I have my very own candles that are much too pretty to burn. Some cost a lot of money. For now they will remain as home decor items -- to be displayed and admired :-)
Some Candles Are Too Pretty to Burn—Or Are They? We tested them out so you don’t have to. (by Domino Magazine )
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BELLE MORIZIO
“If you love something, let it go,” goes the old adage—but yet we cling to certain trendy, sculptural candles without so much as lifting a match in their general direction. The prospect of setting them aflame feels risky and bittersweet, their beauty suddenly made temporary. But let’s not get overdramatic.Candles are made to be burned—so if you’ve been worried about exactly how that one shaped like a tiny person will look once you’ve lit it, never fear: We found out for you.
If you’re hesitating to light that multicolored pillar, that pastel blob, or that impressive bust, here’s what you can expect nine of the coolest options to look like after five hours of being lit. Not all of the candles withstood this test of time, but rest assured—it’s mesmerizing to watch regardless.
Burn time: 75 minutesThe meltdown: Dramatic and fast—with a total of five wicks (one in each finger, except the middle, plus one in the palm), this anatomically accurate candle pooled into a dark teal puddle, with a just barely thereskeleton remaining.Should you burn it? Only if you’re willing to let it go after one burn (perhaps during a gothic dinner party?)—otherwise keep those matches away.
Burn time: Five hours and counting The meltdown: Way better than anticipated—this one had a slow dissolution (Marie’s head was left largely intact) with no errant wax spills whatsoever. Should you burn it? Sure! We can’t help but imagine how spooky it would look halfway melted down. Admittedly, though, this candle is on the pricier side, so if you want to keep it as a sculpture, that’s a fair call, too.
Burn time: Five hours and countingThe meltdown: Very gradual, with a satisfying trickle that doesn’t take away from its shape.Should you burn it? Definitely. This candle by Michele Oka Doner certainly looks intriguing in its pristine condition, but a little bit of drippage adds to the character of its ridges.
Burn time: Five hours and counting The meltdown: It kept its shape well, with just a slight circular indentation forming around the wick. Should you burn it? Absolutely. This orb is even more alien-like when you put it to use.
Burn time: Five hours and countingThe meltdown: Quite tidy (there was only one small spill down the side). Should you burn it? Though its intricate design makes it seem like it might liquefy into an amorphous glob, its nubby sides hold up.
Burn time: Five hours and countingThe meltdown: Delightfully drippy, taking its time before blurring the layers.Should you burn it? Yes. Part of the fun is seeing how its colors collide.
Burn time: Five hours and countingThe meltdown: Smooth, slower than expected, and fuss-free—it looks exactly the same as it did preburn, just shorter.Should you burn it? Definitely. This vibrant, twisty option is a fun alternative to your go-to tapers.
Burn time: 90 minutesThe meltdown: Faster than expected—the pillars crashed into each other and eventually pooled onto the tabletop.Should you burn it? In short increments, if at all. Since it’s gone in a blink, it might be best used as a sculptural element in a tablescape—no fire necessary.
Burn time: Five hours and countingThe meltdown: Neat and perfectly even.Should you burn it? Totally—with its stately structure, brass base, and substantial life span (about 25 hours total), this piece is a great 24-7 dining table fixture. Who says you can’t eat dinner by candlelight every night?
Wow. I never knew such a house could be possible in the PI. Wealth on display by a seemingly pleasant, down-to-earth couple who are not from a line of entrenched, corrupt, wealthy family of Politicians. Made possible by a life of excellence and hard work; and a hard-earned degree in Architecture.
Sorry for her choice of words .... So I’m sitting there playing with Lenny as you do..until something on the floor caught my attention. I had no idea what it was, so I picked him up and put him outside to assess the situation further. I had a closer look only to discover what was his nose that had fallen off and was just lying there on the floor. His actual nose was on the fucking floor. I started freaking out thinking he’s never going to sniff piss again on his walks and I know he loves doing that, I was thinking he must be in pain, I was also thinking how on earth am I going to tell my mum that whilst in my care - the dogs nose has managed to fall off.
Anyway, I eventually plucked up the courage to pick it up because I thought nah surely not, this cannot be...only to then realize he’s bitten the nose off one of his soft toys and his nose still remains. Lennys nose is in full working order and completely attached to his face, where it should be. Thank fuck for that. Need a beer or 10 after that moment of panic👃🏼🐶🍻
Get Fit in 5 Minutes a Day. (Yes, 5 Minutes.) byHARLEY PASTERNAK
Now that we’ve gone over healthy eating habits, it’s time to move onto something weightier—strength training.
Strength training, or resistance exercise as I prefer to call it, is when a muscle or muscle group works against a certain resistance (dumbbells, body weight, water etc…) for a short period of time. Think: push-ups, squats, bench press.
