What's On Your Playlist?

Back by request is a variation of my guilty pleasure songs. But since I don't feel too guilty about this compliation (not like the 1st one I compiled), I will call this 3rd list a summer playlist. Most of the songs are fairly old. They are on my playlist because they stand the test of time. I can listen to each of the songs over and over again. ♬♪♪♫♪♪

I don't like to link up with YouTube, since uploads come and go, but I'll do it here. So until they disappear, you can click below on the song titles to hear them. The music is in no particular order:

1. St. Teresa (above) by Joan Osborne - Intoxicating beat.  A sympathetic look at a woman who is addicted to drugs and must support her habit anyway she can. I picture her high on a street corner in front of a church when a big statue of St. Teresa catches her eye. She is a human being who has fallen on hard times. "Every stone a story, like a rosary."

2. Crazy - Cee Lo Green - Love the lyrics and sentiment. A bluey-hip hop sound. 

3. Whenever, Whatever - Shakira - Great rhythm, great voice, great body (like you didn't notice).

4. All Along The Watchtower - (Written by Bob Dylan) Performed by Jimi Hendrix - An ancient song, which never gets old. The introduction is classic, and the composition builds and builds.

5. Give In To Me by Michael Jackson - Mega hits like Billie Jean and Thriller get more play, but I like his lesser known songs too. This one features Slash on guitar.

6. Sweet Child Of Mine by Guns & Roses - Speaking of Slash, his opening guitar riff  (and later solo) make this the memorible rock and roll song that it is. Nice lyrics by Axl Rose. Rose isn't a bad singer; however I would give ANYTHING to hear Freddy Mercury sing this; a pure fantasy, since Mercury died in 1991 before the song came out.

7. Rocks by Primal Scream - You have to love a song with brilliant lyrics like "Dealers keep dealin, Thieves keep thievin, ... Aint no use in prayin. That's the way it's staying."  This song came out nearly 20 years ago, but it sounds so current, doesn't it?

8. Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson - Kelly has a terrific voice, so I'm a fan. 

9. Someone I Used To Know by Gotye (with Kimbra) - Sure it was wildly popular all last year. But you know what? I still love it.

10. Get This Party Started by Pink - I always listen to this in summer. Pink is another good singer with a strong voice.

Extra: If that's not enough, play a song by Lana Del Rey - I realize she bombed on SNL. Was it nerves? She's a good musician who writes intelligent, atmospheric, torchy pop. I like her mezzo-soprano voice. Next time she'll have more experience performing LIVE on television.
                     

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Great Find, Greek Wine

871 Seventh Avenue (between west 55th & west 56th Streets)

Recently I was invited to a wine tasting held at a lovely Greek restaurant called Molyvos in Manhattan. Not only did I discover three excellent wines, I plan on returning to the restaurant for dinner. This Aegean bar/cafe offers a relaxing, warm atmosphere with toothsome dishes. Those of us at the event were served generous portions of salmon, shrimp and spicy meatballs in red sauce to go with the wine we sampled. The meatballs were tender and juicy, and the tomato sauce, garden-fresh. Tasty!

Regarding the wine, I can't give ratings like those in Wine Spectator (i.e. "93 points unblind") because I'm a wine ignoramus ... and c'mon, that would sound highfalutin ridiculous. But ... I know what I like. So suffice it to say, all three Greek wines are delicious! Even the red wine tastes smooth, not unpleasantly dry or bitter.

People who think they dislike red wine are probably tasting tannins -- organic substances which naturally exist in the skins, seeds and stems of grapes.* There is a higher concentration of tannins in red wine than white wine, because red wine is fermented with its grape skins and seeds. However, red wine has health benefits that white wine lacks, and you can find red wine, which doesn't taste bitter (or high in acidity) like the Wishes Eratines label here. 

