what are soy candles?

Soy wax is a new alternative to paraffin wax, made from soybeans, is renewable and cost effective.  The soybeans are harvested, and then cleaned, cracked open, de-hulled, and rolled into flakes. The soybean oil is  extracted from the flakes and hydrogenated. This is the same way they make cooking oil, such as “vegetable shortening”. The hydrogenation process dramatically alters the melting point of the oil, making it a solid at room temperature.

The soybean is one of the most versatile products used today. It has been a high protein source for millions of people for thousands of years. Soybean wax also seems to be the most promising natural wax available.

Natural waxes such as soy waxes are gaining in popularity but natural waxes are not new. Beeswax and tallow were used in colonial times to produce candles. Beeswax is a great natural alternative to paraffin, but unfortunately, to get the same results as a soy-based candle, it is cost prohibitive to use 100% beeswax in candles.

Soy is in lots of things like body & skin care products, hair products, crayons, paint removers, and cleaning products. The production and burning of soy wax candles can greatly benefit the American agricultural economy. When soy wax replaces common paraffin wax, an estimated 60 million pounds of soy beans will be required for annual candle production. I predict we’ll see some happy farmers!

Soy candles last three times longer than petroleum-based candles, have an incredible scent throw with virtually no black soot.

We only source organic, non-gmo, pesticide free natural soy wax. Our Soy Candles never contain NO UNNECESSARY CHEMICAL ADDITIVES such as UV light reflectors and chemical wax stabilizers! Good for You – Good for our Earth.
Enjoy your Caterpillars Soy Candles!

Matt Flannery, CEO of Micro-loan company Kiva.org, see’s the key role small, women owned business plays in shaping a bright and promising future for All Humanity and is a big supporter of Independent Businesses

“We connected with Flannery to discuss how he perceives the current social media landscape, and why it has become so important to his personal mission of empowering entrepreneurship in the developing world.”

Q:The social web seems to be moving us toward a world of micro-communication and micro-communities. Do you see this as a parallel to the success of micro-finance?

A:Yes I do. I was just in New Orleans where our users gave loans to 14 small business entrepreneurs in the 7th and 9th ward — communities that have suffered greatly in the post-Katrina economy. On launch day, I watched the astonishment of these entrepreneurs as they witnessed their loans getting funded. It was hard for them, at first, to understand why people from Sweden to Seattle were reaching out to them with a helping hand. They slowly began to understand they were part of something greater — a global, digital community. I asked one of the women if it felt like pressure to pay them back. She said she wanted to pay back so that she could give an opportunity to another entrepreneur like herself. She wanted to give back. That’s a new twist on an ancient dynamic in the micro-finance movement. It was mutual reciprocity online. It could become a massive village bank. I’m excited. That’s why I do what I do.

~ Read the whole article at mashable

It is camping and hiking season, now is the time to remind your children of survival basics.

In almost any emergency, but especially in a survival situation, it is critical that you first S.T.O.P.

“S” is for Stop. Take a deep breath, sit down if possible, calm yourself and recognize that whatever has happened to get you here is past and cannot be undone. You are now in a survival situation and that means . . .”T” is for Think. Your most important asset is your brain. Use it! Don’t Panic! Move with deliberate care. Think first, so you have no regrets later. Take no action, even a foot step, until you have thought it through. Unrecoverable mistakes and injuries, potentially serious in a survival situation, occur when we act before we engage our brain. Then . . .

“O” is for Observe. Take a look around you. Assess your situation and options. Consider the terrain, weather and resources. Take stock of your supplies, equipment, surroundings, your personal capabilities and, if there are any, the abilities of your fellow survivors.

“P” is for Plan. Prioritize your immediate needs and develop a plan to systematically deal with the emergency and contingencies while conserving your energy. Then, follow your plan. Adjust your plan only as necessary to deal with changing circumstances.

YOU WILL SURVIVE!

