Soft & Cozy Merino Wool Blankets

It's been nearly 2 years, and I'm still grieving! Laytner's Linen & Home, a much-loved brick-and-mortar shop, closed its doors on the Upper East Side after 3 decades, and I still miss it. Its owner retired but customers can still buy his home goods online. Over the years, I bought bedding, pillows, throws, and a myriad of housewares like kitchen rugs, potholders, organizers, and Christmas ornaments. The salespeople were store employees for years and I miss them too.

Consumers never have to break the bank buying from this linen and home goods company! Yes, present tense, off its website!

You can't beat the retailer's quality for its fair prices. I have 2 sheetsets on deck, which I bought at Latner's going out of brick-and-mortar business sale. When the time comes to restock I'm happy I can still order online from the merchant. But I miss going inside the store, touching the merchandise, and sometimes discovering new items I didn't know I needed until I saw them at prices too good to be true.

Speaking of which, for winter I highly recommend Laytner's soft and cozy reversible 100% Merino wool blankets, its reversible 100% Merino wool throws, and if your budget permits, its cashmere and lambswool blankets.

Natural wool threads are spectacular! They are cool in warmer weather and warm in cold weather. Also, they are more durable than manmade fibers. You seldom get pilling, lint, or fuzz. Wool shows less wear and tear than acrylics.

You can get cozy with bedding from Laytners without disappointment. The family's 50 years of experience is reflected in the quality of their products at honest prices!

For natural yarn blankets in the winter, Laytner's Linen & Home is your retailer! Check out its on-sale-now prices!

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Why Aren't Soap Dishes Designed Better?

Although I use rose-scented liquid soap to wash my hands, I like bars of soap too. I have yet to find a soap dish that keeps the soap from becoming a soft, soggy mess. The top wire dish would keep the soap from resting in a puddle of water, yes, but while drying, moisture would drip leaving a mess below, no?

Does the slant (↑to the left) make this the perfect soap dish? Again, where does the drip land? I have a soap dish similar to the one on the right, and it's functional.

I also have 2 soap dishes like the style to the right ↗. They work well enough, but why hasn't anyone come up with a better design than what's on the market? A design where soap scum doesn't accumulate in the soap dish?

This last red crab soap dish is so darn cute. Available on Amazon and Home Depot, but, it won't do the job any better than the others. 

Alas, we need a soap dish innovation soon! Meanwhile, will you settle for cute?  A fish, duck, or crab holding up your soap?

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Quince Offers Inexpensive Expensive Things

Quince is an apparel, fine jewelry, home goods, and kitchenware company that believes quality goods shouldn't be a luxury. Sid Gupta is its co-founder and CEO. The retailer embraces using premium materials, timeless design, and sustainability, along with ethical practices in manufacturing and affordability. Its goods equal the caliber of Ralph Lauren, Eileen Fisher, and Boden -- only customers pay 45% - 72% less, which is not an accident, but its mission.

With a declaration that everyone should have nice things, the company reduces costs by utilizing a factory-direct model that cuts out the middleman from the supply chain.

Additionally, Quince only partners with other businesses that pay their employees fair wages and ensure safe and humane working conditions.

The merchant also values transparency. Quince aims to be open and honest about every aspect of its business including what materials go into the products, how items are manufactured, and how they are priced.

There is a wide range of beautiful products and clothing. The apparel collections include cotton, washable silk, linen, and cashmere. The categories of inventory are top-notch quality. With elegance and timelessness, they are made to last.

Quince offers expensive things which ordinary people will not find too expensive. 

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5 Appealing But Useless Household Products

Do you ever let your emotions rule your logic when shopping? Living in a small Manhattan apartment helps me resist impulse buys ... and yet like you, I'm not immune to temptations especially when articles are cheap or appealing. Despite my better judgment, I want to think too good to believe claims are true! We're only human after all! 

