**REVIEW** Boar Bristle Brushes & Afro-Natural Hair **UPDATE #2**

**UPDATE #2** Okay, this update is about a particular brand of brushes that I have found and like over the rest. 

I happened on an ad for the "WavEnforcer" brand of bbbs. What I like about these over the Diane brand is that the descriptions are more accurate - or rather they are more accurate for my 4C hair needs. When these brushes claim to be firm, they don't lie.  On the Double-Sided Fade Brush, the brushes labeled as "soft" are not flimsy or paint-brush-soft but just soft enough. (And, get this, I paid under $3 for it.)I have been using the Firm side of this double-sided brush for getting to my scalp and the Soft side for regular brushing (to pull the natural oils down the hair shaft). Both sides are just as good as (or better than) the first brush I raved about. Better yet, the Firm side is not reinforced with nylon. The brushes are 100% boar bristle. Thank goodness because I wasn't digging the nylon bristles.

My thinking is that these work better on my hair type because the brand is made for/marketed to barbers (apparently black barbers). Whatever the case, I've found my favorite brand of bbbs. Also, the prices are ridiculously good. This Grooming Brush was under $6 also, and still can't get over paying less than 3 bucks for the amazing double-sided wonder...

I'm pretty set for boar bristle brushes for the next year or more. I did get a bit spend-happy and ordered a bamboo bristle brush strictly for scalp massages. No more Amazon for me this month!

**UPDATE** After washing my hair, I am more in love than ever with boar bristle brushes. The brush really made a difference in my after-wash hair texture. Normally, I would need to use a lot of leave-in products to get my newly clean hair to a soft and workable state. This time, I used a regular detangling brush (with SoCozy Detangler) while my hair was still damp. After detangling and sectioning, I applied some scalp oil and a mix of camel fat and shea to my hair. I also used SoCozy Curl Leave-In. I then brushed the almost-dry sections with the boar brush, twisting each section to finish drying. That was it. When I took out the twists a few hours later (as I normally do), my hair needed no additional softening or curl management products. I will probably be using scalp spray and more curl spray (as I normally do) for maintenance before my next wash day.

I am not exaggerating when I say the boar brush did make a huge difference. I lost much less hair (because the brush didn't snag and pull) and I am really pleased with how my hair feels. Maybe the reason some people think using a boar brush causes hair growth is only because they don't lose hair while using it.

Whatever the case, I am now on board with the boar bristles. I will be looking for sales on small brushes to give as stocking stuffers to family members. By the way, here is another link for information on boar bristle brushes. I tried searching for some before and after images of the effects of boar bristle on African natural hair types but... Google apparently doesn't get the difference between hair types.

I remember that, years and years ago, a lot of men in the black community used a certain kind of hair brush. I noticed it because of the GIs I'd see in the barber shops getting their short hair "tightened up" (aka, shaved, edged, etc.). My father was one of those men. Later on, my brothers joined the Service and they joined that club.

The other week, when I was looking for a brush for my own afro-natural and 4C (aka coarse, dry, curly) hair, I saw a brush that reminded me of one my dad (and brothers) used.

Boar Bristle Military Wave Brush

I swear my father's brush was exactly like this one. I even have a memory of him using the brush on my little brother's hair after a haircut.

Anyway.

I don't know if the brushes the men in my family used were made with boar bristle like the one pictured but... I started looking into boar bristle brushes. As it turns out, boar bristle brushes have some benefits for all hair types, but I like what I read about the benefits for hair like mine:

• Distributes natural oils throughout the hair
• Cleans follicles
• Cleans product buildup from hair

Because of the way the brushes distribute our natural oils, these help to condition our hair in between washes. Also, these natural bristles help keep the hair cleaner in between washing (and we afro-naturals do not like to over-wash and dry out our hair).

I saw some brushes and almost passed out from looking at the prices. However, when I checked the prices on Amazon for one of the most popular brands of boar bristle brushes, I was more pleased. I was able to get a brush for around $5.00. Remember being able to get a full meal at Mickey D's for five dollars? Or the five-dollar footlong? Ah, the good old days...

Since I wanted a brush, I waited until Prime Days. The brushes are already cheap, but I really cheaper out and got 3 of them for around $8.90. 2 of them have yet to arrive (because cheap often means not fast), but the one that I received impressed me right off with the quality of the wooden handle. At first, I was mad because some of the bristles came out while using it, but that only happened the first time. I guess maybe there were some bristles already loose. But then this cheap brush ended up being - - to use an overworked term -  a game-changer. Seriously so.

cheap plastic wrapping

no more loose bristles

I was a bit disappointed at first when I realized this one isn't 100% boar bristle; it's "reinforced" with nylon. Also, it's made in China (but what isn't?). However, after I used it, that's when the game-changing part happened. 

Before now, the only types of brushes I have used in my natural hair have been wide-spaced and (usually) plastic detangling brushes. There's a myth in some circles that using brushes in afro-natural (especially 4C) hair, is taboo. This brush though has changed my mind.

My hair is not only dry and coarse but it tends to tangle badly. When I used this brush, I sectioned it off to work on a little bit at a time. I was really surprised that 1) I didn't get a lot of snags, and 2) how soft the brush left my hair. I also like that it gives a little more of a sheen to my hair. I read somewhere that natural bristle brushes (boar and horse are the main types I guess) have keratin which they impart to your hair. Maybe that's the softness and shine I'm seeing?

As you may have read, I recently switched to a simpler (and gentler) haircare routine. My hair was already feeling and looking better but this brush elevated the game. I am now hooked. I can't wait to see if the other 2 brushes are any good.

The hardest part about getting one of these brushes is choosing which one to get. Because the brushes (bristles) come in various levels of hardness, I had to weed through a lot of soft ones that are made for finer and thinner hair types. Then there are the reinforced ones (like the one I'm currently using). There are different styles of handles. This one has a nice, easy-to-grip wooden handle that doesn't hurt my hands. 

Knowing what I do now (after doing some light research), I am glad that I got this reinforced one and the 2-sided one I have coming. That one has a reinforced (medium strength) side and a 100% boar side that is very firm.  (This one*** is the cheapest of the 3, but I see that the prices on 2 of them have gone up since I got mine. I have a feeling that the cheap one might end up being a favorite.)

If you decide the get one of these, the good thing is that they are cheap. The other thing is to shop around. If you have a local beauty supply, I think the Diane brand will be easy to find. I am really happy with my 5-dollar brush. I see no need at all to pay for one of the $20 - $60 (or more) brushes. 

Of course, I will let you know about the other 2 brushes when I get them. I hope I will have something good to say about them both!

Peace

--Free

*** The brush linked arrived but was not what I ordered. The brush is not extra firm (it is "medium" and actually much too soft, IMO). I am working with the seller to resolve the issue and am surprised that it is taking so long. I expected they would just replace the brush with the correct one. I will try to update.

P.S.: I found one source that explains hair brush types in general and one about boar bristle brushes. 

DISCLAIMER: I am not/will not be compensated in any way for any product mentioned in this post. I am also not connected to information sources linked in this post other than to my own blogs.

**REVIEW** Camel Hump Fat

I bet some of you thought I was kidding when I talked about the camel hump fat, huh? Well, here it is:

It's the only brand I could find available for 
me to purchase.