It’s absolutely critical that you STAY PUT! If lost, the odds that you will find your way out are slim. If injured, you’ll only make it worse by trying to travel. If it’s just gotten late, you stand a good chance of getting lost in the darkness. However, if you stay put you will be found, likely in only a few hours. Don’t make it harder for searchers by moving around.

If you are with another person or a group, always stay together. Do not separate, do not split up, and never move out of sight or hearing of each other.

When you are noticed missing, others will start to search for you immediately. Before long a lot of volunteers and professional search and rescue people will join in the search. All you have to do is stay safe and stay put and they will find you.

There are only a few fundamentals to wilderness survival. You must maintain your body temperature at or near 98.6 degrees (fahrenheit). Too cold (hypothermia) or too hot (hyperthermia) and you can die. You need to conserve energy. Don’t waste it by “doing” before “thinking.” Water is vital for your body and mind to function properly. You need both working as good as possible. Finally, remember that your only responsibilities are to stay alive, and if at all possible, make yourself easier to find by actively working at attracting attention to yourself.

For more survival tips visit this site

or check out the “idiots guide to camping, hiking and the great outdoors“

Chasing Green Blog recommends our eco-friendly candles.. “Aerosol spray air fresheners are particularly bad because they produce tiny droplets that are easily inhaled and absorbed into the body. In addition, their propellants are usually butane and propane, which are flammable and toxic to the nerves at high levels. Aerosol air fresheners have also been linked to documented cases of headaches, ear infections, even diarrhea. Another worry is that small children might be tempted to taste air fresheners that smell like fruit or candy.

Candles are generally made from paraffin, which is a non-renewable petroleum product that causes pollution in its production. The indoor air pollution caused by lit candles can also trigger allergies and asthma: you breathe what you burn…Instead of traditional paraffin candles, look for soy or beeswax candles scented with essential oils. Visit CaterpillarsCandles.com to choose your perfect scent” … read full article here

~To achieve your dreams remember your *ABC’s*:

* A-void negative sources,things,places,people and habits.

* B-elieve in yourself.

* C-onsider things from every angle.

* D-on’t give up and don’t give in.

* E-njoy life today.Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come.

* F-amily and friends are hidden treasure.Seek them and enjoy their riches.

* G-ive more than you planned to.

* H-ang on to your dreams.

* I-gnore those who try to discourage you.

* J-ust do it!

* K-eep trying no matter how hard it seems,it will get easier.

* L-ove yourself first and most!

* M-ake it happen!

* N-ever lie,cheat or steal, always strike a fair deal!

* O-pen your eyes and see things as they really are.

* P-ractice makes perfect!

* Q-uitters never win and winners never quit!

* R-ead,study and learn about everything important in your life.

* S-top procrastinating.

* T-ake control of your own destiny.

* U-nderstand yourself in order to better understand others.

* V-isualize it.

* W-ant it more than anything!

* X-ccelerate your efforts

* Y-ou are unique of all of Nature’s creations.Nothing can replace you.

* Z-ero in on your target, and go for it!!

We’ve done it again – just when you finally made it through our entire scent list, test-sniffing them all, we’ve gone and added more! Many, many new fragrances are on the menu! Preview descriptions below – now where’s that scratch and sniff monitor?

