If you had to describe Italian pottery in one word, that word would probably be “colorful.” From dinner plates to biscotti jars, from jugs to butter dishes; lush fruits and vegetables in vibrant colors almost leap out at you. These motifs symbolize the attachment the artisans have to their native soil and to the centuries of history that surround them.

“Italian pottery” is really a misnomer – each region of Italy specializes in its own particular designs and pottery shapes.

For example, the Rooster of Fortune. How did that come about? Well, the legend says that Giuliano dei Medici was saved from an attempted assassination when he was awakened by the crowing of roosters. Since then, the Rooster has been used in Italy to convey good wishes for blessings, prosperity and well-being. The region of Deruta is well known for its Roosters of Fortune. (Will it ruin the legend to know that Giuliano eventually was assassinated, at only 25 years of age?)

Deruta is also famous for its Majolica – or more appropriately Maiolica (and not to be confused with the majolica-ware of England, which is a different type of pottery altogether).

Majolica is created by baking various forms of clay at high temperatures. Once dry, it’s glazed with tin, which gives it a very white surface. Onto this is painted intricate designs with colors found in nature such as yellow, green, blue, yellow, and brown.

Italian pottery brightens up any room, and can be used as serving ware. However, the high temperatures of today’s ovens and microwaves do not make it suitable cookware.

Upside Living offers a variety of hand-crafted and hand-painted Italian Pottery and Dinnerware. Currently, each piece is offered at 10% off.

One of the first rules of choosing the right flowers for a wedding has to do with the type of wedding that will be taking place. More traditional weddings may include choices that either are dictated by the color scheme selected for the wedding or are considered conventional choices, such as roses. For a wedding with a less formal theme, you may find that bouquets of mixed wedding flowers will be a lovely addition to the décor for the event. Home weddings often are beautiful when cut flowers from the garden are used, or collections of flowers from the gardens of loved ones.

Next, let your taste be your guide. After all, the wedding is supposed to be to the liking of the happy couple. If you want a particular type of flower used in the décor, then say so. Only the most obtuse of planners will deny your request to include the spider lilies or the gardenias and shoots of jasmine that you enjoy so much.

Third, be reasonable when it comes to choosing flowers for the wedding. There may be some types of wedding flowers you want to include that simply are not in season. If that is the case, then look at what is currently in bloom and make your selections from those options.

Choosing wedding flowers can be a simple or complicated a task as you want to make it. By keeping in mind the type of wedding setting you want, considering your personal preferences and also looking to see what is in season and blooming, you can select flowers that will be ideal for your wedding.

The Luxury Guide and Upside Living are so proud to be a business giving back to community causes all around the word. We visited Rwanda recently and we fell in love with the people and the culture. We found a nation struggling to recover from the Genocide back in 1994 but with a focus on hope and reconciliation instead of sorrow. The vision of the country is so full of hope, determination and a goal towards economic achievements that really amazed our group. We designed Upside Living to give back from day one and we do that by donating to Opportunity International and several other causes around the word. We like to focus on the entrepreneurial organizations since they offer a sustainable and permanent solution to ending poverty. We think its important to know if a business is giving back to the community in some way – why not? Wouldn’t you prefer to buy any item especially your luxuries from a business giving back to community organizations than those who do not?

Tell us what you think! Does this impact your buying decisions – we certainly hope so for the benefit of any cause that is rewarded for this connection.

With proper planning, even the most frugal of entertainers can serve delicious gourmet food and coffee. They can even make it a regular dining event if they so choose. The perception is that such foods and beverages cost and arm and a leg, but the reality is that most gourmet products are not significantly more expensive than normal supermarket fare.

The key to purchasing and serving gourmet foods is to be on the lookout for deals. Purveyors of specialty items always have promotional and sales to lure customers into making a purchase. Those deals are also usually accompanied with other promotional efforts on other items.

By scouring advertisements and keeping an eye open for promotional deals, you save money and will be able to purchase gourmet foods and coffee that will not break the bank. Once you understand the normal habits of both online and offline gourmet businesses, you will be able to easily scan your sites of interest and quickly locate good deals. At that point, all you have to do is store them for future use.

Obviously, not every gourmet item will be able to be stored. Some items, including fresh meat, vegetables and fruit will have to be purchased and utilized quickly. These items are best purchased a day or so before you plan to use them.