Annie's Survival Candles - Philadelphia, PA - Choose Soy Candles!

This post is about my new "business". It involves making healthy candles. I will be making 16oz candles in Mason-Jars ($15 each)!!

I will make youtube videos: that didn't happen yet

Etsy Store: This did happen! Search ("The Artistic Coconut" and "Mason Jar Candles") in google! I should be the first search result

Ebay: Didn't happen yet...

Email me at: annie.feng93@gmail.com for additional information

They are called my "survival" candles because:

• They are going to be made with essential oils (infused with lavender, vanilla, etc) that will help you survive stress
• Made with 100% soy, they have double the burning time of paraffin candles! So they are a necessity for times of blackouts!
• Paraffin candles are the ones you buy at most candle stores! If the candle doesn't say made with soy, then they are most likely made with paraffin, which is actually toxic! It's like running a small motor inside your house and breathing in second-hand smoke (read on)
• Selling candles will help my bank account and me survive the big college bills

My products:

1. Mason Jar 16oz Candle - $15-20

• 100% Soy Highest Quality Products!!
• Aromatherapy essential oils 
• Burn time of 80-120 hours!!!
• Beautiful to smell and look at 
• An amazing gift with an artistic touch - totally customizable 
• Support an engineering college student attending an expensive Private University 

Why should you choose SOY? 

• Support farms across the country - which in turn supports US economy! 
• Lighting a paraffin candle is like starting a mini-engine in your house... notice the ring of black soot around the candle? They say paraffin candle smoke is like breathing second-hand smoke!! (References: http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2012/04/toxins-in-candles-sad-but-true.html)
• Not toxic 
• Natural ingredients
• Disposable/Decomposes 

Why should you buy my candle?

• Made with 100% soy!
• Hand-poured in my little apartment in Philadelphia, PA
• Made with love and time
• Aromatherapy benefits from the essential oils
• Tea Tree: great for skin
  Calendula (Marigold): good for sensitive skin, soothing
  Chamomile: improves mood, soothing, improves nervous health, digestion, kills bacteria
  Cinnamon: respiratory aid, pain relief
  Citrus: energizing and help uplift spirits
  Bergamot:  soothes, improves mood, promotes digestion
  Eucalyptus: help with colds or allergies, muscle relief, antibacterial
  Grapefruit: uplift spirit, eliminate toxins, help with fatigue (even jet lag!)
  Lavender: calming, soothing, stress reliever, helps with insomnia, skin and hair care, and immune health
  Lemon: inhibits virus and bacteria, uplifts mood, lifts skin, fights infections, and helps with fevers
  Lemongrass: reduces pain, uplifts mood, prevent bacteria growth, repels insects, soothes
  Peppermint: purifies air, stimulates the mind
• No artificial fragrances!
• Beautiful and can be fully customized (smell & color)
• Re-usable, the mason jars can be re-used as cups, pencil holders, or you can even send it back to me and I will refill your candle for a discounted price!! 
• Essential piece of survival tool for blackouts
• Artistic touch
• Help me pay my college bills!
• Competitors: 
• I can beat the best brands of candles in terms of quality and price! 
• Yankee and Bath & Body Works
• 6 oz candle is $13!!! WHAT?
• 14.5 oz candle is $23!!! It only has a burn time of 24-45 hours!

Cooking/Food Shopping I Learned as a College Student

*** Updated information ***

Cooking:

1. It's okay to be adventurous, but have at least one cooking experience (grilled-cheese and scrambled eggs count), or have a somewhat-knowledgeable-friend/chef there with you 
2. Don't always make the same food every night for more than 3 days. You're going to end up really despising that food. 
3. Easy food recipe:
1. Beef/pork pot roast with potatoes, carrots, portobello mushrooms (mushrooms general)
• Heat up some oil (olive, canola, etc), when heat is hot, put in the pork or beef and onions! (High Heat)
• Let that warm up for 5-10 minutes, depending how soft you like the meat
• Put in potatoes - add however much water you want - let it boil
• When the potatoes is slightly harder than you want it (probably another 15 min time on Medium heat), put in carrots, and portobello mushrooms (beef only), white mushrooms for pork
• Put salt, pepper, seasoning, let it boil/cook for another 15-20 minutes then serve!
2. Chicken Soups with potatoes, carrots, celery, tomatoes (Italian style) - This is the college student style. Don't get fancy on me!
1. *HINT HINT* As a personal suggestion, if you want noodle style, boil the noodle separately whenever you want to eat it. The noodle can get super soft and goopy depending how often you microwave it/leave it in the fridge
• Heat up oil
• Add chicken and onions when oil is warm - cook for about 5 - 10 minutes, make sure you flip/stir the chicken around so it's evenly cooked (high heat) 
• Throw in chicken broth, I'll usually throw in a (1 quart) box and then if I want more soup, I'll just pour in more water
• I like my potatoes soft so right when the water starts heating up, I put in a LOT of potatoes
• Let that cook for another 10-15 minutes, then I add carrots and celery 
• At this point I will also add tomatoes, it tastes GREAT! It's like an Italian style (or maybe I think that) - trust me, SO good, you'll thank me later
• Add seasoning, just adding salt is good enough, but basil, oregano, pepper makes it taste absolutely heavenly 
• Cook for another 20-30 minutes (depending if you want the meat and potatoes softer, or if you just happen to forget)
• EAT.
• Do NOT add: green peppers
• If you don't like chicken meat, but the flavor, just don't bother on the chicken meat and go straight with chicken stock (saves you money too!)
• It should look something like this (if you add tomatoes, it'll be more red)

1. How to make ramen delicious and fancy 
1. Make ramen like you always do... Let water boil in a pot
2. When the water is boiling, put in noodle
3. Pour in the spice, crack 1-2 eggs in it, cut up some mushrooms (throw them in ramen pot), add cabbage (or kimchi!), let cook for 3-7 min
4. DONE
2. Normal food to make it seem like you know how to cook
1. Choose a side of meat (ground meat works best) and chopped veggies 
1. (use common sense here on what WOULD taste good together, beef & celery, beef & onion, pork & cabbage, etc)
2. Heat up oil, throw meat in, stir it around, wait a few minutes until it's cooked (5-8 min on medium - high heat should do it)
3. Then throw in chopped veggies, stir it around and let it cook for 5 minutes
4. Add seasoning (salt, soy sauce, pepper, etc), stir for 2 minutes
5. Put it on a nice plate (not paper plate) and serve!!
6. It'll def look better (and healthier) than that cup ramen you were about to make

Food Shopping:

1. Don't go food shopping unless you have finished off 75% of the fridge, this will result to more rotting food (Yuck!) 
• You'll also end up forgetting half the items you have in your fridge 
2. Give yourself a shopping limit, even though you most likely will not follow it...
3. Make yourself a shopping list and try as hard as you can to follow it
4. Buy BIG bags of food (potatoes/carrots/onions/oranges/broccoli/etc) but only if you're actually going to cook them... my roommates did this, and since they cook once a week, it resulted to a lot of rotting food.
1. True story. We all came back from break and fruit flies took over the kitchen. We would shift a bowl and it felt like watching Sparta 360, except with tiny little fruit flies. 
5. Frozen veggies are affordable veggies! For easy cooking, just stick in pot and boil (This should be achievable for even the most amateur cookers) 
6. I recently discovered Amazon Fresh - you need a minimum of $50 purchase (that's easy for me cause I cook every day). It's great for Winter (or every season) so you don't have to carry all those heavy bags from the store and back!! They also have some amazing prices so I've been super happy. I make a large order of groceries/meat every week and half to two weeks. Also they have these recyclable bags which you return the next time you make a purchase. Make sure you leave a nice tip!

