Small Green Flare: Soy Candles

With all the hype on Target going green with numerous products, I had to mention them again for a second time to compliment my organic sheets.

Soy is all around us-- soy milk, soy beans, soy clothing. Recently, I was doing my usual drive by at Target and decided to browse the dollar bins at the front of the store. And what did I find? Method Soy Candles for a buck! It was quite amazing. I then decided that I'd browse the home section and came across bamboo candles that are made out of 90% vegetable wax. I bought a few of the method candles and a bamboo candle, and I must say that I'm pleased with their burning abilities and scents. Plus, what better way decorate any room in your house than with candles-- simple, right?


Why burn soy wax instead of regular candles that contain paraffin wax?
According to Greenspace Candles, soy wax is non-toxic, burns cleaner and longer, originates from a renewable source and is biodegradable. Paraffin wax, on the other hand, contains petroleum. Petroleum smoke contains carcinogenic toxins and produces black soot, is not a renewable source and contributes to polluting the air and global warming.

Besides adding a green flare to a room in your home, burning soy candles is not only better for the environment, but better for you. For more information on smoke and soot produced from candles made out of petroluem,check out the report that the Environmental Protection Agency produced on the reduction of soot.

Burn wisely, happy decorating!

Come on in . . .

My mama, well, she's gone green in her home since ever since. Green is dominant on an island as well as in the islander's home, especially in the backyard. Palm trees are a must, not only to provide shade, but islanders enjoy the outdoors. And what better way to do so than with palm trees and hibiscus flowers to gaze upon-- unless a typhoon is approaching, then we're indoors. Wait, then there's the furniture. If the furniture isn't green and cushioned, bamboo furniture with green-cushioned seats can be found everywhere. Yes, even patio furniture is green, or bamboo with green accents.

It was growing up in this tropical home, where my definition of natural beauty didn't stop at the doorstep. So when it was time to think about a topic to cover for my blog as part of my capstone journalism course, the Cat Scan, I thought about my tropical home getaway and the green movement. And thus came the decision to discuss "Green Decor and Interior Design".

But before I get into that, here are the basics about me, Jenna: Currently, I'm a graduating senior from Guam majoring in journalism at the University of Arizona. I'm also on staff for the Cat Scan, an online publication produced by journalism students. With the theme of the Cat Scan being "Green Living", staff members will be covering an array of topics in their own blogs in relation to going green as well.

Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be gathering and sharing information on any and everything that you can use to decorate/upgrade/manage your home to better improve its "greenness", including design schemes, such as remodeling your kitchen in support of a better environment inside the home. I'll also be taking a look at green building, and those who are developing and building greener homes and communities. Conducting interviews with interior designers about their visions of going green indoors will eventually unfold, and I'll also be taking a look at eco-friendly appliances, sheets, dishes, curtains, etc. I mean everything!

In the meantime, if you need any additional information on "green living", I've posted links to my fellow cat- scanners blogs as well as the Cat Scan homepage.

See you next week!