Terre Pruitt's Blog

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Posts Tagged ‘candles’

Easy Gifts To Give And Receive

Posted by terrepruitt on December 10, 2018

As we get older it seems like we end up with a lot of stuff. And we come to a point where we want to limit the amount of stuff we get as we try to thin out some of the stuff we have. I have found that many of the people on my gift list don’t want any more stuff. The super cute affordable stuff that really doesn’t have a use or a purpose. There are always things people need and want, but I am talking about the stuff that is fun to buy, fun to give, and even fun to receive, but doesn’t really have a use. I still give those types of gifts when I see something and it just SCREAMS a person’s name. Ya know, sometimes things just belong with a person, but I try not to go out and seek that stuff. For many people I try to give them consumable stuff. Things that are great because they are a tangible gift, but also great because they go away soon and don’t end up taking up room for too long. And somethings are so easy to give because everyone uses them and some are easy to give because almost everyone likes them.

Here are a few things that can be considered nice gifts but don’t hang around for a long time:

-Fancy olive oils and vinegars

We just recently bought some very yummy olive oil and vinegars. I even posted about it because it was so good. And I loved it so much I did buy a bottle for our neighbors! There are so many flavors of flavored olive oil I bet you could find a perfect one for everyone on your list. And that is not even considering the vinegar. We bought some that is so tasty I want to drink it.

-Soap

You may know from past posts that I think fancy soap is a great idea as a gift. And I think that started after I received a nice bar as a gift or it could have started when I had discovered some delicious soap I used to buy, either way, if you like some fancy soap that is not something made commercially I bet someone on your list would enjoy it too.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit, City of San Jose Exercise Classes-Candles

Do I really even need to say anything about candles? No, but I will. There are so many types of candles and most of them can be burned and they disappear. I did recently post about the electronic kind. While they are an awesome gift they don’t belong in the consumable category.

-Homemade cookies, toffee, fudge and things of that nature

One year I made cookies for people and I was so surprised at their reaction. They were so grateful to have received homemade goodies. Each recipient commented on the time spend to make them and they were so very grateful. And, unfortunately, I don’t think I have done it since because – yeah, it does take a lot of time. I have made nuts and toffee before. I posted the recipe for the nuts here and here. I got the original nut recipe from my same friend that gave me soap one year. I have also posted about the easy to make toffee.

-Note cards

Ok, this one is for a specific person obviously. Not everyone writes notes, most people don’t even send cards any more so a box of note cards will not be a good gift for most people, but you might have at least one person on your list that writes and sends mail.

-Lotions

Most lotion users can always need more lotion. And often times, even though they have their favorite they are excited to try something new and different. So help them get a new favorite by buying them some lotion!

-Coffees and Teas

Coffee is expensive so who, among coffee drinkers, wouldn’t love to receive a pound of something yummy. And tea . . . again, just like the lotion users, they probably have their favorite, but there are so many out there you can help them experience something new. Just try really, really, really hard to NOT buy a mug to go with the coffee or tea. You know mugs, there are so many great ones out there and they are so easy to buy . . . we probably all have more than can fit in our cupboards!

-Wine and spirits

If you have a person on your list that drinks either or both, then it is always nice to give them a bottle of their favorite something. Or, again, just like the lotion users and the tea drinkers, they probably have their favorites but they might be excited to try one of YOUR favorites.

None of these things are new, but if you are like me, sometimes you need reminding that there are some easy gifts to give that are pretty much always well received AND you will be helping people NOT clutter up their space.

So, do you have any people are your list that would enjoy any of these consumables?

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Nag Champa – My Favorite

Posted by terrepruitt on March 14, 2018

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFitDo you like to burn candles? I do. I love to burn candles. I love scenes on TV shows or in movies where the room is just filled with candles. But I always wonder how long it took them to light all those candles. I mean, in reality they have a team of people come in to light the candles – or so I think. But if it were the character in the show, how long would it have taken them to light that many candles? Do you know the scenes I am talking about? The ones where there are at least 40 to 75 different sized candles burning. It would take a long time to get that many candles lit. And then you have the danger of the candles being knocked down. Ok . . . so even though I love the look, I wouldn’t necessarily have that many candles burning all at once. And with cats who at times seem like something is after them and they have to FLY through the room into the next, I prefer not to have too many candles burning. I also prefer to have the candles I burn be jar candles or tea lights in a “jar” or votives in a “jar”. Something where the flame is not exposed. If I am sitting in the room then I can handle a bare flame candle, but I am most comfortable with jar candles.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFitThere are so many that I love. There was a candle at the grocery store that I was buying at least once a month. I stopped when I ended up with a small stockpile. But when I ran out the display seemed to have disappeared. I think I saw it at the other end of the store, but I don’t walk in that way and forget about it. So . . . I don’t have a stockpile of those ones. But I do have a stockpile of my other favorite candles.