When I blogged about this the other day, I forgot to add this blurb in from the product page title:

"Halal, Paleo and Keto Certified - Quickly Melting Use For Fry [High Smoke Point]"

That's great, right? LOL!

Anyway, I remember the concerns I had before the product arrived: Will it work? Will it smell too strong or off-putting? If I can use it for my skin and hair, will I want to cook with it?

The answers are yes, no, and yes. And that last "yes" surprised me... Let's start with the smell. It's hard to pin down. It's not rank and it's not loud but it reminded me of the fried meat grease Mama used to keep in that tin can on the stove - except very mild. And the smell fades quickly when I put the fat on my skin. I don't think it stinks but I wouldn't want the scent to linger.

As for whether it works on my skin, scalp, and hair, it does and it works really well. As a matter of fact, when I apply it to my dry hair, I have to remember to be less heavy-handed with it. For my damp hair, it's very much like shea butter but not quite as heavy.

Where this shines is when I use it on my skin. This is not an exaggeration. This absorbs really well but I can feel the residue for about 5 minutes or so. After that, my skin must slurp it up because I don't feel anything. I was trying to think of the right way to describe how this makes my skin feel and the best word I have come up with is "nourished" - not just moisturized, if that makes sense.

This is what it looks like in the newly opened jar.
It does remind me (sort of) of virgin coconut oil.

The last thing that concerned me was whether or not I'd be able to cook with this - or rather, would I like to eat what I cooked with it. I'm still on soft foods ~sigh~ so I used this on some salmon and flounder fillets in place of the EVOO I normally use. I put about a little less than half teaspoon-sized dollops on each fillet and added sea salt, garlic, and Old Bay (the usual suspects). I baked the fillets in the Ninja and...

The "high saturated fat" doesn't have to 
be unhealthy. Here's one source 

Well, my fish was already the best thing I've been eating with my teeth out, but the camel fat made it special. Again, the taste is hard to describe (and remember the other seasonings I used) but the fat added a savory undertaste. It was so good that I used the drippings from the fish to season the buttered white rice I was eating as part of the meal.

This camel fat is one of those things that I wish my mom and sister where here to try. I'm pretty sure they would have liked it (after they finished calling me "strange" for knowing about it!).

Another concern I had (once I realized I like to use this fat in cooking) is the "high in saturated fats" labeling. I did hear from a doctor friend-of-a-friend some years ago that "high sat" fats get more flack than deserved. She said that in her opinion the effects on a person depend on other factors - overall health, smoking and exercise, or the lack of.) She also said something that I can't remember about cholesterol... When I did some vague online searching, I came to the conclusion that not all fats are created equal. However, I couldn't find any free scholarly research (and I wouldn't understand it!). I used Chat GPT to scour out an answer to the question "Is camel hump fat low in cholesterol?" this is what it gave me (with emphasis on key points)

Camel hump fat has a unique composition compared to other animal fats, which includes different types of fatty acids. Generally speaking, camel hump fat is lower in cholesterol compared to beef tallow. Here are some key points to consider:

Composition of Camel Hump Fat:

Lower Cholesterol: Camel hump fat tends to have lower cholesterol levels compared to other animal fats like beef tallow.

Fatty Acids: It is rich in unsaturated fats, including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are beneficial for health and have anti-inflammatory properties.

Triglycerides: It contains a mixture of triglycerides that contribute to its moisturizing and hydrating properties.

Comparison to Beef Tallow:

Beef Tallow: Typically higher in saturated fats and cholesterol, which can be more occlusive and protective for the skin but might not be as beneficial for those concerned with cholesterol levels.

Fatty Acid Profile: Beef tallow has a higher proportion of saturated fats compared to camel hump fat, which might make it heavier and less easily absorbed.

So what's the deal with the cholesterol? I am not eating beef tallow! I pulled out my bottle of olive oil to do some comparing...

So, what am I to conclude? I guess this means that I can use the hump fat in small amounts (and, trust me, the amount I used on the fish was way too much, I think). Also, EVOO is a plant-based oil, so it has that advantage. I am thinking that I will probably save the hump fat to use only on really bland foods (fish and rice) and use the EVOO as I normally do. As a matter of fact, I will skip the hump fat sometimes because the garlic, Old Bay, and sea salt are yumsy.

wonder what eggs will taste like with this???

Of course, when I was trying to find more information for this post, I ran across some anecdotal tidbits. This is a quote about the Turkana tribe in Kenya eating camel fat to survive during periods of drought: "They suffer a lot from periods of extreme drought, and I have seen these people, they've been very, very short on food, and this is difficult to believe, but it's true, slit open the top of a camel's hump, take out the fat for their own consumption, and then put the top of the hump back on again." (And, no worries, because apparently the camels survive this little operation...)

That sounded a little out there to me but I find this statement from the Desert Farms site to be more believable: "Hump Fat contains Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), Arachidonic acid, Caprice acid, Lauric Acid, Stearic Acid, Palmitoleic Acid, Beta Carotene, plus vitamins A, E, K, B12, and Biotin. And there’s 3x MORE Oleic acid (Omega 9) than in coconut oil." After all, those camels are some trekkers.

Finally, I wanted to see how to store this and learn about its longevity. The jar I got this week is stamped "best used buy" for a date in 2025 (I smeared it with a label!), however, it keeps longer if refrigerated and up to 5 years if sealed and put in the freezer. The high smoke point has something to do with this. 

I vac-sealed the original jar with over half left and I put the rest in smaller containers that I keep in the fridge. I have one container for use in cooking and I made a couple of blends for skin and haircare. For the facecare blend, I used some myrrh (for a more pleasant scent) and shea.  For the body blend, I added some soy, beeswax, virgin coconut, and almond oil to the first blend. For my hair blend, I used myrrh and shea with the hump fat. They all feel glorious. However, I have to be careful. I got carried away after my shower and almost busted my tail when I was putting socks on my slick feet!

My hair and skin already love shea so this blend is luscious.

I gave some of the hump fat and a bit of the blends for my brother and SIL to try. I wasn't sure what they'd think, but since they loved it, I am going to be sharing more with them. My brother's hands look like they belong to a slave or sharecropper. He was amazed at how well the shea and hump fat made those grubby grippers look! LOL.

So that was all about my adventure with the hump fat. Will I buy more? Definitely. I am subscribing for an every 4-month delivery (until the price goes up). By the way, I'm not sure I will even need to resupply every 4 months. It takes so little of the fat to apply to my skin - like I said, it's easy to get heavy-handed with it - and I won't be doing a ton of cooking with it. I will try to keep track of how long the next jar lasts (because I shared a lot of this one) and let y'all know.

Peace

--Free

P.S.: Remember me saying there wasn't a lot of info online about this? Well, I actually found a place that sells, um, exotic meats - and no lie, you have got to see what they offer! Anyway, this is the link to the page on camel fat but check their homepage and peruse the links if you can deal with it.... Etsy is also a source for buying products made with camel fat. I'm sure I'll start seeing more sources - just like buying a new car and suddenly seeing every other one like it on the road!

Also, I have noticed that if you go to the Desert Farms website with inquiries, responses might be a bit, um rude. I asked about the Kosher/Halal on the product (after the FAQs glitched) and sent a bit of attitude with their response. (Don't worry, I let them know I caught the attitude & sent them a screenshot of the glitchy page. )

Dental Update #5

 I think this is the 5th update...

