**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

Time for a Cool Change (Part 1)

I have always liked Little River Band's song "Cool Change" and the lyrics feel fitting just now. 

♫♫ Time for a cool change

♪ I know that it's time for a cool change ♫

♪♪ And now that my life is so prearranged ♬

♬ I know that it's time for a cool change ♪

For health and economic reasons, a lot of my life is very "prearranged" and I'm mostly fine with that because I know that I am blessed to have the life that I do. There are people so much worse off and less hopeful. Still, I felt I needed to make some small changes in my personal living space. I want to have a more relaxing and mentally soothing environment. 

My goals? 

To change up the look of my apartment without spending any more than $150 max. I have been wanting something less dorm-room-looking.

I decided to go with a black-and-white theme with accent colors of peach, pink, and red. Too bad I'm stuck with that ugly blue chair. Ugh! I'm going to cover it with a pink knit throw! LOL

Did I make it? 

DAY 10: I'm getting there. I am managing to totally update the look of my tiny living space by re-purposing a lot of items and buying just a few things. So far, I am almost just about done with the living room and about to start on the bedroom.

These are the stages of my living room which was very, um, bare minimalist.

I didn't even have curtains!

That Walmart futon is still good as new. The giant sunflower & pink artwork still reminds me of my late sister. I've killed any plants shown here...  Just had to toss out that Dollar General bookshelf (after almost 6 years).

This is what I had up for "curtains"... ~sigh~ 

I call the look "Boho Broke"! 

And I had that up for about 3 years maybe??? I got that fabric from someone and just thought that it gave a nice boho-chic Boho Broke (coined it!) vibe as re-imagined curtains! LOL

DAY 12: And this is how I re-used that fabric when I got actual curtains...

Living room, almost done and...
I repurposed my old fabric "curtains" to make a swag.

It might take me a while to finish. I have used up my energy and have been having a couple of bad days. It's not a good idea to use a stepstool when my equilibrium is not good. Also, I am having to be very careful of the budget. I am using the Camel app to get price-change alerts on the few items I need. One of my credit cards lets me do no-interest payments for purchases over a certain amount so I am getting a little coffee table and another set of blackout curtains for the bedroom

Oh! And speaking of blackout curtains... The ones I got for the living room are one of the best buys ever. Not only do they keep down the temp in the living room but they somehow muffle a lot of the noise from the communal patio right outside my windows. I rarely do recommendations but I have been telling my family about how much I love the Lemomo brand. My Arizona folks better run and not walk to get some! The 100% blackout thermal ones (a set of 2 panels) were $24 plus tax when I snagged them. I should have got them a couple inches longer but I am okay with them being a bit high water. 

I hope to be feeling better soon so that I can finish. Once I have the desk (a lift-top design), I plan to spend more time in the living room. The temp will be cooler because of the curtains and I already am finding the more refined look to be soothing.

Where is the budget going?

• 2 panels of thermal blackout curtains (in black) & a new curtain rod (about $27).
• 1 black Damask striped bed set and a black comforter. (about $40 for both) I already have a white comforter and a white duvet cover to switch it up. I also already have sheets in grey that will go well with either the white or black comforters.
• 1 lift-top dark brown "wood" coffee table with hidden storage (about $86 but paying in interest-free $15 credit card installments so I'm not counting against the total budget.)
• A beautiful metal green scent diffuser for the living room (about $36).
• A set of cute ceiling fan pulls with lightbulb and fan icons (about $7)
• A set of blackout curtains for the bedroom and a blackout curtain rod (about $40 for both)
• A set of queen-sized pillows, 2 protective cases, 2 white satin & 2 black satin pillow covers (about $40) I already have 4 pillows and a set of black satin cases.
• A free chair from a neighbor who is moving!

I am still quite a bit under my budget and don't expect to spend much more. I am slightly over budget but I have already decided that if I do need to spend any more, I will use the interest-free payment plan. Honestly, I think I am done.

DAY 22: I just finished the living room last night and it was a tough push-through. (A neighbor stopped by to help me with a few things, bless her.) I have put out the coffee table and the beautiful diffuser. (Bonus: because the diffuser works so amazingly well, I no longer need to buy wax and oils for the wax warmer. So... I will only need essential oils  - which are MUCH cheaper). 

