Soy Candles vs. Paraffin Wax Candles

How Paraffin and Soy Candles are Made

• Paraffin wax is made from petroleum while soy wax is made from soybeans and is completely biodegradable.
• Both of these waxes are used to make candles that are available in a wide selection of fragrances.

Advantages of Paraffin Wax Candles

• Paraffin wax candles burn at a higher temperature than do soy candles.
• Paraffin can be formed into candlesticks, pillars, votives and other free-standing shapes.

Disadvantages of Paraffin Wax Candles

• Burning candles made from paraffin wax emit carcinogens into the air.
• This fast-burning wax creates a plethora of byproducts, including benzene, acetone, xylene, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.
• The soot created from these candles has been known to cause asthma and allergies flareups.

Advantages of Soy Candles

• Soy wax burns slower and at a cooler temperature than does paraffin wax, which makes the candle last much longer.
• In addition to lasting longer, soy candles produce 90 percent less soot than paraffin candles.
• Because the soybeans used for these candles are made in the United States, every purchase of soy candles boosts the soybean market and helps support farmers.

Disadvantages of Soy Candles

• Soy candles are more opaque in color than paraffin candles and are more expensive than regular paraffin candles.
• Because these candles melt at a much lower temperature, they are only available in jars.

Whether you buy Soy or Paraffin candles, they all provide great satisfaction. All candles made today have excellent scent qualities and a huge range of fragrances. So, head out today and add a little mood to all of your events.

How To Get Out of Shopping With The Missis

Please enjoy this little humorous tale … just remember to not carry it to far as to get your whole family banned. Just kidding … enjoy.

Husband banned from Target

After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Target. Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunate, my wife is like most women – she loves to browse.

Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from our local Target.

Dear Mrs. Anderson,

Over the past six months, your husband has caused quite a commotion in our store.. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against your husband, Mr. Anderson, are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people’s carts when they weren’t looking.

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in House wares to go off at 5-minute intervals.

3. July 7: He made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women’s restroom.

4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, ‘Code 3 in House wares. Get on it right away’. This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time and costing the company money.

5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&Ms on layaway.

6. August 14: Moved a ‘CAUTION – WET FLOOR’ sign to a carpeted area.

7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children shoppers he would invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department to which twenty children obliged.

8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, ‘Why can’t you people just leave me alone?’ EMTs were called..

9. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.

10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.

11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the ‘Mission Impossible’ theme.

12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his ‘Madonna look’ by using different sizes of funnels.

13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled ‘PICK ME! PICK ME!’

14. October 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed ‘OH NO! IT’S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!’

And last, but not least:

15. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, and then yelled very loudly, ‘Hey! There’s no toilet paper in here.’ One of the clerks passed out.

We have valued your patronage over the years. Sadly, we are no longer able to overlook these issues. Thank you for your understanding.

Great Gift Ideas For Father’s Day

Father, the man with great personality and great thoughts. Truly the most beautiful blessing of God. He is man who works day and night restlessly fullfilling his children’s desires,  sending them to the best educational institute and providing them with all the happiness they need. He kills his own dreams to fulfill ours. He gives the first priority to our desires and doesn’t care about his own. In short father is a best of the best gift.

He does so many things for us without asking for anything in return. So the least we can do is make him feel happy on occasions like Father’s day. Present him with a unique gift that will put a smile on his face.

So here are the top ten gift ideas for your father at father’s day.

Cigars

Cost : $20.00 and up

Some cigars for your favorite connoisseur. A humidor to store his favorite cigars would also make a great gift. Either way he will love it because it comes from you with love.

Barbeque and Grilling Accessories

Cost : $30.00 and up

Most every man loves to cookout. Grilling accessories make the perfect gift for the outdoor chef inside every man. Plus, it will give a great excuse to do what he loves.

Wine or Beer Basket

Cost : $30.00 and up

Buy 1 or 2 wines or beer and then put it on a beautiful basket. Present it to your father and make him happy on father’s day.

Golf Kit

Cost : $20.00 and up

Most of the fathers want to spend their holiday playing golf at the golf club. So why not give him a golf kit at father’s day. I am sure this will make him very happy. Now, he can practice wherever and whenever he wants.

Dine Out

Cost : $20.00 per person

Well most fathers loves to eat meat, so why not take him to his favorite restaurant and give him a meaty treat. Or you even cook his favorite meat dish in the house.

Sports Ticket

Cost : Varies depending on event

Buy a ticket of your father’s favorite sports match and take him to the game. This will be a perfect gift for your father as you can also spend some time with you Dad.

