Sandals Made For Walking

In New York City we have no choice but to walk a lot. Even when using public transportation, it's common to walk 10, 15, 20 blocks after getting off at your stop. Concrete is hard on shoes and feet. Shoes wear out fast, and so will your feet if you don't wear the proper footwear on hard city pavement.🍎

Here's a confession: I dislike wearing sandals on city streets, but I do own them, and they are a key in surviving this big Hot Town, Summer In the City. Nonetheless, an entire day of walking will dry out and dirty my little tootsies!🙁 So for days of constant walking, I wear hybrid sandals -- closed toe shoes with sandal-like openings, so I'll include them as an option also.

In my experience sandals must have 2 functions to help you avoid foot problems:

1) Have good arch support;

2) Stabilize your heels.

-----------------------------------

3) And they must be cute because you won't wear them otherwise.

Here are my picks of the Best Sandals Made for Walking:
(Not in any order)

1) Women's Ecco Yucatan Sandals - above image↑ - They come in various colors, but the multi-colored ones are my favorite. Well-made, real leather upper and rubber sporty soles that support your arches and stablize your heels, check!

2) Merrell Jacardia Sandals - Any of Merrell's sandals could be on my list. This seems to be this year's edition. Merrell keeps the same basic foot-bed construction of their sandals, but the styles will change. So if you find last season's collection at TJ Maxx, consider buying them for less. With leather upper and man made supportive soles, mine (from 2 years ago) have a thicker, stable, leather heel like the top Ecco pair, yet still look new. So they are durable!

3) Teva Tirra Athletic Sandals - Usually I prefer leather uppers, yet these have a textile upper and sole. However, thousands of customers consistently give them 5 stars, and those reviewers can't all be wrong. Sturdy and well-made, with arch support and stable heels. In tons of colors too.

4) Clarks Morse Tour Sandals - A family owned shoe company that specializes in causal supportive walking shoes, so their sandals are no different. Comes in stone (an off-white), black or brown. One look says the sandal is made for walking on concrete as it's built to buffer your feet from the pounding.

5) Baretraps Solaura Sandals - Another retailer with a variety of super cute styles that offer arch support, stable heels and shock absorbing footbeds. It wasn't easy to pick just one!

6) JBU by Jambu Wild Flower - Technically these are Mary Jane shoes, but I walk all over the city in them while other people are wearing sandals. My feet stay comfortable and clean, so I love them. My 1st pair were in the color charcoal, replaced by denim. They also come in red and black, as well as, other designs. Some people buy them in every color. I tend to buy one neutral hued pair at a time to go with everything. The charcoal pair lasted for 2 summers of constant walking. Initially I worried they looked too juvenile, but I get too many compliments to care! 

These stylish sandals will support feet in all the right places, plus make the extra job of polishing your hoofs worth the effort! As a bonus the sales on summer sandals should begin soon! 


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5 Popular Things I Hate

Photo: gq.com

The aim of THE SAVVY SHOPPER is primarily to talk about loves ... not hates, but for discussion purposes only, it's sometimes fun to share what we don't like, so here I go. Different strokes for different folks, so I don't judge people harshly who like or do the 5 things I dislike, the following 5 are simply not my cup of tea. You can chime in too, but let's keep the topic short and sweet: This discussion will focus on concrete things, not the beliefs, attitudes or behavior of others (which would likely require a deeper examination):

Photo: Pinterest

5 Popular Things I Hate ... and why:

1) Eating contests - Nobody is meant to eat 74 hot dogs in 10 minutes. It’s stupid.

2) Boxing - Knocking somebody unconscious is the highlight of the sport?!? What’s to like about this? Moreover, I’m not enamored by two human beings willingly punching each other in the face over and over. It’s not fun to watch. Plus, who can forget in what condition too many blows to the head left Mohammad Ali?

3) Football - While in high school I enjoyed going with friends to local football games. I understand the skill, the camaraderie, the excitement. However, as the medical evidence on the perils of concussions (for professionals and kids) mount, I feel the risk of brain damage is not worth participating in the sport. What's more, I'd stir today's school boys into less risky sports like track, tennis or basketball.

4) Body tattoos -  For sure, I’m in the minority on this one. It seems the whole world is tattooed. Go swimming, or take a walk to see multiple tattoos up and down arms, backs, or legs. Sometimes people get tattoos to honor a person, place or thing, but I prefer unmarked skin which is even more beautiful, not to mention, easier to examine for skin cancer. 

