Ancestry DNA Update #9

 I fell asleep early today...I'm only up now because I had the most awful nightmare. I'm trying to forget about it, because I also keep trying to interpret it and find out what it means and I don't like what I keep coming up with. So this is my distraction.

Ancestry DNA updated a couple months back and I'm torn between wanting to keep updating so I have a record of everything and just letting it go. But the updates are fun so for now I'll continue. Here's what I have: 

I have 19 regions now. That's insane. It just goes up and up! 

Quick Summary:

Lost a percent for Nigeria. Went from 20% to 19%

Portugal Keeps Creeping up. Went from 13% to 18% Wow

Benin and Togo- Also has increased. Went from 9% to 15%. Before I got my results I used to guess this region would be my highest! 

Mali is still coming up 4th. Decreased from 12% to 8%

Sengal is the same at 6%. Cool

Central West Africa is new at 6%. It seems they generalized some DNA? Hmmm.

Central Nigeria is new. I wonder why it isn't included in Nigeria. I should probably look into that. Also 6%

Western Bantu is also 6%. So many of those.  I think that one is new.

Ivory Coast and Ghana is 3%. Finally getting some Ghana back. It used to be my highest when I first took the test. It has decreased from the last update. 

Indigenous Puerto Rico is 2%. It has also gone up.

England and Northwestern Europe has increased by 1%

Scotland is 2%

Yorubaland was very exciting to see. I have to see which of my parents that came from! 

The rest of these are all 1%- Cameroon, Southern Bantu People, Eastern Bantu People, Ashkenazi Jews, Germanic Europe, The Netherlands 

Cool update! I can't wait to see what the next one brings! 

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser Review

 I'm so tired, I'm not even sure I will make it through this post. But I'm going to try because I really want to get this review out the way so I can order the next facial skincare thing on my list. I've tried a very few things from Fresh. One hit and one average product. So I din't have a strong opinion of the brand. Yet. Maybe I'll try more at some point. 

I bought this because it's on a list of most iconic products of all time- and I want to try most of the things on that list. I love a good iconic product. I was surprised to see this on the list- because I haven't really heard of it until then. I wanted the trial size but for some reason Nordstrom didn't ship it. So I went with the larger size. Lucky for me, it was on sale. Normal price is $40. I bought it for $27.

Fresh claims: 

A gentle face cleanser proven to instantly soothe visible redness & hydrate while supporting skin’s moisture barrier for a healthy look over time.

Our best-selling face wash supports skin’s moisture barrier & clears impurities for a soft, healthy look. It’s formulated with amino acid-rich soy proteins & other naturally derived ingredients to instantly hydrate & visibly calm redness while visibly improving imperfections & pores long term.

• Supports skin’s moisture barrier
• Instantly calms visible redness & hydrates
• Delivers a clear, healthy look over time
• 1 sold every 60 seconds**

Aloe Vera- Helps to Soothe and Hydrate Skin

Cucumber Extract-Helps to Calm,  Sooth, and provide a cooling effect. 

Borage Seed Oil-Rich in essential fatty acids to help nourish and soften dry skin while maintaining a supple and healthy glow.

Soy Proteins- Are Rich in Amino Acid Hydroxyproline and known to improve elasticity and smooth skin to promote a healthy looking complexion. A by product of soy in the food production industry this ingredient is up cycled to help excess waste

Made in France

So yes, very expensive. Even on sale. And still overpriced in my opinion. 

It comes in nice, yet basic packaging. Just your standard tube. A five ounce size. I estimate it to last me 2-3 months. Using it most days...sometimes morning and night. 

It's easy to use, doesn't burn my eyes. Removes make-up kinda ok. Smells a little funky in a way where I'm sure it just smells like the ingredients. It's unscented though. And it's more of a "gel" non-bubbly formula but it spreads around reasonably well and rinses easily.

I don't find it to be drying...some days I can skip moisturizer. Even in these colder winter months. My skin looks and feels pretty normal. Maybe the texture of my skin is slightly better if it's not all in my head. But I've found African Black soap to do the same thing at a fraction of the cost. 

Its main claim seems to be that it helps calm redness. I have none. So I couldn't' test that. I think it does help hydration of the skin. Doesn't dry my skin and make it overproduce oil- which some cleansers do.  I can't say I've noticed brighter skin or smoother pores in particular.