Anyway, this is a short one just to say that I had the bottom teeth removed yesterday. I didn't have as much bleeding as with the top because I had fewer teeth to remove! LOL The blood still grossed me out whenever I had to change the gauze but at least I didn't throw up this time.

I am really happy to have all the teeth out. The only thing is that I have to heal for up to 6 months and won't likely have teeth until January. That's such a downer. But I am so thankful to my family for helping me get this done. 

Maybe I will have some more updates before the new teeth are ready. Until then, keep me in your prayers. I'm praying that I don't have to wait 6 months.

Peace

--Free

A Very Different Kind of Skincare Ingredient...

 As you know, I can be adventurous in trying beauty products. My preference is for natural less toxic ingredients.

A few months ago, I had a conversation with a young person (early 30s) talking about using beef tallow in their skincare. They were surprised that I already knew about beef tallow as a skin and haircare ingredient. They were more surprised that I hadn't learned about it on social media! 

I remember older folks talking about the things they used for their hair and skincare "back in the day". Folks used common things used for moisturizing and/or conditioning and as protection of their skin and hair:

• Vaseline
• Crisco
• paraffin and/or kerosene
• Butter
• Lard
• "Fried meat grease" (aka bacon grease)
• Lotion (on their skin and their hair)
• pine soap (aka pine tar soap)
• Castile soap

As young pre-teens and teens, my cousins and I still used to put lotion in our hair to tame and moisturize it. We thought we were too cool for hair grease!

Of course, for some people who felt they were more "city" than "country", the idea of using fried meat grease was ridiculous. My mother had a friend who was white and I remember she would brush talcum powder through her hair when she didn't have time to wash it. The powder absorbed the oils and freshened the smell. (Take note, young'uns; we had dry shampoo before you were a thought!) I also was using shampoo bars when lots of young Americans had never heard of such a thing.

Anyway, after I blew the mind of that young person I spoke with, I toyed with the idea of trying tallow for my skin and hair. I changed my mind when one of my older "play" aunties told me that tallow tends to be heavy and oily. Oh well.

I was ready to give up on the idea but I just couldn't get it out of my head. Y'all know I tend to be a little obsessive.

So. I scoped around online and found a couple of things I really want to try. Stay with me now...

At first, I was going to try duck or goose fat. At first, but then, I saw something that I couldn't resist. Camel hump fat. You did not read that wrong. 

So I ordered the product (it's made for cooking but, I can't think of why it can't be used on my skin and my hair. You know, like coconut oil and Crisco.

As I wait for it to arrive, I have some concerns:

• Will it work?
• Will it smell too strong or off-putting?
• If I can use it for my skin and hair, will I want to cook with it?

So many questions.

On the positive side, I have read in several places that camel hump fat is less greasy than beef tallow. It's said to be very hydrating and suitable for sensitive skin. I have also read that it is anti-inflammatory.  I read that the texture is similar to coconut oil. That's one good thing!

I still want to try the duck or goose fat, but I am excited about the camel fat. At first, it seemed as though it's not commonly used for skin or hair care. Then I found an article about a Middle Eastern man who makes beauty products using the fat. Great minds!

I did have to look up how to process it to use it on the skin and hair. It sounds simple enough and involves melting it and adding EOs to help with the scent. The price wasn't bad because I caught it on a slight discount. It's pricier than coconut oil, depending on the source. The duck fat comes in smaller containers that don't cost as much but is only slightly cheaper per ounce.

I can't wait to try the camel fat and do a post about it. I used my Shopper Panel points to get it so I can use the next points to get some duck fat. And you know I will post about that too! In the meantime...

Peace

-- Free

P.S.: There are some mentions online that camel fat (aka camel milk) is being studied for its positive effects on CKD patients. I will be asking my nephrologist about this. I thought that was interesting.

(Camel fat is not always the same as camel milk. I see that there are camel milk products as an alternative to cow milk. I will try to sort out the confusion!)

**CROSSPOST** Death, Dying & Eternity (or Do All Celebrities Go to Heaven?)

I am sharing this from my other blog.

 Scanning the morning news recently, I saw that there were a few "celebrity" death notices. Richard Simmons, Dr. Ruth, and Shannen Doherty. All once celebrated for something earthly, all now dead.

It struck me that so many people tend to speak of the recently dead as if all their sins were washed clean. People tend to try to redefine was death is for their heroes. Someone said about Richard Simmons that he hoped he was "twinkling up in the heavens." Uh, that's not how it works. 

Another habit people have when speaking of the dead - celebrated or not - is to talk only about their brightest qualities. Suddenly, everyone forgets that a person might have been a horrible friend, co-worker, or spouse. The dead are always known for "lighting up a room" or some such thing. Don't get me wrong, while I don't want to be known too soon for lighting up any rooms, I also don't want only my flaws to be remembered when I die. I just want people to stop pretending that Heaven is the destiny of everyone. People who don't even believe in God suddenly assume that their deceased celebrity friend or hero is "singing with the angels" or playing in some heavenly band.

As a Christian, I know that anyone who dies -  no matter how good or horrible they might have been in life - spends eternity where they truly belong. There are, I am certain, going to be a lot of unexpected residents of both Heaven and Hell.

Though I never lived a horrible life or was a horrible person, I know that I belonged in Hell before I accepted salvation. I know that there are people who seem to live saintly lives who will be in Hell.

The dead don't belong in Heaven because of their well-lived lives. No one belongs in Hell because of their crimes and mistakes. Heaven is the gift Jesus offers to those who accept his salvation. Hell is the reward for those who refuse that gift. It is that simple.

I'm not gloating or being cruel when I talk about the celebrities I mentioned. I don't know where they are spending eternity. I don't know what was in their hearts. I just know that it's important not to put human opinions above holy truth.

Because I am no Bible scholar, I like to refer friends with questions to the very useful Got Questions. Here are some answered questions for those who wonder about eternity from a biblical viewpoint:

• Why is being a good person not enough to get you into heaven?
• Who will go to heaven?
• Why doesn’t God save everyone?
• How can I guarantee my eternal destination?
• Did Mother Teresa go to heaven?
• What is the difference between religion and spirituality?

Warning, for the curious and seeking, this site will send you down a long rabbit hole! I have sometimes spent a couple of hours on there, while just doing some Bible study.

For those who doubt Christianity, I would like to suggest a couple of things:

• Know that it is good to have questions. The Bible teaches faith but not blind faith. Christians are exhorted to be able to give a defense for their faith. (I always point people toward the Bible and study resources.)
• When considering Christianity, don't look at Christians (who are as flawed as anyone else), look at Christ. Who was he really? What proof against him do you have? 
• Study the Bible for yourself. Study it as you would any other document or historical record. If you believe in other historical figures based on historical evidence, why can't you believe in Jesus?
• Study secular evidence for Jesus and the Bible. You might be surprised at the amount of sources available.
• Don't open your mind to everything, but open it to facts.
• If you believe in Evolution, understand why you believe in it. What proof do you have? Who/what are the sources for those proofs? Now apply the same to Creationism.
• Be careful to not believe everything you hear or read. There are shady people everywhere - including in some pulpits. 

I hope that this helps anyone who will someday die - so... everyone!

