*REVIEW** Sunfood MSM Lotion

 My psoriasis, which was doing better all winter - as it generally does - decided to flare up a while back. Another patient I chatted with at the infusion clinic told me about using MSM-based products topically. She says that she uses her gel-based product mostly for pain relief but noticed that it is very hydrating and healing to the small patches of eczema she has.

I had no idea what MSM actually is though I have seen supplements advertised online so I tried looking up topical versions. Most results were for brands only hawking their own products so I took this from a GPT response: 

MSM lotion refers to a topical skincare product that contains methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) as one of its key ingredients. MSM is a naturally occurring compound that contains sulfur, which is important for the formation of collagen, connective tissues, and healthy skin.

MSM lotions are often used for various skin conditions and skincare purposes. Some of the potential benefits associated with MSM lotion include:

Moisturization: MSM lotion can help hydrate the skin, keeping it soft and supple.

Soothing properties: It may have soothing effects on irritated or inflamed skin, making it suitable for conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, or acne.

Anti-aging effects: MSM is believed to promote collagen production, which can help improve the elasticity and firmness of the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Scar reduction: Some people use MSM lotion to minimize the appearance of scars, including surgical scars or those resulting from injuries.

Joint support: While MSM lotions are primarily used for skincare, MSM is also known for its potential joint-supporting properties. Although the lotion is not directly absorbed into the joints, some people believe that MSM applied topically can indirectly benefit joint health by reducing inflammation in the surrounding tissues.

MSM lotions are available in various formulations and concentrations, so it's important to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. As with any skincare product, it's advisable to perform a patch test before using it on a larger area of the body, especially if you have sensitive skin or known allergies. If you have specific skin concerns or medical conditions, it's recommended to consult with a dermatologist or healthcare professional for personalized advice.

(Note that I highlighted some of the more pertinent bits and added the link to Wikipedia.)

Deciding to give a lotion a try, the problem I had was finding something affordable that seemed to be of a "clean" formula. Depending on the patch test, I could be out some money. After looking at several brands and types (I didn't want a gel or anything with scent or a lot of added ingredients.), I found this one from Sunfood. 

8 ounces is lasting
longer than expected

Immediately after doing a patch test on the back of one hand, I thought I really might have wasted fourteen bucks - which would buy a lot of flour or a couple of packs of chicken... 

My skin wasn't irritated or anything but the lotion absorbed and dried so quickly that I was puzzled. I expected the temporary dampness that I get with some good moisturizers. Still, I wanted to see if I could use the lotion on my face and the upper part of my body (bosom and shoulders) so I applied some and then went about my business.

To be honest, after about half an hour (when I thought about it again), I realized that even though my hands were completely dry - dry enough that I hadn't been smudging paperwork and didn't actually feel the lotion at all - they were hydrated. My hands were not moist but they were not ashing up when I scratched them with my fingernails. They were dry but hydrated - this is the best description.

Notice the top 2 ingredients

This is going to sound weird but this lotion provides a kind of "dry moisture". After using it, my skin is not moist but well-hydrated. This is almost like the Embryolisse face cream, which has the same dry moisture effect. But the MSM lotion effects last longer.  

For the week that I've been using the lotion, I have been able to whittle down my skincare routine from 5 items (sunscreen, serum, toner, hyaluronic acid, and face cream) to 3 (sunscreen, this lotion, and toner). If I want to be real, I could actually do without the toner. It and the hyaluronic acid were to help my face hold onto the moisture of the face cream...

The big test for me was how well this would work overnight. Normally, as a night routine, I use one of my face creams topped with a light touch of German-made Nivea cream. As much as I love my Nivea, the MSM lotion did fine all by itself - at least during this summer weather. I can't wait to see how it does during the super-dry winter months.

These are all positives

What I really like most about this lotion is how good it makes my skin feel. In just the short time I've been using it, my face has held onto the hydration during the entire day. That one rough elbow I have? It's so much smoother. The small patches of psoriasis near my ankles? The worst patch began looking better after about Day 3 and both patches felt better immediately. (I'd show you Before and After photos of my ankles if I wasn't so embarrassed by the Before pics.)

I have said this before and might do so again, but this lotion is a game-changer for me. I was subscribed to the Embryolisse but I'm going to replace that with a Subscribe and Save on this MSM lotion. I do love, love, love the Embryolisse but it does nothing for my psoriasis and it's not quite as hydrating as this lotion. My only complaint about the MSM lotion is that I can only find the 8-ounce size bottles for this brand.

There are several brands and forms of MSM moisturizers. I don't know anything about taking a supplement internally. I take enough meds so I will stick with this topical lotion! 

As always, I am not giving healthcare advice or suggesting this for anyone else's use. I am simply relating my personal experience with a product I really do like. Also, I was not compensated in any way. The lotion was bought and paid for by me.

Peace

--Free

Fixing My Great Big Flour Mistake

 Thanks to a messed up store order, the other day I ended up with 2 ten-pound bags of all-purpose flour. Instead of the bread flour that I actually requested. I was already having a bad week because an Amazon seller had sent me expired yeast. Amazon refunded me for the yeast but I was still stuck with 2 big bags of the wrong kind of flour.

Luckily, I learned (for the first time, I think) that you can turn all-purpose flour into really good bread flour. Of course, you need to get hold of some gluten to do that.

I ordered this with my monthly Amazon Shopper Panel gift card:

 It's Just-Vital Wheat Gluten Flour

It has a faint yellow tinge

Not only did this save a waste of flour, but the dough came out so good that I might keep using this bag to add some to bread flour.