The new look vs...

~sigh~

By the way, I seriously love the diffuser (below). It has a light mode with about 4 colors to switch between, At night, it's so soothing. Also, I am happy to say that the scent I have come out stronger than what I was getting with the wax warmer. This is much less messy.

Everything in that photo (except the diffuser) is re-purposed and most are very special to me. The book is special. My baby brother gave it to me when I moved here. He found it at a book sale and a character in the story has my name! The scarf is one my late niece always wore. The framed print by the plant and diffuser is one my late best friend gifted me one birthday. The frame on the left above the red vase is a card from my late friend - one of the last that I got from her - that I framed. The plant - that now crawls halfway up the wall - was a gift from a neighbor. I helped her out with something once and, when she found out I loved plants, she gave me a cutting. Most of my plants are from that one, including the 2 newest cuttings in the glasses to the left of the diffuser.

That plant... it has "mothered" about 
6 others since I got it!

I have not started the bedroom at all. I don't think I will get to it for a while unless my SIL comes over to lend a hand. I'm so freaking pooped. By the way... I did not spend any more than $190. Since my neighbor gave me a chair, I finished spending a while ago. 

I will update the post with more photos when my computer starts cooperating!

When I finish with the bedroom and get the chair from my neighbor, I will post the final photos. My whole purpose in sharing this re-do is to show that it doesn't take a large budget to refresh a small apartment. The results are already a boost to my mental health. And I don't mind eating tuna sandwiches for a while to save back the money!

Peace

--Free

P.S.: I said I was done shopping - and, trust my bank account, I am! - however... I saw this and fell in love with the idea of having one. Putting this on my Christmas wish list!

Beauty at 60+

Thanks to my parents (especially Dad), I have "good skin" genes. I'm glad but it's nothing to be proud of. It's not like I earned this skin...

The Good Skin Years:

For many, many years, I took my "good skin" for granted. As a young person, I never struggled with acne. I never had to worry about dry skin or oily skin. I grew up in Alaska, Land of the Midnight (or almost-never-ending) Sun. Never wore a drop of sunscreen for maybe 10 of the 40 years I lived there. 

When I did start thinking about skincare, I used sunscreen, avoided soaps, used a lot of oils, and still took my skin for granted. Then I turned 56. Oh boy. 

The Warning Signs:

The first very fine lines started across my forehead. I always had smile lines because I smile a lot and because of my wide mouth. But the smile lines became more prominent. And I started to get these little dark spots on my face - just like the ones my father had. 

Those dark spots freaked me out. I had noticed (but not paid much attention to) the ones Daddy had on his face. I think he was also in his 50s when I first noticed his spots. Now that I was developing them, I wondered if I should be worried. I found out that the spots are called Seborrheic keratosis and they tend to run in families. Like "good skin", I guess. Gee, thanks again, Dad! LOL

So, at around 55-56, I started to think more about skincare. I noticed every little thing about the skin on my face and my body. The dark spots - which are only on my face - are the one thing I can't afford to do anything about and I'm not that bothered by them anyway. And I'd like to think that I'm not particularly vain so I don't mind the fine lines and wrinkles. I think of them as "proof-of-life lines". But I don't want to deal with preventable issues - cancer or severe non-cancerous skin problems.

Anyway...

This is 61 with a freshly washed face and freshly washed and twisted hair. No makeup. But don't zoom too far in.

The New Attitude:

I started taking my skincare more seriously about 5 or 6 years ago. As in, not just routinely and mindlessly slapping on oils and moisturizers to keep away the dryness. I stopped buying just any old sunscreen. Basically, I stopped being slapdash with my skincare.

At 60, I actually started developing a skincare routine. I began to think more about products. Morning and night, I clean my face with oils and (non-soap) cleansers; I use good quality (broad-spectrum) sunscreens; and I use a toner, base moisturizer, and a sealing moisturizer. For my all-over body care, I still use the moisturizing washes I've always liked but I've started being more diligent about applying after-shower oil and I've started buying better moisturizers. I pay more attention to ingredients than hype and I will actually (though grudgingly) pay more for better quality products. If I have to.

