**FREE&FAITH** Music - Listening or Hearing

This is a cross post from my other blog. I think it will be of interest to anyone - regardless of belief.

When I was growing up and listening to a lot of music, my friends would tease me because I always misheard lyrics. There is a name for that now: mondegreens. Huh.

I looked up and found a list of common examples of misheard lyrics:

"I Can See Clearly Now"

by Johnny Nash: Some listeners hear "I can see clearly now Lorraine is gone" instead of the correct lyric "I can see clearly now the rain is gone". 

"I'm a Believer"

by The Monkees: The lyric "Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer" is sometimes misheard as "Then I saw her face, now I'm gonna leave her". 

"Losing My Religion"

by R.E.M.: The line "That's me in the corner, that's me in the spotlight" is often misheard as "Let's pee in the corner, let's pee in the spotlight". 

"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"

by Eurythmics: The title lyric is sometimes misheard as "Sweet dreams are made of cheese". 

"Blowin' in the Wind"

by Bob Dylan: The lyric "The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind" is sometimes misheard as "These ants are my friends, they're blowin' in the wind".

 

"Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap"

by AC/DC: The title is often misheard as "Dirty deeds and the thunder chief" or "Dirty deeds and they're done with sheep". 

Kind of silly, right? But I'm sure we can all relate. Misheard lyrics are one thing. At least we are paying attention to what we think is being said. What bothers me is when we don't apply discernment to what we hear.

I think it was the pastors Joe Schimmel and G. Craige Lewis that first prompted me to pay attention to lyrics and meanings.  One song we've probably all heard at least once is "I Write the Songs" sung by Barry Manilow, but written by Beach Boy Bruce Johnston.

On the surface of my mind, I always heard the song as a lovely melodious tribute to the creativity. Then, as I said, I was prompted to get out of my social emotions and pay attention to what was being conveyed. 

Here are the lyrics and, as you read them, think about who is speaking and what the message is. I boldfaced some of the words:

I've been alive forever

And I wrote the very first song

I put the words and the melodies together

I am music, and I write the songs

I write the songs that make the whole world sing

I write the songs of love and special things

I write the songs that make the young girls cry

I write the songs, I write the songs

My home lies deep within you

And I've got my own place in your soul

Now when I look out through your eyes

I'm young again, even though I'm very old

I write the songs that make the whole world sing

I write the songs of love and special things

I write the songs that make the young girls cry

I write the songs, I write the songs

Oh, my music makes you dance

And gives your spirit to take a chance

And I wrote some rock 'n' roll, so you can move

Music fills your heart, well, that's a real fine place to start

It's from me, it's for you

It's from you, it's from me

It's a worldwide symphony

I write the songs that make the whole world sing

I write the songs of love and special things

I write the songs that make the young girls cry

I write the songs, I write the songs

I write the songs that make the whole world sing

I write the songs of love and special things

I write the songs that make the young girls cry

I write the songs, I write the songs

I am music (music), and I write the songs. 

People might say that the song is from the viewpoint of God - I read that's what Johnston claimed. But would God want to make anyone cry? Would God want your spirit to take a chance?

G. Craige Lewis once pointed out that Lucifer was created with "tabrets" and "pipes," built into him. Some people think of Lucifer as having been a chief musician in Heaven. That's debatable,  but it's how many people think of him.

My point is that we (okay, me) often hear without listening. Even I have thought a lot of innocent-sounding songs have deeper and darker meanings buried in them.  Mainly, I chose these because something in them just felt wrong in my spirit. You might some debatable but here is a list:

• "Stairway to Heaven" Led Zeppelin
• "Sympathy for the Devil" The Rolling Stones
• "Hotel California" The Eagles
• "Riders on the Storm" The Doors

Actually, I didn't like anything by The Doors because the lead singer creeped my out for some reason...

Here are a couple of videos showing more songs. I noticed I already had some on my list.

And don't think that so-called "gospel" and "Christian worship" songs are any better. So many people striving to be "stars" are doing anything to get there. Anyway, people, be more discerning in your every day life, as I will be.

