A Natural Fiber Rug That Never Sheds

This Nourison wool rug from Macy's isn't it. Opps, the pink tips of my Croc ballet flats are in the shot!

Ideally I hoped to feature a wonder spray or list ingenious tips to stop wool-and-natural-fiber rugs from shedding. But guess what I surmised? If you can't tolerate shedding, avoid rugs made of wool (sorrel) and jute, 2 popular natural materials. Synthetic rugs shed less, yet are often less desired and less durable. Jute rugs last, add texture to a room and shed. Wool rugs made by hand (hand-knotted or hand-woven) are said to shed less than more affordable wool rugs made by machines (or hand-tufted). 

I don't think the usual tips given to reduce the shedding are very insightful: 1) Lay the rug in a low foot traffic area (oh, c'mon!); 2) Lightly vacuum (tell me how?); 3) Vacuum against the grain (which end is it?); and 4) Use a high-quality rug pad under the rug (well, it's a given and doesn't much reduce shedding, although it extends the life of a rug).

My Safavieh seagrass rug from Overstock

So where does this leave us?: 1) Still looking for a miracle liquid or sure-fire practices; 2) Acceptance of the shedding; 3) Never vacuuming with a beater-bar setting; and 4) Buying rugs made of natural seagrass. Oh, that's the ticket ... for some areas!

In my home, my big area rug is wool, which I bought at Macy's. Neither cheap, nor expensive, somewhere in the middle price-range; 100% wool; and made in India. I vacuum it once a week and must accept some shedding. Always, if I walk around my apartment in socks, I pick up little fibers on the bottoms (like owning a short-haired dog).

For accent rugs such as a doorway; or an enclosed patio room; or perhaps a dining room, I highly recommend natural seagrass over some other natural fiber rugs. Seagrass doesn't shed ... luckily discovered after I bought the rug! It's water-resistant, durable, and feels smooth underfoot, but I don't think I'd want it in a living room. There's no shedding, and yet you'd give up the cozy softness of a wool rug.

Readers, I've researched this topic to death on a number of occasions, and this is the best remedy I can come up with. Perhaps one day somebody will invent the miracle product I keep searching for that will stop wool rugs from shedding. Watch this space! 

Meanwhile feel free to share any tips you have to reduce the shedding of wool or other natural-fiber rugs. For sure, inquiring minds and homeowners want to know!

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The Gemstone Chrome Diopside

Le Vian designed for Macy's

Ever hear of Chrome diopside? Me either ... until recently. It's a beautiful deep forest green color that rivals an emerald. The color comes from traces of the element chromium. Before a large mineable deposit of the gem was discovered in Siberia in 1988, the supply was far too limited to be brought to market. Chrome diopside forms at the entry of diamond mines. Before the discovery, mainly jewel collectors owned it. Unlike many other stones, such as sapphires, rubies and emeralds, the color of chrome diopside is natural without the standard (and acceptable) industry practice of heat treatment to make the stores transparent. The deep green color, along with its clarity give the stone its value.

Photo: Ebay - Russian Diopside Sterling Silver Necklace

Why would you buy chrome diopside in lieu of emeralds if drawn to the rich green hue? Because they are as beautiful as emeralds and cheaper since the demand is not yet as high. Some jewelers expect the price for chrome diopside to rise as soon as the public becomes more aware of them. One jewelry expert said, "and as soon as they are renamed!"🙂

Photo: Overstock - Miadora Chrome Diopside with diamonds

Chrome diopsides (a 5.5-6.5 on Moh's scale of hardness) will scratch easier than diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds, as they are softer. For that reason, a neckless is a more practical setting for the stones, than pieces that take a beating, such as a ring or bracelet. Like pearls (a 3-4 on Moh's scale), these green sparklers are delicate and need to be treated with care.

Nonetheless, if looking for natural, untreated green gems, now is the time to consider chrome diopsides while they are less expensive than emeralds.

Photo: Wikepedia

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Jewelry & Beautiful Things

Photo: Brilliant Earth. Won't you jump off the page onto my arm? 

In my 20s I thought I'd buy myself a sheared mink coat sometime in the future to celebrate a pivotal birthday: turning 40, turning 50. I wasn't sure when exactly, yet that was the plan. But after I bought a goose down coat and discovered how warm it was, I no longer wanted to spend such a sum on a mink coat. My wish evaporated. 

