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Throughout the ages, people have revered gemstones as beautiful and even magical. In fact, some people used to believe that gemstones carried mystical powers and that each gemstone could bestow these powers to its wearer. For instance, a cool blue sapphire implies that the wearer is cool under pressure, while a red ruby implies that the wearer is passionate and fiery. Eventually people began to relate a given gemstone with a zodiac sign or month of the year. People born in that month of the year were thought of to possess qualities resembling that of the gemstone or “birthstone” linked to that month.

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Over the years, a certain aura of confusion arose surrounding which birthstones were associated with which months. In fact, for some months, competing birthstones arose and competed for public acceptance.

The Modern Birthstone list contains the official birthstone list from the American National Association of Jewelers, Jewelers of America. These gemstones were officially adopted in 1912. In the US, this is the accepted list.

Listed are the Birth Months and their respected Modern Birthstones:

January – Garnet

February – Amethyst

March – Aquamarine

April – Diamond

May – Emerald

June – Pearl

July – Ruby

August – Peridot

September – Sapphire

October – Opal

November – Yellow Topaz

December – Blue Topaz

Apart from the modern birthstones there are other birthstones like the traditional birthstones, mystical birthstones and ayurvedic birthstones.

The Traditional Birthstone are older birthstones and is sometimes combined with the modern birthstone list. These stones reflect societal birthstone traditions, heralding back to the 15th century. (Many jewelers have differing lists of traditional birthstones.)The Mystical Birthstone are of Tibetan origin from over a thousand years ago. The Ayurvedic Birthstone are from Ayurvedic Indian Medicine – a type of medicine used for over a thousand years.

The Star Sign stone chart below offers another slant on birthstones/planetary relationships.

Sun Sign and their respective birthstones

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)-Ruby,Agate, Garnet

Aquarius(Jan. 20-Feb. 18 )-Garnet, Moss Agate, Opal, Amethyst

Pisces(Feb. 19-Mar. 20)-Rock Crystal, Sapphire, Amethyst, Bloodstone

Aries(Mar. 21-Apr. 19)-Bloodstone, Diamond

Taurus(Apr. 20-May 20)-Sapphire, Turquoise, Amber, Blood Coral, Emerald

Gemini (May 21-Jun. 20)-Agate, Chrysoprase, Pearl

Cancer(Jun. 21-Jul. 22)-Emerald, Moonstone, Pearl, Ruby

Leo(Jul. 23-Aug. 22)-Tourmaline, Sardonyx, Onyx

Virgo(Aug. 23-Sep. 22)-Jasper, Carnelian, Jade, Sapphire

Libra (Sep. 23-Oct. 22)-Opal, Lapis Lazuli, Peridot

Scorpio(Oct. 23-Nov. 21)-Aquamarine, Topaz

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)-Sapphire, Amethyst, Turquoise, Topaz

Gemstones have a direct effect on our lives and this has been scientifically proven. Luck can mean fortune, force that operates for good or ill. There are many forces and vibrations flowing about us all the time, and gems which are nothing but minerals have a peculiar ability to concentrate these powers or forces on our lives. these forces can be both of the positive or the negative energy. So, choosing the correct stone can make the life force much more good luck friendly. This way we can influence the forces to be kinder to us.

Gemstones have living energy. Every gemstone has several attributes. Good luck is a part of the energy of many stones. There are times it may be more helpful to use more than one stone for the luck needed. As we change our way of life our vibrations change, that is why some gemstones will work differently on the same person at different times.

The best way to know what gemstones will be lucky for you is to hold it in your hand. The gemstones help change the life force around you and that is how gemstones can change your luck.

Every gemstone signifies or symbolizes a different meaning of its own, The stones may be precious or semiprecious stones thats is why what matters is that one chooses a personal gemstone of their own.

It is common today to have a personal stone. The personal stone may be a stone associated with a zodiac sign or a birth month. A personal stone may be a gem that has been passed down in a family. A personal stone could be a stone of a person’s favorite color. A personal stone can be anything that a person wants it to be as long as the feeling for the stone is deep.

I hope this information can help you select a gemstone that has personal meaning to you and will give you much joy and pleasure.

The Meaning And Significance of Birthstones by Month

There has been a great deal discussion about lab-created diamonds. Along with that talk, there is much misinformation and perplexity. The jewelry lover, who is interested in realizing the huge savings and aesthetic beauty that simulated diamonds offer, is often bewildered by the manufactured diamond industry jargon and available options. This article will categorically break it down in easy-to-understand terms so that anyone can make an intelligent decision when choosing a simulated diamond.

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GEM MATERIALS: 99% of all lab-created diamonds sold worldwide are polycrystalline on a molecular level. The differences are fundamentally in the technical aspects of manufacturing, cutting, and polishing. Think of it this way–all coffeemakers are made of plastic, steel, and glass, the differences are how these materials are designed and implemented. Higher quality coffeemakers make a better tasting cup of coffee. Higher quality manufactured diamonds are in line with mined diamonds.

