Holy Guacamole without Avocados!

February 3rd, 2012

I was reading on Yahoo! that a projected 71.5 million pounds of avocados will be consumed during the Super Bowl this Sunday, which, to me, is bewildering since I’m actually allergic to it, or the main ingredient in it…Avocados!:( 

So, if you’re like me and you like to have something tasty to pair with your tortilla chips (and Carona’s) this Sunday, besides salsa, dive into this Sweet Pea Guacamole recipie and let the games begin!:)  But if you still prefer your Guac with traditional Avocados, make sure to check out the post earlier this week for Traditional Guac and Guac with Pomegranite!

2 packages frozen peas

3 tablespoons vegetable broth

2 tablespoons light mayo

2 tablespoons lime juice

2 tablespoons choppped cilantro

2 teaspoons chopped jalapeno

1/4 teaspon cumin

1/4 teaspoon chli powder

2 tablespoons chopped tomatoes

2 tablespoons green onion tops, chopped

Thaw peas then puree to smoothe consistency. Stir in remaining ingredients until well dispersed.

Do you have a favortie Guacamole recipie?  Come on…let’s all do our part to keep the “green-goo” part of the superbowl tradition!;)

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Posted in Healthy Recipies, Scandle Candle | No Comments »

Botox by Bike?

February 1st, 2012

We all live in a day and age where convenience is king. But botox by bike really takes the cake! Apparently there is a new service being offered where Nurses will bring round the injections by bicycle or motorbike and party hosts are offered a discount on treatments if they can persuade up to five guests to have the face-firming jabs.  (Come on girlfriends! Help your girl out!;)… lol)

However, critics say that it is likely that the places will not be hygienic enough for these procedures and there will be inadequate aftercare and risk of infection.

According to industry guidelines, Botox and other dermal fillers should be administered by a registered provider in a clinical setting.  Yet Nurse Specialists in London (where the service is beginning to gain momentum), provides the “Botox by bike” service in the “comfort and privacy of your own home or office”. It charges 40 pounds for visits in London and 70 pounds for other appointments.

Janet Kettels, European director of corporate affairs for Botox manufacturers Allergan also spoke out against ‘Botox parties’ and advised people against it.

“We do not support nor supply Botox for sale or use in inappropriate settings such as ‘Botox parties’ in private homes or offices. We advise that injections should only be administered by qualified, licensed and trained healthcare professionals, who are based in a clinical, hygienic and professional setting,” he said.

However, Nurse Specialists, which has been running for almost five years, says clients rate its service as “excellent and professional” with a high level of information about aftercare treatments.

So what’s your take?  Would you give this botox on a budget method a try even if it meant that you’d run the risk of infection, or worse?

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Posted in Consmetic Surgery and Procedures, Consumer Reports, Home Treatments, News, Scandle Candle, botox, products for wrinkles | No Comments »

Get Your Game On – Healthy Guacamole Recipies for Superbowl Snacking

January 31st, 2012

Superbowl game day is around the corner and you know what that means? Some serious snacking!;)  Here’s a game day fave with a healthy kick from our friends at Healing Lifestyles & Spas:

Traditional Fabulous Guacamole (and Pomegranate Guacamole, too!)

Serves: 4 to 6

Ingredients for guacamole:  2 ripe avocados, halved, pitted, peeled and mashed, 2 tablespoon finely chopped white onion, 1 serrano chile, minced (seeding optional), 1 tablespoon roughly chopped cilantro leaves, 3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice , 1 teaspoon salt

For Pomegranate Guacamole:  3/4 cup pomegranate seeds (about 1 pomegranate) , 2 cups peeled jicama or cucumber sticks for dipping

Preparation: To prepare guacamole: In bowl, combine avocados, onion, chile, cilantro, lime juice and salt; mix gently.  Serve with baked tortilla chips.

To prepare Pomegranate Guacamole: Combine guacamole with pomegranate seeds. Use jicama or cucumber instead of tortilla chips.

What are some of your fave healthy Superbowl snacktime treats?  Sharing is caring!:)

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Posted in Green Living, Healthy Recipies, Scandle Candle | No Comments »

Magazine Celebrates Obesity?

January 25th, 2012

Ok ladies! How many of you have perused through a magazine and saw some of the models in there and said to yourself…EAT SOMETHING! lol Well ladies, now there is a magazine for those that like to indulge in an occassional carb or two or three or four. PLUS Model Magazine has taken on the fashion industry and it’s love of overly skinny models and clothing sizes. In a new campaign they publish pictures of a nude size 12 plus sized model. Each photo has statistics about the industry and the size of the models it uses such as

*Twenty years ago the average fashion model weighed 8% less than the average woman. Today, she weighs 23% less.

