Gel Candle Safety: What You Should Know Before You Buy
March 31, 2008
A lot of attention has been focused on gel candle safety in recent years. Irresponsible (usually foreign) candlemakers have flooded the shelves of dollar stores and discount retailers with poor quality and at times unsafe container gel candles. As a result, gel candles have gotten a “bum rap” as being hazardous works of the devil, rather than being viewed as an alternative decorating option for candle lovers. Following the guidelines here will help you in choosing safe gel candles for your home or gift giving needs.
Most gel candles are container based, meaning decorative materials (called embeds) and a wick are placed inside a container (generally glass) and the container is then filled with molten gel. The gel is mostly mineral oil, blended with a stabilizing polymer, which helps the candle retain fragrance load. The thicker (more dense) a gel is, the more fragrance load it can carry. Remember, too that the thicker the gel, the higher the melt point, which means a generally hotter and longer burning candle.
And there’s the rub! Careless manufacturers assume that gel candles can be made in the same manner as traditional paraffin candles. Not so! Because the candle “wax” is hotter, there are more safety precautions that need to be taken into account.
What to Know Before Signing a Home Improvement Contract
March 30, 2008
It is important to be a very careful consumer when it comes to home improvement contractors. For instance, I had a case where my client, an elderly and blind woman, signed a contract and paid $30,000.00 to a home improvement company that disappeared with all of her money! Unfortunately, the company was a scam operation, my client lost her life’s savings and it will take some time in court before my client may ever see her money again however, her mistake will be a lesson to all of you because this article explains how to protect yourself from home improvement fraud.
Before signing any contract with a home improvement company, first ask that company for its license number and check it out with your State or County Consumer Affairs’ Business License Division. Find the License Division on the web or call information and get their number. You want to find out (1) the name and address of the company associated with the license number given to you, (2) if the company is currently licensed and the license expiration date and (3) whether any complaints have been made against that company. The answers to those questions will help you determine if you want to proceed with signing a contract. Make sure both the contractor and the company he works for are licensed to work in your State.
Choosing the Right Roses for your Garden
March 30, 2008
There are literally hundreds of types of roses that you can grow in your garden. With such a selection to choose from, it can be extremely difficult to choose the rose that’s right for you. To make this task a bit easier, We’ve outlined a few important factors you should consider, and explained some of the different types of roses to aid in your search.
Tips on Choosing Roses
1. Color may seem trivial at first glance, but it’s usually an important factor to those that want to grow roses. Usually it is simply a matter of personal preference, but you may want to try creating a complimentary color palette for your rose garden.
2. The final growth height of a rose should be considered as it would be unattractive to grow roses that are higher than the area of the garden that it grows in. Some roses can grow to be as high as 20 feet.
3. If you live in an area that is prone to cold winters, you would certainly want a rose that could survive during the off season.
4. If certain fragrances invoke an allergic reaction, you’ll want to plant roses that have a softer fragrance than the others.
Clear Wax Candles vs. Gel Candles
March 29, 2008
In the last five years a new type of clear candle has emerged - freestanding resin-based (aka clear wax) candles. Using a base of mineral oil, the candle uses a patented resin as the stabilizer, creating a candle that outshines both traditional paraffin and gel candles. It requires no container like gel candles, burns longer than paraffin and holds more fragrance than both. The flame burns down through the inside of the candle as light radiates through the candle’s side wall. These resin-based candles can be made in any traditional paraffin shape, with no bubbles. This lends them more decorative appeal than gel candles and more durability than paraffin candles.
A handful of manufacturers have embraced this new technology, but many large manufacturers have avoided gel candles altogether. Candlemakers site the dangers of gel candles as a reason for not offering the clear freestanding candles. Resin-based candles have unfairly been lumped into this category. Gel candle safety concerns while valid, revolve mostly around containers and embeds, of which resin-based candles have none. As a result, clear wax candles are a much sought after commodity in places like eBay and other online venues.
Breaking the Mold - Creative Boys Bedrooms
March 28, 2008
Decorating boys bedrooms with licensed characters and themes is an easy but expensive option. While most children do have a preferred character or theme that they would enjoy having in their rooms, there are more affordable ways to achieve a similar desired result.
Without naming names or infringing upon any boys bedrooms copyrights or trademarks this budget-friendly collection of ideas can help you create an absolutely awesome children’s décor. It has been compiled especially to offer easy do-it-yourself, affordable decorating solutions for boys bedrooms … with all of the neatest features in boys bedrooms that guys appreciate.
Basics in boys bedrooms ideas.
Most boys will easily embrace decorating ideas that are a little different or not mass-produced as long as they include similar colors and concepts. He’ll feel good about having something original and special that’s goes beyond the expected boys bedrooms ideas.
This will encourage him to appreciate the idea of being an individual, different and unique from anyone else in the world.
Beyond-the-box ideas in boys bedrooms. (For the guy who loves things that creep and crawl.)
