Thursday, November 13, 2008

Holiday Decorating Tips: Christmas Candles

By Jeanette Joy Fisher

How to Light Up Your Home for Joy

Do you love the winter holiday season or does this time of year cause you stress? One way to lower your holiday stress, using fewer decorations, decreases your "just have to much to do" list.

However, you still want to display Christmas candles because these decorations bring smiles to you and your loved ones. As days grow shorter and cooler and the suns sets earlier, people naturally crave the warmth and comfort of light, especially natural sources such as a bonfire or the flame of a Christmas candle.

Christmas Candle Tips

Luminaries

Save your energy and your money. You don't need to line your entire sidewalk with luminaries. Get a similar effect with four large candles in clear glass containers near your front door. These glowing candles will welcome your guests without all the work of gathering bags, buying votive candles that just burn up fast, and shoveling all that sand.

Window Candles

Many cultural holiday traditions include placing a lighted candle in front windows to be seen from the outside. Pamper yourself. Place a candle in any dark window at night. Rather than peering into a dark void, you'll focus on the cheerful flame and feel comforted and uplifted.

Gift Yourself

Create a nightly quiet ritual for yourself in a quiet place away from distractions and the hustle of the holidays. Place candles around your bathtub and unwind, or by your favorite reading chair and instead of reading sit in the quiet and reflect upon the brightness of a single candlelight. Listen to quiet music or simply enjoy the peace and stillness. Ponder the joys in your life and express gratitude. This quiet time may be your most treasured gift to yourself.

Candlelight Carol-Sing

Recycle last year's greeting cards by cutting each into a disk or rounding the edges, punch a hole in the center, and slide a taper candle half-way through the hole. Gather your friends and family around the piano or hearth and sing familiar Christmas carols as each person holds their own candlelight. Pause to reflect upon the fact that each individual brings their own special light to the world and recognize the common spiritual light in each of us.

Candle Night-Night

When it's time to settle the children down to bed on Christmas Eve, calm them with a soothing candlelight ritual. My daughter’s children walk to bed, each carefully carrying a lighted candle through a dark hallway, singing "Silent Night."

Happy Holidays!

© Jeanette Fisher

How to Decorate with Halloween Party Decorations

Author: Thomas Sondheim

Your Halloween party decorations will probably include the standard range of items, but there are some simple little extra tricks you can easily add that will add a scary surprise, and give your guests a chilling fright and cause a few screams.

You will no doubt be planning plenty of carved pumpkin jack-o-lanterns lit with candles placed around your party room, their ghoulish faces gleaming in the subdued lighting. Luminous images of ghosts and ghouls of all description can be bought and hung to glow in the low lighting around the walls of the room. Gossamer cloth or commercial imitation spider web quickly creates a haunted house atmosphere.

Suspending decoration items like bats, flying witches on broom sticks, large hairy spiders, balloons with ghostly faces, skeletons and the like from the ceiling, down to to face level, will have your guests dodging around among these horrors in the flickering candle light, and always on the lookout for their next fright. Distributing plastic spiders and other shocking surprises around where people sit, or on tables among the drinks and plates, will help to keep your guests on edge.

If you hang a number of thin threads from the ceiling in different parts of the room they will not be noticed in the subdued lighting, but will be felt unexpectedly as your guests move around. This can be a surprising sensation, and suggests a ghostly presence that will often get a shrieking reaction from your guests.

Frights come when unexpected things suddenly happen. You could set up a few lights on timers to occasionally briefly illuminate scary scenes or pictures in two or three otherwise dark corners of the room. The effect is increased if you are able to coordinate sound effects to draw attention when the light comes on. Depending on the age group of your guests, you could create a frightening three dimensional scene that is briefly revealed, such as a ghostly headless or hanging man.

Fog machines are readily available from party hire specialists. Used with lighting effects, they will immediately create a chilling and eerie atmosphere in the room as the fog floats across the floor of the room around the feet of your guests. If you can, set up an artificial tombstone or two to conceal the exact location of the machine.

With large screen televisions becoming more common, you could play a horror movie in the background, with the sound turned down, to help to set the scene.

Music plays a large part in creating the atmosphere. At least for the early part of the party, Halloween sound effects and music like the classic Monster Mash will heighten the sense of tension in the room. With the party in full swing later on, your guests will expect to hear their favorite dance music tracks. A compilation interspersing Halloween sound effects would help to maintain the atmosphere.

