My Hair Loves Henna

 One thing I have to say before I rave about my henna results: I think a lot depends on the brand. I used Rainbow Research.

I decided to try using henna because I read somewhere that it is great for taming hair that is affected by humidity. And, living here in Iowa, I can tell you a little something about humidity. Or I can show you a couple of screenshots from my phone's weather app:

 

Yeah. This is why I save so much money on lotion during the summer... Anyway...

Before I decided to try using henna, I did a lot of internet "research" and I read so many conflicting things. 

• It's great for thin hair, straight hair, type 4C hair (mine), long hair, short hair...
• It will dry out the hair
• It will strengthen the hair
• It will damage the hair
• It will heal the hair

Not to mention that there were so many suggestions for how to use henna:

• Leave in overnight
• Leave it in just a little while
• Let the mixture rest before using
• Use the mixture right away

My brain ached from all the information. In the end, I decided to go all Nike and just do it. This is the brand I went with:

Rainbow Henna from Rainbow Research

I want to tell you how amazingly helpful the people at Rainbow Research are about inquiries. I wrote them more than once with questions. I wanted to clarify how long to leave the henna in; the liquid to powder ratio; and whether or not they are the same as "Rainbow Henna", "iHerb Henna", or under any other name other than Rainbow Research. These people quickly responded with answers every time. 

By the way, the main thing to know is that - no matter how many bloggers and YouTubers say differently - Rainbow Research is the only name this henna is under. The logo is the giveaway. I saw YouTube videos showing the Rainbow Research jar and saying it was iHerb or just "Rainbow". To clarify:

• Rainbow Research henna can be bought at several online places. iHerb.com is one of those places. I got my first jar from PipingRock.com and my second jar from Amazon. I won't tell people to look for "Piping Rock Henna" or "Amazon Henna"...
• Raindance Cosmetics (out of Canada) sells Rainbow Research henna.
• Maybe because of Rainbow in the name on the front (and not Rainbow Research) and being the logo, people shorten the name to "Rainbow henna" and use it generically. All photocopies are not done by Xerox but we use the term Xerox to mean a photocopy. See what I mean.

What you need to know is that, when you are looking for directions or other information for this particular brand, email the people at info@rainbowresearch.com or check their site here.

Because I don't want you to have the same runaround I had, the instructions on the Rainbow Research site and the Canadian Raindance Cosmetics site are the same. While helpful, I found the most helpful set of instructions on the Walmart page for the product. I will copy/paste those at the bottom of this post with the link. Just in case something gets moved around online!

Now about my experience:

• Because I had recently dyed my hair black -very black - and regretted that. I used the Dark Brown/Sable color of henna.
• I washed my hair beforehand with a clarifying shampoo.
• The smell of this reminded me of wet grass and dirt. It's very earthy. 
• It was not nearly as messy as I expected. To keep my floors, counters, and carpeting safe, I took the same precautions as when using regular dye. There were some spots on the backsplash of the kitchen sink that wiped out with some olive oil. I have some kind of plastic-material shower and the residue from rinsing wiped out easily.
• This did not stain my skin. I used the Dark Brown/Sable color. I did use gloves.
• I added olive oil to my henna mix because I wanted to protect against drying.
• I left this on for an hour with a thermal heat cap.
• I did the hot rinse first, then had to do several cold rinses. Every time I thought I was done, I saw or felt more of the gritty henna.
• After rinsing and before conditioning, my hair felt AWFUL! Like straw. Like when I used a coconut oil pre-poo. I was very worried.
• I used Aussie Moist 3-Minute Miracle (and left it on for 5 minutes!)
• That conditioner did the trick. My hair softened up even more than it usually does after deep conditioning. But the strands didn't feel weak or fragile.
• I can't tell you how well it covers grays. My regular dye job colored all of those so black that it's unnatural.

Both are about the same color. The Sable powder is
slightly darker.

Honestly, the minute my hair dried completely, I knew it loved the henna treatment. Normally, my hair needs a lot of baby-ing to get to a soft and manageable state after a wash. There are sprays and creams I've used that help it get there faster, but without that, my hair is generally dry and crunchy. After the henna and before I added any after-care products (except for some light sealing oil while my hair was still damp), my hair was wonderful. 

One thing I had heard is that henna can change your curls - the pattern or definition, etc. This did slightly loosen my curls but that was a good thing for me. I still have good definition and I still get great results from an overnight twist-up.

I guess the main thing I've noticed is how my hair reacts to products. My moisturizers work better and I am not seeing as much hair breakage. I don't plan to do henna as often as some people. I think I will wait a month or a month and a half before doing another treatment. I need this black to fade some!

So, yes, for me, using henna was a great experience. Next time I will be using the "Persian Burgundy Dark Auburn" shade. Hopefully, by then, my hair will be light enough that photos will show some of the results.

Peace

--Free

**The instructions for Rainbow Research Henna as copied from this Walmart product page. I added spaces and bold emphasis for ease of reference.

 Instructions: Store in a cool, dry place. Do not use in the area of the eye or if scalp has open cuts. Not for use on bleaches or white hair.

 A strand test should be done if hair is over 10% grey.

Helpful Accessories: Plastic or glass bowl; Plastic or wooden spoon; Oil, vaseline, or cream; Plastic or rubber gloves; Tint brush or 1-1/2 paint brush; Cotton or tissues; Plastic bag or plastic wrap; Protective cape or old towel.

Preparation: Rainbow Henna may be applied on wet or dry hair, but it is important that the hair be clean. If you wish to shampoo first, towel hair dry. Apply cream, oil, or vaseline around the hairline, ears, and neck to avoid staining your skin.

Directions: Pour 4 oz (1 cup) Rainbow Henna into a glass or plastic bowl. Gradually add 1 cup boiling water. Use a wooden or plastic spoon to mix thoroughly to a creamy consistency. (More liquid can be added if mixture is too thick.)

For Rainbow Neutral Henna, mix 2 oz (1/2 cup) with 1 cup boiling water. Application: Wear plastic or rubber gloves to avoid staining your hands.