In a way, it is the value of allowing ourselves to want things, instead of falling prey to instant gratification. We make fewer purchasing mistakes if we take our time before pulling the trigger. By nature, I am an under buyer. It has served me well.

Photo: Blue Nile. I'm waiting ...

Here are some pretties I'm eying with the vague notion of treating myself on my next biggg birthday. I have long desired a tennis bracelet. Diamonds or sapphires? Depends on how much I can spend and the deal available at the time. Both stones are lovely!

As long as jewelry is real, well made and substantial enough (as I won't squint to see the stones!), they don't need to be Harry Winston quality because I don't intend to resale them. Years ago, I got some lovely pieces at Macy's.

Photo: Brilliant Earth. A shimmering ring is looking for a new home. 💅

I would not be unhappy with a pretty sapphire and diamond ring. Do you see a pattern here? Diamonds, sapphires (or rubies), oh my! Although there's no need to go overboard, I think every woman deserves a few pieces of fine jewelry, something durable that sparkles and makes her happy. Very happy! Perhaps the equivalent for a man is a good watch.

Below are earrings I do have. They look fancy, but not so much that I can't wear them for every day. Bling should not stay in a box. They would look spectacular with a new tennis bracelet, wouldn't they? Fortunately, as an under buyer, I take my time and won't go broke! Tick, tock, tick, tock ... until a  pivotal birthday.

Photo: Macy's. Hello, beauties!

What is your favorite? Perhaps it is one of the four or something you already own or want to own.


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By nature I'm an under buyer. However, if I see something, which has "me" written all over it at a great price, I pounce to buy it. Pearl jewelry usually has the word "me" written all over it ... as I enjoy wearing a few pieces. Not to mention: diamonds, rubies and sapphires (but oh, I digress!).

These Glitzy Rocks Colored Freshwater Pearl Stretch Bracelets are selling for $10 on Overstock. Sooo, I bought myself a treat in the white color. Love them! ♥

They are big, real, freshwater pearls. Yes, I see some blemishes and uneven coloring. My bracelet arrived with 24 unknotted pearls (that do not slide) on a comfortable elastic strand. None of the pearls are perfect, however for under $10 I didn't expect Akoya cultured pearls. For less than the price of costume jewelry, these freshwater pearls look very classic on the arm. As a matter of fact, I like them so much, I bought my mother a bracelet in white pearls also. She should receive hers in the mail today.

You can get the pearl bracelets for $4.50 per strand if you buy all 10 colors. Plus, Overstock coupons may be applied on the purchase for additional savings. (Wow, if only my under buying nature hadn't kicked in.) For a generous number of big, beautiful, real, freshwater pearls, it's a steal!

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The Perfect Diva Den

Pierre Cardin Attributed Bar Stool from Chairish

Just like a man, a woman needs a personal room, or "cave" to get away and relax! So Chairish, an online consignment marketplace for sellers and buyers of designer home goods, invited me to style a board, depicting the perfect Diva Den, and I'm happy to offer a few ideas.

 Whether your Diva Den is a small apartment, or cubbyhole within a big house, here are six helpful design tips:

1) In a room, empty space is as valuable as any object that fills it - So buy to fit the space. Spareness is good, while clutter (and crowding) is always bad. Don't buy anything that is too big or too small; and never, ever overbuy.
2) Surround yourself with beautiful furniture and objects you love - The pieces should make you happy.
3) Select articles that are practical, comfortable and multi-functional - If you do, you'll get lots of bang for the buck!
4) Be organized and tidy - Everything should have its place.
5) Don't be afraid to mix and match high-end with low-end home decor.
6) Remember to use vertical, as well as, horizontal space.