*Most runway models meet the Body Mass Index physical criteria for Anorexia.

*50% of women wear a size 14 or larger, but most standard clothing outlets cater to sizes 14 or smaller.

Sounds great doesn’t it?  Well, not to everyone.:(  Although many support the magazine and its message to girls and women that their natural body is beautiful, and your ribs do not have to be showing for a man to love you.  Some think that the magazine actually promotes obesity and tells women that while you should absolutely love yourself even if you aren’t model-thin, obesity is equally unhealthy and shouldn’t be celebrated either, nor pushed as an ideal body size.  

I think the fact remains that promoting unhealthy body weights as ideal, regardless of whether it’s skinny or heavy, won’t go away until we quit defining women by the way we look and start valuing women on other more important attributes like personality, intellegence, and contributions to society.  

What do you think?  Is PLUS Model Mag promoting a healthy self image for women or giving them permission to live in gluttony?

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Posted in News, Scandle Candle, weight loss, women's health | 1 Comment »

Giving Fair Trade a Fair Chance

January 23rd, 2012

For those of you who may not be familiar with the term “Fair Trade,” Buying fair trade is a way for us to help benefit producers in the developing world by buying straight from them at a guaranteed price. Scandle LLC supports Fair Trade and features several items hand-made by artisians in Third World countries such as our popular Sole Survivor Foot Therapy Kit (hand-made from recycled sarees) and our Scandle-ous Trio Gift Set (packaged in boxes made from recycled cotton cloth that has been converted to paper).

Third-party certifier, Fair Trade USA, has announced its redesigned certification label and significant revisions to its Multiple Ingredients Product Policy, aimed at better serving the needs of farmers, businesses and consumers looking for fair trade certified ingredients and products.

Under the new policy, which applies to all cosmetic and personal care products,  only products that contain 100% certified Fair Trade certified ingredients can bear the full Fair Trade Certified label.

In the case of products containing less than 20% Fair Trade Certified ingredients, a new Fair Trade Certified Ingredients label will be used.

This will be the first time the organization has refreshed its logo since its inception in 1998.

According to Fair Trade USA, since 2009, Fair Trade sales have resulted in $3.4 million in premiums to support the development of farming. communities around the globe.

What are some of your favorite Fair Trade items?  Share them below.

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Posted in Fair Trade, Scandle Candle, Soy Candles | No Comments »

Another Excuse to Eat Chocolate!

January 19th, 2012

Like I needed one?  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…I love chocolate! Chocolate is better than…well let’s just say I really love Chocolate!;)  I recently read that there has been research that suggests that dark chocolate is actually healthy to boot, here’s why…

Chocolate is made from plants, which means it contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. These benefits are from flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from aging caused by free radicals, which can cause damage that leads to heart disease. Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants.  Flavonoids also help relax blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide, and balance certain hormones in the body.

Dark chocolate is good for your heart. A small bar of it everyday can help keep your heart and cardiovascular system running well. Two heart health benefits of dark chocolate are:

*Lower Blood Pressure: Studies have shown that consuming a small bar of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure.

*Lower Cholesterol: Dark chocolate has also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) by up to 10 percent.

Chocolate also holds benefits apart from protecting your heart:

*it tastes good  

*it stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure

*it contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant

*it contains theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants

*Did I mention it tastes good? LOL

In celebration of Chocolate and all of it’s health benefits, Scandle is featuring a new gift set for Valentine’s Day, Scandle’s Chocolate Spa Therapy, featuring this heavenly treat.  The gift set includes

*1 Scandle Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Shimmering Lotion Candle in reusable ceramic container

*1 Scandle Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Dead Sea Salt Soak and Scrub

*1oz  Chocolate Prescription chocolate bars so you can get your daily dose of healthy yumminess!

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Posted in Anti-Aging Treatments & Products, Antioxidants, Brain Health, Chocolate Body Treatments, Healthy Lifestyle, Natural Health, Scandle Candle, Soy Candles, Stress-Reducing Treatments, Valentine's Day, emotional well-being | 4 Comments »

Save Money with Scandle-ous Gift Sets for Valentine’s Day

January 17th, 2012

Yes, as much as we hate to do it, we had to raise the prices on our coveted Scandle Body Massage and Shimmering Lotion Candles to accomodate for the rising costs in shipping and supplies to make our products on January 1st.