All this really started making a difference - within a few weeks. My skin is now less dull and always feels super-hydrated -without my having to reapply moisturizers and lotions several times a day. I have far fewer blackhead problems. By the way, that situation was getting out of control! For a while there, I was having to tweeze away blackheads like it was a paying job.

Another benefit to getting a routine down is that I spend less money. (Well, I'm getting there.) I did have to go through a few products to find which ones worked better for my skin type. Thankfully, I have found that some really good products are quite budget-friendly. 

The two products I'm willing to spend a few bucks more for (if needed) are sunscreen and a night moisturizer. Instead of buying every new product that comes out, I am down to a few good items that work well. Spending more on 4 products every 3 months is much cheaper than spending a few bucks on several things every 3 weeks. (Pro Tip: curb your product junkie cravings! If you just have to, have to, have to try something new, write the brand to ask for a sample.)

I am sure that quitting smoking (4+ years now) helped. The funny thing is, this routine is less time-consuming than what I was doing before. In the past, I would use oil and baby wipes to clean my face, then use another oil to moisturize. Then, all through the day, I was reapplying oil to my face and more lotion to my skin. That was because of not layering and locking in hydration. Also, some products just aren't that good or long-lasting. Also, I was sometimes just skipping the moisturizing altogether.

New Routine:

Nowadays, first thing in the morning, since I'm in the bathroom doing morning stuff anyway, I cleanse my face and then, while I'm having coffee and watching the news, I do my sunscreen and moisturizers. That takes maybe 5 minutes. My body care takes only 10 minutes after showering. What a difference 15 or 20 minutes of consistent skincare makes. And consistency seems to be the key.

Goals?:

Just as with anything, it's not about how you look so much as about how you feel. I will be very happy to live long enough to develop more wrinkles, trust me. I'd like for those wrinkles to be hydrated and lovely but I want them!

I don't want to have "young-looking" skin, but I want healthy skin. As a matter of fact, as pithy as it sounds, I don't think we should worry about looking attractive. We should worry about being attractive. I want to always be gracious and kind and uplifting. (I said I want to be, not that I always am!) 

When I die, I want people to miss how I made them feel. I want to be remembered for things that really mean something. 

Get It From Mama:

My mother had beautiful skin and absolutely glorious hair. When she got sick, her skin and hair were severely damaged by medications. She never stopped smiling and feeling blessed to be alive. When people talk about my mom now, they talk about how she was a "mom" to everyone. I have former co-workers who probably remember more about my mother than they do about me. Everyone we knew called my mother "Mom", "Mama C" or "Grammy". There were friends of the grandkids who only knew her as "Grammy". For real. Some of them did not know her actual name until they saw her obituary...

Mama has been gone for 22 years now and almost everyone who knew her still misses her. They miss knowing that they could always talk to her about anything. They miss knowing that no matter when they came into her home, they were going to be fed, loved, taught something, hugged, encouraged, and prayed for. 

During Mama's funeral, a group of 6 or 7 people filed in several minutes into the service. They only stayed for about 10 minutes, then they all filed quietly back out. This happened again during the reading of the obituary. Later, checking the memorial book, we realized that it was some nurses and staff from the dialysis clinic. They had been given longer breaks in small groups to come and pay their respects. Her one-time doctor who had retired and moved out of state some years before sent a beautiful floral arrangement. For the longest time, we would receive condolences in the mail from young people who were late hearing about her passing because they had moved away for college, marriage, or gone into the military. My mother was that kind of beautiful.

To Be Well- Remembered:

I keep in sporadic touch with friends back in Alaska. Catching up online a couple of months or so ago with "Missy" (a woman I worked with back when dinosaurs roamed and I was in my late 20s), she sent through a recent photo of her son "Lee". He was just a kid it seemed the last time I saw him. Over the years, I've seen photos of him graduating from school, starting his first "real" job, getting engaged, etc. He's now got 2 kids of his own. Missy (who'd been a young and single mom and just turning 20) reminded me that it was my mother who taught her how to soothe Lee when he was non-stop fussy.