The wine is produced by Eklektikon, from the Pieria Eratini vineyards, a region located at the foothills of Mount Olympus. The Greek winery was founded in 2006 by oenologists Pavlos Argyropoulos and Andreas Pontas. The wines to try are:

Wishes Eratines White Dry Wine - Rich with good body.

Wishes Eratines Red Dry Wine - Smooth and fruity, not bitter.

Blink Brut Sparkling Wine - Refreshing, crisp and perfect for summer.

Their website says, "No poem was ever written by a drinker of water." How cute!

Wine connoisseur and author, Jay McInerny, once told me, there is no wrong way to drink wine. Chill the red if you like it that way.  (And I do.)

Trust your palate.

The wines are a great find. Tastings are fun! By the end of the evening, I found myself sitting around with the company's reps, speculating about what "ambrosia" and the "nectar of the Gods" are. Eh??? I've wondered for years. Could they be wine and honey? I don't really know. What do you think they are?

*source: Wine For Dummies

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Watching Game Of Thrones

Broken Crown by Mumford and Sons

I didn't read the medieval fantasy books from which Game Of Thrones is based and wasn't familiar with author George R.R. Martin. It's not my usual genre, but I love the television series. 

There's just enough special effects and fighting to keep it exciting without crossing over into boredom. The show is smartly character driven, and there are lots of characters and story lines to follow. No character's fate is safe. Just like in medieval England and the Holy Roman Empire, prominent ruling families rise and fall, so major characters are killed off.

I like how unflinching and without judgment human nature and behaviors like ambition and sex, as well as, the struggles for power and survival are portrayed. The series is far from dark, but be prepared: Lovers and prostitutes alike walk around naked. Sex can be crude and a matter of duty, lust or violence. Women are slapped across the face by their husbands. Lords chop off the heads of enemies without regret. And, characters are rebuked with names like fat "little piggy," "dwarf," "halfman" and every offensive, four letter word in the English language. But, I'm glad the series rings true to the period. I'd be more upset if it didn't.

All the characters in the drama are trying to fulfill their destiny in a world where life is nasty, brutal, short and ocasionally sweet, as philosphers and poets often remind us.

He needs a love interest who doesn't nearly kill him with arrows. Love isn't supposed to hurt.

The series must be exhausting and a blast to shoot. The actors are so talented ... and proficient with weaponry. (I'd cut off my own head, if I had to fight by swinging a sword. It ain't easy.) Obviously, it's the writing and acting that make a show resonate. With an international cast, you stay glued to the set.

 My favorite characters include: Jon Snow (a good hearted, bastard son of Lord Stark, or so we think? His mother is unknown. He became a favorite character of mine when he was left out of the party during the king's visit. Did he have to live outside the main Stark house too?), Tyrion Lannister (the clever 2nd son and dwarf in a powerful family), Queen Cersei Lannister (she's beautiful and scheming, but not particularly cruel), the "Kingslayer," Jamie Lannister (he's fun, fun, fun!) and Arya Stark (a spitfire and survivior). I miss Ned Stark and am still recovering from the shock of his story line in season 1. Charles Dance is amazing as Tywin Lannister, and Natalia Tena as Osha, a Wildling who cares for the younger Stark boys, is mesmerizing (with her piercing eyes and sultry voice). I love Jason Momoa, but his beard and character, Khal Drogo, SCARE me. Season 3 is the most intense! 

Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow (above photo) must meet at some point, don't you think? They are both developing into leaders and share a few traits - both have a conscience and are being shaped by betrayals and the harsh realities of Medieval-ish life. So they'll understand each other. But, will they be friends or enemies? And are they related?

Catch Games Of Thrones on dvd, if you missed the airing. It's got plenty of humanity and the magic of dragons. I look forward to a planned 4th and 5th season on HBO. There are 5 books and counting. So the show could continue for years. By the way, I think writer, GRRM, is on the same level as William Faulker. Just like Faulker, Martin created an entire world of intertwining plots and characters, with minor characters in some books becoming major characters of other books.

