Candle Math

I think I'm developing a slight obsession when it comes to candles.  I attribute this to my nose's amazing ability to remember and appreciate really good smells.   

Example 1: When people ask "what is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex" my answer has always been the way they smell.  Weird, I know, but it's true.  

Example 2: When Steven and I were just friends our freshman year I used to always give him a hug, not because I particularly loved hugs, but because he wore the best smelling cologne.  

Example 3: Once we started dating I decided to buy him new cologne for Christmas because he was running out of his so I went to Dillards and picked out an amazing fragrance by Ralph Lauren that I just loved.  I called my mom on the way home because I was so excited about how great this cologne was and when I told her the brand she laughed saying "that's what your Dad wears."  awkward??? um yes...did I return it??? no because I had fallen in love with it 

Example 4:  My mom has always used Yankee Candles at our house and when I would get particularly homesick in college I would go to Bed, Bath and Beyond to smell the candles we used at home.  I never bought them because they were too expensive...

So needless to say I have been on the lookout for the perfect fragrance(s) for our home.  I fell in love with Woodwick candles a few years ago because the family I babysit for always had one lit when I would come over.  They are amazing because the wick is real wood and crackles (thus the name woodwick...)  When I went to the store to buy one a few years ago I realized their large jars were so expensive!  Why in the world would I buy a large candle for way more than I could buy one at Bath and Body Works?  So for the past few years I have been buying Slatkin and Co. candles from Bath and Body Works dreaming of one day being able to afford a large woodwick candle.  

Disclaimer:  Slatkin and Co. is actually really good.  The aroma will fill up your entire apartment, but I was really wanting the crackling sound the Woodwick candle makes...

But this year I decided to do some math.  I was admiring some Woodwick candles at the Hallmark store and realized that the medium jar burned for up to 100 hours.  I thought wow that seems like a lot....so I did some research and found out an amazing discovery!  WOODWICK IS CHEEPER THAN YANKEE CANDLE OR SLATKIN AND CO!  let me explain.  (this experience is truly life changing so brace yourself.

Slatkin and Co. (Bath and Body Works)

Price for 14.5oz Jar (Large): 19.50

Burn Time Max: 65 hours

Price per hour: 30 cents

Yankee Candle

Price for 14.5oz Jar (Medium): 21.99

Burn time Max: 90 hours

Price per hour: 24 cents

Woodwick Candle

Price for 10oz Jar (Medium): 17.99

Burn time Max: 100 hours

Price per hour: 17 cents 

So really it's all in the math :)

Needless to say me, my nose, and my ears (remember the wood wick crackles) are eternally pleased.  

Fragrances used in the Murray household to date:

Applewood

Autumn Sunset (purchased this afternoon. mmmmm fall :)

Design

Ok I am no expert at design, but as I mentioned a few posts ago, I have been keeping tabs on a few blogs in order to get ideas.  I came across a fantastic picture of a living room re-do and wanted to share!

It has many of my "check-off list" items for how I feel a room should function.  The color scheme is good in any season, it is timeless, at least one piece of striped furniture (I really want a striped couch...no idea why), bookcases for my love of books, warm and inviting.  Now this room looks a bit formal in these pictures but it still looks like people live here.  Nothing drives me more crazy than a room that, despite being beautiful with all its gorgeous furniture, paintings, and priceless treasures, is too "pretty" to actually use.  This room looks very functional and seems to say "welcome, come sit down and relax/talk for hours in my comfy furniture"...wow, I've obviously been looking at too many photos of rooms now that they are talking to me :)

 Love the splash of green next to the fireplace in the pillow and pots

vintage pepsi box is fun!  probably a flea market find for minimal $.  love when cheap finds can bring personality to a room. 

(all images found here)

Preggers

No, not me, but we did have a pregnant visitor in our house when we came back from the fourth of July in College Station.  Along with the 16 (yes that's right...16) crickets we caught on sticky traps within a little over 24 hours we also found a pregnant cockroach...oh. my. gosh...

This thing was HUGE and we can only assume it was pregnant because it had a little sack on it's backside, and after doing some research on wikipedia we discovered that cockroaches do indeed carry a little sack of eggs on their backside...ack

Our little intruder with her egg sack.  Sorry that this is the second time I have posted a picture of a dead cockroach on my blog...I really hope to not make this a habit.  Just realize I could daily post pictures of the crickets I am killing, but choose to spare you all.  Also now you will all know what the picture of a pregnant cockroach looks like.  

And yes Rachel King, I do know that right now you are saying "Katie, there is never never NEVER a good reason to post a picture of a bug on your blog", and Rachel King, I must admit, thinking of you saying that was the sole reason I decided to post it :)

A completely unrelated picture except that it was taken on the same night.  I figured I should end a post with our precious pup Dutch.  

The unwelcome roommates

dear faithful blog followers -

Sorry for the lack of posts lately.  I have been faithfully taking pictures of my cooking endeavors and random bits of my life but between working almost 40 hrs a week now at my internship, finishing up summer classes, being out of town, and the cricket war of 2010, i have not had a lot of time to actually post anything.  Tonight I will brave the cricket war single handedly as my dashing side kick is living the posh life at my aunt and uncle's place outside of Dallas...how is that at all fair?

