Who doesn’t love rolled beeswax candles? They’re so beautiful, and they give off such a wonderful scent. They smell great even when they’re not lit. And when they are lit, the scent drifts through the entire house. Plus, there are so many health benefits to beeswax candles. You might think it’s difficult to make your own beeswax candle. It might not have even occurred to you that you can make your own. But it’s really not as difficult as you might think. Rolled beeswax candles come in all different sizes. Some can be short and plump, others can be long and slender. Here is an instructional guide on making rolled beeswax candles 101.

What You Need

1. Beeswax sheets – typically come in 8”x16” sheets
2. Primed wick
3. Matt knife or any other sharp knife – a razor blade also works well, or even a paring knife
4. A proper cutting surface – a regular cutting board can do the trick

Once you’ve got your supplies ready to go, the fun part begins.

Step 1

Make sure the sheet of beeswax is pliable and soft. If the sheet is too cool, it will be brittle, and could crack or break as you’re rolling it. You can use a hair dryer to get the sheet a bit warmer. Another trick to get it more pliable is to boil a post of water, and hold the sheet over the steam. Just a small amount of heat is necessary. If it gets too hot, the beeswax sheet could melt. Once the sheet is pliable, roll it out on your cutting surface.

Step 2

Cut your wick about ¾ of an inch to 1 inch longer that the beeswax sheet. If you want an even longer wick, that’s fine. If it gets any longer than 2 inches, the wick might start to sag, and not stand straight.

Step 3

Lay the wick straight along one edge of the sheet of beeswax. Fold the beeswax sheet about an inch over the wick and apply some pressure to the sheet. This will ensure that the beeswax is secure around the wick. After this point, you won’t have to apply much pressure.

Step 4

Gently begin to roll the sheet of beeswax, rolling both ends of the wick at the same time. Roll the sheet very slowly making sure the ends are even, and that the sheet doesn’t begin to crack or break.

Step 5

Once you reach the end of the beeswax sheet, gently press that edge into the wall of the candle. When the beeswax is warm, it has certain properties that allow it to hold the shape without having to use any adhesives.

Step 6

Trim the wick at the bottom of the candle so it is flush and not poking out. Trim the wick at the top to your desired length.

You now have a rolled beeswax candle ready for use. This guide to making rolled beeswax candles 101 is simple and effective. If you want a thicker candle, lay out another sheet of beeswax and continue to roll. If you want a slimmer candle, use less of the sheet. Rolling your own beeswax candles is a fun craft that you can do alone, or have your kids help you with. This could be a fun arts and crafts project at a birthday party, a bridal shower, or even a baby shower. Getting everyone involved is a fun way to bond, and the end result is well worth it. After everyone has made their candle, light them up and turn off the lights. Enjoy the glow and the scent of your work. Everyone has a take home candle that will last for quite a while.

Photo by sheena carmichael

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Cast iron is one of the best materials you can use for cooking. Cast iron cookware is sturdy and gets your food cooked all the way through. One of the down sides to using a piece of cast iron cookware, is it doesn’t come with a non-stick coating. In order to create a non-stick coating, you’ll need to do it yourself. This process is called “seasoning.” It’s not really a big deal, just follow a few simple steps. Let’s say that you have an older piece of cast iron cookware. You may not remember if it was seasoned properly. You’ll might need to be refreshed on how to season an old cast iron skillet. The process is the same as it is for a brand new cast iron skillet. However, you’ll need to wash it and buff out any rough spots first.

Get It Clean

You’ll want to wash the skillet in hot water and little bit of mild dish washing liquid. (Too much dish washing liquid and your food will take on soap flavor!) Even if the skillet is clean, it may have been sitting for a while since it was last used. It might be holding on to some stuck on or burnt on food. It’s best to make sure the skillet is fresh. After washing the skillet, pat it dry using a clean dish towel. The skillet should not be totally dry at this point. Set the cast iron skillet on the stove over a medium heat. It is important to dry the skillet over heat so the water does not seep into the cast iron and create rust. In about three to five minutes the rest of the moisture should be gone. If not, wait until the skillet is completely dry. When it’s dry, remove it from the stove.

Take a close look at your old cast iron skillet. Look for signs of rust, any parts where food may have been burned and left residue, as well as any pitted areas of the skillet. If you notice any of these things, buff the areas using a piece of fine gauge steel wool. Wash the pan again using mild dish soap and hot water. Pat it dry and place it on the stove again to dry thoroughly over a medium heat.

Season It In The Oven

Now that the old cast iron skillet is thoroughly clean, preheat your oven to 200 degrees. As you’re waiting for the oven to heat up, coat the skillet with oil, shortening, or lard using a paper towel. Make sure you get every nook and cranny, and up all of the sides of the skillet. Next, coat the entire outside of the skillet with oil, including the handle. It’s not necessary to coat the underside of the skillet, as this will create smoke when you cook with it, and the oil will just burn off.