Scent	Description
Alethea’s Dream	Romantic notes of soft floral jasmine intertwine with sultry vanilla. Best Seller!
Angel Baby Powder	Soft powdery floral scent – with a strong scent throw! Smells just like a new baby!
August Sunset	A clean smell of the ocean with hints of jasmine, rose & undertones of musk.
Basil Sage Mint	Triple treat perfect blend of Basil Sage & Mint
BenCates	Lemon, lime, grapefruit, kiwi with vanilla, musk & cedarwood. A familiar men’s fragrance from the 1950′s.
Black Raspberry	A luscious blend of raspberries, strawberries, coconut, lemon, peach and vanilla
Cabernet	A sweet, fruity, floral blend where the top is clean and fresh with notes of peach, apple and leafy greens. The heart blends jasmine, fresh mountain air, ferns, lavender, rose and lily. The base is cashmere and sandalwood. To me, upon first whiff, this smells a lot like cabernet, it get’s a lot more muskier and yet fruity while burning. It’s very complex and a definite must have in your candle collection.
Carlotta’s Choice	An amazing blend of cherries and almonds – Almonds and cherries share a lot of the same aromachemicals, if you like amaretto, then definitely give this one a try.
Chocolate Brownie	Fresh baked brownies, with chocolate chips and chocolate sauce – satisfy your sweet tooth with zero calories
Cinnamon Apples	Decadent baked apples with warm spicy cinnamon.
Citronella	Sweet, woodsy, grassy citronella
Citrus and Sage	Combine sicilian lemon, ruby red grapefruit, traditional sage and basil leaves and you’ve got the base of this fantastic fragrance.
Cinnamon Glazed Baklava!	This smells so much like cinnamon glazed baklava! Definite top notes of cinnamon and then you can really pick up the baked phyllo dough, top it off with some vanilla icing, and you’ve got a fantastic, realistic fragrance. If you like cinnamon rolls type scents you’ll love this one!
Clean Cotton	Imagine freshly washed sheets that have been hanging out on the line during a warm summer day.
Cleopatra’s Champa	Traditional East Indian Nag Champa incense scent without the smoke! An exotic bouquet  of amber, musk, ylang-ylang, violet & clove. Super STRONG & very much like the incense.
Cloves	Super spicy cloves touched with a kiss of sandalwood
Coconut	Freshly cracked coconut
Cool Citrus Basil	Cool and seductive notes of basil and fresh citrus
Country Spice	Fabulous blend of gingerbread, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange, pumpkin with ground cinnamon, cloves and a slight hint of vanilla. Perfect fall and holiday fragrance.
Creme Brulee	A buttery, creamy bouquet with a rich vanilla background – just like the dessert.
Cucumber Melon	Unforgettable fresh combination of crisp cucumber & sweet green melon.
Day at the Beach	Blend raspberry, pommelo, peony, french lavender & sandalwood.
Gardenia	True, Hawaiian Gardenia.  My mothers favorite fragrance.
Fireside	A spicy hot blend of cinnamon and cloves
Fresh Cut Christmas Tree	Tromping out into the snow, picking out your favorite tree, touching the branches, chop, chop, chop, oh the smell of a freshly cut fir tree!
Fresh Squeezed Orange	The tangy aroma of a freshly peeled and juiced orange.
Gardenia	True, soft hawaiian gardenia.
Ginger Orange	Freshly squeezed orange juice, spicy ginger, a hint of cinnamon and balsam spruce.
Gingerbread	You can’t catch me, I’m the gingerbread man…Chomp! Yummy fresh baked gingerbread cookies.
Grapefruit	Very strong and citrusy freshly cut grapefruit.
Green Tea Blend	Soft, young green tea leaves combine with raspberry, pineapple and nectarine.
Harvest	A spicy blend of cinnamon, clove bud, a slight hint of orange on a dry bed of musk – the christmas tree hints are missing out of this scent – its more of a fall/harvest type fragrance.
Holiday Splendor	A very spicy accord, with notes of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, a ever so slight hint of mint with a base of pine and christmas tree.  This screams “holidays are here!”
Home for the holidays	Freshly cut tree with cinnamon and cloves
Island Breeze	Fresh ripe strawberries, coconut milk, pineapple juice, grapefruit and slight apple tones mingle in this tropical drink type scent.
Jasmine	Soft, romantic Jasmine blossoms wafting in the breeze.
Lavender	True, authentic medicinal lavender scent.
Lavender & Vanilla	Lavender & vanilla – like the fabric softener
Lavender Peppermint	A pleasant combination of peppermint and lavender which are simultaneously soothing and uplifting.
Lemon Eucalyptus	A cool medicinal combination of Eucalyptus and lemon peel, with soft undertones of rose, lilac and lavender.
Lemongrass	The wonderful, fresh, tart smell of cut lemongrass
Montage	An exotic fruity floral type with sweet berry and citrus top notes, a soft white floral middle note and a musky woody base note. It is also divine! It’s in the same field as the original Clairol® herbal essence fragrance.
Mulled Cider	After hours of seeping fresh juicy apples with cinnamon, anise and clove this heart warming fragrance comes to life! A year round best seller!
Oatmeal, Milk & Honey	A fantasy blend with light sweet almond, combined with hearty wheat notes of oatmeal, vanilla and some musk.
Ocean Mist	Sicilian orange peel and blossoms, star jasmine, white cedar and a dry down of musk – fresh and clean smelling.
Patchouli	The groovy aroma of pressed patchouli leaves.
Peace	White musk top notes, citrus, bergamot, jasmine & soft violet middle tones, with white lillies and a slight vanilla ylang ylang base.
Peppermint	Potent minty fragrance traditionally used to soothe aches and pains.
Potion For Passion	A romantic & exotic blend of Red Pomegranate, Black Currant, & Patchouli. This scent is very strong and very seductive!.
Pumpkin Pie Spice	Rich pumpkin pie with extra spice. Bring the holidays home year-round with this delightful fragrance.
Really Rhubarb	Fresh from the oven rhubarb crisp sweetened with honey and topped with brown sugar crumbles – delicious!
Silvery Sage™	A horseback ride through the country… Fresh leafy herbal notes through-out with a heart of cedar & lavender with a base of subtle patchouli & musk. Fresh & crafted exclusively for Caterpillars!
Sweet Pea	Soft & musky feminine floral with a slightly fruity smell. Top notes of delicate sweet pea, a slight middle dried fruit note with a trailer of hyacinth & leafy greens.
Tuscan Garden	How to describe this one… Imagine yourself in a lovely tuscan garden sitting below a pear tree with juicy pears on it, surrounded by beds of blooming cucumbers and tomato plants. It’s kind of like that. A very herbaceous and fresh smelling scent with a slight hint of fresh fruit.
Vanilla	A rich, full-bodied creamy vanilla.
Vanilla Sugar	A delicious blend of brown sugar, sweet vanilla, toasted pecans, with mid tones of sandalwood and cinnamon and a base of amber and musk.
White Linen	A nice clean floral blend reminiscent of clean laundry
White Tea & Gardenia	Tahitian Gardenia sweet lilly, and citrus peel combine with tea leaves, green notes and an ever so slight hint of musk.

