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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Walmart's New Earth To Skin Care

Walmart now has it's very own skincare line, called Earth To Skin. The collection contains simple, clean and luxurious ingredients. There 28 products of cleansers, toners, serums and creams. Each one is packed with anti-oxidants and protective agents, all found in nature . There are absolutely no parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, mineral oil, sulfates, or glutens, and the skincare elixirs are not tested on animals.

There are 4 formulas which treat different skin needs: 

1) Super Greens - are anti-oxidant rich (containing vitamins A, C and K) created to detox the skin of impurities.

2) Super Fruits - brim with vitamins C and B6 to smooth, brighten, moisturize and add radiance to the skin.

3) Monika Honey - calms, smooths and hydrates sensitive skin. It also has anti-bacterial properties.

4) Tea Time -  has anti-aging ingredients, including white, green and black teas to encourage quick cell turnover and diminish fine lines. Mushroom extract and chamomile impedes inflammation (a major cause of aging skin); and herbal ingredients gently rejuvenate and tighten aging skin.

Skincare with effetive ingredients can be pricey, but Walmart developed its line to be affordable for everyday use. Full size products cost between $7 - $10, or you can buy a starter kit for $10 to try the formula suitable for your skin.


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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 Mobile Computer Cart Instead Of A Desk?

The Z Mobile Cart is perfect for small spaces.

Trust me.  Living in New York City forces you to think about every piece of furniture you bring into your home. In an apartment, space is as valuable as your property.  Whenever I think about buying furniture, I always ask myself if I mind losing the space it will occupy.  Personally, I like a bit of sparseness and would rather not fill-up every nook and cranny in a room.

For several years I have wanted a desk for my laptop.  But I value my space more.  I'm happy I waited, because as it turns out, I really don't need a desk.  The reason: Computers keep shrinking.  They have gotten so compact, and just when you think they can't get any smaller, they do.  With constant innovations, in a few short years most of us may be able to replace our present computers with one the size of an ipad, or something so tiny we can't imagine it now.  So why invest in an expensive desk that soon may become obsolete?

But right now I still want my computer off my dinner table and my notebooks and pens off my living room couch.  With this in mind, I bought a Mobile Computer Cart.  Ideal for small spaces, it has a sturdy steel "Z" frame, a lower shelf for storage and wheels for mobility.  The cart is versitile and looks good against a wall.  I can pull a chair up, and the cart becomes a desk; or pull the cart over to the couch to work.  It also has a center ledge, where I keep a calculator, extra note paper, pens, a TV remote control, a cordless phone, hand cream and lip balm.  So everything I need in order to work is organized and at my fingertips. [I made a pouch out of a cotton placemat (on sale for 98 cents), so the stuff doesn't fall off when the cart moves.]

I bought the cart at Walmart even though there isn't one in Manhattan.  If you don't have a store in your town, Walmart will ship goods to a local FedEx office free of charge, where you can pick them up.  A variety of carts and workstations are available for desktop and laptop computers.  The Z Mobile Cart costs: $35, plus you can usually find a coupon to save more.  It's a steal! 


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