 1. Section hair. Sections should be about 1 inch thick.

2. Begin at the scalp and paint on the Henna with a brush from roots to the ends.

 3. Continue until all the hair is thickly coated with the Henna mixture.

4. Place a cotton or tissue band around the hairline. Cover the hair with a plastic bag or plastic wrap. Timing: For best results, use a dryer, heat lamp, or Thermo Heat Cap (see other fine Henna products).

Leave on as follows:

Black, red, sherry, mahogany, burgundy, dark brown, medium brown, and copper - with heat 45 minutes; without heat 60-75 minutes.

Strawberry blonde, blonde, marigold blonde, light brown and neutral - with heat 30 minutes; without heat 45-60 minutes.

When timing is completed, rinse thoroughly with hot water, then rinse with cool water. Follow with henna shampoo. Rinse thoroughly and style.

Special Recipes and Hints -

Coffee: To help tone down red tones, deepen brown-red tones, or cover grey, substitute coffee for water. Use brewed, black coffee (not instant or decaffeinated). After coffee is brewed, bring to a boil. Mix as directed.

Teas: Ceylon or black China tea will add gold highlights to light brown henna. Red zinger tea enriches red tones in burgundy, sherry, mahogany, and red henna. Chamomile tea brightens and adds highlights to neutral, blonde, or marigold blonde henna. Let tea steep for 20-30 minutes. Bring to a boil. Substitute tea for water. Mix as directed.

Apple Cider Vinegar: To help color hold on grey hair, add 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar to Henna mixture.

 Lemon Juice: To lighten blonde shades, add 2 tbsp lemon juice to Henna mixture. To Deepen Red Shades: Red, sherry, mahogany, or burgundy can be deepened by mixing a darker shade. For example, 3 oz (3/4 cup) Mahogany + 1 oz (1/4 cup) Dark Brown = Dark Auburn.

Dry Hair: Add 1 egg, 2-4 tbsp olive oil, or 2-4 tbsp plain yogurt to Henna mixture. These natural ingredients not only condition, but help with the application and rinsing processes.

Questions and Answers:

 Can I Try a Test Strand First? Yes. Mix about 1 tsp Henna with 1 tbsp boiling water. Apply to 1 inch section of hair (enough to wrap around a finger). Wrap in plastic wrap. Leave on for required time (see Timing). Rinse off, shampoo, and dry.

Can Henna Be Used on Grey Hair? If you have over 10% grey, we suggest doing a test strand first. The following formulas work best: Medium Brown Henna + brewed coffee + apple cider vinegar. Dark Brown Henna + brewed coffee + apple cider vinegar. Light Brown Henna + Ceylon or Black China Tea + apple cider vinegar (see Special Recipes and Hints).

 Can I Henna After a Perm? Yes. After perming, wait 2 weeks or 5 shampoos before applying Henna. This will allow the hair to be free of any chemical residue.

Can I Perm After a Henna? Henna coats the hair shaft and, in some cases, prevents the chemicals in the perm lotion from penetrating. Prior to a perm, remove Henna (see following question).

What Is the Best Way To Remove Henna? To help remove Henna from the hair shaft, apply warm mineral oil to the hair. Leave on 20-25 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Shampoo out. This procedure is good prior to using a perm or chemical tint/color.

Is Henna Safe to Use Over a Chemical Tint? Yes. If the hair is in excellent condition, Rainbow Henna can be used over a chemical tint. However, this is not its purpose. Henna should never be used over bleached or white hair.

Can Hair Be Lightened After a Henna? No. The Henna color will remain on the hair even if high lift blonde tints or bleaches are used.

Will Henna Lighten Hair? No. Henna does not contain any lightening chemicals. Blonde Henna brings out yellow and light brown highlights. Marigold Blonde brings out gold and yellow highlights. Both add shine and body to grey hair.

How Often Can I Use Henna? Neutral Henna can be done every 4 weeks. All other shades can be used every 4 to 6 weeks.

 

Kelulut (or Meliponini) Honey From Stingless Bees

In an earlier blog post where I talked in detail about alternatives to Manuka honey, I mentioned Kelulut (or stingless bee) honey. I actually bungled the information. (Go figure!) I made it sound as if Kelulut and Melipnoni were different types of honey. Wrong.

Kelulut honey is from stingless  (or Melipononi) bees. My confusion was honest though. I see Kelulut honey mentioned more often as Meliponini honey than as Kelulut.To get clarification, I actually asked the Amazon seller of the honey I will be reviewing this question:

"I am wondering if this is the same as Kelulut honey? I know Kelulut comes from stingless bees and just wonder if this is named after the bees and Kelulut is the name of the actual honey?"

 This is the response:

"Yes, it is. In Malaysia, we call it kelulut.

In Indonesia, klanceng.

In Philipina, kiwot.

In Mexico, melipona.

In Autralia, honey pot.

The actual honey is stinglees bee honey. Meliponini is the stingless bee 's scientific name." (my underline and spacing)

 What interested me most is that this honey is not as limited by geographical location as is Manuka. The bees are the main thing with Kelulut and not the bush or flower. Manuka honey must come from the Manuka bush.

Anyway, because I talked about it so much in the past weeks and signed up for some newsletters, I was sent a coupon for half off a bottle (a tiny bottle, but, hey) of some stingless bee honey.

Okay, I don't want to sound ungrateful for the coupon but, without it, there is no way I could afford this particular brand. Still, I did try it and I have to say, I am intrigued. So, let's talk about the stingless bee honey - or SBH.

What does it look like?

It's thinner than any other honey I've ever tried. It's thinner than any syrup I've ever tried. I would say that it's like the texture of a regular table syrup that's been warmed.

The color is also darker than most honey. My Manuka honey (UMF 10+) that I've had for a few years has turned dark but this SBH was dark while brand new and fresh.

What does it smell & taste like?