I cannot even begin to fathom how it is that the army corp of engineers has been allowed to drag their feet like they are. This is despicable! There are so many solutions that have come forth, to clear up the oil, that are NON TOXIC and BIODEGRADABLE or RENEWABLE. Straw will soak up oil, HAIR will soak up oil, both of which can be raked off the beaches… I ask our government – What the hell is going on? Leaders don’t drag their feet, they take action, make decisions and get things done. You are our leaders, and we the people demand action TODAY!

Here is the latest scoop -Jefferson Parish Homeland security director Deano Banano stated that he was warned that because of his actions monday that military troops could be sent to arrest him and parish president Nungesser!!! Wow – sounds like they’re really interested in doing the right thing – haha that’s a joke by the way. And not very funny either. I love this man, if the “leaders” of our country, oh excuse me, the Great Corporation of America, were like him, this would be well on its way to being resolved.

Imagine curing cancer without Chemo or radiation, naturally, with baking soda? No, I’m not making this up! Dr. Simoncini has been successfully treating cancer with a sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) solution.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have adopted a pro-corporate position that laughably claims labeling GM/GE foods creates the “false” impression that “that the labeled food is in some way different from other foods.” [1]  Even worse, the current U.S. draft position paper declares that mandatory labeling laws such as they have in Europe are “false, misleading or deceptive.“ [2]

On May 3rd, Obama administration officals from the FDA and  USDA will travel to Canada for a special United Nations meeting to tell the world to adopt the same position, preventing other countries from rightly labeling GMOs as different from fresh, natural food.

Sign this petition now before the deadline on Monday.