Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Stylin' In Lands' End Summer Dresses


Summer, my favorite season, is always on my mind. Lands' End is already selling its summerwear ... and look at all the super cute and practical dresses!

The dresses featured range from 100% cotton to nearly 100% cotton with a touch of spandex. All are machine washable and dryable. I also like the casual smart style of the dresses. Dress them up or down, with a change of shoes and accessories. They can go from afternoon errands to a night out on the town.



This last-bottom dress๐Ÿ‘‡ is really a beach coverup but doubles as a lovely summer dress. The dresses come in multiple colors and patterns. 
My experience with Lands' End cotton dresses is the cotton fabric is substantial and durable. It takes decades to wear the dresses out making them good investments. Plus they go on promotion often!


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Save On Summer Fashion Essentials

Friday, June 23, 2023

I Want to Love Matcha

Photo: New York Times Magazine
I drink a fair amount of coffee (about 24 ounces) in the morning, but then try to switch to water and other beverages throughout the day.

Yes, I like the cherry, raspberry, watermelon, or peach flavored carbonated drinks, however, stocking them isn't as convenient or cost-effective as I'd like. Drinking 2 cans of these carbonated drinks per day really adds up! In the summer I find stevia-sweetened black iced tea super refreshing as well as inexpensive; and in the fall and winter I'll sip hot teas (black, oolong, white, or tisane) with or without milk, but frankly, I don't relish tea as much as coffee.

I also bought a lot of Matcha tea right before the pandemic as it gets plenty of press for its health benefits.

I think of Matcha as the expresso of green tea -- but green tea is my least favorite tea to drink. Frankly both green and Matcha tea taste like downing dried ground-up grass to my palette.

Despite my dislike of Matcha tea, it has several known health benefits, such as containing polyphenol antioxidants. It has L-theanine which reduces anxiety, and it boosts energy without the crash of coffee.

So there are many good reasons to drink Matcha ... if only the tea was as delicious as coffee.

I continue to try to develop a taste for the expresso of green tea. I wonder if it is possible without adding a ton of unhealthy ingredients to it? Here's a recipe for a Matcha Latte, without an overload of bad ingredients, but I bet it isn't nearly as tasty as a Mocha Latte.๐Ÿ˜

Hmm, once my supply of Matcha powder is depleted, will I rebuy it? Life is too short and there are plenty of other tasty beverages to drink. I suppose I'll just stick to my tried and true summer beverage of choice ... iced (black) tea.


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Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Lands' End Offers 50% Off On Swimsuits

 

I don't often write blogs to announce sales, but since I recently featured Land's End as the place this season to pick up a stylish swimsuit -- a suit that looks fabulous on and off the beach, I have a chance to feature 5 more suits and to tell you that the sales are on at the retailer!


Lands End offers you more than just style, it designs what it calls swim solutions. You'll find the coverage and support to flatter your body type including tummy control, bra support, adjustable suits for sporting events, or to slenderize your silhouette.


If you miss this sale, there'll be other promotions, so keep checking. By the 4th of July, you'll have your suit!


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Thursday, August 25, 2022

Skillet Bruschetta


Photo: Pinterest

Are you ready for a late summer tomato dish that's perfect for the time of year when fresh tomatoes are plentiful? What are you going to do with all those tomatoes? I found this recipe in a newsletter and, of course, tweaked it. The original recipe called for marinating the chicken overnight, which I never do as I believe it does nothing for the meat, such as tenderizing or flavoring it. The benefit of marinating meat is a myth! All I think it does is add more work. Flavoring the dish while it cooks and after it's cooked works. I do think making the bruschetta topping hours ahead of time adds flavor, so let's start with that! BTW I also like the crunch and taste of onions and celery in the dish, so have added both vegetables (omit if you prefer).

Skillet Bruschella (with or without pasta)

Ingredients:

1 cup Italian dressing, divided (or use homemade vinaigrette dressing. You can then toss in Italian seasonings from your spice rack.)
2 cups (16 ounces) tomatoes, chopped
1 tiny onion, diced
1 celery stalk with leaves, diced
tablespoons basil leaves, chopped
2 whole garlic cloves, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 - 2 t
ablespoons olive oil
4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
2 large zucchini - cut into thin strips 

Optional: Al dente cooked angel hair pasta; #8; or #9 spaghetti -- they all work.