My usual dough is pretty good, if I say so myself and it saves me so much money. A bag of bread flour costs about $5.50 for a ten-pound bag. I can make a lot of dough with 10 pounds of flour, a bit of EVOO, salt, yeast, sugar, and water. The best part about making my own dough is freezing large batches in sealed 200g bags. I can thaw 1 bag for a meal or 2 bags to make a loaf (or 2) of bread. I can make a pizza, garlic knots, or a bread loaf with garlic and butter or cheese baked in. I can make seasoned flatbread for dipping in oil sauce or aioli. 

The bread dough I made with the added wheat gluten flour... that was a whole other level of good. The bread made with that dough was just like the bread my mama used to make. 

Seriously, the difference in texture, and flavor (and a shortened kneading time) is so good that I plan to always add a bit of wheat gluten to my flour. I wish I had some of the "regular" dough to show but there's a reason I was making a new batch. I ate it all! 

So, if you ever wondered what to do when you need bread flour and only have all-purpose, now you know. There are other ways to turn flour into bread flour but this one just blew me away.

By the way, I can almost never talk about bread without thinking of the very funny late comedian John Pinette's take on gluten;

The whole thing is funny but the gluten bit is at the

19:59 mark

Enjoy and pass the tip along.

Peace

--Free

**REVIEW** IT Dusters AirTec Ultra Electric Air Duster

 Why did I not get this sooner? It's the AirTec Ultra Electric Air Duster from IT Dusters.

As a single woman, I try to have the basic useful things around for cleaning and doing very minor repairs. I have a brother nearby who has the big boy gadgets but I keep some tools for him to use here at my place. Adding this duster is the best thing I've done for a while.

For the almost 7 years I've lived where I currently do - with this extreme humidity of the warm summers - I always keep 2 tower fans around. I run the one in the bedroom non-stop (as I do with the bedroom and living room ceiling fans). I only turn the ceiling fans off when I am away for more than a day. Fans accumulate a lot of dust.

The tower fans are the main reason I got the electric duster. This one:

This is the duster without the 
attachments

It came nicely boxed &
makes a great gift

Canned air is pricey and pretty much useless for cleaning tower fans. And, as I said, I really should have gotten this sooner. Here are the advantages of having an electric duster (and I can only speak about this brand and model):

• The one-time price ($45, on sale from $60) is cheaper in the long run than repurchasing compressed air cans I have used in the past (here are some of the current prices of what I've used) and the cheapest brand that I currently see.
• This is way more powerful than the canned air that I've used. That may be because I can use prolonged blasts of air (and without the vapor "spit"). I always worry about that vapor hitting certain parts of my electronics.
• While this is vacuum-cleaner loud, it's fine to use during regular waking hours. 
• It comes with 6 attachments. Because the air blast is powerful, I like being able to vary the direction and concentration of the flow. I use the wide flat attachment for the fan on the back of my computer.

  

  the brushes

• It's useful for way more than I realized. So far, I have used it to clean the tower fans, the hard-to-reach floorboard space that runs underneath the kitchen cabinets, along the windowsills, under and around the baseboard heating vents, and I dried out a damp bottle that was too narrow and deep for a cloth to reach. I even cleaned the inside of a bowl-shaped lampshade because I hate using water and a rag to do that. Next, I'm going to do the ceiling fans and the tops of the closet and door frames and blow the dust and debris from the bathroom storage closet, not to mention the tops of the kitchen cabinets. I won't have to remove everything to clean those places!
• At almost 9 feet long (when I measured with a tape),  the cord is not quite the 3 meters shown on the product page.  It's long enough, in my opinion, and, so far, I have not had to use an extension. I might need to when I get to the ceiling fans and door tops.
• **While the less expensive Model 3 has a single (full power) mode, this Model 6 has a second mode with less power for more delicate jobs. I do find this useful but I probably could have lived with the Model 3, to be honest.
• Even after using it for prolonged blasts (I'd say up to 30- to 60-second blasts for up to as much as 5 minutes), the motor doesn't get too warm. When it does get warm, it only takes a few seconds to cool back down.

The attachments

I only first noticed electric dusters while pricing some canned air. I thought they were for people who have garages and work with serious tools. Once I realized they are meant to replace canned air, I looked at several. I chose this particular one because of the reviews. The only downside is that it is made in China and I have been trying harder to support American-made products.

The forty-five dollar price almost put me off. The Model 3 is $30. However, the $45 model was on sale down from $60. As I mentioned, I could live without the 2 power modes but I really do like having them. For quite a while, I was using this very basic item (and still do for quick cleanup) but it's not the same.

As for how loud the duster is, here's a short video.

(Very short but I was trying to film and run the duster. I have a one-task kind of brain, folks!)

Right after I first ordered this, I wondered if I'd be sending it back out of buyer's remorse. Once I tried it, I was hooked. This is not something I will use every day (at least, once I finish cleaning everything the first time!) but it's a good item to have. 

The bag holds everything
& fits back into the box

Again, I cannot say whether or not this is better than (or not as good as) other similar dusters. I am happy with it because of the price and the power. 

Peace

-- Free

** Re the difference in models. IT Dusters Support sent this in response to my question:

"The Type 6 offers a few additional benefits over the Type 3 including: 

- 2 Speed Setting

- Larger 480w motor

- Carry Bag

- 3pcs ESD Brush Kit

- ESD-protected housing

If you are intending to use this often or for work, I would recommend the Type 6."

DISCLAIMER: I am not being compensated in any way for this blog review. I bought and paid full price for the item. I am not affiliated with the brand.

Let's Normalize Common Sense

 People. We need to start a grassroots campaign for making common sense common. As the tech-smart folks say, let's make that trend!