QUALITY VARIANCES: It seems like grade variations are made out to be a more complex lab-created diamond issue then it really is. Once boiled down, there are three primary grades of simulated diamonds–high, medium, and low. For the jewelry shopper it should be noted that the quality of setting goes hand-in-hand with the quality of the gemstone. Those that sell manufactured diamond jewelry off point-of-purchase displays in the costume jewelry sections of discount stores use low quality or scrap stones that are not gem quality, and have disco ball or murky look. Those that sell manufactured diamond jewelry on the TV shopping channels–which is generally with a sterling silver or a micro-thin layer of gold plated over silver (Vermeil [pronounced ver-may]) settings–use medium quality stones not of gem quality. Those that sell solid 14K gold or solid platinum settings, as a rule, use the highest gem-quality man made gemstones that replicate mined diamonds.

PRICING: Low grade stones are sold in bulk to costume jewelry makers and are often glued on electroplated settings. This jewelry is fine for children, where loss risk is high, and usually retails for less than per item. You will find medium grade stones primarily in sterling silver jewelry that sells for under 0 per item, settings and stones. Medium grade simulated diamonds can be distinguished by the naked eye as not being mined diamonds. High grade gemstone quality lab-created diamonds, undistinguishable by the naked eye from mined diamonds, are found mounted on settings of solid 14K gold and platinum. This is considered to be fine jewelry, with the best quality gemstones selling for under 0 per carat for the gemstones alone. Manufactured diamonds that sell for over 0 a carat are not higher quality than those that sell for between and 0 per carat.

RECOMMENDATIONS: If you are buying for someone that is likely to lose the jewelry, there is no reason to spend any more than you have to, and Wal-Mart will do just fine. On the clearance rack you can even pick up some jewelry for less than per item. If you buy simulated diamonds set in sterling silver, expect decent stones, but they will fool few into thinking they are mined diamonds. Also, your fingers are likely to turn green or black in response to a chemical reaction, not with the silver per se, but with the nickel/copper alloys in sterling silver. With any plated settings, gemstones are low to medium grade, and the plating will eventually chip off, particularly around the edges. When that happens, the nickel/copper alloys will be exposed, the setting will look like it came out of a gum ball machine, and your finger will generally turn green or black. It is just a matter of common sense, if you want simulated diamonds with mined-diamond qualities, they must be set in 14K solid gold. Jewelers who offer lab-created diamonds are not going spend on money on gold and not mount the highest quality stones, which would defeat the purpose of creating fine diamond-like jewelry and alienate customers.

Lab-Created Diamonds – Simulated Diamonds And Manufactured Diamonds Review

If you’re looking for a diamond engagement ring that’s extraordinary and elegant in appearance, you might opt to get a designer diamond engagement ring. With so many designers offering marvelous engagement ring styles, you’re surely found the perfect ring for your spouse to be. There are a lot of jewelry designers you can choose from; though the famous ones will offer you a very expensive diamond engagement ring, however, you can expect that ring to be made of high quality materials and handcrafted cautiously.

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Engagement ring designers like Tacori, Tiffany, Verragio, and, Scott Kay are just few of the world’s most famous jewelry designers. Each of them has their own unique style of designing a ring. Designer diamond rings can be purchased in an authorized retailer store; most of them can be contacted thru the internet and they’ll be happier to customize a design just for you.

If you want a diamond ring with the combination of classic and modern style, then Tacori diamond ring is the one for you. Tacori is famous for its signature Crescent Silhouette design detail. Diamond rings are available in platinum and 18K gold setting.

Tiffany diamond rings are popular in a six-prong setting. They made this kind of setting to raise the diamond above the ring’s band to permit the maximum amount of light to be reflected and refracted, to produce an additional brilliance to the stone. Tiffany & Co. also maintain its above average standards in using diamonds; they just want the perfect ones, they easily rejected a diamond even with only minor inclusions. All their rings are set in either platinum or 18K gold.

Verragio specializes in semi-mount diamond engagement rings; to complete the design, the couples will select the shape of the center stone they prefer. Verragio creations are famous because of its distinct designs such as scallops along the edges, soft cathedral settings, and the bar settings in the ring’s band and the stones were set perpendicular to the band. They also mix channel settings with other design elements such as pave settings; the design should combine well with the channel setting.

For Scott Kay, the quality of the ring should not be compromised. He only wants the best of materials to be used and the best craftsmanship for his famous diamond rings. He uses several ring settings but his distinct design is the Scott Kay crown setting; the stones are finely angled to follow the curve of the band.

Aside from the above mentioned designers, there are a lot more jewelry designers that offer unique and stylish diamond engagement rings. You’ll just have to do research on where to find and contact them so you can make arrangements. One of the great planning ideas when purchasing an engagement ring is to buy the wedding rings altogether; or better yet get a bridal set instead to make sure that the engagement ring and wedding ring complement each other.

Diamond Engagement Rings – Top Designers To Choose From

Which type of jumping horse sells better, the hunter or the jumper? This is a question that intrigues the horse professional and casual show rider alike. We can look at several factors to help us come up with a suitable hypothesis without actually conducting a horse sales census. The first being the amount of riders looking for a particular type of show horse. The second being the amount of availability of those different types of horses, and thirdly, the amount of classes offered at the horse shows for both the hunters and jumpers.

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I sell an average of about seventy-five horses from my barn in Wellington, Florida each and every year. I sell both hunters and jumpers. I get the most requests for good, averaged priced 3′ hunters. This category is extremely popular, and there seems to be a shortage of this type horse. Does this mean that the 3′ hunters actually sell better? I’m not really sure if they sell better or people just can’t find suitable specimens. Does a lack of product mean that type of sale horse is the better seller or just that those types of horses are a rarity?

