Christmas 2014

It’s Christmas time! It’s that time of year when we all gather with our loved ones. We get together with our families, friends and those family members we don’t get to see that often. We prepare large meals with all the fixings in most cases. What is your traditional main course? We usually prepare ham. Some of you traditionally prepare turkey or prime rib and yes, I hear some people even have pizza! Actually, that makes complete sense to me, because with all of the hustle and excitement of opening presents, partying and playing games, who really wants to spend most of the day over a hot stove or taking care of all those leftovers and cleaning all of the pots, pans and dirty dishes?

So spend the time with family. Also let us not forget what the occasion is all about. We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our savior. Between gifting, decorating partying and taking the kids to see Santa Clause, the real reason for the season is often lost. For many, this time of year is a sad one. It may be the time of year when some have lost loved ones. It may be another reminder that we’re unemployed or really don’t have anyone close. Take time to pray for those less fortunate or for those that are feeling loss right now.

If you’re in a cold part of the country, I hope you enjoy a white Christmas, though I also hope you don’t get icy precipitation or a blizzard. If you’re in a warm part of the country, I hope your weather is mild and pleasant. Do you decorate palm trees? If you’re in the tropics, perhaps on a Caribbean island, I’m jealous but happy for you. I’ll never forget my February vacation several years ago with my now husband in Jamaica. The weather was perfect and if it did rain, it was overnight and gone the next day. He proposed to me on the beach.

It’s been a rather rough road since then, but I’m grateful for all that I do have, my husband, our family, our health and my new business. I wish you a very Merry Christmas and may God bless you and yours. Annette Bordua of Jewelry in Candles.

Christmas Snow

I grew up in Michigan as did my husband. We spent years shoveling our drives and sidewalks. We’d sweep snow off our vehicles and scrape ice off of windows before heading in to work and again before we headed back home. We wore layer upon layer of clothing to ward off the bitter cold. I sometimes wore a scarf over my face to fend off the icy wind while my husband wore a balaclava. When he was younger he enjoyed the snow because he was a skier. As we both grew older we grew wearier of fighting the seasonal snow and ice. We eventually moved from Michigan to Texas and now we’re in S. Carolina. Do we miss the snow and cold? Absolutely not except for one thing. It’s pretty after it first comes down and before the snow plows run and pour salt on the roads. Don’t get me wrong, we still appreciate a nice, moderate snow fall IF it comes on Christmas. Other than that, we’ll leave it for our ‘northern’ friends.

Christmas is so special. Families gather for good food and exchanging presents. Children’s faces light up when they discover that new toy they’ve wanted. Husbands, wives, boyfriends and girlfriends smile when they see how thoughtful their partner was. The scent of pine is all over as well as other scents like cranberry, holly and cinnamon. Many of us enjoy the taste of eggnog and mourn it’s disappearance after the holidays are over.

Do you visit friends before the big day to drop off a ‘little something?’ I know people do lots of baking not only for their families but for their close friends and they’ll make a visit to deliver them. Before we moved, every year we’d have one or two friends that we’d visit and not only share a drink, but give them a bottle of something they liked. Those days are over for us at least until we make new close friends. We do have adult children near so we’re not alone at all. Our Bengal Cats prevent us from decorating much but the kids all decorate.

We can however enjoy the scents of Christmas. We burn candles. That’s right, we’ll burn candles in the scent of blueberry pie, Christmas wreath, eggnog, cinnamon, pumpkin, chocolate and many others. You can too. Jewelry in Candles has a wide selection of holiday scents in tower candles and wax tarts. They also have the more traditional scents too like baby powder, clean cotton, vanilla and more. They’re 100% natural soy so there’s no side effect and each candle and tart comes with a piece of jewelry hidden inside. If you act now, you’ll probably receive your order in time for Christmas. Why don’t you SHOP NOW? I’m sure you’ll find something that you or someone else would enjoy. #JICRocks #candles #DiscoverJIC #LOVEJIC

Why All Natural Soy?

The Wax in Jewelry in Candles

Some makers try to tell you that you can’t make a good candle out of pure soy, partly because you encounter cosmetic problems. I beg to differ. When properly poured, any type of wax will produce a quality, flaw free candle. Also, 100% soy candles DO hold their fragrance well.