I've come up with a basic platform. Feel free to add to it, but here goes:

• Let's start acting our ages. Tweens, enjoy being too young to be adults. Stop worrying about developing your online persona and start worrying about developing a solid personality.  Enjoy not having to worry about sex and drama and trends. Enjoy being able to giggle, be silly and be kids.
• Spend more actual face time with each other. Families and friends: pick up the phone and call each other. I like to get my news personalized and direct to me - not with every person on your social media "friend" or "family" list. Sometimes, I just like to hear your voice, tell you a secret, and share a laugh. Sometimes I want to really actually connect just one on one.
• Let's start writing letters again. On paper. I miss being able to retrieve letters from that one friend or "special someone". I miss having that stash of old love letters or birthday cards. I miss the very personal touch and knowing that someone took the time to sit down and write me a letter I could keep and hold after they are gone.
• Let's bring back 2-parent families. I'm not saying that single parenting is bad, I'm saying that, when possible and healthy, 2 parents are generally better. Even if those parents are separated or never were in a relationship, both mom and dad can be involved. And, let's include the grand and the aunties and uncles. Let's include trustworthy friends. Raising children is a big job for 2 people, let alone for one person. (I come from a "broken" home but I had both parents involved in my life and I had extended family to teach and help raise me.)
• Let's bring back family and/or friend dinners. Doesn't anyone else miss that one day when a special group gets together at one home or in a backyard or park? That day when it's just "us" having a meal and watching the kids run around together. Maybe you will have a night when it's just family and another when it's just friends? Maybe you can have a couple's night or a single friends' night?
• Let's bring back respect. Respect for those older and wiser than yourself. Respect for each other as human beings. 
• Speaking of respect, let's bring back self-respect. Respect yourselves enough to not objectify your own bodies. Respect yourself enough that others will also respect you. Respect yourself enough to be respectful toward others. 
• And even more on respect: let's get back to respecting public places. Respect enough not to curse and talk loud and foolishly. Respect enough not to litter and destroy places that others would like to enjoy. Respect enough to be civil in public even to those you don't agree with or like. 
• Let's bring back graciousness. Be polite and courteous. Be helpful when you can. Look out for the other person who might need looking out for. Let's forget the "girl code" and "bro code" and have the same care and concern for each other no matter your gender.
• Let's stop stereotyping and generalizing each other. Not all men or women or kids or blacks or white, etc are ~fill-in-the-blank~. Even when something is generally true, it's not universally true. People are all individual people. Not all people of a certain gender, generation, or race are the same as the worst person of that gender, generation, or race that you ever met.
• Let's bring back useful education - and not just for children. Let's bring back teaching how to do basic math and understand basic science and geography. Let's make it normal to pursue education outside the classrooms - for all ages. In this day and age, most of us have a wealth of resources to learn or re-learn basic classroom and/or life skills. Just because most of us have access to devices that multitask as maps, calculators, and phonebooks, let's not lose the ability to function without them. 
• Let's bring back holding politicians and other public figures accountable for good character.  Let's bring back scorn for blatant lying and moral failures. Let's stop labeling rudeness as being "brave" and "blunt". Let's stop making it admirable to be horrible. 
• Let's bring back civility in politics and public debate. Let's not normalize (any further) being nasty to each other in public forums.
• Let's bring back respect for the actual truth. Let's normalize having "alternative truth/facts" and everyone having an individual truth. There is such a thing as true and false. Everything else - your truth, my truth, etc. - is an opinion, theory, or individual belief.

Am I just being naive? Maybe. My parents used the saying about not being able to unring a bell. I get that. However, can we please muffle the echo before it destroys everything that is halfway decent about society?

Minus the racism and religious bias, I know why each generation longs for "the old days". Every generation has horrible social scars and embarrassing events. However, in spite of all the "progress" it seems that with each passing year, we are getting worse in more areas than we improve. 

(By the way, I am going to start with myself for everything on this list. For example, if I ever lost access to my phone, I wouldn't be able to provide a phone number for a kidnapper to call in a ransom demand. Not that I would have a ransom fund because I can almost no longer do simple math in my head when dealing with my budget. I was never good at math but I once was proud of my grammar and spelling prowess. Today, I rely on Grammarly and my phone's auto-correct. That's just sad.)

Peace

--Free

P.S.: I know that some parts of this post might be offensive to some. I hope that's not the case. I'm not trying to hurt or offend anyone. I am just doing some wishful thinking.

Free Ad-Supported TV (FAST) Resources

 I have accumulated these links for watching Free ad-supported TV. I am pretty sure they all have mobile apps also. Here are the links:

• Roku
• Tubi
• XUMO
• Amazon's FreeVee
• Pluto

For those of you with smart televisions, some of these apps might be in your TVs store app. I have been able to access all of them via the popular browsers.

Enjoy.

Peace

--Free

Blood Pressure Update

 When I first posted about my improved BP numbers 5 or 6 weeks ago, I was wondering how the magnesium glycinate and nitric oxide supplements would affect my labs. Well, I had my labs done last week and things were great. It's not uncommon for my creatinine levels to fluctuate. Sometimes the level gets worrying enough that the infusion nurses have to check with my doctor about whether or not to proceed with the treatment. This time, nothing.

None of my doctors seem willing to admit that the supplements have anything to do with the lowering of my blood pressure. They all chalk it up to a change in my eating habits (that ain't happened), my getting more exercise (nope), or cutting back on salt (nope again). I will be seeing yet another new rheumatologist soon and will be asking him about the supplements. 

For now, I am continuing with both the supplements and my regular BP meds. I am still drinking a minimum of 50 to 70 ounces of water daily (usually 70 ounces). I still drink about 12 ounces of coffee daily. And I am still on my pizza kick. 

My salt intake is not down. I'm not bad about having a lot of salt in my diet and I've been eating a variety of meals using the same ingredients.  My daily meals for approximately the last 6 months include homemade dough (made with a teaspoon of salt for enough dough for 6 small meals), mozzarella cheese, about 3 tablespoons of sauce, some black olives, pepperoni slices, and EVOO. If I make a small pizza, I use about 6 slices of pepperoni, a fourth cup of cheese, and 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Lately, I will have about 3 tablespoons of aioli. Sometimes, I make a loaf of garlic and mozzarella bread to eat with some butter or sauce or aioli. My BP after a pizza for lunch today was 125/64.

