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Posts Tagged ‘Facts’

Horses are known for their power, grace, beauty, nobility, strength and freedom. They are part of the family Equidae, which consist of donkeys, zebras, mules and more. There exists more than 250 breeds of horses. They are mostly bred to pull carts, work on farms, for racing, showing and even as a beloved pet. Having a horse as an animal companion has become as common as having a pet dog or cat. A horses height is measured in units know as “hands”. One hand is equal to 4 inches. The average riding horse is 15 hands tall. That’s about 60 inches or 5 feet tall.

These hoofed mammals can live for around 20 – 25 years. Old Billy is one of the oldest horses that lived an astonishing 62 years of age. Old Billy was born in England in 1760 and lived as a barge horse that pulled barges up and down canals. Horses have evolved over the past 45 – 55 million years. From a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed creature we see today. The male is called a Stallion and the female is known as Mare. The baby is also known as a Foal. The diet of the horse consists of short, juicy grass and hay, along with barley, maize, oats and bran. This beautiful creature normally weighs around 1000 to 1100 pounds.

The elegance and beauty of a horse has been used in home decor today. It symbolizes power and movement. When used in Feng Shui, it can bring success, fame, freedom and speed. It has been said that placing two horses together can help build strong partnership in business or in marriage. The figurines should be placed such that it is coming in and not going out of the house. Horse shoes are also considered to be lucky however, hanging a horse shoe upside down is considered back luck.

The lion is one of the most social of all feline species. With a roar so loud that it can be heard 5 miles away and with a running speed of up to 50 mph, there’s no wonder why this beautiful feline is considered to be the “King of the Jungle”. The lion is just one of the four biggest cats in the Genus Pantera and also member of the family Felidae, the biological family of the cat. Tigers, Jaguars and Leopards are part of the Pantera. Male lions can reach a length of 10 feet and weigh between 300 to 500 pounds or more. The female weighs around 290 lbs. The male is recognized by its large Mane. The Mane is used for intimidation and starts to grow as early as 3.5 years of age. Darker manes are more likely to attract females. The darker and fuller the Mane, the healthier the male. The Mane protects the feline while fighting and is generally a light yellowish-brown colour. The female lion is called a lioness. The lioness does most of the hunting. They attack wildebeest, waterbuck, zebra, and sometimes giraffes. They will also feed on smaller animals such as hares, birds and reptiles. The male joins in once the prey has been killed.

A group of lions is called a “pride” because of their stately quality. A pride generally consists of fifteen to around thirty or more felines, mostly females that are related. The male marks its territory with urine within the pride. Lions also exist for more than two million years. They can be found mostly in Africa or the zoo. The lion population in Africa has been reduced by half since the early 1950′s. Today, there are less than 20,000 in Africa. Male lions seldom live longer than 10 years in the wild because fighting with rival males greatly reduce their longevity. While in captivity, they can live longer than 20 years. Today, lions can be used in home decor and more. The Lion is a special animal to the Chinese. A pair of stone lions which are male and female, known as “Foo Dogs” can often be seen in front of the gates of traditional buildings. When used in Feng Shui, people with bad intentions won’t be able to cause the intended damage at a place which has Foo Dogs at the door. Beautiful bedding have used lions as a way of art, making the bedroom look more beautiful and exotic looking. Long live the King!

Butterflies and moths are part of our natural heritage and have been studied for over 300 years. There are over 20,000 species of these beautiful flying insects around the world. As we all know, the cycle begins with the egg, than the larva, pupa and adult. They can range from 1/8 to 12 inches in size. Females are usually bigger and live longer than males. During the mating process, the female gives a scent that the male butterfly can only smell. The scent is called Pheromones. The pheromones act as a perfume to attract the male butterfly. The female lays 100 eggs in her lifetime. The life span of a butterfly is dependent on the breed. They can live a few days or up to a year. Small butterflies generally have shorter life spans than bigger ones.

Butterflies can be used as symbols. It is the most popular used tatoo for a woman. This type of tatoo has several meanings. It can symbolize rebirth, freedom, and the change in one’s life etc. The Mandarin Chinese word for butterfly is “hu-tieh”. “Tieh” means 70 years. In the Chinese culture, it can symbolize a long life and can also symbolize undying bond between lovers. In Japan, the butterfly symbolizes love. In many other cultures, it can symbolize the soul. In South Germany, some believe that the dead are reborn as children who fly about as butterflies. In American culture, it is used to express the beauty and change in all of us. Butterflies are also considered classic Feng Shui cures. You will be guided through ease and grace in your life when used in Feng Shui. Butterflies are also used to decorate. Weddings, birthdays, baby showers have been beautifully decorated and adorned with butterflies. Yes, butterflies fly around our homes and will continue to fly in our hearts forever.

Following is some really interesting trivia regarding martini glasses, the basic innovation that led to the discovery of the Lolita martini glass collection.

• The name, Martini, is derived from a city in California, named Martinez, in 1887. Old cocktail manuals have mention of a Martinez cocktail that was made out of gin, sweet vermouth, bitters, and topped with a cherry.
• The design of the martini glass is basically to keep the person’s hand away from the drink, which is generally cold, so that the latter does not increase in temperature due to the palm’s heat. Thus, Lolita martini glass collection is not all about style, but function as well.
• The best media exposure martini got was in the James Bond series, with the ‘shaken, not stirred’ dialogue becoming a very famous one and spiraling upwards the sales of martini glasses.
• Many prominent personalities have known to drink their cocktails from classic martini glasses, like Alfred Hitchcock, Frank Sinatra and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
• The extremely open top of the martini glass is basically useful for constructing surface tension which gives the bouquet of gin and gives a better setting for the olive garnish than any other glass.
• The cone shape of the glass top is in such a manner because the contents of the cocktail can easily separate in other shapes.
• Although martini glasses come in many sizes, connoisseurs believe the perfect one is the 4-ounce glass.
• Besides olives on a stick, stemware charms are also a popular accessory to a drink served in a Lolita martini glass. These are basically used as markers by guests to recognize their drinks.

