Have I Got a Peace Train Cover For You!

Two random thoughts today. Yeah, I have them all the time. Now that we don't listen to the radio anymore, there's no song that takes over the summer, a song you hear over and over everywhere you go. I clearly remember when Surivior's "Eye of the Tiger" was the summer song heard all around town in 1982 and when Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know" was playing everywhere no matter where you went during the summer of 2011. My mother remembers when she immigrated to America from Germany in 1956 to wonder, "Who IS that man singing I hear inside every diner, hardware store, dime store and bakery I enter?" She said she'd be walking past shops with their doors open to hear this same voice playing over a radio. It was Elvis Presley.

 This summer ... there's nothing. Where is THE summer song?

My 2nd random thought is I haven't featured a guilty pleasure playlist or single song in quite a while. The playlists are frustrating because the songs I spotlight often get yanked off of YouTube to leave broken links so it takes the wind out of my sails to do them. But today I'll feature a single guilty pleasure song. Peace Train by Cat Stevens who after converting to Islam changed his name to Yusuf Islam. Released in 1971, the top 10 hit periodically played on Classic Rock radio over the years. Lovely sentiments with a feel-good melody to lift our spirits. I very much like the 1987 cover by the alternate rock band 10,ooo Maniacs also. Their album was produced by Peter Asher, and the band fought against recording the song.

Let's start at the top with the 2021 cover of Peace Train featuring Cat Stevens and 25 musicians from 12 countries around the world recorded for Playing For Change, a multimedia music project. The Playing For Change Foundation aims to inspire and connect the world through music, and to do so, it builds music and art schools for children around the world.

Peace Train is a catchy song many listeners can stand listening to 3 times in a row, and I've uploaded 3 versions. Guaranteed to boost your endorphins and uplift your day. Make it a spectacular one! And who knows, a listen may even momentarily connect us globally to our fellow wo/man? There's nothing wrong with striving and shooting high, right? Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah🎵

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Milani Super Charged Cheek + Lip Multistick

Sold at Ulta and CVS, Milani is top-notch makeup, bar none, on par with high-end brands like NARS, Dior, Laura Mercier, and many others.

Its Super Charged Cheek + Lip Multistick is similar to NARS The Multiple Cheek and Lip Stick that I foolishly purchased years ago for $39. In my defense, once upon a time, consumers had to bite the bullet and pay luxe prices to get makeup colors that were unavailable in drugstore brands. But nowadays drugstore brands have really stepped up their game with formulas and hues that rival the expensive beauty brands we all know and love such as Charlotte Tilbury, Chanel, or Tom Ford.

Milani Super Charged Cheek + Lip Multistick is everything we covet, namely, it's pigment-rich, super creamy, and ultra-blendable to create a healthy natural look. It's a $10 gel multi-stick that glides onto cheeks and lips and melts into the skin. One buyer described it as "makeup on a non-makeup" day. The 8 lovely colors hydrate and are also buildable so you can go from daytime subtle to nighttime glamourous.

I find Milani's Multistick colors as durable as NARS and Charlotte Tilbury. A nude in all 3 brands must be reapplied every few hours. Typically, multi-sticks also leave a dewy finish.

Frankly, I'm a sucker for a fat cheek and lip multi-tasker. The single stick takes a while to use up! If you're willing to forgo the fancy rose metal cylinders of Charlotte Tilbury (I didn't even get that! NARS is plastic like Milani), then I highly recommend spending $10 for a Milani Super Charged Cheek + Lip Multistick.

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Use your $19 savings for Milani's powdered blush (Dolce Pink 01) and lip plumper (Luminoso #4 --> dupes). They are dupes for NARS' popular Orgasm shade. 

You'll be all set "with money in your pocket and a" tinted "smile on your face ... how happy can you get!"🎵

Milani Baked Blush and Full Lip Plumper, which are about $10 each depending on the retailer.

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Inflation Beaters: 12 Foods You Should Always Buy At Target

Here on the Upper East Side, it's hard to dislike Target, which opened Target Express retail stores in Manhattan beginning in 2018. One Target Express opened on my block in 2021, which thrilled the entire neighborhood. Unfortunately, many New York Moms and Pops are expensive. Although we love small businesses too, we also need to buy groceries and household goods at affordable price points, and mostly Target (as well as, Walmart) delivers. When it comes to food staples, what I appreciate about these big box stores is their consistently lower prices, meaning I don't have to wait to catch a weekly supermarket sale. Staples, already at lower prices at Target than most supermarkets, sometimes also become a loss leader item for an even lower price! Indeed, Target is doing very well in my neighborhood, and the retailer hasn't raised its prices to reflect inflation.

