Making scented candles is becoming more and more popular each year. Whether it's for personal enjoyment or as a business venture, making scented candles can be fun and rewarding. With the down turn in the economy over the last couple of years, many people have been forced to stop and evaluate what is really important. Because of this more people are looking for inexpensive ways to spend time with the family, particularly around holiday time when...more
For the past year I've been compiling a list of model train stores for my model railroading website. These shops all look like a lot of fun to visit, but what are the most popular? Here is a list for the great state of New York.The most popular model railroading shops (based on online chatter) in the state of New York are:10. Dutchess Train and Hobby in Poughkeepsie9. Trainland in Brooklyn8. J and K Trains and Parts in Marlboro7. Hudson Shores...more
Here are a few guidelines for performing cleaning and routine maintenance of your model trains. Regardless of whether you have a Lionel set or any other brand, performing maintenance helps avoid trouble later on.For Lionel set locomotives, maintenance checks can be performed by removing the cover to see the inside. To remove the cover on steam engines, you must first remove the screw located underneath the smokestack. For diesel engines, remove the body by spreading at the sides so that the pins will be released then pull upward. Then flip the locomotive upside down to clean the wheels. You can use an X-acto blade to peel off the layers of grime. You can use an eraser pad to finish removing dirt and debris from the wheels of your model trains. In addition to clean wheels, locomotives need oil applied to the moving parts to keep them lubricated and working properly. It is recommended to refer to your owner's manual for instructions on applying oil. When applying the oil, keep a close watch to prevent over-oiling since excess oil has the tendency to drip out and can disrupt the electrical conductivity if it drips on your rails. Thin oil is recommended, such as 3-in-1.Another part of...more
Looking for a fun, engaging, and family-oriented hobby? One possibility is setting up your own home railroad with model scale trains. It's definitely a step up from collecting Thomas the Tank Engine toys, which is where many families start with their lifelong passion for choo-choos. There are countless possibilities, from a modest circle track and...more
Before adding scenery to your HO or O scale model trains toys, first determine the theme, location and layout.Theme: Consider the theme or purpose for the setting you want to achieve. Is it a passenger train, a military base, or some other setting? The location should be considered, such as if you want the train to travel through towns to and from...more
A jigsaw puzzle can provide long-lasting entertainment and numerous benefits of promoting the cognitive development of children of all ages.Puzzle solving activities can start at very early ages and continue as children get older. There are puzzles designed just for toddlers, with large wooden puzzle pieces or other durable puzzle games. For toddlers and preschool kids, solving a jigsaw puzzle helps improve basic skills such as hand-eye coordination because it requires the child to manipulate relatively small objects and to place those objects in specific places. The benefits can continue into preteen, teen, and adult years with more challenging puzzles that require more advanced coordination as well as other benefits. As kids get older, they can advance to more challenging puzzles, which include a larger number of smaller pieces and more complex color patterns. For older kids, solving puzzle games can help develop analytical skills, communication and collaboration, logic and attention to details.Puzzle games also improve a child's spatial skills. Solving a jigsaw puzzle requires the child to visualize a puzzle piece, and then to mentally rotate the puzzle piece up to 360 degrees...more
A topic that many people who have spent time making candles get intimidated by is how to make gel candles. Because it seems like a different form, it tends to be scary, but in reality, it isnt much different than normal wax candles. The basic rules...more
What Journal Keeping Can Do for YouIn earlier generations it was common to keep a diary or personal journal. Today few people do it, and very few recognize the value and astonishing power of keeping a journal. If you can read and write, you have...more
Wicks are the most important part of any candle that you make. Without a wick, all you'd have is a big block of wax. While most people do purchase their wicks from wholesalers, it is important to know how to make your own wicks for a number of...more
According to some reports as many as 30 percent of all Xbox 360 gaming systems have experienced the dreaded red ring of death or as some like to call it 360 rrod. And because of all of the negative publicity surrounding the issue Microsoft was forced...more
I don't have to tell you that video gaming systems are really hot these days. From Nintendo WII to the Xbox 360 to the various portable hand held units, video gaming has been big business since the early days of the Atari and a few of its...more
Are you wondering how much your Xbox 360 repairs cost will be? Gaming is an expensive hobby. The cost of new games, controllers, memory upgrades and updating consoles every few years can really add up. When you are spending so much money on an item,...more