7 Reason Why Soy Candles are Better Featuring Firefly Candles Co

Firefly Candles Company is a small candle company that specializes in soy candles. The candles are made by Jennifer Davis, who lived in Greece before moving to Hilton Head Island, SC. She is extremely health conscious, which is why she started making only soy candles.

Why Soy?

1. Soy Burns Longer

Even though soy candles do cost more than an average candle, they are still comparable to Yankee Candle prices. When you factor in how long they last, you are actually saving more getting a soy candle.

2. Soy Doesn't Interfere with the Smell of your Meal

When you burn that pumpkin spice candle from Bath & Body Works, you are releasing chemicals that overpower the scent of your food. Burning soy candles leaves a nice smell in the room, but doesn't take away the smell of the sweet pie you just baked.

3. Soy is Sustainable

Unlike paraffin, that is in most generic candles, soy is a renewable resource.

4. Soy is Better for Your Health

Soy burns cleaner and produces less that 90 percent less soot than normal candles. This reduces the amount of indoor air pollution.

5. Soy Helps U.S. Farmers

The US is the number one producer of soy in the world. When you buy products that contain soy, you are supporting American farmers.

6. Soy Candles are Safer

Soy has soft wax, meaning that taper are nearly impossible to find. In traditional candles, tapers can tip over easily and cause a fire. Avoid the fire hazard all together and go soy.

7. Soy Candles are Non-Toxic

Since these candles are made from vegetable oil and not petroleum oil, they release no known carcinogens into the air.

How to Dress Like Your Favorite Starbucks Drink

Sadly, Starbucks is a little out of my price range, but maybe the fact that I can match my drink with my shoes might make me a regular. Too bad for my paycheck.

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Even though pumpkin spice has become kind of a cliché, I still can't go through fall without having one.

DBC Tip* If you're looking for a great way to get pumpkin spice coffee, everyday, you have to check out the latte mix at Trader Joe's. It's life changing.  

You and your drink gotta match right?  Pumpkin spice would wear a rich orange dress, with a dark green or brown jacket representing your stem.  

Dress:Top Shop

Jacket:Back Country

Iced Coffee

Even though it is starting to get colder, I don't think that means that iced coffee season has to end.  For you ice coffee lovers try cold brew coffee. 

Even though you like to come off like a bad ass drinking your iced coffee, we all know that the second you leave the counter you add all that sugar and cream.  

Tunic: Revolve

Jeans:Top Shop

Green Tea Frappuccino

One of my personal favorites at Starbucks and not just because it contains a lot of whipped cream. This drink is absolutely amazing, you wouldn't think green tea and white chocolate would be a good combo before drinking this.  

Even though you like the earthy taste of the green tea, you still love the coziness of the white chocolate add in. For your outfit you will express the green tea with colorful assets, but you can't be complete without a cozy sweater.  

Jacket: Anthropologie

Sweater: AE

Passion Fruit Lemonade

Whether it is the middle of the summer, or the middle of January, you can't seem to go a week without having this colorful Starbucks drink.  

Much like your drink, you will also be sporting bright colors. Much like your drink, your outfit features different shades of the same color.  

Jacket: H & M

Skirt: Nordstrom

Iced Green Tea

You are like the green tea frappuccino drinkers, but a little more earthy. You like to attend all your yoga classes, not just signup and get the cute clothing. (No judgment, that's totally me).

Like your drink you like to stay light and easy.  You are wearing a nice flower shirt with natural flowers.  Your green scandals match the stems of the flowers on your shirt. 

Kimono:ASOS

Peppermint Mocha

Even though it is still not yet your season, this drink is coming sooner than you think.  Sooner rather than later it will be red cup day at starbucks.  

Like your drink, you want to express your red color without using a powerful shade. Instead, you choose a rich shade and match it with a dark pair of tights.  

Dress:Macys

Chai Tea Latte

Your day isn't complete without a little Netflix marathon, curled up in a blanket, with your chai tea by your side. Sounds like a perfect life to me.

You like to be cozy and relaxed. Your outfit is going to be comfy, but also very chic. Yes, you may thought the combination was nearly impossible, but it is not. Just match your comfy sweaters with stylish accessories.  

Sweater: Back Country

Boots: Urban Outfitters

Pink Parchment Soaps Review

There are three things I miss from being at home: my dog Bela, real food, and being able to take a warm bath. Pink Parchment Soaps is a family owned company which makes homemade products from Rochester Hills. MI.

What I Got 

Vanilla Bean Bath Bomb

 One of the best parts of fall semester at UVM is we get a one week break for Thanksgiving. So when all my friends are at school still studying, I'm home enjoying a bath with a sweet bath bomb. The best part of this bath bomb was the smell. Taking seven classes, having a part time job, and being an officer of a start up club, with also finding a place to live next year, I've never experienced so much stress. This bath bomb was the perfect little escape without having to leave the house.

