🕯 10 Candle-Making Fails to Avoid + The Goal Map That Actually Works

NOTICE: Formerly known as The Steady Homestead, we’ve rebranded to The Homestead Movement! Same great content, just a fresh new name. 😊 

IN TODAY'S EDITION

1. Homestead Tip 🌱

2. Poll Results From Last Tuesday 📊

3. All Things Homestead: 10 Candle-Making Mistakes You Can Skip This Season 🕯

4. Personal Development: How to Use Goal Mapping to Finally Make Progress 🗺

5. Today's Top Picks 🛍️

6. Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣

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POLL RESULTS FROM LAST TUESDAY

What’s your go-to food preservation method?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Canning

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Dehydrating

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Fermenting

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ Freezing

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Root cellaring

via @beehiiv polls

Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉

Also, follow us on our social media accounts for daily homesteading inspiration and updates.

ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD

10 Candle-Making Mistakes You Can Skip This Season 🕯

If you’ve ever poured your heart into homemade candles only to end up with tunneling, weak scent, or weird textures, you’re not alone. Candle-making looks simple, but there are small steps that make a big difference. These common mistakes are easy to miss but even easier to fix once you know what to look for.

Here’s what to watch for so your next batch burns beautifully, and smells amazing too.

1. Using the wrong wick size.
   Wicks that are too small won't burn all the wax, and wicks that are too large will tunnel fast and burn too hot. Always match the wick to the container width and wax type. Try a wick guide chart before guessing.

2. Pouring wax at the wrong temperature.
   Wax that's too hot can crack your jars or cause sinkholes. Wax that's too cold may not blend well with fragrance. For most soy wax, aim to pour between 120°F to 135°F. Use a thermometer, don’t eyeball it.

3. Skipping the cure time.
   Many crafters light their candles the next day and wonder why the scent is weak. Candles need at least 7–10 days to cure so the wax and fragrance can bind. Let them sit, covered, in a cool space away from sunlight.

4. Adding fragrance at the wrong time.
   If fragrance is added when the wax is too hot, it can burn off and smell faint. Too cold, and it won’t blend well. Add your oils between 175°F and 185°F depending on the wax brand. Stir slowly for a full two minutes.

5. Using too much or too little fragrance.
   More scent doesn’t mean a stronger smell. Most waxes hold 6–10% fragrance by weight. Use a kitchen scale instead of measuring by eye or volume. Overloading can cause poor burns or weepy candles.

6. Not pre-heating your containers.
   Pouring wax into cold jars can lead to wet spots and uneven cooling. Warm them slightly with a heat gun or place them near a warm oven. Just don’t pour into a cold glass jar straight from the fridge.

7. Trimming the wick too short, or not at all.
   Wicks that are too long can smoke and mushroom. Too short, and the flame drowns in melted wax. Trim them to about 1/4 inch before lighting and between burns.

8. Pouring too fast.
   Pouring your wax quickly causes bubbles and uneven surfaces. Slow and steady wins here. If your candle top looks bumpy or sunken, try a slower pour next time and a second top-off if needed.

9. Ignoring testing.
   No one wants to test burn a candle they worked hard on, but it’s a must. Always test one candle from each batch for burn time, melt pool, and scent throw. Keep notes so you can tweak the next batch instead of guessing.

10. Using low-quality ingredients.
    Cheap wax or fragrance oils might save money up front but often burn poorly. Look for suppliers that are transparent about their ingredients. If a scent gives you a headache before it burns, it’s probably not a clean fragrance.

Quick Fixes You Can Start Today

• Keep a candle-making notebook. Write down your wax type, temperature, pour time, wick size, and how the candle burned.

• Invest in a good thermometer, a kitchen scale, and wick guide. These three tools will save you more money than any fancy mold ever will.

• Start with small batches until you find your rhythm. It’s easier to fix 4 candles than 14.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

How to Use Goal Mapping to Finally Make Progress 🗺

Life on the homestead or in the home is full of constant demands: meals, kids, animals, garden, repeat. But even with a full plate, it’s possible to move forward if you use the right map.

That’s where goal mapping comes in. It's a simple method to break your big ideas into steps you can actually take… without needing more hours in your day.

Why Goal Mapping Works for Busy Women

Traditional goal setting often falls flat because it stops at writing down the “what.” Goal mapping adds the “how” and the “why” to give your goals a real backbone.

This method gives your brain a picture to follow. Instead of feeling scattered, you’ll know exactly what direction to go.

Start with the Main Goal

Choose one goal to focus on. Think about what you really want, not just what sounds good on paper.

Write it in clear, simple words. For example: “Start a kitchen herb garden” or “Spend 30 minutes reading every evening.”

Add a Strong Why

Without a clear reason, motivation fades fast. Ask yourself: Why does this matter right now?

Maybe you want fresh herbs so you cook with fewer store trips. Or maybe reading helps you wind down before bed instead of doom-scrolling. Write that reason down next to your goal.

Break It Into Mini Goals

Now split the big goal into smaller steps. Each step should feel doable.

Let’s say your goal is the herb garden:

• Step 1: Pick a sunny windowsill or corner of the porch

• Step 2: Choose 3 beginner-friendly herbs

• Step 3: Gather pots, soil, and seeds

• Step 4: Plant and water

• Step 5: Create a weekly care routine

Mini goals keep you moving when the full picture feels too big to tackle in one go.

Add Timelines You Can Actually Keep

Give each step a gentle deadline. Instead of saying “this week,” write “by Saturday morning after coffee.” Be specific, but leave wiggle room for real life. If you’re homeschooling, milking goats, or potty training, be kind to your calendar.

Use a Visual Map

Goal maps don’t have to be fancy. Use a blank sheet of paper, sticky notes, or a chalkboard. Start with your main goal in the center. Draw branches for each mini goal.

This keeps everything in front of you. Seeing the steps every day helps your brain stay focused, especially on busy mornings.

Review and Adjust Weekly

Check in with your map once a week. See what’s working and what’s not.

Maybe you realized basil needs more light or your reading time is better in the morning. Adjust without guilt. Goal mapping is a tool, not a rule.

Celebrate the Small Wins

Don’t wait until everything is done to feel good. Finishing one step deserves a little celebration.

Drink tea in your garden chair. Snap a photo of your first sprout. Text a friend that you finished a book. Small wins fuel long-term success.

Keep It All in One Place

Use a goal journal or a corner of your homemaking binder. Keep your map, reasons, and progress all together.

This gives you a record to look back on when you feel stuck. You’ll see how far you’ve come, even if progress has been slow.

💬 Real Talk for Homesteading Women

Goals don’t need to be fancy or fit into some Pinterest-perfect system. They need to fit you.

Most of us aren’t chasing six-figure side hustles or dream kitchens. We just want to feel a little more peace, purpose, and progress in our everyday lives. Goal mapping helps us get there, one step at a time.

THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER

Why do homesteaders talk to their plants more in May?

Because leafing them alone would be rude!

TODAY'S TOP PICKS

LET’S KEEP IT REEL!

I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!

1. In case you haven’t seen it yet, here’s a chicken that’s been hitting the gym arms and all! 💪

@sammyg1972

Whatever next 😂😂😂 #goodmorning #goodvibes #funnytiktok #funnyvideos😂 #positivevibes #tiktokhumor #dailylife #chicken #chickensoftiktok #fy... See more

2. If you need someone to talk to… your chicken might be available! 😂

@thegardeningflutist

Wait for it! 😅 #chicken #chickens #chickensoftiktok #chicks #rooster #roosters #roostersoftiktok #animal #animals #animalsoftiktok #animal... See more

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