Bring in the Light of Candles

By Simon Harris

Candles are used around the world and for many different reasons. Candles bring a special light to many people. They were first used to lighten up the darkness. When fragrances came along they added them to candle to add a special effect to them. Aromatherapy has become a big business today and it has made the candle a part of another world altogether. With scented candles you can simply illuminate a room, set two hearts it a flame for a romantic setting or sooth your worries and allow serenity to engulf you.

On Christmas in my church everyone is given a candle. The Priest lights the first candle and each person lights the next ones candle until the whole room is filled with candle light. In My Opinion this is the light of Christ and he said to not hide your light under a bushel. Light to world up with candles They illuminate rooms and they exude calm and quietness like no other, except maybe the first snowfall of winter. I bet you can even get a candle in that scent.

Candles come in all shapes, sizes and fragrances. You can set the mood of your room whether it be one person or a whole room of people. They can inspire romantic moments or lull your to sleep. You can purchase candles in jars, as floating candles, votives, tealights, or gels.

Gel candles are used in a special candle holder. The top part is a small slightly concave dish and another tealight candle is placed under that dish. When the tealight candle is lit it melts the gel candle in the top and releases the scent that you have chosen according to your mood you wish to give.

Floating Candles are similar to tealight candles in size and they float on top of water or liquid. These too give off the fragrance you chose to enhance your room.

Votives sit in their own little cup. They burn away leaving no candle afterwords. They last about 4 hours.

Jar candles last along time and can fill any room with a sweet or spicy aroma.

Lavender is used to lull one to sleep, while Apple Cider or Pumpkin Spice scents are used to bring back memories or to make a place, such as a new apartment feel like home. Let the ribbons of scents encircle you head and fill your room. Breath in deep the wandering scent and let your mind flow as you enjoy the aroma. Close your eyes and just imagine you being in that special time and place.

Bring in the light of candles. Let the light and fragrance lift you away to far away places in your imagination.

Simon Harris writes about candles at http://www.scented-candle-reviews.com

5 Surefire Ways to Arouse Your Woman

Author: Caterina Christakos

As there are different types of women, there are different ways to arouse them as well. If you have been in a bit of a slump here are some quick ways to rev up your love life:

1) Dress in a suit and take her out to a romantic dinner. Women love men in suits and almost every man looks good in one. The soft candle light of a romantic restaurant combined with a good wine will put her in the mood to get closer, as well.

2) Work out together. Workouts release pheromones that heighten attraction between couples. Get sweaty together then clean up with some dirty fun in the shower.

3) Take a bath together. Fill the tub with some scented oils or bath salts and toss in some rose petals. Play romantic music and light some candles. She will feel pampered and grateful. Let her relax for a few minutes then slip in with her. There is plenty of opportunity for sexy contact while you clean each other.

4) Roleplay can keep your relationship and sex life reved up for years.

Ex. My boyfriend will dress up like a handyman and really get into the act with accent and tools. He comes over and offers to lend a helping hand around the house. He offers a truly helping hand and I tip him extremely well.

5) Practice erotic massage. Either take a class together or get a video or book and practice on each other. This is a great way to get both of you relaxed and heated up.

About The Author:

Caterina Christakos is a published author and dating coach. For your free seduction mini course go to: http://www.what-women-want.com

Advent Candles Light Path to Christ

By Beth Guide

The candles that make up the advent wreath hold a special symbolism. In their color, their composition and just the sheer act of lighting the candle of advent wreath breaths a air of hope into each of the nights that make up the season of Advent.

Advent starts by counting backwards the four Sundays. This also is the beginning of the new liturgical calendar year for the church. The feast of Christ the King is the official start and usually runs as the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. As the church shifts into the season of Advent the colors of the church change and begin to reflect the season as does the tone and tenor as the church moves out of Ordinary Time and into a New Year.

The color purple becomes the overwhelming color and in the church the color purple is the color of repentance. And Advent as a season is a penitential season. But despite the reflection of Advent and its penitential nature, it also is a time to look forward to the coming of Christ. This included the coming of the infant Jesus as well as our wait for Jesus to return.

