Latest news with #BeckyLee
Otago Daily Times
10-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Otago Daily Times
The colourful secret to warming your home this winter
Redecorate your space with Resene's most fashionable seasonal shades, and pile on the texture. When all the leaves are brown and the sky is grey, your best asset is a home that wraps you in a warm embrace in the form of cocooning colours, comfortable furnishings and touchable textures. Just as you pull on a jacket and scarf when the temperature dips, rebooting your home for winter is as simple as adding layers to your décor. Stuff and things Now's the time to rescue your blankets and throws from storage, taking them from their summertime slumber to snuggle-ready in living rooms and bedrooms. Update your cushion covers or add a couple of seasonal newbies to the mix, opting for rich tones and textures like velvet and wool. You could swap airy summer-weight curtains for heavier fabrics such as linen, make hard floors more inviting with the addition of rugs, and switch light cotton bedding for saturated colour combinations and heavier materials. Available at Briscoes nationwide, the Resene Living range is designed to complement your paint and includes duvet covers, cushions and towels that are perfect for this purpose. Warm your heart Christchurch interior designer Becky Lee of Becky Lee Interiors says the change of season also often sparks in her a desire to pick up a paintbrush and redecorate. 'Paint is easy to change, so don't be afraid to take the plunge and try something new.' The experts at your local Resene ColorShop are here to help, and Becky says she's drawn to brick tones such as henna red Resene Burnt Sienna and colonial Resene Red Oxide. 'These colours are fabulous for a living space, dining room, moody bedroom or powder room teamed with warm metallic accents in brass, bronze, copper or gold. I also love these tones combined with other earthy colours – check out mustard brown Resene Korma and cardamom bronze Resene Horses Neck for inspiration.' Neutral gear Being a fan of neutral colours doesn't preclude a chilly season revamp. Becky suggests bringing depth to your walls with a grey-brown such as Resene Half Mondo or green-tinged Resene Masala. 'These provide a wonderful backdrop for showcasing antique timber furniture, baskets and artisan crafts made using natural fibres like jute and rattan. These complex neutrals are also versatile for lovers of brighter, more playful colours as they look amazing as a backdrop for a gallery wall with lots of colourful mismatched frames and bold artworks.' Grey is a wonderfully enveloping neutral for a wintery scheme and totally on trend. Get chic with it by layering it from ceiling to skirtings, combining several tonal shades like warm pebblestone Resene Kensington Grey, warm carbon Resene Gunsmoke and warm ash Resene Quarter Gravel, for instance, to create an all-consuming effect that can be offset with furnishings in blush pink and taupe such as Resene Tuft Bush and Resene Alpaca, teamed with white or cream like Resene Quarter Rice Cake or Resene Blanc. Paper trail Becky has stellar advice for layering up your spaces with colour. 'Identify a starting point – an artwork, a favourite cushion, an inherited piece or wallpaper. Using the latter as an example, choose two to three colours that appear in the wallpaper, then consider the variations – shades, tints and tones – of those that can be safely added to the space. If your wallpaper is strongly patterned, such as with a large-scale floral, as you layer up the space, you can add more pattern with cushions, drapes and the like, but look for patterns of different scales that won't compete with your walls, yet are still connected to your colour palette. Prints in the same style or that feature the same shapes can also form that common thread.' If patterned wallpaper isn't 'you', cosy choices for colour-blocked winter wallpaper include the tactile options in the Resene Wallpaper Collection. If you can't find a wallpaper in just the right colour, choose from the Resene Anaglypta Wallpaper Collection then paint in your favourite Resene colour to suit your room's colour palette. Another key to layering successfully is to think about what each item in a room is connected to and create contrast between them. Take that patterned wallpaper, for instance, says Becky, 'The sofa pushed up against this wall will look best in a plain fabric, then you might like the cushions on the sofa to be patterned. Most carpet is plain, so consider putting a pattered or textural rug on top of it. Of course, there are all sorts of scenarios where these 'rules' don't apply, such as colour blocking and clever maximalist design, but these are foolproof tips for beginners.' Top tips: Rather than impulse buying low-cost items for your update that may not last the distance, invest in a few quality ones you'll enjoy for years to come. Support local makers and artists and look for vintage pieces with extra character. These can be inexpensively spruced up with Resene testpots, which are just the right size for satisfying weekend paint projects such as revamping timber furniture. Timber can also be revitalised with Resene Colorwood wood stains, or use Resene Colorwood Whitewash for a French-antique effect. 'Winter means more time spent indoors, so it's a great time to reconfigure the layout of your spaces to encourage connection and relaxation,' says Becky. 'If you have a fireplace in your lounge, turn your seating to create a conversation zone facing the fire. Or perhaps there's a spot in your bedroom that gets beautiful winter sun – how about moving a seat there?' Lighting is crucial to creating a warm ambience. Choose weaker bulbs for a lights-down-low vibe, use lamps rather than overhead lighting, and bring candles into the mix as well – all the better if they're scent For more paint and wallpaper ideas and inspiration, visit your local Resene ColorShop. See the Resene website, for a huge range of step by step projects for you to try out at your place.