My dad told me this evening that I shouldn't freak out so much about the crickets.  I get where he is coming from, I mean seriously why should i let the little things ruin my life.   He also said they are friendly...if so they should realize I don't do well with "over the top" beginnings to relationships.  Perhaps they could come in smaller numbers and not be all jumpy once they get into the apartment.

I duck taped the vent in my bathroom tonight.  I found this to be most crucial.  You see I have now twice been attacked by a cricket falling from this vent onto the countertop while brushing my teeth.  To be honest, one should try to avoid being startled while holding a pointy piece of plastic in their mouth...so the vent got sealed today.

I took my shower before the sun went down and used the least amount of hot water possible.  I have learned these past few nights that the crickets LOVE to come into the bathroom when there is moisture and warmth.  Thus the cold shower right after my workout this evening.

I have also started sticking a towel underneath our bedroom door at night and sleeping with a can of Raid on my night stand...is it ok that the smell of this stuff no longer bothers me?

Thus is my life right now.  Yes I do realize it could be worse (aka cockroaches or mice) and that this too shall pass (although let it be noted that the worst part of cricket season hasn't even begun yet...I might be sleeping in my car come August).  But to be honest I would like to be able to go into a room in my apartment without first peering around the corner with my can of raid, to be able to use the toilet without worrying that a bug will attack me while I'm sitting there defenseless, brush my teeth in peace, and be able to sleep without believing that every noise and movement is a cricket crawling on my bed...

Thanks for listening to me vent

Last night's total was 8 crickets
Today's (daytime) total was 4
Tonight's total is still to be determined...

Katie vs. Bug part II

At exactly 5:30 this morning I woke up to the feeling that something was crawling up my left upper arm.  I immediately took my hand and swatted at this intruder and definitely felt a big bug that I knew my simple swat had not killed.  I jumped out of bed screaming "STEVEN A BUG!" which caused him to jump out of bed (although I think it was because of the tone of my voice because I have said those words quite a few times since we moved into our new apartment).

We searched and searched and searched for about 5 minutes, pretty much dismantling the bed in the process.  I kept saying "I swear it's real, and it should be HUGE", but after 5 minutes I felt pretty ridiculous and figured I must have dreamt it up.

And then there it was, right before we turned the light off this black beetle crawled up our quilt...talk about disgusting.  I about died and probably woke up our neighbors with my scream. (overreaction you say?  Not so when you realize that 5 minutes ago that huge thing was almost to my shoulder in route to my mouth...ack!)  Steven heroically removed and flushed it while I stood shocked and dismayed.

Worst thing is the exterminator came 2 days before this.  And I know what's supposed to happen, the bugs are supposed to get worse before they get better because the bug fumes cause them all to come out and look for water. But in the past those bugs have always looked a little sickly and were at least heading towards the bathroom or kitchen...this guy was just kicking along clueless.  Hopefully he doesn't have any friends or else I might just move out.

Proof

Let it be known that I killed this nasty, disgusting, beyond creepy cockroach this morning...with the help of raid and of course my very brave pup.

Let it also be known that almost 2 years ago I called Steven at 12:30 at night to come drive 15 minutes to my garage apartment because there was a freaking flying cockroach that had caused me to lock myself in my bathroom...I've come a long way.

And yes I took pictures...because otherwise I'm not sure Steven would believe me...as a matter of fact I probably wouldn't have believed it either.  

Home Furnishings 101

So I might have found the coolest new site  Knock-Off Wood.  You should seriously go visit it!  It made me want to run to Lowes and start buying carpentry stuff to make all new furniture.  I tried to convince Steven of this telling him "if we make our own furniture it will save us money!" to which he kindly reminded me that we don't need to buy any new furniture so technically it would be wasting money...oh that boy, always being practical and crushing my little carpentry dreams (i kid).

Seriously though, the second we have a need to buy a new piece of furniture you will be able to find me with a saw and nail gun in hand probably making a fool of myself.

I know by now some of you are saying "seriously Katie?  You can't possibly build anything."  And to all you doubting Thomas' out there I reply...oh ye of little faith.  The best thing about this website is that a woman created it.  She gives detailed instructions with pep speeches letting you know she has complete faith in your abilities (she even has video for some of the designs) and all the comments are by women who get depressed by Pottery Barn prices just like I do...it's like your own self-esteem counseling session that teaches you basic work skills (all my social work friends know the importance of this...strengths perspective anyone? ha!)

Here are my top two favorite pieces.

The Farmhouse Bed

Look Familiar?  (Image from Pottery Barn)

Ana (the designer) predicts it will take $120 to complete the bed including paint and finisher (I'm not sure what wood she used so that could change the cost).  The bed at Pottery Barn (Queen) costs $1,199.00 (pre-tax).  And being the person who drools over her Pottery Barn catalogue every time it comes in the mail I might as well learn how to make my own knock-offs with my own blood, sweat and tears.  

This is the piece I will probably make first

And the best part...

I am now taking donations for any spare lumber, saws, nail guns etc. you might have lying around the house...just saying