Macy's Holiday Lane Is The Best

When I first moved to Manhattan I found my Christmas ornaments and stockings mainly at Saks Fifth Avenue with a couple of radiant ornaments at Bloomingdale's. There was no need to leave my neighborhood to go down to Herald Square for anything. 

Nowadays Macy's is the only retailer I'd consider because for sure, of the 3 stores, it has the most extensive assortment of holiday decor and accessories, including Nativity Scenes which Bloomingdale's and Saks have sadly dropped from their inventory, a decision that makes little sense!

Certainly, I understand people not buying a Nativity Scene who don't celebrate Christmas, but when retailers won't sell the religious artifacts that Christmas epitomizes it's a silly attempt to be politically correct! My Jewish friends love Christmas chorals and celebrating my holiday with me, and they don't feel less Jewish for it. Likewise, I'm honored to be invited to the celebrations of other religions. I never feel disloyal or like it's an attempt to convert me. Hell, we live in a global world and melting-pot country. Everyone should be free to take pride in their ethnicities, cultures, and faith traditions, and we shouldn't be afraid to take a glimpse of the wider world by stepping outside of our rituals.

What's more, Saks and Bloomingdale's don't carry enough of a holiday selection anymore, restricting their holiday offerings to one small area of a floor. Macy's still makes its offerings look like Santa Claus's workshop, which is located on its 9th floor. All of the glitter and gold as you walk the floor helps you understand the magic of Christmas, commercial though it is. You remember the awe you felt as a child when your parents took you out to see Christmas displays where you shopped.

In addition to a wide array of stock to choose from, Macy's offers the best prices and sales on its merchandise so you'll return home happier and less broke.:) Even if you have everything you need from your Christmases past, it's worth a trip to Macy's just to see Holiday Lane. I know from my friends of diverse backgrounds that people of all faiths enjoy it! All are welcome. Who isn't uplifted for a window of time by the sparkle and festiveness!🌍🌎🌏

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Refrigerator Liners Rock

Call me a Johnny Come Lately (or would it be Janey Come Lately?) when it comes to Refrigerator Liners. Never having used them before, I just learned about them from a neighbor. Now I think they're the greatest thing created since sliced bread! (I may be able to use every cliché in the English language for this blog.:) 

Refrigerator liners are not exactly a hot item. (Financial journalists sometimes use the phrase not sexy as in not a sexy stock.) But my enthusiasm is real! Here's why: They keep your refrigerator cleaner by absorbing moisture and reducing the need for cleanup. Hacks for cleaning less are my jam! The liners are quick-drying, reversible, and machine washable. They also keep your fruits and vegetables from bruising and molding for several days longer by absorbing moisture. The liners can be cut to fit any size shelf.

I bought refrigerator shelf liners that are 60% viscose and 40% polyester for their absorbency (over plastic liners).

Inside a crisper drawer (left) and under ice trays in the freezer (right - the small piece my neighbor gave me so I could order my own)

My liners are sold in an assortment of patterns and colors. I mean why not, you look at them every day and can select a style and color you like. Aqua Dahlia! does it for me. You can buy them at home goods stores, and I'll link you to what I bought on Amazon - here. You might also check with a well-stocked dollar store to explore the best value.

I'm trying to decide how far to go. Before buying the liners, I put condiments inside open snack plastic bags to avoid messes, a practice I may continue instead of cutting liners.

Although the liners are suitable for cupboards and cabinets, I don't think using them outside of refrigerators is very cost-effective. Plastic liners are cheaper than fabric refrigerator liners and paying more for absorbency in dry cabinets is unnecessary. But for refrigerators, it's worth splurging on the fabric machine washable liners. I bought 2 - 6 packs (12"x 24"). I use them mostly as is. So far I've only cut 2 sheets in half to line inside and under the crisper drawers, and these flat boys rock.

Extra tips: I'm using 5 quart-size plastic boxes for keeping fruit, bread, frozen vegetables, and snacks together, as well as, the already mentioned snack-size plastic baggies for the bottoms of condiment bottles. So far, so good!

Cleaning a refrigerator isn't a fun job. Do you have a hack to keep it cleaner longer?

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Christmas Fruitcake

November is the perfect time to prepare for Christmas.🎄 This week, I've ordered nuts and dark chocolate chips to have on hand to bake cookies. Buying a few items at a time is the way to do it. Planning and making lists equal calm.

