Wax and Bubbles

Some of the cleaners you currently have in your cabinet may contain ingredients that are harmful to your health and extremely harmful to your lungs. And if you are inhaling it, more than likely your own children are. Here are some of the ingredients that are in our everyday cleaners that are toxic to our health in large amounts.

1. Ammonia: Poisonous when swallowed, causes irritation to the respiratory and breathing passages when inhaled though the mouth and nose. The most dangerous things about ammonia is, if it is mixed with bleach it causes a fatal gas, that will kill any breathing animal.

2. Butyl Cello Solve: Also goes by the name of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether. It is a synthetic solvent and is used on windows mostly. It has been shown to damage vital organs within the body such as the liver and kidneys and even has been shown to cause damage with bone marrow.

3. Chlorine Bleach: It is not only an environmental pollutant it is also a major irritant to the body, especially young children. To try a safer bleach alternative, try hydrogen peroxide based bleaching agent or even borax or oxygen bleach alternative to chlorine bleach products.

4. Fragrance: Fragrances are nice but have you ever thought of what’s actually making that fragrance smell that way. Most fragrances are made up of phthalates, chemicals that have been linked to reproductive issues and even some forms of liver cancer. Some fragrances are harmful to children suffering from asthma as well and can make their symptoms worse. If you enjoy fragrances then give essential oils a go. They are derived from plants and not made in a lab.

5. Nontoxic: This claim is meaningless when used on a product. Most color crayons and some cleaners carry this label and it mostly means that if ingested it might not make you sick. But there is no official definition or verification on this term so it means nothing to us right now. The worse part is, it is not regulated at all.

6. Sodium Hydroxide: This chemical is found mostly ion drain cleaners, and is extremely dangerous. It can cause eye, nose, throat and even skin damage such as burns if not handled with care. My thought is, if is can do that to my skin, what sort of damage is causing to my house and drains. This is not something you should even purchase or have in your home with small children or pets around. A very good drain cleaner and unclogging the drains is 1 cup of baking soda poured down your drain, followed by cup of white vinegar. Wait 5 minutes and follow with a gallon of boiling hot water. Repeat as many times as it takes.

The big issue with summer time enjoyment is flying and crawling insects, and most of us reach for the conventional spray and lather it up on our skin, but what exactly are we putting on our bodies? Have you ever taken the time and looked at the ingredients in some of those “conventional” sprays sold at many supermarkets? If you have and even if you haven’t, most contain ingredients that most don’t even know what they are. To get away from the “what is that” thinking, why not try some natural bug sprays and even how about making your own.

• California Baby: California Baby’s sprays are designed to soothe existing bites while repelling fleas, mosquitoes, ticks and biting flies — all with pleasant smelling (and sustain ably harvested) essential plant oils.

• Aubrey Organics: Natural products pioneer Aubrey Organics offers an herbal, DEET-free bug spray that also includes SPF protection.

• Badger Balm: Not all bug protection must come in the form of sprays. Available in tins and a push-up stick, Badger Balm’s Anti-Bug formula is soothing to dry skin, and repels pests with oils of citronella, rosemary, cedar and geranium.

• Kiss My Face: The playfully named Swy Flotter insect repellent from natural products company Kiss My Face offers DEET-free protection from mosquitoes, ticks and other pests.

• Burt’s Bees: Our 100% natural blend of bug-fighting oils repels even the most stubborn of pests. Rosemary, Lemongrass, and Citronella oils mix with 5 other oils that bugs hate, creating an all natural solution for keeping them away. Since there’s no DEET in this formula, it’s safe enough to apply with confidence to children and pets.

Or make your own blend of bug-repelling ingredients.

What you need:

1/2 teaspoon citronella essential oil
1/2 teaspoon rubbing alcohol (you can find natural alcohols at health food stores)
1/2 teaspoon vodka
1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon eucalyptus essential oil
1/2 teaspoon lavender essential oil
4 ounces distilled witch hazel
4 oz spray bottle (aluminum or glass because essential oils will eat through plastic.)

