December Holiday Giveaway

This Giveaway is only for a little over 2 weeks so you can receive

your prize in time for the holidays!! 

Ten chances to win!!

Please allow the giveaway software (Rafflecopter) to load.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

4th Annual Cyber Monday Sale

 

Buy 1 and get 1 free
*Completed orders from 11/26/12 12am until 7:59am

Buy 1 and get 1/2 off

 *Completed orders from 11/26/12 8:00am until 11:59pm ESTon almost all items we sell! (some exceptions)
Stock up on scented delights from candles, Body Oils and Bath & Body items for all your friends and family.

In addition, we're offering a Doorbuster on the first 5 customers also receives
Free domestic Shipping!

No discount codes needed.  Once the sale is over we will go through orders and the first five orders the shipping will be refunded!

Terms of Sale

• Buy 1 get 1 Free or 1/2 off of the same item. While supplies last.
• Buy 1 get 1 1/2 off (please order 2 and we will refund 50% off the second item).
• All Candle items are eligible
• Exceptions are: Samples, Gift Sets, packaged discount sets, accessories, reed diffusers and gift certificates.
• Coupons and any other discounts are not accepted during this sale.
• Sales valid ONLY from 11/26/12 12am Monday - 11:59pm. EST
• Sale will not be held over nor backdated for out of stock items.

Small Businss Saturday

I hope that all that read this take a pledge to support small businesses during this holiday season.  Big businesses and super mega stores are great for grabbing that 50" flat screen for $24 between the hours of 4:15am and 4:22am.  However, small businesses are the core of our economy and the ones that employ the most.   The idea of small business Saturday is to support small businesses you love or start to.   Have you been passing that little boutique by your job every day and just not gone in?  Well why don't you start now.  If everyone pledges to use at least $50 of their holiday budget towards small business it can make a big business in our economy.  Happy Shopping!

Birthday Sale

I'm turning 25 (again).  Okay well I feel like I'm 25 again; and here is my gift to you:

25% off all orders over $25 for today only.  Use discount code "Birthday25"  for this rare deal!  You can use it on our website or our Artfire shop (not accepted on our Etsy shop).  Hurry to stock up on you favorite fall scents!

Monthly Giveaway Galore

We sponsored a Giveaway at Created by Laurie's Blog last month.  Congrats to  Carla for tweeting about us and being our Giveaway winner in August!

Here is how you can win this month!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Small Business Week

Today is the start of Small Business Week (July 1 - July 7, 2012).  Actually National Small Business week sponsored by the SBA (Small Business Assoc.) was in May.  This Small Business Week is sponsored by America United with a focus on buying from small American companies on products that were made in America.  Fifty percent of American jobs are by small businesses.  Supporting small business is an essestial part of our economy.  Spending as little as $5.00 in a small business from everyone in America can make difference. 

I make a habit to buy from many small businesses online but this week I'm making more of an effort to find more small businesses locally:

• Heading to the Farmer's Market this morning and the butcher instead of the supermarket.
• There is a great mom + pop hardware store around the corner that I usually only use when I don't want to drive to Home Depot.   They give me great advise and always have what I'm looking for.  I can never find a salesperson when I need one at Home Depot.   I will use them more often
• I've been eyeing a cute boutique for weeks near my house.  Now is as good a time to pop in a spend in there instead of the Gap.
• Groupon introduced me to a place that makes great healthy Roti's last week.  It's a new favorite so I will be back this week as well.

Nobody is saying don't buy from the big businesses, but don't exclude the little guy.
Share the knowledge about Small Business Week to your friends and family.  What small business(s) are you headed to this week?

Mason Madness

Mason jars are such a great inexpensive decorating tool.   I know most of us first think of preserves or rustic (well I do) but these home decor suggestions are simple elegance!

HGTV

This is a fantastic idea!  Line the walkway with mason jars that are a 1/4 filled with Epson salt and our candle votives (ofcourse) and wah-la you have a festive inviting lite walkway for the season.  If you live colder climites like I do I think this would be great for winter-themed dinner parties or to line your mantle.

 

How about Mason Jar Lanterns?

I love the simplicity of this!  Inexpensive enough to place all around a patio.

Floating candles in Mason Jars.

 Fantastic idea I found on My Bridal Ideal 

All you need is water, clear stones, jars, floating candles and top it off with a nice raffia ribbon.  I love it!