Jumpers are more abundant. I sell at least 45% of my total sales in jumpers. For whatever reason jumpers are easier to find. Firstly, they do not have to be as quiet as the hunters do, secondly, they do not always need to be as pretty. The third reason is that far more horses can get by in the jumper ring without looking foolish, while their hunter counterparts are judged subjectively and must comply with many written and unwritten standards.

Lack of quality hunters seems to drive the price of this type of show horse up. It is harder to find the perfect diamond as opposed to the imperfect stone. Anyone can call a horse a hunter, but only the customers can reveal whether a horse will be accepted or not in that genre. I believe the average hunter is definitely more rare than the average jumper, but not necessarily a better seller. Costume jewelry sells better than authentic jewelry. Good hunters are like precious stones, hard to find, but worth it when you do discover them.

Jumpers are more available and thus less expensive. Less expensive means more people can buy them. This leads me to say that jumpers are the better seller, but at far less of an average price. Hunters are fewer and far between, but command more money for ownership. I believe 30% of my annual sales are from the hunter category.

Well, all right I can do addition. If you add up 45% and 30%, that equals 75%. Where are the remainder of my sales coming from? That’s easy, the newest category, the equitation divisions. This division is growing faster than both the other divisions, and no longer can you group this type of horse with either the hunter types, or the jumper types. The two more common show disciplines have morphed into a super hybrid known as the equitation horse and he is a specialist. More classes have emerged from the equitation ranks than from anywhere else. Gone are the days where you could show your junior hunter in the Medal finals or the U.S.E.T finals, or your jumper in the hunter phase of the Washington. You need the super hybrid. We have too many phases, and flat sections, and regional classes and finals for one horse. We all need the superstar all division, all terrain, equitation horse.

So what sells the best? I think jumpers might sell the most merely because the lower level ones are easier to come across. I believe hunters are more difficult to locate and thus command higher prices. I believe equitation horses are the super-hybrid of both the hunter/jumper worlds, and will eventually take over as the leading sales horses. However, if you group hunters and equitation horses together under one category, my belief is that hunters sell better.

Which Sells Better, The Hunter Or Jumper?

“If your dog is fat,” the old saying goes, “you aren’t getting enough exercise.” But walking the dog need not be just about a little exercise. Here are 10 cool things you can see in New Jersey while out walking the dog.

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GLACIAL ERRATICS

Pyramid Mountain is best known for its glacial erratics – boulders that were sprinkled across the landscape by retreating ice sheets from the last Ice Age. The most famous is Tripod Rock, a boulder various estimated at between 150 and 200 tons, that is suspended heroically off the ground by three smaller stones. Nearby notable neighbors include two massive monoliths: Whale Head Rock and Bear Rock, that with a little imagination does resemble a recumbent bear. A short detour from the summit of the Tourne leads to a gravity defying glacial erratic called Nouse Cradle Balancing Rock. Clarence DeCamp named it in 1897 when he discovered a mouse nest in a nook in the rock. The 54-ton boulder is balanced on two points of a ledge rock and a hidden wedge stone.

PREHISTORIC BONES

At the Ghost Lake parking lot on Shades of Death Road in Jenny Jump Forest you can take your dog along a short, rocky trail along the lakeshore to a steep rocky slope. Here you will find a cave known as Faery Hole. The cave room has a flat floor and enough headroom for a Great Dane to stand on two legs. The opening was excavated in the 1930s by state archeologist Dorothy Cross who recovered thousands of mammal bones, including the tooth of a long-extinct giant beaver. In Haddonfield, in the north end of the borough, is the heavily wooded Pennypacker Park where dinosaur bones were discovered in 1838 in a steep ravine carved by the Cooper River. When a full excavation was initiated by William Parker Foulke in 1858 nearly 50 bones of a plant-eating, duck-billed dinosaur were discovered. Haddonfield was suddenly famous as the site of the most complete dinosaur skeleton ever found. A small memorial marks the spot where Hadrosaurus Foulkii was unearthed at the end of Maple Street.

CAPE MAY DIAMONDS

The beach next door to Higbee Beach WMA is the similarly dog-friendly Sunset Beach, famous for its Cape May Diamonds. The “diamonds” are actually pieces of quartz crystals that have been eroded from the Upper Delaware River and been polished by a 200-mile journey of churning and jostling that can last a millennium or two. The stones, that can be cut and faceted to do a passable imitation of a diamond, are found in abundance here because the tidal flow bounces off a unique concrete ship that rests offshore. The Atlantus was built to transport soldiers during steel-short World War I. The reinforced-concrete ship worked but the recovery of post-war steel supplies made her obsolete and the Atlantus was being towed to Cape May to serve as a ferry slip when an accident dumped her on a sand bar where she remains today.

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RELICS

The trails at Morristown National Historic Park lead directly into reconstructed Revolutionary-era huts that you can explore with your dog. How many dogs do you reckon got the luxury of staying inside these huts in 1777 when more than a dozen soldiers huddled inside?

LOST UTOPIAN COMMUNITIES

In 1845, Daniel Felt founded Feltville as a small company village for workers of his specialty paper business, Stationer’s Hall. Felt’s “marbleized” paper was often used for book end covers. He created his town in the Utopian image of social reform that was popular in America in the mid-19th century. He constructed the buildings in a trendy Greek Revival-style. In 1882 Feltville became a middle class resort called Glenside, and the cottages were remodeled like rustic Adirondack cabins. By 1916 the resort was in decline as automobiles carried city vacationers well beyond the Watchung Mountains. The “Deserted Village” stands today and will be encountered on the Sierra Trail in Watchung Reservation.