The first week of Advent the candles is named the Prophecy Candle. The first week of Advent focuses on the prophecies of the Old Testament that speaks of the Savior, Jesus. The Old Testament lays out our salvations The events of His Coming are Prophesized in Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6 and Micah 5:2-5. Symbolically the lighting of the first candle reminds us that there is light in the world after the sin of Adam plunged the world into darkness. Another way to put this would be a light in darkness.

The second week of Advents Candle, Purple in color, is called the Bethlehem Candle. This candles got its name because of the period of preparation for the coming of Jesus. Thematically preparation is the key. Just as John the Baptist prepared a way for Jesus, Mary Joseph also had a place prepared for them by God in Bethlehem so that the birth of Jesus was a fulfillment of the scripture that was previously prophesized, tying the event to actually the first Advent Candle lit. The prophecy of Bethlehems involvement in the birth of Jesus was prophesized in Micah 5:2-5, which names Bethlehem by name.

The third week of advent has the Shepherds Candle. This candle deviates from the 2 previous purple this one is rose colored to represent the joy of being half the way though the Advent Season. This candle received its name because of the Shepherds who came to find the tiny King and received great joy in coming to the Lord. Just as in present times when we find the Lord.

The final weeks of advent has the Angels Candle lighting the way. The Angel candle got its name because of because it was of course the angels that announced the birth of Christ. This candle also serves to remind us of Gods infinite love. And the gift of his only Son that he gave us.

Full line of Advent Candles and Advent Wreaths

The Romantic Candlelight Wedding

By Deborah Lewis

The dancing flames and soft shadows of candlelight impart a romantic feeling of intimacy and drama and define your wedding with unparalleled finesse. Inexpensive and lovely, candles will cast a romantic glow over your wedding event and they also have the added bonus of offering you the engaged couple a more economical alternative than other more expensive decorations. Candles create an aura of romance and whether you prefer elegant tapers, chunky pillars or pretty tea lights the choice of candles is an exquisite selection you can feel good about. Candles come in an array of colors ranging from soft ivory and white to more brilliant shades of red and purple, choosing the style and color is entirely up to you but be sure to take in account your color scheme and wedding theme when making your selection. Here are some tips for using candles in your wedding and reception.

Placement of candles -

After selecting your candles you may choose to place them in elegant candalabras or stands through out your wedding hall or church. Silver candalabras are striking when adorned with floral trellises or satin bows, but be sure to consider carefully how your church or synagogue is built and keep them far from drafty corners, you wouldn't want the ugly specter of fire to turn your wedding into a disaster. Also make sure that fire extinguishers and sprinklers work properly and are up to date, you may wish to contact your church's office for this this important information.

The Unity Candle -

Two lit candles, are placed beside the bride and groom to signify the couple's two separate lives and families before now. After the ceremony is complete the bride and groom each carry their candle to one larger unity candle which when lit will symbolize that their separate lives are joined and they now have become one. Unity candles come in white or ivory and may be embellished with colorful ribbons and include romantic sayings. The selection of a saying is usually romantic or spiritual and will reflect the feelings and traditions of the newly wed couple.

Reception -

The addition of candles upon your reception tables will enhance any decor and create an aura of beauty and romance. Whether your reception is held indoors or out the choice of candles should reflect your theme and colors. Unique ideas might include a centerpiece pillar candle adorned with roses or gardenias, of course the choice of flowers will reflect your own unique style. Bowls of floating tea light candles also make an exquisite addition and again might include rose or floral shaped candles. If you are having a beach wedding adorable flip flop or sea star candles floating in a terra cotta bowl will add pizazz and style. For a Japanese or Asian wedding you might illuminate your wedding with elegant lanterns to create an air of mystery. Whatever your choice of candles be sure to have fun decorating your event, after all it is yours and the selection of candles will speak volumes about your style.

Bubble Bath In Candle Light

Author: Daniel Grasser

Ladies Make Relaxing Moments - Bubble Bath In Candle Light

We've often seen it in the movies, the star lady taking a bubble bath with candles lit all around the tub. You must have thought, "How relaxing that would be!" just seeing that image! Then it's over and we go on with our lives forgetting that we too can have the same experience.

It's taking that time for you. You deserve it and to make the most of these moments you can add a little pleasure to your relaxing time. When the kids are all tucked away, and maybe your husband is watching "something", sneak away to your tub filling it with hot water and your favorite bubble bath. Just the anticipation should start you to feel relaxed as you prepare to slide in knowing you won't be disturbed.

