable makes icing a cake much easier. A lazy susan will work.

- Use decorations that are already made- fresh flowers, silk flowers, ribbons, and fruit are some of the items you can use.

- Always brush fresh fruit with a glaze to seal in moisture.

- Use a decorative cake plate or platter to present your cake.

- Use Ganache icing.

Ganache

1 pound semi sweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup heavy cream or evaporated milk
1/4 cup sugar
4 tsp. unsalted butter

Place the chocolate in a bowl.

Combine cream, butter, and sugar in a pan, bring the mixture to a boil.
Pour the mixture over the chocolate, stirring gently until it is melted.
Using royal or buttercream icing, ice the cake with a thin coating, and freeze for 15 minutes.
Place a cooling rack on a cookie sheet.
Make sure the icing is set, and place the cake on the cooling rack.

Quickly pour the ganache over the top of the cake and down the sides. You can use a spatula to smooth the surface if needed. The hot ganache will melt the icing, so only smooth as necessary. Tap the rack to remove any excess ganache, this can be refrigerated for later use.
Chill the cake until set, remove to a serving platter.

Fruit Flan

You can choose to purchase a pre-made flan, or bake one yourself.
Slice your choice of assorted fruit and arrange it on the cake surface in concentric circles.
Coat with apricot glaze.
Serve on a decorative cake plate or platter.

Apricot Glaze

12 oz. jar of apricot jam
2-3 tbsp. Water

Combine jam and water in a saucepan.
Bring ingredients to a boil.
Strain glaze and keep in the refrigerator until needed.
Heat to brush on fruit.

Piping

Using a pastry bag and the tip of your choice, you can create a number of cake decorations, ranging from flowers to simple borders. Basic icing recipes can be found on the internet. Work on a piece of waxed paper before you apply any icing to a cake.

Edible Flowers

Apply icing to your cake
Decorate the cake with piping if you desire
Distribute edible flowers in a decorative fashion

I hope that any, or all, of these tips will help you with your cake decorating projects. My suggestion is to gather all of the tips, tricks, and ideas you can find and print them out. Put your collection in a binder and the next time you are having a problem with your cake decorating project, you will have an answer at your fingertips.

It is a very good chance that you have never known anyone in your lifetime that owns a natural blue diamond. Colored diamonds are extremely rare and finding a natural blue diamond is a very difficult task. To offer their customers blue colored diamonds many jewelers offer a colored blue diamond that was created by a diamond manufacturer. A standard diamond is transparent. These are called white diamonds. In nearly all white diamonds there is a slight brown hue to them that is caused by their natural creation process. To find a white diamond that is pure white is very rare. Finding a blue diamond is also very rare and true blue diamonds are among the most expensive in the world.

Colored diamonds are actually created due to imperfections or impurities in the creation process. So in a world where everyone is looking for the perfect diamond it is very strange the most desirable gems are those that are brilliant with imperfections. Naturally colored red diamonds are the most rare of them all. One of the most valuable, and rare, diamond collections in the world is the Aurora Diamond Collection. The Aurora collection consists of 297 diamonds with a collective diamond weight of over 260 carats! The Aurora Diamond Collection has a natural diamond of every color that has ever been found and that makes for one very valuable set of gems!

Stealing The Ice

One of the single most famous blue diamonds ever is the Hope Diamond. The Hope Diamond is a natural blue diamond that weighs 45 carats and is estimated to be worth over $200 million American dollars! King Louis XIV of France had the gem mounted as a ceremonial pendant to be worn around his neck in 1668. Because of its time spent in the French monarchy the Hope Diamond became known as the Blue Diamond of the Crown until it disappeared for a time. It resurfaced in the collection of Henry Philip Hope in 1824 and that is where it gets its current name of the Hope Diamond. The diamond went from family to family for years until a gem collector named Harry Winston bought it in 1949. In 1958 Winston donated the diamond to the Smithsonian Institution.

It is said that there is a curse on the Hope Diamond as many of the previous owners had met suspicious deaths. The curse traces back to Jean-Baptiste Tavernier who was the man who sold the gem to the monarchy of France. It is said that Tavernier stole the diamond from the eye of a statue of a Hindu goddess and that the priests of the temple it was stolen from put a curse on the diamond. Harry Winston died of natural causes in 1978 so maybe he was able to break the curse of the Hope Diamond.

Beading has really become a real frenzy especially in North America, and it is now considered as being one of the most popular hobbies in the world. There are many methods that you can use in order to learn about beading if you have not already, and one of the best is through a beading organization.

What is it?

Basically a beading organization is any type of organization that offers classes or other forms of information on beading. Of course one beading organization is going to vary from the next; however the basics tend to remain the same with all of them. The purpose of this sort of an organization is to educate the public as best as possible about the beading hobby, how it is done and what elements are involved.

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I don’t know about you but I don’t pay retail for anything. You don’t have to either. Just sign up for savings.com and you will get free online coupons, such as Hewlett Packard coupons, and access to members only deals. No matter what purchase you need to make, be sure to check savings.com first and see if there is a promo code for whatever you need.

Get promo codes like a free iPod when you buy a Macintosh computer, up to 60% off Juicy Couture women’s, men’s and children’s clothes, save 48% on a 5 piece Proactive skin care system, cash back deals on pet supplies and lots more. No matter what you need, whether it’s a new cell phone plan with AT&T Wireless or a vacation, savings.com will save you time and money.

Promotional codes and free coupons are the only way to shop online. Why part with more of your hard earned cash than you need to. Everything is on discount at some point in time, so plan your shopping ahead of time and search for online coupons that will save you money.