UNIQUE MEMORIALS

Emilio Carranza Rodriguez was nephew to the founder of the Mexican Air Force, a war hero and his country’s greatest aviator. He befriended Charles Lindbergh after the American completed the first solo flight across the Atlantic and then made the second longest non-stop flight from Washington D.C. to Mexico City. Plans were hatched in 1928 for a Mexican capital-to-capital flight. Carranza, then just 22 years old, was selected to make the attempt, carrying the pride of an entire nation in his plane, “The Excelsior.” Haunted by bad weather Carranza was forced to navigate by dead reckoning and came down in an emergency landing in North Carolina. He continued on to Washington and New York City, where he was feted as a hero for accomplishing the longest flight ever made by a Mexican aviator. Preparations for a return flight to Mexico City were continually delayed until Carranza could wait no longer. On the evening of July 12 he took off in an electrical storm and was never seen alive again. The next day his body was found near the wreckage of his plane, “The Excelsior,” in the Pine Barrens where he crashed. Mexican schoolchildren collected pennies to pay for the stone monument on the Batona Trail that marks the location of his death. Post 11 of the American Legion from Mount Holly, whose members participated in the recovery of the body, still hold a memorial service every year on the second Saturday of July at 1:00 p.m. to honor the memory of Captain Emilio Carranza.

CARNIVEROUS PLANTS

The prime attraction of the interior Cedar Trail Loop in Shark River Park is an Atlantic White Cedar bog where you can chance to see a carnivorous pitcher plant. The nutrient-challenged bog doesn’t provide enough sustenance for these ewer-shaped plants so they must lure insects into a deadly trap for consumption by a cocktail of digestive fluids in the pitcher. Tiny hairs pointing downward prevent the trapped insects from crawling out to freedom.

CRANBERRY BOGS

The cranberry is a native American fruit that was harvested naturally in the Pine Barrens for centuries. Commercial production began around 1835 in New Jersey and today only Massachusetts and Michigan grow more cranberries, named because its flower resembles a craning neck. The restored cranberry sorting and packing house at Double Trouble Park is the finest of its kind from the 19th century. The bogs are still producing and if you come in the fall you can see thousands of the buoyant berries bobbing on the surface; at other times of the year you will have to make do with looking at a few harvest escapees washing against the shoreline.

CLASSIC DUTCH ARCHITECTURE

Holmdel Park is an excellent place to study Dutch architecture from the earliest days of European settlement in central New Jersey. At Longstreet Farm is the oldest Dutch barn in Monmouth County. Dating to 1792, the barn is immediately recognized as Dutch by the high wagon doors placed in each end of the gables that slope near the ground. Surrounded by the park, but not in it, the Holmes-Hendrickson House is snuggled in a grove of trees. The red frame house was built in 1754 by william Holmes, who ignored the fashionable trend of symmetrical Georgian house-building in favor of his traditional Dutch design.

OLD MINES

The landscape has been churned up form the mining operations at Mount Hope Historical Park bringing the minerals from the earth and leaving them on the surface. You can still find pieces of magnetite iron ore on the trails; look for small black stones with angular shapes that feel heavier than normal rocks.

10 Cool Things To See On New Jersey Trails With Your Dog

Using vertical space — whether that means hanging objects from walls or ceilings, stacking them vertically, or just standing them on end versus laying them flat — is almost always a good idea. The smaller the horizontal footprint you create, the less cluttered the space will feel — and be. In this piece, I’ll explore not only the old favorites of stacking and hanging, but will also add what I hope are a few new tricks using this sometimes overlooked, but highly useful way to store things.

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Store only what you need, use, and love

I hope that this goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: Do a thorough job of purging before you make, beg, borrow, or buy any kind of storage apparatus because you don’t have to store what you no longer own. Plus, how can you accurately judge the kind, size, and number of storage mechanisms you’ll need if you don’t know what you’re storing? First things first: know what you’re storing before you buy containers or storage infrastructure.

But you do have to store what you decide to keep, so…

…that makes the post-purge period the perfect time to re-evaluate where and how you store things. Keep in mind that storage spaces and products must be appropriate for their contents, as well as for the frequency of use of those contents. The four main kinds of storage are:

* temporary: for transient objects such as the mail, newspaper, and car keys

* everyday: for things you use a lot, such as dishes, socks, and shampoo

* seasonal: for items such as holiday decorations, winter coats, and beach toys

* deep: for things such as your tax returns from four years ago, and special heirlooms that you want to keep but don’t want to display

Hang it, stand it, stack it, rack it

One of the most useful strategies that you’ll ever take into the organizing battle is the goal of maximizing vertical space. “Going vertical” — whether you hang things, stand them on end, stack them up in a pile, or use hooks or multi-hook racks — is almost always a stellar idea because it takes things up and out of your way, and it allows you to eliminate some horizontal surfaces, which are clutter magnets. The higher you can go with your vertical organization (without creating dangerous, inconvenient, or unrealistic retrieval requirements, of course) — and thus the more wall, ceiling, vertical shelf, and vertical cupboard space you can use — the smaller the horizontal footprint you’ll create. The result? More space, light, air, order, and breathing room.