At the time, Missy was over for one of our barbeques or something but she was so frustrated because she couldn't figure out what was wrong with her baby. I barely noticed because there were (as usual) so many kids making noise out in the backyard. Missy and I can now laugh so hard about how Mama had come inside, put down the tray of chicken (or whatever) she'd taken off the grill, shook her head, and took the baby from Missy. She laid Lee on the couch and started cooing to him while she gently rocked his knees up toward his chin a couple of times. All of a sudden, that kid pooted out a long and loud trumpet note. He went from fussy to laughing just like that.  ("Sweet baby just had a little gas, didn't you.")

What I didn't know until this recent conversation is that my mom had apparently once talked Missy through a really bad bout of postpartum blues. So my friends were calling my mom on the phone back then? Wow.

So, yeah, I love having good skin, I'm a little vain about my hair, and I miss the crap out of my size 4 (5, 6, 8, and 10) figure! But who cares what I will look like when I'm dead? I want people to remember the stuff that matters.

Age thankfully. Be grateful. Love.

Peace

--Free

**REVIEW** Raslock Aloe Vera Gel

 I love aloe, especially in the gel form, but it has to be good aloe. Not sticky aloe or with a lot of other ingredients added. I found a really good aloe once in Alaska but have never been able to find it since... But I have found a gel that I love, love, love. 

This is the replacement

The first time I ordered from the Raslock brand, I knew I'd found the product I would want to always have around. I initially got the version that came in a bottle with a pump ($9.99 or $0.77/oz). As much as I loved the aloe, the pump didn't work so I emailed the seller a video showing the problem and asked for a replacement pump. Just the pump. They sent a replacement bottle of the gel, Nice.

The next time I ordered the gel, I chose the jar version ($9.99 or $0.87/oz). I like leaving the pump version in the bathroom for guests to use in place of lotion after they wash their hands. I keep the jar in my bedside drawer to use along with my face and body moisturizers. 

What I love about this aloe gel is that it's not sticky in the least. That's been a problem with some aloe I've tried. Also, there are no unnecessary ingredients, just aloe (first on the list) and glycerin, and fortified with vitamins B1, B6, and B12. There is no added alcohol, fragrance, colors, or parabens. When I rub this into my skin, it absorbs completely.

This aloe is good enough to be used alone as a hand moisturizer - which is why I keep some by the bathroom sink - but I love using it with my face and body lotions. I had one face lotion (which I will not buy again because it's not very moisturizing on its own) that works really well as a night cream when I add a bit of the aloe. I have some decent foot creams (and really dry feet!) that get next-level good when I add the aloe.

My SIL was over one day and after using the aloe in the bathroom, she asked to take some of it home until she could order her own. It's really good aloe. To stretch it out, I went ahead and added some of my cheap unscented lotion to the bathroom jar!

Whenever I used aloe before, I only used it for burns, scrapes, etc. Even when I used the plant, I never thought about using it as a regular moisturizer. Since I got this aloe, I have been using it under my chapstick, over my sunscreen, on my scalp, and at night with my face cream. It only takes a little. And I'm in love with the texture it adds.

I'm not sure what was going on with the other aloes I tried but they were almost all too sticky or tacky-feeling on my skin or they were so watery that they weren't very hydrating. I didn't mind because I was mostly only using them in first-aid situations. The liquid that I found in Alaska was not sticky but I thought that was because it was a liquid. I think I just need to read the labels more carefully, especially when buying aloe in gels. Hopefully, I will always be able to find this brand or something just as good.

I've even been using the gel in my hair care. Since I did that big chop, my hair is not growing back as fast as it always has. Scratch that. My hair is growing back; I'm just not retaining the length as I once was able to. That may be due to aging or it may be due to the climate here. At any rate, I am now applying a little of the aloe to the ends of my hair after washing. I will see how that goes.

So, yeah. I am ranting about this gel because it's that good. Normally, I just review products based on how well they work for me without recommending them to anyone (outside my family). This time, I'm going to go out of my way to recommend this to anyone who has dry skin, sensitive skin, or who just wants a cheap way to boost their other skincare products.

Now that I have streamlined my skin and hair care routines (I know I keep bringing that up lately), I like having something as affordable as this gel. Instead of replacing some of the face and body lotions and hair products that weren't as moisturizing, I'm able to use them up now by adding the gel. Maybe I will end up replacing some of them completely.

Peace

--Free

Disclaimer: I was not paid or compensated in any way for the products mentioned in this post. The free replacement I received was not solicited nor offered in lieu of a review. 