When done consistently, resistance exercise has the power to transform your body from the inside out. Besides developing stronger, more defined muscles, research shows that strength training can also help raise your metabolism—meaning your body burns more calories at rest—increase bone density (fewer fractures!), improve balance and coordination, and increase insulin sensitivity. But many people still don’t do it. Why? I uncovered five common reasons:
They don’t have time.
They don’t have or can’t afford a gym membership.
They don’t have the know-how to do a complex program.
They’re intimidated by the images they see in infomercials for workouts such as Insanity or P90X.
They have been injured or are afraid of getting injured.
To combat these concerns, I kept two questions in mind as I did fitness research for my book 5 Pounds: What are the most effective exercises necessary to achieve the greatest results and what is the least amount of exercise you need to do to maximize results?
After months of study, two surprising truths emerged:
Short, intensive workouts are more effective than longer, endurance-focused workouts.
Variety is as essential as intensity to getting results.
Take this study published BioMed Research International as an example. Researchers divided a group of young men into two groups: One performed one six-rep set of nine upper body exercises three times a week; the other group did three six-rep sets of the same exercises. At the end of eight weeks, all participants experienced similar increases in strength but the one-set group—who spent nearly 70 percent less time exercising—lost significantly more body fat than the three-set group.
Seventy percent less time exercising! Imagine what you could do with that time. Actually don’t. Start experiencing it. The fitness portion of My 5 plan was created with this “less is more” philosophy in mind.
Here’s how it works: Do one resistance exercise for about five minutes, seven days a week.
That’s it.
Focusing on just one exercise a day works because you’re still able to generate enough intensity to break down muscle fibers and have enough time afterward to let them recover, which is when the fibers rebuild stronger and denser than they were before.
Get started with this 5-minute workout. Over time, as you get stronger, you’ll want to increase the weight you use and the time you spend exercising—but don’t worry, it will always be manageable.
As far as aesthetics go, copper is easily the most versatile member of the metal family. It can appear soft and playful when paired with pink furnishings, or edgy and industrial in the form of a range hood and exposed pipes. But there’s another reason to love the finish. A March report from the National Institutes of Health revealed that COVID-19 is detectable for only up to four hours on copper, compared to two or three days on plastic and stainless steel. In a time when touching doorknobs feels, well, risky, this news has us considering making simple swaps in the future. And we’re not the only ones.
According to a SeptemberNew York Times story, Manhattan real-estate developers, like Gotham Organization and Kuafu Properties, are updating their appliances, hardware, and even workout equipment with copper-based upgrades. (Alchemy, for one, went with antimicrobial barbells, dumbbells, weight machines, and kettlebells from Black Iron Strength.) If you live in a house or if your building manager hasn’t quite caught on to the data, switching our your metals is an easy fix you can tackle on your own. Bookmark these products for a healthier home this flu season and beyond.
We first saw the copper kitchen trend this past spring, when fashion designer Alexa Chung decided to put a copper sink, faucet, and backsplash in her London office kitchen. When paired with rich blue or forest green Shaker-style cabinets, the material reads old-world, though it could easily skew contemporary alongside Carrara marble countertops and open oakwood shelves.
pc: Sinkology
Dress up a basic IKEA credenza with Pottery Barn’s sleek pulls, or if shiny isn’t your thing, go dark with a vintage-looking bar cart to safely serve your drinks. If you lead an active lifestyle, don’t forget to upgrade your weights—Iron Strength’s kettlebells come in antimicrobial copper perfect for fighting off germs.
JONI has a birthday (October 15th)! She became permanently permanently paralyzed from a diving accident while a vibrant, active 17-year old. She has never been not-dependent on the kindness and care of others since then. She also recently had bouts with cancer. Now, she's 71 years old. Who can bear this kind of Life? What has given Joni hope and sustained her through the years? No one and nothing but the power of the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth in her. She is looking forward to someday "dancing" up in heaven.
I had previously paid it no heed to this brand, but voila -- I've learned to luv and seek GOYA Foods at the grocery stores simply because several big-mouth Liberals had suddenly taken to hating the brand and calling for a boycott. Why? For the simple reason that CEO Robert Unanue praised President Trump-- imagine that!
