T'is the Season to be Believe!

I still believe in miracles! Yes, even through brain surgery (just like on t.v), a zillion skin cancers, the passing of my beloved mom and dealing with a terminally ill dad, I woke up the other morning and said I still believe! No! I'm not Peter Pan.
I believe in fantasy, lapis, magic, luxury (when and where you can afford it) bold colors, tenderness and just a little hint of mystery.

Every day individuals in my business meet people with expectations and dreams! They believe or wish to believe that living a certain way will give them what they're looking for and you know what, to a certain extent they're right. At different times in all of our lives we need/ want/ desire different things. Our life circumstances change and so our surroundings must change as well to make us feel whole or complete again.

Being a decorator I believe in the design of rooms coming to life. I believe it is truly a way I get to express myself in my work. It not only nourishes, enriches, emboldens and completes me but does the same for my clients. I believe in the miracle of taking an idea, color, or feeling you'd like to have and magically mixing it together to create the kind of environment you want to flourish in. A design plan for the senses.

At The Art of Placement our team works to take the design of a house and make it a home in your comfort zone, a place that you look forward to returning to at the end of a day we have accomplished what we set out to do for you, it's not always an easy task! Our ultimate goal is that when you walk thru the entrance to your home, you look around and feel secure and breathe in the space, textures and the world that we have created for you and no one else.

How do we do it? We listen a lot! And then take into consideration everything that is available to us to make your dreams come true . We believe in taking you step by step through the design of your home so that in the end YOU are the one that makes the decisions. We have available to us everything under the sun, it's your decision, we just guide you.

We have our cherished, tried & true designs that please all, but our ideas come from what you have said and yes you can say we do create miracles.

We have some of the most talented craftsman, our faux painters are artistes creating walls of marble and stone, lapis lazuli, turquoise matrix, walls of cinnabar and powder rooms to fit Marie Antoinette.

Our furniture vendors have the newest and the best or antique's to fit in every niche.

The colors on the fabrics this year are to be cherished, the deep corals actually abound both in color and pattern, the greens run from limes to avocado's and the browns from pale gold to chocolate to deep rich coffee shades.

New textures excite the senses, from the softness of the new sheers to the depth of patterns in the hot mystical metallic's now being shown in everything.

Styles now run the gamut it you want to go modern, go stark, bold, minimalistic. Need to be nurtured? Layer on various textures think softness, fluff, cocoon and envelop yourself.

Yes! It's time to dream and for the New Year it's time to give in to that dream.

Maybe we all do have a little Peter Pan in our lives!

Believe! - Have a Happy & Healthy New Year!

County Offering Free Six-Week Course on Neighborhood Revitalization

Palm Beach County, through the efforts of the Office of Community Revitalization (OCR), has designed a six-week, hands-on educational course intended to help community residents who are interested in improving their neighborhood.

The Resident Education to Action Program (REAP) supports the formation of neighborhood associations and empowers residents to seek a better quality of life. Through this course, residents will learn effective neighborhood organizational methods including: community leadership development; resident empowerment; and encouraging community volunteerism and participation. Residents will also learn about public safety and crime prevention methods; hurricane preparation; financial management; and other community development strategies.

During the course, participants will be given the opportunity to create and present a community action plan, as well as apply for a grant through the ?America?s Next Top Neighborhood Award Grant? program. Sessions are facilitated using a variety of innovative techniques including group activities, lectures, guest speakers, individual outside work, and oral presentations.

The course and all materials are free but a commitment for the entire six-week course is required. Seating is limited and available on a first come-first served basis. To register, or for additional information regarding the program, please contact LaToya Ricketts at (561) 233-5239 or e-mail her at lrickett@co.palm-beach.fl.us. visit website

GENERAL TIPS on CONSERVING WATER IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD

• Water lawns only when they need it.
• Plant is smart
• Use mulch to retain moisture in the soil, this helps control weeds too!
• Ensure your irrigation system is working properly
• Watering in the early hours of the morning.
• In the rainy season (mid May-October), lawns need only 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch of water every 2-3 days
• Over-watering lawns means the grass will have shallow roots and be susceptible to diseases.
• Avoid over fertilizing your lawn.
• Florida law requires rain sensors on all automated systems installed after May 1, 1991.
• Set your mower at its highest level, to allow grass blades to be about 3 inches long.
• Use a broom or blower instead of a hose to clean leaves and other debris from your driveway or sidewalk.
• Use a shut-off nozzle on your hose.
• Consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water.

Formal Water Shortage Warning

City of Boca Raton
November 9, 2006

The Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has issued a
formal water shortage warning effective November 9, 2006, for the District’s Lower East Coast
(LEC) Service Area, which comprises Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and eastern Palm Beach
Counties. This area includes the City of Boca Raton Utility Services Department service area.
Though no mandatory water restrictions will be issued as part of this warning, both the District
and the City of Boca Raton Utility Services Department are encouraging water users to
voluntarily reduce their water consumption as a preemptive measure to avoid or forestall
potential water shortage orders and mandatory water restrictions later in the dry season.

Benefits Of Granite Kitchen Countertops

For renovated or new homes alike, granite has grown in popularity more and more. There are many reasons for this due to the many benefits of of granites use as a kitchen counter top material. The entire list would be too long for this article, so we've compiled the top benefits listed below.

1. The natural beauty of a granite counter top. Vast arrays of shades, colors, and textures are available. Colors to compliment any decor can be found weather its a neutral color or something bright, your personal tastes can always be satisfied. One note here, if your counter top will need more than one slab to complete, make sure they come from the same mine batch or color shades could be objectionably different between slabs.

