Friends and Candles and a pretty Decent Life
Tuesday, November 20, 2001
So, this weekend I had plans. Because I always make plans. Because it almost seems like I don't like to be plan-less even though I'm perfectly happy on plan-less weekends -- ecstatic, even. But this weekend's plans? Candles, uh huh. And beer. Can't forget the beer. At happy hour. On Friday.
And it was all very lovely.
When my work was complete on Friday afternoon, I made one of those I-snuck-out-of-work-a-little-early trips to Target in search of containers for the candles I would be making the next day. And I tell you, if you've never viewed Target in that way, well... you're missing out. Walking around Target in search of items to be used as prospective candle holders/molds puts a whole new perspective on the trip. The creativity starts to gush. And you do notice things you've never noticed before because you used to stay put on your Cosmetics/Clothing/Housewares trail. What I came home with included Tupperware containers for votives, a couple pots from the Garden clearance section and some Chinese-style rice bowls which I thought would look a little groovy filled with wax and wicks. I even discovered some Wine Charms which are not at all candle related, but I couldn't resist so I bought them, too.
Side note: I also bought some of that new Neutrogena Active Copper foundation because I was "trying to save money" from my regular "Base Plus Balance" Aveda stuff. Don't like it. I may end up getting the Aveda stuff anyway!
At any rate, afterwards we walked down to Great Waters Brewery with a couple friends, downed two or three pitches of Cask-style ale and chatted amid the hub-bub which turned out to be a local Jaycees group outing. (Note to self: do not join that organization. Very annoying.) Finally, around eleven we decided to head home. I needed my sleep. Besides the beer was pretty expensive.
On Saturday, I got up at 7:30am in order to squeeze in a nine-mile run before my candle-making friends picked me up. The run was good. The weather was warm. And I finished just in time to hit the shower and head to the supply store.
Now, I guess this is the only place in the Cities that sells scrap wax which is really, really cool because it's so CHEAP. About 30 or 50 cents per pound depending on how much you get. We filled a big ole paper bag and picked up what colorings were left. The store was pretty looted so we were basically left guessing with colors like Cinnamon Red and Orchid.
Now, I've never made candles before in my life. I don't even know how to make candles and Kristen is pretty new to it as well. She's never read anything, taken classes. Just experimented which was fine with me. I'm sure candle experts would be horror-stricken by what went on in my kitchen, but it was fun and who cares. We just melted the wax, added colors and poured the stuff into our containers. Although, we were all terrible at predicting the color of the shit because it would be dark when it was melted and then lighten when hardening only to darken again. Mind games, really.
I guess our big problem was the temperature of the wax and how we cooled it. Some of the candles had big holes in the middle where the wax sunk once they were fully cool. But, really, I'm just going to melt more wax and fill 'em. This truly isn't Pier One caliber stuff. But it was fun. My flat smells FABULOUS. And three girls spent the afternoon giggling and being all creative and shit.
By 4pm, the girls were gone and James returned. (Yes! He is already working Saturdays with this job! He's a crazy workaholic Nutbag). I was beat. Between the beer the night before, the early morning run and standing on my feet all afternoon, tired was thy name and I wanted to rest. Rest. Rest. Instead, though, we went to the video store and got some chow for dinner. (BTW, the Southwestern Broccoli Quiche recipe from December's Cooking Light is fabulous!)
When we did get home from these minor errands, I sacked out on the couch. I barely remember eating and we never did put the movie in. Instead I drifted in and out of Harry Potter, drank a glass of wine and was snoozing by 9pm. There was no getting up to view meteors for me. No sirree.
Sunday we took it much easier. I did some cleaning in the morning, answered a few emails, read a little more and made sugar cookies just because. We listened to Christmas music and started to get out decorations. We also headed to the mall in the afternoon to get a jumpstart on our holiday shopping which included setting foot into my first-EVAH Sephora. And it was heaven. Love. Peace. Stila gloss. Lorac eyeshadows. Hard Candy glitter. I could have spent a fortune. I left with sparkles and scents on my hands. The only purchase being a nice Philosphy giftset for my mother-in-law. That and some Operation Smile Lip Balm. Cheap AND philanthropic.
That evening, we watched our movie. Decorated the cookies and pet the dog. Sweet. Simple. Sunday. Yes.
Nothing earthshattering or even very exciting. But contented.
And even if this isn't out best year, things are damn good. I have friends to make candles with and go out for beer. There is a Sephora nearby. I have iced-sugar cookies on my kitchen counter and I can run 9-miles.
That's my life.
And I kinda like it.
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