Reminder:

1. Eating ramen frequently can give you kidney stones
2. Not eating enough veggies or fruit can lead to malnutrition, drink a Boost once in a while if you're feeling a little weak or tired (or just get enough sleep) 
3. Cooking for yourself is a GREAT way to eat healthy and maintain/lose weight (this does not include making mac-n-cheese, ramen, hamburgers, pizza, or fries)
1. WHY? You won't make gigantic portions (I always do by mistake, that just means easy left over meal for the next day)
2. It's great to be moving around, chopping veggies! Standing is good for you! Cooking is also stimulating for your brain
4. If I can cook, you can prob too. :)

Vitiligo Update - My Personal Journey - Updates Along the Way

March 11, 2015
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I'm in denial it's another year. It's crazy. Time has FLEW BY. Anyways thought I'd do a Vitiligo update. I decided to start using my Protopic cream again. I only apply it at night when I say in PA (Monday-Wednesday nights). You're "supposed" to apply it twice but I've recently had no time to apply it in the morning. I wake up at 5:40AM and you're supposed to wait 15 minutes before you can do anything... and that's just not enough time for me in between getting dressed, putting makeup on, and feeding the cats before I have to get out the house by 6:30AM. When co-op ends and I'm back to classes I'll be able to apply it 2x a day. I also have an appointment with UPenn Dermatology soon, hopefully they can give me more information.

Anyways, update: there is one spot on my right hand, middle finger that you can see visibly got larger. I think the area under my lips is getting worse too... but I can't tell. I'm trying not to stare/over-analyze every spot, because stress only makes it worse. I'm thankful for a supportive and kind boyfriend and a bright looking future!

Anyways, here are some great research articles I found on vitiligo and diet. I want to try to follow it, but it basically tells me not to eat my favorite foods. I LOVE spicy food and pickles! If anyone has other comments/new research please message me!!! Would love to hear any new updates.
http://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs-wm/24976.pdf
http://iosrjournals.org/iosr-jdms/papers/Vol13-issue7/Version-1/I013713942.pdf
(This one is on Protopic) http://www.amjorthopedics.com/fileadmin/qhi_archive/ArticlePDF/CT/071020158.pdf

October 22, 2014
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I just turned 21 a few days ago, 7 days to be exact! Since the last update in February I went to Drexel Dermatology and received two steroid medicated creams. I don't think they have made a difference.

My vitiligo is around my eyes, I still have the "panda eyes" but they are further out than in February. The vitiligo has not connected on my nose bridge yet. I have it on the first joint of all my fingers and toes (will attach pictures).

February 17, 2014
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I have noticed my vitiligo did spread. It appeared right underneath my nose (in between my upper lip and nose). My "panda eyes" have spread to underneath my right eye. It only spread on areas on my finger and my face, not anywhere on my body. I did notice a tiny spot on my right elbow... Nothing noticeable or dramatic though.

I have been drinking a "green" smoothie at least 3x a week now also. Mostly comprises of:
2 handfuls of baby spinach
frozen mango
frozen strawberries
frozen raspberries
2 tbsp of honey
flaxseed
chia seeds
coconut or almond milk.

The smoothie makes me feel full and it's also a "detox" drink so it cleanses my body and gives me the fluids that I miss out on. Loving it! And very affordable. I get most of my frozen ingredients at Trader Joe's.

February 3, 2014
--------------------------------------------------------------
I recently started applying Extra Virgin Organic Coconut oil to my face and hands before I go to sleep everyday. Not only does it moisturize my hands, it is supposed to help with vitiligo.

It does leave your hand "shiny" but not greasy like olive oil. And the coconut oil is so thin that your skin absorbs it within 10-20 minutes and just leaves your hand smooth and moisturized. Loving it!

Update: I've been using it for a week, I don't see a difference with my vitiligo - but my skin feels nicer and less dry.


Summer of 2011
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In the summer of 2011 I went to China to visit my grandparents. Another minor reason is because it was an opportunity to get some herbal medicine.

In China, to get anything better than average, you need connections. So thank goodness for me, my mom has a lot of "high-power" connections in China, who was able to lead me straight to the doctor's office, cutting about 3 hour's worth of waiting in line and documentation. My prescription had over 25+ herbal roots, most of which I probably can't even translate to English. We bought 100 bags (the max we were allowed to buy), and spent over $1,000 USD.