By the way, I am using this BP monitor - which is much better than my last one. I like that it has been reading close to what the nurses get during appointments. It also warns the user about high readings and incorrect placement of the cuff. The only thing I regret is not getting it at Walmart where my health insurance would have covered the price.

The big thing is, I guess, whether or not I feel better. The answer is, not really. The only difference is that I don't get as many headaches and my weight is dropping slightly. I still have the fatigue but my doctors say that is due to the sarcoidosis - even though having high blood pressure doesn't help. I still have days when I can't think clearly and I still occasionally have to be really careful about my balance so I don't run into walls or trip myself. 

The reason I am so happy about my blood pressure being lower is mainly because, the better my BP, the less damage to my kidneys. I have a traumatic fear of ever needing dialysis. That will never be on my bucket list.

So, yes, I am feeling optimistic about my kidney health. I still wish every day that someone will find a cure for sarcoidosis but I will take any win I get.

Peace

--Free

IMPORTANT NOTE: Understand that I am NOT offering health or any other kind of advice. I am simply relating my personal experiences. Also, I am not compensated for the products mentioned or linked to in this post. You should always consult with your medical care team before taking anything not prescribed - including supplements in powder, tablet, liquid, or any other form. Supplements are not regulated and, like anything, can have varying quality issues.

**TRIED IT** Pardon My Fro Detangler Leave in Conditioner

 Looks like there is a new player in the afro-curly hair game. The brand is Pardon My Fro and I got to try the Detangler Leave-In.

Right off, I can confidently say that I like this a lot better than Kinky Curly Knot Today (KCKT) - for many reasons but for one in particular. Let me just give the bullet point pros:

• It detangles like crazy. I think this is because it immediately softened my hair and kind of "unstuck" the strands from each other. That sounds weird but it's the best I can describe.
• While it softened my hair for the detangling, it didn't make it feel weak. (I've used another popular product that makes my hair feel too fragile until it dries). Keep in mind that, the softness lasted long enough for detangling. A couple hours later, the softness faded but my hair didn't go back to bone-dry.
• The texture of the product really did help. My hair seemed to drink it up and relax just long enough for me to detangle. The moisture didn't evaporate while I was detangling so I didn't have to keep spraying my hair with water or reapplying more product. I was able to get all my hair detangled with a couple of pumps for each quarter section. That's impressive.
• While I was applying this to sections by smoothing it with my fingers from root to tip, my curls just started plumping. This allowed me to sort of shape and define the curls as I was detangling. I usually do twists for overnight but, if I needed to, this would be good for leaving the house with some definition.
•  I sleep with a satin cap that can scrunch & squashes my curls. After using this to detangle my hair after a wash, for the next few mornings, all I have to do is spritz with water to revive the effect so that I can finger-style my hair without losing a lot of strands. This gets me through wash week.

This stuff has a lot going for it. And the big reason I prefer it to Kinky Curly Knot Today? This costs under $15 for a 12-ounce pump jar. The last 8-ounce bottle of KCKT I bought cost me $16 ($17 with tax).

Now, once this has completely dried, it doesn't leave behind a lot of softness (at least, not in my hair). It did leave my hair feeling strong and conditioned but I followed it up with my usual softeners and sealing products. This leave-in does exactly what it claims on the front of the jar: Detangles, Conditions, Protects. 

In my opinion, this works so much better than KCKT because the moisture doesn't evaporate so fast. I was able to use less to do my entire head. I will repeat that this left my hair feeling more conditioned and stronger than when I use KCNT. I'm glad that there is something to give the big-name products a run for their money.

I got this one free for a promotion and I was looking around online at other products in the line. So far, the only one I'm really itching to try is the Hair Milk. I'm a little bit interested in trying the Curl Enhancing Cream but... I've never had great lunch with such products. My curls are more of a freestyle type. I don't generally like doing twists. Mainly, I just like to smooth a conditioning product on to let the curls do their own thing.

One tip: The official website prices are higher than those that I found on Walmart. Do with that what you will.

Peace

--Free

DISCLAIMER: While I did get this product gratis for a review, it was NOT in exchange for writing this review post. I just wanted to spread the word because I really do like this one.

I Finally Tried Aioli

 Why in the world had I never had aioli before? And how? As much as I love condiments - and garlic - you'd think I'd have always known about the yumminess that is aioli. Nope. I had aioli for the first time about 3 weeks ago. And I have managed to put at least a little bit of it on everything I've eaten since then. I'm thinking of pulling my toaster out of storage just to butter a loaf of toast with this garlicky goodness.

So, yeah, I love aioli. And I haven't even had a good homemade version - other than my own! 

Of course, because it's so dang delicious, aioli can also be fattening. I didn't realize that until I found a basic and "newbie" recipe for it. The recipe is a 4-ingredient one: mayo, garlic, lemon juice, and pepper. And mayo is the largest part of that.

The first aioli I tried was the J.L. Kraft brand. The garlic smell slapped me across the back of the head as soon as I opened the jar. And I was in love. This one is very thick and flavorful. It can be almost too strongly flavored to eat with some foods. I like it best with pizza.

The next brand I tried was Hellman's. It's much thinner and much milder in flavor than the Kraft one. It's also cheaper at my local stores. It's better, in my opinion, for drizzling over veggies. Which I did. Broccoli never tasted so good! 