Now light a few candles and turn off the lights and you are ready. Smell the aroma of the scents. Slowly get in feeling the softness of the bubbles and the warmth of the water. Slide down sinking below just letting yourself go. When you rise again, you will see your candles giving off their soft glow of light. You can smell the aroma of the scents from your bubble bath and candles. Take a deep breath and feel yourself relaxing. Let your mind wonder taking your places as the aroma of your scents remind you of the pleasures from within your mind.

Yes, this is relaxing. This form of relaxing has been practiced from ancient times when the ladies poured special scents into their bath water, and lit their candles. Back then that's all they had for light. So use it today for yourself. Take that time for you and enjoy the light from your candles, the aroma from your candles and bath oils
that opens your mind to the feeling of relaxing. Pleasure yourself if only for these few moments with this special time for yourself.

Now you have created a special place just for you. Candle light, bath oils, hot water, and your special time to yourself. Cherish it and take it often.

This is called Aromatherapy when you use scented candles and oils to product the aroma associated with your bubble bath. Most bubble bath soaps have scents, and many candles have scents. To reach the desire Aromatherapy level to feel that deep relaxation find both scents that will fill your bath with your desired aroma to better allow you to find that special place. The use of Aromatherapy is the use of scents to produce a mood change or a healing process.

Just think about the Bubble bath with lighted candles around the edge of the tub all in the scent that takes you to your relaxing setting. Coupled with the bath, it will be an exhilarating experience for you to enjoy you quiet moment away from the world. Take that bath, breath in the aroma, relax. You deserve it being a Mom, Wife, and Career Woman, all together women. I hope this helps your find that right time for you.

Garden Candles

By Rodger Cresswell

Garden Candles - Light Up Your Garden With Outdoor Candles


Imagine a warm summer evening, a glass of wine, a meal on the way, even maybe a barbeque. Now comes the decision, eat indoors or if you are lucky enough to have a patio, outside on the patio table.

The trouble is the light is fading, what you need is outdoor lighting.

There are many alternatives these days. Electric lighting or solar powered lighting, colored lights, spotlights to accentuate features or plants, floodlights, we are spoiled for choice. But there is another way, garden candles. Have a garden candle on your patio table or use outdoor candle lanterns. Used outside candle lanterns can look very effective providing a soft flickering light that is very calming.

One downside of eating in the open air on a summer evening can be insects. We are a tasty meal for those little pests and they are not slow to take advantage as we sit eating and enjoying ourselves. Insect repellent candles can be a great help. Provence insect repellent scented candles contain an aromatic blend of fresh Provencal herbs with extracts of lavender to naturally repel insects. They are to be had as torches, long burning pillar candles, tealights for standalone or use in outdoor candle lanterns, in a candle tin and even as a floating candle. In fact you can probably find a Provence candle to suit most outdoor situations.

Another trendy option is to use a citronella candle and these are for outdoor use only where a Provence candle can also be used indoors. Citronella candles are available as long burning pillar candles or alternatively try the citronella tea light candles. With their rich yellow color they look good enough to eat as well as being a great addition to your outdoor décor.

Be imaginative, put a candle on your patio table, use outdoor candle lanterns, firm a torch into the ground or into a patio pot of sand or just place tea lights on saucers.

Think about your garden as an extension of your indoor living space, a place to relax, have barbeques and sit at our patio tables to have a formal meal or sip a wine or whatever preferred tipple. Given reasonable weather make the most of that precious outdoor space.

When you have done the daily commute, prepared the evening meal and the sun has gone down but the evening is still young and warm, eat outside enjoying both the good food, fresh air and the garden. All we need is something to light that patio and garden so why not opt for the little luxury of outdoor candles and enjoy those all too short summer months.

Rodger Cresswell

Rodger Cresswell is Consultant to JC Regali, online retailer of quality candles including garden candles.

Electric Candles Mood Light & Led lighting

Candle Light Sets the Romantic Scene

By Daniel Grasser

She opened the door. There was no light on just a dim glow at the end of the hall. What ever was on her mind vanished. Curiosity arose. What’s going on was the only question in her mind. The slight scent of Obsession touched her.