Walmart Is Spotlighting Black-Owned Brands

 I thought I would pass this along. Walmart is putting a spotlight on black-owned beauty brands. This is great for those of us looking for hair and skincare targeted to our specific needs. 

And, here's the thing: just because the brands are "black-owned" that does not mean they don't have products for all hair and skin types. 

Look at all these beautiful people

Since I have been working on streamlining my personal beauty routine, I've tried not to be lured into buying every new thing that comes along. However... LOL. Looking through this section of items on Walmart's site, I am seeing brands I never heard of before. I may have to snag one or two items over the summer.

One day, I'm going to put together a post listing all the beauty brands I've come across. I've found some amazing products from K-beauty, Afro-beauty, and Euro-beauty. I need to do a big ol' link list. In the meantime, take a gander at the Walmart list.

Something in every category

By the way, I only noticed a few weeks ago that some products on Walmart's site are eligible for subscription purchases. I guess they are keeping up with Amazon's Subscribe & Save option.

Well, now you know. I am going to scroll through some of the items but I'm sticking to my new streamlining method. I don't buy anything new in a category until I have used up what I already have. But the first thing I do want to try will be from the Pardon My Fro brand! 

Peace

--Free

Apologies to Aunt Jackie

 So.

I had to come and post a HUGE apology to Aunt Jackie and her hair products. Or at least 3 of the products. When I look back at the times I have trash-talked the brand, I'm kind of ashamed. Also, I am puzzled. The first time I tried the Quench Moisture Intensive Leave-In Conditioner, I said some hatefully nasty things when I was critiquing the claims. Such things as:

" Moisture - Well, it's wet, so I suppose that's where that came from. It's wet in the bottle and still wet when I apply it. Wet = Moisture. Until it doesn't."

And, 

"Intensive- I'm kind of mad that that word is even in the label next to "moisture". I am intensively upset with that."

And... 

Leave-In - That's true. You can leave it in. I could also leave talcum powder or dry rice in my hair. Same effect.

See? Brutal. And I am apologizing big time because when I recently tried the Quench again and a couple of other A.J. products, the results were... kind of stunning. In a good way.

Quench? That stuff is amazing. I have to believe that I got a counterfeit the first time I tried it or else my hair has radically changed. (And I think I got it from Amazon that time so... possible!)

In addition to the Quench, I tried the Butter Cream Intensive Moisture Sealant and the Curl La La Defining Curl Custard. The Sealant was truly amazing and I love, love, love what the Curl Custard does to my hair.

What the what, right? To be fair, I do think that my hair texture has changed. It does that every couple of years it seems. I can go back through this blog and see the difference in photos. Also, I never used the Butter Cream or the Curl La La before this.

The thing is, my hair has never made such a quick and drastic change as it has this time. It was once a definite 4C. Since it has grown back in after my big chop - or maybe after I started using the Bentonite clay - it's become more of a 4B-kinda-leaning-C - and a loose C at that. The curls are naturally looser, even before I apply any products. Even at its driest, it's nowhere where near as "dense" as before. 

The last time my hair texture was this manageable after a fresh washing (and before applying leave-ins or doing an oil wash or stretching it with yarn) I was barely in my 20s and rocking a gorgeous Jheri Curl (minus that heavy leave-in stuff). You can still see that pic somewhere on the sidebar.

I knew that the Quench and Sealant were doing something wonderful when I applied them after washing my hair, then got busy gossiping with family on the phone for an hour and forgetting to apply other products. My hair was drying from the wash but not dried out/fried out like usual and there was less shrinkage. It was so weird.

My hair had totally air-dried by the time one of my nieces and I finished minding everyone else's business and got off the phone. I thought I would have to at least dampen my hair again to apply the rest of the products. Nope. There was not a parched strand on my head. What was also nice is that my curls were not all clumped together and tight-feeling. They were very lightly defined as when they are a couple of days old and set with a curl cream and a couple of moisturizers and other leave-ins. All this from the Quench and Sealant.

I applied the Curl La La next. (cute product name!)  I didn't glob it on. I would put a small amount on a couple of fingertips and pull the cream through small sections of my hair - from root to tip. Wow.

What I ended up with is my freshly washed hair looking as nice as it does after a couple of days of applying and re-applying products. Amazing.

