16 opinions
Mulled Wine & Candles Make for a Lazy Winter DIY It’s easy to make your time at home more festive on a budget—here’s how
It’s the time of year when most people want nothing more than to get cozy and hide away from the winter cold. If that sounds like what you’re looking for but you don’t have the time, money, or patience to do a full-on Martha Stewart-inspired do-it-yourself holiday, look no further. There’s nothing I’m better at than making quick crafts and goodies. You can spend more time enjoying them and less time stressing out over how to make the things you need to relax. The following how-to is for anyone who wants to enjoy the winter break on a student’s budget and a student’s schedule.
3) Purchase some Merlot from your nearest liquor store (for those who don’t know, Merlot is a red wine). The price of the bottle makes no difference. The point is to save money. 4) Take your ingredients home and put them in a small pot on the stove. If you’re aiming to make a cup of mulled wine, split it down the middle. Half of the liquid in the pot should be the fruit juice, with the remainder being the Merlot. Try not to boil it, you just want to heat it up on the stove top. 5) There you have it—a mulled wine beverage to help you get through your last essays and warm you up at the same time.
Mulled Wine
Cheap and Cozy Candles
Everyone makes a big deal out of eggnog during the winter seasons. It’s everywhere: in movies, cafes, holiday parties, and possibly even in your fridge right now. I’m going to introduce you to something a little spicier and less eggy. The steps are simple: 1) Go to your nearest IKEA. 2) Find yourself the “Mulled Fruit Juice” bottle, which costs around $4.00 and saves you a lot of time mulling different spices, juices, and fruits together.
This one takes a bit more preparation, but for all of us who have looked at Pinterest, seen beautiful homemade candles, and said, “Maybe one day,” it’s worth it. Today can be that day. Here’s what you need to do: 1) Gather the basics for your candle. You’ll need something for the candle to go into—personally, I like picking up a vintage-looking teacup from a thrift shop, since they are often very inexpensive. You will also need a wick, which you can get a small pack of at your local craft shop,
Nicola kwit | art director
like Michaels. Don’t buy the candle wax from Michaels, just go to a dollar store, buy some tall candles, and chop those up into small pieces to melt. If you want to be really cost-efficient, use the wick from the candles you chop up! 2) Pick your scents. If you want a scented candle, the best way to do it is to use essential oils, which you can also pick up at Michaels. Anything else will just give you a headache. If you do use oils, go with festive scents like gingerbread, vanilla, cinnamon, or student’s tears. 3) Take all of these goodies home and get cracking. Boil water in a pot and then remove it from the burner. Boil just enough water so that when you put a glass bowl in it—the size of which should depend on the size of your tea cup—the water doesn’t spill over into the bowl. Put the aforementioned bowl into the hot water and then put in the wax, moving it around to melt it. Once it’s melted, get your teacup and the wick. 4) Hold the wick with tongs so you don’t burn yourself and keep it still in the middle of the cup with the end gently touching the cup’s base. Pour the wax in to the brim. Try and keep the wick straight. If you want to add any essential oils, do so while the wax is still soft. You may need to stand there for a few minutes to hold
the wick. Otherwise, the wax will swallow it up. 5) Once the wax is stiff, you can let go and use your own little homemade
candle. You’re welcome, and happy creating. Please don’t burn your house down.
(Nicola Kwit)
South Surrey Rubber-Producing factory Isn’t worth protesting
Though local residents are concerned about air pollution, the plant will not be a health or environmental concern Daniella Javier | contributor Metro Vancouver issued a permit for Weir Canada Inc. to begin construction on a rubber-producing plant in South Surrey on Nov. 9, but local residents are uncomfortable with the manufacturing facility being in their neighborhood, according to an article by CBC. The rubber plant—which is situated in the Campbell Heights Business Park—will replace two other facilities, one in Richmond and one in Delta. It will produce rubber coatings made of pre-purchased rubber for pipes, valves, and pumps used in the mining sector and oil sands. Weir first submitted its proposal to run the plant in August 2016, but revised its application to reduce the level of emissions after public consultations. Initially, the plant’s emission level was supposed to be 42 tonnes per year, but Weir brought it down to 2.49 tonnes. Metro Vancouver’s environmental protection notice stated that contaminants such as nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and hazardous air pollutants would be released by the facility. Nearby residents don’t want the rubber plant to release any contam-
inants into the air because they feel that it will affect their health and the health of their families. It’s understandable to be concerned about the impact of air contaminants on oneself and the environment, but most people—including those who live in Surrey—contribute to global warming in their everyday lives anyhow. If they aren’t worried about living emissions-free, they shouldn’t be so concerned about the new rubber plant. Metro Vancouver Media Relations Manager Don Bradley also told the Surrey-Now Leader that the emissions produced by the plant contain fewer air contaminants than those emitted by a single wood-burning fireplace. The facility will operate within air quality objectives, as established by the city, and Metro Vancouver operates air quality monitoring stations across the region. There hasn’t been any clarity on what will be discharged from the plant, though. An environmental notice was sent out, but that won’t satisfy South Surrey residents unless physical measurements of what will be emitted are made available. They need more proof in order to support it. Worried residents need to realize
that Campbell Heights has become one of Metro Vancouver’s most attractive industrial hubs because of its location and infrastructure. Those living in industrial areas should not be surprised if plant facilities show up near their homes. More companies are also moving to South Surrey, which means that more jobs are becoming available. According to The Canadian Press, Weir’s facility will create 30 new jobs, bringing the company’s total number of B.C. employees to 110. Everyone should see the rubber pant as an opportunity for job creation. There’s also been some growing concern about how Weir’s rubber plant will affect the Little Campbell River. Peace Arch News reported that close to 60 years have been spent restoring the river, and as a result, it is now the most productive salmon stream in Greater Vancouver. Some are afraid that the rubber plant will wreck the river again, and that’s a valid concern. Hopefully, Weir will be responsible enough to ensure that those fears do not become reality. For now, South Surrey residents are going to have to accept Weir’s rubber plant into their neighbourhoods.
(@RESLUS)