<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!-- http://blog.flexexamples.com/2009/01/11/setting-the-focus-blend-mode-on-a-textarea-control-in-flex/ -->
<mx:Application name="TextArea_focusBlendMode_test"
        xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml"
        layout="vertical"
        verticalAlign="middle">

    <mx:Style>
        TextArea {
            focusThickness: 20;
            focusBlendMode: difference;    
        }
    </mx:Style>

    <mx:TextArea id="textArea"
            text="The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."  />

</mx:Application>