Let’s look at some of the many ways to implement this principle of using vertical space.

* Love my cubby: Cubby units and lockers are great examples of using vertical space because you can hang stuff inside, put it on top, and maybe even store things below them if they’re on legs.

* Book ‘em: Albums and three-ring-binder-type books that hold such items as recipes, schedules, photos, household information, carry-out menus, CDs, and owner’s manuals can store a lot of information vertically.

* April showers: Caddies and organizers that hang either on the wall of the shower or over the showerhead can hold several bottles on their shelves, as well as bath puffs and shavers on their hooks.

* It’s the curtains for you! Shower curtains, that is. Use one with pockets sewn on the outside (dry) side to create lots of spots to stash lightweight items such as combs, cotton balls, barrettes, and hair ribbons.

* Can you feel the tension? A tension rod — a long pole that runs floor to ceiling and is held in place by tension — outfitted with horizontal “arms” and posted near the shower offers places from which to hang brushes, sponges, and towels, as well as buckets or baskets that, in turn, can hold smaller things such as soap and shavers. A pole like this can also hold plants, plus heavy-duty garage versions can even support bicycles.

* It’s a shoe-in: Clear-plastic shoe organizers with a dozen or more pouches are great for bundles of socks, pantyhose, rolled-up belts, folded scarves, large pieces of jewelry, small toys, puppets, mittens, hairbrushes, and on and on. They hang nicely on either side of a door — vertical space that’s often overlooked.

* Shoe-in, too: Another variety of shoe (or sweater) organizer is the fabric kind with rectangular cubby holes — in either narrow or wide styles — that hangs from a closet rod. It can hold shoes, naturally, but it can also corral entire outfits for kids, shirts, pants, small games, mittens, hats, and myriad other things. When placed in a mudroom or at the door you use most, it can hold incoming or outgoing gear. The best part is, with its wide openings and no lids, doors, or other obstacles, even the most organizationally challenged folks ought to be able to put a few things away in this organizer’s big, wide-open slots. If your household members are a little more disciplined, such an organizer can be outfitted with fabric drawers.

* Tie one on: Tie and belt racks consume zero floor space and can hold plenty of ties, belts, scarves, necklaces, bracelets, and lint brushes.

* The best little hook: Cup hooks rule! Besides hanging mugs from them inside or under a cupboard, hang a hair dryer from one inside the bathroom vanity, or hang your keys on the wall by the door you use most.

* Up and under: Suspend your wine glasses by their bases on tracks, either inside or under a cupboard, and mount small appliances under cupboards to free up counter space as well. Plastic wrap, aluminum foil, and boxes of zip-top bags can reside inside a door with the help of a special holder designed to hold long, lean boxes.

* Up and over: Over-the-door hooks and racks are super for bathrobes, coats, towels, clothes you plan to wear again, and fresh laundry on hangers. Some of these have a fold-down drying rack attached, which can hold damp dish towels, wet mittens, and other things that need air-drying.

* Chain gang: If you hang a length of chain (or a set of shower-curtain rings linked together) from the ceiling or over a closet clothes rod, and then hang ‘S’ hooks or clothespins on it, you’ve got a winning vertical storage idea for purses, hats, scarves, belts, and lightweight stuffed animals with collars.

* Clothesline the guy: String a clothesline, rope, or ribbon along a child’s bedroom wall and hang art pieces from it with clothespins. Or, add one to a kitchen wall to hold photos, messages, invitations, and greeting cards.

* Those lazy days of summer? If you don’t seem to be making much use of that summer hammock out in the yard, use it inside the garage. Suspend it from two walls in a corner, sort of near the ceiling, and use it to corral sports balls, cushions, canoe paddles, sleeping bags, swim noodles, or other light-but-bulky items. A smaller version in a child’s room can hold stuffed animals, pillows, and large-but-lightweight toys.

* Double the pleasure: Suspend a second clothes rod from the existing one in a closet using two cords or lengths of chain to double your storage capacity for shorter clothes such as shirts. If you need to store longer items such as dresses and robes as well, suspend the second rod from only part of the existing rod and hang the longer items from the original rod.

* Shed no tiers: Tiered, hanging baskets — typically three wire-mesh ones in graduated sizes that hang from a chain — can hold fruit and vegetables in the kitchen, cotton balls and wash cloths in the bathroom, and/or socks and small treasures in kids’ rooms. Tiered skirt hangers are also cool because you can hang many skirts — on both sides of it — in not much more width than it would normally take to hang one.

* Shelve it: Plastic or plastic-coated-wire shelf inserts can be real boons for your cupboards and closets. Just set one in a spot where you have a lot of vertical space but not much horizontal surface area — on the shelf in a high-ceilinged closet, in a tall cupboard with no shelves, or on a standard-size shelf that could be better utilized if there were a “mezzanine” added. Imagine the precarious towers of objects that you’ll eliminate.

* Straighten up: Another shelf savior is the vertical divider. Whether made of wood, metal, or plastic-covered wire, these make things that tend to topple — sweaters, purses, and blankets — stand at attention.

Go vertical by hanging, standing, stacking, racking, and embrace that vertical space.

Create Order In Your Home: Maximize Vertical Spaces

For those who have old engagement rings from marriages that ended in divorce or death, the rings can be difficult to get rid of, because they might have sentimental value for widows or for the children. Fortunately, there are several options for giving old engagement rings a new purpose, and those who do not wish to wear the rings – whatever the reason – can still find something to do with them.