When most people think of diamonds, they think of the translucent diamonds generally seen in jewelry such as engagement rings. There are however, many other colors the diamonds can come in.

Natural diamonds generally only come in colors that are not much darker than the translucent natural state of the diamond. These are generally created when different elements intermix with the diamond when it is being created. When there’s only a small amount of color in the diamond it generally reduces its value. However, when a diamond has a large amount of color, it can actually increase the value of the diamond over that of the translucent equivalent.

Black Diamonds

Perhaps the last color that anyone would expect to see a diamond and would be black. There are actually two types of black diamonds, natural and synthetic. Generally speaking, if you see a black diamond in a piece of jewelry, it is most likely synthetic. Although, natural Black diamonds are sold as well.

Synthetic diamonds can actually being created in nearly any color. Although they have not yet become as popular as natural diamonds, there’s really no way for the average person to be able to tell if a diamond as synthetic or not. Synthetic diamonds have actually been created that are harder than any natural diamonds discovered as of yet.

The very first and time diamonds were created synthetically is far before most people realize. The very first artificial diamond was actually created in 1893, by Henri Moissan. This success was repeated again in 1953, although this experiment was kept secret for many years. Diamonds were commercially produced for the first time in 1954. Tracy Hall of General Electric was the person that was able to successfully accomplish this.

Natural black diamonds, or Carbonado, are found in the central African republics as well as in Brazil. This diamond appears to be black, and unlike most diamonds you see, it is actually porous. There were several theories as to where these diamonds came from; these theories vary from being extraterrestrial-related, to theories involving uranium and other radioactive materials.

However, recent research suggests that these diamonds are almost certainly from interstellar space. These natural Black diamonds likely came to the earth in the form of meteorites. Although rare, these diamonds are being used by the jewelry industry to make jewelry from. They certainly have a fantastic marketing edge, who wouldn’t want a piece of jewelry that is extraterrestrial in nature? It certainly appeals to one’s imagination.
ople think of diamonds, they think of the translucent diamonds generally seen in jewelry such as engagement rings. There are however, many other colors the diamonds can come in.

Natural diamonds generally only come in colors that are not much darker than the translucent natural state of the diamond. These are generally created when different elements intermix with the diamond when it is being created. When there’s only a small amount of color in the diamond it generally reduces its value. However, when a diamond has a large amount of color, it can actually increase the value of the diamond over that of the translucent equivalent.

Black Diamonds

Perhaps the last color that anyone would expect to see a diamond and would be black. There are actually two types of black diamonds, natural and synthetic. Generally speaking, if you see a black diamond in a piece of jewelry, it is most likely synthetic. Although, natural Black diamonds are sold as well.

Synthetic diamonds can actually being created in nearly any color. Although they have not yet become as popular as natural diamonds, there’s really no way for the average person to be able to tell if a diamond as synthetic or not. Synthetic diamonds have actually been created that are harder than any natural diamonds discovered as of yet.

The very first and time diamonds were created synthetically is far before most people realize. The very first artificial diamond was actually created in 1893, by Henri Moissan. This success was repeated again in 1953, although this experiment was kept secret for many years. Diamonds were commercially produced for the first time in 1954. Tracy Hall of General Electric was the person that was able to successfully accomplish this.

Natural black diamonds, or Carbonado, are found in the central African republics as well as in Brazil. This diamond appears to be black, and unlike most diamonds you see, it is actually porous. There were several theories as to where these diamonds came from; these theories vary from being extraterrestrial-related, to theories involving uranium and other radioactive materials.

However, recent research suggests that these diamonds are almost certainly from interstellar space. These natural Black diamonds likely came to the earth in the form of meteorites. Although rare, these diamonds are being used by the jewelry industry to make jewelry from. They certainly have a fantastic marketing edge, who wouldn’t want a piece of jewelry that is extraterrestrial in nature? It certainly appeals to one’s imagination.

Many people don’t realize that ceiling fans can be used in both winter and summer. In winter, the reverse function that most fans have pushes the warm air that rises to the ceiling back into the room. In summer, a ceiling fan can reduce the temperature by up to 8 degrees Fahrenheit and can save up to 40% on your cooling bills. In fact, a ceiling fan uses less electricity than a 75 watt light globe – a great benefit now that we need to reduce our carbon footprints.

Farreys.com have some great products and their lighting collection is superb. They are a distributor of the Craftmade brand which has built a reputation over the last fifteen years as the manufacturer of one of the sturdiest, dependable and energy efficient ceiling fans on the market. They stock many name brands including Ellington Fans, Hunter Fan Company, Minka Aire fans, NuTone and Westinghouse. Their fan and lighting designs are elegant, unique and affordable. You can search by brand, style, type, finish or price range.

With styles such as retro, period, industrial and low profile, no matter what interior design look you are aiming for check out www.farreys.com and you’ll be sure to find ceiling fans that suit both your decor your budget. Farreys have been bringing you superior service since 1924 and offer a 30 day return service as well as fast, reliable shipping. Check them out today

Beading wire is one of the most essential materials for any beading project, especially when it comes to beaded jewelry and similar items. There are many different sizes, styles and colors of beading wire that you can choose from, as well as a variety of different companies that offer it.

Knowing What Your Best Options Are

One of the best companies to buy beading wire from is Beading USA, a company which offers you all of the supplies that you need to make your own beaded jewelry. They have wire, catches, spacers, beads and much more, and as well offer a great customer service center so if at any time you have any questions or comments to make you can do so and you will receive an immediate response.

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