Lights...candles...action!

I love candles, especially when the cold months roll in. That warm glow gives a cozy feel to every room of the house. Even during the day, candles can be lit to brighten up a dark corner or to diffuse a pleasant aroma throughout your room.

With endless choices of colors, sizes and scents, decorating with candles is fun and easy. If you are a bit more creative, try accenting your candles with whatever you have around the house or garden.

Here are a couple tips for helping your candles last longer:

• Trim the wick to 1cm (1/4 inch)
  
• Refrigerate before use (place in a ziplock bag to avoid the wick absorbing moisture)
  
• Put a few grains of salt in the hallow around the wick
  
• For large pillar candles, bend (or hug) the warmed wax in towards the wick
• Keep candles away from drafts
• Keep wicks straight to prevent uneven burning
  

Here is a easy idea for decorating candles from a fellow Minnesotan, Rebecca Cole. This can easily be incorporated into your holiday table centerpiece.

How to decorate a pillar candle