Peace

--Free

Hair Products for the (Maybe Not So) Young

 Recently, my hair (like my body and brain) has been going off-script. It has been unmanageable, drier than usual, and just doing all the crazy...

I took a look at the products I use regularly and decided that it might be time to switch things up. The problem with that is finding a good brand of products that is also affordable and regularly available. By sheer luck, I found a brand that I am falling in love with. The products work and, praise the Lord, they are all very affordable. 

The brand is So Cozy. I found them via their curl leave-in product. I looked at a bunch of different brands but kept coming back to the SC brand because of the ingredients and the fact that the products are USA-made.

Once I used the leave-in, I took a look at the shampoo, conditioner, and detangler. All are affordable, all with good ingredients, and all are effective. Perfect. Here's a quick take on what I've tried:

 Curl Shampoo (Ultra-Hydrating Cleanser)

My concern was that this would not be cleansing enough. As an adult, I use grease and oils on my scalp and hair. Would this shampoo be able to cleanse those products? Actually, it was able to do the job. As with any shampoo, I use a scalp massager and maybe that helped. I do know that my hair was really clean without being dried out. (I wonder if I should have been using a kids' shampoo all along!)

Curl Conditioner (Softens, Restores Bounce and Shine)

I used this and put on a plastic cap for a few minutes while I continued my shower. When I rinsed it out, did get good results. My hair didn't have the same feel as when I used Aussie Moist or any other heavier conditioner, but I like that my hair didn't have the "weighted" feeling. Since I was experimenting, I didn't didn't use any other conditioner. I was tempted because old habits...

Detangler & Leave-In Conditioner Spray

I was a little undecided about this one. Since the brand has the Curl Leave-In that I already tried and loved (see below), I wasn't sure if I'd need both products. Since this was a trial run, I got one bottle without subscribing, and, uh, I will be subscribing ASAP!

I have used at least 4 or 5 other detanglers. This worked better than any of them and cost so much less. You know how pricey detanglers for afro-natural hair can be. A certain "knot today" one costs around $17. To be honest, that one did not work anywhere near as well as this one dit. I mean, it works but I have to use a lot of it and it didn't leave my hair as soft.

This worked so well that I was able to finger-detangle my hair instead of using my special detangling brush. 

So Cozy Curl Leave-In Conditioner Spray

This was extremely softening to my hair after I took out my twists. Afro-natural folks will understand when I talk about the "crunchy" hair problem. After a wash, my hair usually needs at least a couple of days before it begins to get a soft feel. Of course, softer hair means lots less breakage.

Overall, without the Subscribe and Save pricing, I paid around $28 for everything. With Subscribe and Save, I will be getting a better deal. If the price goes up, I will go the the brand website and order (or to Walmart. The bottom line is that this is such a good lineup of products for my 4C hair. 

I think this shows that sometimes we bypass good and affordable products because we get hung up on marketing. Normally, I wouldn't have tried this for my afro-natural hair. I would have stayed in the adult lane and looked for something that showed a lot of ethnic faces on the labels. After all, there are several brands for kids:

• Shea Moisture Kids (though I'm not a Shea Moisture fan)
• Curly Kids
• Boogie and Bean (how cute is that?!?)
• Makof is a random brand (?)
• Just For Me (3-piece sets were kinda  pricey)
• Same goes for Maya Mari sets
• Cantu's kids' line looks decent but I didn't see sets.
• I've seen Mixed Chicks stuff in stores but this Mixed Chicks kids' set is ooh-boy... pricey Separately, some items were reasonably priced.
• Jolly Kids (a vegan line) from Amazonica Beleza Amabelle is way up there in price for a bundle. Separately there are some affordable items.
• Dove has a kids' set.
• Noah is a natural brand with this set for kids.
• J'Organic Solutions has a kid set and a line for kids.
• Aussie has a kids' set and a line for kids. I love the adult conditioners but  I don't like Aussie's detangler for adults though.

So there are a lot of offerings out there for kids. Pricing and effectiveness are the important things. Of course, the smaller or more specialized the brand (vegan, ethnic, small biz), means that they are often more expensive. That's why customers need to support good brands from the start.

Likely, I will try some other kids' brands. For now, though, this one is working for my hair and my budget.

Peace

-- Free

DISCLAIMER: I am not/have not/will not be compensated by this product or any sellers. 

Family Is Good Medicine

For the past few weeks, I had to deal with a bout of depression. Then some more of my family came to town for a quick visit. Their presence renewed my spirits. 

Whenever I think of family and good friends, I am reminded of one of my favorite parts of the Gospels. 

"...for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ (Matthew 25:35-36 )

That's how my family makes me feel. I feel surrounded by love, acceptance, and protection. I feel blessed that God gave us each other.  My little brother and I miss our other siblings a lot and we both just drunk in their presence!

Everything

I got to meet one of my grandnieces (who I haven't seen since I held her right after she was born) and we both fell in love with each other. This is the first time in a long while that all of us siblings were together for a happy reason. They all LOVED the 4th of July celebrations. 

When my family left to return home, I spent half the day in tears, missing them already. I also realized that not everyone is so blessed with a big, loving family. Some of my neighbors are quite alone in this world. Some of them are widowed or their children have passed away. Some of them were never part of a close family. All I can do is pray that people find love among friends. Family is not just blood relatives. Family is anyone who loves, accepts, supports, and treasures your presence in this world.

I just want to thank God again for bringing some of my family to me - and just when I really needed them.

If you don't have family or close friends, you should know that Jesus is all the love you need. When we leave this life, we are going to be one big happy family and I can't wait to meet you all.

Peace

--Free

My Birthday Started With a… POP!

 When I say that my 63rd started with a pop, I'm being literal. I can laugh now - but only if I do so carefully...

This actually happened the day before my birthday. I had a lot going on. I was (am still) fighting a nasty cold/infection/something lung-wise; I have family coming for the 4th (how exciting!!!); and I was stressing over my medical insurance booting my doctors out of network (that is a rant for another post).

Anyway, I wanted to put on nice clean sheets for anyone staying with me over the 4th. I did a couple loads of laundry and realized that I had already strained my side a bit. That had happened when I'd twisted my body the wrong way getting out of bed earlier. I was sore but not in real pain. I took a rest and then got started stripping the bed to put on the clean linens. 

When I was stripping the bed, I had to keep resting because my right side was getting more sore from all the activity. Also, my cough was acting up so I put on a mask. I don't want to put my family on germy sheets! Finally, I was ready to get down to business and get that bed made up. I got the bottom sheet on and was getting the top sheet lined up. (My bed is queen-sized so I have to do a lot of leaning and stretching to get the sheets on properly.)

As I leaned across the bed to pull the top of the sheet even, a cough snuck up on me. It was a big one. Thank God for the mask, right? I didn't have time to straighten up or get into a good cough position (???). That cough came out like a Cat 5 and I felt something in my right side pop. I'm not sure it if made a sound of "pop" but I clearly felt it pop. It was a big pop.

That pop felt like what I imagine a gunshot feels like. It was hot and sharp and took my breath away. All I could do was drop onto the bed and be still for a minute. Sweat broke out all over my body. When I tried to take a breath, I felt like something was burning or stabbing or doing something crazy to my ribs.

For 2 years a good 2 or 3 minutes, I could not move without severe pain. So I'm lying there stretched across the bed, face down, trying to remember exactly where my phone was. Thankfully, I remembered having sat it on the bedside table. All I had to do was slide down, maybe get on my knees next to the bed and blindly reach for the phone. Maybe.