This particular SBH smells exactly like it taste - kind of like a sugary rice wine vinegar. It smells sharp with a slightly sweet scent. And that is exactly what it tastes like: sharp, sweet, tart. Almos like a sour candy if that candy was a syrup. Not medicinal and not unpleasant. Once I tried the first little drop on my tongue, I realized I actually like the taste.

Now I won't be drinking this. And I will never put it into my black tea or coffee. It tastes best by the small teaspoon-full or added to some green tea - or plain water. Personally, I prefer to just toss back the teaspoon and be done with it.

How am I using it?

From looking at some biotech info online, my neighbor Teach figured out that the benefits of SBH depend on the origin of the bee product. The brand I have (Meliponini) is from Indonesia and is mainly antiinflammatory. Along with SBH products from all regions, it's being looked at for antimicrobial, cancer-fighting, anti-oxidant, and other potential benefits. 

I am using it primarily for 2 things: for tooth and gum health and for its benefits to the skin. 

I have been rubbing a bit of the SBH on my gumline after every brushing. I've always used a moisture mist after I clean my face in the morning and before bed. The mist is just a small bottle of my own blend of rosewater, a touch of rosemary oil, and a bit of whatever carrier oils I happen to have. Lately, it's been almond, jojoba and some repair Vita Oil from Making Cosmetics. I added about 6 drops of the SBH to this mix. 

Yeah, I need a new spritz bottle. LOL

In the colder and drier months, I kept that bottle in my purse to take to any appointments or outings. The Iowa sun is mean. The summer months here are very humid but I still spritz my face because I tend to keep the apartment pretty dehumidifier. I don't know what it is about sleeping but my face can feel like a desert if I don't moisturize for the night!

Okay, so I don't know yet if the SBH is doing any good for my teeth and gums. Between age, medicine, and all those years I smoked, I'm lucky I still have teeth so I'm just glad for that.

However, I must say that I love, love, love what the moisturizing boost the SBH gave to my face mist. I mean, my mist is already really good but... the honey helps the moisture last and last.

By the way, I tried using Manuka honey in my mist once but Manuka tends to be really sticky. The SBH - already so thin, remember? - just mixes in well with the oils and liquids. It works so well that I have been spritzing my hair with it every now and then.

Will I buy more?

I am not sure that I would get this particular brand again. For one thing, I want to try something from one of the other origin countries. Teach pointed out that the SBH of Malaysian origin is supposed to be great for anti-anxiety and improving memory. Well, hello.

Another thing that might have me shopping around is the price. This brand is as expensive as Manuka UMF 15+. With my limited budget, I need to make sure I am trying an SBH that better matches my needs.

This bottle is just too tiny...

I am glad they offer
a small size though!

The one good thing about this brand is that it came in small amounts. I didn't have to look at the $40 - $80+ sizes. This 80ml bottle was perfect for a trial run and with the coupon, it wasn't much of a strain on the wallet. Because I am not taking the full suggested daily serving of a full tablespoon (for a total of 5 in this container), this one will last me for a minute. As I said. I am just dabbing some around my teeth and gums and added a few drops to my face mist.

To summarize:

I'm really glad that I was able to try this out. I love it enough that I want more for use on my skin. Depending on how long this 80ml size lasts, it will be well worth laying out a full $17 for it. Unfortunately, I cannot in any way afford to take it daily by the tablespoon.

I do think it's worth my trying another natural remedy that could benefit my health. I'd rather take a mouthful of sweet-and-sour honey than another prescription med.

Next, I plan to try a stingless bee product from one of the other countries and see if there is that big of a difference.

Peace

--Free

I Did It (My Hand-Knitted Blanket)

 Earlier this month, I was wondering if I could actually make one of those big, fat hand-knitted blankets. Turns out I can!

I started working on this back on May 9th when I got the Terra Cotta yarn from Michaels. I had coupons, thank goodness. I still was only able to get 4 skeins of yarn. That's fine because I only wanted something cozy for when I am not feeling well or at the clinic. This is a perfect size. A rough size estimate (because it's not completely even and square!) is 40x45 inches. 

Unlike the lady who did the video I followed, I didn't use Merino wool. I used a chenille-type Polyester.

 It's ropier - not as chunky as it is fluffy - but really soft and will be easier to clean. I wanted comfort and ease over looks this time. The Merino wool might be easier to work with (?) but I wanted something I could drag from bed to couch on sick days and I sure won't be able to toss the Merino in with the washing. (Never mind that I don't think I can afford enough Merino wool!) And this yarn is so incredibly fluffy and soft! While I worked on the blanket, the finished part made a nice cushion as I sat on the floor. As my family tends to sit and lay on the floor when they are over and watching TV with me, I should make some smalls squares just for sitting on!

Anyway.

As you can clearly see, my finished product is not perfect. The spacing is sometimes uneven and the edges are a little loose in spots. I call it "homemade beautiful" and I love it. Its'ssuch an accomplishment for me. 

When I started the blanket, I realized that the hard part is not, for me, the weaving/knitting together the loops. The hard part was remembering what I was doing from moment to moment. I would start a row and forget that I was doing a regular loop (pulling the yarn under and into a loop) and find myself doing a reverse (?) loop - pulling the yarn over and in an existing loop. Sometimes, I'd get frustrated because I would complete a whole row of the correct looping but realize I had dropped some and had huge holes. 

I cannot begin to remember how many times I got 10 or even 20 inches in only to realize I had made several mistakes. I unraveled so many times that a pro could have finished 10 King-sized blankets by the time I finished this one. But I did it. 

I am so incredibly proud of myself.

Next time (you know, when I save up for more yarn and collect more coupons from my craft-queen SIL), I will work harder to keep the stitching even and have more of a square-shaped finished project! 

One thing I loved about working on this blanket was that it helped with my moods. I didn't struggle as much with depression and, surprisingly, my anxiety didn't kick in when I made mistakes. I got incredibly frustrated at times, but I think anyone could feel like that.