5) Body piercings - With one exception, earlobes, a practical measure so as not to lose good earrings. I don’t want to buy or wear hardware anywhere else. Why get more complicated? Lenny Kravitz, what were you thinking!? Um ... wait, music man ... I probably don't need to know.

Photo: Today's Parent

So now it's your turn to share some popular and concrete things you hate and why. And feel free to agree or disagree with me. Be honest, but kind, and have fun with it.

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Have A Happy 4th Of July

Photo: clipart

Wishing everyone a happy Independence Day. Enjoy the family, friends, barbecues and fireworks. 

Photo: giphy.com

Take a moment to appreciate our freedom and salute the USA. Remember what others have given to win and preserve our liberties. 

Photo: lowgif.com

Be reflective, grateful and happy! Our ancesters came to America for a better life. We can repay them by striving for purpose, committment, contentment and happiness in life.

We honor the day with red, white and blue, the colors of the U.S. flag, borrowed from the Union Jack, the flag of Great Britain, America's mother country. In the American flag, the 3 hues represent "vigilance, perservance and justice." (Here's the history behind it.)

Photo: unknown source

And here's THE SAVVY SHOPPER'S way of honoring America: Glitter and bling! 

Photo: The Courier Journal

Let America always be this↑.

Photo: Unknown artist

And not become this↑.

Enjoy this patriotic, summer holiday ... the USA is 243 years strong!

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Milani Summer Beauty

Photo: vaarabella.wordpress.com

Milani is a top-notch cosmetic line sold at CVS, Ulta, Walgreens and Target. Founded by brother and sister Ralph Bijou and Laurie Minc in 2002, the siblings named their company after Milan, Italy in honor of its cutting edge fashion. The luxe makeup sells for $12.99 or less. With its wide array of rich pigmented beautiful colors that flatter every skin tone, there is no real need to spend more on makeup.

Milani offers lipsticks, eyeshadow, blush, eyebrow pencils, foundation, face powder, concealer, bronzers, highlighters and more. There are also makeup brushes, lip scrubs and nail polish. As attractive and numerous as the colors are, they all have a natural tinge, perhaps the reason why all skin tones can wear them.

Previously I featured the Malini blush in the Dolce Pink #o1 shade as my top doppelgänger for the iconic NARS Orgasm blush that sells for $30, which is 5 times more than its lookalike Malini blush. Malini in Luminoso #05 is a peachier shade, yet a close 2nd. 

At $12.99 the Rose Blush Trio Palette (above top image) is tempting, too, as the palettes (there are 2 varieties of hues) have a bit of shimmer.

I love the Pink Play/Rose Ludique #01 Color Harmony Blush Palette for summer beauty. The colors are blendable and gorgeous on ivory complexions. There are 4 different palettes including: Warm Bronzes, Warm Corals and Berry Rays.

The Milani lipsticks are another favorite of mine. Dulce Caramelo #27, a unique, peachy-pink-brown nude with subtle shimmer, is my summer signature color. I like it so much I bought 2 of them, one to apply in the morning and another to carry in my purse for touch ups. At $5.99, I can afford to splurge on a 2nd one! 

Milani makes quality cosmetics as lovely as NARS for oodles less! And what's more, the gold metalic packaging is classy.

Milani Caramelo #27

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Mocha Chocolate Cake

• 

  Photo: Bon Appétit: Don't worry if your cake and frosting are lighter in color. This photo has a food styler who took liberties. It's the taste we care about.

  I tweaked a Bon Appétit recipe requiring cake flour and mascarpone frosting - neither of which I stock. Mascarpone cream is "Italian cream cheese." It is slightly richer than American cream cheese, but you can add rich cream or sour cream to compensate in taste.
  
  As it happens: There is always cream cheese in my refrigerator, but never, ever mascarpone cheese; and there is always all-purpose flour in my cupboard, but never, ever cake flour. I dislike a job (shopping) before doing a job (baking a cake). Nobody has time for that! IMHO: 99% of all cakes turn out just fine using all-purpose flour. I've never had trouble eating one! The difference is: All-purpose flour has slightly more protein than cake flour.
  