And now, for my style board of the perfect Diva Den ... imagine one room in a house, or a small apartment: I have mixed furniture from Chairish's website with a few inexpensive items:

  Southern Living Leather Sofa	Vintage Schatz Royal Mariner Eight Day Ship Cloak
Nerisa Chrome Crystal Flush Mount Chandelier- from Overstock.com	Altra Ladder Desk and Bookcase (also available in red) from Walmart.com

My favorite stools have soft upholstery with a supportive back (there are many like these on Chairish.com	 SUKI 2-4 Seat Black Folding Round Dinning Table from Habitat.co.uk.
   Brass Barstool With Blue Upholstered Seat	       Taylored Daybed with Bolster Cushions

As you can see, my Diva Den has lots of comfortable seats. (I mean, who plans to stand in a Woman's Cave? No one!) The daybed acts as a cozy sitting area, or place to snooze. Bar stools offer colorful accents, or a compact seat without taking up much space. While the chandelier adds good lighting to read and work, it's also a sparkling thing of beauty. Finally, my Diva Den is classic and modern. There is a mix of rich textures, soft upholstery, leather, pretty metal and warm wood, as well as, several pops of color. With nine pieces ... a lovely blend of comfort and style!

How would you design your Diva Den?

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Kaufmann Mercantile

Kaufmann Mercantile is on a mission to offer products that hold up over time rather than fill up landfills. Everything from accent furniture, kitchen utensils, office gadgets, grooming and beauty supplies, camping gear and gardening tools is top notch.

The company scours the USA, Europe and Japan to find useful, better-made goods, including a homemade copper tea kettle, metal Plier Office Stapler, or Merchant & Mills Heavy Fabric Pins. The inventory is diverse, yet it has one characteristic in common; the items are meant to withstand a lifetime of use. 

Quality, practical basics make awesome Christmas gifts. People need them. In my opinion, much of the merchandise has a bit of old world charm, and it is easy to find something unique. The recipient isn't likely to already have an Italian olive wood pocket knive, Pivo solid brass bottle opener, or handcrafted pewter shaving mug.

The website is simple to navigate: Search for gifts by category, dollar amount, or country of origin. Often it pays to spend a few more bucks on necessities that won't have to be replaced. Excellence always makes the perfect gift.

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Sydney Evans Jewelry

14k rose gold ruby lips ring

Working with diamonds, rubies, sapphires and gold, Rosanne Karnes is the designer and creative force behind Sidney Evans, a fine jewelry line. She uses cultural symbols, spirituality and humor as her inspiration. The expertly crafted rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces have a hip, modern aesthetic.

Blue ring: 18K gold, diamonds and turquoise

I have two jewelry quirks. They are quirks because there is no right or wrong when it comes to buying jewelry, only personal preferences. My quirks are: 1) I only what fine jewelry (platinum, gold or silver); and 2) I never pay big bucks for costume jewelry and usually don't want it.

So I can appreciate a jeweler who uses real 14k-18k gold and precious gems to create her line. Major department stores like Macy's, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom carry her. That's a plus because sometimes department stores run jewelry sales.

Resurrecting this ring from my Halloween blog

Another revelation ... if I were a millionaire, I'd buy lots of Sydney Evans bling, starting with the rings featured in this post. Since buying fine jewelry requires budgeting, I tend to stick with a few classic, timeless pieces. But hey if I had a huge budget, I could venture out a little more. You know what I mean?

Gold and diamond single stud earring

I love the designer's earrings also, but too often they sell as a single stud ... and I have two ears! I think for the price customers should get two earrings. I'm too cheap to make two purchases, one for each ear!

Oh well, the designer and I can agree to disagree on what you should get for the money. I still love her work -- beauty; spirituality; and a touch of whimsy!

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How Much Should You Spend To Store Your Stuff?

Call me parsimonious, because I ask myself this question every time I think about buying storage of any kind, whether it's a file cabinet, armoire, or Tupperware. I realize a few containers or cabinets are necessary for organization. It's easy to keep your home tidy if everything has its place. But oh man, do I deliberate whenever I consider bringing another storage receptacle home.

Usually I don't really want to give up the space it will occupy. So if the need for additional storage is greater than the hit, i.e. the loss of the space, I will bite the bullet. Although I'm sure before acting, I spend the next week looking at the new unit and asking myself if I made the right decision ... before I settle into actually liking the new piece.

Another issue I wrestle with is how much to pay for storage. It involves how much I value the things I plan to keep. Should I spend hundreds of dollars to keep them? Or ... should I get rid of the stuff I rarely use? Do I bring a cabinet into my apartment so I can hang onto certain things (clothes, papers, books, pillows), or would it be cheaper to give stuff away and buy it again, if a need arises?

