Below are the 5 most recent journal entries recorded in candlesrock019's InsaneJournal:

Saturday, May 14th, 2011
4:22 am	Our Mother's Day Tradition Mother's day this year is on May 8th and it's time to get a gift right about now. I was in high school when I started buying candles as Mother's day gifts, and have gotten the same thing year after year, since that time. I do try to look for unique candles now that I'm older, to show that I do put some thought in, but the idea of making a tradition out of it is what really makes it great. I'm in my thirties now and it pains me to think about how much I must have spent on candles at this point. Since I didn't want to buy the same type again and again, I've spent quite a bit of time shopping for them, too. There are many different types of candles out there and some of them are actually pretty wild. Some look like they should be in an art museum, and I am totally serious about that. Frankly, I'm a pretty typical guy, into sports and the usual stuff so candles used to be an unlikely thing to have on my mind. The fact that I have bought the same old gift year after year for Mother's day probably indicates pretty accurately what kind of man I am! So, despite the fact that this little tradition between my Mother and I started out due to my lazy gift buying habits, it has turned into something more special and nowadays I usually spend considerable time hunting for something nice when Mother's day comes close. I really do try to put in a good effort to find something unique that she will like. It is not always the easiest but it isn't that hard, either. It takes a little patience and a good eye for it. Mother's day is going to be on Sunday, May 8 of 2011. Beat the rat race this year and get it done now. Don't just get a gift card this year, the extra thought really goes along way most of the time. In most cases, even an inexpensive gift will go over great if you can show that you just put a little bit of extra thought into it some how. Here's wishing you a happy Mother's day in 2011! (Comment on this)
4:04 am	Relaxing Spa Environment at Home I love my husband dearly and he tries so hard to be a sweetheart, but there are some things I don't think he will ever fully grasp. For example, I like to lavish myself with bath salts and candles and relax, especially after a long day at work. It is a reward which I think I have earned at the end of a long stressful work week. My husband just doesn't understand it in any way. It doesn't take that long, only a half an hour or so. After that I get all raisiny and comatose. So, all I ever really want is to be left on my own for that short period of time, a couple of times a week. It's not too much to ask, right? Still, I can not get a whole half hour of uninterrupted peace and silence. Last week, I think I finally laid down the line. I just couldn't take it any more and this is one thing I really want to be able to do uninterrupted. I mean come on, it's only an hour or so per week! Basically, I told him he could either learn to stay away from me when I'm having my alone time or he can pay the spa membership fee so I can go somewhere else and do it! The only reason I do it at home in the first place is because the spa's charge ridiculous amounts.I save a ton of money and get to do something on a regular basis, as opposed to going to the spa and being able to afford it maybe once or twice a month. Not to mention it is just more convenient to be able to do something at home then go somewhere else for it. Anyway, at this very moment I am waiting for the bath to fill and I already have my candles lit. I'm about to go in there and I guess we'll just have to see what happens! I told him when I got home I was taking a bath and he's been pretty quiet since so I have my fingers crossed. Some time you just have to let your man know! (Comment on this)
Friday, May 13th, 2011
6:10 pm	Creating Candles Yourself Making candles at home is a fun and easy activity you can do with just about anyone. Remember if you're planning this activity for the kids that you will want to take special safety measures to avoid any mishaps occurring with the boiling water or hot wax which is necessary for this project. I think this is a great project for kids around eight years old and up. To start, you will have to boil water in a pot. In another pot, or coffee can if you wish, you should put your wax and then place that in the boiling water. If you wish, you can make even better candles by adding scented oils or coloring agents. It is just as easy and still very inexpensive. For now, you can just let the wax melt in the hot water. Once the wax is melted, take it out and start making your candles. If you want to add fragrances or color, now is the time to stir that in. You can create unique and intricate designs by stirring the colors in a deliberate way. Next, you take the wick and dip it into the wax. You should have a can of water next to the wax, so that you can dip the developing candle in and cool down the wax. It makes it go much faster. Some people like to shape their candles, which you may begin to do after dipping it in water. From this point, you just continue this process until you are happy with your candle. You may have to reheat the wax sometimes if you are making a lot or just a few large candles. Remember to be weary of safety concerns, specifically if you will be working with kids. Although it is a common activity for kids, taking the proper precautions can ensure that everyone has fun and nobody gets hurt. When I do this with my kids, I don’t even put the wax in their reach until it has cooled down. If you just make regular old candles this will get boring after you do it a couple times. Adding colors and scents to the candles makes it much more fun, too. After you've been doing it for a while, you can soon begin to produce wonderful, special candles that surpass most retail chain quality. The scented container candles you see all over the place that sell for eight or ten dollars or more are in fact really basic candles and very easy to make. You simply anchor the wick to the bottom and poor the wax in. Scenting it and coloring it is easy after only a few tries! (Comment on this)