Just for fun, I'll share 5 items that are always tugging on me to buy ... before my rational side wins the tug-of-war:

1) Portable and Foldable Mini Washing Machine with Dryer - First of all it's cute, as well as, practical to wash small laundry pieces like a few t-shirts or perhaps socks or undergarments when you don't have a full load. The mini washer/dryer folds to have a small footprint. But logic tells us, "Don't buy cute!" It's easy to hand wash a couple of t-shirts in a sink. The "dryer" is a spinner -- but that's what tempts me. I dislike wringing water out of clothes by hand. Then you hang dry your damp items. I resist buying the mini washer/dryer because as much as I wish otherwise, I know it's not powerful enough or big enough to effectively wash enough clothes ... but oh, how I want it to be! What's more, I keep reminding myself that using the laundry room downstairs isn't inconvenient. Logically buying extra t-shirts, socks, and undergarments is a better investment, so why am I sooo tempted by this thing?

2) Portable Turbo Washing Machine and Dishwasher - Even smaller and cheaper! My heart is fluttering just thinking about using it. Moreover, it attaches to a kitchen sink to wash a few dishes!! If only it were powerful enough to really work. Logic tells us it simply won't do a good job, and it would likely not stay attached to the sink with its motor running. I bet the cord is too short also. The heart loves it, but the head foresees frustration and disappointment with this purchase.

3) Spice Racks - Perhaps there's one out in retail land I haven't come across but so far, the spice racks I've tried take up room in my cupboard without providing more ease, organization, or consolidating space. I wish it wasn't so! Moreover, I buy big sizes of common spices like dried garlic, onion powder, dried celery, tarragon, and Herbs de Provence, etc., and I don't want to create the job of refilling small containers.

4) Pots and Pans Organizers - I love organizing everything, but this organizer would work if I only used frying pans and didn't need different sizes of pots for soups and stews. In my cupboard, the organizer would create, not solve storage problems by limiting the pot sizes I can stack in the cupboard. It sucks up valuable vertical space.

5) I experience the same disappointment with Under-the-Sink Racks - What seems like a brilliant idea, takes up vertical space to limit what I can put under my sink. Forget about a periodic gallon of paint (which is seldom but, hey, once in a while it's necessary), or gallon sizes of bleach, ammonia, white vinegar, or laundry detergents for cleaning.  Like for a spice rack,  you're forced to buy small quantities of supplies for an under-the-sink rack to work. Under the sink is also where I keep a few household tools like a hammer and screwdrivers. Do you see anywhere in the image where you can store tools?

What appealing but useless household products do you covet? Admit it, you want the mini washer/dryer too, don't you.😉

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Laytner's Linen & Home

After 31 years on Manhattan's Upper East Side, Laytner's Linen & Home store closed its doors forever. Everyone in the neighborhood, including me, was heartbroken to see it go. It happened right before the pandemic because the 71-year-old owner retired, and his adult children (3 school teachers) didn't wish to take over the business. 

I loved stepping foot into the store (with its cozy decor and hardwood floor) about once every week or two just to browse and be greeted by the wonderful, friendly staff, who really knew us. Not only did the staff know their customers, but they were also knowledgeable about the merchandise and really gave on-target advice when you needed help. Moreover, customers got genuine value for the money. This store taught me what quality bedding is. The 100% cotton, linen, silk, and wool bedding, along with rugs and home goods, were super affordable and by going downstairs to the bargain basement, customers always found a steal! Never were we overcharged for quality goods in the store.🛏

Silk throws

The sad news is the neighborhood shop is no more, BUT the good news is the retailer kept its online business open, so although its brick-and-mortar presence is sorely missed beyond measure, you can still buy their sheet sets, pillows, quits, bathroom towels, and various home goods. So at least we still have Laytner's quality and value, as well as, their warehouse sales! One is happening now!

I can't recommend Laytner's highly enough for anyone who lives in the USA from where it would make sense to order a pillow, robe, or towels without spending a fortune on shipping. I won't pretend it's as enjoyable as floating through the store and having the staff helping you, however, it's an online merchant you can 100% trust.