Cucumber Melon Bath Bomb  

Ever since I did my bulk buy of Bath and Body Works a few years ago, I've been obsessed with cucumber melon.  How I describe this smell is it’s the perfect zen and natural scent.  This bath bomb is perfect when you are in the mood to do yoga, but yoga just seems like too much work.  Nothing is more relaxing than a hot bath, covering your eyes with some fresh cucumbers and pretending you're at a spa.  

Pumpkin Spice Shea Butter Soap  

I kinda hate a little that pumpkin has become basic. I think pumpkin is amazing and if anyone thinks that I have pumpkin spice soap in my bathroom, you just haven't smelt it yet. This soap is perfect to get you in the fall mood.

Autumn Outfits

It seems like with the horrible winter we had last year, mother nature has graced us with a nice warm fall. Here are a couple outfit ideas for you this fall:

Jean Shirt

A jean shirt is a perfect way to add warmth to an outfit; especially, if the weather is like it was this past week. A light sweater was even too warm.  

 Long Cardigan 

Long cardigans are perfect for those days when you just want to relax, but also look like you didn't take five minutes to get ready.  This is perfect because all you need to find is a tank and cover it with the sweater.   

Sweater Dress

I am so in love with sweater dresses, but sadly I don't even have one.  I guess it's true you love the things you can't have.  Also, I think over the knee leather boots look great with them.   

Flannel and Leather

This is the classic fall outfit because flannels are the best thing since sliced bread.  You can sleep in them, wake up for class, and go.  As long as you remember to brush your hair and teeth, you're good.   

Boho Dress

Dresses are one part I love about summer and even though the warm weather is coming to an end, it doesn't mean you have to put away all your dresses.  You should put away the ones that are more bright and flowery, but keep the ones with the neutral colors.  

 High Waisted Midi Skirt

Midi skirts became popular over the summer and transitioned into a little longer high waisted version for fall.

For all the times that you made me feel small

There’s this quote I saw on Instagram, “we will never understand black holes. Or why women fall madly in love with douchebags.”

When I left my last relationship I promised myself I would never fall down that dark hole again, but like most promises, it was broken. The thing was you never were a douchebag, until months after we ended. We met, became friends; you were never rude, nothing but caring, and friendly to me, leading up to when we tried “us”. Everything fit for a bit, then quickly broke apart.

Last summer was honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. My sucky second semester which started as getting over my ex, spending my Friday nights avoiding my friends and watching Nashville turned into the point where I was extremely happy again. The summer was my new beginning with new friends and even working for a baseball team - my life was sweet. Everything was different and I loved it. After Spoon Vermont became successful, everything in my life was falling together. I had everything; great friends, school was good, and my club was starting to see some real progress. The last thing on my mind was being with someone. Being with you was the last thing I thought would ever cross my mind months later.  

This brings up the question: How can I, someone who has their life completely together, be thinking about you at 11 on a Tuesday as I write this to try to forget you? Maybe it’s because when I was with you everything seemed to fall together. My life is complicated and I’ve been hurt by the people I trusted the most. Letting you in, trusting you, wasn’t something I saw as easy. Nothing was easy in my life. Everything was over-thought, but with you, I forgot about everything. When I was with you everything flowed perfectly. I had you and I thought I had the power. My biggest worry was hurting you, not the other way around. My life was on track, running two successful websites at 19, happy and comfortable with who I was. Still, I keep checking my phone for maybe a message from you, but why?

You are now dating someone, but continue to text me that you’re unhappy after I tell you that hearing about you and your girlfriend hurts me. You come over to help me with something, and act like someone who doesn’t have a girlfriend only to bring me down more. Being with you was different, it was normal, and felt like it was something that was meant to happen.

When I first saw you this year I remember telling my friend, “I don’t care on whether or not this happens, because I could never fall for him, he’s not my person”.

The annoying things you would do when we were friends became weirdly adorable and something I miss. The thing about all douchebags is they know how to talk. They know how to make you feel liked, cared for, and as though you have all the power. The thing was I actually had no power. Not even a fraction of it. When one little thing went wrong, I fell to you for forgiveness. I said sorry for things when I knew I did nothing even remotely wrong, just to make you happy. I gave into you and forgot my promises and my beliefs.  

When I think about everything I can’t think of one thing I’ll miss the most about it, because I’ll miss all of it. I’ll miss you always being there, all the weird shit you would do that I’d find hilarious, and being able to show an emotion that wasn’t stress. You were my break from reality and when I was with you nothing else seemed to matter. Everything would get done and I would still be able to break away a little and see you.  