To adults, a bug is a bug is a bug, no further classification required. Boys know bugs like girls know shoes.
The Smart Way To Look At Home Improvements
March 27, 2008
What home improvements really pay off when the time comes to sell your house?
That’s an important question for any homeowner contemplating moving or remodeling. And the only possible answer is a somewhat complicated one.
That answer starts with the fact that really major improvements ? room additions, total replacements of kitchens and baths, etc., — rarely pay off fully in the near term. It ends with the fact that small and relatively inexpensive changes can pay off in a big way in making your home attractive to buyers if your decision is to move now.
It’s a simple fact, consistently confirmed across America over a very long period of time, that even the most appropriate major improvements are unlikely to return their full cost if a house is sold within two or three years.
Does that mean that major home improvements are always a bad idea? Absolutely not. It does mean, though, that if your present house falls seriously short of meeting your family’s needs you need to think twice ? and think carefully ? before deciding to undertake a major renovation. Viewed strictly in investment terms, major improvements rarely make as much sense as selling your present home and buying one that’s carefully selected to provide you with what you want.
10 Tips for Successful Rose Planting
March 26, 2008
Planting roses isn’t actually complicated, as long as you have some good advice and tips to start with…
1. Check with your local gardening center or florist for the best type of roses to grow in you climate. If you are a novice, you should look fo? disease resistant types of roses because they require a lot less maintenance.
2. When planting roses, you want to pick a spot that is well lit in the morning. You also want an area that is sunlit for at least 6 hours a day. Roses need a great deal of light if they are to grow properly. If you live in a really hot climate though, you’ll probably get the best results by not planting your roses in direct sunlight.
3. Pick an area that has plenty of well drained soil. Great soil has a PH level where the amount of acid in the soil is at about 5.5-7.0. You can get a testing kit for your soil at any garden center.
4. Organic matter like manure or lime helps to nourish the roots of your roses. You should soak the roots in water or puddle clay for many minutes, and cut off any root’s ends that are broken.
How To Select Scraped//Distressed Hardwood Flooring
March 25, 2008
Hand-scraped and Distressed hardwood floors are becoming a popular choice in today’s upscale homes and commercial buildings. These floors are a newer trend but are rooted in history. Before today’s modern sanding methods, floors were hand scraped on site to make the floors flat. Today’s hand scraping is done to add texture, richness and uniqueness.
Distressed hardwood flooring is done by machine or by hand. In an effort to reduce high labor costs, manufacturers have created machine-made distressed/scraped looking floors. These are cheaper imitations of the real thing. The problem with machine distressing is repetition of the pattern. As you look across the floor you see the same pattern repeating across the floor. This lacks a natural feel to the floor.
True hand scraped is exactly that ? done by hand. When properly done this method creates a truly unique floor. These floors differ greatly in the amount of the texture added to the floor and the skill of the person scraping the floor.
Make a Grand Entrance of Your Front Door
March 25, 2008
You may find it difficult to believe that the days will start getting longer in the Northern Hemisphere in just four short weeks. You can find yourself this time of year coming home on dreary days, or welcoming evening visitors in the dark. It’s neither safe nor inviting. But good lighting at your front entrance gives a warm and secure welcome to any who enter.
Mention outdoor lighting at this time of year and many people think of strings of lights. But why not go for a more elegant look that will continue to be appealing throughout the winter ahead?
First, decide what areas it is important for you to light. For your own late arrivals, that may be the front steps and the lock. You’ll want to be sure visitors can see the house number, which door they should approach, and perhaps the pathway leading to the steps.
The biggest outdoor lighting mistake is to use a bulb with a wattage that is too high. Bright lights actually create glare, making the surrounding area look darker. Remember, house surfaces reflect back light and so does the snow. Light “layering” — soft lighting from several sources — results in a subtle and inviting overall effect.
Seeing the Light
March 24, 2008
Lighting
“Light has illuminated the path of humanity” ? While Einstein was probably referring to one of his mind-blowing theories, lighting has also revolutionized the home. Before incandescent and fluorescent lighting, most activities stopped after dusk. Only royalty and the aristocrats had the money for torches, lamps, and candles. Yet nowadays, lighting is used for more than just being able to use the computer to buy dog food at 2 AM in your pajamas. Lighting has become a crucial pillar in the foundation of home decoration and design.
Outside lighting ? lighting around your house not only brings an additional layer of security but also can complement your landscaping and outside decorations.
Lamps ? lamps are not so much about the light but rather the decoration and style; make sure it matches the rest of your décor. However, a nice soft yellow light would be nice to set a mellow and cozy mood.
Room lights ? lighting in your home is critical, not only for mundane things like checking your plummeting stock portfolio in the newspaper but also for illuminating the rest of your furniture. So to have great room lighting, have quality standup lights that can project across the entire room. For the lights installed in the ceiling, either buy new ones that match your décor or at the very least get quality light bulbs that complement your home and suit your lifestyle:
