The Perfect Pants Blouse

Say what you will about Amazon, but they do have most everything consumers need, plus free shipping with a $25 order. If you don't own a car; are a shut-in; or work-crazy-long-hours they can be your lifeline to the outside world of necessities. Not to mention, due to a number of sellers across the country offering different price points on its platform, an Amazon purchase can save you money, and the telephone associates are fantastic if orders go wrong. THE SAVVY SHOPPER says, there's nothing wrong with supporting Amazon, a brilliant and successful business along with small Mom-and-Pop shops. Life need not be about supporting one at the exclusion of the others.

I just found a stylin' blouse on Amazon that is perfect when paired with leggings and nearly any style of trousers.

It's feminine with slight (not over-the-top) ruffles at the neck and cap sleeves. Because it's a tunic, it's long enough to cover your hindquarters, a must if you wish to look polished. You can also buckle a belt around the blouse at the waist to change its look. I love a summer casual look that can be dressed up or down with shoes and accessories, and this blouse fits the bill. A great spring transitional piece that is also suitable for hot August nights. 

This fashionable blouse won't break the bank; comes in 29 printed colors; can be machine washed and dried; and you'll never look sloppy wearing it. Definitely, Savvy Shopper approved as a smart and adorable splurge.

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Introducing Saffron

In gourmet food stores, as well as T.J. Maxx, I see a spice that has intrigued me for years: Saffron, and yet I leave it on the shelf. As it turns out, saffron is the most expensive spice in the world, costing between $500 - $5,000 a pound. Unsurprisingly then that so little of it is always in the jar. The reason for its high price tag is the spice is very labor-intensive to harvest. Saffron derives from the Crocus sativus flower and the tiny thread-like flower blossoms (called stigmas) are each picked by hand. It takes 75,000 stigmas to make a pound of saffron.

Recently as I placed a Walmart order for spices Badia's Sazòn with Saffron (a salt) popped up on the screen, so I decided to put it in my online shopping cart (at $2.99!). Like the saffron flower blossoms, the salt is bright orange. 

After it arrived, I dicovered I've tasted this spice in Maxican cuisine and like its distinctive flavor in meat, rice, potatoes, stew, and soup. 

Saffron is thought to have several health benefits. It contains plant compounds that act as antioxidants to fight free radicals. It seems to reduce depression, PMS symptoms, and anxiety. There are claims the spice makes people more amorous. Not only can saffron alter mood in the brain, but it also reduces inflammation in the body. Research (that requires further studies) suggests it may have some cancer, heart attack, and Alzheimer's prevention properties also. And, it may reduce appetite to help with weight loss.

When eating a normal amount of the spice in food, saffron has no known side effects. Consuming too much of any good thing is bad, but with the cost of saffron, it's unlikely to be a practice in most households.

Next on my list of tastes to try is another expensive condiment I've never had, namely truffles. Several days ago, I saw dried truffle in the spices at our newly opened Trader Joe's for a few bucks. There's my chance!😁

What would you like to try?

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TruSkin Skincare

Nowadays you no longer need to spend a fortune on skincare as so many effective products are in the aisles at Target, Walmart, Amazon, and local drugstores, there's no need to look elsewhere! Selling at affordable prices -- with monthly promotions to boot -- making transformative skincare almost a steal!

TruSkin is a brand committed to producing advanced premium formulas with superior ingredients in the right combinations and potencies. It's made in the USA without fillers or animal testing. The elixirs treat all skin concerns, and they are budget-friendly, which is exactly what we want! After you know what you desire to be treated, you can select skin products that are right for you to do the job.

I will feature a few of the company's offerings:

1. Vitamin C Serum - To nourish the skin and fight free radicals. Creates a glow by treating dark spots, fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. Use every morning.

2. Retinol Serum - Improves fine lines, wrinkles, skin tone, skin texture, color, pigmentation, as well as your skin's hydration levels. Clinical-strength retinol that is gentle enough for sensitive skin. Use nightly.

3. Hyaluronic Acid Serum - Supercharged with a powerful anti-aging complex that includes Vitamins C and E, Green Tea, Aloe Vera, and MSM to plump the skin with moisture. Use in winter, or as needed to soothe dry skin.

4. Tea Tree Super Serum+ - A blemish-bursting blend that includes tea tree essential oil, vitamin C, retinol, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid. Use 2 - 3 nights per week, or as a spot treatment.

5. Vitamin C Brightening Moisturizer - Layer up with this ultra-hydrating vitamin C brightening cream containing Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, and Salicylic Acid. It targets discoloration, firmness, fine lines, and blemishes. Use daily or as needed to "cocoon" the skin so it stays soft and supple.

6. Retinol Moisturizer - Provides a layer of moisturizing cream to your face that contains hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, B5 green tea, and propolis. Improve fine lines, wrinkles, skin tone, skin texture, color, pigmentation, as well as your skin's hydration levels. Use nightly.

TruSkin has a wide selection of affordable cleansers, toners, moisturizers, treatments, sizes, and skincare kits for every type of skin ... and it's so convenient to find. I found it at CVS. Next time you go to your local drugstore, check the beauty aisle.

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8 More Holiday Stocking Stuffers

The design comes in Morganite or Moissanite.

So what's this talk about a shortage of Christmas gifts due to supply-chain disruptions? #1 - Gifts don't define Christmas, and the best ones don't come from a store; #2 - Store shelves are stocked, not empty; and #3 - Thoughtful gifts come at every price point from cheap to pricey.

You will find inexpensive and/or good-value-for-the-money gifts at your figure tips sold online at Walmart, Kmart, and Amazon -- 3 retailers with winning gifts that won't empty your wallet. Talk about "pay less, live better," very often Walmart lowers costs further on already reasonably priced goods to get rid of old stock ... making many buys a steal!

The following are already good-value-for-the-money items that are further reduced at Walmart, but can also be found on Amazon or Target while supplies last:

1) 2 Carat Round Cut Real Moissanite Trio Wedding Ring in Silver Dipped In 18K Rose Gold by JeenJewels - The Art Deco style rings are dainty and delicate, and yet the bands feel strong. The vendor says they are handmade, and I love the attention to detail. The set of rings have a 1.5-carat center natural Moissanite with prevè Moissanites on all 3 bands crafted in silver (which is a precious metal) and dipped in 18k rose gold. No way would I buy them for an engagement/wedding ring set, but they are beautiful as a right hand or pinky ring. The ring sets (there are several designs to select) are sold at Walmart and Kmart, as well as, on Amazon. (Also listed as JeenMata here at Walmart). It's a nice piece of low-priced fine jewelry! I recommend buying them at one of these major well-known retailers for (a) the best price, as well as, (b) reliable customer service -- since I'm unfamiliar with dealing directly with the vendor, JeenJewels.

2) Necano Portable Bluetooth Speaker With Custom Bass Radiator - You get spectacular sound ... and yet it's tiny. Weighing 6.2 ounces, it is one "pair" of powerful Bluetooth speakers -- that's right the big sound of 2 speakers in one lightweight, small body. It's easy to carry and has 6 hours of playtime. Use it to play music on your smartphone, iPad, MacBook Pro, or other audio devices with Bluetooth. Wow, I didn't know I needed this until I got it.

3) Something Borrowed 2% BHA Toner - The toner has Beta Hydroxy Acid that lightens age spots and reduces the appearance of large pores, fine lines, and wrinkles. It contains green tea extract and orange blossom water. The toner is the only product in the brand I tried, but I now want to try some others. The company makes retinol serum, vitamin C serum, and moisturizers to treat hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores, acne, and aging. Everything is created to achieve VOW skin!

4) ArtNaturals A trio of Serums - 

• Hyaluronic serum for enhanced hydration - Use day or night.
•  2.5 Retinol to fight aging with cell turnover - Use at night.
• Vitamin C serum to moisturize and brighten the skin - Use in the morning.

This is the brand I currently use. You can't beat the prices of these gift sets! Buy direct (they offer good customer service), or from Walmart.

5) Sharper Image Closet Ionic Air Purifier - Hang in your closet to ionize the air to prevent mold. I recommend monitoring the websites of Sharper Image, Amazon, and Walmart to get the best price.

6) Ipad, Tablet or Bookholder - To read in bed. Books get very heavy, and devices can drop if you fell asleep. This frees your hands and keeps your reading material from getting damaged. Again check the prices between retailers: Amazon, Walmart, as well as, Bed, Bath and Beyond as they all carry pillow bookholders.

7) Black & Decker Toaster Oven/Air fryer - Frankly professional chefs tell us if we own an oven, air fryers are not much more convenient, nor do they cook better, just differently. Yet for various reasons, there are people who want them, so if I were to get an air fryer, I'd want this multi-tasker toaster oven. It's a compact size for a kitchen counter, yet not too small. And if you stop air frying you still have a toaster oven.

8) Container Store Purse Organizer Insert -  This last item is only sold at the Container Store ... it's a good example of how I shop ... keep checking elsewhere to find it at a lower price. I missed my chance to buy it for $19.99 last year when we had a brick-and-mortar Container Store on the Upper East Side. LITTLE did I know then the store would close; and now I'm too cheap to pay an $11 shipping charge. So I'll have to wait it out until I visit a store away from home ... or this Bag:In merchant sells on Amazon or Walmart. Plus at the Container Store, it now costs $26.99 + $11 for shipping. Yikes! All I want for Christmas is this purse organizer without shipping fees!! You would think another retailer sells it that offers free shipping. Where are you?!😁

These 8 gifts go to show you how many gift options we have at our fingertips (online) or in brick and mortar stores ... every kind of store! Nobody needs to worry about not having a great gift to put under the Christmas tree 4 weeks from now ... if you try, you will find them!

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Yellow light: charging!

Dear Readers,

I didn't think I'd be able to blog until mid-June. You see I work on a 13 inch MacBook Pro, and its charger died suddenly on Wednesday, May 26th. I can't easily blog on a phone or iPad unless I were to merely upload a photo, or a bunch of words without photos ... yet I do both, which sometimes requires editing to make the blog look its best. Plus, nearly all of my blogs require research, as well as, fact-checking and reading everything available on a topic for accuracy. It's possible to use a phone or iPad for research or editing, but it would be super slow and annoying.🙂

So alas, let's get to the subject of today's post: Ordering from Amazon. 

Despite a desire to support local brick and mortar stores, as well as, small businesses (as we should do!), we can also support Amazon with a good conscience. Often Amazon really comes through for customers, and I must give the online retailer its due in offering fantastic choice, price and customer service:

 1) On Amazon, customers have an abundance of sellers, products and price points to fit their budgets. At times you need the top of the line, and at other times you don't ... so lots of selection lets you save money by ordering exactly what you need at a price you can afford.

2) Consumers can't beat the convenience as the products are delivered straight to your door saving you additional time and money.

3) I like the transparency of how the items are listed. By reading everything, I have a good idea of the articles. Plus I read all the customer reviews before I buy an item, and I leave detailed reviews as a guide for other Amazon customers.

4) I appreciate how Amazon stands behind the merchandize sold on its website from various sellers around the world, so if anything goes wrong, I don't have to worry about losing my money. Amazon resolves what goes wrong between you and the seller. Also customers have windows for free returns.

5) And finally ... golly, you often get faster-than-expected delivery ... nearly always quicker than the delivery date you are told! My Wednesday purchase -- the laptop charger -- which was supposed to arrive on June 11th, came today on a holiday weekend! I'm doing a happy dance!!!

Prime Amazon (which I do not have) is worth considering especially if (1) you live in a house or apartment building where packages are left on doorsteps; or (2) you order lots of single items under $25 and wish to save shipping costs; or (3) you simply desire the benefits of Prime Membership. I don't need a Prime Membership for the security of my packages, and I get free shipping with my Amazon subscriptions. I also bundle purchases on non-subcription goods to qualify for free shipping (as I try never to pay for shipping). Sure I'd love to watch the Amazon movies and series (called Amazon video) or have access to special deals, but for now I'm fine (and can better resist temptation) without a Prime Membership. I am forced to wait a beat before ordering. Moreover, I think Amazon would agree that despite not having a Prime Membership ... I'm an excellent customer who definitely helps keep their lights on. 