Scandle has not raised it prices in over 4 years, which is why this may come as a shock to some of our loyal customers.  As Valentine’s Day quickly approaches, you might be wondering how you’re gonna be able to afford Valentine’s Day when your budget is still recovering from Christmas?! 

Although we’d love for you to spend as much of your hard earned dollars with us as possible…here’s something we CAN recommend…purchase a Scandle Gift Set to save some dough!  Why? 

1.)  Our gift sets are priced to introduce customers to our product line and come with 2 or more items so you can sample different fragrances/products cheaper than you would if you bought them individually.

2.)  If you like to “spread yourself thin” and have more than one Valentine to give to ;) …you can (possibly) break the sets down and give one item to each person on your gift list.  Saving you time and money! 

3.)  And if you’re one of our valued retailers, the gift sets are the way to go not only from a cost stand-point, but if you have a slow season…you can always break the sets down and sell them individually or use them as an incentive to purchase Spa Gift Certificates!;)

29 Days and counting folks till Valentine’s Day…don’t say we didn’t try to help ya out!;)

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Posted in Scandle Candle, Soy Candles, Valentine's Day | No Comments »

Eating Healthy for Under $1

January 13th, 2012

Sounds impossible doesn’t it? As I get ready to hit the roads to travel to Houston for The Houston Salsa Congress, I’m thinking about the fast-food mecca that awaits me on the road. Which sounds good but not so good on the waist line!

The good news is that eating healthy on the run doesn’t have to ruin your diet or your budget!  Here are some of the top 20 Healthiest Foods Under $1…

1. Oats
High in fiber and complex carbohydrates, oats have also been shown to lower cholesterol.

2. Eggs
You can get about a half dozen of eggs for a dollar, making them one of the cheapest and most versatile sources of protein. They are also a good source of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which may ward off age-related eye problems.

3. Kale
This dark, leafy green is loaded with vitamin C, carotenoids, and calcium.

4. Potatoes
Because we often see potatoes at their unhealthiest-as fries or chips-we don’t think of them as nutritious, but they definitely are. Eaten with the skin on, potatoes contain almost half a day’s worth of Vitamin C, and are a good source of potassium. If you opt for sweet potatoes or yams, you’ll also get a good wallop of beta carotene. Plus, they’re dirt cheap and have almost endless culinary possibilities.

5. Apples
They are a good source of pectin-a fiber that may help reduce cholesterol-and they have the antioxidant Vitamin C, which keeps your blood vessels healthy.

6. Nuts
Though nuts have a high fat content, they’re packed with the good-for-you fats-unsaturated and monounsaturated. They’re also good sources of essential fatty acids, Vitamin E, and protein.

7. Bananas
 High in potassium and fiber!

8. Garbanzo Beans
Not only are they a great source of protein and fiber, but these beans are also high in fiber, iron, folate, and manganese, and may help reduce cholesterol levels.

9. Broccoli
Broccoli contains tons of nice nutrients-calcium, vitamins A and C, potassium, folate, and fiber. As if that isn’t enough, broccoli is also packed with phytonutrients, compounds that may help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers.

10. Watermelon
 This summertime fruit is over 90 percent water, making it an easy way to hydrate, and gives a healthy does of Vitamin C, potassium, and lycopene, an antioxidant that may ward off cancer.

11. Wild Rice
Low in fat and high in protein and fiber, this gluten-free rice is a great source of complex carbohydrates. It packs a powerful potassium punch and is loaded with B vitamins.

12. Beets
They’re powerhouses of folate, iron, and antioxidants.

13. Butternut Squash
Fiber and chunks and chunks of Vitamin A and C.

14. Whole Grain Pasta
Complex carbohydrate source that is high in protein and B vitamins.

15. Sardines
Little fish come with big benefits: calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins. And, because they’re low on the food chain, they don’t accumulate mercury.

16. Spinach
Lots of Vitamin C, iron, and trace minerals.

17. Tofu
Inexpensive protein source high in B vitamins and iron, but low in fat and sodium.

18. Lowfat Milk
Milk is rich in protein, vitamins A and D, potassium, and niacin, and is one of the easiest ways to get bone-strengthening calcium.