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Selling Old Rings

Obviously, the easiest way to remove an unused engagement ring from your possession is to look into selling it. Unfortunately, engagement rings can be a bit like cars when it comes to resale: they begin losing value the moment they leave the jewelry store. In some cases, a jeweler will take a ring back with a receipt, but this is only if it was purchased fairly recently (and if the ring does not have an inscription). If the ring was purchased some time back, your only real choice for selling the ring is to find a jeweler who is willing to make you an offer for it. Call around to local jewelry stores and explain your situation. Inquire about whether or not, they will give you an estimate on buying the ring. Bear in mind that few grooms-to-be will want to purchase a used ring, so the jeweler will likely have to sell the ring for a reduced price or reset and re-purpose it.

Resetting Old Rings

Another option for using an old engagement ring is simply recycling it. If the ring has a stone on it that you do not mind keeping, consider taking the ring to a jeweler and find out if the stone (or stones) can be removed and placed in a necklace or bracelet. This is a good option for those who have an engagement ring from a previous marriage but are now wearing a ring from a current marriage. For instance, a widow can honor her late spouse by resetting the diamond from the previous engagement ring while still wearing the current engagement-wedding ring combination on her hand.

Donating Old Rings

Donating an old engagement ring to charity might sound like a waste of perfectly good money, but if the ring no longer has sentimental value to you – and it is just sitting in a drawer or safe somewhere – you can still use the value of the ring as a tax write-off and provide someone else with the chance to put the ring to good use. Before donating an old engagement ring, be sure to contact the charitable organization that you would like to give it to, since many of them have policies on items that they will and will not take. Once you have confirmed that they will accept the ring, drop it off and be sure to get a donation receipt for it.

New Ways to Repurpose Old Engagement Rings

You’re out shopping for the man you love. The man you care for more than anything in the world (I hope) and you don’t know what to get him. Surprisingly you’re not alone. There are thousands of women searching for a gift for there man every month. We know it’s not easy. Which is exactly why we’re going to make some suggestions. With all of the personality types out there we understand that there isn’t a single gift that would be perfect for any man. Which is why we’re going to pick a single gift for every personality type. All of these gifts were sampled from major retail websites.

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Men who are Activist

If you’re man is an activist then he might be interested in the following suggestion. When we refer to an activist we mean the “Eco” friendly man. The guy who’s always telling you to recycle your aluminum cans and drives a hybrid. If you’re man is that guy then he might be interested in owning his own eco-system. We found dozens of eco-systems that even give you the option to customize them. Each eco system comes in it’s own glass container that’s fill with bio-life. It’s practically your own bio-dome. Typically gifts like this come with a price tag of more than .

The Creative Thinker

So your man is a creative thinker? Is he the type of guy that likes to smoke on his corn cob pip while playing a game of chess? How about the type of guy who likes to express himself through his art? If he’s that guy then he might like his own Lego Architect Set. Most of the time when people think of Lego’s they think of little kids building blocks. That’s just not true. Lego offers an entire line of architecture sets that will keep any man busy. For example one of the sets we found is an exact replica of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Of course, if building a museum doesn’t float your boat there are dozens of different models available.

The Man who is a Devoted Dad

If you’re man loves his child with all of his heart then he might like this gift. Of course what man doesn’t love his kids? We found a personalized family portrait on canvas that he might be interested. What you do is a hire a company that deals with “Canvases on Demand.” After sending them a picture they’ll send you a canvas with that family photo on it. The only problem with this gift is that it can get pricey. For a canvas 90×60 inches the price is 8. That’s a diamond ring or the down payment on a car. He’s worth it though right?

Men who are “Do-It Yourselfers”

This type of guy likes to fix everything. It doesn’t matter if it’s a hole in the wall or the car breaking down he’ll try to fix it. It doesn’t matter if he knows what he’s doing because he’ll try anyways before calling a professional. If that’s your man then try buying him one of the many tools that he needs. If that doesn’t work then you could try buying a funny book like the “Jumbo Duck Tape Book.” With that book your man will learn everything that duck tape can do. For example he’ll learn how to turn any piece of clothing into rain wear with a strip of duck tape. If that doesn’t cut then find out how to keep your kids from looking at pornography by placing duck tape on the computer screen. The possibilities with duck tape are endless.

The Fitness Guy ( A.K.A. The Health Nut )

Does your man spend more time at the gym than he does with you? If he does then you probably got a health nut. While he’s off counting carbs why not check into some of these gift suggestions. One of the most popular gifts for this type of guy is actually the Phiten Star Necklace. This necklace helps reduce pain in the neck and back after strenuous work outs. The best thing about the necklace is that it’s never “used” up. To get the necklace to work all you have to do is wear it. The necklace is actually being worn by professional athletes world wide.

The Geeky Guy

How much time does your man spend on the computer? If the answer to that question is a lot then he probably doesn’t have a girlfriend. On the off chance that he does here are some gift suggestions. Since geeks seem to be the “tech” guys we think that would appreciate some of the latest and greatest gifts. Great example of gifts for geeks are iProducts (Apple), computer games, and comic books. The problem with geeky guys is that their gifts can be quite expensive. If you’re on a budget when shopping for a geek then I would recommend just buying something like the video spy pen. It offers hours of fun at a fraction of the cost of an iPhone. The only problem is that he won’t love it as much.