  Another reason, I altered the recipe is: My German mother conditioned me to think: American pastries are too sweet. So I usually reduce the sugar in cakes by 1/2 cup, or more when I can get away with it. If the cake batter is less sweet, you will taste other ingredients better like chocolate, vanilla, or coffee. After frosting I rarely miss the lack of 1/2 cup of sugar in the batter since frosting is mainly sugar. Don't mess with Mom when baking, she's usually right! Here is my recipe for --
  
  
  Mocha Chocolate Cake
  
  

  Ingredients for the batter:
  

  
  
  
  2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  3/4 cup natural unsweetened raw cacao (or cocoa) powder - I use cacao power.
  1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  3/4 teaspoon salt
  1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
  1 1/2 cups (packed) brown sugar (The original recipe calls for 2 cups, so you can up the sugar if you must. You get used to less sugar over time.)
  1 cup buttermilk
  3 large eggs
  1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  4 teaspoons instant coffee (or espresso powder) dissolved in 3/4 cup hot water
  
  Extra butter and flour to grease baking pans.
• 
  
  Directions for the batter:
  
  
  1) In a large bowl, Mix the ingredients together starting with the butter and sugar. Shift the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt together in another bowl and add a bit at a time. Add the buttermilk and blend with an electric mixer.
  
  
  2) Add one egg at a time, beating with the electric mixer.
  
  
  3) Add the vanilla and coffee dissolved in water.
  
  
  4) Beat about 2 minutes until uniform.
  
  
  5) Pour the batter into 2 buttered and floured 9" baking pans.
  
  
  6) Bake at 325 degree F in a pre-heated oven for 40 minutes, or until the centers are done. 
  
  
  7) Remove from the oven and cool for 5 minutes before removing from the pans to cool completely.
  
  
  
  
  Ingredients for the frosting:
  
  

• 1/3 cup raw cacao (or cocoa) powder
  2 tablespoons instant coffee (or espresso) powder
  8 ounces cream cheese
  1/4 cup of heavy whipping cream; or sour cream
  A box of powdered sugar (not all is needed)
• Bittersweet chocolate curls for garnish
  
  
  Directions for the frosting: 
  
  
  1) Using an electric mixer blend the ingredients until smooth. I add the powdered sugar from the box until I get a desired creamy, yet thick consistency.
  
  
  Feel free to use mascarpone cheese in the frosting recipe instead of my cream cheese substitutions if you have it. Either way, you will love this moist mocha chocolate cake. From Bon Appétit ...  bon appétit!🎂
  
  ++++++++++++++++++++++
  Should we once again turn a full cake recipe into a Single Serving Mug Cake? (Yes! I hear you, Trish of The Red Cardinal.)
  
  Ingredients:
  
  6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  

  Photo: Skint Dad

  
  2 tablespoons raw cacao (or cocoa) powder
  1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  a pinch of salt
  2 tablespoons butter
  2 tablespoons brown sugar
  3 tablespoons buttermilk
  1 tablespoon of egg (Use the rest of the egg for breakfast. Waste not, want not.)
  1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  1 teaspoon of instant coffee (or espresso) dissolved into about 1/8 of a cup of hot water (You'll need to eyeball the water.)
  
  Directions: 
  
  Follow the batter recipe above↑ using the reduced ingredients. Grease and flour a mug and bake in the microwave for one minute, then 10 seconds at a time until the center is done.
  
  For the  Mocha Chocolate frosting, improvise using teaspoons of the ingredients in the order above until you get the taste and a desired creamy, yet thick consistency. Frosting is easy enough to eyeball!
  
  
  You may also enjoy:
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Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream Face Moisturizer

Since I'm running low on Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream (the bottom red jar) which I like to dab on top of face serum right before bed, I went to buy another jar. However at Bed, Bath And Beyond, I noticed Olay's newest launch Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream Face Moisturizer (the white jar above) and instead bought it to try. The words, "advanced anti-aging night recovery cream" was all the hook it took. This youth-lotion-potion was coming home with me! 

The Olay Regenerist Night Recovery Cream Face Moisturizer is sold as a super hydrating formula containing amino-peptides to penetrate deeper layers of the skin. Reportedly, it has two functions: 1) encourages faster skin cell turnover; and 2) pumps up the skin with moisture to soften lines and winkles for a "velvety feel."