Because I know that I never again want my fridge to be aioli-free, I decided to look up that recipe. My first batch turned out just okay. I didn't have the energy to crush up garlic so I just used powder - yes, I know that somewhere a real cook just rolled their eyeballs right out of their sockets. For my next batch, I used garlic paste and full-yolk mayo. That was much better. It's almost better than the store-bought and it certainly is cheaper to make. That's the part that I'm sticking with. The store-bought versions were between $3.50 and $5.00 for just around 12 ounces. I don't eat much at a sitting but still. I can get a 30-ounce jar of good mayo for around 3 bucks and I usually have garlic paste, lemons, or lemon juice and pepper around the place. As bad as I am at math, I know which is the best way to go with that.

When I told my younger brother that I had "discovered" aioli, he couldn't believe I'd never had it before. Ever. He told me that the best kind he'd ever tasted in his life was in a Greek pizza place we used to frequent back in Anchorage. 

I've been thinking of eating a more Mediterranean diet for a long while now. Just knowing that aioli sauce comes out of that culture inspires me. I can see myself cutting back on bread just so I can enjoy all kinds of salads drizzled with that sauce.

Do NOT get the Shan paste. It's bland as paper.

What I find kind of funny is that when I look for the condiment in stores, the labels usually say "garlic aioli". I learned that the very word  "aioli" is derived from the Provençal language, where "ai" means garlic, and "oli" means oil. 

Anyway... If you have never had it, this is one condiment you will want to try at least once. If you want to try making some for yourself, Google via ChatGPT suggests this recipe:

Traditional aioli is a delicious and creamy garlic sauce that originated in the Mediterranean region, particularly in Provence, France, and Catalonia, Spain. It's typically made by emulsifying garlic, egg yolks, and olive oil. Here's a traditional aioli recipe for you:

Ingredients:

- 4-6 garlic cloves, minced

- 2 large egg yolks

- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil

- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

- Salt, to taste

Instructions:

1. In a mortar and pestle, crush the minced garlic cloves with a pinch of salt until you have a smooth paste. Alternatively, you can use a garlic press or finely mince the garlic and mash it with the back of a spoon.

2. In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolks until they become smooth and creamy.

3. Slowly add the olive oil to the egg yolks while whisking continuously. Start by adding a few drops at a time and gradually increase to a thin stream as the mixture starts to emulsify. It's important to whisk constantly in one direction to encourage the emulsification process.

4. Once you've added all the olive oil, the aioli should have a thick, creamy consistency. Stir in the fresh lemon juice, which helps to brighten the flavor and stabilize the emulsion.

5. Add the garlic paste to the aioli and mix well to incorporate. Taste and season with salt according to your preference. You can also adjust the amount of garlic or lemon juice to suit your taste.

6. Transfer the aioli to a jar or airtight container and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. This resting period allows the flavors to meld together and the aioli to thicken further.

Traditional aioli is typically served as a dipping sauce for vegetables, seafood, or spread on sandwiches. It adds a burst of flavor and creaminess to any dish. Enjoy!

I basically used this recipe but with a jar of garlic paste and bottled juice. Also, I fridged my sauce overnight before using it. Was it good? Good enough that I might never eat plain mayo again and I know I won't be buying any more storebought aioli.

Peace

--Free

**REVIEW** Lemomo Thermal Blackout Curtains Are TOTALLY Worth It

 Where I live in the Midwest, the summer temperatures are generally wonderful - high 70s to high 80s. To my family in Alaska and Arizona, that sounds ideal. But there's a huge downside: the humidity.

©WeatherSpark.com

It's noon right now and this is what my Weatherbug reports are looking like:

My apartment - which seems to get all the sun that exists - holds heat like a woman in menopause. It was about 69 outside when I snapped this pic of my thermostat...

Even my plants (all low-light types) get tired of the summer sun. As a matter of fact, one of my pothos plants starts to wilt if it gets too much sunlight. I love sunlight but I begin to wilt if I get too much heat. I've been in Iowa for almost 7 years now but my body has fond memories of Alaska's sunny but cool summers.

A while back, when I started the apartment re-do, I got blackout curtains. The ones in my bedroom are 100% blackout with thermal insulation. I, thinking "blackout" always meant 100% blackout, found a similar set of panels on sale for the living room. They are 85% to 90% blackout. I quickly learned that 10-15% makes a  lot of difference in this Iowa heat.

My living room with the "regular" blackout curtains, is a lot more comfortable than without them - a lot more comfortable. However, compared to the bedroom with the 100% blackout curtains, it's only slightly bearable.

If I'd only ever had the "regular" blackout curtains, I probably would've been mostly happy. Because I do have 100% blackout curtains in the bedroom, I just can't go back to life without them.

I really wonder how in the world I ever got any sleep in the summers before this. 

As I've said, sunlight doesn't bother me much (or it didn't). I spent most of my life in "The Land of the Midnight Sun". I could sleep with the Alaska sunlight knocking on my eyeballs. But here, the sun is different. It's a sharp bright. It's as bright as... whatever is the brightest bright there is.

But, okay, I adapted to the brighter sunlight. But the heat? That's a whole other discomfort.

I am one of those people who cannot (or, just doesn't like to) sleep without a blanket. My favorite part of winter is cocooning down under a huge heavy (and preferably weighted) blanket. In the summer, I use very lightweight comforters. I use them even when it's too warm but I'm not as happy about it.

Now that I have the 100% blackout (and thermal insulated, don't forget that part) curtains, my summer sleeping hours are heavenly. I still run my floor fan but, because of the curtains that keep out the heat, I actually feel slightly cool and comfy - even under my summer blanket. I don't even bother to open my bedroom curtains now. I have a SAD light that I use in place of the sun and I take my daily 10,000IU high-potency vitamin D.

This is what the bedroom looks like with the curtains (100% blackout) closed

in the full, midday sun. I have the laptop open to show 

the light/dark contrast in the room

And this is what the living room (85% blackout) looks like 

at the same time. 