I'm not particularly amazed with the ingredients. Its main miracle ingredient seems to be the soy. I don't think I've seen many skincare products based on soy...sounds like something that would be good for the skin. But...I don't know. Other than that...it has some decent things in it among some that are a bit questionable to me. I think it might be a better ingredient list than most mainstream cleansers.

Ingredients: 

Aqua (Water), Coco-Glucoside, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Water, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Rosa Damascena Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower Extract, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Tocopherol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Silica, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Caramel, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate <16057> 

Overall, it's OK. I don't find it to be worth the price. But most cleansers probably wouldn't be. I think if splurging on skincare, it may be best to spend the money on treatments- creams and serums. As for me, not a repurchase but I'm glad I tried another 'iconic" beauty product. 

Skylark

 Quick music post today. 

Very, very quick. I've posted about this song a few times. I like the version by Lisa Fischer and New Birth. I also like the version by the O'Jays.  I thought Luther Vandross had a version but he was just singing on Lisa's. I think this should be the last time I post it. This version is the original version. Putting some respect on the OG here.

I was really excited to listen to the rest of their songs...but for me they were a one hit wonder. But this truly is a hit! 

Harlem Candle Co. Lenox Candle Review

 

Figured I have time for one more post today. This is the candle I am burning now. I bought this in the Black Friday sale. Harlem Candle Co. is one of my favorite candle brands. Every year I manage to pick up a few on sale. They are on the pricier side at nearly $50 so I appreciate a good sale...and this candle in particular I am very glad I bought on sale.

Harlem Candle claims:

This fragrance evokes the soul of Lenox Avenue, the vital thoroughfare which has always been Harlem’s heartbeat. Succulent tangerine and tart green apple set the stage for a seductive heart of lush gardenia and creamy coconut that gives way to a potent background of sweet bourbon vanilla and gilded sandalwood.

This one is the one wick version. Which I like more than the two wick version because I expect them to burn a bit slower. I don't think this burns as slow as other brands I've used- but maybe a tad slower than Harlem's two wicks.

I didn't really know the significance of Lenox until I googled. 

Lenox Avenue is a historic street in Harlem, New York City. It's also known as Malcolm X Boulevard. The street was a center of entertainment in the 1920s and 1930s, and was a hub of the civil rights movement in the 1960s. 

One thing I love about this brand is it always teaches me something. So that's what I learned today. And I definitely need to visit this street. Or just go to Harlem in general. 

But back to the candle. I was really expecting a floral scent because the jar does say "The Essence of Seductive Flowers." But really it's mostly fruity. I should have known when I read it had notes of tangerine and green apple. It is supposed to have gardenia though. It also has some tropical coconut (I am picking that up now). And notes of bourbon and sandalwood- which I don't get. . But mostly I get fruity. It's not as tropical/fruity as the Savoy scent...but it gives the same vibe. Although I can say I like this more than Savoy.

It has changed from when I first bought it as I burned it down. The first few burns it reminded me of a Downy Fabric Softener. A more sophisticated Downy Fabric Softener scent. 

It's pleasant enough when burning during the day when the sun is out and the Windows are open. It's not a nighttime scent at all.

But overall it's not my vibe. 

As I always say- my favorites from the brand are Josephine and Speakeasy. I LOVE those down. 

The brand is soy....I think it's a blend. It burns cleanly as long as you stay on top of trimming the wicks. Even though it's only one wick I do find they burn a bit quicker than other brands/waxes. So I only burn these for a few hours at a time and then put them away. 

The throw is pretty good. It's not too strong and not too weak. It can drift out into other rooms. I would say it's a medium throw. 

Still love the brand- but their fruity scents just don't do it for me. 

Royal and Langnickel Omnia BOM-31 Pointed Powder Brush Review

 My Sunday is going really well so far....I have some beans cooking away on the stove. I'm trying to get back to eating beans like I did years ago- mostly for health. And they are easy to grab through the week to add extra protein to a meal. Also I can easily take it to work and avoid eating "junk" like I had been. It was starting to turn into a really bad habit. I've been pretty good about it the past couple of weeks and am trying to keep it that way.