The following recipe is a David Parke share. David Parke is a Facebook friend of mine from the United Kingdom, who retired after years of serving on Queen Elizabeth II's staff. I have no idea what position he held and haven't had the pleasure of meeting him in person, but he uploads very tempting recipes. My classmate, a romance author, makes the best fruitcake ever found here, but it requires lots of Kentucky bourbon and weeks of time. My in-person friend has so many requests for her fruitcakes, she began selling them.

If you don't order or make hers, try this one uploaded on Facebook by David Park:

Christmas Fruitcake

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

1 1/2 cups mixed dried fruits (raisins, cherries, apricots, and cranberries)

1/2 cup candied orange peel

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1/2 cup dark rum (or orange juice for a non-alcoholic version)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp allspice

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup buttermilk

Optional Glaze:

1/4 cup apricot or peach jam, warmed

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1-2 tsp milk (adjust as needed for consistency)

David's directions as quoted verbatim ...

"Instructions:

1. Prepare the Fruit Mixture --

In a bowl, combine the mixed dried fruits, candied orange peel, and nuts. Pour the rum (or orange juice) over the mixture, cover, and let it soak for at least 2 hours or overnight for the best flavor.

2. Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Pan --

Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Grease and line a 9-inch loaf pan or round cake pan with parchment paper.

3. Mix the Dry Ingredients --

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice in a medium bowl. Set aside.

4. Make the Batter --

• In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the buttermilk. Stir until just combined.
• Fold in the soaked fruit and nuts, along with any remaining liquid from soaking.

5. Bake the Cake --

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 60-75 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

6. Optional Glaze:

For a festive glaze, mix the powdered sugar with milk until smooth. Brush the warm jam over the cake, then drizzle with the powdered sugar glaze.

Details:

Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus soaking time)

Bake Time: 60-75 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours (including soaking)

Servings: 8-10 slices

Tips:

a) Storage: Wrap the cooled cake in plastic wrap, then foil, and store in an airtight container. This cake tastes even better after a few days!

b) Flavor Boost: Brush the cake with additional rum or fruit juice every few days for extra moisture and depth of flavor.

This Christmas Fruitcake Delight will bring a taste of the holiday spirit to your table. Each slice is packed with festive flavors and warm holiday memories—perfect for a cozy winter celebration!"

I aim to make this fruitcake (for Thanksgiving?). It looks sensational! Hmm, I must grab some dried fruit while shopping for my weekly groceries. Nowadays for Christmas, I prefer confections that aren't super sweet yet have other flavors and textures creating a party in your mouth! Like European cakes and pastries, call them adult sophisticated sweets if you will!

Thanks, David Park, for the share!

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Damask Rose Body Wash

Lately, I've been addicted to the scent of roses. Nowadays, I help my senior mom with her bath, and I try to find mild organic or near-organic products to pamper her senior skin. We need pampering at every age! 

Samui Damask Rose Body Wash is a T.J. Maxx find I also sampled on my skin. I put a squirt in her bathwater and a dab on a washcloth for my shower. Love it! She loves it too!! Ultra moisturizing, it's supercharged with sensational-smelling Rosa Damascena flower extract, and it contains gentle, moisturizing cleansers like glycerin, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, and hydrogenated caster oil.  

If the ingredients continue to play nice with mom's skin, I'd like to replace the Aloe Wash I buy for her from a medical supply company with Damask Rose Body Wash since it's only $7.99 for 33.8 fluid ounces instead of $12+ for only 8 fluid ounces of Aloe Wash. Whenever you buy products made for seniors the cost is jacked up 3-fold or more! Plus, I adore huge sizes of stapes that last a long time before they end up as empties. With a fancy floral scent to boot, we can't go wrong!

A wrinkle in my plan is I can't find other merchants who sell the Samui brand I just discovered at TJM, so I returned to the store to buy a 2nd bottle. After we use them I may need to find competitors that make Damask Rose Body Wash.

So stock up, all my rose-scented-loving readers of moisturizing body wash while supplies last at TJM of the Samui brand in this big bargain size! 

Other rose-scented beauty products I saw in the beauty aisles (but didn't buy since I didn't need them) include:

Click to read brands of products.

The love of roses is on right now at T.J. Maxx, where you can save and splurge simultaneously. You can't beat the sweet floral scent or the prices to bring it home!🌹 

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