The Guy who is the Mans Man

Does your man always spend time with his buddies? Every Friday night do they get together to play some poker? Watch the big game? Then it looks like you’ve got a guy’s guy. This guy loves his friends who are luckily enough all men. For some reason the guy’s guy is always a drinker. We would recommend buying this guy his very own microbrewery. If your man doesn’t drink then you could try buying him a football chip n’ dip set. The football chip n’ dip set is a football helmet that allows you to put chips in the top. The football helmet comes in every team possible.

The Hipster

If you’re man stays on top of the latest fads then you’ve probably got a hipster. This guy is always in style. He’s got the latest everything. The hipster is always a hard guy to shop for. The reason being is that he usually always has almost everything. One thing we know he doesn’t have is a ironic and hilarious oil painting. The oil painting features one of the most dramatic characters of all time. We’ll give you a hint. It’s a star of one of the most popular Youtube videos of all time. If you answered the dramatic chipmunk then you’ve got it. Oil paintings of him can be found on most major retail websites offering novelty items. The painting features the chipmunk striking his famous pose.

Men who are the Host

If you always seem to have people over then your man is the host. This guy loves inviting all of your friends over for BBQ’s and gatherings. He’s the type of guy that loves to be around people. What kind of gift should be given to this guy? There are a variety of different options available to you. For example you could buy him his own personalized cutting board. If that doesn’t cut it ( get it? ) you could try buying him his very own “funny people home helper.” This suggestions is a voodoo knife set that features a knife holder in the shape of a human. All of the knifes slide into him (unfortunately). It’s a taboo gift that would be great for a conversation piece.

The Intellectual Man

Does you man like to have long conversations about subjects that you know nothing about? Does he like to play games of chess will slowly smoking tobacco? Then you might be with an intellectual. This type of guy loves to tinker around with anything that gives him a challenge. Great gifts for intellectuals include items like whiskey stones. A whiskey stone is a natural soapstone that doesn’t scratch glass. What the whiskey stone does is retain temperature for extended periods of time. With whiskey stones your man won’t have to worry about them watering down his whiskey. It’s the ultimate gift for the intellectual who likes to sip on his brandy while reading in front of the fireplace.

The Metro Man

Does your man shop at eagle outfitters? Then chances are he’s the metro man. We know this because only metro men would ever shop at eagle outfitters. Other ways you can tell is by your mans willingness to follow the latest trends in clothing and accessories. Keep in mind that the greatest gifts for metro men always change. Every time the times change so does this mans opinion. At the writing of this article gifts like the diesel gear seem to be trendy for men. Another great gift for the metro is a watch. Watches tend to be classic gifts for men that never go wrong.

The Outdoorsman

How much time does you guy spend outside? If he loves hiking, the great outdoors, and nature then you have an outdoorsman. The outdoorsman is always an interesting guy to shop for. The reason being is that he doesn’t always like “material” objects. With the outdoorsman you have spend a lot more time shopping. Some of the gifts we can recommend is survival gear and solar chargers for gadgets. Solar chargers allow you to charge a variety of different products ( depending on which one you buy ) just by placing them in the sun. Survival gear includes anything from backpacks to boots. It all depends on your mans needs.

Men who are Professional

The professional guy is the man who loves his job. He’s the guy that’s always trying to climb that corporate ladder. If that sounds anything like your man then you’ve got a professional. When shopping for the professional you should think of “appropriate” gifts for his office. Keep in mind that some offices are not always as accepting of novelty items. Typically the professional guy can always go for gifts like the workday recovery kit, wireless stock market updates, and briefcases. Shopping for the professional guy can be boring. We’re only glad that we’re not the ones marrying him.

The Sports Fans

This is one of the most common types of guys that you’ll ever meet. We’re not talking about the guy who just likes to watch the games. The sports fan is the guy who is over infatuated with his favorite teams. Typically he’ll have an entire room dedicated to sports memorabilia. If that sounds like your man then you’ve got it easy. Anything to do with his favorite team will be the best gift for him. Keep in mind one thing. Don’t mess up. I’ve seen women buy men the wrong team before. That doesn’t go over very well.

Men who are Spiritual

Shopping for the spiritual guy is one of the hardest things to do. We would compare shopping for this guy with climbing Mount Everest. He’s the guy that’s into his own spiritual beliefs. It doesn’t matter if those beliefs are Christianity, Catholicism, or Hinduism he’s spiritual. Some great gifts for this type of guy are items like the words to inspire paperweight. This paper weight includes the inspirational words of someone who loves him (you). Another great gift idea would be items like the “nifty tea infuser” that holds tea that can be easily infused with water at any time.

Gift for Men

Ultra Diamonds keeps prices down while offering quality through shrewd buying techniques, including doing a lot of business with Canada for that nation’s recently discovered and continually uncovered high quality diamond treasure troves. Canad, too, subscribes to the Kimberly Process code of diamond trade ethics; however, since the Canadians often ship out their diamonds to Antwerp and London for cutting and polishing, there is sometimes fear that they may inadvertently wind up selling some blood or conflict diamonds. Ultra Diamonds, however, takes extra care when dealing with our allies to the North to assure their customers that no blood was spilled to give them beauty, elegance, and “fire” at an affordable price.