But on to my newest powder brush. Which is not so new anymore. I've had it a couple years now. But I like to use my brushes before reviewing. 

Omnia claims: 

This plush powder brush comes to a tapered tip, great for precision powder application to all areas of the face. Set makeup, apply luminous powder, or gently contour with this perfectly-sized brush.

OMNIA® GOLD is the next-generation of professional makeup brushes. Each brush uses only the finest quality natural hair. This hair is meticulously selected and incredibly soft while still maintaining the density needed to pick up and deposit product with accuracy and precision. Every brush is handcrafted to perfection, creating the finest brush possible, exceeding all expectations.

I love a big fluffy powder brush. They just always feel so luxurious and glamorous to me. I don't use them as they were intended- they were originally meant to knock excess powder off the face. Mostly I tend to use them for bronzer and blush. I don't typically use them for powder because I like to "press" powder in. I might use them to do an overall blend too. 

I like this brush. It is all natural- probably goat hair. It's very soft. And it's got the point which is similar to my favorite powder brush from MAC- MAC 138.  I love that brush from MAC- it's always the one I travel with. When I saw this I picked it up because the MAC is long discontinued. Or if they still make it the bristles are now synthetic and I much prefer natural bristled brushes. 

This is not a dupe or really even that similar. But I am glad to have it in the collection. It can give you a softer more diffuses application because it picks up powders softly. So it's harder to get unblended harsh lines. For blush I get a pretty diffused look. It is large so it will cover a larger area. But I am always happy with the way my blush looks when I use this. As for bronzer, it also does that well. It's a more soft diffused looked. I love that because sometimes you see people with horrible blended, helmet head dirty looking bronzer. I can't stand that look. You can't get that with this brush.

The brush is very soft. Softer than the MAC one. But it does shed quite a bit. I feel like I am picking little white hairs off my face quite often.

I also am not a fan of the gold handles. They have that rubbery feel and eventually it will peel off and just looks tacky overall. It doesn't age well.

Aside from that issue, it's a nice brush. I'm glad to have it in my collection. The price is much higher than what I paid for it now...but Omnia used to have great sales- 30 to 40 percent off. I don't think it's worth it at full price but if you can get it on sale- it would be more worth it. 

Mrs. Weasley's Mutton Pies, Olive Bread, and Melinda's Black Truffle Hot Sauce (Wings)

 TGIF. And time to knock this post out so I can make a list of all the goodies I'll be making this next week.  Overall it was a good week for me. 

Starting with Mrs. Weasley's Mutton Pies

I think her chapter is the somehow the longest chapter. I'm not mad at it though cause she definitely has some good recipes. I pretty much made as written- except the celery. I went to two stores and could not find any. There are a lot of meat pies in the book- and two more after this (Veal and Pork) which I'll be skipping. They have all been excellent. This is no exception but it's definitely a labor of love. I made the stock, the filling, the crust, then assembled and baked. And made homemade mashed potatoes and steamed veggies to alongside. It takes a couple of hours..but it was worth it. I can say I might prefer the steak pies over the lamb, I definitely prefer the price because chuck meat is cheaper but the lamb is really really good. I only got four pies though the recipe states six. I did have leftover crust- which I chucked into the freezer. I'll probably defrost in a couple weeks to make a pot pie or something.

Next up, Olive Bread. Or Olive and Herb bread.  I love fresh baked bread. The only problem is it doesn't stay fresh long. And I never freeze my loaves. I need to start though. I still have some of this one left. But it's going stale. Might repurpose them into bread crumbs. This was good though, I used it for a tuna and salami sandwich, a breakfast sandwich, and a cream cheese/smoked salmon sandwich. Not a lot of olive flavor except every once in awhile when you came across an olive. It was good. I don't think I would make it again because regular bread is more versatile. I wanted a PB and J but I wouldn't put that on this bread! 

And last up, I like trying out new hot sauces. I have really wanted to try Truff but I never see it in my local store....but I did see this so I picked up a bottle. Well, two because they came in a two pack. I don't really like this one much. It just has an odd flavor. There is nothing hot about it. I prefer other hot sauces over this! But I did make wings and try it on them- they were OK.  Served on top of bulgur which I really needed to get up out my cabinet. 

And that's all! ,