Mason Jar Storage

This fantastic DIY project courtesy of Lovely Little Details is a unique idea I might try.

Mason Jar Soap Dispenser

This is such a simple DIY by Blissfully Content I think I will do this over the weekend! 

Monthly Giveaway Galore

Congrats to  Sasha from Ferndale, Michigan for pinning and commenting "my creations" on Pinterest and being our Giveaway winner in April!

Here is how you can win this month!

Just for commenting you are automatically entered in our monthly giveaway.

1. Be our fan on Facebook and leave a comment about the topic or website.
2. Follow us on Twitterand tweet about us using nikkicandles or Nikki Makes Scents (sorry private tweets can't be seen and therefore cannot be counted)
3. Follow our Blog and leave comment about any of our post for the month (sorry private follows cannot be verified therefore cannot be counted) .
4. If you made a purchase, leave comments on our "what people are saying" page
5. Follow us on Pinterest and pin and comment on our board "my creations."

It's that simple to win 5 candles from us!! (Please provide a way for us to contact you.)
Do all five this month and that will count as 5 entries to increase your chances!!

Comments such as "comment" or "I'm following you" are not considered comments! Please comment on our post, our products or whatever subject we are chatting or tweeting about this month.You must supply a valid email address. Email addresses should be put in the private field and not in the public comment box.

(Previous winners within this year are not eligible to win again although we appreciate your support so let's hear from you too!)

Giveaway ends June 30, 2012

Earth Day - What have you done for me lately?

We have used and abused this planet for years.  What have we done for it lately?  Sometimes we need a little push since we may not see the benefits of our effort to preserve our planet but our great grandchildren might.  A wonderful website RecyleBank allows you to earn points by reading some tips to recycle, save energy or shop with green companies.  The reward points can be used towards green companies in the form of discounts, gift cards and coupons.  I've learned a lot of energy saving tips and in the process earned hundreds of points.  What have you done lately to preserve our planet?

Scent of the Month - Freesia

New York has had a very mild winter so the transition was seamless except for seeing spring flowers bloom.  I love flowers even though spring is my allergy season.  I thought the sometimes forgotten spring flower Freesia deserved it's time to shine so I made it my Scent of the Month.  Available as a candle and bath & body scent.  Check out our other springtime or floral fragrances.  What are your favorite scents for spring?

Monthly Giveaway Galore!

Congrats to  MaryAnn from Columbus Ohio for pinning and commenting "my creations" on Pinterest and being our Giveaway winner in March!

Here is how you can win this month!

Just for commenting you are automatically entered in our monthly giveaway.

1. Be our fan on Facebook and leave a comment about the topic or website.
2. Follow us on Twitter and tweet about us using nikkicandles or Nikki Makes Scents (sorry private tweets can't be seen and therefore cannot be counted)
3. Follow our Blog and leave comment about any of our post for the month (sorry private follows cannot be verified therefore cannot be counted) .
4. If you made a purchase, leave comments on our "what people are saying" page
5. Follow us on Pinterest and pin and comment on our board "my creations."

It's that simple to win 5 candles from us!! (Please provide a way for us to contact you.)
Do all five this month and that will count as 5 entries to increase your chances!!

Comments such as "comment" or "I'm following you" are not considered comments! Please comment on our post, our products or whatever subject we are chatting or tweeting about this month.You must supply a valid email address. Email addresses should be put in the private field and not in the public comment box.

(Previous winners within this year are not eligible to win again although we appreciate your support so let's hear from you too!)

Giveaway ends April 30, 2012

Long Island Blue

I have lived in Long Island, New York for a large portion of my life and sometimes one doesn't appreciate the wonderful things right under our noses.  I belong to a crafting team (via Etsy) of Long Islanders and made a collection of blues from some Long Island shops.

Monthly Giveaway Galore

Congrats to Lena from Virgina for tweeting with us and being our Giveaway winner in February!

Here is how you can win this month!

 Just for commenting you are automatically entered in our monthly giveaway.

1. Be our fan on Facebook and leave a comment about the topic or website.
2. Follow us on Twitter and tweet about us using nikkicandles or Nikki Makes Scents (sorry private tweets can't be seen and therefore cannot be counted)
3. Follow our Blog and leave comment about any of our post for the month (sorry private follows cannot be verified therefore cannot be counted) .
4. If you made a purchase, leave comments on our "what people are saying" page
5. Follow us on Pinterest and pin and comment on our board "my creations."