12 Foods that are Cheaper at Target (without a sale) include:

1) One gallon of milk - $2.99

2) Large Eggs - $1.99 per dozen (on sale last week for 99 cents/dozen)

3) Peanut butter - $5.29 - 40 oz.

4) Frozen orange juice - $1.99 - 12 oz. can

5) Butter - $3.99 - 16 oz. - 4 sticks

7) Spaghetti - 99 cents - 16 oz.

8) white or brown rice - 95 cents - 16 oz

9) Semi-sweet dark or white chocolate chips - $1.99 - 12 oz

10) Tomato sauce, salsa, and canned foods are often 20 cents - 50 cents less than at supermarkets. Also, dried spices are as much as $2 - $4 less than at supermarkets.

11) Unbleached all-purpose and whole-wheat flour - always list at the supermarket loss leader sale prices - $2.49 each.

12) A box of saltine crackers - $1.69, the supermarket loss leader price.

Target so consistently offers the lowest prices on these 12 food items therefore I don't need to find a supermarket sale. I simply walk to Target to pick them up. If online prices are less than in-store, your cashier will give you the lower price if you ask for it.

Target's store brands, Good & Gather and Market Pantry are usually as tasty as the name brand.

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I'm sorry Target discontinued their Oreo knockoff, it tastes 100% like Oreos. I'll have to try competitor Walmart's store brand of Oreos, which I'll show below:

Walmart's Oreo knockoff

Walmart's chocolate cookies with cream centers are half the price of Oreos also. Other Great Value food has been great ... except for saltine crackers which aren't as tasty as Target's house brand or other name brands.

Another winner is C-Town's store-brand soft Dutch Chocolate cookies (which is what Oreos are). They are without cream centers yet still delicious. Interestingly enough, we are charged $2.00 in Manhattan for the same package and quantity.

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A final Target tip: Be sure to buy milk, peanut butter, or eggs before you run out to avoid an empty shelf. It's annoying to run out and then have to wait for a shipment to arrive on key food items.

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Coach's Blaine Backpack Is a Hot Deal

Available in a few colors and materials

Coach's Blaine Backpack is perfect for today's need to carry your electronics out of your home into the world for work. With inside sleeves and multifunctional pockets to protect your devices, it holds your laptop and tablet, and phone plus their chargers. You'll also have space for documents you may need for the day, as well as, your sunglasses, keys, wallet, and a meal bar or snack to keep you going. Home away from home until evening.😊

An attractive sleek design in sturdy pebble leather or canvas-and-calf leather, I will always favor leather over canvas bags and backpacks however it's a personal preference. Both look fabulous!

This well-made, practical bad boy, originally priced at $598, is Coach Outlet's hot deal selling at 65% off for $209.30. Nice as with a degree of care (although you don't have to baby them), Coach bags last a lifetime!

Long-time readers know of my love for Coach bags ... all the quality and craftsmanship of French luxury bags without the ridiculous markups or silly games. Coach is a leather goods company that doesn't market itself as a status luxury retailer. Customers only pay for excellence ... not for pretentious, and ultimately meaningless hype.

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Beautifect: The Beauty Box Gets Tech Savvy

Photo: InnovateDesign UK

Beautifect's makeup case, also called a beauty box is 21st century innovative. Not only does it organize all your makeup and beauty tools in one nifty place with deep, generous compartments, but its 5 lighting settings let you apply makeup accurately anytime and anywhere from a landing airplane to an evening hotel room. The box has an advanced luminous system to perfectly replicate daylight and evening light while eliminating shadows by evenly dispersing light over your face.

I love discovering new smartly designed organizers to house all my alike-things together, yet this step up from your ordinary portable cosmetic case will cost you about $300. Designed by dental surgeon, Dr. Tara Lalvani, it was launched during the pandemic and gifted to high-profile luxury influencers, so it's gotten a lot of internet buzz.

An undeniably beautiful sleek design with functional lights, I can see how a frequent business traveler who needs to show up looking polished and professional for work meetings might consider the beauty box worth buying. Made of lightweight yet sturdy molded acrylic polymer, it weighs 1.5 kg or 3.3 lbs. The box comes with a rechargeable built-in lithium-ion battery and a US B-C cable.

Offered in 4 colors ... I'd go for the rose gold. Beautifect's beauty box is luxurious and tech-savvy. With function and purpose, it looks expensive! Still, I bet if we wait a beat, other retailers will knock off budget-friendly (minus a few bells and whistles) inspired versions. 

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Washcloths, Save or Splurge?