I will give another example of how well the curtains work. One day, I thought of opening the bedroom blinds a bit and opening the curtains a crack. Just to let in a bit of natural light. When I reached under the curtains to twist the blinds, I was offended at how hot it was behind the curtains. The heat on my hand compared to what the room temp felt like was almost unreal. Back to the SAD light!

Because my books, writing desk, and laptop are in the bedroom, I am rarely in my living room unless I am watching a bit of TV or entertaining company. The "regular" blackout curtains keep it cool enough that my brother and SIL noticed one day. Before, when they'd come over, I'd put on the AC for them if it was really warm - and it usually was, of course. I didn't need to that day.

My whole apartment has been cooler but my bedroom has been absolutely lovely. Seriously. I can tell a difference in temps when I leave the bedroom for the living room. There isn't much airflow between the two rooms - which is why my AC never does much for cooling my bedroom.

The warmest it's been outside since I've had the curtains up is around 80 to 85F. I'm curious what my bedroom will be like when the 90F temps stroll into town.

Now...

Even though I am not being sponsored or compensated in any way, I want to share the links to these curtains for one reason: I have bought and used them and can speak on the quality that I got. I know that not every brand of item is always equal. I don't want people going out and getting curtains that might not be as good as these. So...I will share the links to them. 

They are from, of course, from Amazon. These are the 100% blackout (currently $36 for 2 panels) and these are the "regular" blackout (which are, as I type this down 31% in price to $23 for 2 panels, plus there is a 20% off coupon.) 

Once again - I am not being compensated in any way, shape, or form for this post. I wish I was because I could get those 100% curtains for my living room!

Peace

--Free

P.S.: It has taken a few days after writing it to post this. (Blogger is being problematic with photo uploads!). The weather has changed and now, instead of having temps in the mid-to-high 80s, it's currently 51F - at 10 in the morning! Iowa weather is as bipolar as heck...

**CROSS POST** What Christianity Is and Is Not

 So many people who are not Christian have a such bad view of Christianity. In most cases, this may be because of how they see our faith being represented by people who only call themselves "Christian".  I myself sometimes find it hard to separate the Christian faith from some of the poor examples I see. But as with anything, people can adopt any label they like but the proof is in their living.

Why are there so many poor examples of the Christian faith? I think it most often comes down to ignorance. Someone may be just have been born into a tradition that they don't understand or they got caught up in a cult or a fad. And for a lot of people, it's that they are under teachers of false doctrines.

Many people (like myself) can end up in Christian churches that are not good for them so they don't even know what it is to truly be a Christian. Maybe the person is not yet a Christian and doesn't know better. Maybe they are Christians who don't study their Bible - and so they don't know better. Maybe (and I think this is the most common reason) they put too much faith in the leader(s) of their church.

I'm no scholar but I am growing in my faith. I want to point out some signs of churches and "Christians" to avoid. Along the way, I hope you learn something about the faith - the true faith that is Christianity. By the way, when I use the term "true Christian", I mean one who is earnestly wanting to learn what Christianity is and is not. I will start with churches.

Avoid a church that...

•  Is affiliated with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). The lovely hosts of the Long For Truth YouTube channel have a series of videos about the NAR and point to this webpage of NAR-connected ministries and this page of NAR terminology.
• Uses something in addition to or instead of the Bible as an authority,
• or that teaches from "Bibles" that don't aren't actual or accurate translations - such as The Message - which may or may not be fine for casual reading. (Because there are several translations, here is one guide that I've used. By the way, I currently use the eSword to access several, including the KJV, NKJV, and NASB. I also recently got a copy of the TRB, which I love for casual reading before bed.)
• Has "prophets" with failed prophecies.
• Has leaders who are always getting a "fresh revelation" or are hearing from God. 
• Teaches that "you are god" too.
• Aligns with the teachings of any pastor who doesn't follow the teachings of the Bible.
• Teaches that Jesus was just a good man or teacher but doesn't recognize his divine nature.
• Focuses on your feelings, wealth, and health instead of your salvation.
• Welcomes sin with open arms instead of welcoming sinners with reasons to change.
• Loves the sin more than they love the sinner.
• Strives to entertain rather than to instruct.
• Cares more about what people think about the church rather than what Jesus thinks about the people.
• Teaches ecumenism and tolerance rather than truth and instruction. This is a current trend today with the LGBTQ community clashing with biblical teaching.
• Worries more about ruling this world and kingdoms here on earth than the King and kingdom to come.
• Teach from the minds of the pastors rather than from the Word of God.
• Teaches tithing as a requirement rather than as from personal willingness.
• Allows women pastors.
• Does not carefully monitor what is done with its resources.
• Does not have a good church structure and oversight of leaders.
• Encourages/approves of practices such as yoga ("holy" or otherwise), the Enneagram, mysticism, and other unbiblical teachings.
• Is based more on the personality of the pastor than the teachings of the Bible.
• Is a "charismatic" church. (By the way, I spent my pre-teens in a charismatic church much like those of today.)

Avoid a church that doesn't...

• Recognize the Trinity as 3 distinct personalities.
• Love you with the truth of the Gospel.
• Encourage you to study the Bible for yourself the Word of God.
• Teach strictly from the Bible.

Any church that is okay with...

• Everyone "speaking in tongues" (or, as in many churches, speaking in unintelligible and uninterpreted gibberish).
• Getting "slain" in the spirit.
• Being out of control with dancing and shouting as an expression of the "Holy Ghost". See 1 Corinthians 14:26-33, 14:40 and John 4:24)
• Their leaders accumulating a mass of wealth for personal use.

Look for a church...

• With a pastor and leaders who adhere to biblical guidelines for their positions.
• That worship with order and reverence.
• Where the Bible is the final authority and focuses on teaching from the Bible about salvation and the gospel.
• That isn't concerned with trying to "help" God rule in this earthly kingdom.
• Who helps members grow in their faith and prayer life and discernment.
• That equips members in building and keeping their "Armour of God" in the best shape.