Oils

One reason our candles hold their scent for so long is because all natural essential oils are used to not only hold the fragrance in but also aid in the longevity of the candle itself. Beware of reading terms like blends and artisan. Just what does this mean?

All Cotton Wicks

It’s simple. All cotton wicks are used. Nothing is added to retain stiffness. It’s simply not necessary. Most people know that before you light or relight a candle you should trim the wick to about ¼”. You don’t need stiffness.

Hidden Surprise Inside

Every tower candle and wax tart comes with a hidden piece of jewelry inside. The value can range from $10 to thousands of dollars. You just won’t know until it’s revealed during the burn. But here’s the thing. You can CHOOSE the type of jewelry you get when you order. You don’t have to settle for a pair of earrings or a ring. You can choose between either of them or a necklace. Why limit your options?

So here’s the bottom line. If you’re shopping around for a scented candle for a gift, look at the ‘about’ section at the website to see how the product is made. If it’s hard to find a description or if they’re vague by using special ‘terms’ I’d just be careful. If you don’t want any worries, try Jewelry in Candles. We’re a straight forward company with quality, long lasting products. Enjoy!

The Aromas of Christmas

Do you like a crackling fire or the smell of fresh pine? Do you roast chestnuts?

In early December many people start their holiday baking. They’ll make pecan, apple and cherry pies and put them in the freezer until the big family gathering. Soon, they’ll start baking carrot bread, banana nut bread, sugar cookies, and Christmas cookies in the shape of stars, snowmen, Christmas trees and angels. Perhaps you’re one of those talented people that make an awesome gingerbread house.

Parties will take place with eggnog, different varieties of wine and foods like vegetable trays with dips, breads, pickles, crackers and delicious cheese balls. All of these things bring with them a certain aroma. During this time of year our homes are filled with the aromas of Christmas. I can smell the scent of hot spiced wine even as I write this.

Christmas is just 18 days away. That means you only have 17 days left to shop for all of those presents. Why knock yourself out fighting crowded stores, searching through multitudes of possible gifts and looking for sales? I remember when people would pour through catalogues ahead of the season and send their orders in and a few weeks later their order would arrive in the mail.

The internet has made shopping much easier today. We can sit in the comfort of our home, shop online and order right then and there. The order might arrive in just a few days and you didn’t have to go anywhere, fill out a paper form, put it in an envelope, stick a stamp on it, mail it in and wait.

Okay. I’ve been talking about the wonderful scents that Christmas brings. Everyone likes a nice scent wafting through their home. Scented candles make excellent gifts. If you’d like to give your sister or someone else a scented candle for Christmas there are a wide variety of scents available. You don’t have to pick a Christmas scent either. Traditional scents like vanilla, lilac, baby powder and lavender are very popular. Fruit scents like apple and black cherry are also popular. You could even be a little different and go for the scent of leather or Caribbean teakwood.

All of these scents and many more can be found at Jewelry in Candles. The candles and wax tarts are 100% soy with essential oils, so the gift recipient won’t have an allergic reaction to them. Soy candles last longer than paraffin wax candles and they won’t stain your walls either! So why not relax, shop from the comfort of your own home and find the perfect candle for those special people on your list? They’ll enjoy the scent long after the holidays!

How to Make an Impression

We all want to be remembered in good ways don’t we? It’s really not that hard to make a good impression on someone. All it takes is a friendly smile/greeting and a few other things. Believe it or not, smiling is contagious. If you smile at someone you’ll usually get a smile back. When you meet someone give them a firm handshake even if you’re a woman. Mind you, I said firm. You don’t have to be robust about it, but you don’t want to be timid either.

Eye contact: When you’re talking to someone look into their eyes and try not to wander off to other areas. By maintaining eye contact you’re making it personal and you’ll garner more interest.

Interrogation: Don’t actually grill people but you should be curious about the person you’re talking with. Take an interest in their background, their job or career and their interests. If you find something in common go with that and you’ll develop a two way exchange. This will make your bond stronger.

Body language: Never cross your arms across your chest. This communicates “I don’t really like you, leave me alone. Don’t have your hands on your hips either. Instead open yourself to the person with your hands by your side and palms somewhat foreward.

If you develop a rapport with them then maybe you can exchange phone numbers or e-mail addresses and go from there.