Walmart

Let me cut to the chase. After decades of buying washcloths, I learned to save and not splurge on this household essential. You want to splurge on big, thick, thirsty bathroom towels that can be washed time and again but save on washcloths. Here's why:

1) Washcloths, whether they are made by Ralph Lauren, Laura Ashley, Walmart, or Target, get ugly really fast. Cute doesn't stay cute for long regardless of price. After you wash a washcloth twice it doesn't look new anymore. Washcloths get stained by personal care products (like vitamin C serum) and look somewhat dingy after multiple machine washes and there's little you can do about it.

Pottery Barn

2) Unlike bath towels, big thick thirsty washcloths are actually a drawback. I have 4 Pottery Barn washcloths that I hate to use for 2 reasons: (a) the color bleeds and (b) they take 2 days to dry before I can toss them into the clothes hamper. This experience turns me off of big, thick, thirsty washcloths.

3) While you don't need a ton of bath towels, you do need a ton of washcloths, one freshly laundered washcloth daily for every member of your family. A ton of Pottery Barn washcloths costs a tidy sum! Not so at Walmart or Target.

Target

4) I happen to prefer the lighter Target or Walmart washcloths to the heavier more expensive Pottery Barn ones as it's easier to swish around and buff the skin with less weight.

5) The bargain Target and Walmart washcloths are good enough, they won't soon fall apart, and you get unbeatable value for the money -- such as 6 washcloths for $5, as well as, sales like 6 washcloths for $2.40, as opposed to, $14.50 each for Pottery Barn or $25 each for Ralph Lauren as in only one!

6) With such substantial savings, you can afford to buy spanking-new washcloths more often and still come out ahead. 

Walmart

Once upon a time, I bought sets of matching bath towels and washcloths, but I no longer do since as it turns out nobody cares. In washcloths, I don't look for Egyptian threads or Turkish cotton either. Nowadays I buy big thick thirsty cotton bath towels and good enough cotton washcloths as needed. Pay the piper when it counts. 

Other tips: 

When selecting these home goods create one washer load only: Either buy all white towels and washcloths (and perhaps bedding) or go with colors and skip the whites. Why create the need to do 2 loads of laundry weekly? Simplify a repetive job by going one way or the other.

 

Don't overbuy washcloths just because they're cheap as there's never a washcloth shortage. Always buy enough not more than enough. You're welcome!😛🙂

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A Blazer Paired With Jeans

Old Navy

Fortunately, I live 3 blocks from Old Navy and therefore can pop into the store if I'm walking by it, so I enter frequently. 

The retailer is already putting autumn apparel on its racks, and while I'm still in a summer mindset, I like what I see for the fall. A classic blazer paired with jeans is always a winning combination, suitable for all seasons short of the hottest and stickiest days of the year.

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So casual smart is a pair of jeans with a blazer, it's fitting attire for work or play. I'm partial to a black cotton velvet blazer coupled with very dark blue jeans but as you can see the possibilities of colors and price points are many! I love a red blazer too. It's all good: I can do me and you can do you! 

But let's not rush into autumn too quickly. As much as I love this crisp, chic, relaxed look, I'm willing to accept another 6 weeks of hot, sticky long summer days! How about you?🌞  

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Temu Got Me to Buy A Mini Washer/Spinner

In a previous blog, I admitted this foldable mini washer/spinner was a temptation to buy. Temu, a popular and legitimate Chinese online megastore that sells a myriad of practical and inexpensive products, ran a Facebook promotion offering it for $5 in exchange for downloading its app and so like Adam and Eve, I bite the apple ordering it.🍎🍏

I'm impressed by how fast it arrived (in 7 days) and by Temu's vigilant communication, texting me with status updates and a package tracking number. The 4 items I ordered (you need to spend $10 for an order to ship, and it ships free) were also securely packed, and I liked the minimal waste, yet sufficient wrapping to protect the items

Not only am I impressed by Temu's good customer service, but I'm impressed by how well the mini washer/spinner works. It's got a fair amount of features: 1) 3 control buttons to wash for 5 or 10 minutes and a 2-minute spin cycle; 2) a substantial handle to carry it; 3) 4 suction cup "feet" on the bottom to lessen sliding; 4) a water drain valve; and 5) a spinner that snaps on and off.

Last night I tested the washer/spinner with two 5-minute cycles of mini washes (as opposed to standard washer loads). It works very well on a few lightly soiled pieces, such as three shirts or a dress you wear a couple of times and wish to freshen up. Also great for delicates.

I manually filled the mini washer with hot water, 1 tablespoon of Oxi Tide, and cleaned (1) my senior mother's Old Navy t-shirt and another top; then (2) her cotton knit Athletic Works trousers with my Uniqlo bra-top. After two 5-minute cycles, I emptied the soapy water by pouring it into the sink and refilling the mini washer/dryer with fresh water for two 5-minute rinse cycles. Finally, I ran the spinner twice avoiding having to wring out the water by hand. That alone is priceless.