It took a while - and a lot of very shallow breathing and truly praying to God that I wouldn't have another cough - but I got my phone in hand and called my brother. I think he could hear the pain I was in. 

By the time my brother and SIL got to me, I could stand and walk slowly. As long as I didn't take any deep breaths, I was fine. I coughed once and thought I went blind for a second. I literally almost passed out. 

Cut to the ER. I had to wait almost an hour before I even got to triage. I think that's when the staff realized I was hurting more than I'd mentioned. It didn't take that much time to get me to an exam room.

I did fine holding back any coughing. I sipped water and sucked on a Luden's. A nurse brought a Lidocaine patch while someone took a blood sample and ordered x-rays. Then I had to wait another half an hour before someone finally came to - give me a pain shot?  cut me open and rip out the rib that was punching into my lung? save me from drowning in the sweat that was running down my face because I'd coughed again? NO. The girl was there to get my payment info. They take Discover...

Finally, a nurse peeked in (she was there to close the door blinds for the daily observance of "quiet time" the hospital has. Luckily, she noticed that I had broken into another sweat. It was running down my face and I was clutching my side and leaning against the wall. She left and came back with another patch.

Anyway. I managed to hold in any more coughing. Maybe the patches were working because I could take breaths a little deeper than before. And the doctor came back in with the results.

It seems that I had been coughing due to a mucus plug (possibly, but I'm going to have to get that checked out with my primary doc). Apparently, there are muscles between the ribs. Apparently, because of the position I was in when I had coughed, I'd sprained all of those muscles on my right side. Unfortunately, there is not a lot that can be done to quickly alleviate that pain. They dosed me with Tylenol and sent me home with a prescription for my old friend Prednisone. 

You've heard me rant here about how I hate prednisone (aka the devil drug), but it has its uses. I took 40 milligrams and the pain eased up almost immediately. Of course, it eased back in every time I moved wrong, but... 

My brother and SIL refrained from jokes until I brought it up. But when I did bring it up, they were on the same page. We all had this in mind:

(He just had to curse once, didn't he? ~sigh~)

I'm going to be seeing my doctor soon. I am so excited to see my family but I won't be able to do a lot. I can't really eat much except soft foods and I'm going to have to be careful taking walks. Yay.

But I am blessed and thankful that the God Lord let me live to see another year - another day, another moment. Not everyone woke up this morning.

For mhy Facebook friends, thanks for the beautiful wishes!

Peace

--Free

Something's Blocking the Sunshine

 The past couple of days have been a bit rough. I'm so fatigued and blue that I can't believe there's a sun shining outside my windows.

It's so weird how the mind and the brain work. You can be so happy and energized on a dark and cloudy day, yet so sad and gloomy feeling on a day filled with sunshine. I could hear my neighbors out on the front patio today, chirping and chattering away like little birds while they soaked up some of the good weather. I was actually a little annoyed. Why can't I feel like that today? 

I thought that getting out into the sunshine air outdoor air would blow away some of the blues. I walked over the the neighborhood store for some pudding and soda. It's the only place nearby that carries Cokes made with real sugar.  I did feel a little bit better for a minute, but then all I wanted was to get back home and rest. I was positively worn OUT by that short little stroll. Insane,

Of course, I know that part of this is sarcoidosis. Knowing that doesn't make me feel better. Just thinking about it now makes me feel tired. As a matter of fact, I am forcing myself to write this post before the fatigue hits me again.

Tomorrow, I am going to get back to reading the Bible. That usually does make me feel better. I haven't spent as much time as I'd like reading Scripture since I finished the last full read-through. Maybe I need to get back in the habit of reading a little before bed or listening to the audio version as I fall asleep.

Next week, I have family coming into town. That should make me feel SO much better. In the meantime, for those of you who believe, keep me in your prayers.

Peace

--Free

Dental Update #4

It's now been almost exactly 3 weeks since I had my uppers pulled. I have been back for the follow-up so the dentist can see how well I'm healing. He's really pleased, but he's very meticulous. He shaved off a little bit of a "spur" while I was there. And when he mentioned that he was going to be "shaving" that spur, I almost threw all over the place. He was surprised at how queasy I got but my brother gets me completely. Later on, he said that he bet the dentist now understands why I was so gaggy about all the blood before. Lord.

Oh well. Now I can get the bottom teeth done next month, hopefully. Then those extractions have to heal up before I get any new teeth. At least most of my toothless time will be during the winter.

While I am waiting, my biggest gripe has not been about vanity. It's been about food!  If nothing else, this ordeal has been a great lesson about appetites. Since my food choices are so limited right now, I'm losing weight like I did when I was younger. My plan is to keep the smaller meals when I do heal - I mean, after I eat my way through the state...

Seriously. For a couple of days, I couldn't make myself eat any of the soft foods I'd been depending on. I have been eating a rotation of Cream of Wheat, rice, potatoes (mashed, not mashed, sweet), beans (cooked to as soft as I could get them and with softly-fried hot water cornbread), Greek yogurt with honey, Greek yogurt with milk and honey, and then I added some Carnation Breakfast drinks.

I realized I needed the vitamins from the Carnation drinks when I was getting even more fatigued than usual and feeling blah more often than ever. It's amazing what little changes in a diet can do to you. When I get through this, I might never eat mashed potatoes again! On the other hand, I am down about 14 pounds. I'd be losing more weight if I had the strength to do at least a little exercise...

My brother and SIL are so sweet. Every time I see them, they ask what they can cook for me. On our way to an appointment the other day, my SIL asked if I wanted to swing by a fast food place to get a shake or some ice cream. I jokingly requested that they buy a piece of chicken just so I could lick it. Okay, I was half-joking.

Anyway. Today I decided to jazz up my Carnation Breakfast drink. It's decent-tasting but it's thin and not (in my opinion at least) very satisfying. I got the chocolate flavor so I added a couple tablespoons of Greek yogurt and blended it all up. At least it felt more like a liquid meal than before.

I was going to get some kind of meal replacement drink mix but, not only did they cost more than my regular groceries, but it was hard to find anything with my preferences:

• No artificial sweeteners
• No high fructose corn syrup
• No invert sugar
• No stevia
• No artificial colors
• Nothing with the word "soylent" in it. (I only read the old book that the movie was based on, but someone just had to tell me about the movie. Ick.)

I couldn't find a Boost drink in chocolate and I don't like vanilla or strawberry flavors in drinks. Ensure has chocolate but their product line is so varied, I got tired of weeding through to find something with the rest of my wants. 

As far as the dental work, the top is all healed up and I'm getting ready to start having all the bottom down. And I know this sounds really strange, but I've gotten so used to having no top teeth that I'm going to have to adjust...

Right now, I am fighting off a new cold. I'm drinking garlic water with honey as I write this post. Keep me in your prayers. The time is going by slowly but I'm looking forward to the end results. I know it will be worth it. And, on the positive side, I am saving a lot of money on groceries! 

Peace

--Free

P.S.: I recently learned something that terrifies me. Apparently, wearing dentures takes practice. I'm pretty sure the dentist mentioned that but it only hit me when I saw it online. I will have to get used to eating and talking with the dentures. Now I have something new to keep me up at night.