Directions for the Bruschetta Topping:

1) Into a bowl or Tupperware combine chopped tomatoes, onions, celery, basil, minced garlic, 1 cup of Italian dressing, and salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate from 2 hours - overnight.

Directions For the Chicken:

2) In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat, then add and cook the raw chicken for 15 minutes, turning it once. After the chicken is brown on the outside and white on the inside, remove it from the pan.

3) Add more olive oil if needed to the same skillet to grill the zucchini. 
The zucchini will tenderize in 6 -10 minutes. It will also cook down with the liquid evaporating. I scoop up some of the bruschetta topping (include some of the chopped onion, celery, and garlic) and toss it into the skillet to cook with the zucchini. Turn the heat off when everything is tender.

4) Plate your dish. Place cooked pasta on the bottom if eating it, chicken in the middle, and finish with the bruschetta topping. 

Adding al dente pasta to the dish gives you a one-pan meal ... protein, vegetables, and starch. Dinner is served. Tasty with fewer steps is THE SAVVY SHOPPER way! Enjoy.


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Friday, July 1, 2022

Discover The Joy Of A Pareo: A What?

Photo: Facebook via Pinterest

The following blog on style is a quick and dirty blog meaning one I decided to write on the spot. 

Next week I'll publish the blog already written on a sentimental unisex (containing 5% essential oils) cologne. Try to guess its name?๐Ÿ˜€

Meanwhile back to today's fashion topic: Until I saw it advertised, I didn't know its proper name, a pareo also spelled pฤreu -- a wraparound skirt, worn on Tahiti or other Pacific islands. At one time the term only applied to women's clothing, but today it extends to any cloth worn wrapped around the body by either men or women. (Ohh, I learn constantly as a writer!)

Style is very subjective depending on personal tastes and body types. With fashion nowadays, there are fewer rights and wrongs and thankfully less conformity with more flexibility, as well as, individuality. Your personal style is whatever elevates you, making you feel like a million bucks while wearing it.

I'll confess to never wearing pareos. The only way I'd feel comfortable in a pareo is by styling one as a full dress (the last of the trio of images above, and this was true of the 18-year-old -- slender with no belly fat -- me.)

Moreover, as I've mentioned before in blogs ... with few exceptions, (personally) I'm not a big fan of asymmetrical or unbalanced attire. If the temperature is boiling (or cool) wouldn't my legs be as hot (or cool) as my midriff? Why would my legs be covered to the ankles while my top half only has on a bikini top? 
Universally, wouldn't I want to be covered or uncovered to fit the heat or cold? Stylewise, the look -- skimpy on top while completely covered belowAnyway I consider it ... visually, comfort-wise, sunburn-prevention-wise, a pareo just isn't me. 

BTW: I can't pull the pareo-look off like those gorgeous, skinny, tanned Polynesians. Perhaps with a perfect body on a picturesque island  ... you just have to show yourself off.๐Ÿ˜Ž

Since not everybody is me, here are some fun, colorful pareos to pursue from Echo. Hey, I might return, too, if ever I look in the mirror to see a body worth showing off. :)


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Friday, June 10, 2022

Old Navy's Summer Activewear

Sleeveless PowerSoft 2-in-1 Performance Mini Skort Dress for Women

Old Navy is working overtime with another affordable launch of cute summer activewear. You can't beat the quality at this price point for pieces offered as low as $15 on special promotion days! The activewear has 4-way super stretch fabric that is soft and made with go-dry moisture-wicking technology that not only keeps you dry, but comfortable during all your summer activities.

Most of the selections are available in at least 5 colors, and some of the dresses offer the support of a built-in bra. The colors are soothing and I think subdued enough so you can wash and wear the same garments over and over without other people noticing it as the same attire. This launch is sporty compared to Old Navy's other dress-up-or-down summer dresses, yet is ultra-stylish to play tennis, golf, bike, or jog in around the neighborhood. 
Sorry, Ralph Lauren (whom otherwise I adore!), Tommy Hilfiger, and Atheta, but summer-and-activewear clothing is not what I'm going to drop a ton of money on, and thanks to Old Navy (and Uniqlo) I never do!
Uniqlo's Hana Tajima summer dress ($19.90 - a little more than Old Navy) is a soft jersey fabric of mainly cotton with modal, rayon and spandex. Also machine washable for walks.