The face cream is non-greasy and absorbs easily into the skin. I do like it, but don't notice a real difference from the older moisturizer, Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream. They are both hydrating, the red jar a tad more. The white jar night cream is marketed for older skin and has one benefit not claimed by the red jar face cream -- namely it tightens the skin. IMHO it's a microscopic difference, not really noticeable. I probably like the red jar for hydration, just a hair more than the white jar. So in winter, I'd buy the red jar. If you, too, end up liking both fairly equally, now you have another choice and can buy the one that goes on sale.

Here at THE SAVVY SHOPPER, we embrace more consumer options in order to save when and where we can!❤️

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Rainbow Style

June is the month the LGBTQ community celebrates life, love and the enduring struggle for equality. In recognition many major retailers are launching an array of neon ultra cute clothing, shoes and accessories.

Tolerance, color, acceptance and a little retail therapy, it's all good! Let's join in with a roundup of rainbow style:

BCX - Big Girls Stripe Maxi Dress

Effy - Multi-Sapphires in 14K Gold

Steve Madden - Zaney Rainbow Pumps

Express - Love Unites Rainbow Striped V-Neck Gramercy Tee

Michael Kors - Men's Kent Printed Backpack

Converse - Multi Pride sneakers

Today's blog has plenty of eye-candy! Merchants and fashionistas together are making a colorful difference.❤️❤️❤️


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B Weiss Water Flosser

In an effort to find an image to let you see the water flosser, we get the the advertising too.

I try to save on clothes, house goods, makeup and grocery bills, but I'll spend a bit on good dental hygiene. I hope to keep my teeth in tip-top shape for as long as possible. Realistically, teeth wear out like the rest of our bodies. After 50-60-70 years of chopping, they undergo wear and tear needing repairs. Yet good dental care should help us keep them permanently. No dentures!

As diligent as I am about brushing, like many people I hate flossing, and I don't think I do it properly. I also skip it sometimes ... because well, I'm human.

In an effort to improve (last year after my dental hygienist recommended it) I bought a Phillips Sonic toothbrush. After my dental checkup this June, I added a B Weiss Water Flosser -- the latter not upon her advice, but due to my desire to do better.

They do a good job of exercising your gums and removing any food stuck in-between your teeth. I don't often have particles stuck in-between my teeth, but sometimes I do have bleeding gums ... and therefore, the purchase. 

Know that if you properly floss your teeth daily, you don't need a water flosser. It's cheaper and effective to use dental floss. But if you, too, are only human, I can recommend a good basic water flosser.

Like a sonic toothbrush, there is no need to buy the most expensive one. I'm happy with my basic B Weiss Water Flosser. It does everything it should do! Fill the tank with tap water, select a setting (gentle, pulse, normal) and turn it on. Shift it from one side of your mouth to the other aiming in-between teeth. It takes practice (1st attempt, you'll shoot water everywhere!), but does its work in 30 seconds.

The water flosser comes with a charger, so you use it until a light indicator tells you to sit the unit in its charger for a few hours (same as other electronic devices).

As a bonus, the retailer hires people with disabilities to give back to the community. The company backs its employees, as well as, its water flosser. Highly recommend!

Note: A combination sonic toothbrush/water flosser exists and you might be tempted to buy one, but I don't recommend it. You pay more money for a device that has a bigger footprint, and when one part wears out, you must replace both! Buying separate units for about $40 each is a better deal.

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A Happy Father's Day

I rarely post family photos, but will make an exception on this special 3rd Sunday in June. THE SAVVY SHOPPER is more of a writing than a picture blog. The content is primarily the written word over stills or video, but not today!

In honor of Father's Day, here are a few photographs of my father and me back-in-the-day.

When older and looking at this photo with Dad, I teased, "Look how you risked my life in standing me over an animal pit. I could have fallen into it. Dad replied, "I was looking around to see if anybody was watching before giving you a nudge." :) 

Here we are enjoying a sunny day.

However long we have our parents, it is never enough. We miss this amazing man everyday. No one can ever fill his shoes.

Here I am visiting home.

Hoping everyone has a #1 Dad and if not, you become the #1 Dad to your children. Happy Father's Day!

Inevitably, the cycles of life touch us all. "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night!" Listen to Welsh poet Dylan Thomas read his famous villanelle here, written for his own father.


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