The worst part was that last night; I’ll always remember how stupidly happy I was with you. When we were together, I had no idea everything would turn into a complete mess.  Everything now is either completely upside down, or reminds me of times when those weird things you do used to make me laugh. You’re like a temporary douchebag. You care for people up to a certain extent and when it’s convenient to you. During that time you’re great, but when you don’t need someone anymore, you’ll drop them and only pick them up when you miss someone caring about you.  

When you don’t need me, you can’t be bothered. When I need you everything is a challenge to get one word out -- it’s hostile and dramatic. When you need me, I have to take it. If I don’t, I’m not a good person, not a good friend. I take in your pain and problems even when it is not my responsibility anymore, but your girlfriend can’t be bothered with it.  

After all this time, why do I still think about you? I wonder if you’re ok, I wonder if you care.  But if you cared, I would know. If you have to question about if the people in your life care about you, then I don’t believe they do. It’s the honest truth, it’s better to cut the people out of your life that do not care if you leave anyway. 

Nourish Organic Review

To say “I'm in love with Nourish Organic” would be more of an understatement than “Kanye West loves himself”. Their products are more expensive than drugstores, but are comparable to Bath and Body Works. Yes, Bath and Body Works smells great when you walk in, but their products are filled with harmful chemicals.  

What I love about Nourish Organic is they are completely organic and have no harmful ingredients. When buying beauty products, looking at the label is very important. The reason being because products that supposedly "moisturize" and "smooth" most likely have harmful chemicals.  

What I Got:

Body Lotion - Lavender Mint

This is the perfect on-the-go lotion. This lotion is very light and smells great. The weather in Burlington was uncharacteristically warm this year, which made it too hot to wear pants.  The problem being, when it's cold one week, you don't think too much about your dry skin because your skin is covered in layers. This is the perfect lotion to keep on your counter to quickly put on before you go out.

Replenishing Argan Oil

Even though having beautiful skin is very important, my hair is always my number one priority. I make sure it looks healthy and not like I just rolled out of bed. This product is great because you can use it for your hair but also for your face and body.

For hair: Use as a hot oil treatment. Hot oil treatments are the best way to seal split ends and make the way to having healthy hair. If you don't have a way to heat the oil, just use your hands.  Most of the time it's better because I always leave the oil in the microwave for too long.

For face and body: Use as a light moisturizer. For you body, apply to damp skin after a shower.  My favorite is to use this oil as a hand moisturizer. Your hands are mostly affected by the harsh winds and this helps them from becoming dry and cracked. For you face, apply a small amount.  This is an oil, which means it will make your skin oily. I naturally have oily skin, so if you're like me, only apply at night.  

Apricot and Rosehip Argan Face Serum

One of my biggest worries in school is that after a long day in the library, I look like a zombie.  Doing homework for hours can make you look stressed and exhausted. This serum is great to make your face look renewed through hydrating and replenishing your skin.  

Avocado and Argan Eye Cream

As an insomniac I get about three hours of sleep a night, if I'm lucky. If I can find a product that helps my eyes look a little less like I've been up all night, it becomes my best friend. This product is great if you do wake up with puffy eyes in the morning because it is a great fast absorbing liquid.  

Shea Butter

Not only is this butter organic, it is also fair trade certified. Fair trade is when a fair price is made to producers in developing countries. I learned about fair trade last year when I was volunteering, it was something I didn't know much about, but it is a great cause to support. Fair trade helps producers make a living in developing country to help build a life.  

This butter is not like normal body butters. When I opened it I was a little surprised. This butter has more of a texture of coconut oil. It's great that this is more of a rich substance because it is more hydrating to your skin because it is more concentrated. My advice for using this is use it before bed, the reason being is it takes a little longer to put on and is more oily.  

What to Bring as a Guest to Thanksgiving

I don't think anyone knows how pumped I am for it to be Thanksgiving. There's something amazing about eating dinner in the middle of the day while also watching football. Here's a list of gifts you should bring if you're a guest at someone's Thanksgiving.

1. Wine 

You can never go wrong with bringing a bottle of pinot. The host is stressed out about so much at Thanksgiving, coming with a little stress reliever is the perfect gift.

2. App, Side Dish, Or Dessert 

The hosts main goal is the tuckey and the gravy. It's always nice to have a multitude of sides and desserts. Bringing something to feed the other guests is a very nice gesture.

3. Something For the Next Morning 

After spending all day making sure the turkey is cooked perfectly, the last thing the host is worried about is making something for breakfast the next day.  Bring some scones or muffins, for the host.

4. Board Game 

I don't know about your family, but my family’s Thanksgiving is not complete without a little round of Monopoly.  Even if your Thanksgiving is all adults, Will and Grace charades always looked like a blast.

5. A Gift for the Host 

Lastly, a great gesture would be to bring a little something for the host.  It doesn't have to be something big, but enough to show you appreciate all the hard work they do.