Mix all ingredients and pour into an aluminum or glass bottle with a spray top. Use as needed. This mixture can even be sprayed on clothing and tents and sleeping bags in low amounts.

Many of us have either heard, read about, or even tried waxing the hair off our bodies, but is it really better than shaving and is it really worth the pain?

First off, what is waxing? Waxing is the removal of the hair from the root bed. And the hair can be removed from almost any area of the body, such as eyebrow waxing, bikini, male genital, & Hollywood/Brazilian waxing, leg waxing, arm/underarm waxing, back waxing, foot waxing, chest waxing, entire body wax . And many people do this on a regular basis. The hair will refuse to grow back between six to eight weeks at times and another waxing treatment won’t need to be done till at least a month to a month and a half for some people. If the waxing practice is done regularly for several year, the hair in some places will no longer grow back, because the hair follicle will die.

Waxing is very effective in removing a large area of hair all at once. It last longer then shaving and waxing for long periods of time the regrowth will either appear lighter in color or will refuse to grow.

The drawbacks to the waxing over a long period of time is it can be painful. Waxing runs in the high end dollars and even higher if you do it more often. Often the hair, when it is stripped goes against the growth of the hair and at times can cause the hair to grow in different directions. Ingrown hairs can be a drawback as well along with red bumps and even bleeding at times.

Even though waxing is preferred by some, it maybe not what you are seeking in order to remove stubborn hair. Whatever your method is, waxing definitely has it’s upside, especially when you are wanting to wear that new bikini you worked so hard to fit into this summer.

Skin Toner for Oily Skin:

What you will need:
2 tsp. of high-proof vodka
A clean, dry glass bottle large enough to hold at least 1/2 pt.
3 drops neroli essential oil
3 drops orange essential oil
3 drops petit grain essential oil
1 oz. witch hazel
8 oz. of orange-flower water

1. Pour the vodka into the glass bottle. Add the neroli essential oil, orange essential oil and petit grain essential oil and shake hard to dissolve the oils.

2. Add the witch hazel and shake again. Add the orange flower water and shale the bottle until all the ingredients have blended together well. The essential oils will not completely dissolve, so shake each time you go to use the toner.

Skin Toner for Dry and Sensitive Skin:

What you will need:

1 tsp. high-proof vodka
A clean, dry glass bottle large enough to hold at least 1/2 pt.
4 drops rose absolute essential oil
4 drops rose otto essential oil
2 tsp. of witch hazel
9 oz. rose-flower water

1. Pour the vodka into the glass bottle, add the rose absolute essential oil and the rose otto essential oil and shake the bottle hard to mix and dissolve the oils.

2. Add the witch hazel and shake vigorously, followed by the rose-flower water. Shake the bottle until all the ingredients have blended together pretty well. Be sure and shake the bottle before each use of the toner.

Use these toners on your face morning and nightly for a clearer more healthy looking skin. Making your own products is a great way to use all-natural ingredients and to know exactly what is in the facial care products you use daily.

Equipment Needed:

A heating device: A stock pot will work just don’t use it for cooking afterward.
Essential oils (Tea tree oil for the cuticles)
Exfoliating lotion or oil, or scrub
Hand lotion or moisturizer or an anti aging cream or massage lotion that is water soluble.

Length of Treatment:

30-45 minutes

Steps of the Treatment:

1. Soak: Submerge the hands into a warm rub of water infused with a few drops of an essential oil mixture you choose. Try Rose, jasmine, lemon and bergamot as a soothing tonic, or mandarin to promotes healing and repair dry skin, or try a blend of neroli, myrrh and rose petals or slices of orange and lemon in the water for added esthetic pleasure.

2. Exfoliate: A helpful trick is to mix a body exfoliate with a hand moisturizer. This will work great on your cuticles and soften the hands wonderfully. Be sure to exfoliate from the tips if the fingers and work your way up to the elbows for three to five minutes.

3. Treatment: Apply tea tree oil under and around the cuticles to prevent fungus and infection, especially if the hands have any type of artificial mails. Follow with a light application of hand moisturizer.

4. Hydration: Choose an essential oil with a pleasant scent to the paraffin and it will help complement the same oils or scents you use as a moisturizer.