Daily Mirror
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Beach tourists urged to avoid picking up eye-catching shell - it could kill you
Beachgoers are being advised to steer clear of a particular type of shell known as the cone snail, which may look harmless but is actually one of the ocean's most dangerous creatures Beach visitors are being warned not to touch or pick up a particular type of shell known as the cone snail, as its venom is powerful enough to cause instant paralysis and, in severe cases, even death. Cone snails are easily recognisable by their uniquely shaped shells, which are narrow at the base and gradually widen towards the other end, featuring distinctive spirals or coils. These shells often boast striking colours and intricate patterns, making them attractive to collectors and curious beachgoers alike. However, despite their beautiful appearance, experts caution that handling these creatures is extremely dangerous. There are estimated to be between 600 and 700 different species of cone snails, all belonging to the family Conidae. Remarkably, every one of these species is venomous, capable of delivering a potent toxin through a specialised hunting mechanism. Cone snails are skilled predators. They hunt by using a harpoon-like tooth called a radula, which extends from their mouth like a long, flexible tube. This radula rapidly injects venom into prey such as fish, worms, or other molluscs, quickly immobilising them. One person who experienced just how serious cone snails can be is Becky Lee, who shared her story after finding a cone snail on a beach in Japan. Becky posted a warning video on TikTok describing the terrifying experience of unknowingly handling one of these deadly creatures. 'I was playing with one of the most venomous animals in the ocean, which can cause full paralysis or even death,' Becky explained in her viral post. She shared an unsettling 'fun fact' about the cone snail's nickname, the 'cigarette snail,' which comes from an urban legend claiming that after being stung, you only have enough time to light a cigarette before losing consciousness. Becky described the sting's sensation, saying: 'It can feel like a burning fire at the sting site, or sometimes it feels like nothing at all.' For her, the uncertainty was agonising, as she spent the next 72 hours in constant fear, unsure if she had been poisoned. One of the most frightening aspects of a cone snail sting is that there is no antivenom available, meaning victims are left hoping and praying for survival while receiving medical care. Thankfully, Becky was not stung, and she considers herself lucky that the snail did not feel threatened enough to defend itself. Her experience serves as a crucial reminder: not every pretty shell found on the beach is harmless. She concluded with a simple but powerful piece of advice for anyone who encounters a cone snail: 'If it's a cone snail, leave it alone.' While the radula is primarily used to hunt and paralyse the snail's usual prey, humans can be accidentally jabbed by stepping on or picking up the snail. These creatures are commonly found in shallow tropical and temperate waters, often near coral reefs, buried in sand, or hiding beneath coral ledges. Some species also live in mangrove environments. Cone snails vary significantly in size, ranging from as small as half an inch to as large as nine inches or more. They can be grouped based on their diets into three categories: molluscivores, which eat other mollusks; piscivores, which prey on fish; and vermivores, which feed on worms.