And a final thought: A happy customer like me always desires happy company employees! Please always treat workers exceptionally well, Amazon, by trickling down your tremendous success to lift up the quality of their lives. Success should be shared.🙏

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Shopping Online For Savings Is Easy

10 Websites That Save You Money

Like many of you, I find myself shopping more and more online lately. Not only is purchasing online convenient -- saving time and transportation costs -- the mechandise, itself, is often less expensive. Here are ten easy-to-navigate websites, which can save you big bucks on essentials, plus cut down on your errands ... leaving you with free time on your weekends:

Merchants:

1. Walmart - There is a wide range of non-perishable grocery and drugstore items you can order online and have delivered directly to your door with free shipping, as long as, you have a $50 minimun order. Examples include: bathroom tissue, snacks like dry roasted peanuts and Tazo chi tea, personal care products such as soaps, shampoo and hair condition, as well as, home goods like storage containers, blenders and food processors. The prices at Walmart are usually unbeatable; and it is easy to put together a $50 order of articles you need to restock each month.
2. Amazon - You can buy just about anything on the site -- truly the sky is the limit-- and there are always many sellers around the country, so you can select the best price. But, the reason this blog loves Amazon is because it offers amazing customer service, so if anything goes wrong with a purchase, Amazon will step in and help you resolve the issue.
3. Overstock - Offers lots of products, low prices and fabulous customer service. (See my review here.)
4. Zappos - Ditto. (See here.) Zappos began by selling shoes, but quickly expanded to include clothing and home goods. Their customer care is awesome.
5. 6PM.COM - Offers deep discounts on name brand clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and children. 6PM is Zappos' sister company, so you receive the same excellent customer service and free shipping on all orders. Unlike Zappos where returns are free, you pay to send back a mistake, which is fair enough considering the huge savings.

Tools: 

6. TheFind - A website to help you peruse your favorite stores, locate the best prices on goods of interest and (if you wish) receive sale alerts on products you like. You enter the name of a product in the search box to pull the information up.
7. InvisibleHand - A browser add-on to notify you when there are lower prices available on goods, flights, hotels and retal cars.
8. PriceGabber - A website that compares prices and provides product information so you can zero in on the best deals.
9. PoachIt - A browser add-on that tracks products you are watching to go on sale and emails you as the price goes down. -- out of business. People are using Shoptagr instead.
10. RetailMeNot - A website to find discounts for all your favorite retail stores. I never buy anything without first checking this site for promotional codes to save 10% - 80%.

With a little help from the internet, you can always find the lowest price, rarely paying retail for anything. Plus, what a blast receiving packages in the mail these days!

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A Rock 'N' Roll Odyssey

"The Stories We Can Tell" and "Brand New Tennessee Waltz" - Everly Brothers

My friend, Cara S., confuses the words "fan" and "fanatic" all the time. I know because she does it whenever she uses my name and the Everly Brothers in the same sentence.

The reality is the Everly Brothers were my father's favorite singers in the whole world, and I don't remember a time they didn't play in our house. Don and Phil have gorgeous voices and soaring, to-die-for harmonies. They are the best there will ever be. So I admit I'm a fan too. But in my friend's mixed up vernacular, she calls me an "Everly Brothers fanatic.” Maybe it’s because I had my picture taken in front of their plaque at the Country Music Hall of Fame and toured Studio B, the audio house of their early hits. Or perhaps, it’s because I replaced all my father's old Everly Brothers records with new CDs – and than ordered a boxed set, two documentaries and a biography. What took Dad years to collect, I bought in a few months, and that's what convinced her she had me pegged correctly. But, I’m not a fanatic – bless her heart – just a FAN who knows a good thing when she hears it. Clearly, my friend needs a good dictionary.

Amazon proved to be a great place to shop for my Everly Brothers' music. First, you can use the site like a library to search for albums, even if you buy elsewhere. Second, it lets you shop between many dealers across the country to find the lowest price. The tab “Artists Store,” is a good resource to see everything your artist released and what formats – CDs, DVDs, videos, MP3s and LPs – are available. Hit “Take Me There” to view album icons and hear song samples. Since it’s all on your screen, you can quickly assess what you own and what you need for your collection. Next you can zero in on a single release. Select the correct format, then click “New,” or “Used” for a range of prices. Amazon adds $2.99 for shipping, but it makes no difference from which state the item ships. I still paid less for each CD, verses walking into a record store. Because you are told what condition a CD, DVD, or book is in, I bought several “Used” CDs listed in “Like New” condition. Expect substantial savings.

I only buy music I'll listen to again and again ... and truthfully, I never – ever – get tired of The Everly Brothers. Next up – the EB exhibit at the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. But shhhh … don’t tell ... Cara might stage an intervention.

"The Price of Love," Words & Music by Don and Phil Everly

Performing on Hullabaloo hosted by Trini Lopez


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