Stirred Memories

 I have never watched the film but I just finished with a library copy of the audiobook "The Help". It stirred up memories of a job my mother once had.

I was born in 1961 and when I was about 3 or 4 years old, my mother had a job working for a white lady in Texas. Mama was a military wife and Daddy was temporarily based out, I think. So Mama stayed behind in the Midland/Big Spring area. 

The lady mama worked for was another military wife but her husband was an officer. She had a daughter about my age - I think we were within a few months of each other's age. I will call the mother Anna and the daughter Jane.

My mother's experience working for Anna was not much like what was portrayed in the book. But she did look after Jane and she did light housework for Anna. 

As I was listening to the fictional story, I kept recalling bits and pieces of what my mother told me and my sister about her years (it was almost 2 years, I believe) working for Anna. In my mother's case, she and Anna treated each other more like friends than anything else. She called Anna by her first name and Anna called her by her first name. My mother and Anna often had coffee and light meals together when Anna wasn't out doing whatever she and the other officer's wives did during their days. I believe Anna spent time with scheduled socializing - lunching, organizing drives and such. 

I did ask my mother what it was that she did for Miss Anna ("Miss" because I was raised right, not because Anna was better than us) and she said she did some laundry and took care of Jane during the day. Basically, Jane was at our house as much as Mama was at Anna's. 

The one thing about my mother's situation that matches the ladies portrayed in The Help was that she and Anna didn't socialize much outside the hours Mama was working for her. I cannot imagine that either of the women would even want to spend time together outside Mama's working hours. This was around 1963 and both ladies were Texas born. Their relationship was probably oddly casual and friendly for the times as it was. 

The only reason my mother ever told us about Miss Anna was that she and Mama exchanged Christmas cards for years and I asked about this woman who stayed in touch As we moved around the U.S., somehow the two women kept in touch that way. When Miss Anna died (I think I was about almost 30) Jane called to let Mama know and she took up the Christmas card exchange. Jane sent photos of herself and her young family for several years. 

We made a move from Alaska to Arizona and Mama and Jane lost touch with each other. I don't remember if it was because we'd moved or that Jane had moved and somehow a card didn't get forwarded.

When Mama died and we were all going through old photos and scrapbooks, we ran across a photo of Anna and Jane when Jane must have been about 7 or 8. We only knew who they were because their names and date were noted on the back. I'd never thought before about what Anna and Jane must have looked like. In the old photo, they looked like any other mother and daughter of that time. They were posing side by side in summer clothes and they looked very touristy. Miss Anna was very tall and thin and she was holding a lit cigarette in one hand while her other hand was resting on the back of Jane's neck. She wore large sunglasses and had a scarf tied over the back part of her hair. Jane had her head tilted and one eye squinted against the sun. She was lanky and plain but looked happy. 

Listening to the fictional story about black maids with their white employers, I tried to picture Mama ever being in such a bad position as some of those women and I just could not. Mama had put up with people calling her "colored" back in the day because that wasn't impolite at the time but I remember she once sniped at a man in a grocery store when he casually addressed her as "gal". 

Mama might not have had to deal with the indignities of those fictional maids but I remember things from the late sixties and early seventies that still shock me now. I remember traveling as a family when Daddy was reassigned from one base to another. There were places it was not safe for a black family to drive through at night. There were many lodging places we weren't welcome to stay so we would sleep in the station wagon. 

It's probably hard for someone younger than I am to even imagine a time when racism was so blatant and tolerated.  Most younger folks probably feel like that was a time way, way back in the past. But I am 63. My paternal grandfather's mother (I have her obituary) was the daughter of slaves. She was treated not better than a slave because of the times and place in which she lived.

Doesn't it feel like slavery was so much longer ago? Sometimes, my young relatives are astounded to know that I met this woman who was the daughter of slaves. I think this is when I was about 7 or 8 years old and, for some reason, I remember her clearly.

I'm just sitting here now, thinking about all these connections to the past. I'm thinking about how far we all as citizens have come and it somehow doesn't seem far enough. Time is so weird.

My step-grandmother who died just 4 years ago was a little girl of about 10 when Bonnie and Clyde were doing their thing.

Weird, right? Think about people in your own family. What famous event or person was current when they were alive? What news was making the headlines? What were they learning in school? It can be very interesting to think about.

Time is weird and strange and wonderful. I spend a lot of time thinking about it.

Anyway, I wish my mother was here because I have so many questions about times that are only secondhand memories for me.

Peace

--Free

Dental Update #3

 Yesterday, I dared take a really good look at myself in the mirror. Before today, I would almost enter the bathroom sideways so I wouldn't accidentally catch a full glance. Silly woman.

My first thought as I studied myself was "I'll be a really cute little old(er) lady one day". That made me smile and, Lord have mercy, with that smile, I saw my mother looking back at me! When I was young and thin, I looked like my father. Now that I'm old and fa, uh, heavier, I look like Mama. Without my top teeth, I dang near am Mama!

When I got through laughing at this, I had to text my older brothers (they haven't seen me in person for a while) and share the humor. 

Bro 1 is quick to respond.

Funny man, Bro 1! 

We are so silly! I do love my entire family so much that I sometimes get overwhelmed with the joy. #WeAreFamily

Anyway. I know they will try to make me feel beautiful, teeth or no teeth. Hopefully, soon, with teeth!...

I'm pretty sure the last of the stitches is dissolving or something. They can't go away fast enough for me. When I get the other teeth removed, I am going to ask the dentist about some kind of gum guard or something to use while I eat. Just thinking about my tongue hitting those stitch strings takes my appetite. Shoot, if I really wanted to lose weight, all I'd have to do is get some long-term stitches in my mouth... Ugh! When I get the bottom teeth done, I'm going to ask the dentist if there is a way to cover them with wax or something - just long enough for me to eat.

Also, something weird is happening with my coffee. I can't seem to enjoy it for some reason. My little brother (Bro 3) thinks that will pass when I get my new teeth. All I know is, I had to make a Dalgona coffee today just to enjoy my java hit. Guess I'll be doing that for a while.

Finally, I went out in public for the first time. I had to go and get laundry quarters at the bank. I willed myself not to wear the mask but, as soon as the teller came to the counter, I put it on. Maybe when I get the rest of the teeth removed, I can be braver.

So, I'm up to 10 days with the first extractions. I'm eating a little better. I got some Bisto to liven up my potatoes. Between the potatoes and Cream of Wheat, I'm doing okay. I am going to whip up a veggie smoothie at some point. I know my body wants something green - maybe Spinach and Kale with some kind of sweet juice? ~shrug~

I will do another update soon. If I get really, really daring, I might put up a picture...

Peace

--Free

Dental Update #2

 This is my 4th full day without my upper teeth. I cannot wait until I get the others out but I don't know when that will happen. I follow up with the dentist next week and, hopefully, my upper plate has healed so well that we can move forward soon.

Now, let's talk about food. I'm down 12 pounds already. I think I gagged away 5 of those pounds while I was dealing with the first day! As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been able to eat Cream of Wheat, and what a lifesaver that is. But it's pretty boring so I had to find some other foods to eat.

Two things I learned during this process: 1) Eating a lot of Cream of Wheat is very, um, moving - and I'm talking about the tummy! 2) Making mashed potatoes from scratch is a breeze.