So, I was wondering if I could do this and I'm really glad I could. It took me approximately, I'm guessing, 32 or 35 hours (a couple of hours at a time) to finish but... There you go.

I hope that some of you are inspired to make one of these blankets. It would be a great friend and friend, mother-daughter, auntie-niece, or big sister-little sister project. After all, the yarn is the main expense and you can find coupons and sales all over the place. Good luck and enjoy your own project.

To Summarize:

Handknitting is a fun and say project. The polyester chenille blankets make nice gifts. 

Peace

--Free

Speaking of Manuka Honey (There Are Alternatives)

NOTE: Forgive any disjointedness in this post. I had to have help finding and piecing together the information. My brain is worn OUT!

Yes, I did post very recently about the wonders of Manuka honey. It's some amazing stuff. However, I realize I haven't talked as much about alternatives to Manuka. It's not the only honey with superb and varied benefits. When I realized that there were other types of honey that claim to help with various health and beauty goals, I thought I would start looking into some of them. I'll probably have to look into alternatives since Manuka is so far out of my budget.

Medical Grade Honey Is a Thing

To start off, I have to admit that I heard about some alternatives to Manuka a while back. The thing about Manuka is the grading system. The MGO or UMF numbers make it easy to tell what "strength" of Manuka you are getting - or even whether it's authentic. What I did not know about is the term "medical (or medicinal) grade honey". Huh. Who among you did know?

The online Free Dictionary defines "medicinal-grade honey" MGH using Manuka as a standard and actually redirects to "Manuka Honey" for the definition:

Meliponini bee

"A medicinal grade honey applied topically to treat decubitus ulcers or prepare wound beds for skin grafts

Application When compared to standard hydrogel therapy, venous leg ulcers dressed with manuka honey have less slough, better healing and a lower incidence of infection." 

Now, when I try to look around online for more information, I mostly see a lot of scholarly articles that a) I wouldn't understand, and b) I won't pay to read in their entirety. I'm not that nosy.

What I did find when looking for more information on MGH, is that it's also referred to as "Active Leptospermum honey" (ALH). Leptospermum is basically "any of various shrubs or trees of the genus Leptospermum, of the myrtle family, native to Australia and adjacent areas and often cultivated as ornamentals in milder climates." Well, there you go. Leptospermum = Manuka.

So... Manuka is the most referenced of medical-grade honey but it's not the only honey that has medical applications. Right? Right. I think.

Oh boy. Can you see me peeking down this rabbit hole here?

Because I am genuinely interested in being healthier without having to add more artificial concoctions and lab-created prescriptions to my medicine cabinet, I kept going. My brain hurt so bad that at one point, I had to have a neighbor come over and help me. She's a former teacher and loves digging into stuff like this, thank goodness. Also, she never makes me feel self-conscious about my limitations, bless her. She told me that she misses digging into information like this and that it helps "exercise her little gray cells". (Did I mention that we are both fans of Hercule Poirot stories?)

So.

The Healing Part - MGO

Manuka bush

According to what Teach and I read in a couple of places, the healing part of Manuka comes from hydrogen peroxide (that makes sense) and methylglyoxal - or MGO. Scottish Heather Honey has the peroxide but not the MGO. Unlike MGO, the peroxide properties are not as stable against heat, light, and bodily fluids. So Manuka wins the battle there. Remember that Manuka is often labeled by the amount of UMF or MGO present.

MGO is what gives Manuka its particular antibacterial properties. Before that being discovered by some guy (sorry, we took great notes but lost the source page), cocoa and coffee were the only foods shown to have MGO in any significant amounts - and they have nowhere near the amount or level of MGO as in Manuka. 

So...Alternatives to Manuka?

1. Scottish Heather Honey - we see why it's not as powerful as Manuka.

2. Irish Honey - This one seems to be highly antioxidant (because of the "high phenolic content", but I don't see any mention of it having the MGO. Teach did find a source comparing Irish honey to Manuka. This is another source talking up Irish honey.

4.  Meliponini Bee Honey (aka: Stingless Bee Honey) - This is the one I am most excited about because of claims that it can help with eye problems and tooth and gum issues. I am going to do a separate post on this honey at a later time.

And now for a honey that might hold a candle against Manuka:

4. Tualang Honey - We saw more than one article or medical journal citing Tualang as being in some ways more effective than Manuka. WHAT? Yes, ma'am.

Let's Talk About Tualang Honey

This NCBI article we found went into a lot of detail comparing Manuka and Tualang honey. I'm taking Teach's word for it (she really got into reading all the scientific details!) and just say that Tualang can give Manuka a hard run for its money. The information we found was interesting and persuasive enough that I will be pricing Tualang before I spend any more on Manuka. Teach got really excited when looking at the different effects Tualang and Manuka had on certain types of wounds, etc. She told me it's definitely worth at least trying the Tualang and I do trust her judgment here. (And I have to give this other link because I lost track of which NCBI article Teach read...)

Another Honey to Consider

I found another type of honey to check into when I have time. Teach was gone when I found these so I'm not going to deal with it right now. It's called Kelulut honey and I saw somewhere (don't ask where) that it's close to Manuka as far as being medicinal. I did find one page to check out and it lists some information and benefits of Kelulut.

For now, I have a serious headache, no joke, and will have to do the separate posts on Tualang, Meliponini, and Kelulut honey later. Teach has offered to come back and help me again. Sick puppy, she loved doing all this research! LOL

Peace

--Free

Manuka Honey Is on Sale! (And It's Good Stuff)

**I am not a doctor or any other kind of medical, health, or nutritional specialist. Before using anything for health purposes, make sure to check with your healthcare providers, do your own research, and use every bit of your own common sense before following suggestions by anyone like me!**

I've posted about Manuka honey and Manuka oil before. Well, Manuka honey is on sale over at Steens.

Manuka honey lives up to - and beyond - every bit of the hype. I can personally attest to that. I have stopped cold sores in their tracks by applying a dab of Manuka to my lip the minute I feel the first warning itch. I have put Manuka on burns and cuts. I have used it in warm tea for a sore throat. It works.

