**REVIEW** I Did NOT Expect To Love This Bath Sponge

 Let me say this first: I hate TikTok. I hate any platform that is focused on "influencing" - especially product influencing. Weird, right, since I blog so many product reviews. I like reading reviews from people who really believe in or like a product and aren't just hyping every latest thing for the purpose of jacking up their "Likes".

Let me reiterate that: I hate TikTok and Instagram and all the other platforms riddled with fake reviews. 

I want you to understand this because I found a product on my own that is, apparently, "hot on TikTok". I didn't know that until after I bought the product. Once I heard that it was a TikTok-hyped item, I almost returned it without opening the package.

However, I am in love with this item:

That is a "Net Bath Sponge". I found it while looking for another of the scrubbers that I've always gotten from Walmart. You know what I'm talking about? The balls of exfoliating puff scrubbers that are so popular for the shower. Something like these:

I mainly like those because they lather up so well. The downside is that they don't clean the skin very well. Mostly, I think I like them because they look cute hanging in my shower. 

Anyway, I was looking for a better type of the poof scrubber. I wanted something that would do a better job of cleaning. I thought maybe the Walmart ones were just cheaply made. So I went looking for an alternative and ran across a slew of the "net sponges".

When I chose a net sponge to try out, I ordered one and started looking more closely at the reviews. That's when I realized I'd been TikTok-ked. 

I guess these sponges are hyped on TikTok as "African bath sponges". 

🙄

It was too late to cancel the order so I decided I would probably just return it later. 

But then...

I got the sponge and it was so unusual-looking in the package that I just had to unwrap it and get a closer look. 

That's a cute presentation

When I unrolled the sponge (which is not really a sponge but a long sheet of netting), my first thought was that it was just a really long piece of the stuff that my onion bags are made of.  What a ripoff! 

The instructions for use are to first rinse the netting in warm and soapy water. I couldn't resist doing so. And that was when I first realized that this was not the same stuff onion bags are made of. Also, this netting was nothing like the material that the traditional poofs are made of.

When dry, the netting feels much too rough and abrasive to put anywhere near my skin. When wet and soapy, it's the perfect texture for gentle cleansing.

I went ahead and gave this a try in the shower and was blown away. For one thing, the smallest dab of my liquid soap foamed up like something out of a cartoon. For another thing, the sponge was easier to use than a washcloth or a poof.

Normally, I got through my liquid shower soap like I own the factory where it's made. With a washcloth, the soap doesn't last because I have to soap myself down, then rinse and repeat. If I don't I feel as if my skin is not getting clean enough. I certainly am not sloughing off any dead skin and product buildup without a lot of scrubbing.

Although the exfoliation was good, the netting was much more gentle than I expected. I spent far less time in the shower and came out feeling much cleaner with less work. 

What I really liked was that the netting was easy to clean. When I use washcloths, I need 3 for the shower - one for my face, one for my torso, and one for my lady parts. I have a separate scrubber for my feet. I was able to use the sponge for everything and just use 1 washcloth for my "delicate" areas. That's really going to cut down on laundry.

The first couple of times I used it, I just rinsed and hung it in the shower to dry. The next time I used it, I realized that a dot of clarifying shampoo would clean up any residue of dirt and oils without damaging the netting. That's my new routine for cleaning the "sponge" now.

It stretched almost
as long as my shower
curtain after use. (it's dry)

Honestly, I was kind of mad that I fell in love with the netting/sponge. On the other hand, I wasn't "influenced" by TikTok to make the purchase. So it all works out.

I think the only thing I will be using my washcloths for in the future is to clean my face and "delicates".

When I was reading reviews, I did see that some people complained that the sponge felt "cheap" or - in the case of repeat purchases - didn't work as well as previous ones. Maybe I lucked out and got a good one the first time around. Who knows?

It's not a big deal to most people but I'm glad that the country of origin of this one is Ghana and not China. Just on principle. Not that bet sponges are solely an African thing. I understand that other countries have been using this type of sponge for a while. TikTok has just popularized it for a lot of folks.

Anyway, I do love the "sponge" I got and I think it will last a while but order one in orange as a backup. I will update this post if the quality is any different.

Peace

--Free

DISCLAIMER: I was not compensated in any way or asked to write a review for the products mentioned in this post.

**SAVINGS ALERT** Walmart + Membership Discount

 Walmart is really keeping pace with Amazon. Amazon has Prime, Walmart has Plus; Amazon has Prime Video; Walmart has Paramount Plus (and... more on that later); and while Amazon offers discounted memberships, so does Walmart Plus.

Walmart Plus Assist is for people who are on government assistance. How great is that for people with children to feed? And the elderly or disabled.

The Plus Assist membership provides the same benefits as the original Plus membership. 

If you know anyone who could use the help, please share this information with them. They can sign up here and, if they already have a Plus membership they paid for, they will be refunded for the current payment made.

Be good to yourself and be good to other people.

Peace

--Free

My Hibiscus Tea Scare

(DISCLAIMER: I'm not qualified to give medical advice but I will be warning my family and friends about Hibiscus tea. You should always get your advice from your medical team.)

The first time I went to a doctor as an adult (because I cracked a rib while sneezing), I was told I had high blood pressure. I'm sure the ER doctor thought the high reading was because 1) I have white coat syndrome, and 2) I'd cracked a rib while sneezing and was in pain. I was weighing in at about 110 then so weight wasn't a factor.

Fast forward to when I was seeing a doctor for a physical and (still weighing in at around 110 or so), I was diagnosed with high blood pressure (HBP). It runs on my mother's side of the family.

For a long time, doctors tried different meds and combos of meds to get the HBP under control. Finally, a combo worked - at least it worked better than the others - and my controlled BP ran somewhere around 150 for the systolic (top number). Then I got sarcoidosis (and was already weighing in at 140-145 pounds). My blood pressure went nuclear. There were times when the top number went as high as 210.

My BP was still high when I moved to Iowa but sort of under control. Then I started taking a supplement and the numbers were reading as "normal". It was so weird to see a systolic reading in the 110s, 120s, and, at the highest, 130-something. Then this morning's reading scared me.

Last night before bed, I drank half a cup of hibiscus tea. I love tea and always fit some form of it into my day. I start my morning with coffee, have water all day, then have a cup of tea before bed. Chamomile, a fruit-flavored green tea, or a cup of Sleepytime. Last night was the first time in about 5 or 6 years that I've drank hibiscus tea.

I drank the tea (maybe half of the 6 ounces that I brewed) at around 7:30 - 8 o'clock. I had a really good night's sleep but woke up this morning feeling slightly tired. I took my meds for the day, including the BP meds, and then I checked my BP.

My reading was 105/57. This is no more than 5 minutes after taking my meds so the BP meds could not have had time to start working.

