pursue electric lights.

A Timeless StyleIn the post-Victorian era, brass chandeliers shimmered with crystal drops and porcelain lamps were embellished with colorful floral themes. For members of the British aristocracy, the early 20th century was a time of elegance, luxury and opulence.

A quick glance through the latest designer catalogs are ample evidence that the decor of previous eras are still hugely popular. The style can easily be recreated with antique brass desk lamps. In contemporary homes, an elegantly crafted modern light fixture can give you the look of the most treasured antique.

picture light would also do the trick.

Across the world, many cultures have specific traditions to celebrate the transition from the old year to the new. In the U.S. and Canada, we associate New Year’s with the ball in Times Square, kissing at the stroke of midnight, resolutions, and singing “Old Lang Syne.” But for many Spanish-speaking countries, one of the key traditions has to do with eating grapes as fast as possible.

The “twelve grapes” tradition comes from Spain, where it is called las doce uvas de la suerte (“The Twelve Lucky Grapes”). To ensure good luck for the next year, people eat one green grape for each of the upcoming twelve months. However, you cannot just eat the grapes during the first day of the new year any time you feel like it. You must eat the twelve grapes starting at the first stroke of midnight on Nochevieja (“Old Night,” New Year’s Eve) as one year changes to another. And you have to keep eating: with each toll of midnight, you must eat another grape, giving you about twelve seconds to consume all of them. If you can finish all dozen grapes—you can’t still be chewing on them!—before the last bell toll fades, you will have a luck-filled new year.

Where did this tradition come from? No one is certain, although it appears to be more than a century old. One story about the Twelve Lucky Grapes is that a large crop of grapes in 1909 in Alicante, Spain led to the growers seeking out a creative way to eliminate their surplus. But recent research through old newspapers shows that perhaps the tradition goes back almost thirty years earlier to the 1880s, where eating grapes was meant to mock the upper classes who were imitating the French tradition of dining on grapes and drinking champagne on New Year’s Eve.

It can be difficult to consume grapes this fast, and the lucky grapes of New Year’s Eve have seeds in them, making the job even trickier. (Seedless grapes are not common in Spain the way they are over here.) For people to manage eating all the grapes before the last stroke of midnight requires swallowing the seeds as well and only taking a single bite of each grape.

Oh, there is one more twist to the tradition: you have to be wearing red undergarments, and they have to be given to you as a gift. The origins of this part of the tradition are even more mysterious, and it’s anybody’s guess why this started.

Household appliances are expensive investments, so it's an alarming moment when the hot water heater sputters to a stop or the washing machine starts spewing suds all over the laundry room. If you're lucky, the problem is something that can be inexpensively repaired. However, sometimes your appliance is telling you it's time for a brand-new model. In fact, depending on how old your current model is, you could actually save money and come out ahead by purchasing a new, energy-efficient unit. How do you know when it's time to call the repairman, or time to pull the plug? Carefully consider your options when a machine is on the fritz: 

Do It Yourself

The first step is to read your repair manual and search online for people who have had similar problems. It could be that the issue is something simple that you can fix yourself. Things like clogged drains or filters should be an easy repair. 

Are You Under Warranty?

Lucky you. If your appliance is still under warranty, you may be eligible for free parts, a free repair or even a whole new unit, depending on the terms of your contract. Make sure to save all the paperwork when you make a major purchase, and read it over carefully before putting out any money for a repair. 

Call a Professional

If your appliance is only a few years old, it's probably worth the money to have a reliable professional come look at it and give you an estimate on what a repair should cost. Fixes like installing new motors or belts probably won't break the bank. If it's less than half the price of buying a new machine, it's probably worth it to fix instead of buy. Ask how many more years you can expect the appliance to last after a repair.

Time to Go Shopping

If your appliance is more than 6 or 7 years old, or if it's broken down numerous times in the past, it's time to start looking for a new model. If you are still coaxing an ancient, decades-old device into health, you might be shocked at how much you can save with an upgrade.

If you decide it's time to buy a new unit, do your research before you buy. The federal Energy Star program maintains a directory of products that meet strict efficiency guidelines, so you can be sure that whatever you buy will help tamp down your utility bills. Do some math to figure out how long your expected energy savings will take to cover the cost of the appliance. Also, don't forget to factor in any delivery or installation charges, plus the removal bill for the old unit.

Take Care of Your Appliances 

Finally, don't forget to read and follow all manufacturer instructions and keep up with any routine maintenance for your household appliances to extend their life and prevent breakdowns in the first place. A few minutes of work per year can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

The holidays are upon us and though you’re probably more concerned with making holiday plans, you should also take aluminum wiring replacement in Manassas into consideration this year. Though it may seem your current electrical system is working well with aluminum wiring, it is highly dangerous to have in your home. Though it was popular many years ago to install aluminum wiring in homes, they have proven to be hazardous, leading to higher risks of residential fires!

Though you’ll have plenty of good times this holiday season, many Manassas homeowners aren’t fully aware of the dangers of having aluminum wiring in their home. Here are the dangers you should know: