Ama's HodgePodge

Valentine’s Day is Just Around the Corner

2011-01-12T17:38:00.000-05:00

Article from Gold Canyon (http://www.imakenews.com/gcdemonstrator/e_article001984538.cfm?x=bhWDw9S,bgpbPkpF), published in Weekly Wednesday, a weekly e-newsletter for Gold Canyon Demonstrators.

January 10, 2011
Valentine’s Day is Just Around the Corner

Valentine’s Day offers an opportunity to promote new seasonal products for décor and for your sweetie, too! Here are some products to feature at your Parties and to suggest to your customers and Hosts.

MyStyle - Be Mine fits 16 and 5 oz. Heritage candles
Changing Seasons Candle Holder features heart picks
Changing Seasons Diffuser Holder features heart picks and display the heart appliqués in the Changing Season Appliqués for your Diffuser
Customize your Picture Perfect Scent Pod Warmer with our new Crafty Pics, and “Love Deeply” this season
Love Struck fragrance is available this season in Heritage and in our new Spring Sweets specialty candle

Don’t forget to Host a Valentine’s Day themed Party soon so your customers can get orders delivered before the holiday. Grab friends and family for fun Valentine’s Day shopping and encourage guests to bring their list of sweeties and purchase gifts they’ll love. Serve up simple Valentine treats such as conversation candy hearts, pink or heart-shaped cookies and red pomegranate juice.

Similar Scent lookup!

2011-01-12T14:10:00.001-05:00

Have a scent that you LOVE from another candle or scent company? Want to know if Gold Canyon has a comparable scent? Now you can do a quick and easy search on the Gold Canyon website!

Here’s how:

Go to the website
Click on Shop (on the left side of the page)
Click the Similar Scent Lookup link above the search box (on the right side of the page)
Search for your favorite scent!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-12T12:08:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

I’ve been busy (as always!) with work, family and friends.

One of my Christmas presents from the hubby was a cake decorating kit and another was a gift card for Joann’s. So, I added another activity to my busy weekly schedule: cake decorating classes! I’m taking the Wilton Method classes every Wednesday evening in January and February. I hope to take the third class in March, but the schedule hasn’t been released yet.

After a couple days of very warm weather in late December (it was 60!), we once again have snow covered lawns. It has been snowing fairly steadily the past day or so, making a winter wonderland in this part of Ohio. I’m starting to think we won’t say goodbye to the white stuff until April. I like snow. It’s so pretty. I also like cooler weather; however, I love to be warm – i.e. not freezing all. the. time.

Movies to put you in the mood…

2010-12-20T14:04:00.000-05:00

…for Christmas, that is.

As Christmas draws closer it seems nearly every TV station is playing some holiday film or another. If you are like me and the hubby, you already own your favorites – or nearly all of them. I recently realized that there are a few classics that I would like to add to our DVD collection.

Some of my favorite holiday movies are, in no particular order:

Miracle on 34th Street
Holiday Inn
White Christmas
A Christmas Story
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
A Charlie Brown Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Nightmare before Christmas
The Grinch
Elf
Bad Santa

I just asked the hubby what his favorite Christmas movie was. There was no hesitation when he answered, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”. This is not a surprise.

As you can probably tell, I’m not a huge fan of sappy holiday movies. You won’t find me glued to the television watching movies produced by Hallmark (sorry, Mom!). I much rather watch something that is going to make me laugh.

So tell me…What’s your favorite Christmas movie?

How I'm spending my Christmas vacation

2010-12-20T01:39:00.005-05:00

With Christmas in less than a week, it should be no surprise that I’m in the holiday frame of mind. I’ve been feeling rather festive most of the month. Perhaps that is because we’ve had snow since December 1. While snow is expected in this part of the country, it is a bit unusual to have it snow nearly every day in December. See the pretty photo? That was taken on December 1st around 1 p.m. All of the snow is alright with me…as long as the roads are safe for those traveling.

I’m lucky enough to be off work for nine days. Yay! It’s nearly like when I was in school (or working in a college library) and had a winter break. While I’m looking forward to sleeping in a lot over the next week and a half, I also have a lot of plans for baking, candy making, celebrating and more. My holiday shopping has been pretty much complete for a few weeks now, and, as of today, I have all but one or two gifts wrapped. We didn’t put up our big tree this year. Instead I have a small tree set up on a TV tray in our entryway. The presents are mostly under it, so it looks quite festive.

I’ve been busy making cookie dough and candies. So far I’ve made batches of the following:

Loaded Oatmeal cookies
Chocolate Chip cookies
Peanut Butter cookies
Peanut Butter Blossoms (with both hugs and kisses)
Dark Chocolate Cherry Cordials
Chewy caramels
Chocolate covered caramels (homemade caramels, too!)
Chewy caramels with walnuts
Buckeyes
Fruit and Nut Clusters (with raisins, dried cherries, dried blueberries, dried cranberries and walnuts)

I still want to make the following:

Peanut butter fudge
Chocolate fudge
Chocolate covered maple and black walnut crèmes
Peppermint patties
Buckeyes (yes…more of those are needed)
Cranberry orange cookies
Chocolate covered pretzels
“Evil” brownies
Almond buttermilk cake with raspberry filling and almond butter cream frosting (for a friend's party)

I still need to bake the cookies as I’ve been making the dough and freezing it in balls. That way I can bake only what I need. Less temptation for me to eat all the deliciousness. Or so I like to think.

Of course, I can’t talk about all of these yummies without sharing a few photos. Enjoy! I know I have been…

Chocolate covered caramels

Buckeyes

Chewy caramels with walnuts (before being cut)

Dark chocolate cherry cordials

Holiday decorating

2010-12-10T11:01:00.000-05:00

Decorate your home for the holidays using Gold Canyon products!

Iron Votive Centerpiece Candle Holder
Crystal Candle Stands
Glass Chimney Candle Holders - Mocha and Ivory
Tealights (various scents)

Non-Gold Canyon items:

Crushed sea shells (in Iron Votive Centerpiece Candle Holder)
smooth pebbles (in Iron Votive Centerpiece Candle Holder)
Red Ribbon
Fake evergreen branches

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2010-12-07T20:23:00.000-05:00

It really does look a lot like Christmas here. It has been snowing every day for the past week, placing a few inches of the white stuff on the ground. Looking at the weather forecast for our area, it doesn't appear to be stopping anytime soon.

I love snow. I really do. I don't like having to worry about the hubby being on the road, since he drives for a living, but I enjoy the beauty of a snow covered world.

Since it looks so holiday-esque outside, I've been listening to a local radio station that is playing Christmas music and singing and humming holiday songs as I go about my day.

Even though I've places to go, "Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!"

Dear Maven - Powering Scentmates

2010-12-05T10:56:00.002-05:00

Dear Maven,

I love my ScentMateTM but I go through batteries faster than I do in my kid’s toys! Can you tell me if this is normal or is there something wrong with my little buddy?

It sounds like you’re just like me—I “play” with my ScentMate constantly so it’s not surprising you are using up the batteries so quickly!

You have to think of it this way: The ScentMate is like your toy. Your kids play with their toys so much, so that’s why the batteries go kaput so quickly. It’s the same with your ScentMate. While it can be used for extended periods of time, the battery usage will be affected. The more you use it, the more often batteries need replaced. Simple, I know, but I wanted to spell it out for everyone :-)

Since you’re an avid user (yay you!) I suggest you purchase a USB connector or 3V power adapter at your local electronics store as an alternative power source if your ScentMate is used often or for extended periods of time. Save those batteries for when you really need them and can’t use an outlet.

I also would like to mention, if you have customers looking for a product that they can use for extended periods of time, without the need for battery replacement, I have your answer—Scent Pods & Warmers are a wonderful alternative!

And … If customers are looking for a product that can be used for extended periods of time with little maintenance (i.e. turning it on and off) Diffusers are great and last 3-5 months.

Wow, the Suddenly Scented® product line really offers a variety of unlit fragrance options based on customer needs—I love that! I know your customers will too, so make sure to let them know their options and let them have fun choosing!

Always havin’ fun,

Maven

Dear Maven is a column in our monthly demonstrator’s newsletters. I have not written any of these articles, but am sharing them here for your information.

GOLD CANYON YEAR END 2010

2010-12-03T12:50:00.000-05:00

GOLD CANYON YEAR END 2010

ITEMS BEING DISCONTINUED ON DECEMBER 31,2010

Pg. 9 – Snowflurries Luminary Pg. 12 – Pumpkin Patch Warmer

Pg. 13 – Candy Twist Warmer Pg. 15 – Black Candle Stick Warmer

Pg. 16 – Patchwork Warmer

Pg. 19 – Scent Pod Scents – Amber & Vintage Bouquet, Candy Corn, Cinnamon Garland, Citrus Garden Herb, Coconut Lime Verbena, Cotton Splash, Cozy Cabin, Cozy Christmas, Currant, Days of Christmas, Fresh Denim, Gingerbread House, Grapefruit Splash, Heather & Hyancinth, Jasmine, Juicy Pear, Living Room, Marigold, Mint Mocha, Peppermint Bark, Pool Towel, Powder & Violet Fleur, Refresh, Revitalize, Rose, Serenity, Sleigh Ride, Sprice & Citrus, Sunrise Tangelo, Vanilla, Vanilla Latte, Warm Welcome, White Sage & Rose Noir, Woods & Vanilla Romantique

Pg. 21 – ALL Bookmarks
Pg. 21 – Linen Scents – Awaken, Harmony, Pool Towel, Quiet Moments, Rose, Sensual, Sweet Pea
Pg. 21 – Room Spray – Harmony, Pillow Talk, Quiet Moments, Relaxing, Sensual, Spruce & Citrus, Warm Apple Crisp
Pg. 21 – Auto Freshners – Cinnamon, Fresh Denim, Fresh Orange, Pillow Talk, Pomegranate, Pool Towel

Pg. 25 – Homeology – Eco Shopper, Cleanse, Leaf Tray

Pg. 27-29 – Emerge – Body Crème, Body Polish, Give yourself a Hand, Bare Necessities

Pg. 30 – Bella Scents – Apple Spice, Birthday Cake, Cinnamon, Cozy Cabin, Cozy Christmas

Pg. 35 – Boutique Chic – Amber & Vintage Bouquet, Powder & Violet Fleur, White Sage & Rose Noir, Woods & Vanilla Romantique

Pg. 36 – Coffee House – Mint Mocha, Vanilla Latte

Pg. 39 – Candles For Kids – Apple Of My Eye, No More Sniffles

Pg. 40 – Comforts of Home Line

Pg. 44 – Heritage Scents – Heather & Hyacinth, Jasmine, Marigold, Rose, Cotton Splash, Fresh Denim, Cozy Christmas, Christmas Presence, Currant, Days of Christmas, Orange Mango, Orange Vanilla, Pink Lemonade Spritzer, Sunrise Tangelo, Cinnamon Garland, Cozy Cabin, King’s Myrrh, Sleigh Ride, Sprice & Citrus, Water Garden, Gingerbread House, Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen, Peppermint Bark, Tangerine & Spice

Pg 46 – Tealight Scents – Apple Spice, Birthday Cake, Cedar Woods, Citrus Garden Herb, Cobbler on the porch, Cozy Christmas, Cranberry Orange, Fabulous Fudge Brownie, Fresh Orange, Holiday Wreath, Mulled Cider, Pineapple Coast, Quiet Moments, Sparkling Apricot, Vanilla Latte, Warm Apple Crisp, Warm Welcome, White Sage & Rose Noir, Woods & Vanilla Romantique

Pg. 47 – Votive Scents – Apple Spice, Cinnamon, Cozy Christmas, Fresh Orange, Lilac, Love Struck, Pumpkin Pie, Sleigh ride, Sugar Cookie

Pg. 50 – Breast Cancer Awareness – Pink Sugar Cookie

Pg. 52 – Boo! Fragrance Line Pg. 54 – Jolliday Fragrance Line

Pg. 55 – Mystyle Seasonal Labels – Fall/Holiday Pg. 56 – Winter Splendor Fragrances

Pg. 58 – Sparkle Jack-O-Lantern Pg. 61 – Autumn Leaves Candle Wrap

Pg. 62 – Antiqued Wire Basket, Mini Autumn Turkey Pg. 63 – Artisan Glass & Iron Server

Pg. 64 & 65 – Red Dazzlewrap Beads, Swizzle Candy Columns, Whimsy Tealight Columns

Pg. 66 – Squared Crystal Votives

Pg. 68 & 69 – Snow Shimmer Tray, Tealight Snow Bell, Jeweled Candle Ring, Snowfall Luminary

Pg. 70 & 71 – Snowflake Twinkle Tie, Gilded Fleur De Lis

Pg. 73 – Birthday Delights

Orders for any of the items being discontinued must be received by December 31st! I recommend ordering ASAP to ensure availability!

Buying Books

2010-12-01T17:55:00.000-05:00

It's December (!!), which means the holiday frenzy has started. Looking for some wonderful gift ideas? Check out this blog post by MotherReader: 105 Ways to Give a Book.

I am proud to admit that I am the giver of books as presents. My two cousins who are 20+ years younger than me and my nieces and nephews have often received books for birthday and Christmas gifts. This year I will be giving books to seven of the thirteen people I'm purchase gifts for. I know this as I have most of my holiday shopping already completed. (please refrain from throwing stuff at me...unless you are throwing money or gift cards).

Around the Blogosphere

2010-11-23T19:08:00.001-05:00

I’m always trying to catch up with reading the various blogs I subscribe to. It takes quite a bit of time, as some bloggers can be rather plentiful with their posts.

Recently blogger Pragmatic Mom started several new series of posts. My favorite so far? The Teach Me Tuesdays. I must remember these posts when it comes time to plan programs for next year’s Summer Reading Program. Of the three or so TMTs thus far, there has been a theme of multiculturalism that perfectly fits the SRP them of One World, Many Stories.

Meanwhile, Mother Reader has been doing a series of posts focusing on the Cybil Awards while also highlighting her ABC Storytime features. She’s also doing a book giveaway…

Liz at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy has provided a review of the book Hush by Eishes Chayil. This is the second blog that I read which has reviewed this book. Unfortunately, no one has ordered it yet for my library. *sigh* I would like to read it!

Bad Mummy Bec has really ramped up her posting! She’s been featuring a variety of crafts and other just plain cool things on her blog. I think I’ve even read somewhere (perhaps on Facebook) that she is starting a Bad Mummy forum. Bec, m’dear, if you are reading this, care to do a post or few featuring children’s lit Down Under?

Sarah at Simply Primal and Simply Sunshine is talking about Thanksgiving dinner…especially doing it gluten free.

Sharon at Sharon's Life is planning a holiday. Here's hoping she can go somewhere fantastic. Hey, Sharon, think you can stow me in your luggage?

That’s just a few of the many blogs I’m currently reading. I need to find the time to update this blog more and to post more book reviews on Ama's Get Booked.

Speaking of the other blog...if this post looks a wee bit familiar, it's because I "cheated" and copied it from my book blog. Whatever works, eh?

Dear Maven - Glass Chimney Holders

2010-10-05T16:59:00.003-04:00

Dear Maven, The new Glass Chimneys are so beautiful and I love this versatile alternative to pillar candles. I noticed in the catalog that these fit only tealights. Is this correct? They seem large enough for jar candles.

Just like last month’s Dear Maven Demo, you are also very resourceful! However, sometimes our creativity can get in the way of being completely safe. These new Glass Chimneys are so versatile—thank you for pointing that out—but they really should only be used with tealights to ensure optimal performance and safety. Although these holders will accommodate a larger candle than a tealight, the performance is not desirable and does not meet Gold Canyon’s safety standards.

...

Now let’s talk more about these wonderful alternatives to the pillar candles. You mentioned versatile and yes they are!

You can get the look and fragrance you want.
They can be used in many types of décor styles.
There are several color options for everyday use as well as holiday decorating.

Your generous friend,

Maven

Dear Maven is a column in our monthly demonstrator’s newsletters. I have not written any of these articles, but am sharing them here for your information.

Dear Maven - Scentmate

2010-09-25T16:57:00.001-04:00

Dear Maven,

I love my new ScentMateTM but my favorite fragrance is not available in Home Fragrance Oil. Can I use Diffuser Oil or Linen Scent with my ScentMate?

Well aren’t you so crafty! While I do appreciate your resourcefulness, the truth is that the Linen Scent and Diffuser Oils are not as concentrated as the Home Fragrance Oils, so you won’t be getting the highest quality fragrance experience using them on the ScentMate as when the Home Fragrance Oils are used.

All products are different and we make sure each product works the best with the fragrance products it’s intended for. I do have some good news for you though…look for brand new Home Fragrance Oil choices in the new Holiday 2010 catalog!

Always By-the-Book,

Maven

Dear Maven is a column in our monthly demonstrator’s newsletters. I have not written any of these articles, but am sharing them here for your information.

Tips for Packing Light

2010-09-16T12:23:00.001-04:00

In keeping with the recent travel tips theme, here is an article written by my friend, and current travel companion, Sharon.

Dear Maven - Bath Soak and Body Oil?

2010-09-15T10:33:00.002-04:00

Dear Maven,

I have many customers who love the EMERGE™ Renew Your Soul™ Bath Soak and use it as a basic body oil. Is it safe to use it this way or should it only be used as a specified?

Great question. Lucky for us, Gold Canyon has some pretty gifted people on staff (not unlike myself) who can answer just these types of questions so you can rest assured you and your customers are using our products appropriately.

For the answer to your question, I went straight to the top of our R & D food chain to our resident R & D Manager. (She wears a lab coat, so I think she’s legit). She explained that EMERGE Renew Your Soul Bath Soak can in fact be used as a basic body oil. Her only suggestion is to give the bottle a good vigorous shake before using it this way so the ingredients can be mixed together for the optimal EMERGE experience.

I wanted to share some comments from other Demonstrators about just how much they or their customers are enjoying not only the Bath Soak, but other EMERGE products as well. You may gain a new appreciation for a product you haven’t tried yourself yet or a remedy you can share with your customers, family and friends. At the very least, reading about the renewing properties of EMERGE will likely make you want to take a little time to unwind with your favorite EMERGE products – even if you’ve already done that a couple of times today like me.

“The Start Fresh™ Hand Soap is the best, along with the Grains of Truth™ Hand Scrub and Raise Your Hand Silk™.”

- Deb Mill, Sioux Falls, SD

“Customers say the EMERGE Renew Your Soul Bath Soak is absolutely wonderful and relaxing.”

- Lou Dihuzic, Grand Junction, CO

“The Raise Your Hand Silk is great. Customers love how non-greasy it is and how it makes their hands soft.”

- Dorothy Kelly, San Diego, CA

“Since I work with second graders, I am constantly washing my hands. They would crack and bleed on my knuckles in the winter. The Raise Your Hand Silk and Grains of Truth™ Hand Scrub have cured that problem.”

- Jane Stratton, Hillsboro, OH

“I love the EMERGE Raise Your Hand Silk. I am a stocker for a grocery store and my hands break out from cardboard and this has healed my hands.”

- Barb Kipp, Grand Junction, CO

Dear Maven is a column in our monthly demonstrator’s newsletters. I have not written any of these articles, but am sharing them here for your information.

Taming the Overpacking Beast

2010-09-14T19:44:00.000-04:00

Like many, I’ve a tendency to overpack. I guess I was a good Girl Scout, since I like to be prepared…just a bit too much, though. I’ve gotten better over the last few years, which I think can be attributed to the increased traveling. Since January 2008 I’ve traveled to Philly, Anaheim, Denver, Chicago, San Antonio, Boston and D.C. I’ve gone to Detroit area several times, but that hardly counts, since I almost always stayed with family. There were also a few other little trips in there, but, again, they hardly count as I often stayed with friends or family.

One of the things mom, Sharon and I have talked about is what to take on this trip. Here are three tips for overcoming the overpacking beast.

Travel Tips – What to Pack

Check for laundry service at or near your hotel. If there is, and you don’t mind spending a bit of time or money, you can pack fewer outfits. Usually I don’t opt for this, as I want to take in as much as I can, but if you are pressed for space in your suitcase, it’s a great idea. This is especially true as airlines charge more for fewer pieces of luggage per person.
Check the weather – especially if you have never been to your destination before! If you know what to expect weatherwise, it is much easier to pack only what you will need. Checking the weather forecast is such a simple thing to do now. When I went to Canada as a child, I remember something that an employee at the hotel we stayed told me. The trip was to Niagara Falls and Toronto, and, if I am remembering correctly, during the late summer. The employee remarked about how many travelers came to Toronto area with parkas, skis and other winter accessories and clothing…regardless of the time of year. While I joke with Sharon that she lives in the Frozen Wastelands not all of Canada is frigid, and especially not in late summer.
Check the toiletries. Sharing a room with another person or few? Who needs three different tubes of toothpaste when one will do? Talk with your fellow travelers and see what items you can share. It’s amazing how much space small toiletries can take up in your suitcase.

Fall Customer Incentive - Win Prizes!

2010-09-12T16:38:00.002-04:00

Check out the Wish List Giveaway!

MIA alert

2010-09-11T19:06:00.001-04:00

I’ll be kind of MIA over the next few weeks, though I am scheduling posts for while I’m away.

See, I’m going on a little road trip. I’ll drop off the puppy boy in Michigan and pick up my mom. Then we will cross over the bridge in Detroit and head into Canada, picking up my good friend Sharon in London, Ontario. The three of us have a week of travelling fun planned.

I won’t be online much, since I’ll be in a different country. While I might pay a bit extra for international calling and texting while I’m there, I don’t plan to pay for international data. So…no posting via my beloved iPhone. Sharon will have her laptop, so I might have to bug her a bit to let me use it from time to time. ;p

Over the past week or so, I’ve talked with my mom several times about the trip. What to take. What are we going to do. How to handle money.

That last one is something that I don’t give nearly as much thought to when I usually travel, as all of my overnight traveling has been in the US. The only time I’ve gone to another country and stayed more than a few hours was a trip to Canada when I was 9. Yeah. I didn’t even think of money then.

And on that note, here are a couple of travel tips.

International Travel Tips – Money Matters:

If traveling to a different county – like Canada (yes, Canada is a different country from USA, even if it doesn’t seem like it at times.) – it’s a good idea to contact your bank and/or credit card companies. Let them know that you may be using your account(s) while traveling and the dates of travel. They should note this information in your record so your transactions won’t be flagged as suspicious activity.
While you are talking to your financial institutions of choice, ask about rates for ATM and credit transactions. This can vary from institution to institution. The national bank that I use charges 2.25% for international credit transactions and $3.50 for international ATM transactions. The local bank is only 1% and $2.50 respectively. Guess which account I plan to use the most.

Millions of Peaches...Peaches for me (not you)

2010-09-09T16:25:00.000-04:00

It is with a heavy heart I am writing this message. Actually, it is more like an extremely ticked off heart. Why? Because someone took Every. Single. Peach. from our tree.

Yes. You read that correctly. There are no more peaches on our tree. When I went to work on Tuesday morning, I picked eight or nine peaches from the tree to share with my coworkers. At that time there were still at least two dozen peaches still on the branches as well as a couple on the ground.

Fast forward to Wednesday morning, when I left for work. I pulled down the driveway and stopped to pick a couple peaches to have for breakfast. I looked at the tree and noticed it seemed bare. Granted, we had some storms the night before. Perhaps the wind knocked the peaches to the ground? I checked the ground. There was only one peach – mostly gone, showing the pit, really. That was all.

What. The. Hell.

To whomever took all the peaches from the tree in my front yard: I hope you get sick on them. I’ve some lovely tomatoes, peppers and herbs in the back yard. Want to trespass there and pick them before I can use them? Just like the peaches, they are uncertified organic and very delicious.

Asshats.

I < 3 my Librarian

2010-09-08T14:43:00.001-04:00

Hey, library users! Do you have a librarian that you adore? If so, enter her (or him) in the I Love My Librarian contest! The deadline is September 20.

Dear Maven - Linen Spray

2010-09-05T10:30:00.002-04:00

Dear Maven,

Is it safe to spray Gold Canyon’s Linen Scent on wet clothes before putting them in the dryer? What about ironing? Will it discolor the fabric?

I’m no detective, but it sounds like you may have had a traumatic experience with applying another fabric ‘freshener’ that caused unpleasant side effects for your favorite cardigan in the past. Am I right?

Well I’ve been there, and I’ve got good news for you! Other than the facts that they smell like heaven and can be used in so many other ways, another amazing feature of our Linen Scents is that they should be safe to use on clothes before putting them in the dryer.

I’ll let you in on a little secret – I actually use the spray on both dry and wet clothing. If I’m in a pinch and a little behind on laundry (which is pretty much the norm for me), I particularly like to spray one of our wonderful Linen Scent fragrances on dry clothes and throw them in the dryer for a quick freshening to get smoke or cooking odors out quickly. However, because fabrics and dyes vary, please note that it is always prudent to test a small inconspicuous area of the clothing first. Better safe than sorry!

You can also spray your clothes and then iron, but again, since fabrics vary, it is highly recommended that you test a small area of the garment first. Another important tip is to use your Linen Scent only on washable fabrics – never on dry clean only clothing. Last of all, never put Linen Scent inside your iron, as this is not the intended use for your iron and could potentially cause its mechanics to deteriorate over time.

For complete information regarding Gold Canyon’s Linen Scent or any other fabulous Suddenly Scented^® products we have to offer, be sure to check with your Gold Canyon demonstrator.

Dear Maven is a column in our monthly demonstrator’s newsletters. I have not written any of these articles, but am sharing them here for your information.

Tuesday Quote

2010-08-31T00:21:00.001-04:00

Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it onto future generations.

~George Bernard Shaw

Dear Maven - Milder Scents?

2010-08-28T10:27:00.000-04:00

Dear Maven,

Your candles are fabulous! I always look forward to burning them to freshen different areas of my home. I have, however, noticed that some candles do not seem to have as much fragrance as others. Sometimes I feel like I’m smelling the wax more than the scent and I’m tempted to add some of your Diffuser oil with a dropper to give the candle a fragrance boost. What do you suggest when I get a candle that seems to have limited fragrance?

Well, first let me say that flattery will get you everywhere. I like to think that I had a little something to do with your satisfaction with our candles, as I am always offering our R & D department my sage advice – sometimes solicited and frequently not.

Moving on to your question, my answer is best summed up in the old saying, ‘Patience is a virtue.’ When you receive a candle that does not seem to have a strong scent, the best recommendation is to put it away and smell it again the next morning to make sure your nose isn’t playing tricks on you. Personally, after a long day of latte runs to my local café, slathering myself with cosmetics, heading to the mall food court to grab a bite to eat, re-spritzing myself with my favorite body spray (Your Inspraytion™ Body Mist from our EMERGE™ collection, of course) and pumping gas (ick!), my nose understandably has an identity crisis on its hands and can’t smell the full bouquet of fragrance notes that may be present in one of Gold Canyon’s amazing candles. Bottom line: it’s a good idea to give your nose a break and check out that new candle a second time when you know your nose is fresh and hasn’t been assaulted by the variety of smells you’re likely to encounter throughout the course of your day.

If you have given your olfactory senses a break and are certain your new candle doesn’t smell like it should, please contact Gold Canyon and let us send you an exchange. Everyone here takes maintaining our reputation as “The World’s Finest”® quite seriously and we truly want you to be completely satisfied. Additionally, we may request that you return the candle to us so we can get to the bottom of it if there is a quality issue. Our goal is that every single candle produced be perfect every time.

One last note of expert advice, DO NOT use your Diffuser oil in your candle! This will eventually cause your wick to stop functioning correctly and your candle will not burn. For more information about the appropriate use of Gold Canyon Diffusers (and every other fabulous product we offer), consult your Gold Canyon Demonstrator.

Dear Maven is a column in our monthly demonstrator’s newsletters. I have not written any of these articles, but am sharing them here for your information.

Thursday Quote

2010-08-26T00:36:00.000-04:00

A good friend is cheaper than therapy.
~Author Unknown

Scent Recipes - Thirsty?

2010-08-25T22:15:00.001-04:00

Thirsty for some more scent recipes? Try these delicious combinations!

Cappuccino
Hazelnut Café au Lait
Cinnamon

Vanilla Cappuccino
Hazelnut Café au Lait
Cinnamon Vanilla

Orange Spice
Fresh Orange
Cinnamon

Cherry Limeade
Cherry Pie (tealight)
Ginger Lime

Scent tips

2010-08-24T00:24:00.000-04:00

Want to make your home smell great while vacuuming? Put about 15 drops of one of our scented oils onto a cotton ball. Drop the cotton ball into the canister of your vacuum cleaner. The scent will be released as you run the vacuum.

Currently we have six different scented oils available, for only $6.98*:

Clean Sheets
Cozy Christmas (seasonal)
Holiday Wreath (seasonal)
Pomegranate
Sugar Cookie
Sweet Pea

*price does not include Shipping & Handling and taxes. Price is in US dollars.

Tuesday Quote

2010-08-24T00:14:00.000-04:00

Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

~Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.

Scents for Aromatherapy

2010-08-23T10:37:00.000-04:00

"For the sense of smell, almost more than any other, has the power to recall memories and it is a pity that we use it so little" Rachel Carson, biologist and author

Cedar: Speeds’ healing, purifies, and enhances your spiritual connection.
Eucalyptus: Clears congestion and improves concentration.
Juniper Berry: Calms the emotions, enhances healing, and fosters a sense of love and protection.
Lavender: Puts the body and spirit at ease, and evokes deep serenity.
Orange: Restores strength and uplifts the spirit.
Patchouli: Stimulates the senses and restores tired muscles.
Peppermint: Clears the mind; stimulates and refreshes.
Pine: Invites a deep sense of relaxation, purifies, and promotes healing.
Rosemary: purifies, heals, refreshes sore muscles, and encourages loving protection.
Sage: regulates the central nervous system, eases night sweats, soothes sore throats, and promotes healing and protection.
Sandalwood: Enhances sexuality, healing, and spirituality.
Thyme: Encourages love, eases insomnia, and soothes bronchial infections.
Verbena: Lowers blood pressure and eases stress.
Ylang-Ylang: Ignites passion and desire, heightens joy, and creates an atmosphere for romance.

http://decoration.com/decorating-tips/healing-fragrances/index.html

The story of us

2010-08-22T13:20:00.000-04:00

Have you heard of StoryCorps? The organization is “an independent nonprofit whose mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives.” How cool is that?

Check out the website. There is a Question Generator, information about participating, and even a do-it-yourself guide. Read the FAQs. Listen to podcasts. There is a wealth of information available on the site.

Everyone has a story. What’s yours?

Scents to fall for

2010-08-21T18:40:00.000-04:00

The Fall/Holiday catalog has been released. While there are some new, wonderful scents, there are also several returning from last year. Of these, two make me the happiest. Gingerbread House and Pumpkin Pie.

Not only are both of these holiday scents popular, but they happen to be two of my all-time favorites available through Gold Canyon. The spicy sweet smell of both Pumpkin Pie and Gingerbread House are delicious, yet don’t make me want to eat a bunch of sweets (like other baking scents). I adore them both so much that I keep a sample of each in my office for when someone heats up a stinky lunch across the hall.

New scents for the season:

Apple of my Eye (Candle for Kids scent)
Brown Sugar Spookie
Candy Cane
Cider Brew
Iced Bayberry
No More Sniffles (Candle for Kids scent)
Roasted White Peppercorn
Sugared Vanilla Bean

Scents returning from last Fall:

Candy Corn
Christmas Presence
Cinnamon Garland
Cozy Christmas
Days of Christmas
Gingerbread House
Holiday Wreath
King’s Myrrh
Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen
Mulled Harvest
Peppermint Bark
Sleigh Ride
Spiced Gumdrops

Project Backpack update

2010-08-20T17:19:00.002-04:00

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by the kindness of others.

Last week I talked to the current president of the branch library’s Friends group. As an official group donation, the Friends purchased two backpacks and the supplies to fill them.

A coworker who lives in the community that's being served by my backpack project sent my email to her friends and family.

Yesterday she brought in several bags worth of school supplies, including two nearly complete backpacks and three empty backpacks.

Then...Sharon, who I already know is an all around awesome person, donated money - enough to purchase 3 more backpacks!
All in all, I think that about 15 backpacks will be donated, and a bunch of excess supplies! I'm also donating a bunch of books for the classroom libraries.

Each backpack has a sheet of stickers, 2 silly bandz and 3 paperback books in them in addition to the supplies.
I'm just amazed. I hope that next year goes just as well - if not much better.
Here are a couple updated photos of the goods. What you can’t tell is that there are three completed backpacks and six nearly completed backpacks. You also can’t really tell just how many school supplies are in that crate. It’s amazing.

Thursday Quote

2010-08-19T00:33:00.001-04:00

Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.
~Russel Baker

Bonus quote! (I couldn't decide which I like better.)

A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken.

~James Dent

Mason Jar

2010-08-18T13:56:00.002-04:00

Mason Jar

When the sun begins to set but your barbecue’s still hopping, scatter Mason jars filled with white votive candles—a more casual take on hurricane lamps—around the yard.

From: 50 Summertime New Uses for Old Things

Tuesday Quote - garden update

2010-08-17T00:27:00.001-04:00

With a few flowers in my garden, half a dozen pictures and some books, I live without envy.

~Lope de Vega

Ah….my garden. Last week I took a few photos with my phone so I can share on here. What you can’t tell from the photos is that some of what appears to be weeds are actually volunteer tomato plants and a few bean plants. Funny thing about the beans…I kinda just tossed a few seeds into the garden. Didn’t plant them or anything. I was just curious to see what would happen. Remember, I’m going for royalty in the concept of lackadaisical gardening. LOL

So, without further ado, photos of my gardening “efforts”. Note: These were taken around 10:30 a.m. on yet another humid-as-all-get-out morning. My glasses and the lens of my phone were fogging over a bit due to the humidity.

Freshly picked produce - the first of the summer (from mid-July)

The overgrown garden

Some of the potted herbs. Chives and mint.

The plant in the corner is totally taking over. I think it will need to be moved before next spring!

Peach tree! I can't wait until they are ripe and ready to eat.

Why yes...I am a nerd.

2010-08-16T18:03:00.000-04:00

The hubby and I know that we are nerds and even kind of take pleasure in this fact. There was a time when we would even take Trivial Pursuit cards with us when we went out to eat, and would spend the meal asking each other questions. It was a lot of fun. Honestly!

Recently the hubby showed me this website. It’s a wonderful site for trivia buffs and general nerds. In fact, even more recently, my friend S and I spent at least 30 minutes playing on the site and sending the quizzes (and our results) to one another when we really should have been heading to our respective beds. Oops.

The site: Sporcle.com: mentally stimulating diversions.

Check it out. It’s not really a waste of time if there is intellectual stimulation involved, right?

Dear Maven - Wick won't stay lit?

2010-08-15T10:25:00.001-04:00

Dear Maven,

What do you do with a candle, or specifically the wicks, that won’t stay lit especially in the larger size jars?

If you have a wick that won’t light, you’ve simply gone too far. It’s like saying, “now that I have a traffic ticket, how do I make it go away?” The trick is not to get the traffic ticket to begin with! Let me explain…

When you first receive your candle, you may notice that sometimes the top is not completely flat across. This is completely normal. The top becomes caved in when the natural crystallization process experiences slightly differing humidity and temperatures.

If you come across a candle like this, the trick is not to trim your wick for the first lighting. I know you’re thinking about that mantra that’s ingrained in your brain about always trimming your wicks. However, this is a special case. I give you permission to not trim your wicks—just this once!

You’ll need to plan on a first burn of approximately four hours to condition the candle but after this first burn it should level itself out. Once your candle is flat, then trim to ¼ inch and continue to burn.

Dear Maven is a column in our monthly demonstrator’s newsletters. I have not written any of these articles, but am sharing them here for your information.

Project Backpack

2010-08-14T14:00:00.001-04:00

I think I mentioned recently that I’m doing a little community project. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for years, but finally contacted the right people this year.

The project? I’m calling it Project Backpack. Its purpose it to provide backpacks filled with needed school supplies to students at a local elementary school. I’ve opened the project to friends in the area, and so far a handful said they are interested in participating.

Last week I went shopping for some school supplies. Of course I forgot the list of supplies on my desk, so I was winging it a bit. I did purchase two backpacks, along with a ton of other things. I need to go back to the store and buy some more items to finish filling those two book bags, as well as a couple more backpacks to fill. I should be able to donate four filled bags. I’m hoping that with the other donations that have been promised that I can deliver at least 8 total bags. It’s a small amount, but it is a start.

I’m also going to donate some of the many paperback books I’ve accumulated at home. These books will go into the classroom libraries.

In addition to the school supplies in each backpack, I am going to put a few fun things. Stickers, Silly Bandz (or whatever the off brand is called) and a book.

The local elementary school that is receiving the donations begins the term on August 30, so I will be delivering the backpacks (and any extra supplies) to the school sometime the week before.

Here’s a photo of what has already been purchased and put together:

TGIF

2010-08-13T14:14:00.000-04:00

This is going to be a busy weekend. That’s ok, though. It is also going to be a fun one!

Tonight is scrapbooking. Usually I’m there from 6:30ish until it ends for the evening at midnight. I’m still working on my sister’s wedding, and anticipate finishing it sometime close to never. lol

Saturday I am off work. Yay! Instead of sleeping in, though, I will be returning for day two of scrapping. I’m not staying the whole day, though, as I have an appointment at 1:30. Time for some pampering. I’ll be getting a manicure, pedicure and getting the brow situation taken care of. I adore this bi-monthly treat. Not only because it is great to be a little pampered, but because my friend MM is such fun to be around. She does a great job, too.

The hubby returns home sometime Saturday evening. We have talked about painting the living room. I really hope we can get started on it then, though I haven’t had a chance to prep the walls yet. Hmmm…

I have Mass on Sunday morning. I really enjoy going to this Church.

There aren’t any other definite plans for the weekend. I would like to go and see a movie – perhaps at the local drive-in? Guess I should see what is playing. Hubby and I are both off on Monday, too, so we’ve lots of time to go out and have fun. Perhaps the humidity and heat will not be so oppressive and we can actually spend time outside.

Thursday Quote - Get Happy

2010-08-12T00:08:00.001-04:00

Happiness radiates like the fragrance from a flower, and draws all good things toward you. Allow your love to nourish yourself as well as others. Do not strain after the needs of life. It is sufficient to be quietly alert and aware of them. In this way life proceeds more naturally and effortlessly. Life is here to Enjoy!

~Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Happiness can be found in such a variety of things. It’s also something that may be long lasting or fleeting. No matter, it is definitely something that is always good.

Have you ever thought about what makes you happy? What are the things that bring your pure joy?

A few days ago I had a group of kindergarten students visit the one of the library branches. I had quickly put together a story program to share with them. They LOVED it. We did a simple call and response/repeat chant – in different styles of voices, of course – and read three books. While showing them the various parts of the library, they wanted to stop and look at the books and magazines. It was a great visit. Thinking about it after a few days have past still brings a smile to my face.

Helping others also makes me happy. For years I’ve thought about “adopting” a student or two and purchasing school supplies for them at the beginning of the school year. Recently I finally looked up the information needed to contact a local Board of Education. I emailed the secretary (because secretaries are almost always in the know) and asked how to go about doing this. She passed it along to the elementary school principal, who stated that he can make sure the items are passed along to needy students in a discrete and non-embarrassing way. Yay! Now several of my coworkers are also going to help me with this little project. I’ve also opened it up to my local friends. I’m so excited to be able to help at least a few children start off the school year with the supplies that they need.

Little things make me happy too. Seeing a beautiful nature setting, like the New River Gorge in West Virginia. Getting a cute card from a loved one. Spike being his usual crazy puppy boy. Snuggling with the hubby. Celebrating my birthday (I’m a little nutso about my birthday). Reading a great book.

There are so many ways to bring joy to life. Sit back. Enjoy. Do what makes you happy.

Sand

2010-08-11T13:53:00.001-04:00

Sand

Prevent melting wax from sticking to a glass hurricane lamp. Pour in sand to cover the base, then nestle in a pillar (or votive) candle. When the light goes out, toss and repeat.

From: 50 Summertime New Uses for Old Things

Tuesday Quote - love

2010-08-10T00:20:00.001-04:00

Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. The consciousness of loving and being loved brings a warmth and richness to life that nothing else can bring.

~Oscar Wilde

The Beatles sang, “All you need is love.” In a way, they were right. While the hubby and I have had our share of ups and downs over the past 10 ½ years, we have gotten through due to our love for one another. But more than that, we have the love for and of our friends and family. Together that love has lifted us up when we’ve needed and celebrated when it was time.

Most of us often take that love for granted, forgetting that there are people in the world who truly have no one – no shoulder to cry on, or hands to hold while jumping for joy. How sad such a life must be.

Take a moment today to tell someone that you love them. While actions often speak louder than words, those words still need to be spoken from time to time.

New Uses for Mismatched Dishware

2010-08-09T18:55:00.001-04:00

Champagne Flutes as Candle Stands

If you find yourself with a mismatched collection―or without bubbly―flip thick-walled Champagne flutes upside down to create a beautiful grouping of candle stands for a shelf or a mantel. Use heavy wineglasses for table centerpieces, as the wider mouths will provide more stability to withstand bumping.

Information and photo from this article on Real Simple's website.

how does my garden grow?

2010-08-08T13:03:00.000-04:00

My garden isn’t going as well this year as I would like. Partly this is due to my lackadaisical approach to gardening. At least I know it’s my own fault!

I like to refer to my garden as uncertified organic. I don’t add anything to the soil that it didn’t come with when I purchased the bag at Home Depot. I spray the plants only with water. Heck…this year I even let the rabbits nibble, as I didn’t even put up fencing! (Remember, lackadaisical gardening.)

Surprisingly to me, there are tomatoes growing. They aren’t pretty, but they sure are tasty! The other night I made a delicious tomato salad for dinner. It was simple to make. Fresh tomatoes diced. Cracked black pepper. Cracked sea salt and garlic. Olive oil. Balsamic vinegar. That’s it. There were leftovers, so I went out and picked several sprigs of fresh basil and added it to the container. I would have brought some in before, but decided I didn’t want to go out in the rain (yay! Blessed rain!).

I should have taken a photo. As well as being delicious, it was also very pretty.

There are a lot of green tomatoes still on the plants. Some plants even have flowers still! I might end up with a decent crop yet.

One other thing to note. As well as loving the taste of freshly picked tomatoes, I also love the smell of tomato plants. Sure moving the leaves and stems around to pick the ripe red tomatoes leaves my hands a greenish color. But the scent is nearly as intoxicating to me as the taste of the fruit itself.

Where does it go?

2010-08-07T16:50:00.000-04:00

Question: Where Does Candle Wax Go?

Answer: Have you ever noticed how you have less candle after burning than before? This is because the wax oxidizes (burns) in the flame to yield water and carbon dioxide, which dissipate in the air around the candle, in a reaction which also yields light and heat. Candle wax (paraffin) is composed of chains of connected carbon atoms surrounded by hydrogen atoms. These hydrocarbon molecules can burn completely. First the heat of the flame vaporizes the wax molecules and then they react with the oxygen in the air. As long as the wax doesn't melt away from the flame, the flame will consume it completely and leave no ash or wax residue.

http://chemistry.about.com/od/howthingsworkfaqs/f/candlewax.htm

iConvo

2010-08-06T17:40:00.002-04:00

As anyone who has been around me since mid-April knows, I love my iPhone.

I find it interesting how many people will use the iPhone as a conversation starter. For instance, the other day I went to lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. I had my phone sitting out on the table, as I didn’t take a purse or my backpack in the restaurant with me, and I needed to keep track of the time. There was one other table with customers. That was it. Of course, that’s the norm when I go to lunch, as it is usually between 2-4 p.m.

After those customers left, the waiter noticed my phone sitting on the table. He asked if it was an iPhone. That was the beginning of a 20 minute conversation about iPhone, various apps and other cool things you can do with the phone. Granted, our conversation was interrupted a few times by a ringing phone. It was also slow at times due to the waiter’s heavy accent and us both having to work a bit to understand one another. Overall, though, it was a good conversation.

All because we both have iPhones.

At first glance, many might not realize that my phone is an iPhone. I have an OtterBox case on my phone. Goodness knows I’ve needed that extra protection, as I drop my phone at least once every two weeks. My black and pink case adds quite a bit of bulk to the phone, hiding the slim rectangle of the iPhone. Yet I’m amazed by how many see it in my hand or sitting beside me and ask, “Is that an iPhone?”

Does this happen to others, or am I just someone that everyone wants to talk to?

iPhone 3G photo from: http://www.macmend.com/archives/38

Otterbox case photo from: http://www.buyercheaper.com/buy-cheap-otterbox-defender-case-for-iphone-3g-3gs-blackpink-special-price/

Thursday Quote - knitted edition

2010-08-05T00:32:00.001-04:00

The second Monday of the month is knit night for several of my friends. Several of them are quite accomplished knitters, completing such projects as socks and sweaters. Most of the group are admittedly yarn snobs, choosing the more natural fibers and blends over “squeaky” acrylic yarns. We all enjoy the camaraderie of working with wool and sticks.

I always look forward to these nights. While I rarely get much of note accomplished, my inability to correctly follow patterns reigns high when knitting around a group of friends, the wealth of knowledge around the table (or three) is wonderful. Plus, there’s the whole hanging out with friends.

I think that my issue with patterns and completing more complex knitting projects is all due to my being easily bored and distracted. This is helpful, though, when I want to take a small project or two – like a simple scarf or washcloth – along with me when I have to do some waiting. As the Yarn Harlot Stephanie Pearl-McPhee says in At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much:

Knitting is a boon for those of us who are easily bored. I take my knitting everywhere to take the edge off of moments that would otherwise drive me stark raving mad.

So true, Stephanie, so very, very true.

I’m a party girl…

2010-08-04T17:31:00.000-04:00

Each time I do a candle party, I try to tailor the even to the host. If one likes games, I have a few we can play. If she isn’t fond of candles due to the flames, I focus on the products that are flameless. But, there are several things that I try to remember to do each time.

Talk about how and why I became a Gold Canyon demonstrator
Give the host her gift for having the party
Mention the various lines that Gold Canyon offer (Candle lines, Suddenly Scented items, Homeology, Emerge, holders)
Talk about candle care and why it is important
Explain the catalog inserts (order form, customer info card, Deal or No Deal envelope and business card)
Point out the Party Perks and other customer promos
Offer three opportunities – To get the customer promo, To get free products (host a party), and To make money (become a demonstrator)

I will admit…there are times that I forget an item. Usually it is the three opportunities. I am getting better with each party, though.

Once upon a time, I was nervous about presenting at parties. Lately that has changed. I’m less nervous about talking in front of a group of mostly strangers. That’s one of the many great things about becoming a Gold Canyon demonstrator.

Tuesday Quote - scent memories

2010-08-03T00:03:00.002-04:00

Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains; another, a moonlit beach; a third, a family dinner of pot roast and sweet potatoes during a myrtle-mad August in a Midwestern town. Smells detonate softly in our memory like poignant land mines hidden under the weedy mass of years. Hit a tripwire of smell and memories explode all at once. A complex vision leaps out of the undergrowth.

-Diane Ackerman

Do you have a particular scent that brings to mind a memory?

One scent that triggers memories for me is the scent of welding metal. Yes, it’s an odd scent! My dad is a steelworker. When I was younger, we would often bring him lunch at the foundry where he worked. I would go into the foundry to give him his meal. I didn’t realize that I had a scent memory until years later when my husband was working on a car and welding metal. Instantly I was brought back to that foundry in my hometown, walking into the building to bring lunch to my Daddy.

Quotable quotes

2010-08-02T19:22:00.002-04:00

Twice a week throughout the month of August I will be sharing some quotes that I’ve enjoyed. These posts will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting tomorrow. Some I may expound upon; others will just be the quote. The topics will vary from one thing to another. Regardless, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Scent Recipes - Baking

2010-08-01T21:52:00.000-04:00

Want to make your house smell like you’ve been baking all day? By mixing and matching your candles can make some great new scents for your enjoyment! For example, if you love the scent of Apple Pie a la Mode, try burning 1 each of Sugar Cookie and Warm Apple Crisp. Delicious!

Here are some other great scent combinations:

Chocolate Covered Cherries
Fabulous Fudge Brownie
Cherry Pie

Cinnamon Apple
Cinnamon
Apple Spice

Cinnamon Bun
Birthday Cake
Cinnamon

Candy Apple
Cinnamon
Apple

Snickerdoodle
Sugar Cookie
Cinnamon

Cherry Pie a la Mode
Cherry Pie or Warm Welcome
Vanilla or French Vanilla and Buttercream

Cherry Almond Pastries
Warm Welcome
Cake Batter
Cinnamon Vanilla

Grandma’s Kitchen
Mulled Cider
Sugar Cookie

Sweet and Smooth
Pomegranate
Sugar Cookie

Banana Orange Nut Bread
Banana Nut Bread
Fresh Orange

Boost Your Blog Challenge

2010-07-28T11:57:00.000-04:00

Starts on August 1! Join us! You can start writing your posts now!

Lingering scent

2010-07-27T23:56:00.000-04:00

It has been a while since I have lit a candle in my home. Don’t worry! I still have been scenting my home with great Gold Canyon products. I’ve been using my pod warmers and room sprays.

Last night I lit one of the 26 ounce Heritage candles I have (we won’t discuss how many I have). The scent is Cinnamon, which is a fairly strong scent. I had the candle burning for less than four hours. When I left for work this morning – about six hours after extinguishing the candle (using a wick dipper, of course), the house still smelled like the candle was burning.

Then I came home from work. By now it was at least 15 hours since the candle was extinguished. It still smelled delicious in the house – as if that same candle had been burning!

Wait. There’s more! It’s now been 21 hours since I put that candle out. I can still smell the cinnamon scent in the air.

Now that is what I call a high quality candle!

Prepping for Party Time

2010-07-26T23:12:00.002-04:00

Last night I did a candle party at Marie’s new home. Her family just moved in about a week ago!

What fun! Marie made some delicious pepperoni rolls and had fresh fruit and other snacks for dipping in chocolate fondue. She had two outside orders already for the party, and everyone who attended ordered something. There are a few more orders still coming in, but already it is a very successful party.

I do a little prep work for my parties. Some demonstrators don’t do as much, having different styles for presentation and ordering. I just like to be as organized as I can. It is helpful for me and nice for my customers as well.

Catalogs
I put inside each catalog four things: an order form (stamped or stickered “Thank You” on the last page), a Deal or No Deal envelope (a booking party game), a Customer Information card (used for a drawing), and a business card. Depending on how many people are expected at the party, I often put the catalogs on clipboards. If there are more than a dozen people expected, I offer the clipboards at the party.

Products to display
Of course it is important to pack up products to show and tell! I try to have at least the following key items:

Scent Pod Warmer, with both empty and new scent pods.
Candle for Kids candle (Baby Powder).
Essentially Soy Aromatherapy candle.
Comforts of Home candle – usually Warm Welcome, as it is my favorite in that line.
One box of tealights, plus one extra tealight candle to burn in the Polished Square Tealight Glass Candle Holder
One box of votives, plus one or two extra to burn in the Straight Votive Glass Candle Holder.
Apple Lantern Autumn Candle Holder and a 5 ounce Heritage candle to put in it.
One each of the 8 ounce, 16 ounce and 26 ounce Heritage candles. Usually the 26 ounce candle is also one I use to illustrate the even wax burn of our candles.
Crystal Candle Stands Candle Holders. These are great for showcasing items, as they lift them off of the table.
Scentmate - one of our newer items, this was so popular that it went on backorder (for nearly a month) the first day it was available!
Emerge Raise Your Hand Silk – so each customer can try it out.
One item from the Homeology line. This varies, as I have several of the cleaners – all of which I use at home!
Assorted items from the Suddenly Scented line, like Auto Air Fresheners, Scented Bookmarks, Room Spray, Linen Spray, or Diffuser.
Candle Care items, such as a Wick Dipper and a Wick Trimmer. I also use these items on my candles while there.

Sometimes I have other items as well. I always ask my host if there is anything that she or he would like for me to focus on from the catalog.

Scent Samples

Of course I wouldn’t be a candle demonstrator worth much of anything if I didn’t offer a complete line of scent samples! Once upon a time I kept the samples separated by their type. I’ve since found that there are several great reasons to just put them in the containers however they will fit.

If there isn’t much room to put out the containers, having the scents combined instead of separated by scent line or family means less containers to find a space to place!
Children of all ages LOVE to check out the scents, but they rarely put them back in the correct spots. Since many of my hosts have young children, I try to set up my products to keep them safely out of the reach for little hands. However, the scent samples are something they are still drawn to. That’s OK. It is actually a lot of fun to share the scents with a little one. Also, who wants to get a candle that they think smells great only to have their child loudly proclaim that they don’t like it?
It is actually easier for me to keep track of the scents. I now know that we currently have 100 scents available. If I am missing one or two, I can easily tell.

Other goodies

I do games at parties if they are requested. If not, I still do two – less involved – “games”: Deal or No Deal, and Customer Info Card drawing. Because of the drawing, I always bring a few prizes for the winner to choose from: Scented Bookmarks, Auto Air Fresheners, Wick Dippers, Polished Square Tealight Glass Candle Holders, and a few other fun things.

I also bring along the following:

Host packets – for anyone who takes the Deal or No Deal offer!
Fliers - to advertise my Party Perks, the Gold Customer Program (only available through me), the current and next month’s Promotions, and other important information.
Extra order forms – in case we need more!
Host Gift – always important. Sometimes it is something that I use as part of my display as well.

Seems like a lot, I know. It really isn’t though, and it takes just a small bit of time to put together. The items may vary, depending on the amount of space available and whether the host has any requests. The most important thing I bring, though, is my excitement for Gold Canyon and all of the products.

Dear Maven - Skin Care

2010-07-25T10:21:00.001-04:00

Dear Maven,

With summer right around the corner and the winter clothes being shed I am gearing up for summer skin! My massage therapist told me that glycerin is the main ingredient needed to reach our sub dermal layer of skin. What is so important about this statement and is there glycerin in any of our EMERGE^® products?

You would be jealous of the great summer skin I already have—thanks to EMERGE of course! OK, I’ve got the gloating off my chest and now I can give you the 411.

Your massage therapist is on the right path, but what we really want to do is keep our skin in great condition overall. Glycerin is one of the excellent skin care ingredients and it has been touted by dermatologists and scientists consistently over the past 40 to 50 years. Glycerin still receives attention today for its positive effects and many of the EMERGE products contain glycerin as a key ingredient.

1. Raise Your Hand Silk™

2. Smoothing the Way™ Body Crème

3. Stepping Out™ Foot Crème

4. Ready to Shine™ Body Polish

5. Out on a Limb™ Body Lotion

6. Renew Your Soul™ Bath Soak

What’s so great about glycerin? Well, glycerin is one of the best humectant raw materials available.

(Humectants are something that attract water to the skin). Glycerin is also thought to have an effect on the skin barrier function, reducing the amount of damage soaps or detergent exposure might do to the skin.* Glycerin's ability to both attract moisture and mitigate damage potential from soaps and detergents is the real advantage of glycerin.

These EMERGE products contain glycerin, but with all of the EMERGE products you can expect to experience the nourishing benefit of living ionic minerals as well as antioxidant botanical extracts and beautiful botanical essences that all together create a renewing and nourishing experience.

Now that is good news for creating “summer” skin!

Your Summer Skin Expert,
Maven

Dear Maven is a column in our monthly demonstrator’s newsletters. I have not written any of these articles, but am sharing them here for your information.

Brit TV 4 Me

2010-07-21T11:43:00.003-04:00

The hubby and I subscribe to Netflix. We subbed in the past, and really enjoyed it, but dropped the subscription when money got tight. Several months ago we signed up again. We both love the instant viewing option – especially through our Wii. Who needs cable/satellite television when there is so much available to watch through Netflix, Hulu and your local library’s holdings?

I find myself drawn to British TV shows. Namely, shows with a fantasy or sci-fi element. I’m amazed at how awesome, yet still often horrible, the effects are in British TV. There are scenes that look so amazingly realistic, and then a moment later you can almost see the strings making the robot or dragon move.

My recent BBC show of choice is Merlin. I’m about halfway through the first season. The show is about Merlin as a teenager – a la Smallville and Superman. The characters and their stories have somewhat been altered from typical Arthurian legend, but overall it’s a fairly decent show. An added bonus? Lots of eye candy.

Gwen, Lancelot and Merlin

Arthur

Photos from BBC's website.

Yay! Mail!

2010-07-15T00:20:00.000-04:00

It might seem kind of silly, but I LOVE getting party orders delivered to my home.

Yes, there is some work involved. I separate the orders, making sure the quality it not only up to Gold Canyon’s standards, but up to my own high standards. I trim the wicks of all jar candles and put reorder labels on everything. Then each order goes into its own bag, along with a candle care postcard and a business card stamped or stickered with “Thank You”. To make it easier for the hostess to deliver the orders, I mark each bag with its owner’s name, and put a copy of the order form into the bag.

The work takes little time, and is well worth the excitement and fun from seeing the packages waiting at my door and checking out what everyone has ordered. Also, it’s a great chance to see products in person that I haven’t ordered for myself.

As you might guess, I’m one of those people who love to get things in the mail…unless those things are bills.

In other news, an update to my recent post about my beloved iPhone. The majority of my contacts have been recovered! A clerk at my local AT&T store showed me how to recover the contacts from my sim card. Thankfully, I made it a habit to save most of my contacts to the sim card. Unfortunately, though, I still lost most of my photos, including several that had yet to be uploaded to Facebook. C’est la vie. I still love my phone.

Sweet Summer Evenings

2010-07-10T17:03:00.001-04:00

Summer is here, and with the sunny, hot days comes the pesky bugs, especially as the evening cools. Enjoy the soothing scents of Jasmine Lime or Papaya Passion citronella candles, and keep the bugs from biting. These two 14 ounce specialty candles have the power of citronella without the smell of it ruining the effect of a peaceful evening on the porch. Priced at only $13.98, they are sure to fit your budget.

Lost

2010-07-07T17:02:00.000-04:00

As I previously noted, and as people around me on a regular basis have often heard me remark since the end of April, I love my iPhone.

I do not, however, love what has happened with my iPhone.

Last night I when ahead and downloaded the upgrade to OS 4. I then lost nearly all of my contacts. The only numbers I still had in my phone under contacts were the six that I have as favorites (the hubby, my parents and my sisters). But, the entries don’t have names, just numbers, which means I don’t know which number is for whom.

I also lost all but 4 of my photos – including ones taken before the last backup was saved.

The numbers I lost were not only close friends and family members, but also Gold Canyon customers, doctor’s offices, restaurants. Some are easy to look up again, but what a major pain in the ass.

As you can imagine, much swearing ensued last night. Tears were not shed, but there was a strong threat of them.

I already have to head to the AT&T store today, as the car charger stopped working this weekend. Since I bought it with my phone, I am hoping they will replace it. It’s too new to just crap out like that.

By the way, if you are out of town on a day trip and need to charge your iPhone, but your car charge is on crack, might I recommend stopping at a store like Best Buy. You can do what the hubby and I did…pretend to look at iPods while secretly plugging in your phone to the display model’s cord. Works like a charm.

Home Sweet Home

2010-07-01T21:50:00.005-04:00

I'm home from DC. The trip home was a lot shorter than the one there, since the train was running on time. While there were some annoyances with the trip home - like being seated in a car with no outlets - overall it was a pleasant trip. I love taking the train. Just look at these views! (photos taken with my iPhone)

DC was wonderful. I could have done without the heat - it was in the upper 90s the whole time - but I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent in the city. Hopefully I can make the trip there again sometime soon and really see the city.

I ate several wonderful meals. If you are in town and looking for a delicious pizza, I highly recommend Ella's on 9th street. It's downtown - close to a lot of the attractions. The wood fired pizza is heavenly. Want something sweet? Try the Double Chocolate Pudding. It is OMG delicious! I loved the place so much I ate there twice. I could have easily eaten there every day.

A few photos from my iPhone:

margherita pizza (buffalo mozzarell a, basil, tomato sauce, olive oil and sea salt)

My lunch partner's meal - Calzone con salsiccia (pepperoni, sausage, ricotta, parmesan, tomato, onions and sweet peppers )

From another trip, mozzarella carrozza (lightly breaded and fried blend of mozzarella, ricotta & parmesan with a balsamic-tomato sauce)

My roommates and I also ate at a fantastic place called Oya. I don't have any photos of our meal, as it was too dark to really take any. My complaints don't stem from the actual food, but rather our server and the atmosphere. The place was beautiful. The noise, however, was too much. I could barely hear myself think, let alone have a conversation with my dinner companions or hear the server talk. It was also a little too dim, making it difficult to read the menus.

I ordered from the prix fixe menu. For $29, I got a salad, meal and dessert. I choose the spinach and pear salad, sans bleu cheese and the Grilled Beef Sirloin (coriander pepper | ginger carrots | fingerling potatoes). For dessert, I opted for Bittersweet Molten Chocolate Cake (Mandarin orange anglaise | vanilla ice cream). My companions ordered sushi for dinner and shared a strawberry shortcake for dessert.

I ordered my dessert when I ordered my meal, as that is when the server asked what I wanted. However, when my friends received their dessert, I was left waiting for mine...and waiting...and waiting. Finally I was able to flag down our server to ask for my dessert. It was heavenly once it finally arrived.

Then she brought us our check. When we asked for it to be split by what we each ordered, we were told that the only way it could be done is if we do the math!!

All in all, I would go again. Next time, however, I'll be sure to clearly explain our preferred method of payment before we actually order.

I hope to make the trip again sometime. I think it would be great for the hubby and I to take the train to Harpers Ferry, WV and spend a couple days there, then hop back on the train and head to DC for a few days.

DC daze

2010-06-25T16:49:00.004-04:00

Hello from Washington! After a long train trip here, today was spent walking around the city. Now it is time to get down to business...at least a little.

So I'm heading from one session to another. Tomorrow will be full of running from one end of the convention center to the other. Should be fun!

Oh have I mentioned that I love my iPhone? I decided to leave my laptop at home this trip. Nearly everything I do on it I can do on the iPhone - including posting on my blogs! An added bonus? It weighs a lot less than the laptop.

Dear Maven - Homeology

2010-06-25T11:16:00.000-04:00

Dear Maven,

We are loving all of the new green cleaning products but a couple of questions arise. Is the All Purpose Cleaner anti-bacterial? The kitchen counters are shining, but can I eat off of them?

No, Homeology products do not claim to be anti-bacterial products. The reason? We love Homeology for what it was intended for—a natural, safe way to clean without harsh chemicals.

To kill germs you can bet there has to be some pretty heavy stuff involved. By law, any product claiming to be an anti-bacterial product must use specific active ingredients. We did not want to use those type of ingredients in Homeology products as they can be much too harsh for everyday use. And harsh is being polite—I’ve used some of these anti-bacterial products and I wish I’d brought a biohazard mask to save me from the fumes.

The only time I would recommend using those harsher chemicals is when cleaning up after you’ve worked with raw meat. (But only in the areas needed and only as needed.) Otherwise, think of Homeology as your main squeeze when it comes to everyday use and for clean-ups from spills.

We have chosen Homeology to be a well-balanced blend of cleaning with minimal chemicals and impact on the environment. Bonus: Homeology smells great, too. And yes, Homeology is non-toxic so you can eat off your counters after you spray them.

Happy Homeology cleaning,

Maven

Dear Maven is a column in our monthly demonstrator’s newsletters. I have not written any of these articles, but am sharing them here for your information.

Dear Maven - "Economic" Reductions?

2010-06-15T14:34:00.001-04:00

Dear Maven,
I recently went to the grocery store and was disappointed to see that my favorite ice cream has been shrunk down to a miniature sized container. It got me to thinking – what if Gold Canyon starts cutting corners to save a buck in this shaky economic climate? Should I be worried?

Oh, Honey. I can almost feel your disillusionment leaping at me off my computer screen. On those bad days when all we want to do is change into some giant sweatpants and have our way with a gallon of ice cream, the last thing we need is to see that someone’s trying to rip us off and charge the same (or even more!) for a lesser product.

Well rest assured that Gold Canyon is dedicated now more than ever to delivering “The World’s Finest”® products to our consumers and Demonstrators and always will be. Every component that goes into our products is selected because of its capacity to out-perform the competition at every turn.

Sure, it’s tedious to test 37 different wax and wick combinations only to toss them all and start from scratch, but at Gold Canyon, that’s what our Research and Development team does. It’s that tireless spirit that ensures that you and every one of your customers is pleased with the end result – a flawless product that you deserve!

So the next time you find yourself lying awake at night pondering which of your favorite products is going down the tubes next (“Will it be my lip gloss? What’s next? My wrinkle cream? Maybe my chai tea latte?”), just know that you can always count on Gold Canyon to maintain the same level of quality to which you’re accustomed – “The World’s Finest”.

Dear Maven is a column in our monthly demonstrator’s newsletters. I have not written any of these articles, but am sharing them here for your information.

Dear Maven - Diffusers

2010-06-05T14:20:00.001-04:00

Dear Maven, The Diffusers are such a wonderful product and the perfect gift for teachers, but as a Demonstrator I am always getting requests for scents that are not available in the Diffusers. When will Gold Canyon be coming out with more scents?

Ah, the one question I get over and over . . . “Why can’t I have [insert favorite scent here] in [insert product line here]?

Let’s address this now before it’s asked again. Oh wait, too late. I think that’s the ding of my inbox now as I type this.

Well, dear Demonstrators, I admire you for your persistence in trying to please your customers. After all, where would we be without persistent Demonstrators? However, I must explain the reasoning behind this mystery.

The reality is, it’s really not much of a mystery. Gold Canyon is known as “The World’s Finest” and this I KNOW you know. Well, because of this fact, we can’t just offer every fragrance in every product line and still meet our high standard of quality.

One thing you may not know is our R & D (Research and Development) department Coworkers are super perfectionists. When we hire for R & D, we actually look for this on their resumes! These highly trained scientists worthy of Gold Canyon aren’t exactly falling from the sky either. With the experts we do hire and their mission of providing “The World’s Finest”, they don’t exactly have extra time on their hands. Currently, only the best-performing fragrances are offered in Diffusers. But don’t worry—R & D is always developing and testing more fragrances that may be offered in the future!

As professor at GCU, I use Diffusers to keep my classroom from smelling stale. We have developed the Give Teacher an “A” Gift Giving se t that is the perfect back-to-school gift for teacher of all class ages. It is flameless, comes with a cute ruler ribbon exclusive to the set and a full set of decals to ensure your Diffuser is always in season. And, since the fragrance lasts 3-5 months, you don’t have to worry about ordering a refill until winter break!

Bottom line: I know how you and your customers all love Gold Canyon fragrances so much and I really can’t blame you for that. So, I’m sure this won’t be the last time you or I hear this question, but maybe now you can explain things a little better. Perfection takes hard work people and no one would want their Sugar Cookie fragrance to be under par now would they? I didn’t think so!

Dear Maven is a column in our monthly demonstrator’s newsletters. I have not written any of these articles, but am sharing them here for your information.

Vacation...all I ever wanted...

2010-06-02T18:30:00.001-04:00

Ahh….vacation. Last week I took several days off of work. The hubby, puppy boy and I all headed to Michigan to visit my family. It was a much needed break. We had a wonderful time seeing family and just spending time together.

Le sigh. I’m back to work today.

While in Michigan, I picked up several plants from my dad. There broccoli, peppers (2 types), eggplant, and a few varieties of tomatoes. I think that’s it. Yesterday, since I was still off of work and back at my house, I put several of the plants in the ground. I also planted lavender and sunflower seeds in pots. Hopefully they will grow well and I can transplant them.

Now I just need to get the materials to expand the garden. Then I can put several seeds in the ground. Oh…and I also want to buy or start a few more veggies.

This weekend is shot for doing anything around the house. I work Saturday during the day, have a Gold Canyon party at night. Sunday I have church in the morning and a Gold Canyon Party in the afternoon. I work on Monday, too – and have a meeting after work – so that day is also shot. Perhaps the following weekend?

Dear Maven - Candle scent issues

2010-05-25T20:12:00.000-04:00

Dear Maven,
Your candles are fabulous! I always look forward to burning them to freshen different areas of my home. I have, however, noticed that some candles do not seem to have as much fragrance as others. Sometimes I feel like I’m smelling the wax more than the scent and I’m tempted to add some of your Diffuser oil with a dropper to give the candle a fragrance boost. What do you suggest when I get a candle that seems to have limited fragrance?

Well, first let me say that flattery will get you everywhere. I like to think that I had a little something to do with your satisfaction with our candles, as I am always offering our R & D department my sage advice – sometimes solicited and frequently not.

Moving on to your question, my answer is best summed up in the old saying, ‘Patience is a virtue.’ When you receive a candle that does not seem to have a strong scent, the best recommendation is to put it away and smell it again the next morning to make sure your nose isn’t playing tricks on you. Personally, after a long day of latte runs to my local café, slathering myself with cosmetics, heading to the mall food court to grab a bite to eat, re-spritzing myself with my favorite body spray (Your Inspraytion™ Body Mist from our EMERGE™ collection, of course) and pumping gas (ick!), my nose understandably has an identity crisis on its hands and can’t smell the full bouquet of fragrance notes that may be present in one of Gold Canyon’s amazing candles. Bottom line: it’s a good idea to give your nose a break and check out that new candle a second time when you know your nose is fresh and hasn’t been assaulted by the variety of smells you’re likely to encounter throughout the course of your day.

If you have given your olfactory senses a break and are certain your new candle doesn’t smell like it should, please contact your Gold Canyon Demonstrator and let us send you an exchange. Everyone here takes maintaining our reputation as “The World’s Finest”^® quite seriously and we truly want you to be completely satisfied. Additionally, we may request that you return the candle to us so we can get to the bottom of it if there is a quality issue. Our goal is that every single candle produced be perfect every time.

One last note of expert advice, DO NOT use your Diffuser oil in your candle! This will eventually cause your wick to stop functioning correctly and your candle will not burn. For more information about the appropriate use of Gold Canyon Diffusers (and every other fabulous product we offer), consult your Gold Canyon demonstrator.

Dear Maven is a column in our monthly demonstrator’s newsletters. I have not written any of these articles, but am sharing them here for your information.

Sunny days...

2010-05-25T14:05:00.001-04:00

Summer is on its way! At least I am hoping so. The weather the past few days has been gorgeous. Sunny and hot. It is suppose to stay that way for the next ten or so days as well. Yay!

Sunday evening I made a run to Home Depot. I finally bought some of the stuff needed for the veggie garden – mulch, garden soil, etc. I also bought several plants for the front flower garden. When I came home, I spent over an hour outside digging out weeds and planting flowers. I bought a light pink Asiatic lily, a pink salvia plant, a small hosta, a small daisy…um, and a several others that I can’t recall right now.

Spike was helpful. He ate some of the grass out of the front flower beds. LOL That made it easier for me to pull them up.

I am heading to Michigan this weekend, and expect to return with several plants for the veggie garden. Then I just need to find the time to get them in the ground!

Dear Maven - Leftover candle wax and Pod Warmers

2010-05-15T11:25:00.000-04:00

Dear Maven,

Is it safe to put the Heritage®, Bella®, Inspirations or any other Gold Canyon glass candle on the Pod Warmers to use up any last remnants of the candle wax or will the temperature of the Warmer be too hot for the glass? I have several customers who tell me they do this and I want to be able to warn them if there could be any hazards.

To make a long story short and answer your question, no, the heat is not too much, but, and this is a big BUT, the quality of the fragrance won't be what your customers are expecting and definitely not what they deserve from Gold Canyon.

Gold Canyon has a patent on the Scent Pods® and Warmers, a product for which we painstakingly ensured that the Pod Warmer, Scent Pod container and fragrance all play nice to create a quality experience for you. Any time a different type of product is used, it has the potential of resulting in a flawed experience.

I know, I know—everyone is trying to be super thrifty nowadays, but this isn’t one of those times to reuse. Just not worth it.

Keep the following info in your back pocket for next time your customers ask you about that remaining wax they are trying to use: The last remains will contain the wick adhesive (not designed to smell good, by the way) and will have wick and other debris which will impart a smoky smell and not look very pretty either. This certainly doesn't showcase the excellent fragrance quality for which Gold Canyon is known.

After interviewing the experts in Research and Development, the best advice I have is to tell your customers to just throw away the last bit of wax and be happy knowing this is a safe and very reasonably priced candle. That last bit of wax is your safety insurance policy and it has done its job, holding all wick debris and keeping the bottom of your candle from getting too hot and bursting.

If you must, you can suggest to these customers that they use the warmers to melt out the last bit of wax in their jars, BUT (notice that’s another big BUT) they must realize this is a cleaning process and not a fragrance experience.

Looking out for your best interest,

Maven

Dear Maven is a column in our monthly demonstrator’s newsletters. I have not written any of these articles, but am sharing them here for your information.

I dream of gardening...

2010-05-14T16:58:00.001-04:00

As the weather is (somewhat) warmer, my mind keeps turning to gardening. I have been itching to play in the dirt. Time, money, illness and weather have all prevented me from doing much so far. *le sigh*

But…it isn’t keeping me from reading about gardens and gardening! I came across this great little article on Real Simple’s website about their Reader’s Top Ten Gardening Mistakes.

I’ve also checked out a couple of books from the library about growing herbs and about gardening (flowers and vegetables) in Ohio. I’ve often been skimming through the books.

Here's hoping I can get some work done in the gardens soon. Perhaps next weekend?

midweek update

2010-05-13T15:41:00.003-04:00

Let's see....what's going on in Ama's world...

Hubby was sick with a respiratory bug. That was a few weeks ago.

Then, starting about a week ago, I came down with a respiratory bug.

Then Tuesday morning the puppyboy came down with a respiratory bug.

See a pattern?

Hubby was well within a few days. Puppyboy is getting better thanks to a visit to the vet's office and some antibiotics. I will be getting better soon thanks to a visit to my doctor's office and some good meds (antibiotics and a steroid, since I have bronchitis).

So my wonderful plans for last Friday were dashed to the ground, as I ended up leaving work at 12:30 and heading home to sleep. I took a nap for nearly 6 hours. Geesh. That meant I didn't get to the store to buy garden stuff. Perhaps next week?

I did talk to my dad last week and asked about plants. I can't recall now what he has for me, but do know I'll be putting a bunch of plants in my van when I return from the Memorial Day trip to Michigan.

Sunny Days…

2010-05-05T12:58:00.000-04:00

“Sunny days,
sweeping the clouds away
on my way to where the air is sweet”

Yes, that’s the beginning of the Sesame Street theme song. It’s perfect for today. I’m looking out the window at work and the sun is shining. There is a breeze making the tree branches sway. All in all, it looks to be a beautiful day today. I’ll find out soon when I go to lunch. Thankfully I’m only working until 6 today. I won’t be able to really enjoy the sun much, though, as I have a meeting at 7 tonight.

I’m thinking of more sunny days. Hopefully I can find the time – and the weather will cooperate – so soon I can get the garden prepped and ready. I’ve been glancing through a few Ohio gardening books and dreaming of landscaping our front yard. So many things I want to do; so little time and money to do those things.

For now I will just enjoy the view out the windows. “Sunny days…”

Dear Maven - Soy Candles

2010-05-05T11:36:00.004-04:00

Dear Maven
One question I get as a Demonstrator is “How do our candles compare to soy candles?” What makes our candles better?

It’s great to hear that you already know our candles are better. Smart girl. However, I know it’s sometimes hard when you’re put on the spot and want to tell your prospective customer, Host or new Demonstrator exactly why Gold Canyon is better.

Regarding your question about soy candles, it’s actually pretty hard to compare if you don’t know exactly which type of soy candle your customer is working with. If they don’t give you any details about their soy candle, that’s like telling your husband/boyfriend, etc. to go to the store and buy ice cream. You would never ask someone to go get you ice cream without explaining first that you want the death by chocolate flavor with all the fat and the calories in the premium brand.

It’s the same idea with soy candles—they come in so many varieties. If someone is really fond of their soy candle, they should give a brand and flavor explanation, otherwise all bets of trying to compare are off.

If I’m forced to generalize, I do know one area of weakness for all soy candles except Gold Canyon’s soy candles. Gold Canyon’s soy candles are different because we refuse to compromise on our fragrance strength and character while the candle is cold or while it is burning. We know our customers’ top priority is a strong, true-to-life smelling fragrance. So, unlike many of our competitors, we keep fragrance first and foremost at top of mind. Gold Canyon is not willing to allow our fragrance burning strength to become lessened by using soy wax, as so many other candle companies do. Gold Canyon employs the latest technology to optimize our wax and fragrance oils to bring the best smelling candles while cold and while burning.

Of course, there may be other areas where the competition falls down. Examples might include burn time, consuming all of the wax, sooting, choosing ugly fragrance and colors, etc.

Unfortunately, without knowing the specific candle it is hard to say. When in this sticky situation, it’s best to point out all of the benefits of Gold Canyon. All of the good things you already know about Gold Canyon are always true of any new product we create. Like I said above, we never compromise on fragrance strength and with two wicks, even burning, high quality wax, etc, there’s a lot to tout when it comes to Gold Canyon.

In my opinion, no other company is ever going to measure up, so why compare in the first place! By the way, have you seen “The World’s Finest”^® section of our new catalog? This a great place to get more information and help your customers see the Gold Canyon difference.

Dear Maven is a column in our monthly demonstrator’s newsletters. I have not written any of these articles, but am sharing them here for your information.

Waiting for September

2010-04-28T15:50:00.000-04:00

Last week I ended up with a great reason to look forward to September. My daily email/chat friend, Sharon, and I are going to meet in London, Ontario. Yay! Road trip!! Sharon lives in Canada and will be flying to London, since it is just a few hours from Detroit. So, I will drop off the puppyboy, pick up the mom and we will cross the bridge from Detroit to Windsor.

Today I found a second reason to look forward to September. The next book in the Bloody Jack series by L.A. Meyer is supposed to be available on September 13. I. Cannot. Wait. I think this is my favorite series ever.

September is going to be awesome. Now to just get through the next five months…

Dear Maven - making scentless lids

2010-04-25T11:30:00.002-04:00

Dear Maven,

How do you get the smell out of the candle lid? I would like to re-use the container as a sugar container. However, I do not want the sugar to smell like Cinnamon Garland. I have tried many things to get the smell out, including Homeology All Purpose.

Wow—another example of reduce, reuse, recycle. Way to go! Gold Canyon has the most powerful fragrance on the market and with this high quality it’s no wonder you can’t get that smell out. You can though—it just takes a little time.

Take the plastic ring off of the glass and wash them both with very hot soapy water, letting them soak 30 minutes or so. Rinse and allow them to dry. If the plastic ring still has a smell, let it sit in a bowl of baking soda for a week. Wash the plastic ring, let it dry and smell again. If it still has smell left, do another bowl of baking soda for a couple of weeks. That should do it!

I know it sometimes take a little extra work to repurpose something, but it’s all worth it. Plus, who else will have such a beautiful custom-designed diamond cut glass sugar container?

Your partner in going green,

Maven

Dear Maven is a column in our monthly demonstrator’s newsletters. I have not written any of these articles, but am sharing them here for your information.

Just the scraps.

2010-04-24T15:07:00.000-04:00

Last night was the monthly scrapbooking group I joined in March. The theme was National Scrapbook Day (which is actually next weekend). Everyone who attended got a little gift (a package of stickers). The demos also drew names for small door prizes – which everyone won. There was also a contest to see who could finish the most layouts that night. I won with ten layouts! Yay!

My mind was elsewhere when I was packing up for the event, though. I say this because I forgot both my set of scissors and a paper cutter. I also forgot to bring the scrapbook I purchased last month. Regardless, I still did a pretty good job!

I love this monthly group. It’s not the same as what I had in Michigan, but I miss that a little less. It’s great to get together with other scrapbookers and bounce layout ideas around, share tools, and generally have a great time.

All God’s critters got a place in the choir…

2010-04-23T01:41:00.002-04:00

I used to be a singer. I still love to sing, but I know that I’m no where near as good as I once was. It’s my own fault. I quit singing for a while, mostly for stupid reasons that I won’t go in to here, but will suffice to say that a little over ten years ago I started at least singing to myself again. (note...the hubby and I have been together for just over 10 years. Coincidence? I think not.)

I love to belt out songs. Usually to the puppyboy or to the hubby. I also have a handful of friends and coworkers that I’ll sing to – often to just get a song stuck in their heads. I get to sing at work all the time. Over the past few months, I’ve even been doing it without any accompaniment from a CD. But that music is all children’s songs.

About a month ago I joined a church. A week after I attended Mass for the first time, I started singing in the choir. This week I made it to practice for the first time.

Wow. I am out of practice. And I am having a hard time adjusting to singing harmony when needed. I almost never had to do that before, since I was a soprano, and now I’m an alto. And I’m singing with people who actually know what they are doing/hearing. Perhaps it’s time to dig out the keyboard and practice some scales.

One last note (ha!). The title for this post is from an adorable children's book based on the song with that title. Check out All God's Critters illustrated by Kadir Nelson.

Earth Day

2010-04-22T19:00:00.002-04:00

It's Earth Day. Not only that, it's the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

In honor of Earth Day, here are a couple of great green links:

Real Simple tells us how to recycle anything

Earth911 has 40 Tips for the 40th Earth Day

I'll save a post on how to be green with Gold Canyon products for another day. :D

Happiness is...

2010-04-21T13:43:00.003-04:00

New yarn. Especially soft, pretty yarn. Now...what to make with it?

In case you are wondering, there are two skeins each of Andean Treasure in Sapphire and Summer Sky, and one skein each of CotLin in Lilac and Pomegranate.

Iron Votive Centerpiece

2010-04-19T22:37:00.003-04:00

Dear Ama,

I love the Iron Votive Centerpiece, but also love the variety of scents available in tealights. Any suggestions on how to use the tealights without getting soot in the glass holders?

I hear ya! The first holder I purchased from Gold Canyon was the Iron Votive Centerpiece. I love to mix and match scents in the holder. My favorite for autumn was Cinnamon Vanilla, Autumn Walk, Mulled Cider and Cranberry Orange. Right now I have Fresh Orange and Ginger Lime. So fresh and yummy!

But…that’s not what you asked. A great way to keep the soot away is to place something under the tealights. I went to my local WalMart and found a bag of crushed seashells (less than $4!). The bag had the perfect amount to fill each glass holder equally and still have enough room for a tealight.

While visiting one of the local dollar stores recently, I came across a bag of small stones. The price is perfect for any budget. They were only $1! This is another great filler.

The photos in this post are of my centerpiece. As you can tell, I'm far from a pro at taking photos of candles!

home beauty treatments

2010-04-17T16:51:00.000-04:00

I came across this article recently and thought it was too fun to not share. Why waste money on beauty treatment products that are full of chemicals when you can easily make scrubs and masks using simple kitchen ingredients? I can’t wait to try a few of them!

DIY beauty treatments you can make in your own kitchen
by Sarah McColl, Shine staff, on Tue Apr 6, 2010 7:11am PDT

Most girly girls dream of a collection of lotions and potions with fancy French labels, but a trip to the produce aisle can be a super natural way to treat your skin free from scary science lab ingredients. Equally exciting, making your own sugar scrub is a heck of a lot easier on your wallet than buying one. Most of these beauty recipes below are cheap, cheap, cheap, but the question is: would you be up for smearing banana on your face or bathing in egg whites?

1. Detoxifying Bath Salts

¾ cup Epsom salts
¼ cup baking soda
4 drops of grapefruit essential oil (or scent of your choice)

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. One at a time, add drops of essential oil, stirring after each addition. Add salts to warm bath water.

2. Wake Me Up Scrub
from Body + Soul
¼ cup olive oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
15 drops peppermint essential oil
½ cup used coffee grounds from a freshly brewed pot

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and thoroughly blend. Transfer the scrub to a wide mouthed jar, and store in a cool place until ready to use. The scrub will keep for one to two weeks, longer if refrigerated.

3. Almond Orange Scrub
from Self
1 handful almonds
1 orange peel
1 cup grapeseed or olive oil

Blitz all ingredients in a blender or food processor for an antioxidant rich scrub.

4. Simplest Super Scrub

½ cup brown sugar
½ cup grapeseed oil (olive oil would be great, too)
splash of vanilla extract

Stir to combine and slough away!

5. Sweet and Spicy Sugar Scrub
adapted from Care2
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white granulated sugar
¾ cup almond, hazelnut, or coconut oil
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons ginger
2 teaspoons nutmeg

In a medium-sized bowl, combine all ingredient. Using a whisk, blend ingredients thoroughly, making sure to break up any lumps of brown sugar or spice.

6. Oatmeal Yogurt Mask For All Skin Types
1 tablespoon oatmeal, finely ground
1 tablespoon plain yogurt
a few drops of honey

Add the yogurt to the oatmeal in a small bowl and mix together. Warm a few drop of honey. To do this, warm a spoon under hot water for a minute, then add a few drops of honey to the spoon. Stir the honey into the yogurt and oatmeal mixture. Apply the mask to face. Leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse off with several splashes of warm water.

7. Green Papaya Brightening Mask For All Skin Types
from Body + Soul

½ cup unripe papaya, diced
1 teaspoon plain yogurt
1 teaspoon honey

Blend ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Apply to clean skin and leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off using cool water and pat dry. Finish by applying a gentle moisturizer.

8. Avocado Mask for Dry Skin
½ avocado
¼ cup honey

Mash the avocado in a bowl, then stir in honey. Apply to skin and leave for 10 minutes, then rinse.

9. Banana Mask for Oily Skin
1 banana, preferably ripe (you can keep ripe bananas in the freezer. Let it thaw before using)
1 tbsp honey
an orange or a lemon

Mix the banana and honey together in a bowl. Add a few drops of juice from an orange or a lemon. Apply to face for 15 minutes, then rinse.

10. Classic Eye De-Puffer
2 chamomile tea bags or 2 slices cucumber

Make a cup of tea for you and a friend. Remove tea bags and place in refrigerator until chilled. Place cool tea bags on closed eyes for 10 minutes. Or put cucumber slices in fridge until chilled and place over closed eyes for 10 minutes.

11. Old-Fashioned Bubble Bath
from Real Simple
½ cup mild liquid hand or body soap
1 tablespoon sugar or honey
1 egg white

Mix ingredients together in a bowl and the entire mixture under running bath water as you draw your bath. Honey is a natural humectant, and the egg white helps create stronger, longer-lasting bubbles. For extra-dry skin, adda tablespoon of light oil, such as almond or light sesame.

12. Foaming Vanilla-Honey Bath
from Real Simple
1 cup light oil (almond, sunflower, or canola)
½ cup honey
½ cup mild liquid hand or body soap
1 tablespoon vanilla extract.

Mix ingredients together in a glass jar. To use, shake gently to remix and pour ¼ cup under running bath water.

Dear Maven - Pineapple scents

2010-04-15T09:37:00.001-04:00

Dear Maven,

For years I have loved the fragrance in Pineapple & Cilantro pillars. Now I see the Pineapple & Cilantro description in the summer catalog’s fragrance guide says “refer to Pineapple Coast”. Is it true that Pineapple Coast and Pineapple & Cilantro are really one in the same? I think they smell so different!

Sincerely,

Perplexed over Pineapple

Dear Perplexed,

Believe it! The scandalous truth is that these two fragrances really are one in the same. But don’t feel too betrayed. There are a couple of perfectly reasonable explanations for why this two-timing fragrance has you faked out.

First, if you’re detecting a slight difference between the two fragrances, it may not be your imagination. Any difference between the way the two fragrances smell could be attributed to the difference in wax bases. The vegetable wax blend in the pillars has a slightly different natural odor than that of the paraffin wax blend in the Heritage jars.

Also, you may have heard it said that perception is everything. That couldn’t be truer in the world of fragrance. Fragrance is very experiential. For example, a name like Pineapple Coast with a beach-themed label in a Heritage jar may conjure up different visual images and invoke a different feeling than a Tuscan-inspired pillar with a name like Pineapple & Cilantro.

Your Pineapple Private Eye,
Maven

Dear Maven is a column in our monthly demonstrator’s newsletters. I have not written any of these articles, but am sharing them here for your information.

Spring really is in the air! part 2

2010-04-14T11:52:00.004-04:00

Chives (large pot) and bunching scallions

Urm...thyme? maybe? I'm not sure. It keeps coming back every year. lol Someone gave it to me several years ago.

I planted hyssop in this pot last year.

Black Raspberry plant my Dad gave me last year.

Look! There's new growth on it!

Strawberry plant I potted last year. I need a bigger container for it, though.

Garlic chives I planted (from seed) last year.

The fruit and herb table. :D

Pretty flowers someone gave me last year. I have yet to get them planted. Oops.

Spring really is in the air! part 1

2010-04-14T11:18:00.002-04:00

I finally got the camera situation fixed. Hubby was able to get his laptop started, and I could download the photos to it. Then I moved the photos to my thumb drive, which meant I could upload them to the internet from another computer. Isn’t technology grand?

So…Here are some photos of plants that have been growing. However, I took these pics a few weeks ago, so things that once were in bloom are no longer, and others now have flowers or more growth.

I'm going to break this up in to two posts. This one will contain the front yard stuff. The next post will contain the back yard stuff.

Lilies are starting to come up again! :D

I don't know what this is, but is so very soft. We planted it in the front yard last year.

The hydrangea we planted up front last year.

Another plant that I can't recall what it is. Planted it last year.

I think this is St. John's Wort. Planted last year.

Buds on the lilac we planted last summer!

See the buds? :D

A friend gave me a bit of this plant a few years ago. It's really taken off!

Spikers statue hiding in the day lilies

Growth on the peach tree!

I'm not sure what to do with this plant. I hope it grows back this year. Do I need to cut it?

And for comparison, a view of last year's look:

Themed Party Ideas

2010-04-10T11:07:00.000-04:00

Dear Ama,

I love hosting parties and I love candles, but I don't want my candle party to be the same old direct sales party that everyone else has. Have any great themed party ideas?

Why yes I do! There are a lot of ways to party with Gold Canyon!

Girls'/Moms' Night In
Host an evening of pampering and fun without the kids! "Emerge" with a manicure using our Emerge line of body products. Relax with the scent of Essentially Soy Aromatherapy candles. Most importantly, just kick back and have fun!

Ugly Candle Party
Have a candle that’s just plain ugly? Bring it to this party for a discount on a beautiful Gold Canyon Candle. The owner of the ugliest candle will win a free replacement candle!

Wickless Wonders Party
Find out why Gold Canyon is more than just a candle company.

This party features Gold Canyon’s scented products that don’t use wicks – Pod Warmers, Diffusers, bookmarks, air fresheners and more! This is a great way to introduce Gold Canyon to those who aren't keen on burning candles, but still love a scented home.

Gold Canyon Design Workshop
Are you and your friends looking for a unique centerpiece? How about hosting a Gold Canyon Design workshop? Each guest will start out with the same base item - like a Ruffled Pedestal ($15.48). A variety of supplies will be provided. Attendees can preorder candles for their centerpiece or order them the day of the workshop.

Guest must prepay for this workshop, in order to have materials available.

Dear Mother Nature...

2010-04-09T14:58:00.003-04:00

Dear Mother Nature.

Perhaps you are going through "the change". If so, there are medications that may help you. I only suggest this because a few weeks ago we woke up to an inch of snow on the ground. Then we had a couple of weeks of temps in the 70s and even up to low 90s a couple of days! Yet, when I returned from lunch this afternoon, there was snow in the air.

I understand that this is Ohio and the weather can be a bit crazy this time of year, but I don't recall ever having such fluctuations in temperatures in such a short amount of time.

Please seek help immediately.

Sincerely,

Ama

Knitting update!

2010-04-07T13:23:00.002-04:00

I started a new project. That doesn’t mean I finished any of the other projects I have on needles…just that I started a new one.

Currently I have three works in progress:

A scarf in a beautiful shade of dark green 100% baby alpaca (Andean Treasure from KnitPicks.com). I started this in January. I work on it every once in a while, so it may be done by next winter. Maybe.
Felted teething rings. I have a lot of feltable wool yarn (Wool of the Andes from KnitPicks.com) in a variety of colors. I also have a lot of friends and family members who are busy procreating. So, I am going to try and make a few sets of these. They are quick to knit…once I figure out what I am doing. The idea is from here: Knitting A Baby
A Jellyfish amigurumi from Amigurumi Knits: Patterns for 20 cute mini knits by Hansi Singh. This is the newest project. I borrowed the book through my library (not from, though, as we don’t own it). I liked it so much I bought it. (from Knitpicks.com, of course).

woe is me...

2010-04-06T23:13:00.002-04:00

at least when it comes to computers. Specifically, laptops.

Hubby accidentally spilled milk on his laptop. This meant that most of last week it was not working at all. It is working again, but not without issues. Now the keys are kinda wonky, making it difficult to type anything.

This means I'm stuck using the cracktop...my nearly 6 years old laptop that has both Velcro and duct tape keeping various parts together. Seriously. It has a multitude of issues. The two most annoying would be how slow the machine runs and it's tendency to frequently drop the wireless connection. There is much swearing and muttering under my breath when I am using this machine.

I have photos to share. Gardening photos. Party display photos. I'm sure a few other photos, too. Alas...the cracktop can't handle the attempt of reading my photocard. The two times I tried it crashed the machine. *sigh*

Isn't technology grand?

2010-04-05T11:52:00.001-04:00

Dear Maven, What is the shelf life of our EMERGE products? I found one under my sink that may have been there for well over a year. It seemed OK but didn’t have much of a fragrance left.

You know my first question is going to be ‘why on earth would you hide a wonderful EMERGE product under your sink?!’ On the other hand, I am glad you are concerned about still using the old EMERGE you found!

Fragrance is the first thing that starts to go when you keep your cosmetics too long. Such a waste too because the EMERGE fragrance is so wonderful. However, once fragrance is gone, that doesn’t mean the product is useless. The shelf life of EMERGE is one year but can be longer if kept in cooler conditions—the warmer environment can reduce the shelf life of cosmetics.

As long as the product smells OK and looks OK, it is generally safe to use. I know you’re probably just trying to not waste a perfectly good product, but since the renewing fragrance of EMERGE is so important to the experience, it’s probably better to just get a fresh product. I wouldn’t want you missing out on “The World’s Finest”® EMERGE experience!

P.S. Remember to refer to the Product Knowledge Guide. You can find a lot of this information about shelf life and storage temps in there.

Helping you enjoy “The World’s Finest”,
Maven

Dear Maven is a column in our monthly demonstrator’s newsletters. I have not written any of these articles, but am sharing them here for your information.

Gold Canyon Summer 2010 Catalog preview

2010-04-01T12:50:00.001-04:00

Wow! I just looked at the new Summer catalog! It starts May 1, but we are able to view it ahead of time. Let me know if you want a sneak peak!

We have lots of changes coming to Gold Canyon. If you love the Inspiration and Pillar lines, stock up NOW! Those lines are available only while supplies last. If it is just the scents that you adore, don’t worry. Most of the scents will be available in as Heritage candles.

There are a couple new Scent Pod Warmers – including one that can showcase your favorite photo!

New to Gold Canyon this summer are two products that are completely different from our usual.

UN-scented candles! You can get an unscented candle in any of our Bella sizes or as tealights. Perfect for those who love the glow of candles, but can’t handle the scents.
ScentMate™ Personal Fan Diffuser – A quiet, yet powerful battery-operated fan that uses scented oils to stream long-lasting fragrance into the air.

In addition to these great changes, Gold Canyon is offering a slew of summer seasonal scents, including Fizzy Pop and Sliced Watermelon.

Contact me to order products or to schedule your Gold Canyon party (and earn those goodies for FREE).

Hello, Sping? Is that you?

2010-03-31T12:04:00.000-04:00

Last week I was grumbling about snow. Today I am going to praise Mother Nature a little. It’s BEAUTIFUL out today. Yay! The sun is shining and the sky is clearing up a bit. Temps are suppose to hit the 60s…and even hit high 70s in a few days. Spring is in the air again.

Now…when will I find time to start prepping my garden? I have seeds. I just need about 24 extra hours in the week. Maybe 48.

Strike it Gold! Ends March 31!

2010-03-30T13:46:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow is your last chance to order your Strike It Gold Canyon!

Every 26 oz Heritage Candle is a winner!

grumbledang snowgrumble

2010-03-26T23:07:00.002-04:00

Dear Mother Nature,

I know that I live in Ohio - a state that gets snow anytime between October 1 and April 30. However, it is cruel to subject us to beautiful days of high 60s-mid-70s degree weather one week and then plummet to temps in the 20s and 30s the next week...complete with snow. This must not continue. If it does, the residents of Ohio (and other surrounding states) may be forced to file a class action suit against you.

Sincerely,

Ama - who firmly believes that snow should only fall between December 1 and the last day of February.

Spring is in the air

2010-03-16T14:33:00.001-04:00

Spring is in the air...

Really, it is. Last week we had a few days of beautiful weather, and this weekend brought rain. Lots of rain.

While trekking out the back door this weekend, I noticed that some of my plants from last year are starting to grow again! There are little stalks of chives and garlic chives, and new green growth on the strawberry plants. I haven’t checked the rest of last years planting to see how they are doing. I should take a few photos of the new growth.

I’ve also seen some grass growing…in my garden. That will need to be taken care of! I really need to devise my final plan for gardening this spring. Seeds have been ordered (thanks, Knitty Jen!), and plants have been discussed (with dad). Now…do decide where I want to put everything.

Why host a Gold Canyon party?

2010-03-14T01:27:00.002-05:00

So, Ama, tell me why I should host a Gold Canyon party?

Well, my friend, there are so many reasons!

For a minimal investment (just a few refreshments – soda, chips and dip, brownies, etc.) you can earn at least $20 in FREE Gold Canyon product! Most of my hostesses have earned at least $40 in free products and one item at half off the price!

It’s a great “excuse” for spending time with friends and family. Whether hosting a general Gold Canyon party, or a themed one such as Spa Day, Ugly Candle, or Wickless Wonders, nothing beats the time hanging out and having fun!

Thinking about earning some extra income? Try hosting your own Gold Canyon party and see what your potential earnings may be! Consider the party a "try before you buy" experience.

Shop at home and give to charity at the same time! When you and your guests purchase Gold Canyon products, a portion of EVERY purchase goes directly to children in need through our Prayer Child program. Additionally, the proceeds of every Candles for Kids candle is given to the Prayer Child foundation. Want to give more? You can also donate any amount of money desired just by adding it to the order form.

Are your candle jars coated in soot? Is there a tunnel of wax through the middle? When you host a Gold Canyon party, you and your guests will learn the proper way to care for a candle, and just why Gold Canyon's double wicked candles are the best in the field!

With over 100 scents available, Gold Canyon has a scent for everyone. By hosting a party, you will be able to sample each scent, choosing those that you know you will love. Also, with a new catalog coming out three times a year, the variety and of decor and scents suites every season.

Looking for a different fundraiser for your group, but aren't sure that Gold Canyon is the right product? By hosting a party your friends and family can check out the Heritage line of candles and sample the popular scents available for fundraisers. It's a great way to try before buying!

If you're happy and you know it...

2010-03-12T16:06:00.000-05:00

The other night as we were chatting away like we often do, my friend S shared a blog post with me from another friend of hers. The post was a meme about happiness (and included knitting and reading, two awesome things). I’m going to borrow that idea and share a short list of things that make me happy.

Time with the hubby. Since he’s an over the road truck driver, the hubby isn’t home every day. In fact, he is only home two days a week. Often I will be working one of those days. This makes for a sad Ama, as it means less time together. So, what time we do spend together makes me happy…even when we are annoying one another.
Spike. I love my puppy boy. I will readily admit that I am more than a bit crazy about him. Yes. I talk about my dog a lot. He is my baby boy. While he snores loud and is often stinky, I love his bouncy little self.
Books. For those who know me and who have viewed my other blog, this is a big DUH. I’ve always been a voracious reader. The BA in English Liberal Arts? That’s because I like to read. The career choice of librarian? It’s a book thing. Books have long been a source of entertainment, education and escape. One of my fears is actually losing my sight and not being able to read (Yeah. That’s a bit silly, I know).
Music. Once upon a time I dreamed of being a singer. I couldn’t imagine life without music. I still can’t, though I no longer dream of singing on a big stage (well, not too often). Music can transport a listener to a different place and time…much like the written word can.
Crafting. I collect crafts and supplies. Knitting. Scrapbooking. Stamping. Beading. I could possibly open a craft store with what I have. Maybe I should. I go through spurts of doing each craft, sometimes overlapping. It’s a creative outlet.
Friends. Both the old and the new. While I enjoy my time alone, I equally enjoy being surrounded by good friends, talking about anything and everything. I’ve been blessed with some very caring people whom I am proud to call my friends. Some I have known for over twenty years. Some I just met recently. All are special and wonderful in their own way.
Food. I love good food. Maybe a bit too much, but c’est la vie. There is something about a well prepared dish that can really enhance an experience. For instance, on my recent trip to Boston, my friend R and I ate at a Dim Sum restaurant. The experience was very cool in and of itself, but the fact that the food was delicious just made it even more memorable. I love food. I love eating it (obviously). I love making it, too. There is just something about preparing a dish and having it well received that is good for the soul. Ah. Food, glorious, food.
West Virginia. I grew up in the Northern Panhandle of WV. It will always be my real home. Yet, every place I have visited in the state has felt like home. The very ground calls to my heart and I never want to leave. I dream of owning a plot of land on a mountaintop, overlooking the green valleys…listening to the rustling trees of the forests…breathing the fresh mountain air (ok…maybe a bit tainted with the pollution of the steel mills and coal mines, but that’s the good stuff, right?).
My family. Yes, they often drive me crazy. That’s part of family, though. We are always there for one another. My sisters and I have grown closer as we’ve all become adults. I can’t imagine either one not being in my life. I only wish they lived closer.

Pay Day!

2010-03-10T12:30:00.002-05:00

It’s the tenth of the month, and that means it is Gold Canyon Pay Day!

My commission for February wasn’t huge, but I’m still pleased. I didn’t have a traditional party schedule, other than the one at my house which was canceled due to snow. My total commission for the month, including overrides, was $140.09. Some of that I retained when I entered orders as a party. The rest – $69.25 – was deposited into my checking account today. Yay!

Not too shabby for a few hours worth of work.

I’m already up to about $75 in commission for this month. That’s just from one party! I have another party scheduled for later in the month. I know that I’ll hit override commissions for this month. I’m almost there already!

All active Gold Canyon demonstrators earn at least 25% in commission. That means for every $100 in products sold, we earn $25. Once we hit $300 in sales (in the US. $345 in Canada), our commission goes up another percent (26%). We can actually earn up to 36% commission! That doesn’t include money earned off of our downline or from traditional fundraisers.

Check out the Personal Sales Commissions chart:

party day

2010-03-08T17:53:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was a party day, and not just for me. While I headed out to do a candle party, the hubby headed to his sister P’s house for a birthday party. Our niece E will be 13 on Wednesday. How did that happen?!?

My party was a success. This is especially true considering that only ten days passed between booking the party and its happening. About 15 people were invited and 4 people attended. There were a few who couldn’t due to family birthday parties. As I said, it was party day.

So far the sales for the party are around $240. Ten more dollars in sales and the hostess will be getting one half price item and $40 in free products! There are a few more people who have expressed interest in ordering from the party, but couldn’t attend, so I feel confident that it will close near $400 in sales.

FYI: $400 in sales = $100 in commission for me. Not too shabby, eh?

And, an added bonus: One of the people who attended yesterday has booked a party at her house for the end of April. Yay!

In other fun news, tonight is knit group night. As if that wasn’t awesome enough, I will be getting those evilly adorable knit kits tonight. Here’s hoping it doesn’t end up as money wasted and I will actually be able to make those sweet baby hats and diaper covers.

It's kind of a secret...

2010-03-03T02:13:00.002-05:00

Shhh. Don't tell my niece E that I love this song. Or that my hubby said that he likes a few songs by this group.

Why? Because in the not so distant past she was obsessed with this group in the typical twelve-year-old style. It was Plain White Ts this and Plain White Ts that. I'm not sure, but I think the world may have revolved around them for a while.

That was about a year ago. Fast forward to yesterday. The hubby and I had the radio on in the car and Hey There, Delilah came on. I have heard the song a few times, but didn't know who sang it. In my defense, I rarely listen to the radio anymore, opting to listen to audiobooks instead. So, it wasn't until it came across the radio screen that I found out who the artists were. Color me surprised. That's when the hubby confessed that he really likes a few of their songs. He mentioned the below one as well.

Tonight I finally looked up the song. Yup. I recognize it. Maybe from a commercial or something, though that doesn't make much sense either, as I really don't watch TV. (No. I don't live in a cave or under a rock).

For the first time I actually listened to the lyrics. Wow. They are pretty awesome. It's one of those songs that kinda sums up how I feel about the hubby. So...I'm going to be a bit cheesy and dedicate this song (and post) to him. Just don't tell E about us liking the group, OK?

Food, glorious food

2010-02-27T23:49:00.001-05:00

The other day I came across this online article. Since I thought it was a pretty good one, I’m sharing it on here.

I’ll admit it. I’ve made many of these mistakes. Some I still do on a consistent basis (such as #9 – being too casual about measuring ingredients). Others are mistakes I didn’t know I was making (#17 – letting meat rest before serving). Thankfully, there are several that I have learned over the years – and have actually followed.

Some might say that I’ve gotten picky about my food. I like to think it is more that I now have a better understanding of the quality of ingredients. While there are some items that I will buy off brand or generic, there are many that I refuse to go cheap. Over the past few years the items in my freezer and pantry have changed dramatically. Yes, you will still find ice cream and chocolate. But, you will find almost no frozen meals, unless they are ones that I made from scratch. You will also be hard-pressed to find a can of vegetables or soup. My list of foods that I’ll buy in a can keeps dwindling.

These changes have actually changed my tastes. Recently I bought a box of store brand sugar coated puffed wheat cereal (similar to Super Golden Crisp). This once was my favorite kids’ cereal. Yet, when I went to eat a bowl of the cereal, the mass quantities of sugar (and high fructose corn syrup) was very irritating to my mouth and tongue. Yikes! Now the only cereals I buy are Kashi brands (and the like)…and rice krispy types for those yummy rice krispy treats.

There are substitutions I no longer make. I bake with unsalted butter, never margarine. I use canola or olive oil instead of vegetable oil. Often I make my own salad dressings instead of buying bottled Italian or honey mustard dressings. It’s easy and much more delicious. I rarely buy pre-frozen meat anymore, opting to buy just what I need fresh from the meat counter (and letting it set at room temperature for a bit before I cook it).

These changes make for meals that are better tasting and maybe even a bit healthier, too.

Knitting update

2010-02-23T19:39:00.005-05:00

On the 12th I finally finished knitting the hat for my coworker. I know. It took long enough! I do have one pic to show off my lovely handiwork.

The recipient of the hat was very happy with it and remarked that it is quite soft.

Now...on to other knitting projects.

I have been working a little here and there on a scarf using the same type of yarn (100 % baby alpaca/Andean treasure from knitpicks.com) in a heather green type color.

The other day I received an email from that website. Those evil designers came up with something that I couldn't resist. I tried. I really did. I waited about a week before asking a friend to add it to her order.

I don't have kids, and may never have them, but I do know a lot of people who are doing the whole being fruitful and multiplying thing, so these patterns are going to be great for gifts. If...and that is a somewhat big if - I can figure out how the knit the evilly adorable things.

I'm not sure, but I think my ovaries even squealed about the evil cuteness.

Relax with wax

2010-02-21T22:07:00.002-05:00

The scent of sweet vanilla and of soothing lavender. The clarifying scent of eucalyptus and mint. Aromatherapy. In the broad definition, it is the use of aroma to enhance a feeling of well-being. Often, with the use of essential oils, it is associated with a more natural and organic way of life.

Gold Canyon’s Essentially Soy Aromatherapy™ candles contain a therapeutic blend of essential fragrance oils in a soy wax blend, and are the strongest burning soy candles on the market.

Awaken- Eucalyptus Mint
Essential Oils: Cornmint, Lemon Extract
Description: A sparkling combination of earthy eucalyptus and fresh citrus lemon complete this high-energy fragrance created to awaken and energize the body and spirit.

Harmony- Lavender Vanilla
Essential Oils: Lavender
Description: Achieve balance and harmony with the clean, relaxing aroma of fresh lavender essential oils warmed by touches of vanilla.

Refresh- Herbal Spearmint
Essential Oils: Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Spearmint, Peppermint
Description: Let the icy mint blend engulf your mind, body and spirit giving you a refreshing spark of energy and hope.

Relaxing- Lavender & Chamomile
Essential Oils: Lavender, Chamomile, Sandalwood
Description: The tranquil aroma of lavender, chamomile and sandalwood offers a refreshing respite while creating a relaxing ambience.

Revitalize – Wild Peppermint Leaf
Essential Oils: Cool Peppermint, Wild Mint
Description: A rejuvenating fusion of cool peppermint, wild mint and Japanese mint essential oils gives an instant boost in mood and mind.

Romantic- Mimosa Rose
Essential Oils: Rose, Violet, Jasmine, Mimosa, Petitgrain
Description: The heart of pure romance is captured in the unique blend of rose, violet, jasmine and mimosa to collectively create a tender, sweet fragrance to caress the senses and calm the spirit.

Sensual- Sandalwood Jasmine
Essential Oils: Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine
Description: Enhance life‘s romance and passion by indulging the senses with the warm, seductive essence of sandalwood, ylang ylang and jasmine to create an intensely sensual experience.

Serenity- Watery Geranium
Essential Oils: Geranium, Orange Extract, Clove Leaf, Cedarwood, Bois de Rose, Cananga
Description: This youthful symphony of fresh floral, citrus orange and fruity Bois de Rose compose this calming bouquet of peaceful and serene essential oils.