I had never ever made mashed potatoes before. I didn't even realize that until I had to do it. My SIL, who thinks I'm such a good cook, almost fell out when I told her I was making the dish for the first time. I had to look up a recipe.

Anyway, I killed the mashed potatoes recipe, if I say so myself. I figure if I have to eat soft foods, they don't have to be bland. For my potatoes, I roasted some garlic cloves to mash into the cooked spuds and added sea salt (just a smidge) lots of butter, some milk, and a bit of cream. Let me tell you what! Either those were some good potatoes or I was just starving. I can't wait til I get my fresh can of Bisto gravy...

So, as far as food while I go through the toothless part of this journey, this is my repertoire:

• Cream of Wheat (with cinnamon and brown sugar or honey)
• Mashed Potatoes (with or without garlic, gravy, or cheese)
• Greek yogurt (with honey or canned pumpkin pie puree, or fruit and/or juice)
• Mashed sweet potatoes (with spices and butter)
• Smoothies
• Ice Cream and sherbets
• Lemon & honey water
• Water, water, water, water! I can't have sparkling water yet though.
• And (hopefully, soon) "flaky soft fish", I heard that might be okay. I'm thinking salmon or cod.

And let's talk about my beloved Java Juice. I was so excited when the dentist gave the okay for me to have coffee. Until I realized that I had to drink it lukewarm. Also, as with any liquid, I can sometimes feel the stitches and that grosses me out. I've had 2 cups in 2 days and I didn't finish either.

My fatigue is worse than usual. That is not totally out of the ordinary though now that I notice I have an infusion coming up soon. I usually feel better after that. Also, I'm not getting my usual coffee boost!

Now that I'm past the first couple of rough days, I noticed that I didn't have a lot of pain. I am tender right under my nose so I have to be careful when blowing my nose. I have some tenderness in the roof of my mouth and I think that is from the shots of novocaine. Other than that, I haven't had to go overboard with the Tylenol.

So things are progressing. I'm just anxious for these icky stitches to finally dissolve away. They are just noticeable enough to be annoying when I am drinking anything. If I had a stronger stomach, I would use some sterilized scissors to trim the loose ones. But that ain't gonna happen! 

I will keep updating, of course. For now, I am just thankful that the journey has begun.

Peace

--Free

Dental Update #1

 Well, I did it - or had it done. I now have no upper teeth. That was on the 5th and today is the 7th.

As happy (and blessed) as I am to be able to get this dental work done, I feel another kind of way about it. 

The dentist and his assistant were amazing. I feel zero pain during the extractions. Like that told me beforehand, the shots to numb me would be the only painful thing. Even that wasn't so bad. What amazes me even more is that I now realize that not only did the dentist extract my teeth, but he shaved bone and, - gag - trimmed things...

The whole thing took under an hour. That was the easy part. The hard part was afterward.

I'm someone who has a very sensitive stomach and an intense imagination. That doesn't help when I have to chomp down on gauze to staunch bleeding. Even when the bleeding stopped - which it did after about 7 hours - there are the stitches that I can feel if I accidentally touch them with my tongue. Ugh!

I remember joking about all the weight I would lose once I was no longer eating so many carbs (that are easier to chew). What I didn't realize is that the weight loss starts the day of the extractions!

The days before the extractions, I wasn't very hungry so I had some eggs and some toast with cream cheese and marmalade. On the day of the extractions, I didn't eat anything, just had my morning coffee. My appointment was a little after noon and I'm not a morning eater. I should have eaten. I should have pigged out!

I came home with gauze stuffed in my mouth. I wore a mask because the gauze was so messy and awful-looking. I had to change the gauze every 10 to 15 minutes at least. (Remember my weak stomach? Yeah.)

I couldn't even stand to drink water without gagging. I have to force myself because I have antibiotics and Tylenol to choke down. Ugh. It's better now that the bleeding has stopped.

Today, I drank hibiscus tea with creamed honey and for lunch, I had some Cream of Wheat with Ceylon cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, and a little bit of milk. Hot cereal never tasted so good! I think that Cream of Wheat is going to be my main thing for a while.

Apart from that, I mostly slept, changed gauze, gagged (and vomited once), and mourned the loss of my teeth.

Someone online made an interesting statement about having to lose all your teeth. Everyone tries to make it sound like it's such an easy thing to do - doing it is easy, but dealing with it is a different thing. This person made the point that losing your teeth is a sort of amputation. No matter how old you are - I'm 63. It's a pretty big change.

Now, I am not vain. I just want some chompers that I can finally eat with. I want to be able to choose my foods for how good they are for me rather than how easily can my teeth handle them. Also, I'd like to be able to smile again without feeling so self-conscious or to talk with friends without worrying about my gums bleeding. Yeah, that was a real thing.

I have a niece who is a bit younger than I. She had to have implants after an accident. She said that I am going to be so glad to be able to eat and drink things again without worrying about the pain or loose teeth. She said that recovery was challenging but that the end results were worth it. I trust that.

I will try to update as this goes. I have nothing else going on and no energy to do much. I'm awfully tired. Tomorrow I will have coffee for the first time! And I want to see if I can get some chores done around the apartment.

Peace

--Free

I'm Finally Doing This...

~Folks, I am going to be losing some weight because I am having these 'toofies' of mine taken care of!~

For a long while now, I have been having dental problems. In general, I started having bone problems a while before my Sarcoidosis diagnosis. I cracked a rib sneezing once and didn't think much about it. I was told that it does happen. Once I was diagnosed. my doctors scheduled regular bone density scans - I think it was every other year at first, but I will be having one soon after a three-year lag.

I always told people that my bone and teeth issues were from one of the medicines I take. I was completely wrong. The bone problems are from the sarcoidosis. Aside from every other horrible thing about this disease, it causes bone loss. 

My dental issues started over a year after the diagnosis. I cracked a front tooth and had to have a crown put in. The dentist mentioned the bone loss in my jaw and said I would have to think about doing something about it at some point. At the time, all my other teeth seemed okay. Fast forward to about 4 years ago and, yeah, the problem got worse.

At first, my canines were just a little loose. Then some of the teeth on the side got weak. I was at a family barbecue and when I took a bit of meat, I felt one of my bottom side teeth shift and when I released the meat the tooth lifted up a bit. Good Lord! 

I slowly started losing teeth until I couldn't even smile at people without wanting to cringe. When I finally saw a dentist, the skies opened and I heard harps. My insurance would cover everything - removals and replacements. I was thrilled for 2 days. Then I got the call that this particular dentist wouldn't be able to treat me because of my sarcoidosis. He worked in a community clinic and was concerned about liability.

That was 2 years ago. I felt like I was being punished or something. Some other people were going to the clinic and having their dental work done. A neighbor of mine had her extractions and dentures done within a few weeks.

I wasn't being punished, I was being blessed. Had I been treated by that first dentist, I might be doing what my neighbor is doing: not wearing her dentures and complaining about the work that was done in her mouth. 

As I have learned to do in my older age, I prayed about the situation. I found another dentist but they were a few hours away and I didn't feel good about the practice. Then, one day, my little brother noticed a dental office right down the street from where I live. The practice is well-spoken of around town and the staff was lovely. The dentist is a young dude (I joke that "he's ten!") and happens to be a Christian.

On Wednesday, I'm having all of my upper teeth removed.  We are doing things in stages so I have time to heal after each appointment.