When we got back to USA with one and a half giant suitcase filled with my medicine, we set about boiling the first batch. We had to buy a clay pot just for it. The medicine was a deep brown color, and tasted terrible, you can also smell it probably from down the block. I had to drink it twice a day, once when I wake up, and once before I go to sleep. I maintained this schedule for about 4 months before I had to go back to college, and was unable to boil it for myself.

Progress: In this time period, my vitiligo did not get better, but it also didn't get dramatically worse. Also, the medicine is so strong, if you drink it for a long period, it actually causes kidney/liver failure (the doctor warned me).

I don't think it did much... and it was a pain to boil and disgusting to drink. None-the-less, I do drink it every time I go back home.

Need some Motivation?

Today I stumbled upon this video on facebook. I was supposed to be studying for my Biology test for Wednesday. I mean... with all the modern technology, how do you NOT get distracted? 

Last Days: Zach

It's funny how through such a useless site like facebook, that I was able to find such an amazing video that made me break down, and completely reanalyze my life. 

Everyday, I live life almost carelessly. It's not everyday where I wake up thinking I'm going to die tomorrow because I have a life-threatening disease. I live an amazing life, I go to college, I have a wonderful family. I am blessed that both my parents are still together and I have a healthy, crazy, little sister. 

I have all the extras pleasures in life: computer, ipod, gaming consoles, deserts, treats... Isn't it funny with everything we're blessed with, we still compare ourselves to others? We always want more than the other person. We're always comparing ourselves to others because of money or looks, when none of that ever mattered. So why do we do it?

Humans thrive off of competitions. From salary, appearance, house size, nails... anything.

I feel like an idiot living life not grateful. Not even that, because I am grateful for my opportunities in life, but the fact that I am not grateful enough. There's so much to be proud of, and so many reasons to work my ass off. It's not about what I don't have, it's about all I do have. It's not about how I look, but how I treat and respect others. Beauty is on the inside. Life is about living! 

Clouds by Zach

(Picture taken by Annie Feng)

(Picture taken by Annie Feng)

Discovering my Vitiligo - The Story, Emotions, and Motivation

This is all about the month/year I discovered my vitiligo. I actually "noticed" my vitiligo during Freshman year during Marching Band in High School. I probably had it before then, but I never really noticed. If you were ever in Marching Band, you know you spend a LOT of time outside. We had training camp for 2 weeks in the summer (in the middle of brutal sun season!)... I played the French Horn, so while holding my instrument up, I noticed that the tips of my finger never got tanned. Ignore the ignorance: but I knew black people's palms never got tanned... so I thought it was just a trait that dark people had... that it was normal... Now I got REALLY dark during summer... and I was young. So...

It was during Tufts Pre-Veterinary Camp that I really started to worry about it because it was becoming obvious. The Vet Camp was a 2 week sleep-away camp, and one morning while getting ready, I saw a giant pink patch right next to my left eye (size of a nickel). It stayed pink for about 2 days before it turned completely white. 

Now I had to finish my camp (it was very expensive), so it wasn't until I came back home to Jersey that I told my mom and we were able to schedule an appointment at the Dermatologist (who by the way was really creepy and kept rubbing up against me and breathing on me *shudder*, as you can guess, I never ever went back to him). 

When he finally finished the "examination", he went into another room to come back in 5 minutes to tell me it was vitiligo, and that not much can be done. He said no cause, no treatment, no reason, and he basically just told me I had to suck it up. I didn't care much at this point, the patch around my eye didn't bother me. It made me sad when he said it can get worse, and a slight chance that it gets better. 

I was perfectly fine when he told me. I really was. I didn't care, I wasn't worried, I didn't really think it would change me in any way, and it didn't really... It was on the ride home that out of nowhere I made my mom drive me to CVS so I can buy myself some makeup. I had a 6-year old tantrum out of nowhere. I got all upset and started saying now I'm going to be so ugly, I'll look like a raccoon/panda, and that my life was ruined. I don't know what happened to me. 