At $15 bucks, or less for an outfit, I can look polished, as well as, mindlessly machine wash and dry my casual clothing many times over all summer long. What's more, I can add something new to my wardrobe without breaking the bank! Win-win-win!


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Wednesday, June 8, 2022

The Best Mosquito Repellents

Yes to fans!

Summer is approaching and unofficial summer is already here. Unfortunately so are bugs. The most hated bugs of all are arguably mosquitos. Researching how to keep them away and specifically how to stop mosquitos from biting us leads to good news and bad news.
citronella bracelets
First the bad news. Nearly all the natural mosquito repellents on the market are worthless. When tested in scientific labs they either don't work, or don't work well enough to be considered effective. Natural mosquito repellents come in the form of citronella candles, slow-burning citronella sticks, and citronella bracelets. Research shows people still get bitten despite wearing or burning citronella repellents. Perhaps a mosquito will avoid your wrist where the bracelet is, but you'll still get eaten alive because the blood-sucking pest will move up to your shoulder or down to your leg for a meal.

Likewise, essential oils such as 
lemongrass, rosemary, eucalyptus, and peppermint do not work. Moreover, electronic bug zappers do not work as mosquitos largely ignore the violet light. Ultrasonic mosquito repellent devices do not work either. Studies show they fail to irritate or scare mosquitos away. And lastly, newer portable devices that lure mosquitos away from people with carbon dioxide, then entrap them do not show much evidence of reducing bites to people nearby.
So what does work ... are you ready for the good news?

1) A good old fashion fan. Sitting in the wind of a fan works because mosquitos are not strong fliers. 

2) DEETChemical name, N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (or diethyltoluamide) was developed by the US Army in 1946 and sold on the market beginning in 1957 as an ingredient in lotions and sprays. This potent mosquito, chigger, and other bug repellent has been widely studied over the years. Despite peoples' fears, DEET has an excellent public safety record and lasts for hours.

3) Another effective way to reduce the number of mosquitos in your backyard is to eliminate water sources like puddles, ponds, or birdbaths. Water is where mosquitos like to lay their eggs so don't invite them into your space with basins of standing water.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a mosquito "is the most deadly creature on earth killing hundreds of thousands of people and making millions more sick each year." Therefore, it might be gratifying to consider some of the critters who eat mosquitos or their larvae. Our friends include fish, birds๐Ÿฆœ, bats, dragonflies, frogs, spiders, and the red-eared slider turtle (a common pet in the USA).๐Ÿข 

As much as we hate to acknowledge it, mosquitos are important to the food chain in our ecosystem, which is not to say, we want to be an important food source for mosquitos. You're not a bad person if your motto is: Stay away or die today! Nothing should bite you with impunity. Squash the living daylights out of it!!๐Ÿ‘พ 


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Monday, May 30, 2022

Island Vibes Makeup


Summer is my favorite season of the year. What's not to love? The mild climate, the long daylight, and the great outdoors of shimmering bluegrass, blooming flowers, and sandy beaches. 

The makeup is fun too ... summer shades that brighten the lips and give your cheeks a sunkissed look! The following are a few limited edition sets created just for Macy's to consider:

1. The Island Vibes Full-Face Pressed Pigment Palette (top image๐Ÿ‘†) - It has everything you need from high fashion eyeshadows, blushes, bronzers, and highlighters in bold shades and everyday neutrals. If you wait for a sale, the pallette is a $19 splurge.

2. A 5-Piece Island Punch Matte Lipstick Set - Two of the summer shades include terracotta and berry housed in pink-tinted see-through lipstick tubes.




3. A 3-Piece Island Punch Double-Ended Lip Gloss Set -  They are 2-in-1 sheer lip glosses with satin finish lipsticks ranging from soft coral to dusty rose.