Since I've had a lingering bug of some kind for the past couple of weeks, I wondered if that affected my BP. However, my BP reading earlier this week was in the normal 120-something range.

One of my former doctors told me once that, when I am experiencing a new symptom, I should consider anything new about my diet, exercise, or other behaviors. So, when I was thinking about this, I realized the tea was the only new thing I was eating or drinking.

I had already checked if hibiscus tea was okay for CKD patients. But I did a lazy check and, as soon as I saw that it was low potassium, my research was done. If I'd checked further, I would have known that the tea works almost as well as prescription meds for lowering BP.

I have questions:

1. Why isn't the tea prescribed for HBP patients? It can at least be mentioned.
2. How did I know nothing about this tea and its effect on blood pressure?

I  am certainly going to be asking my doc about this at the next appointment. I know that there may be reasons that I am prescribed the meds instead of being told to drink the tea but... C'mon! 

If as little as 3 or 4 ounces of tea can do what a pill can, I'd much rather drink the tea. But I guess the tea is much more affordable than the pills... 

Now, at least, I know. Also, I know that I cannot just keep drinking this tea with a willy-nilly attitude. I can't afford an ambulance if I happen to pass out with low blood pressure. On the other hand, when my BP skyrockets, I think I might have a sip of hibiscus tea...

Peace

--Free

**1st 7 Days REVIEW** Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8

 This is an update to **1st 24 Hours REVIEW** Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8. I am writing this post on my 7th day using the machine and I have more to say now.

Things I really like:

• The FN (Function) keys are more useful than on any other laptop I've had. I actually use them because of this. The main ones I like are for opening the settings, pulling up the calculator, raising/lowering the volume, and opening the Print Screen/Snip feature. There is even one for use with a portable monitor. 
• The keyboard is a dream - now that I'm used to the size after coming from the larger one on my Dell. 
• I'm more in love than ever with the stylus. It truly does write more like an actual pen than the Dell stylus. I also use this one a lot more.
• The good build quality counts more than I realized at first. I have moved this machine back and forth from my carry bag at least 6 times. It's so solid & "non-flimsy". A lot of that might be due to the smaller size but I still think it's so much better built than my Dell - or my Toshiba or Asus.
• The display is great. My eyes get less tired and I just enjoy the screen more. When I was paying bills and spent over 2 hours straight looking at the screen, I noticed how crisp and sharp everything looked, and, again, my eyes weren't as tired. Maybe that's just me?
• The sound. I am amazed every day at the wonderful sound quality. There is zero need for the sound-boosting apps I've used in the past. 
• The auto-power-up feature is more useful than I expected. I don't think I have touched my Power button since I first set up the machine. It's the little things!
• I was worried about fan noise - well, I wasn't until I read so many super-techy reviews! When I finally heard the fan kick it, it was a bit startling only because I didn't know what the sound was. It's actually not that loud, thank goodness, and it has only kicked in twice so far. On the other hand, I never heard the fan on my Dell. I don't know if that is good or bad.
• Now that I have found the Vantage setting for the battery, I no longer have to worry much about charging over 80%. I do think the battery life (which could be better) is not as bad as I worried about. The real test will be when I take the machine away from home for a full day.
• I don't mind the lack of ports as much as before. I realize that I didn't use all the Dell ports as much as I thought. I'm now in no hurry to spend money I don't have on a docking item.
• I do like the carrying sleeve a lot. I was worried that the pen slot might not be secure but it is. 

Things I don't like (or not so much):

• I wish that the Delete key could swap places with the Print Screen/Snip key. I keep hitting the wrong key to delete. I think that the Delete key is used more by almost anyone so why is the other key in that place?
• The built-in camera shutter button (which I love having) is a bit difficult to find. I'm always sliding my finger across the lid to locate it. Because I never just leave my camera un-shuttered, this is annoying. I remember this shutter being easier to locate on the Flex 7 I tried out. I will probably get better at finding the shutter but...
• Something that freaked me out is how the screen goes black momentarily when I plug or unplug the charger. It scared me until I found an explanation: "... if set to Optimize battery use it disables HDR on battery, which makes the screen go black like when you change the refresh rate."
• The "brick" (?) for the charger is pretty big. It's not a problem at home but for days out, it's going to be taking up some room. The Dell battery was actually smaller.
• While I like the sleeve (because it secures the pen for me), the front kangaroo pouch is almost useless. Once I put the laptop in the sleeve, the only thing that fits in that pouch is a thin sheath of paper. I'm not even sure why it's there.

Overall, I am still really happy with this machine. I think I have started to annoy my family with the "thank yous"! 

I do have to say that this machine - without all the discounts and coupons - is not something I would suggest. There are other machines with a lot of functions that cost less. However, with the discounts and coupons, this was a steal and I have no regrets on behalf of my family!

Peace

--Free

The Struggle Meal Checklist (**Updated** 10/20/24)

**Updated** I added a sort of recipe at the bottom of this post.

I am pretty sure I have posted here before about "struggle meals" or maybe "cheap eats". I distinctly remember sharing one idea on Reddit once. At any rate, after telling a young person about shopping and eating when funds are low. This person isn't broke but they are trying to save money for something. What I told them works for whatever reason you are trying to eat cheaply. A lot of college-age people or small families are trying to stretch dollars. Aren't we all?

Keep in mind, that I learned most of this from my elders. Wisdom bears repeating.

The shopping list is the most important thing. You don't want to wait until funds are super low to stock up on things. Plan ahead. If you are like most of us, you will have one of those too-broke-to-pay-attention times. These are some of the things to try to put away for when times are a bit rough:

• Dry beans. My personal favorites are pinto and navy. Beans are very filling and they can be eaten solo or paired up with vegetables and cornbread. Dry beans keep for a long time so that's another plus.
• Rice. Rice is also filling and easy to pair up with other things. 
• Flour and cornmeal. Try to keep at least some flour and cornmeal bagged up and stored in the freezer to keep the weevils out.
• Cornstarch. Trust me. 
• Blackstrap molasses. 
• Powdered milk and powdered eggs. If you have kids, this is great to have around. (There is also shelf-stable dairy and the milk doesn't taste bad at all.)
• Dry cereal. Mueselix is good because it can taste pretty good as a dry snack.
• Powdered potatoes mixes. They are pretty filling solo and make a decent side dish otherwise.
• Ground beef or turkey - buy on sale and keep in the freezer as long as you can.
• Real bacon bits. Toss them in the freezer.
• Tofu - it's really versatile and not as bad as some people think.
• Oil -EVOO is best but even any decently healthy oil can be really useful. It's often cheaper than butter.
• Crackers. I keep basic store brand "saltines" around if I can.