Here's the thing, you have to be careful about from whom and where you buy Manuka. There are a lot of scam sellers with products rated differently (to make you think the honey is more effective than it may actually be) or mislabeled. This is why there is an actual grading system for Manuka and all kinds of rules about how products have to be labeled. There are licenses issued to manufacturers and exporters. True Manuka sellers take this stuff seriously.  Check this link for in-detail information.

The brand I trust most of all is Steens. After looking at lots of different brands and trying some, I decided that Steens is the best. In my opinion. I actually am hesitant to use other brands now.

Here is the thing: it's not cheap. If you do find cheaply priced Manuka, make sure you check that it's legit because it is most likely an imposter.

Buying a good quality Manuka is not like buying "regular" honey. You can get the lower UMF varieties at really affordable prices. Some people use those for daily dietary needs. The higher UMF though is for stronger medicinal needs. I am fortunate enough that the jar I have ($24.00/12oz/$2.24 per ounce) has lasted me since April 2018 and I still have some left to use. Also, my jar is labeled as "good" until 2022. Some people have money enough to use their Manuka on their skin and in their hair for beauty purposes. I only use it for medicinal purposes - mainly fatigue - and for a variety of other healing uses (cold sores, throat, psoriasis, burns, etc.) and I have about... well, I'm bad at estimating so let's take a look:

There's a good
5 or 6 tablespoons left.

So you can understand why I got so excited when I got an email this morning showing this:

50% off? 50??? Of the 25+ UMF honey? 

Oh. My. Joy. I actually felt lottery-winner-giddy for a moment. In my head, I was rearranging my budget and scratching things like butter and paper towels off my grocery list. I mean, I can go for a while without butter and hand-drying paper, right?  But then, I saw this part of the email:

Rolls Royce on sale. Must go now!

I'm sure everyone in a 5-mile radius could hear my heart dropping and my smile hitting the floor.

Okay, so I still can in no way afford the higher UMF Manuka, but...  I normally use the 10+ variety and it was also in the sale. At a price I could afford without dropping 10 things from my grocery budget.

Even better, I could actually afford to go a little higher and get the 15+ UMF for the first time ever - without having to break into Ft. Knox.

Listen, for about 5 minutes, I considered calling my siblings to ask if they wanted to chip in on a jar of the 25+ UMF. That might sound crazy to some of you, but I really considered this in-family Go Fund Me route. That's how much I believe in the natural healing properties of this honey.

If you think I am being dramatic, just know that I have used this honey in a tea during some of my worst fatigue. I didn't jump up out of bed or off the couch like Grandpa in Willy Wonka, but I did start feeling better sooner than when I don't use the honey. 

The fatigue relief was a good indicator that the honey works, but I got actual visible no-fooling proof. The first time I got a visible indicator of the healing power of Manuka was when... Okay, this is embarrassing but... From the time I was about 19 or 20, I started to get the occasional cold sore on my lip. I don't know where the heck I picked that nastiness up from but there it is. For years, I suffered from a big old, festering sore spot on my lip that would last about a week before it began to heal. Even the healing was nasty. I tried everything but Abreva was the only thing that worked. I had to catch the sore right when I felt the first tingle of an itch. If I slept through or missed the itch right away, the Abreva would help the sore heal faster but didn't stop it from forming. I'd get a nasty blister that would go away in a couple of days instead of going full-blown, wishing-for-a-pandemic-so-I-could-wear-a-mask nasty.

When I use the Manuka, it stops anything developing past the itch. If I miss the itch, I can dab some Manuka on the first little blister, and not only does it not get any worse, but it starts to heal right away. I have not had a visible cold sore since I started treating the initial signs with Manuka. I have not had a cold sore since using Manuka. Not one. I've caught a blister in the morning when I wake up, applied Manuka, and by the time the day is out, no more itch, no more blister - nothing. I now keep a couple of Manuka in my purse. That way I can use it on my mouth or have some on hand for tea if I am out and start getting worn out or get a throat ache.

plain for tea & cold sores

with shea for daily lip balm

I can absolutely promise you that I have not bought a tube of Abreva ever since I started using Manuka for cold sores. 

So, yeah, Manuka is not cheap but neither is a single tube of Abreva. Back when I started buying it - maybe 8 years ago, it was around $12-$15 a tube, depending on where I bought it. I just checked on Amazon for a price:

That $17.20 price is for a .07 ounce tube. Amazon calculates this out to be $286.51 per ounce. So, basically just about 300 dollars an ounce for something that can only be used in one way.

So, I wouldn't really mind asking my family for help getting a $140 jar of Manuka that would last me for a few years. I sure don't mind going without extra bread or butter for a couple of weeks so that I can buy the 25- or 30-dollar jar. After all, I used to buy Abreva that I could use only for one thing. 

Anyway, I really wanted to tell anyone interested in the sale and to yak once more about how amazing I think Manuka honey is. 

By the way, the oil is great for using on my psoriasis but I have to dilute it down a lot. It's very powerful - strong-scented and too much to use full-strength on the skin. It's also pricey and I paid around $15 for my last 10ml bottle. Of course, you only have to use the tiniest drop ever mixed with some carrier oil or grease to use on the skin - as a matter of fact, any more than the tiniest drop is too strong for my skin. But I have to choose between honey or oil and the honey is more versatile.

Peace

--Free

P.S.:

Because I rarely finish typing a post on the day I start one, I have already received the Manuka UMF 15+ so... Here it is.

7.9oz for $35 ($4.06 per ounce)

I want to point out that I noticed that the higher the UMF, the darker the honey. When I checked online, I learned that this is because there are more of certain compounds in the higher UMF-rated honey. Interesting, yes? 

Anyway. I ended up going to the Steens storefront on Amazon because the price was around $35 and no shipping with Prime. The sale is still on at the Steens site as of the time of this post, but I am not sure how long it will last. 

New Normal & Shopping Online (Resources)

 So.