19. Pumpkin Seeds
Goldmine of magnesium, protein, and trace minerals.

20. Coffee
Contains beneficial antioxidants that protect against free radicals and may actually help thwart heart disease and cancer. I know I’ll be drinking lots of this just to stay awake after all the dancing! lol

Bon Appetit!  Got any other healthy foods not mentioned here that are good for us cheapos?  Let us know! :)

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Posted in Healthy Lifestyle, Healthy Living, Scandle Candle, weight loss | No Comments »

Back to the Grind – 10 Uses for Leftover Coffee

January 11th, 2012

Man…went to bed at 4am and was up at 8am! Getting ready for Scandle’s biggest holiday of the year, Valentine’s Day,  is no easy task! I could so go to sleep right now, but nope…no time for that!  Coffee, coffee, and more coffee! :)

If you’re like me, you like to have a cup of coffee once and awhile, or everyday. So what do you do with those coffee grounds after you get your caffeine fix?  Your cup of “Joe” can save the day in more ways than one!

1. Fertilize plants. Old coffee grounds are nutrient-rich for plants that thrive in an acidic soil.

2. Soften and add shine to hair. When washing your hair, rub coffee grounds through wet hair and rinse. For brown hair, coffee grounds add highlights.

3. Use coffee grounds as an exfoliant for skin. Rub into skin and then rinse. I take a little of my Scandle Body Candle oil to give it some lubrocity and extra moisture for my dry winter skin.;) 

4. Deodorize a freezer. Place a bowl with used coffee grounds in the freezer to remove unwanted odors.

5. Shoe deodorizer.  Put some dried coffee grounds in your favorite pair of stinky shoes and watch the odor drift away.

6. Use your morning brew to fight cellulite. Mix the grounds with vitamin E oil and massage onto the area where cellulite exists. I take a little of my Scandle Body Candle oil , rich in Vitamin E !  Repeat 2 or 3 times, wipe off, and rinse in the shower.

7. Rub coffee grounds on your pet before bathing to repel any fleas.

8. Remove furniture scratches with wet coffee grounds.

9. Use coffee grounds to repel ants. Cinnamon is also good for this.

10. Keep cats from leaving a little surprise in your garden by spreading used coffee grounds and orange peels throughout your beds or vegetable garden.

Know of any other uses for leftover coffee grounds that we didn’t mention here?  Make sure to put them in the comment section below!

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Posted in Beauty Care & Treatments, Body Scrubs, Budget Friendly Beauty Treatments, Cellulite Causes and Treatments, Green Living, Hair Treatments, Scandle Candle, Soy Candles, Valentine's Day, do it yourself | No Comments »

Pest Control with Mountain Dew…EEEEK!

January 4th, 2012

Seems that there is a new way to control rodents with little messy clean up…disolve them in Mountain Dew! Yup, you read it right folks! A little over a week ago, I read that Mountain Dew was confirmed to contain an element of flame retardant (brominated vegetable oil aka BVO) that is used to keep it’s flavoring. 

I know it’s lunch time here in Texas, so you may want to stop reading now!  Today I read that in 2008, Ronald Ball filed a $50,000 lawsuit against Pepsi Co (the maker of Mountain Dew) claiming that the can of Mountain Dew he drank had a mouse inside it.  Pepsi claims Ball has no proof that the mouse came from the can and in fact is claiming that it is impossible because based on the time the can was sealed to the time Ball actually took a sip (74 days) was long enough for the mouse to practically dissolve completely into a “jelly-like” substance.  Apparently the only thing that would not dissolve is the tail.  Ok…I’m about ready to lose my breakfast!

Pepsi’s claims point to the ingredient BVO.  Pepsi is saying that  if a mouse happened to get stuck during the bottling process of the drink, BVO and the acids in the soda would actually dissolve the mouse completely in about 30 days.  In fact, the mouse would slowly begin to breakdown in 4-7 days!  Wow, imagine what consumption of such a drink is doing to your insides folks?

Here are some more details from the Smoking Gun via a Pepsi representative:

If a mouse is submerged in Mountain Dew between four and seven days, the rodent “will have no calcium in its bones and bony structures.” During those days of soft drink immersion, “the mouse’s abdominal structure will rupture.” Additionally, “its cranial cavity (head) is also likely to rupture within that time period,” McGill noted.

After 30 days exposure to Mountain Dew, “all of the mouse’s structures” would have disintegrated to the point that it would not be recognizable. In fact, “the mouse will have been transformed into a ‘jelly-like’ substance.” The only part of the rodent that could possibly survive, added McGill, was “a portion of the tail.”

So there’s a yummy morsel of information for your lunch break from you friends at Scandle!;)  So what’s your take?  Will you continue to “Do the Dew” and drink BVO infused softdrinks?

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Posted in News, Scandle Candle, nutrition and food safety | No Comments »

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