As for recipes, here are a few basic ones that you can modify as you want:

• Pinto beans taste great. You can cook them with extra water then thicken the "bean gravy" with cornstarch. Crackers, tortillas, bread, etc. taste great with that gravy. I love to eat hot water cornbread with beans.
• You can add bacon bits, beef, or turkey (or tofu) to pinto beans. 
• Navy beans are good with some diced onions or potatoes.
• Tofu is pretty versatile. I'm not as crazy about preparing it, but... It tastes like whatever you season or cook it with. No kidding. I had an aunt who thought that, scrambled in a tiny bit of oil, it tasted like eggs. I have made tofu burgers and I have even chopped it up to bulk up the ground beef in pinto beans.
• As I said, some cereals - especially Muesilix - can take the place of snacks. I've eaten Mueslix in place of trail mix when trying to avoid salty and fatty snacks.
• Blackstrap molasses is something my mother used to add to beans to boost my iron. Some people like drinking it in their coffee or tea. It's too strong a taste for me but it is iron-boosting.
• If you have flour, oil, and water, you can make a cheap pan bread. You just lightly fry each side in a small amount of oil. You can boost the recipe by adding cornmeal.
• Cornmeal, oil, and salt will give you hot-water cornbread. It has to be eaten hot to taste the best but it's great with beans, soups, and stews.

Those are just some ways to eat when you are broke. The EVOO is for adding to the beans or frying your breads. It's good for you (I guess) and I eat it on almost everything, no matter what.

I don't use a lot of milk so I tend to keep powdered milk around. If you like whole milk you can add a bit of white vinegar to it and have quick buttermilk. Adding buttermilk to bread is something my mom liked to do.

When we were kids, my dad wasn't getting rich being a G.I. Often he was gone for long stretches. Mama kept us all well-fed. Dinners were often liver and smothered potatoes and onions with pan bread on the side. For breakfast, we'd have pan bread with some syrup and butter. 

By the way, I have people ask how to make hot water cornbread. It's so dang cheap and easy. I tend not to measure, so here's my "recipe":

• Get a small skillet ready with enough oil to cover the bottle of the pan to about 1/2 inch.
• Boil some water - and it does have to be boiling. Let your pan start heating but don't let it smoke.
• Put some corneal (not cornmeal mix) in a bowl that can withstand boiling water. I usually use about 1.5 cups of meal. You can add salt and pepper and tiny dice of onion if you like.
• Add about half a tablespoon of oil to the meal, then you are going to slowly add the hot water to the meal and stir with a fork. Keep adding water until the meal is saturated and can be made into a patty. I like to add a lot of water and get a thinner mix but you can have a thicker mix. The thicker the mix, the thicker the patty.
• The hot water is cooking the meal in the bowl. Now make your patties and carefully place each patty in the skillet to cook. 
• Drain the patties on paper and eat.

It will take some practice but just remember that you can always add more water to the meal but you can't subtract it. I like to use a really small skillet so I don't need much oil. I personally don't like hot water cornbread unless it's fresh and hot but... I will heat it up or add cold patties to hot beans.

To this day, whether I am broke or not, I love making a big pot of pinto beans with ground beef - hopefully, to eat with some hot water cornbread! But if not, I'll eat the beans folded into a tortilla or with some saltine crackers crumbled into it. Whenever I am doing intermittent fasting, pinto beans are a favorite.

Peace

--Free

Recipe for Rice 'Ghetti:

• 1 cup of rice (white or Spanish or brown) + ground beef or ground sausage (I use beef) + a pasta or pizza sauce + salt/pepper and any seasonings. I add garlic & onion powder at the very least.
• Cook the rice. Brown the meat. If the meat is oily, drain it well. 
• Add the pasta/pizza sauce and seasonings to the meat. Let it simmer to meld the flavors in.
• Top the rice with the meat sauce.

This is a fairly cheap meal because you don't actually have to have a certain type of meat. You can use beef, chicken, turkey, or sausage. You can embellish it with cheeses and have with some toasted bread.

Rich Men North of Richmond & the Rest of Us

 Kirby Anthony wrote a song highlighting the woes of the "everyman" and politicians tried to turn it into either their divisive fight song or a divisive touchstone. Anthony was, in fact, singing about how all of them - on the left or on the right - treat all of us. 

Anthony, a white man, wasn't singing against any of us who are downtrodden. He wasn't singing against anyone - except those in power and not using it to help anyone but themselves. He was singing for the unrepresented common people - black, white, or whatever.

The rich Democrats and Leftists are no less an enemy of us common folk as are the rich Republicans on the right.

I'm not sure if Kirby Anthony meant this or not but I will say it:

• If you are MAGA and are "common folk", you are not a friend of those "Rich Men North of Richmond" (let's call them RMNRs).
• If you are "BLM" and are common, you are not a friend of the RMNRS. 
• The labels - MAGA, BLM, etc.,- very helpfully divide us so that we are more easily controlled and manipulated - by the RMNRs.
• BLM leaders are getting rich, and MAGA leaders are getting rich. 
• We common people are still common. We aren't getting rich and we aren't being represented.

What I would like to see is common white, black, brown, red, and yellow people working together to protect themselves from the people of any party and race not helping us common folk. 

Just because we are not rich doesn't mean we don't deserve safe, clean, and healthy communities. We need to come together to protect each other and our neighborhoods and communities against those who create a lack of safety. None of us want the worst people in our communities holding the rest of us back.

Instead of battling each other - down here where the rich don't have to be - we should be working together. The RMNRs don't care because they don't live where we live. They visit to smile at us, rile us up, and get our votes. Then they go back to being Rich Men North of Richmond.

If the RMNR aren't going to have our best interests at heart; if they work harder to divide us and keep us down- why are we supporting them? Why are we helping them to stay rich and in power?

Let's start expecting our government and politicians to be here for us since we are, in fact, the people.

Peace 

--Free

**1st 24 Hours REVIEW** Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 8

NOTE: I wanted this review to be for "regular" people. Not all of us are tech-savvy enough to understand the intricate details of every component on our computers. We just want to know how it works on a day-to-day basis for the average Joe or Jill. I will be your Jill for this review of the Lenovo 9i gen 8 2-in-1 laptop. Mine is the 14-inch model with 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD storage, and the 3840 x 2400 display. And that right there is about as techie as it gets!

 Cue the fanfare 🎺

The UPS guy was almost as excited as I was when he got here with my package. (Everyone knows I've been waiting!)

Unboxing:

I have to give it to Lenovo. They do an awesome job of presenting a new machine to a buyer. The wrapping was as elegant as that for a designer handbag. Not only is the overall packaging sturdy and protective but the box holding the laptop is kind of snazzy. (For what they charge...😏)

I was kind of impressed that after getting past the inner carton with the nice (and vivid) red YOGA logo, the computer was covered in elegant (it bears repeating) black paper. The whole setup is beautifully giftable.

Once I got to the computer (and the pen and the sleeve), I felt like a very spoiled kid at Christmas. I have to do yet another thankful shout-out to my amazing family for this.

The machine is heavier than I expected (this site and others put it at almost 4lbs). It's so small in size compared to my 15.6 Dell that the heft caught me off guard. It's not uncomfortably heavy, just surprisingly so. 

I will briefly touch on first impressions and bold point the topics.

First day of use:

I was happy to see that the lid opened easily. With my Dell, this is not a one-handed task - probably because of the wider sizing. Also, the Dell lid has more flex when opening, which is why I was always careful with it. The Lenovo lid is really sturdy. I guess the whole machine is. I read somewhere about the sturdiness of the aluminum build.

The lack of ports (which I knew about) is a bit distressing. I don't attach a lot of things to my laptops but I have a USB-connected mouse that I love and I also tend to charge my phone and watch with the computer's USB in addition to attaching my printer quite often. That's not going to be an option if I am also using one of the USB ports to charge the Yoga. Two of the slots on one side are "Thunderbolt" ports🤔. I kinda get what that means but kinda don't so here you go.

I'm having to adjust to the keyboard because of the smaller size but I love the feel of the keys as I type. They are bouncy and responsive enough and not too clicky-sounding.

It's going to take more use before I have a firm opinion about the battery. I am trying to stick to the 80/20 rule of thumb: charging no higher than 80% and not letting it dissipate below 20%. I don't know if that really helps in the long run but I keep hearing tech-savvy folks talk about it. (UPDATE: There is a setting in the Lenovo Vantage app that lets me keep the battery from charging over 70-80%)

As I've heard so much about, the display totally lives up to the hype, as do the speakers. The display is lush and vivid. James Spader and Denzel Washington never looked so dang good to me! The speakers are amazing. This is nice because I tend to listen to music when I am doing almost anything else on a computer or around the house.

The Face ID sign-in is nice but... I don't like keeping my camera open. Every time I get ready to sign in, I have to remember to open the camera. The nice thing though is that there is a built-in shutter so I can easily slide the notch to block or unblock the camera. On my Dell, I used blocking stickers so much that I had a Subscribe-and-Save order going. My Dell didn't have the face recognition feature so I got used to signing in with my fingerprint. The Yoga has the fingerprint option also. I am just trying to figure out how to make it the default. (By the way, when I tried the Flex, I noticed that the built-in shutter was nicer; there was a symbol to let you know whether it was open or not.)

The camera is better than on the Dell. I still look like James Brown's baby sister though! It's tough to be dark-skinned and trying to appear halfway normal with any camera... I have not played around with it too much but there is a "Smart Appearance" menu for making adjustments to your camera appearance. Gonna go work on that.

I get now what others have said about those "special" keys along the right side of the keyboard. They cannot be reprogrammed, but I probably would not have done that if I could. For now, I have only been using the Power toggle. There are also keys for intelligent cooling, blurring the camera background, changing the computer's performance mode, and the fingerprint key.

Not only is the keyboard backlit but the lighting is adjustable. There is "auto" (my favorite because the keyboard lights up when the room goes dark); "normal" (just moderately light); and bright. I can see using bright possibly while on an airplane. I keep it on Auto for now.

The pen/stylus is one of the main things for me personally. Because of my brain stumbles, I have used my Dell touchscreen & pen feature almost as much as I use the keyboard. The Yoga has a nicer pen, in my opinion. It's easier to hold because of the octagonal, pencil-like shape.  It also writes better because the tip is "rubbery" and grips the screen instead of sliding around the way the harder nib on the Dell did (if that makes sense). Another thing it has over the Dell stylus is that it's USB chargeable. I had to buy rechargeable batteries for my Dell pen because I ran them down so often.

The length & shape of Lenovo's 
is better for natural writing

The nib on the Dell is harder and slicker-feeling.
The Lenovo tip has "grip".

The "zero-touch" features are pretty cool. There is face recognition for signing in, of course, but the coolest one is the zero-touch video play. That makes the video pause when you turn away from the screen. My poor mother would have sprinkled holy water on this kind of voodoo!

It's skinny but has a kangaroo pocket in front

Yeah, so there is a lot going on here. I am surprised that Lenovo didn't mention these features more as a selling point. People (me!) love gadgets and this thing is full of them.

I will be back to update this review as I get more accustomed to the laptop. For now, I can say that I am very happy with it - but this is just part of the first day...

Update - next morning:

I am enjoying the speed of the machine. I am able to run more apps and programs without any glitches. It's really nice that, when I open the lid, the machine just powers up and recognizes me. There is almost no time spent waiting for it to boot up and get going so I'm done with reading the depressing news quickly.

The battery could be better. It does charge very quickly but I expected to get more life out of a charge. I haven't timed it but I just notice it runs down pretty quickly when I'm running a lot of stuff. Also, I need to find out if it's just my machine or a normal thing that, when unplugging/plugging the charging cable, the screen goes black for a brief moment. It's very jarring.

I am still adjusting to the smaller keyboard so that's a thing. However, I watched a video last night, and... The display is awesome. Colors just pop, pop, pop! The speakers still amaze me. I did not have to use any sound-blaster extensions. When I played music while doing some paperwork, it was as if I was listening to a really decent stereo. It's even nicer that one of those function keys on the side lets me cycle through sound modes (music, movie, gaming, etc.). 

The last thing I discovered is that I have not discovered everything about this laptop... There are apps and functions that I had no idea existed. I can tweak a lot of things using the Vantage dashboard. I set up some adjustments to the camera and fiddled with some audio and visual functions. 

One thing I need to figure out is using the phone connection app. With my Dell, I could connect my phone and send messages, calls, photos, etc. via the laptop. When I was done, I could easily disconnect the phone from the computer. On this Lenovo, I have the phone connection capability but... I cannot figure out how to disconnect it in between sessions. I ended up removing my phone from the list of devices for now. 

My favorite discovery is the Smart Note app. Because I am extremely forgetful and have trouble focusing, I tend to use a lot of sticky notes - digital or hard copy - to quickly jot down ideas and questions. This is especially important when I am listening to books or doing any kind of study. With my Dell, I used a desktop sticky note app that I really liked. Last night, I found the Smart Note app on the Yoga. 

Smart Note lets me use my laptop's handwriting feature in place of sticky notes. I'm sure that a lot of people use it to illustrate things to share with others. I'm not participating in work meetings or in a work environment. I use mine just as a note-taking app. Here is a screenshot of a test page to show you:

The only scare I had all evening was when, at one point, there was some streaking of images at the bottom of the screen:

I almost stroked out!