Oh, and I love the Quench and Curl La La for touchup styling throughout the week. Because of my hair color, it can be hard to catch the curl definition with the camera so I did some closeups. 

The first pic is of my hair still slightly damp after I washed it and used the products. 

Immediately after
washing, Quench, Butter & Curl La La.
Still damp.

The 2nd pic is of my curls the next morning after a bit of light styling. All had to do was spritz my hair with water, let it dry, then lift my curls with my fingers and go. No overnight twists or anything. 

The next morning. No touch-ups. Just spritzed

with water.

It was nice not having to sleep on twists. I prefer having a truly natural look to my curls and doing a twist-out when my hair is this length is work. The twists don't stay put unless I secure them in a Bantu knot. When I feel up to it - and when I have more length, I will use the AJ products and do a twist out. Just for kicks.

So, yeah. I am sending out apologies to Aunt Jackie. It was about 8 years ago that I talked the most trash about the brand but, still... Sorry, Auntie! (LOL) I love the products and will be looking to try more.  They all have nice, light, and pleasant scents to them. Another plus is that the jars and bottles are good sizes for the prices. (Actually, I notice that Walmart has the lowest prices on the products.)

Peace

--Free

NOTE: This is NOT a sponsored post & I am in any way being compensated. I bought the products at full price.

 

**CROSS POST** The Readable Bible (TRB) Version

 **This is a condensed version of a post from my Free & Faith blog.**

Side note: I learned something new recently during a Bible study of the Book of Isaiah, Chuck Missler was comparing passages in the KJV to the ISV. He explained that the ISV relies heavily on the Dead Sea Scrolls and that the DSS for Isaiah had the complete work. Interesting.

I don't know how I came to learn of the Readable Bible (TRB) but when I saw samples online, I wanted a hard copy for myself. I ordered mine from Amazon (though it's cheaper at ChristianBook.com right now). By the way, I do love ChristianBook and order from there often. I just get a bit impatient with the sometimes backorders and I wanted to get this Bible as soon as possible!

Amazon's packaging
was a bit haphazard!

Understand that I know that there are sometimes very important differences between translations. I don't like "loose" translations and won't even read for pleasure anything like "The Message" or "The Passion" (even before it was noted by others to be too loose). After all, the Bible is God's Word, not man's.

This is why I rely on the KJV and other "word-for-word" translations for serious study. I was still trying to decide where the TRB version falls on the chart of translations before I remembered the chart I once posted on this blog. Duh! After seeing it, I'm happy to say that it falls in line with the other word-for-word versions. 

There it is, the TRB

Lots of see-through issues

 This is what publishers of the TRB have to say:

The Readable Bible is a literal translation in the sense that each original language word is expressed in English. However, sometimes a literal translation is unlikely to communicate the writer’s thought to a modern audience. For instance, people unfamiliar with ancient culture probably do not understand that “sons of the bridechamber” in Matthew 9:15 refers to groomsmen. So, where the literal translation might confuse or mislead today’s reader, a thought-for-thought translation is presented and the literal translation is footnoted, or vice versa (unless the term is listed in “Nonliteral Words and Phrases Not Footnoted”). When an action verb is immediately followed by another action verb (e.g., “got up and went”), oftentimes only the second verb is expressed in the English text.

Specific copyright & use rules

For my general reading purposes, I have to say that it's easier for my modern American brain to absorb the basics. Just as with the ESV - which I enjoy reading before bedtime - I find the TRB relaxing to read. All of the charts and "helps" within the Bible chapters are just as easy on the brain as can be. Some verses are broken down really well (without changing the meanings). For instance, in Genesis, the creation days are clearly labeled as "Day 1:" and so on. In Isaiah 14, the 5 satanic "I will" statements are laid out in separate lines. In Exodus 20 and in Deuteronomy 5, the Ten Commandments are clearly numbered. (To be honest, I love this because I've always had to manually highlight or mark these kinds of things in Bibles.)

Lots of charts

 As I said, this is a great "reader" for seasoned believers or a "starter" for a new Bible reader or undecided person.