It's that simple to win 5 candles from us!! (Please provide a way for us to contact you.)
Do all five this month and that will count as 5 entries to increase your chances!!

Comments such as "comment" or "I'm following you" are not considered comments! Please comment on our post, our products or whatever subject we are chatting or tweeting about this month.You must supply a valid email address. Email addresses should be put in the private field and not in the public comment box.

(Previous winners within this year are not eligible to win again although we appreciate your support so let's hear from you too!)

Giveaway ends March 31, 2012



New Features!

I buy a lot of stuff online and I rely heavily on the ratings and reviews given by those that bought the product.  I also make a point of rating the product to help assist the next potential buyer.  I am happy to now offer rating and reviewing to my customers.  Not only will you be helping other browsers, you will be helping me too!  If you bought a scent and thought it stinks let us know.  This can help me consider looking for another scent manufacturer, lessen the amount of scent I use in the product (candle, bath & body), or remove it entirely.  At the same token, if you love something please tell us how much you love it and why.  Etsy and ArtFire customers already have the option to give feedback and now my website has that same option!  Customers will have to log into there account and there they will find ratings and review options for their orders.

Now my website allows your Tweet, Like, Pin (my new favorite thing), Email or Google your favorite products with a simple click of the mouse to your friends, family and followers.  It has been something I've been requesting from my webhost for quite some time and I'm so glad it is now an available feature on my website.  I have hundreds of products therefore you will have ample opportunity to use it like crazy on my website. 

Please note: when using the the Facebook "like" button it may display the wrong pic.  This is a Facebook issue although I believe it allows one to pic the correct pic on the page or none at all. 

Hope you enjoy these great new rating and social media features!

It's Back!! Monthly GiveAway Galore!!!

This month we are giving away
3 Special Edition perfume body oils!

(a $20 value)

Here is how you can win

Just for commenting you are automatically entered in our monthly giveaway.

1. Be our fan on Facebook and leave a comment about the topic or website.
2. Follow us on Twitter and tweet about us using nikkicandles or Nikki Makes Scents (sorry private tweets can't be seen and therefore cannot be counted)
3. Follow our Blog and leave comment about any of our post for the month (sorry private follows cannot be verified therefore cannot be counted) .
4. If you made a purchase, leave comments on our "what people are saying" page

It's that simple to win these perfumes from us!! (Please provide a way for us to contact you.)

Do all four this month and that will count as 4 entries to increase your chances!!

Comments such as "comment" or "I'm following you" are not considered comments! Please comment on our post, our products or whatever subject we are chatting or tweeting about this month.
You must supply a valid email address. Email addresses should be put in the private field and not in the public comment box.

(Previous winners within this year are not eligible to win again although we appreciate your support so let's hear from you too!)

Giveaway ends 2/29/12

Lip Balm Addiction?



This is obviously a issue that many people share that there are nine FaceBook groups dedicated to this topic (who knew!).  In addition, I saw a Dr. Oz segment about lip balm addiction and thought I would share my thoughts. 
Before I started making my own lip balm I had many of the "symptoms of addiction" he listed:

• One applies lip balm more than three times per day. >>  check
• You have more than one lip balm. >> check
• You keep lip balm in multiple places. >> check
• After a long, passionate kiss, the first thing your mind thinks about is re-applying your lip balm.  >> Um nope! That's the last thing I'm thinking about after a kiss (but that's another story)!

Here is the scary part.  Dr. Oz states if you keep applying the wrong lip balm the layers of your lips will start to look and feel like a croissant (flaky, dry & hollow).



Luckily I already knew this as I researched my recipe for lip balm years ago.
Those lip balms with camphor, menthol and alcohol that may initially feel good on your lips actually draw the moisture out.  Thus you keep reapplying.  Hence, the addiction.

Lip balms with natural ingredients such as Shea butter, coconut oil or Castor oil are natural moisturizers and sun screen and won't coat or draw out the layers of ones lips.

I still love my lip balm and I always reapply just as one would lipstick after food or drink.  I even found some cool lip balm holders to attach to my key chain, belt buckle or bag for easy access. 



So am I addicted?  Yes.  But I can think of far worse things to be addicted to and my addiction promotes shiny-healthy-pucker up lips!

Some other tips to keep your lips kissable are to stay hydrated, use a milder soap on your face and stop using that commercial lip stuff!

What is your addiction?