This easy body butter can be made in the microwave, so there's no need to mess around with a double boiler. Assemble the following ingredients: 1/2 cup grapeseed oil (or almond oil) 2 tablespoons beeswax 2 tablespoons distilled water 10 drops lemon, lime or orange essential oil Place 1/2 cup grapeseed oil and 2 tablespoons beeswax in a canning jar or a heatproof glass measuring cup. Place the mixture in the microwave and heat for 10 to 15 seconds. Stir, then repeat until the oil and beeswax are melted. Be sure to microwave the mixture in short increments to prevent it from getting too hot and burning. Do not try to cook the mixture in a plastic container, since the plastic could leach into the mixture. Add 2 tablespoons filtered or distilled water and 10 drops of orange, lemon or lime essential oil as you continue to blend. The body butter will turn thick and white as you blend. Keep going until it's creamy and rich in texture. The process of beating the melted oils with water is called emulsifying. It's similar to the process of making whipped cream or mayonnaise. It might take awhile for the mixture to come together, so keep at it until you achieve the right texture. An empty lip balm container works well. Use on dry skin as needed.

Summary: Gather your ingredients. Heat the oil and beeswax. Whip the mixture with a hand blender. Spoon the body butter into jars or tins.

. There are many business plan models you can work with ranging from a one page "lean canvas" to 100 pages of complex questions. You will have to figure out which kind works best for you! Your business plan will describe your goals for the school, the reasons they are attainable, and how you plan to achieve them financially. A business plan will be necessary to begin raising funds and fulfilling the incorporation steps necessary to start a school. Consider conducting a feasibility study to determine whether or not opening a school will be a viable option. Early in the startup process, it is essential to take a hard look at your vision and determine how best to proceed. You'll need to determine how many students you're likely to enroll, budget costs, operating costs, upkeep of the grounds, and all other facets of the school's operation to determine if it will be likely to succeed. You may also want to interview people in your community about whether there is a need for this type of school You won't be able to do this by yourself, so one of the first steps in starting your school needs to be appointing like-minded administrators to make up a board of directors who will jointly make all financial and operational decisions, hire faculty, and oversee the school. While an increasing number of micro-schools are run by a single teacher, in general, no school is run by a single "leader." While it's important to establish good leadership as a group, a school is more of a corporation and less of a dictatorship. To find a good board of directors, consider enlisting local members of the education community who may be dissatisfied with their local options and be interested in a more forward-thinking school, like yours. . Your board of directors needs to carefully fill out the articles of incorporation with the state in which you'll be based and register as an educational non-profit. Often, there's a corporate filing office or business bureau with which you can fill out the papers. Usually, there is a fee of several hundred dollars associated with the forms. By filing as a non-profit, you'll be able to receive grants, donations, and other types of funding that wouldn't normally be available to a for-profit organization. To obtain non-profit status, the organization must be organized and operated exclusively for religious, educational, scientific, or other charitable purposes and fulfill the following requirements: Net earnings may not inure to the benefit of any private individual or shareholder. No substantial part of its activity may be attempting to influence legislation and may not intervene in political campaigns. The organization's purposes and activities may not be illegal or violate fundamental public policy. Visit the IRS website or a local office to apply for an Employee Identification Number (EIN). This acts as your corporate SSN, basically. It distinguishes you as a non-profit educational corporation with the IRS, including tax-exempt status. To register your EIN, fill out the IRS form found here. The tax-exempt status can be somewhat time-consuming, and you may want to consult a lawyer to go over the paperwork with you and ensure that you're interpreting and filling it out correctly. To file for tax-exempt status, fill out IRS form 1023, found here.

Summary: Prepare a business plan Gather a board of directors. File for incorporation in your state Register as a non-profit. Obtain an EIN and file for tax-exempt status.

There are several different types of mutual funds available, each of which has a different level of risk. Even if you are a relatively conservative investor, you still may want to add one or two higher-risk funds. A diversified basket of mutual funds that meets your overall preferred level of risk allows your portfolio to experience some growth rather than merely preserving your capital. Within your overall investment account, you want to reserve at least 5 percent of your assets in cash so you can take advantage of opportunities as they arise. Money market funds generally have the lowest risk level. Stock funds and bond funds are generally higher risk funds. Target date funds carry a mix of investments and are best if you have a specific retirement date in mind. Before you start buying shares in mutual funds, you need a good understanding of the types of funds available, the possible returns associated with those funds, and the expenses involved. You can learn a lot about mutual funds by reading on the internet, especially at the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which regulates mutual funds. You also can download a complete consumer guide to mutual funds at https://investor.gov, which will walk you through all the details of the market generally and provide guidance on investing wisely. Online ratings services, such as Lipper or Morningstar, offer risk assessments for each mutual fund. Compare these to the risk tolerance you've established to decide which mutual fund is right for you. These services also detail all fees and charges related to each mutual fund. These expenses can eat into your returns significantly, so you need to research each fund carefully before you commit any money. Look beyond the name of a fund. Just because a fund carries the name of a particular bank may not mean that bank still runs that fund. A fund called a "stock fund" may carry other investments besides corporate stock. While investing in an actively-managed fund will give you more flexibility, you likely will pay higher fees to an investment manager. Passive investment in index-based funds may be a better option for you if you are new to investing. Index-based funds typically have lower fees than actively-managed funds, but they also run the risk of underperforming once you take fees and taxes into account. Generally, investing in mutual funds will be more satisfying if you plan to hold your shares for five years or longer. The longer you hold your shares, the better your chance of a decent investment return. Some funds offer several different share classes, typically A, B, and C classes. Each class has a different fee structure. The length of time you plan to hold your shares can help you determine which share class is most appropriate for you.
Summary: Determine your risk tolerance. Research the market. Visit financial websites. Choose an active or passive investment strategy. Decide how long you plan to hold your investments.