I am anxious, excited, nervous, and happy. Thanks to my family, I don't have to worry about anything my insurance doesn't cover. When I tell people I'm blessed, they think I'm just saying it, the way people say "Have a nice day". When I say I'm blessed, I'm giving my testimony. 

I will end this now and try to come back to update you on the process.

Peace

--Free

**REVIEW** Good Chop Meat Subscription

 I tried Good Chop, you guys. Here are the pros and cons of my experience:

PROS:

1. Sign-up was easy & with LifeMart, I got a good discount of $170 over the first 4 boxes.
2. It was easy to choose my box size, delivery frequency, and which items I wanted in my box.
3. The website makes it easy to change the choices for each box.
4. The website gives detailed information about each type of meat or seafood.
5. Choices include beef, chicken, pork, and seafood. There were also a few desserts.
6. The delivery is very controlled to make sure the meat stays frozen until it reaches you.
7. The box and the packing are all of recyclable materials.
8. Each meat selection was very securely sealed and labeled.
9. The website has chat and phone call options for you to contact help.
10. The delivered box lists the contents on one of the inner flaps (though not the weight or piece count).
11. For the quality and the healthy aspects of the meats, the price was fair.
12. You "send a 'free box'" to friends and family via their email addresses. (I sent out 4, I think, and still had more to go.)

CONS:

1. The website needs work, IMO.
2. You can only reach help via chat or phone during certain hours.
3. I did not get a promised tracking number - even after I contacted them about this and was told I would be given a tracking number via email.
4. The chat reps were very nice but not all that helpful. They don't seem to be that knowledgeable. I got some bad/useless info.
5. There is no phone app for the service (even though I was told via chat that I would be able to make changes via "mobile").
6. I could not figure out how to "pause" my service. I ended up deactivating the service (which then put it into "pause" mode. Weird).
7. The LifeMart discount did not include the free-for-life option (free packet of chicken or bacon for the life of the account).
8. I had to screenshot my order. There was no other way (that I could see) to keep track of what I'd ordered before the shipment arrived.
9. Finally, it pays to check this out on Truth in Advertising before making a decision. You will learn more about the Hello Fresh controversy and about those  "free for life" chicken wings, so...

What I wish I'd known:

• Good Chop is owned by Hello Fresh (and there has been some concerning controversy with them...). You can Google up quite a few articles on the subject.
• That the customer service was so... iffy.
• That I'd have to "cancel" just to "pause".
• That there are quite a few reviews out there - good and otherwise. Of course, everyone's opinion might not seem so legit. (One guy complained about "missing info" on the products when he could have contacted them or Googled the info. Most of the info was right on the website so I'm not sure why he overlooked it.)
• I wish I'd known someone who used the service. (This is why I was the guinea pig for my family!)

That's the short take. Despite all the negative aspects, I plan to sign back up for the service when my dental work is finished. Here's why:

• I am determined to eat better, even if it means eating less because of my budget.
• Every single thing in my box was DELICIOUS. The meat and seafood were gorgeous, filling, and so tasty!
• Buying the same meat locally with the same qualities is almost as much as what the box costs. Sometimes, depending on the availability of seafood, the box selection is cheaper. (For instance, jumbo shrimp bought locally is also non-GMO, etc, etc., but it's no larger than what I got in the box. Also, the pink shrimp in the box is wild-caught and has a better taste and texture. (But shout out to Walmart for having a decent selection of jumbo shrimp for around $9/lb.) I priced out similar local selections of what was in my box and it would have cost me around $170. Also, I would have to go to 3 different stores. The sockeye salmon was only available at the butcher's and did not have all the options of what came in my box.
• The delivery schedule options are 4, 6, or 8 weeks. You can also skip a box if needed. I would only have to order 1 box about every 12 weeks - versus buying locally. Again, I would have to shop in more than one place to get the same options.
• It's convenient to get my different meat types delivered in one box. 
• I can change my selection from box to box. (Since I will have all my teeth the next time I order, I will probably try the baby back ribs!)

Here are some photos and comments about the box:

This is the opened box, It is well-insulated & all my items were 

          still frozen rock-solid. I am in Iowa & the box shipped from Kansas.

These are the contents of the box. I got the "medium" box (there is no "small") and it includes 6 items of my choosing: Sockeye Salmon, Florida Pink Shrimp, Uncured Bacon, Mild Italian Sausage, Chicken Wings, and Ground Beef.

This is the bacon. I loved it but will probably only order it in every other box.

It's 12 ounces & cooks up deliciously but not quite as crisp as I like.

This is the ground beef. It is AMAZING. I will be ordering more. It cooked nicely with almost no water noticeable.

The wings are good but I wished I'd gotten more of the winglet than the leglet, if that makes sense. This bag was around 20% leglet, which I could do without.

I am still raving to my brother about the sausage. It did NOT shrink at all during 

cooking.  They are so plump and juicy that I went through them too fast!

The salmon reminded me of home a little. It didn't take long

to bake and it absorbed the seasonings really well.

You can see that I got some nice cuts. Some didn't look the same

weight but I have a scale. They were pretty even, with some

just bit thicker or thinner than the others.

I've never had this type of shrimp. It

better than any I've had here in Iowa but not as

tasty as some I had in Alaska.

Because they aren't shelled, I had to either thaw & shell them

or cook them shell-on. I found them not to be as 

"sweet" as I like & I won't rush to order more.

And this was on top of the contents.

Verdict:

So, yeah, I like it. For future boxes (I'll have my teeth fixed then, the Lord willing), I want to try the scallops, ribs, pork chops, and halibut. I thought about the crab legs but they are fully cooked. At any rate, I am a fan of the box and selections I've tried.

Initially, I thought the price was a bit high. It does seem pricey at the outset, especially for someone on a small budget. However, there are always coupons and discounts. (I see that now there is a promo on the boxes. The smallest box (called "Medium") which is normally $149 ($108 with the LifeMart promo I used) is currently $99. Not bad at all! The most important thing is whether it is worth it to eat more healthfully and I know that it is.

Once I decided to work the box into my budget, I talked it over with my family. My brother, SIL, and my niece and her family considered going in together on the Large box ($269 regularly or $219 with the current promo as I write this). The problem there was choosing meat options! We are all so picky. Going family by family is what we decided on - with me as the guinea pig.

When I was trying to compare shopping locally for everything in the box, it got tricky. For instance, Walmart has a lot of the same things but I would have to hit the butcher's, Hyvee, and Aldi to get the complete list. Also, local availability can be iffy. What I can get this week, might not be available the next time I shop.

Again, I really do like the convenience, the quality, and the selection of products. I cannot wait until all my chompers are in working order! I might eat nothing but meat and hard apples for weeks. 

Do I recommend the subscription based on my experience? I can only say that I will definitely be using them again - when I get my chompers! Perhaps someone you know can send you an invite for the "free box".

By the way, I checked with my brother. I gave their email to Good Chop for the "free box". It was free (but they had to pay the $15 or $16 for shipping). They were able to select 3 meat or seafood cuts. I think they chose the chicken wings, ground beef, and bacon. I will try to update this post when they get their box and I hear their feedback.

Peace

--Free

DISCLAIMER: I am not/will not be compensated in any way for this review. I have no affiliation with Good Chop or its parent company except as a paying customer.