After grappling with such thoughts for a while and deciding to take the plunge, I inevitably find I don't want to spend big bucks for storage. So I assess my needs thoroughly and look for deals.

Recently I decided to take the plunge by buying a file cabinet. File cabinets are expensive! 

Luckily, I found one (manufactured by Hirst Industries) at Target (which is also sold at Amazon, Staples and Overstock). It has 3 drawers and a lock -- 2 drawers for letter-size files and a top drawer for "junk." 

Since I don't need to worry about theft like office workers might, I accepted a few limitations in lieu of paying serious money for a heavy duty file cabinet. Basically, I just need to keep my papers and office supplies organized and occasionally away from prying eyes. The lock is good enough for that. Only the top 2 drawers lock. With a powerful jerk, the lock could be brokened open. Although legal-sized drawers are more versatile, letter-size drawers are idea for a small space. Constructed of steel, the cabinet won't fall apart, and the handles look expensive. It holds lots of files, making it perfect for a home office. I bought the pretty pearl white. Very nice for the price! $39 - $89, depending on where you buy it. 

I bought this caddy for it.

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Joss And Main

Joss and Main is a flash sale site that focuses on selling home goods and decor. It is a fabulous place to go for decorating tips and inspiration. If their stylists were to show up at my door for a makeover, not only would I let them in, they could  -- carte blanche -- do whatever they wanted. If I didn't love it, that would be the surprise.

The online retailer runs seven flash sales daily, beginning at 11 a.m. EST. Each flash sale usually lasts for 72 hours. You have to register to see them.

While there are bargains and good value to be found on the website, you should do extensive research before submitting an order. Visit furniture showrooms, read product descriptions carefully, pay attention to measurements ... and google item reviews. In other words, only take calculated risks. Don't buy articles blind, so you don't make expensive mistakes. However, if you do your homework, you can end up with a special piece, or an attractive price.

Also know going in that customer reviews for Joss And Main are mixed. While many customers report: Customer service is responsive and sends out replacements for damaged goods, there are too many complaints saying it takes a long time (over a month) to receive furniture, plus it is nearly impossible to cancel goods once an order is placed. And buyer beware, shipping is expensive, which seems to be common with flash sale sites. None of them offer discounted or free shipping.

So take a gander, get inspired ... and proceed mindfully. You might pinpoint your style and learn a few decorating tricks, but keep in mind, it's a lot of trouble to return a couch or table.

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A Savvy Shopper's Guide For Holiday Gifts

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The holidays are coming, and the time to start thinking about gifts is now. This year why not buy fewer, but more thoughtful presents? Quantity doesn't make people as happy as quality does. 

So let's begin: Peruse for ideas. Select items to put smiles on faces. Gave people gifts they need, like and will use, especially things they might not buy for themselves.

Here are six smart websites offering unique gifts:

Planisphere watch
UndommonGoods

1. UncommonGoods - Advertised as "creative living, mindful giving," it offers upscale merchandise and creative design at reasonable prices, including jewelry, accessories and home goods for men, women, and children.

2. Smallflower - Established in 1875, a retailer specializing in European herbal toiletries and remedies. It is an authentic international apothecary shop.

3. Hammacher Schlemmer - The perfect place to shop for the men in your life. Enough with the ties ... a store offering "the best, the only and the unexpected." Lots of practical goods and toys! If you want to spoil your dad or husband with a special gift, this is the place to look.

Crystal box

Archus Jewels

4. Archaus Jewels - It offers Artisan and hand crafted jewelry and accessories for women. They create articles with a breezy style and natural and lux textures.

5. RSH Online Plant Shop - Tools and plants for the gardeners on your holiday list. The Royal Horticultural Society only delivers to UK addresses, but the website is such fun to browse. A look will generate ideas, then check the horticultural society in your town for gifts.

6. The Company Store - Established in 1911, this merchant is all about comfort, offering high thread count bed sheets, cotton quilts, duvet covers, home decor and bath towels. Everyobody loves new, plush bedding and/or big, thirsty bathroom towel sets.

Finding gifts online can help you avoid the holiday crunch, as well as, save you a few bucks. No gas to put in your car, and shipping is often free of charge. Look for extra value and savings on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Agate coasters - Uncommongoods

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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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