It's about 4 years later, and it did get worse, but I am perfectly fine. I won't really leave the house w/out makeup, and even with makeup on, I feel a little insecure as if people are staring at my eyes. Vitiligo has made me stronger and weaker. 

I feel stronger emotionally because I feel grateful I don't have any deadly/life-threatening illness. I have very supportive family and friends. Also, when you find someone that loves you, if they love the pure you, you know it's true love. I am also way more understanding and find myself relating to struggles of other people, whether it's from their insecurity of their body shape, skin, anything. 

I feel weaker emotionally because it does take a toll on my self-consciousness and confidence. I am a girl; my mind is influenced by the "appearance perfection-oriented media world" we live in. I also find myself a little "cold" towards strangers. I also find myself not trusting people when they do compliment me on my appearance. 

But whatever the struggle, I am alive and holding strong. I am working on my flaws. 

Vitiligo is my body art. ;)

Here are pics of my vitiligo: 

You can't see the ones on my hand THAT well, because my skin tone is pretty fair. 

My lips are pink because it's completely vitiligo... But people can't tell. You can see it on the bottom of my lips; the skin around my lips is white. 

How to: Care for a Betta Fish

     If you read my blog you can guess I attend college. I have the typical college life. I live with 3 other girls in a "suite." My chest tightens even calling it a "suite" because there are so many issues with it, and none of the comfort associated with the term (anyways off topic).

     I wrote this for "real" people like my roommate, who owns a betta fish in her room. I have taken over the duty of taking care of it because of the lack of care, and just because I love fish/pets.

     Let me tell you a story... she loves fish/marine life. She is so passionate about underwater life that she will not eat anything that touches/live near/under the water (fish, duck, clams, crabs, etc). She has fish at home (which her parents care for), so she decides to purchase a betta. She has most of the things, a small 2 Gallon tank, pebbles, live plants, but she doesn't have a heater or a filter. Not a big deal. But there's a downfall to her true passion. She doesn't actually care for taking care of the fish. The water was left unchanged for months, the fish goes without food for weeks, and no heater for the cold winter days. These issues accumulating started to create a lot of issues - the betta (his name is Pablo) started to get fin rot and fungal buildup around the face (yes the face!).

     By the time I took him in was too late. Eventually the fungal issues killed the fish. I think even his eyeballs turned gray and little fungal strands floated around his face. At least he died in clean water.

     Back to defining "real", I mean the everyday people. Like a student, or just a normal worker. Someone who doesn't want to go out of the way for something exuberant or doesn't have the money to provide a fish the luxury of a glamoured tank.

     But back to the "real" people talk, I know people will not listen even after reading this, if you don't want to care for a pet, a living thing, or anything, just don't bother yourself with the hassle of getting it! Why spend $20-30 for a dead fish in a few months? Go buy yourself a bottle of vodka, some weed... a few books.

NOTE: Betta fish is one of the MOST sturdy and easy care for fish, but they still need a few essential "necessities" to survive.

     And do not argue with me. YES, they will 'survive' if they don't have everything. I can argue with you and say you can keep a baby alive only feeding him/her once a day... A baby will survive if you don't change his/her diaper every time he/she dirties him/herself. And there are parents who DO treat their babies in that situation (parents who don't deserve to be parents... off topic again)
     Now you might argue with me, "It's a BABY."
     And I'll say "Exactly the same. They all have needs. Except a baby will tell you she is not full filled and hungry in this case. Do you expect the fish to just tell you? You need the knowledge to just understand."

I'm not trying to be a prick, but if you know you don't have the efforts to clean the tank, do basic maintenance, do yourself and the fish a favor, ok?

Now if you have already realized this... read on young grasshopper.