Who do you think will be the last king or queen standing, or rather, sitting on the Iron Throne?

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Happy Father's Day: A Good Man Is Not Hard To Find

Photo by VisualPhotos.com

My Dad, bless his soul, was 100% there for me all through the years. All children need someone reliable watching their backs. I could always count on my father's good judgment and kind heart. We could argue and still be closely connected. There were times when he was very exasperated with me; and there were times when I was ANGRY with him. Many times I knew I was right, and he was soooo wrong, even if later he turned out to be right.

Fathers don't have to be perfect, or agree with you on everything. They just have to be present. 

Sometimes my father was present ... whether he should have been, or not. When I was a child, I took catechism classes to make my First Holy Communion. As a creative project, our teacher asked us to make a model altar -- a table upon which the bread and wine are consecrated. Our family wasn't particularly religious, but Dad decided to help me. He took a small shipping cardboard box and cut out four legs. I knew I had lost control of my project when he retrieved a white, cotton handkerchief from his chest of drawers, ironed it, then proceeded to sew it on the cut out table.

Dad (of Anglo-Norman origins) was not even Catholic like mom and I; however, he was so motivated I didn't have the heart to stop him. I ended up making a chalice, candelabrum and communion plate out of aluminum foil to go on the altar.

Let me tell you, when I brought my altar to class, the other kids' jaws dropped. It was judged the best! Considering the extra help I received, I was sorry to see disappointment on several faces and felt awkward accepting a prize. Dad and I were just trying to get an assignment done, not cheat or win anything. Sometimes there's no stopping an enthusiastic parent. I might have asked for a few ideas to get started, but who knew he'd get so involved, or the level of his skills!?!

No one is perfect, but my Dad was special. The thing that made him special: He was a good man. I hope you had someone special in your childhood too, and if not, that you become a good man to your own children because you don't want to miss out at both ends.  

Fathers deserve treats and a good dinner to say "I love you. Thanks."

Click Rebecca's Soap Deli News to make this. I like her soaps too.

Happy Father's Day! 

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At The Red Brick Cottage

Photo by JJS

The Red Brick Cottage is a charming gift shop and home decorating store, located in Radciff, Kentucky.  A family business for nearly 30 years, the country store specializes in "colonial" and "primitive" goods, offering custom gift baskets and beautiful, high end home accessories. The shop is 6,000 square feet in size, where you can spend hours browsing.  However if you can't make a trip to Radcliff, you can order items from their website. The selection is vast, practical and lovely, so you may spend hours looking there (i.e online) too. The items -- including furniture, garden tools, kitchenware, candles, bedding and food -- are more than just eye-candy, they fill needs.

Find adorable, unique, merchandise for your home, or wow family and friends with gift baskets filled with floral or edible goodies at very reasonable prices.

All the cute articles in the photos are for sale, except for the cat resting in a bowl. He stays at the store.

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12 Necklaces For 12 Necklines

Recently I stumbled upon this chart and was fascinated by it. Shows the best necklace for a particular neckline. Useful!

Last summer I bought a strapeless dress and needed a necklace to make it look more polished. Thank goodness, I bought the right "chocker" style of necklace for my dress out of pure dumb luck, since at the time I didn't have the knowledge, or this chart to guide me. Fewff! 

I see how the necklaces complete and add pazazzz to the necklines. Do you agree ... and do you wear necklaces? Amazon has a variety to pursue, and now we will know how to wear them.

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90 Degree Days Ahead

It seems like every spring has a week in which temperatures rise making the season feel more like summer. Here on the East Coast, the next three days are going to hit the 90s. Are you ready for them? I love summer, so I won't mind too much. I can always remove layers of clothing and/or sip a tall, slurpy, icy drink to cool myself off.