Diamond Ring Mounts

Confident in its ability to deliver high-quality engagement and wedding diamond rings at the most competitive prices, Ultra offers a no-questions-asked 30-day money back guarantee, except for specialty or customized orders.

Ultra Diamonds also goes out of its way to deliver to people very diverse styles, so that it is a universal diamond ring store that anyone can afford. And, once again, with its online store you can search through hundreds of different, unique rings in only several minutes. Convenience married to quality is what Ultra is all about.

Ultra Diamonds’ array of selections is vast. Its offerings include one of the most extensive and diverse engagement rings selections to be found.

Its Diamond Solitaire Engagement Rings come with the classical traditional solitaire setting and included nicely cut diamonds in sizes anywhere from 1/12 to 2 full carats. Available diamond cuts include classic round, marquise, pear, oval, princess, and emerald among others; and the metals for the rings include yellow and white gold, platinum, titanium, and tungsten; you can also find multi-tone rings here.

If you already have your heart(s) set on the gems for your ring(s), Ultra offers an array of Semi Mounts.

Their engagement ring settings include the in-demand classic prong Tiffany settings are popular with four to six prongs. Many customers also ask for their bezel channel settings. Ultra also offers exquisite bridal sets.

As far as specialty or “alternative” engagement rings, among others Ultra offers:

Mystic topaz oval rings (three-stone engagement rings): Encoding the past, present, and future of the relationship

Claddagh Rings: Irish engagement rings drenched in deep symbolism of unity with male and female flowing together as one, yet separate but equal at the very same time. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds, mystic topaz, aquamarine, garnets, citrine, and peridot might replace the diamond or supplement it for these special rings.

Ultra Diamonds

Tanzanite is one of the more recently discovered gemstones. Discovered in 1967 in the African nation of Tanzania by Masaai herdsman walking past Mount Kilimanjaro. The herdsmen took the stones into the nearest town, Arusha where they were thought to be Sapphire. On further testing however, it was revealed that the stones were not Sapphire at all but something never seen before. Since this discovery over 40 years ago, the only known deposit of Tanzanite remains on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Diamond Ring Mounts

Tiffany and Company in New York got ahold of some samples of the new stone and their chief gemologist at the time, Harry Platt, fell in love with it. Throughout the 1970′s Tanzanite was exclusively marketed by Tiffany’s. As the stone was only available to a very small portion of the market as a result of this marketing arrangement, the price stayed fairly low without consumer demand to drive them upwards. This exclusivity was relinquished in the 1980′s however, allowing for greater market exposure and Tanzanite gained rapidly in popularity. As demand increased so did supply and eventually supply levels neared demand levels and prices leveled after a long period of appreciation. A “Tanzanite Gold Rush” was already in full swing and this had the effect of pushing supply levels above demand and around the mid 1980′s prices had peaked and then started dropping. Tanzanite, now priced much lower than that Tiffany’s had tried to introduce it to the market at, became the new darling of the gem industry.

Towards the end of the 1980′s there was a clear distribution channel in place from Africa through the cutting markets of Germany and then on to the USA market for selling. Tanzanite’s popularity continued to rise with the German industry pushing hard behind it. It reached its height of popularity in the 1990′s when new pockets were discovered in Mining Blocks B and C (The Tanzanite mining area is divided into 4 blocks A,B,C,D). These new pockets really increased the availability of the finest material which was, and still is, very rare (less than 1% of all Tanzanite mined). This also helped to market the stone as a premium gemstone in the market by appealing more to the high end of the market.

However, prices continued to drop as rampant mining continued and the Tanzanian government tried to stem the decline by forceably closing some of the mines. This had the desired effect and Tanzanite prices started to rise once more and by 1995 dealers from all over the world, but most especially from the US market were flocking to Tanzania to buy up whatever they could pushing prices still higher. Towards the end of the decade Tanzanite was widely regarded to be the single hottest selling gemstone, outselling all colored stones except ruby, emerald and sapphire.

The next price blip occurred in 1998. The El Nino rains which pounded the continent flooded the mines, causing the death of 100 independent miners. The tragedy had the effect of shutting down all active production at the mines and the market was very slow to recover. Although the mines gradually reopened, the collapse made it very difficult to mine effectively and production was a refraction of what it was previously and prices rose steadily again as demand once more outstripped supply.

In the early part of the new century the Tanzanian government allowed a South African Mining company called Afgem to buy an exclusive lease to Block C. Today, this lease is owned and operated by Tanzanite One Ltd an offshoot of Afgem. Their stated objective is to use a De Beers business model to control supply and market heavily to the consumer to create a “pull effect” in the market. They are using De Beers long term “Sightholder” distribution system strategy. Ultimately, this is driving prices further upward as the effects of increased and targeted marketing bears fruit.

During the past 5 years, prices have been on the increase. It is impossible to tell where the prices of Tanzanite will go in the future. However, it is noteworthy that the production mix has dramatically changed in the past few years and production of the finest material has declined by 80%. This is the so-called investment grade. Prices continue to rise for this material, whereas the market for medium grade pieces is stable. Extra fine goods are now very scarce.

The active production life of the Tanzanite deposits is now estimated at less than 10 years. Demand is currently stable and rising as designers and manufacturers continue to work with and promote the stone. Only time will tell where Tanzanite prices will go from here. Much speculation sees them rising in tandem with increasingly smaller supply, especially for the very fine pieces which are already very scarce.

Tanzanite Price History Explored