I looked up some info online and realized that I just had not finished updating all the drivers. Whew! 

So, yes, I do like love the laptop. It's everything that I expected and a little bit more. I feel like I got my family's money's worth. 

Peace

--Free

Lenovo (and UPS) Are… Making Me Nervous

 Lenovo is making me very nervous and so is UPS.

For all the research I did while trying to decide which laptop to choose (thanks again, fam!)...

... I did none on shipping and service. I should have. I really, really should have.

You all probably have read about how excited, grateful, and blessed I felt when my family offered to replace my dying laptop. I chose the Lenovo Yoga 9i (and we will discuss the name situation later...). As soon as I made the order and hit Enter, I had that familiar anxiety. Did I choose the right laptop? Is it really a good laptop? Should I go and read some more reviews? Is it too late to cancel?

I didn't cancel. Instead, I started watching UPS tracking like it was life. After a few days, I noticed that there barely was any tracking. The package went from Mainland China to Korea and... just sat there. 

At this point - because I like feeding my anxiety and not starving it - I started searching online for problems with Lenovo and UPS. I expected to see a few examples and gripes because that would be normal for anything, right? No, no, no. People, there are forums and communities full of this as a specific topic of discussion! What?

Now I am seriously worried and let my anxiety go on a binge. I am mainly worrying about what I have done with so much of my family's money. By the end of the day, I think I broke out in hives - or I'm allergic to the new fabric softener I'm using...

For the next 6 days, the package toured every part of Mainland China before it finally made it to Korea. Then it sat some more. I was originally told it would be delivered on the 23rd. That wasn't going to happen with it sitting in Korea on the 22nd. I called UPS first (a lady there promised to look into things and call me back - btw, she did not).  Then I called to complain to Lenovo and they promised to look into it. They did and UPS gave them some spiel involving an irritating but reasonable explanation. They assured Lenovo (if I can trust what Lenovo said) that it should be here by the 25th. 

On the 25th, the package was not being delivered. It wasn't even on its way out of Korea. I contacted Lenovo again - via chat. I was told that they would contact UPS. They did and then they assured me that I should have the package on or before the 30th. And that's where I am as I type this.

Okay. I had to make myself just breathe. A delivery on the 30th would be great - if I can rely on that. But I have treatments and other appointments coming up. Since I need to be here to sign for the package, that could be a problem. I'm not skipping stuff for my health just because UPS can't get it together.

- A bit of an update - I checked tracking as I was writing this post and, finally, the package has departed Korea for Anchorage.

I wanted to see if the Twitter UPS contact could make sense of that:

Huh?

a bot named Vanessa?

Keep in mind that I really like all the UPS drivers I deal with. They are all pretty awesome. Everyone in my building has some kind of driving limitation so we get a lot of visits from the guys in brown. But this is not about the drivers. This is all about getting the package to the drivers. 

scary truth!

~sigh~

So now I am sitting here, already having some kind of random virus, and worrying about whether I made a mistake in choosing a Lenovo. I had to make myself stop looking into their customer service because there are just too many horror stories out there.

Let me not forget to tell you how confusing I find all the Lenovo Yoga names. When I look up "Yoga 9i", I might get the 2-in-1 (that I'm getting), a slim model, a dual-screen model, or... I can't remember the other one. 

Also, the whole "brands within the brand" is super-weird to me. This is what you get to choose from among the laptops on the Lenovo site:

Shouldn't they all just be Lenovos? By the way, I don't see the Flex model on this list.  What's that about?

Just about every time I searched for "Yoga", I got hits on different types - Slim, Book, etc. And, I loved the idea of the dual-screened Yoga Book (but not the size, price, or reviews when compared to the Yoga 9i (gen 8). I learned to always check for reviews on the one I'm getting by using the "9i gen 8" to the search. (This site explains some of the differences to me.)

Anyway, that finishes my Lenovo-UPS rant. For now.  

I will be back to finish this saga when (if) it ends. In the meantime, be careful shopping Lenovo online. I am reading lots of comments that say it's better to order in a store or via Amazon.

Peace

--Free

P.S.: By the way, it seems that the best way to get in touch with UPS for help is via their Twitter (through messaging) - unless your shipment is coming from outside the U.S., then you have to make calls and pray.

**Dupe Patrol** MiracleLayer Scents

If, like me, you had never heard of this fragrance company before... you will now!

I first tried a MiracleLayer (ML) product when I saw their Molecule 02 dupe scent  (called Aromatic 02) on Amazon.  Oddly, I wasn't impressed right away. I had to pump a couple of sprays and let the bottle set for a week or two. Afterward... wow. 

You must understand how the Escentual Molecule 02 works before you ever try using it. The same goes for the ML 02 type. They are not worn by most as an actual fragrance; they are more "fragrance-enhancing" if that makes sense. 

I only had a Scent Split decant of the original Molecule 02 because I can't splurge on a full bottle. It did what many other users claimed: it supercharged many of my other perfumes when paired. The ML 02-type was identical (after the resting period).

I have a $10 bottle of Choco Musk from the Al Rehab brand that had no projection or lasting power. I mean, what could I expect for ten bucks! Layering Choco Musk with either of the 02 scents made me fall in love with that cheap perfume. All of the chocolate-vanilla-powder sweetness of the Musk went into beast mode. Honestly, maybe "beast mode" is a slight exaggeration! However, I definitely got the projection and longevity of a much pricier fragrance.

So, after that, I was kind of hooked. The seller told me (via their Amazon page) that the other ML scents I'd heard about weren't on Amazon yet. I went to their website and... it looked so freaking sketchy that I had to check around for its legitimacy. A couple of Redditors assured me that they had used the site. I gave it a shot, knowing that my credit card would protect me and itself!

Listen. Not only was the site legit for me, but there were also no shipping charges. I could pay for faster shipping but "regular" USPS is free. I jumped right on that.

I ordered 10ml each of the Ambergris Musk (A JHAG Not a Perfume dupe) and 13 Aromatics (a Le Labo Another 13 dupe). And I am not mad at all.

The Ambergris Musk is, IMO, a bit stronger than the original. Many users don't know that JHAG's Not a Perfume is made up of basically Cetalox. The dupe from ML also uses the cetalox scent as a base note.

By the way, because I tend to like scents like Not a Perfume and Glossier's You - which are similar IMO - I wanted to understand the notes and ingredients that give them their "personality. Chat GPT was helpful. This is how it explains the differences between cetalox, Ambroxan, and ambergris:

1. **Cetalox:** Cetalox is a synthetic molecule that has a clean, woody scent. It's often used as a base note in perfumes to add depth and warmth. It's known for its neutral fragrance profile and is a common ingredient in many modern fragrances.