Here are a few things to be grateful for when the thermometer registers HOT:

1. The great outdoors - Relishing public parks, backyard barbecues and center-of-town window shopping. Being outside is fun ... period. Whether you're enjoying the leafy green or walking on a city pavement, there are lots of sights to take in.

2. Music mixes - Make a CD of all you favorite pop songs, or if you're lucky enough to have an eclectic radio station in your area, be sure to drive your car with the radio cranked up (loud for you in your car, though not at a volume to annoy a neighborhood). You never get too old for it! ♬♪♪♫♪♪

3. Swimming - at local pools or beaches - It's great exercise without traumatizing your joints, as well as, a fabulous way to spend time with friends catching up on news. Plus, the fashion is fun and easy, from swimsuits and cover-ups to wrap dresses and sandals.  Don't forget the sun protection, including sunglasses!

4. Biking - Many cities have Citi Bike sharing programs, where you can go to a convenient station, rent a bike to ride for several hours and then return the bike at another convenient station. New York City established a station at 59th Street and 5th Avenue, an entrance to Central Park, making a ride in the park inviting for locals and tourists alike. Cost: $10 and up. You can't beat it!

5. Reading, relaxing and eating - I don't know about you, but I seem to do plenty of these "activities" when the days are long and the weather agreeable. I'm looking for some good summer reads now. Goodreads may have some ideas.

6. Soaring temperatures are a reminder to plan your travels. The chance to take a summer vacation is right around the corner. Enjoy!

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Bormioli Rocco Frigoverre Jugs with Hermetic Lids ... Brilliant

Come inside my refrigerator. 

See the glass beverage jugs above? I love them! Let me explain why.

I use a gallon of milk each week and always, always run out on a weekend. Fetching milk is a chore I can do without. Why it feels so vexing, I don't know exactly ... perhaps because it's so repetitive, and I don't like standing in lines to buy it. Plus, far too often I have to leave a cozy Sunday night roost to go out into the rain, cold or heat to shlep it home. 

So I decided to replace a task I don't like with one I don't mind. Now I order two big boxes of dry powdered milk from Walmart's online store. My order ships directly to my home free-of-charge. I mix a half gallon of milk at a time to keep in my refigerator. Price-wise, buying powdered milk is cheaper. I get an extra gallon of milk per box, which adds up to lots of savings over a year's time. I also discovered that the texture of baked goods and homemake yogurt is actually better using powdered milk. In my opinion, powdered milk tastes good as a beverage if you drink it cold. Glass keeps milk colder than plastic.

So that brings me back to the glass jugs. I need them to store cold ready-to-drink milk. I thought about using Mason jars before finding them. They are Frigoverre 1.2-liter glass pitchers made by Bormioli Rocco, an Italian manufacturer. I bought 4 pitchers. They are pretty! I feel like a farm girl taking a glass jug out of my refrigerator, pouring milk into coffee, or a recipe.

The handle is strong. The spout makes pouring a breeze, and the container is sleek and compact taking up only a small area of space in the refrigerator. The jugs fit in the shelves of the door, but I store them in the top center of the refrigerator so the milk is ice cold.

The jugs are a heavy duty glass and will not absorb the favors, odors or color of any foods stored inside. They also have innovative hermetic lids. It takes a little practice, but once you get the hang of how to lock and unlock the lids, they seal air tight with ease.  You can shake the jugs without spilling any liquid.

I may use one or two of the jugs for iced tea this summer. Perhaps Italians serve red wine in them.

Easy to wash and reuse, they are the perfect refrigerator pitchers and should last a long time provided nobody drops one. Likewise, I will avoid pouring boiling water into them because glass is tricky and will crack with heat ... and then, I will definitely cry. The jugs come is 3 sizes: 0.5L, 1.2L and 2L.

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Personalize Your Home With Prints On Canvas

Prints on canvas by Splendiz Arts

The slogan says, "Turn your memories into masterpieces." Indeed ... surrounding yourself with images of family and friends on gallery quality canvas is a brilliant idea! You can have just about anything you fancy printed on a canvas: a wedding photo, fine art, the Eiffel Tower, pets, pumpkins or diamonds ... whatever brings you happiness, reflects your personality and makes your house a home.