The mini washer replaces handwashing! Here it is cleaning my Old Navy swing dress stained by coffee became somebody came up behind me with a surprise hug at the exact same time I lifted up my coffee cup to take a sip. The coffee spilled on the side of my clean dress, so into the mini washer, it went.

The unit is compact enough to take on trips and it beats handwashing socks and light apparel in a hotel sink. This innovative, fun "toy" is quiet and ample enough to keep up with seniors and babies who tend to get spots of food on their freshly laundered clothes!

Ahh, look at our little cutie drying on my dish rack.😘

Up to 3 women's t-shirts or a pair of knit trousers do indeed boop up and down in a whirlpool of soapy or rinse water. At the end of the wash, they do smell and look clean. The mistake would be to overfill so the clothes can't twirl around. What's more, you don't want to overdo the amount of soap. You'll then have to work harder to rinse the suds out with fresh water.

The mini washer/spinner is so darn cute, I love it. If durable (time will tell), I'd definitely recommend it at its regular price. Walmart and Amazon are selling it at higher prices than Temu -- all 3 retailers are supplied by multiple vendors, and I bet all the mini washers/dryers come from the same factory in China.

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Difeel Shampoos and Conditioners

I discover so many fantastic organic and natural personal care brands at T.J. Maxx for less. As needed, I buy them for both myself and my senior mom. I don't know when Difeel, a US-based beauty company, launched its line of hair products, but several varieties of its shampoo and conditioner landed on the shelves at TJ Maxx this week. Not knowing the brand, I waited a beat to buy a set. When I returned a day later, the Rosemary and Mint sets were gone, but I was still able to buy a Rosemary and Mint conditioner and Castor Pro-Growth Shampoo for my mother. I washed her hair this morning. Two winners -- both selections are gentle and clean -- free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates.

Difeel's formulas are infused with biotin to help promote healthy hair growth. All its formulas stimulate the scalp and moisturize and strengthen the hair. Biotin plays a role in the health of your hair, skin, and nails.

We love how it cleans the hair and leaves it fresh with no residue. 

If you can get to TJ Maxx in time, you can score the large 33.8-ounce size bottles with a pump (another love of mine -- big quantities that last a while). The sets are an unbeatable $12.99 each and the singles are an unbeatable $6.99 -- about the same price you might pay for Dollar Store subpar shampoo or conditioner. Although an incredible, unbeatable steal, they are also reasonably priced on Amazon, Walmart, and at other stores.

Lucky us, my hesitation didn't cause my mother to miss out. I highly recommend Difeel ... for all hair types, especially hair that needs nourishment and a little tender loving care. This week TJ Maxx has the entire Difeel line of shampoos, conditioners, and hair treatments in stock! Run!! They're flying off the shelves!!!

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Pretty Things Borrowed From The Internet

The following are pretty things I love but either can't afford; don't truly need; or for the sake of practicality won't buy them. I love big blingy diamonds but can't justify spending 36k plus on a single piece of jewelry, and I don't need more dresses or sandals. Still, I love them all:

The top👆image is a ring designed By Bonnie Jewelry, as a gift for her Hong Kong mother. It's a 3 1/2 carat center pear-shaped diamond with two 1/2 carat accent pear-shaped diamonds. They are D-grade diamonds. Unaffordable for us average Janes ... yet stunning! The ratio of the center pear shape is ideal. The cut for a pear doesn't get any better, and you will pay a mint for it if you aren't Bonnie's mother!

Unlike the diamond ring, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark's Moss And Spy Elodie dress is affordable for a gal with a job. The high-lacy neck and A-line skirt look lovely on her! I try not to buy what I don't need and really have no upcoming events to justify buying a new dress, plus I have suitable dresses if an occasion to wear one pops up.

At 1st glance, Birkenstock sandals are quite ugly, but everybody is wearing them on the streets of Manhattan and I'm told they are ultra comfortable. Yesterday a woman told me she haven't taken hers off since buying them. Averaging $145 for leather, they run up to $200. Can so many people be wrong? If you walk miles and miles on city pavement with arch support and stability, ugly becomes beautiful!

If I go far from home on foot, I don't wear sandals. All summer long I wear Old Navy $2 flip-flops, inside my apartment only. I already own a supportive pair of Merrell sandals that I wear if I travel by car, or walk short distances. Birkenstock sandals would be worth the cost if its contoured arch support lets you walk all over town with ease. For sure your feet are worth investing in to prevent foot problems! Certain colors go on sale for $72, but I'll pass until I need a new pair of sandals.

Nice things, eh? That pricey diamond ring makes me wish I were either Bonnie's mother or Kim Kardashian, otherwise, I'm happy to be me!


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