2. **Ambroxan:** Ambroxan is another synthetic molecule used in perfumery. It has an ambery, musky, and slightly woody scent. It's often used to create rich, warm, and sensual fragrances. Ambroxan is known for its longevity and ability to enhance other scent notes in a perfume.

3. **Ambergris:** Ambergris is a natural substance that comes from the digestive system of whales. Over time, it develops a unique and complex scent that's often described as sweet, earthy, and marine-like. It's used as a precious ingredient in perfumery to add depth and complexity to fragrances. However, due to ethical and environmental concerns, synthetic alternatives like ambroxan and cetalox are often used instead of natural ambergris.

In short, cetalox and ambroxan are synthetic molecules used to create certain scent profiles, while ambergris is a natural substance with a distinctive scent that's often replicated synthetically due to sustainability reasons.

And, as far as my 2 personal faves:

Not a Perfume - Main Ingredient: "Not a Perfume" by Juliette Has a Gun is centered around the single molecule cetalox. This fragrance is known for its simple, clean, and almost transparent scent. It's designed to be minimalistic and non-traditional in its approach to perfumery.

Glossier You:- Main Notes: "You" by Glossier is formulated with a combination of notes, including ambroxan, musk, and iris root. While ambroxan contributes to the musky and warm undertones, the fragrance also includes other elements for a more complex scent profile.

If you check out the MiracleLayer links, you can see what I like about the scents I tried. 

Overall, I personally cannot see buying "You", "Not a Perfume", or Molecule 02 originals again. Remember from my page on perfumes how I explained why smells can't be patented? Well, I do not care what the name is on the bottle of perfume. As long as it presents the smell results, I'm happy. MiracleLayer is making me happy with at least 3 of the smells I love!

Finally, I want to say that this appears to be a small company. When I was buying one product from Amazon and had a question, the customer service was amazing. It's a USA company, people. Get over there and show some support!

Peace

--Free

DISCLAIMER: I was not sponsored or compensated in any way for writing this post. I bought all the items with my own money and at no discount.

Knowledge & Literacy & a Personal Challenge

Reading, thinking critically, knowing, understanding - this is all so important for all of us. Learning shouldn't stop at the end of our school days. Maturing shouldn't stop at a certain age. Keep growing and keep striving to be a better person - even if just for yourself.

Knowledge & Literacy

When I got sick, the one thing that bothered me the most was not being able to read and comprehend as well as before. I have always loved books. Reading allowed me to see more of the world without ever leaving my room. Reading was how I learned to feel connections with other people in this wide world of ours.

Now that my brain is somewhat healed, I can better read and comprehend the written word. However, there is something about seeing a lot of letters on a page that frustrates me. Sometimes, the letters and words seem distorted. For that reason, I have learned to appreciate audiobooks.

And, thank God for audiobooks. For the past 7 years or so, I have gotten back into the habit of reading or listening to all the writers and poets I love. Zora Neale Hurston is a favorite and I have come back around to others such as those by Oscar Wilde, Alexandre Dumas, Shirley Jackson, Countee Cullen, Sylvia Plath, Nella Larsen, Claude McKay, Lorraine Hansberry, and Harper Lee. 

Even though I started reading at an early age, I have only recently begun to think about all the books, authors, and poets I've avoided. I have never read most of Shakespeare or any of Virginia Woolf, and I just put Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" on my list because of a Bible Study I've been doing.

Yesterday, I started putting together a list. During the coming winter months, I'd like to touch on or get through:

• The Art of War (Sun Tzu). A nephew of mine suggested this one years ago. The Bible study reminded me.
• The Death of Common Sense (Philip K. Howard). Oddly, I saw the author mentioned in the obituary of a television voice actor.
• The History of Knowledge (Charles Van Doren)
• The Federalist Papers (A. Hamilton, J. Madison, and J. Jay)
• The Ninety-Five Theses (Martin Luther)
• The Antiquities of the Jews (Josephus - translated by William Whiston)

It's a short list but some of the works are very intensive and will take me the rest of my life. (I also plan to re-read and study the U.S. Constitution, something I haven't done since my last year of school.)

A Challenge

One book that I have read before and recently read (rather listened to) again is Cultural Literacy (E.D. Hirsch, Jr.). The first time I read this, I made it a goal to start honing my cultural literacy skills. Then I got sick. Last year, I found a copy at my local library and made a note to read it again. When I did, I was encouraged to pursue a very specific challenge: to study for the U.S. Citizenship Test.

I have always been amazed (and sometimes ashamed) by the hard work of many people who come to live in the U.S. and make it their permanent home. Like too many natural-born citizens, I take so much of my citizenship for granted.

When people come here and, starting with less than I have, and go on to do more than I have, that's beautiful. It's also a reminder that I - and many of you - could be doing so much more here. We could be more appreciative of our freedoms and opportunities. We do, many of us, squander so much of that.

The challenge I have given myself is not to prove anything. I just want to study for the test for my personal learning and growth. 

There are many resources online. I started with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Interview and Test page. Looking at the test and study resources listed, I decided to just go with other (less official) sources. Right now, I'm looking at this site. There are offerings of "free" training resources I want to check out.

If you are interested in just taking a quiz (it might encourage you) there is one. If, like me, you want to practice for taking the entire test, this is one link. I had initially just thought about practicing for the Civics portion only.

What strikes me is that people only get 2 attempts at passing the actual exam! Think about that. Think about the work that someone - who may not even speak English - has to put in to become a citizen. Maybe we all should have to take this test at some point in our early school years.

I will post about my progress as often as I can. I have not set a start date yet.

Peace

--Free

PC Specs (For DumDums)

 One of the most frustrating things when shopping for a computer has to be the "tech-cabulary". 

Since my family's generosity allowed me to look for a really good laptop this time (vs when I'm just going for something cheap and on a payment plan!), I wanted to get something with good "specs". But I don't understand most of the specifications listed.

Here's what I knew (before doing some searching) and didn't know:

• I know what I want in the size of a storage drive. I know that the 512GB I've always had is not enough for what I do. Apparently. 
• I know that 8 gigs of RAM is not as good as 16 or 32. I even kind of know why that is so, but only kind of.
• I have no idea at all why the 3840 x 2400 display on the Yoga I got only has something called "60Hz" but a laptop with 2880 x 1800 has "90Hz". 
• That last one confuses me because I do know that 60Hz and 90Hz refer to refresh rates. I also learned that the higher refresh rate is better. 🤔
• I have no idea why some laptops are AMD Ryzen and others are Intel. I do know that I have always had the Intel type. I could be missing out!
• I did know the difference (kind of) between SSD and HDD as far as storage types. I've always had SSD. (Turns out that, for me, this was the best choice.)
• The term "thunderbolt" when applied to computers just baffled me at first. I sort of get it now but I sort of don't. Once again 🤨

Reddit

In my quest to understand at least some of the specifications listed in reviews, here are some sources:

• Laptop Study was the biggest help when I was trying to choose the PC I wanted my family to get. The young man was great at breaking down most of what I needed to know in the Beginner Guide.
• This was another guide I checked out.
• This was a decent overview that didn't explode my pea-sized brain.