Photo by Magnipic

With online retailers like Easy Canvas Prints, you upload a favorite picture, then select options for your canvas, such as size and wrap thickness. The company prints and stretches your image; and your canvas arrives, with a semi-gloss finish, ready to hang. You can elect to frame it, but it looks great unframed.

There are also competitors to google and compare.

Having pictures printed on canvas is often less expensive than having them framed. Work with a website you can call for help. Customer service will walk you through the process of creating your canvas.

 When it comes to home decorating, the number one rule is to surround yourself with personal touches and the things you love. Ordering prints on canvas is an affordable way to turn cherished photographs into art, and they stay vivid and pristine for years to come.

Photos by Easy Canvas Prints

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Banana Pudding

Photo: Kraft

Banana pudding is one of my favorite Southern desserts, and I won't lie: The higher the milk fat used in the recipe, the richer and better tasting the pudding is. Cream makes a heavenly banana pudding, but in the interest of staying healthy and slender, I make a few concessions. I try to retrain my tastesbuds to like lighter versions of the most decadent sweets. Most of the time, here is how I eat banana pudding:

Banana Pudding

Ingredients:

4 eggs, separated

1/2 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons of vanilla sugar (if you have it)

4 tablespoons flour

Punch of salt

4 cups of milk

2 teaspoons vanilla

Cinnamon graham crackers (or the traditional Vanilla Wafers. I have also used ginger cookies)

3-4 ripe bananas

Directions: 

1. Beat the egg yolks and sugar together. I use an electric hand mixer and beat it right in a large saucepan, so I have one less bowl to wash. (Yes, I am THAT lazy!)

2. Save the egg whites in a separate mixing bowl for later.

3. Add the flour, cornstarch, salt and milk to the saucepan and beat smooth.

4. Heat this mixture on the stovetop, stirring until it thickens into a custard. I use a wooden spoon.

5. Turn off the flame and add the vanilla. Let cool.

6. Next pour a little of the custard onto the bottom of a deep baking dish.

7. Layer with the graham crackers (or vanilla wafers), then top with slices of bananas.

8. Keep layering. Alternate: custard, graham crackers, banana slices.

9. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites with about 2 tablespoons of vanilla sugar into a meringue and spread it on top of the banana pudding.

10. Bake at 400 degrees F for about 10 minutes. Watch closely. When the meringue is slightly brown and the pudding is bubbling, remove from the oven. Eat warm or cold.

Even if you're a healthy eater, I can't see totally depriving yourself of treats. Graham crackers contain less sugar than vanilla wafers, but are equally delicious. You can also use 1% milk to make banana pudding, and it will be tasty. But for special occasions, use whole milk and cream. As long as you eat fattening food the way your grandparents did -- a serving for dinner on Sundays -- you can indulge.

THE SAVVY SHOPPER features food as one of its topics because it's a central focus of our lives. We spend a huge amount of our disposable income (money after taxes) on food. Gathering, preparing and serving meals takes up lots of our time too. You can forgo buying a pair of shoes, but as my mother notes, "You have to eat every day!" So if you know how to cook, you can save a bundle, entertain on a budget and most of all, eat well. Bon appétit!

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How To Pick Sunglasses: Form To Function

Protecting your eyes is a top consideration:

Just like your skin, the lens and corneas of your eyes need protection from the sun's harmful rays. Wearing sunglasses helps reduce your risks of cataracts and vision damage.

1. Always choose sunglasses that block 99% - 100% of the sun's UVB and UVA light.

2. Sunglass lenses should offer UV 400 protection -- meaning they block up to 400 nanometers (measurements in wavelengths) of ultraviolet light.  