5. Massage: Select your favorite massage lotion or oil and complete a five to eight minute massage on the hands, finger, wrists, forearms, and even the elbows.

6. Protect: Complete this series of paraffin treatments by applying sunscreen to the entire area.

*If you spill any paraffin that has been spilled or dripped on clothing, carpet, or even bedding, place a paper sack over the spill and iron the paper with a warm-to hot iron. Move iron constantly, as to not to burn the paper bag while you do this.

Burt’s Bees has been my all-time favorite product line since I had my son in late 2003. I was introduced to them through a family friend that set my up with a bundle of the baby bee line of products and I fell in love with the scent and have been using them ever since.

Along with the baby bee line of products I have switched my lotions, shampoo and conditioners, my face wash as well has my hand soaps over to Burt’s Bees. My husband was a die-hard fan of the bay rum men’s line and when it was discontinued and the new line of men’s products came out, he was one of the first to try them and now uses them without fail. We have even join the mailing list and have joined the hive so I can stay in the know about the latest products they come out with. Along with that knowledge Burt’s Bees has come out with some great new body lotions and lip balms/and glosses and even some anti-aging products that I must share with all my Wax and Bubbles readers.

There is the Replenishing Lip Balm with pomegranate and bees wax. Which has been out for a little over a year, but their Naturally Ageless line is the best out there as far as naturally reversing the signs of aging. Some of their best Naturally Ageless products are:

1. Naturally Ageless Line Diminishing Day Lotion: Don’t let fine lines see the light of day.

2. Naturally Ageless Skin Firming Night Crème: Firm up while you rest up.

3. Naturally Ageless Intensive Repairing Serum: Intense repair promotes ageless skin.

4. Naturally Ageless Line Smoothing Eye Crème: Smooth move for ageless eyes.

Burt’s Bees says, “Bee smart about your beauty.”

Even though Wax and Bubbles is about wax and well, the bubbles, there are times when I come across some great products for the body that I just can’t resist in sharing.

I was on a search from some environmentally friendly nail polish and found quit a few, but in my searches I found Essie. They aren’t so much earth-friendly paints, but they have awesome in the color selections that they have. From a fuschia orange called risky business to a bright pinkish red called escapades.

In 1981 Essie Weingarten established Essie Cosmetics. As a child she was fascinated by nail polish, and at the age of 12 she had her first manicure. Essie Weingarten and her partner Max Sortino created a wildly successful nail care business starting with just 12 shades and 3 nail treatments.

Beauty professionals quickly found Essie’s chip-resistant formula, outstanding durability and fashion forward color selection far superior to anything else on the market. Soon, top nail techs, models, editors, and celebrities such as Madonna, Sharon Stone, and Cindy Crawford were among Essie’s biggest fans. All were drawn to the line’s exceptional quality and whimsical shade names. Ballet Slippers (designated a “classic” by beauty industry insiders), Mademoiselle, and A-List are amongst Essie’s most popular award-winning shades. Essie introduces 4 new collections a year seasonally and the line includes over 200 shades.

Some of the most awesome colors that Essie carries are:

• Shorty Pants-Bright Yellow
• Mambo-Light Brown
• Pink Glove Service-Soft Baby Pink
• Red-y Set Ex-True Red
• Baby Cakes-Silver
• Aruba Blue-Sparkling True Blue
• Show Stopper-Deep Red

Check out their full color line, as well as their new shades by clicking here.

They carry 100% beeswax candles that are all naturel, clean and long burning, crafted by real beeskeepers, they are hypo-allergenic and have an all-cotton wick inside. They carry tapers, pillars, votives, decorative styles and even beeswax lanterns which make a great unique gift. And part of their proceeds are donated to charity.

Candle Bee Farm™ began as a brick and stone cottage nestled high on a rural ridge. The gentle rolling acres are teaming with wildlife and natural beauty perfect for a healthy, spiritual and more natural lifestyle.

Family history is rich with beekeepers and the tradition continues on this beautiful farm. Here the bees enjoy good health without the use of chemicals or refined sugars in the hives. This is in keeping with our simple lifestyle. In fact, we have found that this way of beekeeping actually yields higher honey and wax production in the long run. The bees develop a natural resistance to disease and pests resulting in health benefits and less work for the beekeeper.