At any rate, no matter how I end up feeling about the Yoga, I will give the Lenovo site props for their FAQs. They covered a lot of info on some general questions people might have.

By the way, I tend to poke fun at Apple/Mac people (my brother!) but I like what some experts on both sides had to say. This guy wrote a pro-Windows article but cited a pro-Apple article. Cool. I still say Windows for the win!

Peace

--Free

P.S.:

The computer I chose is going to be here sooner than the 5 weeks I was told. And on a super-personal note, I want to mention how nervous I am about the choice I made. I've actually had a couple of bad dreams about hating the Yoga 9i after the expense my family went through. If I do hate it, I'm going to be so upset with myself. At any rate, I will be stuck with it so... prayers up!

**Coming Review** Lenovo Yoga 9i 14" 8th Gen (and discounts!)

 (Go to the bottom of this post to learn more about discounts via LifeMart. I'd never heard of it until recently, but... it's a money-saver.)

The Lenovo saga continues.

Because I have an amazing family and because my current laptop keeps dying on me, I have a Yoga 9i coming.

When I was trying out the Flex 7i (refurbs), I did dream of the Yoga laptop. There was no way I could swing it. It's too pricey for me and I thought of it purely as a dream machine. When I posted online about a super-slick dual-screen laptop I saw, my family was like, "Do you want that?"

Uh, yes. Duh. Right? 

But wanting and needing are not the same. And I told them that I would much prefer the 2-in-1 style that I've gotten used to. I mean, dual-screen laptops are very James Bond-ish but my life is not. 

For me, I need something I can use during long appointments at the clinic and for those days when I am stuck in bed feeling like crap. And the 2-in-1 style suits that. I can use it as a notebook when I'm in bed or I can tent it to fit the tiny tables attached to the infusion chairs, and I can use it in almost any part of my apartment. My laptop is my life. I use it to track reminders and calendar notes and, yes, I blog with it.

Blogging is the one thing I do that keeps my mood up and gets me through my sick days. So, would I like to have that fancy dual-screen setup? I'd have loved to have it when I was busy working and dealing with a normal life - and could buy it for myself. But, for now, I have to be realistic.

What I asked for: the Yoga 7i. What I'm getting: the 9i with more RAM and more storage. How blessed am I? 

As I wait for the laptop - and, as I write this, it will be 5 weeks of waiting! - I couldn't help but read some more reviews. And this is where I got frustrated.

When searching for reviews of "Lenovo Yoga 9i", I had to weed through reviews that had nothing to do with the Yoga 9i 2-in-1. There were reviews for the dual-screen Yoga; the slim Yoga; and, Yoga of earlier generations. I mistyped a couple of times and got results for Yoda and for (Hindu) Yoga.

Finally, I found several reviews that applied. Okay. New frustration and a new rant:

Why do so many reviewers try to compare Windows to Mac? Almost every review I saw tried comparing the Yoga to the Macbook. Why? I am not a Mac user. Mac and Windows are two different systems. It's as if I was looking for reviews of hiking trails (that will never happen!) and got comparisons of that with frontage roads.

If reviewers are going to do comparisons, they should stick to comparing Windows machines against Windows machines. Since I was looking at 2-in-1 setups, maybe even just compare those types of setups.

One of my brothers is a Mac-head (?) and I respect that. However, I have always been a Windows user. I'm not interested in switching operating systems. I don't care how fast, pretty, smooth, all-wonderful, blah-blah-blah the Mac is. I just don't care.

Okay. Rant over.

From reading several reviews and watching a ton of videos, I learned that the Yoga 9i is/has...:

• The best keyboard ever (or else it's not the greatest)
• A super display - even with just the 2k version (or, nope, get the 4k!)
• An amazing speaker system (but maybe kind of "tinny")
• A genius-designed speaker setup (but still doesn't sound quite as good as the Mac.
• A beautiful-looking laptop (but not as beautiful or thin or light-weight as the Mac)
• Great hinges that are sturdy and just stiff enough (or might break if you look at them)
• (Unlike the great and wonderful Mac) a stylus. (But the Mac is still a superior machine.)
• 2 nice color choices (but not as many color choices as the Mac has)
• "Benchmarks" are better than most laptops (even the Mac in some areas! But we won't focus too much on that...)
• Is a wonderful machine that is perfect for most users (you know, the ones that don't have a Mac.)
• A good touchscreen (but a bit too "slick".) And a stylus that writes as smoothly as a regular pen. Of course, until Mac comes out with these features, they are not all that important! LOL.

Windows or Mac?

Overall, I think this is going to be the perfect machine for me. The only things I can tell for now that I might not love:

• There are not a lot of ports. I never paid much attention until now but my Dell has enough ports that I can plug in my wireless mouse and my printer at the same time, and charge some other devices. Though to be fair, there are a couple of ports (or whatever) on the Dell that I have never used. I have no need for HDMI or card readers. I barely know what they are.
• Lenovo's support. I tried my hardest to find the model I wanted on Amazon. Especially because the family is paying for the machine, I could afford to get one of those amazing 4-year Asurion warranties. With Lenovo, I got the 1-year Accidental Damage coverage and the basic 1-year courier or carry-in warranty.
• I have no idea how good or bad Lenovo support is. I do know that I've heard some "iffy" things.

That's about it though for any negatives. Right now.

Some of the negatives that reviewers pointed out don't bother me. A lot of pros and cons about any laptop depends on the user preferences. For instance, some reviewers weren't in love with the pen/stylus but that's not unusual. I love the stylus for my Dell but one of my nieces tried it out once and declared that it was "kind of weird". She's a Windows user but has never used a stylus. It can be weird until you t used to it.

A couple of reviewers liked the graphics for everyday use but don't think they are great for gamers. So what? The most gaming I do is a bit of Solitaire and Farmville. What I do like the graphics for is watching Netflix or YouTube. I'm not over here freaking out on Fortnight (or whatever it's called).

A lot of reviews kvetched about no "on-board" storage for the pen. (One guy actually used the term "on-board" like he's a Navy specialist.) Maybe if my Dell had "on-board" storage for the pen I'd feel let down but... I know how to carry my pen in my case or purse or whatever without losing it. And I lose my glasses while they are on my head! People, just tuck your pen in your shirt or purse or something. (By the way, the sides of the Dell are magnetized to hold the pen but... weak magnets!)