Once the oven is done heating, and your skillet is covered in oil, place it in the oven for three hours. It’s a good idea to use a low temperature for a long amount of time to ensure that the lard penetrates into the pores of the skillet as it liquefies. After the three hours are up, take the skillet out of the oven and wipe any excess lard off with a paper towel. Place it on the stove top to let it cool for about an hour. Then wipe it down one more time. Your old cast iron skillet is now properly seasoned. Repeat the process until you feel it is well seasoned.

Enjoy!

Now that you know how to season an old cast iron skillet, you can begin cooking up a storm of wonderful dishes. And each time you cook, the skillet gets seasoned! If you notice any scratches on your old skillet, it’s best to get a new one, for safety reasons. If you use a chipped or cracked skillet, it will continue to chip and could add flakes of cast iron to your food. Examine your skillet both before and after you season it to be absolutely sure.

What are your favorite recipes for cooking in a cast iron skillet?

Photo by Chiot’s Run

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Great News! We have a Giveaway from the wonderful people over at Libre.

A couple of months ago I wrote about the Libre Tea Glass and how much we love it. We’re big loose leaf tea drinkers and this durable container is perfect for us. Plus, it’s really cool looking!

Here are some great features about the tea glass:

1. It’s double walled, so cold drinks stay cold and hot ones stay hot.
2. You can use a bag or loose leaf tea.
3. Two choices – glass and glass or glass and polycarbonate.
4. The polycarbonate glass is really durable and has been dropped on concrete and kitchen floors without breaking!
5. You get 10 extra cool points just for carrying it!

How do I enter to win?

To Enter just leave a comment between now and Thursday, June 3rd. We’ll pick the winner on Friday, June 4th.

This giveaway is limited to be shipped to Canada and USA and can not be shipped to PO boxes.

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It can be very calming to enter a room and smell the scent of lavender or sandalwood. Certain scents cause different reactions in the brain. There are scents that can have you feeling more alert, or scents than can relax you. How do you get an air freshener to align with your specific needs at a specific time? It can get quite expensive having to buy several different types of air freshener to suit your mood. You can make your own air freshener using essential oils. You might also want to make your own if you are sensitive to store-bought air fresheners. Here are a few ways on how to use essential oils as air fresheners.

You’ll first need to get an empty spray bottle and the essential oil you desire at the time. Make sure the bottle has been cleaned out thoroughly if it was used for other purposes before. You want to get all of the left over residue out of the bottle first. Pour one cup of distilled water into the spray bottle. Next, add in eight to ten drops of the essential oil. Add In two teaspoons of rubbing alcohol (vodka is also an option) to the mixture and shake the contents well. It’s not necessary to add the alcohol, but it does help to keep the water and oils combined. If you don’t add the alcohol, just shake the bottle well every time you spray.

Another way to use essential oils as air fresheners is to make scented cloths. Take some old cloths and spray the mixture of water and essential oils on to a cloth. Place the cloth near a light fixture. The heat from the light bulb will activate the essential oils, spreading the scent throughout the room. You can choose a different scent for different rooms if you’d like. For instance, if you want an air freshener to freshen and deodorize a room, try lemon essential oil in the bathroom or kitchen. If you want to mask any pet odors that may be lingering, use tea tree essential oil and cedar wood essential oil. For a clean and flowery smell, use lavender essential oil or orange essential oil.

There are smells to help wake you up and feel more alert. If you need that extra boost in the morning, try the following oils.

• Ginger essential oil
• Grapefruit essential oil
• Juniper berry essential oil
• Lemongrass essential oil
• Rosemary essential oil
• Niaouli essential oil
• Cedar wood essential oil
• Peppermint essential oil
• Fir essential oil
• Lavender essential oil
• Lime essential oil
• Orange essential oil
• Patchouli essential oil
• Bay laurel essential oil
• Sweet almond essential oil
• Bergamot essential oil

To help you get sleepy and ready for bed, these essential oils could trigger the brain to ease you into a relaxation mode.

• Basil essential oil
• Camphor essential oil
• Cinnamon essential oil
• Clary sage essential oil
• Clove essential oil
• Cypress essential oil
• Eucalyptus essential oil
• Ginger essential oil
• Hyssop essential oil
• Jasmine essential oil
• Juniper essential oil
• Pine essential oil
• Thyme essential oil
• Ylang ylang essential oil

Make sure you don’t spray the essential oil air fresheners directly on fabrics. The essential oils can leave a stain, that is difficult to remove. It is OK to spray them on fabrics if you’ve only used a few drops of the essential oil. If you used up to 10 drops, try and avoid it.

There are literally hundreds of combinations of essential oils you can use. The best way to figure out which one you like best is to start experimenting. Now that you know how to use essential oils as air fresheners, your house will always smell wonderful.