Even being a hermit by nature did not prepare me for this "new normal" situation of being locked down. Not only am I shopping online for the usual things I always ordered but now I am having to find resources for extras.

With my health danger level currently set to Defcon2 - or whatever is a step before it gets kinda bad - I am trying to eat better. Whole foods, high-fiber foods, fully-seeded and good-grained foods. Less red meat - bye-bye weekly smoked neckbones, hello fish, chicken, and tofu.

I don't care that Trader Joe's hasn't come online. I have been forced to search out and find other places and products that I can get online.

Now here's the deal: I only have searched these out and not examined them. I'm sharing with you but just know that you will need to do your own homework to discover the details. The list is focused mainly on "healthy"(er) type choices, but there are some general options included.

I will make very minor comments because, well, that's what I do. Here we go:

• Thrive Market. I don't know how I feel about this one. I'm not big on memberships. (If you want a peek without logging in, try this link.)
• Farmbox Direct is another service I probably won't use. I live in the Midwest. I'm good for veggies.
• Natural Food Shop - I am linking to the FAQs because I think that's more helpful.
• I am going to link to the About Us page for Bubble. I found this most interesting, even if I don't need their products. 
• Natural Zing has a narrow inventory but is all about "superfoods" so I think it belongs here.
• I want to love Boxed and I kind of do. It reminds me of a local co-op grocer that would get good stuff sometimes but wasn't the place to go looking for everything. Biggest Plus is that it's like a membership-free warehouse. Of sorts. I'm not immediately impressed by the prices on, say, sparkling water.
• I think vitamins-only when I hear Vitacost so I am linking to their Food section.
• GoPuff is the service I would use if I wanted a bottle of Jack and some smokes at midnight because I can't sleep. That's not what they are limited to, of course, but their delivery area is narrow. Check the very bottom of the linked page to see if your area is covered.
• Amazon Fresh is something I would LOVE to have access to. Alas, my zip code is too hick for them.
• Bob's Red Mill sells mostly in bulk (I can't even afford a handful of his products) but the site has recipes for bread I looked at.
• Grain Place Foods just looked interesting to me.
• Pleasant Hill Grain covers grains, seeds, and even bakeware.

Now, for those of you who missed so many of my other posts,  I will direct you to search back for links to these standard online shopping options:

• Target is on Instacart in most areas or you can use their on-site choice of Shipt.
• Walmart delivers, has curbside, in-store pickup, shipping options, and might even have options specific to your area.
• Instacart is awesome. Even in my small and limited zip code, I have options of Target, Staples, Petco, Hyvee, and Aldis. Choices depend on your deliver-to zip code. My niece in Alaska has Costco as an option. Meanwhile, I can order regular ground delivery from Costco - if I still had my membership.

Check if there are any smaller, local services providing delivery. My best friend and I joked how, back in the day, you could have a taxi pick up cigarettes and bread from the local mart and bring it to you. I kind of wish that was a joke.

Let me know if any of you hear about other places.

To summarize:

Shopping online might be the new normal. Saving while shopping is smart. You can make shopping easier and cheaper. Use the online resource. Use online groceries. Buy in bulk when you can. Get a food sealer or other food-saving process. Health and wellness is more important than ever. 

Peace

--Free

Amazon's Been Hiding (Bulk Buy) Stuff

 Katt Williams will understand me when I say that I am both happy and sad right now.

I just found out that Amazon has a bulk Bulk Food Supply department. I do probably 90% of my grocery, household, and personal goods shopping on Amazon. I actually once found their site directory. And that directory does not link to the Restaurant and Bulk Food Supply department I just discovered. By complete accident.

So I am happy that I stumbled onto the page but sad that I didn't know about it before.

Lately, I've been in bread-baking mode. I have refined my basic bread skills and am working on learning the Tangzhoung method for my yeast bread.  I love baking for two reasons: it's cheaper to bake it than to buy it (especially brioche or other specialty bread), and it's therapeutic. It's probably beneficial to brain function because I really have to focus and concentrate on each step. 

The smell of flour and yeast and eventually, fresh-baked bread is just a whole other level of aromatherapy. 

Yesterday, I made my first mostly-successful loaf of Japanese Milk Bread. Next time, I plan to get it just right. Because mine did not come out this nicely...

Anyway, I was going to buy more yeast in the little neighborhood market. A tiny set of packs - about a tablespoon each - was almost 2 dollars. The last jar I had - that has lasted me for a long while - was from a neighbor. Once when we were out and she lost her card, I gave her a tiny bit of money. I wouldn't let her return it so when she saw me baking one day, she ran home and came back with a brand new jar of yeast. She bought it thinking she needed it for a one-time recipe.

I checked all the groceries on Instacart and, yep, yeast is pricey. I decided to look for something in bulk. Nothing at Walmart, Target, or Amazon. At least, that's what I thought when I tried just using the Amazon search bar.

Where do most of us go searching online? Google. My search query? "online food supply".  Because I' lazy. Guess what came up right near the top of the search returns?

It's probably because the internet spies know me better than my own family. I wasn't surprised that Amazon was at the top. But I kinda was...

Normally, when I'm searching for food products and Amazon switches categories for me it's from "All Departments" to "Grocery & Gourmet Food". Not this:

Anyway.

Since I was there, I went about looking for some yeast in larger packages. I found this 1-pound package.

I like everything about it except that the package is not resealable. 

I had to put some in my old yeast jar in the fridge then seal the rest airtight to keep in the freezer. Every time I open the main package, I will risk spilling yeast everywhere. Annoying.

Back when I started this post, I had only been looking for things very basic bread-baking supplies. Recently, I have been looking into buying things to make seeded and sprouted grain bread. I will have to check out this Bulk section so I can do price comparisons. Another thing I find worth buying in bulk are paper plates, plastic utensils, and other household items I love as a single gal.

Anyway, there you have it. In case you were looking.

To summarize:

Buying in bulk saves money. You don't have to have a large family to buy in bulk. Amazon has competitive prices when buying in bulk. Compare prices. Get a food sealer. Do your research.