Peace

--Free

Allulose Is Different

 For a long time I've struggled with finding a satisfactory substitute for table sugar. Here are some that I tried and discarded: 

• Stevia - hate it, hate it, hate it. On my palate it's so sharp that I feel something is cutting me. I have tried it blended with other substitutes and... nah. Not for me.
• Monk Fruit - this came close to being the most likeable. However, it took a lot of tricky measuring to get the right balance. An nth too much and I get a nasty aftertaste. Also, it did give me a bloated feeling.
• Truvia - From what I remember, it wasn't horrible, but it depended on what it was in.
• Erythritol - This is a hard no. This reminded me of a watered-down version of the saccharin Mom used in back in the day. One teeny touch of this on my tongue created an almost visceral reaction.
• Swerve - I was okay with this for a lot of things but too much was nasty. I realized why when I read the ingredients.
• Aspartame - This is right up there with Erythritol and that old school sweetener. So gross.
• Xylitol - More than any other sweetener, this has that cooling effect that puts me off. The only acceptable use is in gum and mints - where you want that effect.

I've had other replacements when trying various beverages. Recently, I bought a fizzy mango-flavored drink (can't remember that name) and was so disappointed at first sip. I hadn't noticed the label to see the dreaded Stevia... That was a precious $1.50 poured right down the sink?

Years ago, I remember a product called Just Like Sugar. It was awesome and this is back when I wasn't as desperate to lose weight. See this link because I can't go back that far in my head! (Glancing back at that post, I realize I was kinder to some of those sweeteners than I am now...)

So JLS was great - while it lasted. Of course the creator passed and the product just went away. It was when I was looking into what happened with JLS that I found what had to be the main ingredient in it: allulose. Cue the heavenly choir.

I got a bag of allulose a while back, but I didn't get serious about using it on a daily basis until my last doctor visit. My blood pressure has been good but my doc wants to get it lower. She reminded me how much BP affects kidney disease. That did it.

Instead of using sweetened coffee creamer, or even using regular milk or half and half with brown sugar for sweetening, I have buckled down. I am using evaporated milk with water (or a little half and half) with allulose. I wish I had gotten serious about the allulose sooner.

I have noticed that if I have my morning coffee with allulose instead of other sweeteners, my appetite stays curbed most of the day. I know that's no good if I don't make better choices in what I do eat. So I am trying to do a lot of veggies and fish for meals and, for snacking, nuts and dried fruits. I will have another coffee sometime in the afternoon and at some point, I will have a cup of tea (with milk and allulose).

While allulose is not as sweet as sugar, I am having to get used to that. When I first started using it in my coffee, I used a lot - trying to get it sweeter. Now I realize I don't need the higher sweetness, I just need enough to give flavor to my coffee (or tea).

I am so used to sugar being sugar-sweet that I am teaching my tastebuds to appreciate the flavor not sweetness. Does that make sense?

I won't go into the supposed pros of allulose except to leave that links for you to look at. You need to do your own research and check with any health providers to be safe.

• From Cleveland Clinic
• Healthline

Honestly, I have yet to bring it up with my own kidney doc, so I can't preach. I just know that I need to lose weight and this is helping me start.

I found a video showing how to make a DIY brown sugar with allulose for baking (and coffee!) 

Before I close, I want to share this video that I have not yet watched. It's not the first time I've heard allulose mentioned in relation to metabolic changes. Again, do your due diligence!

Peacc

--Free

Wearing Makeup at 60+

Well, folks, after not wearing makeup for years, I am having to practice using foundation. I have a wedding to attend this winter, should the good Lord let me live and nothing happen. 

I have worn the occasional cosmetic, but I usually stick with eyeliner and lip gloss. The last time I owned foundation was a few years ago and I think I wore it three or four times total. Normally, I wouldn't bother, but I am going to be in the company of some fabulous girlie girls and would like to join in the reindeer games - at least when it comes to the photos! Also, this wedding is a 3-day affair; no need being the homeliest one in that many photos.

Now, here's the thing, I haven't worn makeup for so long the I was really having a time finding something suitable. My requirements are pretty standard:

• The shade has to be right. I don't want to look "made up" and I don't want my face to be a different color from my neck. 
• Back to the not looking made up, I'm shooting for a "no makeup" effect. Basically, I just want to even things out and have a "finished" look. Without looking like I tried!
• I don't want to leave makeup marks on everything. My or other people's clothing, dinner napkins, etc. That's so unattractive - especially with "deep" brown makeup. 
• Most of all, I don't want to irritate my skin.
• It would be nice if the result lasts for several hours. Back in the day, I hated doing touchups and regular blotting for shine control.
• Finally, sunscreen is a must.
• Final finally - LOL - is price. This makeup situation is temporary, so I don't want to splash out!