At a July 2020 White Houseroundtable event with PresidentDonald Trump, Goya Foods Co-Owner and CEO Robert Unanue praised Trump, saying that the country was "truly blessed [...] to have a leader like President Trump, who is a builder". He drew a comparison between Trump and his immigrant grandfather, the founder of the company, saying "that’s what my grandfather did. He came to this country to build, to grow and to prosper. And we have an incredible builder and we pray, we pray for our leadership, our president and for our country, that we continue to prosper and to grow". In response, there were calls from some members of the public and current and former Democratic elected officials calling for a boycott of the brand. Unanue called the boycott "suppression of speech" and declined to walk back his comments. In response, a man from Virginia raised over $77,000 to buy Goya products and donate them to food pantries; Goya itself said it gave 2 million pounds of food for those affected by COVID-19(via wikipedia)
I'm not old enough to be in a political party but I have been an American citizen since I was born. This is not about the president. This is about being an American. The CEO of Goya Foods called our president a leader and like him or not that is what a president is. But because some people hate him they told every one to boycott this company. It is an American company. It is the biggest minority owned company. They have lots of minorities that work there. Even in the Coronavirus they kept over 4000 people working. They donated over a million pounds of food to food pantries in American cities for Americans who can't buy food and lots of them are minorities. A boycott of Goya does not hurt the president it hurts an American company. It also could make Americans not have jobs. It also can make hungry people not have food. A true American does not do this to other Americans. It is wrong and mean and also people have a right to free speech even if you do not like it. So I used my money and my parents gave me money to buy lots of Goya stuff and donate it to food pantries. Because I am an American and I love Americans and guess what I don't care if this food feeds democrats or republicans. We are all American and that is what should matter. - J Fleming
Great article! There was already recessed lighting in the Living Room of this house from when we were considering purchasing it many years ago -- one of the house's many appealing aspects. Nothing could compare to its modern vibe. During our recent renovations, we had additional recessed lighting installed in our kitchen and two bathrooms. Other than skylights, we wanted changes that promoted brightness and lots of light.
What to Know About Installing Recessed Lighting - byHOUZZ.com
Find out what can-light installation costs, how long it takes and what types of lights would work for your home
Installing recessed lighting is a wonderful way to improve both the look and function of your home. But it’s not something most homeowners will want to tackle themselves, given the dangers in handling electrical wire as well as the changes in lighting that have taken place in recent years.
A professional lighting designer orelectrician can help you decide how many recessed lights you’ll need and what type, and will make sure they’re appropriately installed. Here’s an overview of how to install recessed lighting by working with a pro, plus a short guide to the types of lights you may be considering.
What Is a Recessed Light? Recessed lighting, also known as can or pot lighting, is a type of downlighting that sits flush or nearly flush with the ceiling. The lights consist of a housing, which is the portion that inserts into the ceiling, and the trim, which is the part you can see when the light is installed. Some recessed cans work with only a specific type of bulb — such as incandescent or LED — while others work with a variety of bulbs. Some recessed cans come with the light bulb included while many others do not. A pro can quickly help you decide which type of recessed can light is right for your room.
How Much Does It Cost to Install Recessed Lighting? Professional electricians typically charge $125 to $200 per installed light, including both labor and materials. A good electrician can install up to 12 can lights in a single day. Lighting designers charge a design fee, which can be an hourly rate ($125 to $250 is common) or a flat project rate that could be $2,500 or more. Some lighting designers who sell products may offer a discount on their design work if you buy through them, but those who do should not be considered independent and are more likely to recommend their own products.
The assessment. The first step is for an electrician or lighting designer to assess your home. Lighting designers have sophisticated knowledge about the types of recessed (and other) lights available and the effects they create. Lighting is an area where regulations as well as products are constantly changing, so the expertise of a designer can be helpful in ensuring that your lights, wiring and dimmers are all compatible and built to last. A lighting designer may develop a plan for your lights based off blueprints or may visit your home, or both.
Whether you work with a lighting designer or not, you’ll certainly work with an electrician. Electricians can install the lights and recommend specific lights for your situation, often based on the type of product they prefer to work with. In the initial home visit your electrician will evaluate the height and slope of your ceiling, whether it has insulation and whether there is accessible space (like an attic) above it. The electrician will also find the nearest power source and determine how much power is available on the nearest line. The pro will likely also measure the room, says David Glover, journeyman electrician with Pacific Coast Electricians in Pleasanton, California.
The plan. The size of the room, the size of the lights you choose and the type of bulb you prefer will all factor in to how many recessed lights you’ll need. Your professional can lay out the decisions you’ll need to make on:
Can size, measured in terms of the diameter of the light. Four- or 6-inch-diameter lights are most common, but you can purchase lights as small as 2 inches.
Bulb type, meaning compact fluorescent (CFL), light-emitting diode (LED), incandescent or halogen. Different states have different regulations about the light itself — California, for instance, requires high-efficiency lighting, effectively meaning LEDs, says Tal Mashhadian, owner of Lite Line Illuminations in Los Gatos, California. Your state may be different. Also keep in mind that CFL bulbs contain mercury and are less efficient than LEDs.
Color temperature, meaning how warm (amber) or cool (blue) the light is. The color temperature of your lightbulb will affect the type of glow it casts about the room. This story offers a good summary.