Peace

--Free

UPDATE **REVIEW** Monoi Tiki Tahiti Tiare & Vanille

UPDATE to the update: I figured out that this reacts very well to warm skin. The first time I used it, I had been out of the shower for long enough that my skin was cool. When I used this on my warmer skin (warm day, warm home), the scent was much more noticeable and pleasant. So... yeah. 

UPDATE: I received the Vanille and... The positive: it feels and works just like the Tiare scent. The not-so-positive: the vanilla is so faint that I had to hold the bottles side by side and sniff to notice a difference. I was really disappointed by that because I love most things vanilla-scented. Because my skin is "mature", it does not hold or project fragrances as well as when I was younger. Now, if you are younger, your body chemistry will probably enhance the scents better - as with perfume. 

Also, I noticed that the bottle from Piping Rock has a nicer cap. 

Look for this ❤❤❤❤ if you want to bypass my chatter & skip straight to the review.

When I lived in Anchorage, there was a sizeable and growing population of Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders. A lot of my immediate neighbors in the 5 years or so before I moved away were Pacific Islanders. We had a lot in common with our love of family, food, and cooking. Unlike some of our former neighbors, they knew that a large gathering of people at our house didn't necessarily mean we were having a riot or a party. It might just be a night where my sister made collard greens or a night when half our family decided to visit the "main home".

Another thing I loved about my P.I. neighbors was that they shared with us their recipes and cultural life hacks. My sister told them how we fix greens by adding smoked meats (neckbones or turkey pieces) and one of them told her about Monoi oil.

Well.

I have since learned that Monoi (which just means "scented oil") was traditionally used in ways I would never use it for (various religious rites and ceremonies). When I started using what the neighbors gave us, I was just amazed at how much better it worked for me than straight coconut oil. And Monoi is basically just coconut oil with a specific floral added. The Tiare (a type of gardenia) is steeped in the oil to infuse it with whatever properties that make Monoi better than coconut oil by itself.

Here's the thing: I had forgotten about the oil. It's been about 8 years since the neighbor began bringing it to my sister on a regular basis. I was into oils but not obsessive like I have become since then. The other week, I was perusing blogs and forums for something new to use on my skin. It's my opinion that one can never have too many oils and natural butters! 

❤❤❤❤

This is when its not warmed up:

It's warmed in a 75 degree room:

That's Monoi oil from an approved seller. There are lots of fakes out there. And because I didn't want to deal with fakes, this is one time I bypassed Amazon and went elsewhere. It seems that Amazon is becoming a home for fake products. This one is from Piping Rock (where I rarely shop anymore because...) but I have now ordered some for a friend from the actual  U.S. importers of the 'original' Monoi (according to their site).

How is this different from plain coconut oil? 

In my opinion, this has a totally different feel on the skin. I'm not sure why. I did check around online and found some interesting information:

• Wikipedia mentions the strict process for manufacturing Monoi. That involves hand-picking the flowers. Hmmm...
• Also according to Wikipedia, the Tiare is sometimes used in perfumery but is costly.
• According to Eminence Organics Skincare (which is where I learned about the religious uses for Monoi & that there is an actual Monoi Institute) the blossoms have anti-inflammatory properties and are used to cure earaches, some eczema, and to prevent insect bites. That last part made me remember how we used to use Avon's Skin So Soft to repel mosquitos! Going to the (possibly untended) Monoi Institute site, you can even download documentation and technical information about Monoi (I did not).
• When my brain woke up from its nap, I thought to check the importer's site for some information. Hah! I learned more about the flower; more than I ever thought to know about the coconut tree; why the rules of processing are so (thankfully) strict; more about Tahiti (since I am horrible at geography and details); and lots and lots of technical data. Lots.

I was a little alarmed until I realized that this "floatee" thing is the flower. The flower should always be in the bottle you purchase.

Is my bottle authentic?

Because I have had issues in the past with a couple of purchases from Piping Rock, I immediately checked my bottle carefully. The shelf life is shown to be 12 months but I noticed there are no manufacturing or expirations dates on the bottle. Hmmm... 

Again, because this is from Piping Rock, (they are either really good or not) I wanted to ask some questions. The Piping Rock customer service rep I chatted with couldn't tell me any more than that the bottle was from a "recent batch". Not good enough. Not from Piping Rock. I contacted the U.S. importer sending photos of the bottle and its labels and markings. I got a response directly from the "Regulation Advisor" who verified that the product was authentic. The bottle I received was from the official distributor. I was assured that:

"As this product is registered in Europe, it is conformed to the European regulation which requires the batch number and the time after opening (12 months) for any cosmetic which shelf life is longer than 36 months. This is the case of Monoi oil. To be clear, Monoi can be maintained unopened 36 months, then 12 other months after opening without hygiene risk." (my emphasis)

Good enough. So if you wonder if your bottle is authentic, I suggest you contact Boutique Monoi Tiki at info@boutique-monoitiki.com.

Shelf life & mark of the origin process

Nothing I could find explained more about why Monoi seems to work better than plain coconut oil. Of course, I have not read all of the technical data I've linked to.

I have been using coconut oil on my hair (for pre-poo) but not so much on my skin. It seemed to quit being as soothing and moisturizing as it was a couple of years back. 

How does it smell?

Monoi comes in a variety of scents. I did not know this until recently. The neighbor always gave my sister some in a plain glass bottle with a dropper. I think she was just sharing from her bottle. This must have been the "original" or the Monoi Tiki Tahiti Tiare scent because, as far as my nose remembers, it smells like what I currently have. 

The scent is, again in my opinion, very, very faint out of the bottle. On my skin, the body heats brings up a stronger (but still faint) tropical scent. Not really floral and not very coconut-like. Hard to describe. It is really pleasant. I cannot wait to try the Vanille. 

 

I have ordered my friend and myself a bottle each of the "Vanille". I counted 9 scents (including the original. You can see the various scents here with descriptions.