Even as a Christian who is still learning and growing in my relationship with the Lord, I am often shocked at what goes on in so many churches. When I see a service where people are running around, speaking gibberish, and being "slain" by someone breathing on them or tapping them on the forehead... A lot of services are unruly and chaotic. That is completely unbiblical.

Many so-called pastors, leaders, and teachers have made theirs a ministry of money. They have private jets and lavish homes. Seeing all the Joyce Meyers, Benny Hinns, Creflo Dollars, etc. reminds me of rock stars and celebrities - not the Apostles. Those and many other false teachers are truly living the "love of money" sin.

And the problems are not limited to the big-name deceivers. There are many individuals with sizeable numbers of YouTube followers who are just as bad. Every time I see a channel creator with "Apostle", "Prophet/Prophetess", "The Divine", "Reverend Mother", or some such thing attached to their name, I cringe. This current generation is one that thrives on social media and other internet interactions for almost everything in their lives. Where better for charlatans and ego-greedy people to find an audience?

For anyone who professes a belief in God and salvation through Jesus, please get to know the Bible. Read, study, and pray for discernment. Be like the Bereans and question the authenticity of what you are hearing in church. Is it biblical, is it edifying, is it leading you more toward the Lord than to worldly things. 

The Bible teaches what we need to know about the church, church leaders, and the Christian life. In the TRB version of the Bible, I find it easy to locate such teaching and it might be helpful for the new Christian. For example, in Ephesians, there are directions given to us.

All you need to know to live your life for the Lord is taught in the Bible. As I have within most of this post, I will share articles from GotQuestions.org for some starting points that I myself find easy to read and understand and that will lead you to further study. 

• Living the Christian life in the community and in the home. (I also like studying Ephesians chapters 4, 5, and  6,  and Philippians 1, 2, and 3)
• Who is Jesus? Is Jesus God? How can Jesus be both God and man at the same time?
• Faith alone? Yes, faith alone! - not tithing, tongues, or any other work.
• The Christian and political affiliations and politics in general. Understanding Christian nationalism.
• Take reassurance in Romans.

Understand that if you have accepted the gift of salvation, it doesn't guarantee you health, wealth, or a problem-free existence. It does mean that you are eternally secure. When you accepted Jesus's gift, you were justified, you are sanctified, and when you die, you will be glorified. 

If you want salvation, it's a free gift.

Peace

--Free

4,846 Hours

 I was thinking about my goddaughter/niece and a song ran through my mind. Counting the time that she has been gone from us I find that it's 4,846 hours. 202 days or 29 weeks. 

It's easier to look up the time she's been gone. It's hard to imagine the conversations we haven't had. I just miss that girl so much. 

The other day, I realized that I've been sort of avoiding the plant she gave me for Mother's Day. I think that was five years ago. That thing grows like crazy with the least amount of care. I have it set up with an auto-watering system and that's good or else it might have died too.

Looking at the Monstera plant makes me think of my niece and that is sometimes painful. I did not really realize that I'd been neglecting it - even when I was doing the apartment re-do. Last week, I did notice that her (yes, "her") leaves were dull and some were dead. I think that it's a sign of my grief healing that I was able to show her some love.

I pruned away the dead leaves and still, she looked neglected. So I got some fresh soil and a larger pot and transferred her to her new home.

Still healing but she's
getting there...

I had to bind some of the stems!

Gabby (my niece) would love the color of the pot. I think she had a wig that color once! And I know she loved wearing eyeliner in teal hues. 

Me with my lovely niece
circa 2016. Alaska.

I felt a little bit sad when I finished repotting the plant but I also felt a little bit better than I have for a while. I look at the plant now and just think that I'm so glad I have it. It's a living part of God's nature. It's bold and beautiful. 

Gabby would laugh at me if she knew that I walked around here talking to her about the plant. I'd love to hear her laugh at me one more time. I miss her and I just wanted to say that.

Peace

--Free

**REVIEW** Pyunkang Yul Calming Moisture Nourishing Cream

 Finding a good skincare product that works for your budget as good as for your skin... that's tricky. But this Calming Moisture Cream from a brand I'd never heard of before ticks the boxes as they say.

This is a really good face cream. It's not heavy but it is moisturizing. I like the smooth texture. It's not greasy, it's not wet, and it doesn't take a lot for a good effect. The best thing (in my opinion) is the price. It was 10 bucks. That's the part I can't believe. I hope it doesn't get pricier as more people discover it.

I like the cream and the price so much that I took a chance and got the toner from the same brand. I will review that soon. For now, let's talk about this cream.

This has all the good stuff my skin loves - 5 hyaluronic acids, ceramides, shea, collagen - but it's got some ingredients I'd never seen before Madecassoside, Centella Asiatica, and Lonicera. Those are the "calming" ingredients. What surprised me is that it has tea tree. I'm not a huge fan of tea tree for my skin but I don't notice any irritation so there.

Also, my skin doesn't need "calming" so I don't notice that effect. I just like the moisture because my skin can be so bone dry. 

When I first started using this, our weather was cold and drying and I had to lightly boost the cream with some of my CeraVe Ointment or Abolene. Once I got the toner, I didn't have to use those other things with the cream except for overnight. Now that the weather is warming up, I notice that the toner and the cream are a perfect duo and don't need any boosting. I wonder if I won't need more than the tiniest bit once the summer humidity hits our town...

For someone with skin that is a bit less dry and, um, mature, this cream is probably fine solo.

My skin is sensitive. Anything can set it off - which is why I worried about the tea tree ingredient - but this doesn't irritate me at all.