After 3 days of looking at different brands shades (and considering my requirements), I found something decent. I will have to make adjustments for sunscreen and the transfer situation.

I still had some Juvie ad Black Radiance to play around with (even though they are old) and am disappointed. The Juvia is as I remembered and good, but too heavy, My amazing Black Radiance no longer makes the same BB cream I loved. 

What I have learned is that cosmetics have come a long way since I wore them. 

The first thing I found was a color-matching product from Almay that did its job so well, it was like magic. I kind of love it for an everyday look. 

Goes on grayish &
blends in matching

Almost invisible 
it matches so close

My neighbor said it was fabulous for every day, but suggest for the wedding photos, I might want to "build it" more. Hmmm.  Since the Deep shade was only $4 and change, I'm going to try the concealer from the same line to see if it has more coverage. And I love that all the Deep shades are half what the other shades cost... And sticking with the under-five price, I went ahead and ordered some Maybelline Age Rewind. Just in case. 

The next wonderful thing I found is this stuff that... "grips" your makeup...

Child!

The first one I ordered, Amazon lost in the mail and had to refund me. The second one was so late arriving that the lost got to me. I've tried both and the work about the same, but maybe the Sheglam is friendlier to my skin and lasted longer.

That grip stuff solved some serious problems. First, it kept the foundation in place for hours. Also, it prevented transfer. It suctioned the foundation to my face like crazy - without drying my skin, Of course, I first applied all my moisturizer and sunscreen beforehand...

Now all I need to do is find some decent lip stain and I will be ready. I have some time to play around any get better at applying the makeup. Wedding photos, here I come!

Peace

--Free

I Am Mad At Medicube...

...Or at myself.

There is a story to this story and the first part is the post I was preparing to write a couple of weeks ago. Here is the start of it:

Most of my skincare routine is based on products I know and that have proven good for my skin. However, there are times when I want to rotate in a different product (or products) to give my skin a break. Lately I have been looking for a collagen-based face cream. Every time I do a general search, one brand keeps popping up: Medicube.

I'd never heard of Medicube until I saw it a while back all over Amazon. I was curious and even sort of interested until I started seeing "viral" and "TikTok" all over the reviews and photos. That set off an alarm in my brain. I have trust issues with people paid to hype products. Influencer marketing is not new to people around my age... 

One of the originals...

I'm not a big TikTok user and I am always surprised to remember that I once had an account. I do see TikTok videos come up in a lot of YouTube videos, especially the "reaction" videos. Most reactions videos are like those weird nesting images within images. You have one video talking about other videos that are sometimes talking about other videos. We are living in weird times, people.

Anyway.

When I continued looking through the Amazon search results, I noticed that there are other brands slapping labels on products: "Viral on TikTok" or some other social media tease. Think I'm being dramatic?

Found all these products on first
couple of pages of search.

Here's the thing, I used to love the product review community about 5 or 6 years ago. I was part of it in my own small-fish kind of way. Reviewing products then was fun and a way to get to try new stuff for no or at low cost. 

Because I still love reviewing products but don't like to exaggerate any claims - and because I am don't "engage" on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, etc. - I just stick to my humble little blog. I don't go out of my way to cover products I end up not liking, but I won't over-hype the stuff I do like. That's not the point of doing actual reviews.

I no longer trust social media to be truthful about products. 

As a matter of fact, the best way to put me off a product is to slap "viral" on the label. This is my take on the new social media selling game:

• Viral means it's backed by influensters
• Influensters are paid spokespeople
• Spokespeople are in it to make a commission or grow their following
• People will exaggerate to make money or grow a following
• Viral products come and go

When I look for products, I want something that is actually good - viral or not. Most of the products that I have used off and on for years are from long-standing brands. Back when I wore a little bit of makeup regularly, I used Fashion Fair and Black Radiance, Covergirl and Revlon. I stopped wearing makeup for the most part in my late 20s and early 30s and stuck with the occasional eyeliner and lip color and, of course, focused more on skincare. I used L'Oreal, Black Opal*, and more recently brands like e.l.f., and an assortment of natural carrier and essential oils. 