They are Terra Vela candles you can buy them online from www.TerraVela.com, but we usually stock up at an Art and Wine Festival. They are the kind of candles that smell good without even having to burn them. The room a candle is in will smell like the candle just by being in there. It is so awesome. That means, for me, I can get the scent of the candle without having to burn it. I can just have it on the table next to me for a bit. Then when I burn it I can smell the scent, too. To me those candles are like double the time you get to enjoy the scent.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFitAs you can see there are several scents that we like. Actually a couple of these are new to us. We bought them the last time we saw her. As I was taking the picture the scent was amazing. I am looking forward to using the Khaya. I have another one, Creme Brulee, I think, on my table right now. It is almost done and I think Khaya will be my next one to burn. Nag Champa is my favorite. I don’t know how to say it, but it smells divine. That is my FAVORITE.

She has a lot of different scents so I am sure you can find something you love. But one of the reasons I like to buy from her at a festival is so that I can smell them all.

It is raining here, to me that is candle burning weather. So I have candles on my mind. That is why I am posting about them because I was thinking about the lovely scents of these candles and I thought I would share in case you love burning candles as much as I do.

Candles make a great gift, too. Another thing I love about candles.

What do you think?  Do you like candles?  Which do you like to burn?  Do you have a favorite scent?

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Fun With Wax

Posted by terrepruitt on June 13, 2013

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, ZumbaI have been teaching Nia in San Jose for four and a half years.  I have been teaching Nia in the same studio in Willow Glen.  I drive down Lincoln about twice a week.  There are many stores and businesses on the street.  There are also many pedestrians.  For those of you that don’t know, Lincoln Avenue is very pretty.  They have trees and bushes and flowers . . . very nice landscaping, however, the lovely foliage HIDES the pedestrians and those flashing lights (the ones that flash to call attention to pedestrians crossing the street).  So you have to really pay attention.  Sometimes people just dart out from the bushes.  I am always concentrating on the pedestrians so I don’t notice all the stores that come and go.  When I do walk down the street I am always amazed at a new shop that has popped up or one that has closed.  One of the new ones is Glow.  It is a build-a-candle candle shop.  When I first saw it I was so excited.  I kept squealing with each new thing I saw as I walked through.  There are colors and fragrances and little trinkets you can add to the candle.  I couldn’t wait to go!

This week I have my niece visiting and I thought it would be fun for us to go make a candle.  It is something we can do and visit at the same time.  Plus it is creative and then we will have a candle to show for it.  First you choose your mold.  What size and shape you want.  Then you choose your colors, any pips, and if you want any trinkets.  Then you choose the scent you want to have.  Then you set about putting it all together.

The pips are plastic pieces that you stick to the side of the mold.  They have all different kinds of pips: butterflies, birds, flowers, stars, guitars, martini glasses, crosses, letters, lipstick, dresses, shoes, you name it, they probably have it.  After you stick the pips to the side, then you break up the sheets of wax.  You get to choose from a variety of colors.  Once the candle is poured and set, the pips show through on the sides of the candle.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, ZumbaWhen you are done filling the mold with the pieces the shop keep pours hot melted wax into the mold over the broken pieces.  Then it sets.  The store keep puts a wick in it and polishes it and you have a cool candle that you made.

There is “studio fee” of $9.95 and then the cost of the candle which is determined by the size and shape you choose.  All pips are included as well as the poured wax and fragrance.  The little charms and other things are priced per piece and the costs vary from less than a dollar all the way to at least $4.00.  I believe there might be ones that cost more than $4.00 but that was the one I saw.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, ZumbaThe day we went back to pick up our candle we were being helped by the assistant manager, Laura, and she was a wealth of information.  She shared some tips and tricks that my niece and I wished we had been privy to the day before when we were making our candles.  But now we know and we are anxious to go back again to make more candles.

The experience is not an inexpensive one, but as I said, it is an EXPERIENCE.  It is an activity.  It is a fun thing to do with people who you want to be with.  Once you pay the studio fee you can buy as many candles as you want to make.  So it could be a great way to kick out some gifts for Christmas.  Pay the studio fee then make a few candles.  Do it with friends and you have a great time.  I think an activity that results in a wonderful smelling candle makes for a great day.  My niece and I had a great time.

I thought it was great fun to build a candle.  I also thought is was pretty exciting to wait for the candle to be ready for pick up the next day.  I really love this activity and can’t wait to go back.  The candles we made, while not perfect, look pretty nice, smell great, and burn well.  This was definitely a fun time with wax.

Do you like candles?  What color candle would you make?

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Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba

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