Can placement, meaning how far apart you place your recessed lights. It used to be generally true that smaller cans spread light over a smaller surface area and larger lights pushed light out over a broader surface area, so the size of a can affected their placement. However, today even very small LED recessed lights can have a broad spread, so keep in mind that the type of bulb you choose affects placement as well.
Housing and trim type, meaning the parts of the light that go around the bulb (or light-producing part of the light) itself.
Dimmer switches, which allow you to control the brightness of your light.
Electricians often like to purchase their own lights, trim and bulbs and may not be willing to warranty work using fixtures they didn’t purchase. Lighting designers can specify which products you (or your electrician) should buy or may sell them to you directly.
If you do buy materials yourself, be sure you know exactly what you need. For example, some dimmer switches work with only one type of light bulb while others can work with multiple types. “You might as well buy a dimmer that will control incandescent, halogen and LED,” advises Jeff Laskowski, of Reddy Watt Electrical in Gig Harbor, Washington. Also, not all bulbs are dimmable, so be careful with that. Incompatibility can create a fire hazard, says lighting designer Aaron Humphrey, of Alpenglow Lighting Design in Carbondale, Colorado.
Recessed lighting installation. On installation day the electrician will cut holes in the ceiling, insert the recessed lights and string wiring between them. If you have an attic, the pro will likely install the wiring from above. If you don’t have an attic or your ceiling is beneath a second story, the electrician will need to string the wiring from below.
If there is no accessible space above the ceiling, the electrician may cut extra holes for stringing the wire. Some electricians will patch these holes themselves, others leave that to a contractor or handyman, so before you hire you may want to ask about that pro’s standard practice.
The pro will connect the wiring to a circuit to give the lights a power source. Typically the electrician will wire the lights so a single light switch turns on the whole set.
Surprises That May Come Up When Installing Recessed Lighting
If you have an older home, you may have old wiring that will need to be replaced. Cloth wiring — which is wrapped in cloth, in contrast with modern wiring that is coated in plastic — was used in homes until around 1960. If exposed to light, moisture or heat, the cloth can decay and the raw wiring can become a dangerous fire hazard. Improperly installed aluminum wiring can also be unsafe. If an electrician recommends replacing part or all of your wiring, that would increase the cost of your lighting project.
However, merely having cloth or aluminum wiring doesn’t automatically mean you’ll need to replace it — though some electricians will automatically recommend replacing aluminum wiring. Other electricians will work with both types of wiring when they are in good condition and properly installed, and they will even connect modern wiring to the older wiring using junction boxes to join the wires.
There are a variety of recessed light housing types to address different ceiling situations, as well as a variety of trims for different functions and looks. Here’s a basic guide to help you understand the options.
Types of Housings
New construction housings are designed to be nailed onto the wood structure in a ceiling and must be installed when the ceiling is still open before the drywall goes up.
Remodel housings are designed to go into the ceiling after drywall has already been installed. The electrician will cut a hole in the ceiling and slide the housing into the hole. Pushing integrated latches on the housing’s back expands the latches so they hold the can secure in the drywall.
IC-rated housings can be safely placed in ceilings where there is insulation.
Non-IC-rated housings must be at least 3 inches away from insulation.
Airtighthousings prevent cold air in the room from leaking into the ceiling cavity above, where air is not cooled. This reduces condensation, cold and mildew, increases energy efficiency and can save money on energy bills.
Shallowceiling housings fit into ceilings where the ceiling joists are shallower than the typical 2-inch depth.
Slope ceiling housings have a bulb that faces down with trim that fits the angle of the sloped ceiling.
Ultra thin or wafer housings can be used where space is tight near ductwork or piping.
Types of Trim
Baffle or open trim is the most popular trim and features ridged surfaces that absorb excess light, reducing glare. White is a popular choice but multiple colors are available.
Eyeball or gimbal trim can be directed toward a specific area. Eyeball trim protrudes “like a frog’s eyeball,” says Eric Fries of Eric’s Electric Service Pros in Woodbine, Maryland. A regressed eyeball directs light but does not protrude. A gimbal looks like the head of a cylinder and has less range of motion than eyeball trim.
Wall wash trim is designed to direct light away from the room so it only hits the wall. “It’s designed for a gallery or a long hallway with a lot of pieces of art,” Mashhadian says.
Shower trim encloses the light so it can be safely used inside a shower or other location where it may come in contact with moisture. Shower trim features a lens that covers the light bulb.
Some LED lights come with the light and trim integrated as a single unit, often called an integrated lighting fixture. A lighting designer can go over the pros and cons of using these units compared with using bulbs — but essentially, integrated units are more costly to replace than an LED bulb should the unit fail.