Gifts: I’m assuming now that you’ve developed a friendship with someone fairly new. What now? Small gifts of friendship go a long way in building a relationship. Don’t make it anything extravagant, maybe a little something for their home or office. House plants (not flowers) are a good start. There may come a time for flowers.

Once your friendship becomes stronger you can get a little more extravagant without appearing over anxious. Scented candles are an excellent way of expressing your friendship to or even love of someone. It’s simple, non-committal and almost everyone loves them. You can pay as little as $5 for a small wax tart found at your local store or as much as $50 for a fancy tower candle from gift shops or specialty web sites.

Have you considered a scented candle with jewelry hidden inside? There is such a thing. Tower candles come in a variety of scents and colors. It’s also the holiday season and there are new scents of pine, eggnog and baked goods available now. If you don’t want to spend quite that much money, go for a wax tart. Go for tarts that last 60 hours or more. They’re well worth the higher price. If your intended recipient is allergic to most candles, or even if you’re not sure, you can’t go wrong with all natural, soy based candles and tarts. If they’re infused with essential oils, they’ll last longer. Why not give them a Bayberry, Blueberry Pie or Gingerbread candle or tart with jewelry hidden inside. They’ll love it and the impression you’ll make will lastfor a long time! #scent #jicscents #IheartJIC #LOVEJIC #http://bit.ly/AnnettesJIC

Take Time to Relax

With the holiday season upon us it’s easy to get caught up in the rush of things. We have to go out in the crowded malls and stores to find that perfect gift for someone special. We have parties to plan and attend. Many of you may have your home decorated for the season, but some of us like to wait a bit. Do you have your tree yet?

On top of that, you have the holiday meals. We have to plan menus, buy all of the ingredients, bake things ahead of time, etc. etc. Are you traveling somewhere? You have tickets to buy and reservations to make. Maybe you’re expecting company from out of town. You want to make sure your house is clean or maybe reserve them a room at a hotel or motel. You’ll want to have snacks around.

At this time of year it’s easy to get stressed out. One of the most stressful things for me is coming home from even small errands and the traffic is just crazy. It’s slow, people dart in and out without thinking and common courtesy seems to be lost. After a long day of all this I’m ready to relax. I’ll put on some music and light a candle. Some of the most relaxing scents for me are Baby Powder, Clean Cotton, Teakwood and Coconut. Floral scents help to soothe my spirit too.

Some of the best scents come from Jewelry in Candles. They’re 100 percent soy wax with essential oils, so they’re not harmful to you. Each tower candle and tart comes with a piece of jewelry hidden inside too. Scented candles make excellent gifts and today you can get one free when you buy two! This includes Floral scents and relaxing ones like I mentioned and more! Why not browse through them and see if there’s not something you’d like. Then sitback and relax! #scent #jicscents #IheartJIC #LOVEJIC

And They're Off!

Oh my, the holiday shopping season is here! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. After celebrating and giving thanks with family and friends Black Friday once again arrives. We all know what that means. Heavy traffic and snarl ups. Please watch out for drivers darting about trying to make lane changes. It also means packed parking lots, crowded big box stores and malls. Personally, I prefer to avoid the stress, even if it means missing out on sale prices. I value my sanity too much.

You don’t have to deal with the crowds either. Many, if not most of the items you’re probably looking for are probably available online and should arrive in time for Christmas! Big box stores have web sites; there is Amazon, e-Bay and Alibaba. Most specialty stores have web sites. Whether you’re looking for sweaters, shoes, toys, music, home décor or kitchenware, you can find it online and probably at good prices.

One good choice for gifting is a scented candle. A scented candle lasts, providing a pleasant aroma wafting through the home long after you’ve left. Some people complain about reaction to burning candles. That’s why you should choose soy based candles. These are completely natural and made from soy beans. They’re not petroleum based which is the main culprit for irritation and wall stains. Also, when you purchase a soy candle, you’re supporting farmers!

‘Jewelry in Candles’ candles are 100% soy made with essential oils and natural cotton wicks. They come in many different scents, some especially for the holiday season. What’s more, each tower candle and wax tart comes with a hidden piece of jewelry inside! When you order online you can choose between a necklace, a ring in the size you want or earrings. The best part is that right now, today on Black Friday, many scents are ‘Buy One – Get One Free!’ Why not shop my store now and avoid the chaos? #scent #jicscents #IheartJIC #LOVEJIC #http://bit.ly/AnnettesJIC