While I love a lot about this TRB, there are some design features that could be improved. As with most Bibles, the pages are thin. In this paperback, there are issues of see-through and, in the wrong light, that can make it hard to read. Also, individual book names are not printed at the tops of all pages. This is not a big problem for someone familiar with the orders of the books but could be for a new Bible reader. I hate tabbing paperback Bibles because it never looks neat enough but, if I gift one of these to a newbie, I will have to do just that.

For the price (around $37 with tax), Amazon could have done a better job with the packaging. Mine was just tossed loosely inside a plastic mailer and so it arrived with the front cover bent. (Yes, I'm being nitpicky!)

I can recommend the TRB to anyone who enjoys just reading the Bible. Since I got my copy, I have been reading through a little at a time each evening starting with Genesis and I really look forward to it every day. I do have to mention that due to its size, it is a bit unwieldy! It doesn't fit into any of my purses.

Peace

--Free

**REVIEW** Soft Scrub's 4-in-1 Toilet Bowl Cleaner

There is a serious hard water problem where I live. I am constantly scrubbing and cleaning faucets and sinks. The toilet is the worst. Every few days, I have had to scrub away the gross-looking rusty stains from the water-flow spigot under the rim and an equally nasty-looking ring around the water line in the bowl.

I finally found a product that works. It's Soft Scrub's 4-in-1 Rim Hanger Toilet Bowl Cleaner.

Soft Scrub Rim Hanger Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Of course, I did a good scrubbing with the brush and some cleanser before installing the Soft Scrub and then I waited...

I knew this product was good when I didn't notice any stains after 3 or 4 days. I knew it was really good when there were no stains after a whole week - maybe 8 days even. After that, there was only the faintest ring and no stains around the spigot. I immediately set a reminder to add the product to a Subscribe and Save.

The reason I had so much trouble finding something for this problem is that the bathroom in my apartment has a "pressure assist toilet" (yeah, I'd never heard of that either!) This is how it's described in the Google results:

"A pressure-assisted toilet—also known as a power flush toilet—contains a sealed pressure tank that houses air and water. The vessel traps air, and as it fills with water, it uses the water supply line pressure to compress the trapped air inside."

And this is what the tank in one of these bad boys looks like:

Can't hang anything
in that oddity.

When I first saw the tank, I was almost afraid to use the toilet. But it does flush like a boss. It does sound a bit like a jet breaking the sound barrier. It works so well that I'm sure that it would suck down a phone dropped into the bowl.

The problem is that there is no way to hang a cleansing solution inside the tank or drop in one of those bluing tablets. (By the way, I have seen several articles online advising you not to put things inside a tank even if you can. I guess it's bad for the plumbing system. I'm not sure but you might want to look into it.)

Anyway...

I've always used a tank-based cleaner to help with any toilet staining. With this toilet, I had to find something to hang from the rim of the bowl instead. That should have been an easier task. Amazon really should do something about its Search function.

When I found this, I was not only happy that the hook fits the rim of my toilet (the rim is larger for some reason) but the price of the product is really good. A 2-pack is (currently) under 5 bucks and each one truly seems as if it will last for the promised 4 weeks. The first one I'm on is at 2 weeks and still going strong. The little "cleaning balls" don't look worn down at all so far.

The only thing I don't like is the lavender scent. Lavender has to be my least favorite scent of all and this is a strong one. However, the other scents for the product cost much more so... I will deal with lavender. Actually, although the cleaning power is for the long haul, the scent doesn't last past the first week of flushes. Thank goodness.

So, yeah. I have found a solution to my most hated cleaning chore. In the past, I have successfully used citric acid to clean the hard water stains in the toilet (and still do for the faucets and laundry, etc.) but I'd just rather not have to deal with it.

I've seen a couple of reviews saying this product didn't work well for their water problems. If this doesn't help, I don't want to know what kind of problems they are having!

Peace

--Free

Now Amazon Has Layaway?

 As if I needed another way to spend money I don't have... Amazon has a layaway program. No thank you, ma'am. As if it is, I have to restrict myself from even looking at the Amazon site for 3 days of the week just so I don't go broke(r).

Reading the morning news, I saw a CNET article about Amazon's new webpage. The Bezo money vacuum site wants to make sure that we shoppers don't miss any chance at all to send our money that way.

I need to follow @poutnpowder!