Candle Bee Farm™ products are available through this website or at fine retail shops across the U.S.A. Demand for candles of a non-toxic nature is growing as consumers become more health conscious and awaken to the dangers of inhaled chemical components. Even natural essential oils are not meant to be burned and inhaled! Thank you for supporting our ‘commerce with a conscience’ ideal. As the candle business continues to grow, we are able to provide value added income to select farmers for their wax. Only 100% bee products are used from approved domestic sources. We are happy to be involved with promoting natural beekeeping, enhancing the environment and supporting organic horticultural efforts. Together we can repair the earth and ourselves.

Candle Bee Farms. For them……. “IT’S A LIFESTYLE”

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is a member of the mint family and is used for many body products and to treat body ailments such as nervousness, menopausal symptoms, Insect bites, headaches, eczema, depression, asthma, and allergies as well.

Try this lemon balm bath salt recipe:

2 cups of Epsom Salts
2 cups of baking soda
2 cups of sea salt or Celtic salt
10-15 drops Lemon Balm essential oil
5 drops Lemon essential oil

Mix the Epsom salts and the baking soda together in a large glass bowl with a wooden spoon. Be sure and get them mixed together quite well before adding the sea salt. Once the mixing process is done add the sea salt and mix well.

Add the first drops of lemon balm essential oil and mix into the other salts well. Then add the lemon essential oil to your desired scent liking. Different people prefer different scents and if you have an allergy to citrus leave out the lemon essential oil altogether.

Epsom Salt: is known to draw toxins from the body, sedate the nervous system, reduce swelling and relax muscles. It’s also a natural skin softener and exfoliator.

Baking Soda: helps neutralize the acids on your skin and wash away oils and perspiration, leaving your skin silky smooth. It’s also useful to relieve itching.

Sea Salts: helps cleanse pores, alleviate dry skin conditions and soften the water.

Lemon Balm Essential Oil: helps with everything mentioned above as well as help to block some of the secretion of the thyroid gland and its ability to release hormones in the body. Consequently, lemon balm has been implemented for use in connection with Grave’s disease, which is an autoimmune condition where individuals suffer from excess thyroid hormone due to an overactive thyroid.

Lemon Essential Oil: contains flavonoid a compound that contains antioxidant and anti-cancer properties.

You know what I’m talking about, when your face seems to be glowing and clear and free of any oddities. Then you have your other face, that’s puffy, a huge blemish on your cheek and not to mention, your color is completely shot. There are several ways you can help prevent this and keep it from ever happening to your when you least likely expect it. Here are three facial steps you can take today and use throughout your life to help your face stay focused as one face and not two.

Facial Toning Massage:

What is it? Facial massage relaxes tension, tones muscles, stimulates the blood flow and also helps to improve skin tone and lymphatic drainage. It has also been know to help remove toxins from the face as well.

What to do: Cleans and tone your face thoroughly, using a cold cream cleanser and a good skin toner. Gently hold the heat to establish facial connection then with a bit of oil on your fingertips and with a sweeping movement, lightly draw your finger from the bottom of the face to the top, avoiding the eyes. Repeat several times, gently increasing the pressure.

Place your fingertips horizontally in the middle of your forehead, using a little more oil if required. Draw them firmly out to the temples several times. You should be able to feel the bones of the forehead through the facial skin and the flesh.

Now place your fingertips on either side of the nose. Draw them up and out to the sides of the face several times, using a little less pressure than you used on the forehead. Using both index fingers, make small circles all over the nose. Be careful not to block off the air flow. Continue making small circles over the chin and around the mouth area, be sure and avoid hitting the lips.

Finish as you started with gently sweeping motions, then gradually getting lighter with the pressure. Lie there and relax for a few minutes afterward. It’s best to perform this on each other, rather than yourself.