Photo by Bach Tran

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Some lucky folks are born with perfect vision but for the others who are not there are ways to fix and improve the vision. For some people their vision is so blurry that getting a pair of glasses or contact lesnses is really the most effective way to improve their vision. One of the first steps to improving the vision is going for a visit with the eye doctor. The opthomologist can give you a good eye test to figure out what exactly is wrong with the eyes and the visual strength of each eye. One eye may be stronger than the other eye and in that case getting glasses with lenses that equal out the strength of the eyes can improve the vision.

Improve Your Vision Naturally

There are certain vitamins and minerals that are essential for the human body to function properly and without them the body will not function at it’s peak. There are certain vitamins that can be consumed specifically to improve the vision. Some of these vitamins are found in the foods you may already be eating. If you are not consuming enough of these essential vitamins the result may be weakened eyesight.

Some of the essential vitamins that can be consumed in foods or taken in vitamin supplements that can improve the vision are vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, Ginko Biloba, and Alpha-Lipoic Acid. Vitamin A is one of the most essential vitamins that contribute to good eye sight. If your vision seems weak it is probably a good idea to take a vitamin A supplement every day. Vitamins A, C, and E work the best when they are taken all together and they work better when taken with food. Vitamin A is more readily absorbed into the body when it is taken with fats so eating a breakfast that includes eggs, another good source of vitamin A, is a good way to take the supplement.

One vegetable that contains a large quantity of vitamin A is carrots. One way to naturally improve vision and especially night vision is to consume carrots regularly in the diet. Carrots contain a lot of carotene that can help you  see better in the dark.

The eyes can be strengthened like any other muscle in the body by exercising them. In addition to getting the right amounts of the proper nutrients that can help to improve the eye sight there are also specific eye exercises that can be done to strengthen the muscles in the eyes. It is a good idea to do these exercises at least once a day if you work on a computer and spend a lot of time looking at a computer screen. Giving your eyes a break from staring at the computer will remove some of the strain. If your eyes to begin to feel strained while working at a computer or if you have been looking at something for too long splashing them with cool water will wake up and refresh the eyes.

Photo by kms !

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I don’t think anyone enjoys talking about the subject of hemorrhoids. Unfortunately they happen, and they can be very unpleasant. What are hemorrhoids exactly? They occur when the veins of the anus or rectum get inflamed or swollen. They also go by the term “piles.” According to Wikipedia, “The anatomical term ‘hemorrhoids’ technically refers to ‘cushions of tissue filled with blood vessels at the junction of the rectum and the anus.’”

It is unpleasant, and might be embarrassing, but it’s best to see a doctor if you think you have hemorrhoids. There’s no need to be embarrassed, however. Hemorrhoids are very common, affecting about 89% of Americans sometime during their lifetime. There is another condition, called perianal hemoatoma that is often misdiagnosed as hemorrhoids, and the two conditions have different treatments. If you’ve experienced hemorrhoids before, and you know for certain you are experiencing them again, there are ways to treat the affliction yourself. One way to treat them is by using essential oils. Using an essential oil remedy for hemorrhoids can be done in a few ways.

Essential oils are concentrated hydrophobic liquids that contain aroma compounds found in plants. An oil is considered “essential” because it carries a specific scent of a particular plant. The process of distillation is used to extract the essential oils, and these oils are used in a variety of products.

The first option of an essential oil remedy for hemorrhoids, is a hot bath with essential oils. Fill a shallow bath with hot water, and add in 20 drops of lavender oil and 20 drops of juniper oil. Mix the water around with your hands before getting in. This will be sure to get the oils mixed well into the entire tub full of water. Soak in the bathtub for as long as you normally do, preferably between 10 to 15 minutes. The essential oils will sooth the area and will give some much needed relief.

There’s also a method of applying essential oils to hemorrhoids after a bath or after having a bowel movement. It’s debatable whether it’s safe to apply essential oils directly to the infected area. To be on the safe side, always mix essential oils with water when applying them to the skin. You can mix one ounce of Saint John’s wart oil with eight drops of palma rosa oil, cypress oil, and chamomile oil. Mix these in with a little warm water, then apply the mixture after a bowel movement or a bath. Another combination to use in this instance, is to use two drops of lavender oil, one drop of geranium oil, and an ounce of a carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil.

If a hemorrhoid breaks open, this can be very painful. You can get some relief by applying a cold compress that includes chamomile oil and carrot seed essential oil with either Saint John’s wart oil or calendula oil. This combination will relieve pain and decrease the swelling. It will also help to heal and repair the veins.

There are several essential oils that can be used to treat the pain of hemorrhoids. A few of these include geranium, cypress, coriander, juniper, myrrh, lavender, niaouli, tee tree oil, and patchouli. These oils all have properties in that can help to relieve pain from afflictions such as hemorrhoids.

Having hemorrhoids in an unpleasant experience, and an uncomfortable situation to talk about with anyone. The good news is you can find some relief in using an essential oil remedy for hemorrhoids. If you’ve never experienced hemorrhoids before, it’s always best to check with a doctor before using essential oils. Once you know for sure, then you can try these ideas for relief.

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