4. The 5-Piece Let's Flamingle Brush Set - Consists of soft pink bristles with gold-tone handles. This 5-piece set includes a large powder brush, angled contour brush, and small fan brush. There's another 7-brush makeup set here and uploaded below that also puts customers in the pink ... but the flamingo and pineapple set is so darn island adorable!
5. A 3-Piece Island Punch Makeup Sponge Set - Has 3 cheerful hued sponge sizes for applying foundation, blush, and concealer.

I've been waiting all year for the beautiful summer pastel colors to arrive! The 5 makeup or tool sets are a great value if you wait for one of Macy's sales to come around. Are you in need of island vibes this season? It's just another reason to love Macy's!๐Ÿ’‹
Everly Brother's Pretty Flamingo



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Saturday, April 23, 2022

Old Navy's Summer Wear

Every year one clothing retailer seems to have the edge over others with their spring/summer clothing launch, and this year the distinction goes to Old Navy. The merchant's winning casual summer wear is a combination of style, quality and value. Everyday warm weather attire need not cost an arm and a leg. You need reasonably good, not the apex of quality in summer clothing.

Old Navy's offerings include active-wear fabric (a cozy polyester-spandex blend to wick away moisture) shorts and dresses or 100% cotton dresses priced from $10 - $20 that are soft, cute, cool, easy-to-machine wash and dry and won't fall apart like fast-fashion. For the buck you get a few seasons of wear out of garments (with pockets!๐Ÿ˜you can mindlessly wear and clean ... without emplying your wallet. Look for the steals and deals! The $20 SuperCash is a dream come true!


My elderly mother desires something sleeveless she can sleep in, so I'm ordering a few of these dresses for her as they are perfect as nightgowns. Using my supercash promotion brings them down to an unbeatable $9 each!
A loyal costumer, I love Old Navy's casual and sports wear despite the brand's inconsistant sizing. Without gaining a pound you may be a medium one year, a large the next. If a dress fits you perfectly in extra-large, it's Old Navy's use of various vendors, not you! 

Speaking for myself, the size can be called jumbo as long as I know what to order to fit me. Customer reviews are great about telling us to go up or down a size, and when several reviewers say a dress runs short, consider ordering it in tall especially if the dress is 100% cotton to anticipate a bit of shrinkage in the wash. Due to my mom's age, I order her t-shirt dresses in a tall and large to be roomy and long enough for her to feel comfortable sleeping in them.


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Thursday, March 31, 2022

Cute Summer Old Navy Dresses

When I came to help my mom, who took a fall fracturing her fibula, I packed all winter clothes, including leggings, t-shirts, and two cardigans since I only thought I'd be away for about 4 weeks, but she is undergoing physical and occupational therapy and I'm still here. Spring has arrived and all my spring and summer clothing is at home. I only packed one dress (this one) that I can wear on a chilly, early, spring day, but not on a balmy, global warming-created day.

So in anticipation of 80 degree F days (in fact we had one today), I bought 2 Sub-Knit Short Sleeve Tiered Swing Dresses in hot pink and medium-navy blue from Old Navy, as well as, a black pair of $2 flip flops to wear around the house. Old Navy's flip flops are great, no need to pay more elsewhere, and I'm happy the retailer once again manufactures 100% cotton dresses. Not polyester, not rayon, no blends, all-cotton dresses!!! ON is forever offering deals. Wait for one to get a dress dirt cheap!

Hopefully, between my ballet flats, Nike sneakers, and the new flip flops I won't lack shoes to wear as the weather warms up. The all-weather mocs I also brought with me will soon be retired until early autumn. 

The thought crosses my mind I'll be wearing the same style of dress over and over like a uniform, but I bet real money the majority of people rarely notice what we wear when we encounter them. They sense if we are disheveled and not coordinated, but can't recall our particular outfits. What do you think?

My life as a minimalist-want-to-be is being tested and frankly, I'm enjoying the noble less-is-more experiment. So far, I'm managing!

Moreover, ladies, look at this handsome guy! Hubba, Hubba!! Posting him fits into our spring fashion topic. Colorful shirts in a breezy linen blend have just arrived at L.L. Bean for men. The fabric wicks moisture and dries fast. 

Get ready, Betty ... Freddy for cotton dresses, linen shirts, and shorts season. 


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