Alas, we had many mom-and-pop shops just like Laytner's a few years ago. When you could get quality bedding at fair prices anytime you visited, you never had to stock up and risk overbuying. At least we can still order online from Laytner's!🛁

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Home Goods As Gifts For Less

The couch, pillow and throw are online offerings.

There are no better places to buy home goods than the merchant Home Goods and its sister company T.J. Maxx. Sometimes I make the trip to the bigger Home Goods store only to find my needed item at T.J. Maxx. So consider both retailers for cookery, room accent pieces, bedding, bathroom fixtures, and major pieces of furniture. You will be surprised at what comes through T.J. Maxx. Often I browse at my local T.J. Maxx, which is within walking distance, and I've adopted the mantra, "I  don't buy pretty," to avoid temptation and clutter.

However, when you truly need something for yourself or others, you find top quality for less! Although appreciating the thought, I hate getting merchandise that serves no purpose and is so unpractical I'll never use it. Better to give someone a gift certificate at Home Goods or T.J. Maxx, or wherever they like to shop so they can fill a need. If you buy a gift card at any one, you can use it at all its sister stores.

I think T.J. Maxx especially is the perfect place to do your holiday shopping to find the best merchandise without going broke. Some folks may not know you will find some of the same articles from Home Goods at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls because they all are under the TJX Company umbrella. Online or in-store, check out the clearance sales, which include home goods. You will find bargains all year round that the retailers must move quickly for new inventory. The stock is now plush for holiday shopping!

Every item featured on the blog today is online now for less! And it's only a fraction of the vast selection. There are also pet furniture, room organizer bins and baskets, as well as, holiday decorations. Go to the T.J. Maxx website to find them. If the items sell out, give your family or friends a thoughtful store gift certificate ... because something akin always rolls back around and your friends can get exactly what they want. The ever-changing inventory at these retailers makes browsing fun!🎅 And dangerous!! Don't buy pretty!👺

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Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale

Photo: Seattle Times of the Nordstrom flagship store on West 57th Steet in Manhattan

Every year Nordstrom holds it's big blowout anniversary sale offering deep discounts throughout the store. This year mark your calendar for Wednesday, August 19 - Sunday, August 30, 2020. You can preview the merchandise, which includes apparel, shoes and accessories, beauty exclusives, home goods and children's essentials here. The savings are substantial! Think Black Friday sales in the summer. 

Year after year the following 4 items are popular with beauty mavens and fashionistas who will try to score them again:

1) Diptyque Set of 5 Travel Size Candles - Each year the set sales out lickety-split fast. Containing 5 of the brand's most popular scents, they are not full-sized, yet bigger than sample size and $25 off of the usual price. Online the Diptyque candles will sell out within minutes, so you have to be sitting at your computer ready to click at midnight on August 19th. 

2) Designer and/or popular brands of clothing and shoes - Be sure to make a list of any articles of clothing or shoes you'll need for the fall or next summer, then check the preview link to see if your favorite brands are included in the promotion as they likely are. These classic, adorable Marc Fisher slingback pumps come in a few colors and textures and will be marked down at 41% off while supplies last. Tory Birch, Tahari, Ted Baker London, Theory (designers); as well as Madewell, Topshop, Maggy London, Vince Camuto (popular) are 8 brands to watch for discounts.

3) Activewear, underwear and spandex - This is the sale to stock up on names you desire without having to pay full-price. Noteworthy discounts on coveted lines include: Zella, Patagonia, Natori, SPANX® and Sweaty Betty.

4) NARS, Dior, Bobby Brown or Charlotte Tibury - It's also the time to consider splurging on any of the overpriced makeup brands (and skincare) that you love and hanker to try. They won't be cheap, but you can score on exclusive beauty offers or special sets created especially for Nordstrom. So you'll get more for your money if you buy them during the anniversary sale.

THE SAVVY SHOPPER'S friend, Angie Smith, said I must write a blog on Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale. Is there anything else to know ... tips or goods to add to the list of great deals, Ang?💋💄🤫👗 

Readers, what do you hope to find for less at Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale?


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