What else?

In addition to the oils, there are also soaps and perfumes. You know how I love perfumes! I will put the perfumes on my Christmas Wish List. I probably won't try the soaps because I'm not a fan of bar soaps.

Top Benefits, IMO?

On my skin, Monoi has a silkier feel than plain coconut oil. It makes the skin feel almost velvety and the softness lasts longer than from coconut oil alone. I can apply some after an evening shower and my skin still feels good the next morning. Also, there is no oily shine. This stuff absorbs really well. My hands tend to be very dry and this leaves them feeling really supple and smooth.

I am using it daily on my skin and I hope that it will help keep my psoriasis at bay.

On my hair, I notice it more when I use after washing - but not as a sealer. I apply it before I apply something heavier and more coating (usually Blue Magic grease). I apply a little bit every day to my hair and every now and then to my scalp.

(It's just my opinion, but I would not use this as the sole sealant to washed hair. This seems better applied before sealing so that it can soak into he hair for overall moisture.)

After I use it on my hair and body, I rub the excess into my cuticles and over my lips.

By the way, even though this is fragranced, I tested it on my face and had no problems. I like to spritz my face with water, then massage in just a couple of drops of the oil. Like velvet, baby!

And on a personal note:

Monoi has been really trendy and popular for a while now. I was looking at some of the many, many products that have "Monoi" included in the names or on the labels. Then I looked at the prices. Crazy, stupid, high prices. High as giraffe's noses. 

I'm too broke for nonsense. Even if I wasn't...You guys know that I would rather get base products from suppliers like Making Cosmetics to add to less expensive OTC hair and skin products. Why on earth would I pay 15 to 30 bucks or more for a product that probably only has a few drops of Monoi included? And how do I know the Monoi they use is authentic and not just any kind of "scented oil"?

What I have done is taken some of this Monoi (about $13 for 4 ounces from the importer site and about $9 for a 2oz bottle from Piping Rock) and added some to my current conditioners and curl creams and puddings. People, there is a reason that somebody and her daughter and somebody's auntie are making all that money hyping their over-priced products. 

I'd rather buy something cheaper than those "name-known" brands and add the Monoi, argan, hemp, or whatever else there is. DIY, people. DIY and SYM (save your money). I'm just saying...

Peace

--Free

Milestones, Markers, and Guideposts

 A credit card company sent me an "anniversary" letter today. I applied for their card to save on my flight when I was moving here 4 years ago. Four years? Already?

Thinking of the stupid credit card anniversary had my mind sliding right into corners I try to avoid at times. I start to think of my life's milestones as mile markers. Let's mark the year this person died or that person. Let's mark the year since this or that. And when I am in a certain kind of mood, these markers that dot my life don't make me feel better.

I moved here a couple of years after my sister died. Another "anniversary" reminder. 

There is a piece of notepaper taped to the inside cover of my Bible. When I put it there about 2014, I started adding dates I was having trouble remembering because of the sarc that was creeping into my body. I had the marriage, birth, and death dates of my parents and grandparents. Birthdays of some of the nieces and nephews. Not too long of a list, really because I was adding things as I could recall them correctly.

2015 was the year when my list began growing. I had to add my sister's death, then a "play" sister, then aunts, uncles, ex-husbands... 

I hate to even look at that list now. I play a pointless and silly game with myself called "If I Don’t Look at It, the List Won’t Grow". I feel so faithless when I play that game.

Today, I caught myself about to play the game again and I stopped by asking God for comfort. When I made the brief prayer, I realized that not all is said and bleak. There are those wonderful points in life called Guideposts.

We saw this SOOO many times!

Guideposts - or what my dad used to call Travel Signs or something like that during the days we drove so much. We drove a lot. Whenever Daddy was given a new assignment, we drove from one Air Base station to another. We drove to visit family in Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina. I remember (very vaguely and with a dreamlike haze) driving through Wisconsin, Utah, and maybe even Florida? 

In those days of our family travels, there were no Google Maps or GPS. Mama was the navigator for Daddy, reading maps and watching for exits and turn-offs and signs that might be hidden behind branches or something. We ate bologna sandwiches from meat kept in a cooler and sometimes were given little sweets that Mama pulled out of her purse and handed around. It was during these years when I fell in love with Honey Buns. The Honey Buns back then were not the pitiful and puny little additive-laced things I sometimes pick up these days from around the store's checkout aisle. The packaged, ready-to-eat Honey Buns of my youth were never as good as what my mom and aunties could bake but they were so danged good. Thick and rich and gooey. The closest thing I can come to the taste now is packaged butter cake treat that Walmart sells.

So we would ride and eat bologna sandwiches and honey buns and get road-schooling. Daddy gave history, geography, and math lessons using scenery, locations, and travel mileage. He would often point out a marker or guidepost and tell us something about a place off to the east, west, south, or north of our location.

Even with my poor short--term and not-much-better long-term memory, I can recall some of the guideposts of that time. And I realize that my life - all our lives, really - are marked like any other journey.

What life sometimes feel like: 
beautiful and scary

I can't go in reverse to any of the markers in my life. I sometimes wish I could. For now, I just think back on them. 

That email from the credit card company bummed me out until I started writing this post. I came here to whine and then all the sad stuff in my head got knocked out by all the good stuff I can recall. There are going to be more markers in my life - good and bad. But isn't that beautiful? Isn't it just life? Even though it makes me sad sometimes, I'm glad for my life. One day, there will be Heaven and I won't even mourn the mortal markings and ditches and tears,

Peace

--Free

P.S.: I'm not the only one missing food from the '70s. I found a recipe here for a honey bun. I am going to have to call my almost 90-year-old auntie to see if she has a For Dummies recipe I can use! I couldn't even find one in my reliable cookbooks - 2 of them fairly ancient!

The top one is a heritage cookbook; the middle one (blue-ish) was given to me by a neighbor born and raised here in Iowa, and the bottom one is my favorite because it has so many dishes from before my mother's time.