2. The durability of kitchen granite counter tops. Granite is one of the most durable materials available. Unlike Formica, it isn't subject to burning by hot pots or pans being cooked with. Granite is resistant to staining and discoloring when properly sealed on a regular basis. Sealing is easily done by anyone, and a properly sealed granite counter top will maintain a beautiful shiny luster for a lifetime.

3. Every slab of granite will have different feature from the next. Patterns, color textures, distribution and depth can all vary from slab to slab, providing different character. Any type of cabinet hardware fixtures can be complemented as well as cabinet finish or flooring. A richness is added to your kitchen, one that simple cannot be duplicated with other materials.

4. Although granite will add some expense to your kitchen remodel project, there are few better investments in your homes value. Using granite for your kitchen granite counter top will increase your home value, whether you're planning on selling your home soon or not. Home shoppers are more inclined towards a recently remodeled kitchen void of repair needs. They're more likely to pay more for the home, or go from feeling indifferent to preferred.

Builders and contractors have noticed an increase in demand for granite counter tops over the recent decade or so, and it's no wonder with all the benefits of granite. Weather using granite to enjoy the luxury yourself, or looking to sell your home, there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Consider the decor of your home while choosing the pattern and color of granite to be used. Will you be changing the decor or do you have something new in store. Neutral colors are more flexible with any decor changes due in the future.

2. Always make sure you are the one who chooses the actual granite slab to be used in your kitchen counter top. Since every slab is different, sample chips wont match exactly what's available. If your counter top is big enough to require more than one granite slab, make sure the slabs are from the same quarry batch. Different granite quarry batches will vary in hue for the same granite type. It would be a disaster if slabs from different batches were used.

3. Never try to recycle fixtures such as the faucet or sink. With granite applications, an under mount sink looks best - mounted on the underside of the granite, with a silicon sealant preventing leaks. An under mount sink can not be installed or replaced after the granite is in place. So purchase the best quality sink you can afford.

With these few points in mind, you're ready to go and have your kitchen counter top transformed with gorgeous granite. Don't be alarmed when friends and neighbors see it for the first time and gasp at the transformation.

Dave Marx writes for Kitchen-Remodeling-Pictures.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Hares

Learn About the Abundant Health Benefits of Green Tea

By Brigita Feltham

THE FACTS BEHIND ALL THE HYPE

There have been hundreds of scientific studies conducted on the health benefits of green tea in the past few years. These scientific studies have all provided evidence which credits green tea with providing numerous health and wellness benefits.

IT’S STILL AN IMPORTANT PART OF CHINESE AND JAPANESE CULTURE

It has been drunk in China and Japan for hundreds of years. It is drunk on a daily basis, often with or after a meal.

Japanese people today enjoy the longest life expectancy in the world, as well as lower rates of cardiovascular disease and cancer. It is believed green tea plays an important role in their diet and lifestyle.

Of course, green tea can not provide all the essential nutrients needed to maintain a healthy life - but it can definately complement it. It is a completely natural and affordable source of wellness, which just happens to also taste DELICIOUS!

ANTIAGING AND SKIN CELL REJUVENATION

Green tea contains a high concentration of antioxidants which help to stabilise and stop free radicals from damaging healthy cells.

EGCG is a catechin found in green tea that is said to be more effective than any other vitamins in eliminating free radicals. EGCG is said to contain 25-100 times more antioxidants than Vitamins C and E. Green tea catechins make up 30% of the dry weight of green tea leaves.

Green tea is often utilized in facial creams because of it’s concentration of antioxidants. However, you can only truly reap the full health and wellness benefits by drinking green tea on a regular basis. It is completely natural and a much more affordable way to maintain good health than applying creams and lotions on your skin.

GREEN TEA AIDS WEIGHT LOSS

Studies conducted on green tea in recent years, have suggested that daily consumption of green tea is useful in reducing body fat. It is said that the interaction between EGCG and the caffeine in green tea triggers the metabolism to burn fat at an accelerated rate.

Green tea is calorie-free, so it can be enjoyed as often as you like. And with lower caffeine than coffee, it has no known side effects. It isn’t surprising that people across Asia have been enjoying the health benefits of green tea for centuries. The Japanese have one of the lowest rates of heart disease and cancer in the world, as well as lower rates of obesity than other Western countries.

GREEN TEA AND ITS ANTI-CANCER PROPERTIES

The compound EGCG, a catechin found in green tea has also been attributed to preventing cancer cells from growing. The catechins found in green tea block cancer-causing agents from binding with DNA, thus protecting cells against damage that could potentially lead to cancer. Catechins work to protect against free-radical DNA damage that causes some cancers.

GREEN TEA LOWERS CHOLESTEROL

The catechins found in green tea are also said to reduce lipoprotein –cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) in the blood. The powerful antioxidants in green tea prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol in the arteries.

As more long-term studies are conducted, more health benefits of green tea will most likely be found. Green tea is an affordable and enjoyable drink, that is simple to prepare, and is worth making part of your lifestyle.

Brigita Feltham is the creator and owner of Infusious Tea. After spending over 3 years in Japan, green tea became a part of Brigita's daily lifestyle as it is for most Japanese people. Brigita began to study tea ceremony and found out that not only does green tea have wonderful health benefits, but it also has a rich cultural tradition in Japan. Brigita would now like to share her knowledge and love of Japanese green tea.

If you would like more information on Japanese green tea visit:

Japan Green Tea

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brigita_Feltham