Draining Facial Massage:

What is it? If you have a semi-puffy complexion, or even a cold, congestion or sinus stuffiness, a drainage massage is a great way to help relieve the symptoms. Production of excess mucus in nasal and respiratory passages is the body’s response to inflammation caused by i8nfection or even irritants we tend to breath in.

What to do: Start the massage just the same as you would the toning massage, after your do the firm strokes on the forehead, start the drainage techniques. Using both index fingers, place your fingertips on the boy ridge just under the eyebrows on each side right under the inner edge. Press firmly upward, hold for two seconds, then release the pressure and move slightly along the eyebrows, pressing upward with firm pressure. Repeat this procedure until you have reached the outmost edge of the brows. Start again at the inner edge and do this twice.

Now start with your index finger just about each brow and with firm pressure make large circles outward. Following the line above the brow, down past the side of each eye. Then across the top of the cheekbone and up the side of the nose, until you reach the point where you started. Make a total of six circles in this fashion. Start in the same place and do six more circles going in the opposite direction. Then finish the massage with light pressure and getting softer. It’s best to do this massage on each other rather than yourself.

Facial Steaming:

What is it? Facial steaming with essential oils offers an extra dimension to the cleaning process done to the face. The facial steam can increase perspiration which helps rid the skin of toxins and helps clean out the pores and encourages the eliminations of deep seated wastes as well. Facial steaming also helps soften the skin and loosens dead skin cells as well.

What to do: Make up a large bowl of boiling water or even use a facial steamer. Add 5 -10 drops of essential oils if desired. Either place your face in the sauna or hold your face 2-5 inches over the bowl and place a large towel over your head.

Keep you eyes closed especially when using essential oils. After steaming for five minutes, wipe your face and allow your face to cool at room temperature. Then spray with flower water, allowing it to dry naturally. This further helps to cool the face and closes the pores as well.

When shopping for lip balm to take with you where ever you go always look for natural kip balms and lipsticks containing beeswax, iron oxides, jojoba, or other plant oils, and even ones with vitamin E.

It’s been reported that many women and even some men (that use lip balm) consume roughly 4 to 9 lbs of lipstick in there lifetime. So the more natural products in your lip stick or lip balm the better it is for your body in the long run.

Select lip colors containing emollients like shea butter and castor oil rather than matte formulas, which tend to dry out the lips eventually and you will keep applying the lip balm or lip stick.

The biggest threat among lip stick companies and your lips is lead. It has been linked to numerous health problems and is in more than half of the 33 top brand of lipstick on the market currently. One third of the lipsticks exceeded the 0.1 parts per million (PPM) FDA lead limit for even candy-a standard established to protect the children the eat the candy from directly ingesting lead.

Since natural lip balms and lip sticks don’t rely on chemical waxes, they are softer than drugstore and department store regular carried brand. They also have a tendency to melt at lower heat temperatures so don’t leave them in direct sunlight or low heat. Because the lips contain no oil glands, always keep lip balm handy with you with one that contain natural occlusive’s like beeswax, and candelilla wax. These ingredients act as barriers to trap the moisture in the lips so less applying of the lip balm or lip stick is needed.

Another FYI: If you drink at least the recommended eight, eight ounces glasses of water daily and regularity eat moisture-rich foods such as deep-water ocean fish help keep lips naturally moist overall.

Fresh mint is a great addition to any food. Add some mint leaves to a fruit salad just before serving, or finely mince about 1/2 cup of fresh mint leaves and add to your next batch of brownies or sugar cookies. Mint even gives breads some extra zing. And of course, mint sauce is a great accompaniment to meats, such as lamb. You can make hot beverages from the fresh or dried leaves. Add about 1 tbs. of fresh leaves or 1 tsp. dried leaves for every cup of liquid. Place the mint in a metal mesh ball or even a tea spoon. Using mint in the kitchen for various dishes is a no chef-thinking thought to many and using it in teas and beverages to give your drink that added perk is a great way to incorporate mint in your daily routine of meal fixing, but not many know to use them with your personal care products.

Adding it to your personal care products gives it that much more boost of healthy benefits. You can use mint in soaps, shampoos, and even some lotions and lip balm. Wax and Bubbles has given many recipes to make for yourself in ways to add mint to any personal car product.