MIN requirements:
1. At least 1.5 Gallon Tank with a LID (Betta's have a tendency of jumping out of their tanks)
        - The bigger the tank (with filter) the less often you have to do water changes! (hint hint)
2. Heater for tanks 5 G and more!
        - For a tiny tank, temp control is too difficult and you can roast your fish.
3. Low stream filter
         - Especially for Veil Tail/Rose/Half-Moons/etc Bettas I notice they're not very good
           swimming and a strong current pushes them around
         - A regular filter is great for female Bettas or Plakats and Crowntails
4. Good quality food
          - I highly recommend the Hikari Pellets

Just so you know... All that cost me $120 (Look on Amazon for great deals)

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Here are the DO's and DON'T for a tank:

 NO

 

YES of course! If you have nothing else to do with $100-125.

 

NO. Way too small!

  

YES!

  

It's decent... ish

 

Yes! Missing a heater though! 

Ehhhh... How do you even change the water....

 

Yes!! (What I have for my tank)

Does and Don't in a Relationship - Mostly Common Sense...

Now, you're going to think this is all common sense... but most people still don't follow it! 

1. Don't compare your boyfriend/girlfriend to your ex... 
1. You'd think this is common sense but it happens all the time! 
2. Don't go straight into a relationship, date each other for a few months before you decide! If someone does something obnoxious or has an annoying habit that you hate, you can discover it earlier, and realize if he/she is really right for you/fix the issue. A relationship is serious and you don't want to break up over something stupid.
3. Keep a positive attitude. Always motivate each other and ALWAYS inspire each other to do better.
4. Don't stay cooped in the room. Go take a walk! Go for a car ride, blast some music!!! Keeping yourself locked indoors increases your chances of getting into an argument (I can't explain to you why... but it's true). You're always in a better mood outside. That Vitamin D makes ya happy. And if it's cold outside, just an excuse to cuddle together. 
5. Being a bitch doesn't always get you what you want... I swear
6. Girls: if you're mad about something, straight up tell the guy. I know we like to play games where we expect the guy to know what we want.... they'll never figure it out. 

1. If you guys decide to go out, and it involves money (food, movies, etc.), agree to who's paying ahead of time. Be honest. If he/she says to split half/half, and you don't think that's "fair", just say "hey, how about this time, you pay for both of us, and next time I'll pay for both of us." You don't want to hold a grudge or miss out on having a good time because you're being a materialistic bitch (sorry, not sorry). 
2. Go on a date at least once every 2-3 weeks. This means go OUTSIDE.
1. Any restaurant/cafe - grab coffee, hot chocolate, bagels... anything!
2. Drive to a park, take a stroll
3. Look up car shows/reptile shows/dog shows
4. MOVIE
5. Go food shopping! 
6. Go walk your dog/cat/ferret together
7. Car rides!!! 
3. Don't purposely annoy each other (touching his face if you know he doesn't like it, touching her face when she just spent 4 hours doing her makeup, etc)... I know you do this. 
4. If you're sad... and you don't want to talk, tell him/her you need some time alone. Don't ignore them. And also don't play the game where you tell him you don't want to talk, but in actuality you do. Example where some girls play the silent game trying to find out if their boyfriend will argue to see if you really care. Girls... you know what I mean. Boys, you probably experienced this already.
5. Girls: Don't ask him if you look nice, and then make a big deal on how you think "he's just being nice" and lying to you. If you're not even going to believe his answer, just don't even ask. It'll make you feel worse and it'll just annoy him. Or second scenario, his answer isn't "good enough". 
6. If you're outside together, enjoy being outside. Don't stalk him/her just to see if he/she is staring at someone else. If you're that paranoid, you probably shouldn't even be together. 
7. If you've only been dating for less than a year or so... DON'T TALK ABOUT KIDS... Like, WHY?!
8. Don't STALK each other's social media/hack into their account/phone etc. Give each other personal space and privacy. If you have doubts, ask! 
9. Don't just "talk" to each other, communicate!
10. Find common ground - hobbies, classes, books, music, etc
11. Be NICE to each other! Be considerate of each other
12. Don't be materialistic. Stop expecting lavish gifts every holiday... he ain't gonna afford you a LV bag or Cartier watch every holiday unless he's a drug dealer or Trump's son.