Leather Wallet

Cost : $10.00 and up

This will be the best gift to present to your father. Whenever he want to take out his credit card or money to pay bills, he will remember that his family has given him this wonderful gift.

Personalized Picture Frame

Cost : $10..00 and up plus picture

Make a wooden picture frame by yourself and then take a picture of you and your father and then place it on that frame. And of course present him this at father’s day. Whenever he  sees this photo he will smile from the heart. Truly, a gift that will keep on giving. Personalized gifts make great presents because they express your love and affection in your personal way.

A Unique Gadget

Cost : $30.00 and up

Buy the most favorite gadget for your father like wrist watches, cuff, mobile set or notebook. I am sure that your Dad will remember this gift for his whole life. These keepsakes make great gifts. All men love their gadgets.

A Warm Hug in the Morning

Cost : Free

The best and the most unique gift to your father on father’s day will be this that when he wakes up in the morning, give him a hug and tell him that how much you love him and thank him for everything he has done for and make him comfort by telling him that when he gets old, you will always be there to look after him like a shadow like he did when we were small kids.

I hope that above article have helped you people to choose best gifts for dad on father’s day

Gel Candles

Types

The basic gel used for stiff gel candles is transparent and burns at a slower rate than wax candles when lit. The components of the gel candles contain polymer resin and mineral oil, which allows for the interaction of the chemical ingredients so candles will melt when heated and congeal when cool. It also allows the candles to burn at a slower rate for a longer period of time. Bases contain glycerin, coloring and scent oils. There is a U.S. patent for the gel wax formula called versagel.

Features

Gel candles can be formed in molds in a variety of themes, shapes and sizes, scented or unscented, with a wick in the center. These can be animated cartoon character gel candles in clear glass containers with three-dimensional toys embedded in the clear gel. Other themes include religion, weddings, holidays, sports, hobbies, toys and more, limited only by the imagination. Some contain additional embellishments such as glitter. Gel candles can also be layered in different colors such as red, white and blue for a patriotic American theme.

Considerations

Because of their luminescence and distinctive features, gel candles are one of the more popular types of candles to make and buy because they can hold items embedded in the gel wax. This opens many opportunities for creativity for the candle artist. When working with hot wax, safety is the primary concern. Once a crafter can work comfortably with the gel materials and design process, making beautiful candles with delightful embedded items is very satisfying. Even children can participate under adult supervision and make gifts. For those who prefer to browse specialty shops that carry gel candles, they’ll find a wide variety of styles and colors and many sizes of glass containers.

Benefits

The translucent look of gel candles and their ability to hold objects inside them is one reason why they have become so popular in recent years. Items such as sea shells, marbles, beads and toys are a few of the items that can turn a plain candle into a little work of art. Starting with a kit is one of best ways to get introduced to the art of gel-candle making, since all the supplies are included. In addition to a wide range of colors, gel candles can also be scented using rose, pine or lavender oils.

Warning

There are safety and fire hazards associated with gel candles that require closer care than with wax candles. If the gel is not sufficiently resilient, it may cause the container to become very hot and shatter, thus causing a fire that can burn out of control. Glass containers housing gel candles need to be strong enough to contain the heat generated by the gel candle since heat causes expansion. An additional precaution is to never move a gel candle while it is lit or right after it has been extinguished. Wait for it to cool first. To do so otherwise could cause serious skin burns should the container break and the liquid gel contact a person’s skin.

Happy Mother’s Day 2012

In most countries, Mother’s Day is a recent observance derived from the holiday as it has evolved in the United States. When it was adopted by other countries and cultures, it was given different meanings, associated to different events (religious, historical or legendary), and celebrated on a different date or dates.

Some countries already had existing celebrations honoring motherhood, and their celebrations have adopted several external characteristics from the American holiday, like giving carnations and other presents to your own mother.

The extent of the celebrations varies greatly. In some countries, it is potentially offensive to one’s mother not to mark Mother’s Day. In others, it is a little-known festival celebrated mainly by immigrants, or covered by the media as a taste of foreign culture.

Celebrations of mothers and motherhood occur throughout the world. Many of these trace back to ancient festivals, like the Greek cult to Cybele, the Roman festival of Hilaria, or the Christian Mothering Sunday celebration. However, the modern holiday is an American invention and not directly descended from these celebrations. Despite this, in some countries Mother’s Day has become synonymous with these older traditions.

No matter where or how you celebrate this special holiday, remember the most important part is to give your mother all the love she so deserves. Remember the old saying, “A mother’s love knows no bounds.”So, show her how much you appreciate her guidance, support, and love.