So now that you know so much about martini glasses, how about giving some exclusive type of this wondrous creation as a gift to your loved ones. There are many options available in the present market that you can purchase and give to your friends and family for making them feel special in style.

For more info visit Lolita Martini Glass Collection.

You can find many large home improvement stores slapping an eco-friendly sticker on a wide array of flooring products. Are these labels legit? Are these flooring options really eco-friendly? What is the best choice for your home? What the heck is eco-flooring anyway?

The following is 7 Things about eco-flooring you need to know before you buy.

1. Eco-flooring is good for your home and your health, not just the earth. The days of picking out a chemically filled carpet, tile, or treated hardwood floor are getting passé, and fast. Sure those options remain. But, many people agree; Eco-flooring isn’t just the newest thing, in many respects, it’s the greatest. Innovations in manufacturing, design, and materials have led to a more unique blend of choices that look great and are also eco-friendly.
2. Eco-flooring is a phenomenal value. Thanks to these looks, features, and new innovations, one could argue that in just a few years, eco-friendly flooring might be the preferred choice in the majority of homes. With sustainability and the environment becoming not just hot political topics, but an important part of the decision-making process for millions of people, eco-flooring products are not going away. Due to rising competition in this fast growing market, prices are not as out of control as you might expect.
3. Look before you leap. Don’t be fooled by pretty pictures in the catalogue, or even seeing a single plank at Lowe’s or Home Depot. Remember, the tech gods created photo editing software for a good reason, to cover flaws, drawbacks, and the truth. Even that single plank at the lumber store doesn’t take into consideration what a completed floor will look like. Take some time to go on home improvement websites. Ask the salesperson, “What can I expect this floor to look like in 3, 5, 10 years?” Or, I have dogs, cats, and pet pigs…can this floor handle pets?” The answer to those questions should impact your overall decision.
4. Don’t forget maintenance! Imagine how nice it will be to finally own a green floor. Then imagine how you’ll feel a year later when you’re, once again, getting ready to maintain it. A good floor should be seen and not constantly serviced. Here’s some things to look out for… Cork flooring is known for its sensitivity to light. It can also be permanently damaged by heavy objects. So, if you have dogs, cats, or are the type of person who moves around their furniture a lot, be wary. That’s just one example. Bamboo flooring, while renowned for being eco-friendly offers a pretty mundane look. Also, because bamboo usually isn’t allowed to mature fully before it’s made into flooring; don’t be surprised if it ends up cracking or not holding up well after a few years of use. Search for complaints, reviews, and problems of both bamboo and cork flooring to learn more about the drawbacks before you fall for the pretty pictures or buy strictly because of the eco-flooring label. If you find that you can live with and/or deal with the cons and want to strictly consider the pros of these flooring options, then you will have made an educated decision worth sticking by…which leads to…
5. Search for the Good and most definitely, the Bad. You can’t ignore facts. While bamboo, cork, and hardwood flooring are renewable resources, they have their drawbacks. These drawbacks can sometimes outweigh the fact that they might be eco-friendly. For instance, bamboo might be cheap and readily available, but the great percentage of bamboo has been made with formaldehyde filled glues. If you’re not familiar with this poison, governments across the world caution against its use due to scientific studies that link its use to various cancers that affect the respiratory system. As already discussed cork has maintenance issues, but nothing compared to bamboo. As for regular hardwood flooring, while the look is varied and natural, hardwood has been known to cup, crown, and have limited install options. These factors can make people turn away from them, but if you read on, you’ll find out that there is hardwood flooring that doesn’t have these problems.
6. Don’t underestimate hardwood. People who make up their minds about hardwood flooring are looking in the past. There is a huge international push for sustainable practice that produce hardwood flooring that is truly eco-friendly. There is flooring that has come from managed forests as well as innovative eco-flooring like Staybull Flooring that uses reclaimed strips of hardwood. These strips are then, using formaldehyde free glues and a proven green floor finish, made to produce a green floor that is actually stronger than hardwood, bamboo, and definitely cork. Miraculously, these floors also resist cupping, cracking, and warping. This brand of eco-flooring is basically manufactured like bamboo, but without the bad chemicals, and offers greater variety of looks to match your unique taste. As you can see, with innovations like that, you can’t overlook hardwood when it comes to eco-friendly flooring.
7. Never settle. Don’t ever let anyone or any sales person pressure or guilt you into buy any one brand or type of eco-flooring option. It’s your home. While not belittling the environmental aspect of this sector of the flooring industry, it’s still YOUR money. And, YOU are the only one who has to live with your new floor. Let’s face it, you don’t want to buy a floor you’ll end up regretting. Sure, you’ll always be able to tell guests and neighbors that your floor is environmentally friendly. But, deep inside, if you hate your floor because it doesn’t fit your lifestyle, then what good is it really?

When it comes to may eco-flooring options, the more research you do, the better you will feel about the choice you make.