At the end of the hall opening up into the living room candles were lit, first one, then two, beckoning her to the next set leading her into the den. There it was like the room was ablaze in candlelight, and sitting on the love seat was…

Right from your favorite movie, or romantic novel, the scene is set for Romance! What woman would not just love coming home to this scene? First the glow from the candles, and then the scent Obsession and then even more candles lighting the path and creating a romantic mood. Even if they had a bad day, the sight and smell would have their effect creating a romantic mind set. Wow!

Ladies and Gents, you too can create these moments. It doesn’t take a truckload of candles, just a few to set the scene for your lover even if it is only a quiet evening sharing your passion with each other. What ever the world was doing to you was locked up outside that closed door. The romantic mood began as the door opened and it can continue for as long as you like.

Candles just have that way, especially if they have that very special scent that just adds to your moment. Candlelight has always been associated with romance with love with tender moments in our lives. So take that hint from your favorite movie and create one tonight. It doesn’t matter who comes home last. Even a man will be moved by the candlelight and that scent as he walks in.

Using your imagination to create a scene leading to a romantic setting will even have its own effect on you. Just thinking about it will start putting you in the mood for romance. It doesn’t matter if you are a guy or gal, it will set your mood as you set the scene for that very special person in your life especially if you are courting.

You see candles play such an important part in romance. We immediately recognize the scene. We can’t help it. We’ve all see it before and just know. We feel that special feeling come over us. We see and since the emotions because of the sight and smell coming from candles. What ever was going on is no longer so important. Our special person has taken time to set the scene for romance.

What a wonderful thing it is when someone cares so much about you to just make a moment right and take you far away form that world you walked in from.

Copyright © 2006 Bobbie & Daniel Grasser, all rights reserved. You are free to copy this article intact with the authors bio attached. Email it to a friend or use it in your ezine or add it to your own web page.

Bobbie & Dan Grasser offers a selection of Aromatherapy candles to aid you to create Romantic Moments of you own. You can find a selection of candles to complement your special moments at where special orders are their specialty.

Candle Wedding Favors

For couples who choose to make a romance statement, what better way to preserve the memory of the moment than with candle wedding favors?
If you have never experienced dinner by candlelight, you owe it to yourself to try it just once. It brings a very different appreciation to an activity we do every day. Marriage ceremonies performed in candlelight intensifies the significance of the moment; unlike bright sunlight or florescent lighting, light from candles is diffused and enhances the atmosphere in a unique way.

Shop for Candle Wedding Favors

Candles have long been associated with love and romance, indeed their light gives off an aura of mystery and power that is at the core of our emotions. Imagine the times before electricity when oil lamps and candles were the means of lighting homes, streets and businesses. How many films have been made that featured one of the characters using a candle to light their way up a staircase in a dark castle? Today candles are just as much a part of our lives as their ability to enhance the atmosphere has become more well-known.

In addition to providing light, candles are used as the carrier of fragrance which affects us through our physical sense of smell. Every fragrance source has its own attributes and candles that are made with these essential oils become agents that can soothe or revitalize the mind and body. This type of aromatherapy candle with rose fragrance as a souvenir from your wedding will evoke memories of your day each time it is used. The rose is flower that has come to symbolize love for many people and in aromatherapy its attribute is the power to heal the emotional heart.

The designs available in these wedding favors are only limited by your imagination. As freestanding candles or in a holder, you can create an expression of love and happiness that your guest can share. They are easy to personalize and come in a wide range of prices. From simple votive candles with your names and wedding date embossed wrapped in organza and tied with a ribbon to candles molded into the shape of a sailboat presented in a gift box, the choice is limitless.

These are some of the more reasonably priced wedding favors as well which is great for couples who want to give a beautiful reminder of their special day without going into debt. On the other hand, if cost is not a factor, you can create a truly unique design of your own and have produced. There are many companies that accept custom orders, but you need to place your order several weeks in advance.

Because candles are so adaptable there are many different types of themes you can use along with your names and wedding date; cultural, traditional and humorous are some of the most popular. You can also coordinate your candle wedding favors to the theme of your wedding; for example, starfish designs work well for weddings on the beach. These favors can be as whimsical as a cartoon character or as romantic as two hearts entwined.

Written by Traci Bramlette, www.weddingfavordiscount.com
Wedding Favors and Bridal Shower Favors at Discount Prices