I've never been much of a layaway kind of shopper. I mean, I have used layaway programs once or twice (maybe three times) but using layaway was a big motivation for me to keep my credit in good standing. The times I used a layaway program were during my bad credit days. (And, yes, I know that not everyone is able to build good credit.) 

To be honest, the Amazon layaway program isn't for the faint of heart. There are a couple of pros but you do have to pay the amount off within 8 weeks' time. That's not better for me than how I use my credit cards. I don't buy anything that I cannot pay off in full when the bill comes due. That's why I really don't care too, too much about APRs. It's a great way to build your credit rating and keep your spending in check.

It is probably a good thing though that Amazon is trying to keep shoppers informed about its attempt to take over the world all the "perks" of a membership. I have posted here before about some things that people weren't taking advantage of.

At any rate, do check out the CNET article and do explore all the membership benefits. If you are paying, you should at least get maximum usage.

Peace

--Free

**Dupe Patrol** Smells Like Cheirosa?

 One of my favorite fragrances for a long time has been Sol de Janeiro's (SDJ) Cheirosa '71. It's so sweet and salty and caramel-y that I can't help but love it. However... the scent lasts about 20 minutes on me before it becomes a memory only.

I've looked for the longest for something that at least mimics the warm, yummy scent and nothing even came close. Until this almost-a-dupe fragrance mist from Bath and Body Works called"Christmas Cookies". 

The bottles sometimes come in 
different colors (I'm told!)

As I said this is just an almost (kinda-sorta) duplicate. Even if I had never smelled Cheirosa '71, I would have fallen in love with this one. Since I do know what the SDJ smells like, I couldn't help but compare the 2 different fragrances. Of course, I ran over to Frangrantica to check what they show for them both.

The accords for Cheirosa are sweet, caramel, vanilla, nutty, salty, and chocolate. To be honest, I never really caught the chocolate part. For the Christmas Cookies: sweet, caramel, almond, nutty, and fruity. For this one, I don't get any of the fruity parts of the scent. (BTW, I bolded the shared notes.)

The two scents are like twins - fraternal, not identical. Even though the BBW lacks three of the accords found in the SDJ, the only one really I notice missing is the salty one. That's really it for me. Apparently, other people are getting the same vibe. One Fragrantica review describes the SDJ as a "freshly baked macadamia nut cookie" and another review describes the BBW as "creamy butter caramel like popcorn". They both nailed it.

Although I like the Cheirosa more, I prefer Christmas Cookies because it lasts longer for me.  And it's cheaper. It's only a little longer-lasting than Cheirosa on my skin (by itself) but it lingers longer on my hair and clothing. Also, there is a matching lotion for the Christmas Cookies scent. That makes a big difference.

Honestly, as popular as Cheirosa '71 is, I'm really surprised that SDJ made a perfume for the Cheirosa '62 instead. I don't see nearly as many people asking about dupes for the '62 as for the '71. I have the '62 perfume in a travel-sized roller and it's so "meh" for me that the little bottle is still nearly full after almost a year. And, again, the BBW is less pricey per ounce. I mean, for a visual, look at the 2 bottles and know that they each cost about $20.

And when you take the cap off of the Cheirosa, you see a bigger difference in the amount you're getting. Or, at least, I did.

(no flash for this pic!)

What surprises me is that I could not find the Christmas Cookies scent on their site currently. Maybe they only put it up on a seasonal basis? Thankfully, I found it on Amazon. If they run out, there's always eBay, I guess. One thing I would look out for though: because you can find the scent out of season, make sure you are getting it from a seller you trust. I've seen reviewers on Amazon complaining that the item was possibly fake or smelled nothing like they know it should. Some sellers can be so shady.

The thing is, you can always find a dupe for something - even if you have to layer 2 scents together to get the effect you want. In some cases, it's worth doing that. You know that if it hurts my budget to spend $20 on 3 ounces of a fragrance, I will not be wearing any authentic BR540!

One final thing. I recently heard that the reason you can find clones of scents is that a scent cannot be trademarked. The name can be trademarked but not the smell. Interesting, right? Maybe soon I will do a post listing all the clone houses and articles about dupes I can find online. Maybe I will even do a post of all the new places for shopping perfumes - whether I can afford them or not.

Peace

--Free