One thing you need to know before adding mint, is the different kinds of mint there are. Especially if you plan on growing your mint yourself, here is a simple list of the mints that are hardy enough to be grown and used for meals and personal care products.

• Apple Mint (Mentha suaveolens): This apple scented mint has a light green appearance, fuzzy leaves on the stems of 18 to 24 inches tall. Its subtle flavor is a good addition to fruit punch or even some smoothies and can be added to glycerin soap recipes as well.

• Pineapple Mint (M. suaveolens ‘Variegata’): This mint has lovely, dark green, fuzzy leaves edged with white. Allow it to cascade over the edge of pots for an attractive patio display and can be added to many lotions to give that added scent that is needed.

• Orange Mint (M. x piperita ‘Citrata’): This citrus scented mint has smooth egg-shaped leaves with reddish undersides. It may die out during the freezing winters, so be sure and plant some in a pot to bring indoors in the late fall. Add this wonderful mint to body scrubs or salves.

• Peppermint (Mentha x Piperita): Anyone can recognize the scent and flavor of peppermint. This sterile hybrid with it’s dark green, smooth leaves and small lavender flowers in the late summer is a great mint to grow in any garden or herb box. It grows 24 inches tall in good conditions. It can be added mostly to lip balm and lip salves to give your lips that extra tingle that mint is known for.

• Chocolate Mint (Mentha x piperita ‘Chocolate’): Think peppermint patty and you will have the flavor of this lovely mint. Low-growing with dark glossy leaves. It looks best neat your patio for a planting display. One a great summer afternoon add this to a cool glass of iced tea. As for health products add this to a body scrub to give it that extra burst of scent in the shower.

• Spearmint (Mentha spicata): Spearmint is a hardy ground cover with hair, medium green leaves. In favorable conditions it produces 2-inch spires of tiny white flowers. Make a facial sprits and add this mint to give your face a tingle feeling with every squirt.

• Curly Mint (Mentah spicata ‘Crispa’): Curly mint taste like spearmint with an added boost. It’s a vigorous spreader with dark green, ruffled leaves. Its assertive flavor makes it great for mint sauces or even jellies. Add it to your shampoo or conditioner and give your hair the added scent. Smells great on the head.

Functional Groups:

1. Phenol: Powerful antibacterial, stimulates blood and warms the skin; can be sensitizing and irritation, especially to the sensitive skin areas of the body.

Oils in this Group:

• Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
• Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
• Cinnamon (Cinnamonmum zeylanicum)
• Bay (Laurus nobilis)

2. Alcohol: Excellent skin toner, antimicrobial and healing properties.

Oils in this Group:

• Peppermint (Mentha pipertia)
• Patchouli (Pogostemom cablin)
• Neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara)
• Carrot seed (Daucus carota)
• Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
• Ginger (Zingibe officinale)
• Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
• Frankincense (Boswellia ssp.)

3. Acid: Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties and anti-edema properties as well, maybe irritating to some skin types though.

Oils in this Group:

• Frankincense (Boswellia ssp.)

4. Alde Hyde: Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-edema; may be irritating to some skin types though.

Oils in this Group:

• May chang (Litsea cubeda)
• Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum blume)
• Lemon eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora)
• Melissa (Melissa officinalis)

5. Ester oxide: Mentally stimulating and antiviral; helps to break up lung congestion and has a camphorous scent.

Oils in this Group:

• Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
• Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globolus)
• Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis ver. decumbens)
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

6. Keytone: Antimucous, healing, analgesic and antiviral.

Oils in this Group:

• Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis var. decumbens)
Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora)
Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Fennel (Foeniculum vlgare)

7. Coumarin: Anticoagulant, sedative and uplifting; may cause photosensitivity.

Oils in this Group:

• Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
• Most citrus essential oils fall into this group as well.