5:48 pm	Kinds of Candles There's lots of distinct styles of candles available that sometimes they could be difficult to recognize. There are a few commonly known types which the true candle junkies will be aware of. We'll go over the really popular ones you're likely to see in stores and such here! Container candles are one of the most widely used types and lots of retailers carry them. Container candles are usually in a jar or some other type of container. The jar does seem to be the most popular, though. Yankee Candles is a popular store that mainly sells these types of scented container candles for ten to twenty bucks. That seems like a lot for a candle, especially when you consider that these are mass produced by machines and the materials cost very little. Making them at home or buying them at a reasonable price from a local vendor are the best options in my opinion. Votive candles are really widespread. The wax will melt away quickly and they eventually take the form of their container. Again, these are usually cheap candles. Many people use them when the power goes out and for jackolanterns and things like that. There isn’t really a whole lot to say about these, as they are just cheap practical candles. Finally, pillar candles are my own personal favorite. Pillar candles are manufactured with a dense, slow burning wax to enable them to stand on their own without using a holder or container. They are often quite wide so that the outer wax can melt without dripping down the side of the candle onto your table top or shelving. There are very nice to highlight a room or to just look pretty on their own. Regardless of the type of candle, it is not a bad idea to keep a few of each in your home. I am sometimes surprised by how often I find myself using them for practical purposes. If nothing else they can be really handy when the power goes out. If you go cheap, they are great for when the lights go out or if you have people over because they are well contained, making them safer and avoiding a mess. Votive candles are nice because they’re cheap. Pillar candles are great for lighting because, without a surrounding holder, the light is able to flow freely, and since the wax is a bit denser it doesn’t melt so fast and it can burn for a long time. (Comment on this)
Thursday, May 12th, 2011
6:50 pm	A Few Facts About Aromatherapy Aromatherapy is the blending of different perfumes to create a therapeutic or calming environment. Sometimes the purpose is to develop a soothing atmosphere, other times it is just to make something smell great. Candles and cleaning soap are common items for aromatherapy enthusiasts simply because they can both be easily made at home and can be perfumed in many different ways. There is some debate in aromatherapy about the resources used in fragrant goods. The organic market strictly uses only the very best all natural materials. On the other hand, chemical substances can be produced and synthesized and are used in many commercial colognes. Natural and organic ingredients are termed as essential oils while chemical ingredients are generally known as fragrance oils. Essential oils are literally just plant parts, whether taken from the leaves, petals, stem or anywhere. One problem with going the organic way is the fact that for most folks it is a luxury too costly to enjoy on a regular basis. They are concentrated from numerous pounds of plant material. Fragrance oils are much cheaper because they are synthesized or lab created. On a mass production scale it is much cheaper when compared to essential oils. Many people are stunned to hear about the chemical compounds that go into the soap they use at home. At the end of the day most of these companies will cut corners any way they can to increase their bottom line, and that means using chemicals. However, most enthusiasts who create their own soap (or candles) prefer to go the organic route. In my opinion, it is one of the main benefits of creating your own soap, so this was never a surprise to me. Investigating the actual chemicals and whether or not they are harmful to your body is beyond this article. It goes without saying at this point that chemicals are bad - we need to take as few as possible into our body. Although it is expensive for companies to create organic soaps and candles, doing it at home is relatively cheap and most people can make a small amount of essential oils last a long time. Aromatherapy is a relaxing and enjoyable practice no matter how you do it. Particularly if you live in a colder climate, there is just nothing better after work then getting into a hot tub with a book and all the candles lit. Incense can also be effective although I personally don’t like all the smoke it tends to put off. That is up to you, though, and good luck with your aroma-adventures! (Comment on this)