I don't trust a flawless (or seemingly so) influencer advising me on skincare. If you want to impress me, get rid of the photo filters and layers of makeup. Or just tell me why you love the product. Don't try to jive me, hype your numbers or impress the brand you work for.

Yeah. I was on a roll... And now I am mad because I have to catch, cook, and eat my own crow. Confession: I tried Medicube and I kind of love it. (I still wish brands would stop with the hype marketing.)

I tried the Triple Collagen Serum (TCS) because someone I personally know said it was actually good and I trust her opinion.

I like the cap cover

The serum was so good that I tried the other product this person was also using - the Triple Collagen Cream (TCC). 

That was so good for my daytime routine, I spun the wheel a third time and hit the jackpot again. The Jelly Collagen Cream  (JCC) seemed to be me going too far at first, but it turns out that I like to combine it with the TCC as my night treatment and I know it is going to be a winter season must-use.

It is not sticky

Of course, you don't personally know me, so I probably sound like just more of the "viral" hype. But here's the thing: I am not an affiliate or getting any compensation in any kind of way for telling you about my experience. 

My skin has been pretty good all my life but, as I age, it's gotten tri-polar. I'm 64 now (thank you, Lord!) and my skin has lost all its mind. Depending on what time it is on a particular day, I can describe it as dry, oily, or combo. And, in the past several years, I've been developing little spots that are not freckles... 

I do like the products I was currently using, especially the Topicrem Balm and La Roche Posay Cleanser. I am still using the balm on my neck and body and the LRP cleanser. I did like the L'Oreal face cream I was using until they changed the formula. But this Medicube is next level - and affordable.

My routine recently has been:

• Cleanse (with the LRP) and a good lukewarm rinse
• Apply the TCS, wait a few minutes
• Apply the TCC (at nighttime, I mix in the JCC), wait a few minutes
• Apply a thin layer of Vaseline (or CeraVe Healing Ointment), wait about 5 minutes
• Apply Sunscreen (only during the day, of course)

That takes care of the whole day. I will reapply sunscreen, if I go outside. By the way, this one is on my Subscribe and Save. It has zero white cast and is, by itself, very moisturizing. I use this one when I can find it on sale or on eBay for cheaper. Again, no white cast. None.

What do I like about the Medicube products I'm using?

• The effect on my skin's texture & moisture retention
• My skin feels velvet-soft and a more firm.
• Affordable
• Doesn't take a lot to treat my face and neck
• No irritation (so far)
• No scent to it
• Well-packaged and labeled
• The effects last all day or all night*

* Confession: I went to sleep one night without washing my face & my skin was still feeling great the next morning!

Mostly, I loving what it is doing for my skin overall. It's hard to explain without you being able to feel my skin for yourself, but the softness and texture is amazing. I took a before picture after the first few days so that I can do another photo later for comparison. I am excited to see the difference myself. For now, this is how I look after the daytime treatment. No makeup or filters used, but I do have on a light application of some color-changing lipstick.

see the "not freckles"???

(I was taking the photo and my SIL made me laugh out loud about how it feels to have teeth again!)

Last thing I want to mention is something I asked the lady who turned me on to Medicube. After I got the TCC and before I got the JCC, I asked which she would pick if she could only have one of them. She said that she likes having both but, if she had to choose, she'd go with the JCC. Now that I have used both, I would have to choose the TCC. In my case, I could use something else (or more Vaseline) in my night routine if I had to, but the TCC is my must-have.

That's the last of my two cents' worth of opinion.

By the way, my goal is not to look young; I just want to take care of my skin and keep it in good shape. The added benefit is not having sun damage or looking as haggard as I sometimes feel. It's enough that I am still working in losing weight. If y'all do nothing else, wear sunscreen and stay healthy and happy with yourself!!!

I'm still not trusting any viral marketing or influencers. This time I am so happy that I had a good recommendation from a trusted source. We should all use that method.

Peace

--Free

DISCLAIMER: I am and will not be compensated for any products mentioned in this post. I don't have any affiliation with Amazon or any of the other stores/sellers linked to. I am just sharing my experience in using the products mentioned.