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Traveler shares stark warning after she 'nearly DIES' from picking up sea shell on luxury beach
A woman has shared the terrifying moment she picked up a sea shell at the beach - only to realize later it was a deadly creature. Becky Lee, an American woman living in Japan, was exploring a beach in Okinawa when she noticed a beautiful shell, picking it up to inspect it. What she didn't know though, is that the brown and cream colored shell was home to the highly venomous cone snail. In the clip, Becky picks up the shell from the water, turning the pointed marbled object over in her hand and inspecting it before placing it back on the sand. In a follow up video posted to TikTok, Becky explained that style of shells is one of her favorite to collect 'because the pattern is so stunning.' 'So I pick up the shell, and that's when I notice it's alive,' Becky recounted. In the video, she then pointed out some 'black and white' tubing noticeable on the inside of the shell, which is the snail's siphon. 'This is also the end of the snail that shoots out to sting and inject its victims with venom that can lead to full paralysis or even fatality,' she continued. Luckily, Becky wasn't attacked by the snail and placed it back in the water - something she's very grateful for now. 'When a cone snail stings you, it can feel like a fire burning at the site, or it can feel like nothing. I spent the next 72 hours in pure paranoia, not knowing if I was stung,' she admitted. According to Aquarium of Pacific, cone snails are among the most venomous creatures on earth. Among the most toxic are the textile cone snail, geographic cone snail, and tulip snails. However, the site noted there is a higher risk of death if the geographic and textile snails are involved. There are about 600 species of cone snails, all of which are poisonous. They live in shallow reefs partially buried under sandy sediment, rocks or coral in temperate to tropical oceans, ranging in size from a penny to the size of eight inches. They are found in Indian and Pacific Oceans, southern Australia, Great Barrier Reef, Hawaii, Baja California, and California. They sting their victims by extending a long flexible tube called a proboscis, before firing a venomous, harpoonlike tooth. Their venom contains chemicals called conotoxins – highly potent neurotoxic peptides, which cause paralysis by blocking parts of the nervous system According to the National Library of Medicine, a cone snail sting can cause mild to moderate pain, and the area may develop other signs of an acute inflammatory reaction such as redness and swelling. Humans are usually stung when a cone snail is picked up from the water or stepped on at the beach. 'Conus toxins affect the nervous system and are capable of causing paralysis, which may lead to respiratory failure and death,' the site noted, adding there is no antivenom available. It is recommended that people avoid picking up cone-shaped shells - even if they think it's empty. According to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, less than 100 people have died after being stung. In 2022, scientists from the University of Glasgow have revealed plans to harness their venom to develop new painkillers that are more effective and less addictive than current options. Dr Andrew Jamieson, who is leading the project, said: 'The cone snail might seem like an unlikely prospect for breakthroughs in drug discovery, but the conotoxins it produces have a lot of intriguing properties which have already shown promise in medicine.' While the snail's venom can prove fatal for anyone standing in the cone snail's way, researchers believe that modified versions of their peptides could be used to safely block pain receptors in humans.
The Sun
16-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Beachgoers told to never pick up certain shell or it could kill you – it's eye-catching but you must resist urge
BEACHGOERS are being urged not to pick up a certain type of shell as its venom can cause instant paralysis – or even death. Cone snails' shells are narrow at the base and wide at the opposite end and have spires, or coils. Though their shells are often colourful and intricately patterned, anyone coming across them is being advised not to touch them or pick them up. There are at least an estimated 600-700 species of these marine gastropods, from the family Conidae, all of which are venomous. Cone snails are stealthy when hunting prey and have a harpoon-like tooth called a radula. This extends like a long, flexible tube and rapidly injects toxic venom. One person who had a narrow escape after picking up a cone snail's shell is Becky Lee, pictured above. Becky posted a warning on TikTok after finding one of the beach beauties in Japan. "I was playing with the most venomous creature in the ocean, that can lead to full paralysis or even fatality," said Becky. "Fun fact I learned is that the cone snail is nicknamed the 'cigarette snail', because, according to urban legend, you have just enough time after it stings you to light a cigarette ... before you pass." "When a cone snail stings you it can feel like a fire burning at the site, or it can feel like nothing," she added in the viral post. "I spent the next 72 hours in full paranoia not knowing if I was stung. "There is no ant-venom for the cone snail so if you were stung it really is a hope and pray situation. "Thankfully I was not stung and I'm just grateful the snail decided not to defend himself that day, but I hope my story helps spread the word that not all pretty shells are harmless." Mum shares urgent warning for summer beach trips with kids as pal's left in hospital following massive allergic reaction Becky has one last piece of advice for anyone who comes across one of the deadly creatures: "If it's a cone, leave it alone." While the radula is most often used to hunt and paralyze fish and worms before consuming them, humans can be jabbed by stepping on or picking up a cone snail. Why is there no antidote to a cone snail sting? The complexity of the toxins in the venom, and the fact that the venom composition varies widely from species to species, makes the creation of antidotes difficult. Typically, a cone snail's venom will initially cause tingling or numbness at the injection site, then spread to the impacted limb and eventually the entire body, according to the experts at Ocean Conservancy. Cone snails are not currently listed as endangered or threatened, but their populations are at risk of depletion due to being over-harvested for their highly-prized shells, as well as being collected for scientific and medical research on the potential uses of their venom as medicine. These tropical and temperate ocean dwellers tend to live in shallow waters and are commonly found near coral reefs or hiding in the sand or under coral shelves. Some cone snails spend their time among mangroves. Their sizes range from just half an inch to more than nine inches in length, and they comprise three groups according to their diets: molluscivores (mollusk-eaters), piscivores (fish-eaters) and vermivores (worm eaters). There are also several sections where you can learn about some of the fascinating creatures that dwell in the ocean.