Again, the price is amazing. I've had the one jar, using it in the morning (and sometimes at night) for about 6 weeks. This is what's still left:

Only takes a couple of dabs

So when I say it doesn't take much, I'm serious. Of course, I also use a toner (most days) and sunscreen. Still, I'm impressed. The product is affordable and the jar will obviously last a while. I have looked over some of the other P.Y. products in the P.Y. Amazon storefront - especially for "dry and sensitive" skin - and they are all quite affordable. The moisturizer is above-drug-store quality but at a drug-store price. I don't need any of the other products right now but I hope they are just as good as this cream and the toner I have.

Peace

--Free

**UPDATE** Can’t Wait to Talk to My Doctor

 NOTE: Let me say right here and now that I am not giving or even suggesting medical advice. I don't want anyone to do what I am doing without talking to a doctor. Be responsible and sensible with your health!

***********************************************************************************

UPDATE: It's been 6 weeks since I wrote the original post. When I checked my BP just now, it was:

I really can't wait to show this 
at my upcoming appt!

Just thinking back to the days when that top number was in or very close to 200+ is astonishing. I am still taking the supplements (magnesium glycinate and nitric oxide) daily. The magnesium helps with sleep so I take it at bedtime. I'm not as faithful with the nitric oxide but I take at least 1 capsule a day with my morning medications. I am still drinking plenty of water as I have been for the past few years (at least 70 ounces a day and as much as 85 ounces). My diet has not changed. I eat pretty much the same foods every day: pizza on homemade dough with a lot of EVOO, black olives, pepperoni, mozzarella, sauce, and aioli. If not pizza, I will make a flatbread from the dough, season it and eat it with EVOO and maybe aioli. I basically buy the same groceries every other week and do it all over again. I am not especially watching my salt intake and I am not getting any more or less exercise. 

So, yeah, I am definitely intrigued by the idea of people finding out what causes their particular HBP. 

***********************************************************************************

I have an appointment coming up with one of my doctors and I cannot wait to ask this question: Why don't doctors talk more with patients about supplements?

I think I mentioned here already that I use a magnesium oil spray to help with sleep and anxiety.  I tried Ambien for sleep once in the hospital and... no thanks. 

The only things doctors have mentioned when I've asked about non-prescription meds for sleep are melatonin and St. John's Wort. I hate both of those. One takes hours to kick in and then makes me groggy for hours after waking and the other just makes me feel weird. I already have enough groggy and "weird" to share with a few people.

When I started using magnesium oil sprays and told my doctors and nurses, they seemed to never have heard of it. Or at least not using it for sleep and anxiety.

Recently, I learned that many people - especially in my age group - are low on basic vitamins and nutrients. That didn't surprise me and for years, I have taken vitamins daily. However, I was very surprised to hear about a couple nutrients that could be helpful for me. Apparently, magnesium glycinate can help with (high) blood pressure and nitric oxide helps with blood flow to the kidneys. 

What?????

I checked with one of my doctors about the magnesium glycinate and when I started taking a tablet every evening about 1 or 2 hours before bedtime, I realized what I'd been missing out on. I would go to bed at about 10:30 and sleep like I have not slept in years. I'd wake up feeling very rested and better than I usually do. That energy generally wears off about 4 hours into the day (or, depending on my health, 4 hours in) but that's not surprising and it's still good. I usually wake up ready to lie back down.

After taking the magnesium for a couple of weeks, I had an appointment with my nephrologist. My blood pressure reading was shockingly normal: 116/80. 

Again, WHAT????

The doctor was, of course, very pleased. My normal readings look like 140+ or 135 -  not bad, but could be better, right? The doctor praised me like I was a good little girl for eating better and getting more exercise. I hated to admit it but I did tell him that I hadn't changed anything except for taking the magnesium. He seemed to poo-poo the idea that the supplement could have any noticeable effect. I'm really sensitive and I felt like my hopeful observation had been politely dismissed.

~sigh~

To understand why that blood pressure reading was so significant, you have to know what my readings used to look like.  It wasn't until I was around 35 (young, active, and skinny) that I was diagnosed with HBP. My readings looked like the highest speeds on a car's display - once before finding a combo of prescriptions that worked, the top number was 210. I can't remember the bottom number. That 210 scared my doctor so much that I was sent to the ER to be given treatment. I was advised not to go home until the numbers came down. The thing is, that high number was so normal for me that I didn't feel any different before or after it stabilized to a better reading.

Anyway. That's why a number like 116 was a stunner. So, to continue...

Very recently, I heard about nitric oxide supplements. I searched around on some medical sites (ugh!) for more information. After straining my brain to sort of understand the doctor-ese, I had someone online help me decipher the basics. It turns out that the supplement could help boost blood flow to the kidneys. 

I am a CKD Stage 3b patient - like I didn't have enough to deal with healthwise... Why has a doctor never discussed nitric oxide with me? Why will I have to be the one to bring it up at my next appointment?

The last blood pressure check that I did at home - after I'd been taking both supplements - was once again shockingly good: 112/59.  Even if there is a reason that I should not use these supplements, they should both be something I knew about from doctors.

I really don't want to be ugly about it but I've lost family members to problems with their blood pressure. 

For years, people with high blood pressure were told to lose weight, stop smoking, eat better, exercise more, etc. My sister and my mother tried those things and it changed nothing. Maybe it has something to do with ethnicity or generational bloodlines because high blood pressure has always been a dominant health issue for many black people.  And remember that I said I have not changed what I eat or upped my exercise - and my blood pressure is down. 

 This makes me feel a bit distrustful of the medical profession. Also, I now agree so much more than I did with that silly Chris Rock when he says:

This is the kind of thing that makes me wonder if there really is no cure for the sarcoidosis I have. Maybe there is a cure for diabetes and cancer and many other deadly diseases. But if people get cured, there's no "comeback".

Peace

--Free