3. With sunglasses, bigger is better, and wraparound frames offer the best eye protection against damaging rays.

Select The Right Lens Hue:
The coating that blocks the sun's utltraviolet light is clear. Hence, darker lenses do not necessarily offer more protection than lighter lenses.  But lens hue will alter how you perceive color.

1. Grey tints block light without affecting contrast or distorting colors.

2. For automobile drivers, grey, green and brown lenses are better. You can still distinguish between the changes in traffic lights and not miss vital information registering on your dashboard.

3. For golfers, copper lenses will mute the blue sky and green grass against a white golfball.

4. For tennis players, blue and green tints will increase the contrast of a yellow tennis ball.

5. Other lens tints like violet, rose, yellow and orange are good for very specific sports and outdoor activities like shooting targets, but definitely bad for driving!!!

Polarized Lenses:

Polarized lenses do not block ultraviolet light; they reduce the glare produced when sunlight bounces off other surfaces, like water.

They help boaters, water skiers and snow skiers not be blinded by reflected light. But, they make the digital displays of cell phones and a car's dashboard harder to read.

Choosing Lens Material:

Consider your lifestyle. The most expensive isn't always necessary. 

1. Glass – Has excellent optical clarity and scratch-resistance, but is heavier and will shatter when dropped.

2. NXT polyurethane: Has excellent optical clarity, scratch and impact resistance; is flexible and lightweight, but is the most expensive.

3. Polycarbonate: Has good optical clarity; is impact resistant; lightweight and affordable, but is less scratch resistant than NXT polyurethane or glass.

4. Acrylic: is inexpensive and lightweight, but has less optical clarity or durability than glass, NXT polyurethane or polycarbonate.  Acrylic lenses are ideal for casual sunglass wear. If lost or broken, it's not a big deal since you pay less for them.

Consider Fashion:

Don't pretend otherwise, you know you want to look rock star cool and movie star glamorous in your shades, therefore:
Determine the shape of your face, then remember that opposites attract.

1. Rounded frames are great on a square face.

2. Square frames complement a round face.

3. Rectangular frames flatter a heart-shaped face.

4. Oval faces have more leeway (because the face is balanced). Nearly all shapes of sunglasses look good on an oval face, though square frames with rounded corners will complement ovals especially well.

5. Oversized glasses will balance an oblong face, making it look shorter.

6. Aviator glasses not only look good on all face shapes, they make faces look younger.

7. Always try on sunglasses standing in front of a full length mirror. Never trust the small mirror on a sunglass rack. You need to see how the frames look on your entire face or you will arrive home wondering, "What happened!?!" when, "I looked sooo good in the department store!" I won't name my source, but has this ever happened to you?

Here are a few examples of sunglasses matched to face shapes. Don't worry about remembering every point. When you try on an assortment of sunglasses, your eyes will inevitably tell you when you are wearing the perfect frames.

By the way, the studded Prada frames in the top photo are perfect for my oval face, but not my wallet. So Marshall's and TJ Maxx ... here I come.

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Happy Mother's Day

Every year my Mother tells me not to buy her a gift because she doesn't need anything. It's a good thing I ignore her when she's wrong. She values a phone call and a thoughtful card, so I'm doing a round-up of images that would make lovely cards. A paper one is in the mail too. Happy Mother's Day, Mamma. xoxo.

This silhouette looks strikingly like my Mom. That's her nose, hair and earrings, and she has a dress with a similar collar. 

A sweet painting. Love the colors too.

I cannot believe my luck in finding this Superman logo. Read my account of a mother/daughter interaction. My Mom is still clueless!

You can find pretty images on the internet and use them in creative ways: 
1. Print on good paper, fold over and make your own cards. You may have to attach a blank sheet of paper inside to write on, if your paper isn't heavy enough.
2. Print an image (set on full page) and use to line the inside bottom of a box.
3. Print on full page and use as wrapping paper.

 To all mothers, enjoy your special day.

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