The month of May ushers in just the right amount of sunshine. The temperate climate allows you to enjoy a quiet morning at the park or a fun afternoon at the beach, without your being scorched by the harsh sun.

With the seasons beginning to shift from spring to summer, now is the best time to transform an area of your house into one that welcomes the perfect weather: the sunroom. Let sunshine into your home with these tips for your conservatory.

by Sura Nualpradid / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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by Rosen Georgiev / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

We all know from experience how listening to music can affect our emotions. Often, we listen to music that reflects our current mood. Other times, we choose certain music to change the way we feel, like listening to happy music to cheer us up when we’re sad.

We may put on romantic songs to set an amorous mood, or crank out some forceful, energetic tunes to motivate us at the gym.

Whether you love classical music, rock, Broadway, or jazz, listening to your favorite music generally helps lift your spirits.

During stressful situations, however, ambient music may be the best choice to calm your frazzled nerves.

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Hosting your own auction event is a wonderful opportunity to get to know your neighbors and extend a feeling of good will. This spring, whether you’re attempting to raise money for a cause or clearing out the results of a vigorous round of spring cleaning, host an auction party to share your home with the rest of the community.

What to Auction or Sell

Before anything else, you have to decide what to auction. Your china collection, Oriental vases, antiques, paintings, and other artwork are great pieces for an auction. Unused exercise equipment and furniture can also be auctioned off.

Photo from zigazou76 via flickr, CC BY 2.0

The trick to choosing your auction items is functionality. Making sure that your articles still hold operational and aesthetic value assures your bidders that your items are worth their money. It also establishes trust between you and your bidders.

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The concept of the home has changed over the years. It’s no longer a simple place where people dine, rest and live. They have become personal sanctuaries, a delightful space that provides comfort from the stress-filled environment of the outside world.

There are those who have taken this idea further. Instead of creating simple retreats, they have constructed their own paradises, grand houses that not only personify their owners, but also exude luxury and sophistication. In celebration of Landscape Architecture Month, here are five estates that have redefined our notions of what a home can be.

1.) Updown Court in England

Photo by Lord Wishanger via Wikicommons. CC BY-SA 3.0.

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