8. Ester: Relaxing, antifungal, and soothes muscles.

Oils in this Group:

• Lavendar (Lavandula angustifolia)
• Bergamot (Citrus bergamia subsp. bergamia)
• Clary sage (Salvia sclarea)
• Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis)
• Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata var. genuina)
• Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
• Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum)

9. Monoterpene and sesquiterpene: Antibacterial, healing and mentally stimulating.

Oils in this Group:

• German chamomile (Matyracaria recutita)
• Carrot seed (Daucus carota)
• Orange (Citrus sinensis)
• Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
• Sandalwood (Santalum album)
• Lemon (Citrus limonum)
• Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)

Rosemary contains about a dozen antioxidants, which makes scientist believe it could be an effective cancer fighter. Initial studies have show some promise in the cancer fight. When researchers at the University of Illinois fed rosemary extract to rats exposed to dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA), a carcinogen known to cause breast cancer, both tumors and DNA damage decreased. In another study, Penn State experts fed rats a two-week diet with 1 percent rosemary (the same powdered rosemary you can find at any grocery store or health food store), the rats were then exposed to DMBA. Compared with a control group, the rosemary rats saw a 76 percent reduction in the number of instance where DMBA bound to mammary cells, the first step in tumor formation.

Rosemary may even help limit your exposure to some forms of cancer. There is a result of testing that found that cancer causing heterocyclic acid (HCA) levels could be reduced by adding rosemaryinis acid and carnosic acid, two rosemary antioxidants, to ground-beef before cooking it. HCAs can form when beef, pork, poultry, and fish are barbecued, broiled or fried at high temperatures.

Every garden should include a rosemary bush. Rosemary is more than just a random plant growing in your garden, it has beneficial pleasures for your mind and soul.

Grow your own to add to your cooking or to add to your own beauty products, here’s what you need to do:

1. Rosemary is a perennial evergreen that grows to 4 to 5 feet. It thrives in full sun and very well-drained soil.

2. Since rosemary seeds are slow to germinate, begin in a pot first and once they are well-grown, transplant to a permanent place within your own garden area.

3. You can take a two-inch cutting, remove the leaves from the bottom inch, and plant in a container of dampened, sterile seed starting mix such as peat moss or perlite. Place in a warm spot with indirect sunlight and mist daily, making sure the soil doesn’t dry out at all. In about two to three weeks, test for root growth by gently tugging on the cutting. Once they have the roots, transplant into individual pots about three to four inches in diameter until full growth has happened.

• Make your own Rosemary Salve:

4 oz. sweet almond oil
1 oz. beeswax
2 oz. water
10 drops Vitamin E oil
10 drops rosemary essential oil

Melt the oil and the wax in a double boiler, Remove from heat, add water, and stir thoroughly.
Add your Vitamin E, essential oil and stir continuously until cool. The mixture should be creamy but pour able. Pour immediately into a container with a lid. Use on rough, dry or even callused skin when necessary.

Shaker Style furniture is a distinctive style of furniture designed and developed in the late 18th century/early 19th Century. Not only was the furniture well made but so was most everythings else that was built or developed in that time period including candles. Here is a recipe to making your own shaker-style candles.

You Will Need:

Felt-tip marker
3/4″-thick sponge
Crafts knife
Old baking pan
Waxed paper
Parraffin wax
Double boiler
Deep-red wax dye
Spoon or Stirrer
Small heart-shaped cookie cutter
Aquamarine water-based paint
Plate
Dishwashing Liquid
Candle
Wax glue
Fine paintbrush

Draw 1 square on the spnge; draw cross in center to divide the square into 4 small squares. Using a knife, cut away half the sponge’s depth in 2 diagonally opposite squares to form the checkerboard design.

Line the pan with waxed poaper. Melt a small amount of the wax in top of double boiler; add the dye. Stir until well blended. Pour the wax into the pan; tilt the pan to spread the wax into a thin even layer. While the wax is soft, cut out the hearts with the cookie cutter. You can use any shape you want really. It is your choice, just don’t choose a large design that is bigger than you candle.

Pour small amount of paint onto the plate; add dishwashing liquid so mixture is the consistency of a thick cream. Dip the sponge into the paint; press onto the candle to make the broder. Let dry. Gently press the hearts against the candle so they mold to the candle shape. Melt the wax glue; brush glue onto the wrong side of the heart mole and press onto the candle once more. Attach remaining hearts in teh same way all around the candle.