By the way, I didn't realize this until after the laptop was on order but it comes with a sleeve. Not that exciting for me but, hey you pen-losers, there is a spot for the pen on the sleeve. So there you go.

When the ordering was all done and I was thanking my family for the laptop, my Mac-using brother said that I could have spent a bit more and gotten the James Bond dual-screen one - or maybe even a Mac, I just laughed. I'm happy-to-pieces with this Yoga. Let's not forget that I could be rocking a refurbed $300 machine. Instead, I have something that I absolutely don't even deserve. So I have zero complaints. Even the Mac-loving brother admits that, if he did use Windows, he'd choose a Lenovo.

Since my family sprung for this lovely machine, I truly realize that, with gifts. it really is the thought. Just the idea that I am so loved in this crazy clan of ours is my biggest "forever-gift". My family is always there for emotional support and they put up with my depression and anxiety without conditions. If that is all they ever did for me, that would be more than enough.

So.

When I get the new laptop, you know that I will review the crap out of it!

Peace

--Free

DISCOUNTS

I don't want to forget to mention that there were coupons involved in this purchase. I wanted to save my family every nickel I could. 

When you get ready to buy anything - travel, products, services - be sure to know that my Medicare (UHC) gives access to LifeMart. It's available in several ways, apparently. Do some searching and ask around. Perhaps you have a credit card or insurance or something that will grant free access to LifeMart?

Via Lifemart, I got a coupon there that saved around $250. Then the salesman found another coupon that saved around $45. Every bit adds up. So, please, please, please, check for any coupons you can find. When you can, ask the salesman for any other savings that may be available.

Teachers, students, and seniors can get discounts for many purchases - as can former and current military personnel.

All told the coupons and benefits saved us around $322. That's dang near the price of the refurbed laptop I tried out.

Shop around and shop wisely!

UPDATE **PERFUME** Why I Love Scent Split

~ Apparently, I published this post previously without meaning to. Here is the update with the photos and editing done! ~

You'll notice a lot of perfume posts from me. That's because my birthday was not long ago and I have been using all those gift certificates to spoil myself. 

(SIDE NOTE: I battle depression and anxiety. When my depression gets really bad, I will read or listen to the Bible, and that usually helps the most. For days when I just feel "blue" for no reason, I will lift my mood with perfume or fragrant candles. Something about a pleasant scent seems to soothe my mood.)

I've mentioned Scent Split before as being my go-to for finding and trying out new fragrances. They have long been my favorite for several reasons: they have a variety of decant sizes so I can afford the offerings; they have always been trustworthy with my info; the deliveries are tracked and everything is always carefully packed; and they have so many perfumes. Now, I have another reason to stick with them.

With a purchase a couple of months ago - thanks, fam for the birthday certificates! - I used a form on the order page to make a request for samples or for suggestions. My request was for scents similar to the ones I've been ordering from them. (I have a perfume type.) I said I would really appreciate a small sample if they had any and, if not, would even appreciate their suggestions. This is what I got along with my order:

And one of them is an extrait. Wow.

Apparently, they paid attention to my current and past orders. I was really impressed. That was generous of them. When I've requested samples from other places, I would get the tiniest one ever made. Once, I literally got a piece of cotton that had been sprayed with a fragrance. Seriously. 

This is not only generous, but it's also great marketing. You know that I will be ordering something I fall in love with. At the least, I will be putting the ones I like on my birthday list for next year. Speaking of gifts, Scent Split boxes orders up so cute that you won't have to do any gift-wrapping, you can just hand it over to the lucky person.

There are some decants I've gotten from Scent Split that I love so much that I use them sparingly. Here are some of the ones from over the past 2 years that I have been hanging onto. I love, love, love Not A Perfume but have never bought a full-size bottle. I like to layer it with other, cheaper scents so a 0.5ml decant lasts me forever. 

I've had 1 of these for over a year &
there are still a few drops left!

For this year's birthday order, I selected a couple of Escentric Molecules perfumes I've long wanted to try. There are a lot of them to pick from! I choose the 2 I've heard about most: Escentric Molecule's Escentric 02 and Molecule 02. 

If you are like me, you probably wonder what the differences are between those two. I had to Google it and hear from ChatGPT (I highlighted some points):

Escentric 02 and Molecule 02 are both fragrances created by the perfumer Geza Schoen and are part of the Escentric Molecules fragrance line. The main difference between the two lies in their composition and the way they are designed.

1. **Escentric 02:**

   - Escentric 02 is a fragrance that consists of a combination of various aroma compounds, including Ambroxan, Vetiver, Muscone, and others.

   - It is designed to be a more complex and layered scent, incorporating multiple ingredients to create a unique and evolving fragrance.

   - Escentric 02 is intended to interact with the wearer's body chemistry and evolve over time, revealing different facets of the fragrance as it dries down.

2. **Molecule 02:**

   - Molecule 02, on the other hand, focuses on a single aroma compound: Ambroxan.

   - It is a more minimalist fragrance, built around the singular note of Ambroxan, which is a synthetic compound with a woody and amber-like scent.

   - Molecule 02 is designed to be a more subtle and intimate fragrance, closely mimicking the effect of a single aroma molecule on the skin.

In summary, Escentric 02 is a multi-dimensional fragrance with a mix of ingredients, while Molecule 02 is a minimalist fragrance centered around a single aroma molecule, Ambroxan. Your choice between the two may depend on your preference for a more complex scent (Escentric 02) or a simpler, single-note fragrance (Molecule 02).

I should have read that before I got chose the decants. As it happens, I love Molecule 02 because, for me, it layers well with so many of my other scents. I have a $10 bottle of Kuumba Made Persian Garden that smells like absolutely nothing - until I layer it with Molecule 02. Guess what it smells like then? Glossier's You. And I'm talking the O.G. You - when it smelled so freaking good!

The Escentric 02 is much too masculine for me. Oddly, it's not even a scent that I would like on a man. I can layer it with some other fragrances to make it softer but it's still not a favorite. And that is what I love about getting a decant. No more "blind" buying full-sized fragrances where I am out a lot of money for something icky. "Icky" is the word for whatever smells nasty on me.

So, yeah, I love Scent Split. They often send out coupon codes once you're on their email list (and I have never gotten a lot of random spam after giving them my email!). 

There are "clone houses" out there that I want to check out. I'm going to check out the list from ScentGourmand. Personally, though, I like being able to try the originals. If I ever get my hands on some "clones", I will surely let you know what I think.

Peace

--Free

NOTE: I was not/am not/will not be compensated in any way by ScentSplit. All links to fragrances are to Fragrantica so that you can read about the fragrance notes and see reviews from other users.