It's Christmas Once Again

St. Peter's Square, The Vatican, Rome Italy

Can you imagine attending midnight mass at St. Peter's Basilica on Christmas Eve? Who must you know to get tickets ... His Holiness, the Pope? (I'd love to come, P. Francis, if you're reading this!)🎄

It has been a difficult year for our little ole world ... embroiled in war, terrorism, the rise of (blind?) nationalism, and all kinds of other undesirable "isms" around the globe. There are deep fears and insecurity affecting how people vote these days. Some folks are worried about the rise of isolationism and tyranny similar to that of the 1930s. Countries are turning to conservative leaders and dicey ideologies out of worry, and I hope we don't pay a heavy price for such leanings in our future. Democracy needs to prevail; and at the end of the day, truth and compassion must win out.

After a turbulent 2016, we probably need a little Christmas more than ever!

Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque crèche at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

If you visit New York City, you can stop at the Met to see the 17th-century Christmas tree and Nativity figures above. The huge centuries-old exhibit goes up every (late) November.

A "Christmas plant" in the corner of my Manhattan apartment.

Meanwhile, at home, I put up some of my decorations. Just like Egyptian hieroglyphics, my "Christmas pothos" only requires vertical space. It is green and festive, and guests seem to appreciate it.

My apartment-size crèche on top of my entertainment center.

Lest we forget, Christmas celebrates a humble, holy child who brought hope, peace, joy, and a new beginning to the faithful in an uncertain world.

I borrowed this soothing hymn from my friend, Patricia of The Red Cardinal, who sings it in her choir. It is a beautiful rendering and so apropos for our holiday season.

Merry Christmas & Peace to Everyone all over the world!


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Coconut Macaroons ... Delish

Photo: Food Network

The time has come to eat bake Christmas cookies. Do you make the same cookies every year like we do? Coconut macaroons are always on our list. We keep them pure and simple. It's the texture of the coconut and taste of vanilla that makes this cookie delicious. When perfectly baked, they look exactly like the photo above: Slightly crispy on the outside, yet soft, chewy and completely done on the inside. Here is our family recipe:

Coconut Macaroons

Ingredients:

4 large egg whites

1/2 cup white sugar

16 ounces sweet, shredded coconut
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
a tiny splash of lemon juice
a tiny splash of rum

Directions:

1) Mix all the ingredients and beat until uniform. (If your batter is a little wet, you can add a spoonful of flour. If the egg whites are from extra large eggs, your dough can be sticky, so adding a little flour will help. Also pop the batter into the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes to make it less sticky and easy to work with.)
2) Scoop up the batter with a spoon and drop onto a cookie sheet. Shape more like a ball (as opposed to flat) so that you end with a chewy center.
3) Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes.
4) Remove from the oven and let cool. 

We like our coconut macaroons plain, but you can dip yours in melted chocolate (with paraffin wax) if you wish.

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LED Stud Earrings In 9 Illuminated Colors

People who love Christmas sometimes wear over-the-top Christmas sweaters, or Santa Claus (or Reindeer) motif pins that light up. Are you one of those people? If so, it's not a bad thing, and you are probably a spirited, fun person, who knows how to have a good time during the holiday season. If you can't be festive and over-the-top to celebrate Christmas, when the deck-the-halls can you?

In addition to the ugly Christmas sweater and Christmas themed chotskies, look what else is available: LED Stud Earrings that light up in an array of colors just like Christmas lights! Amazon, some Etsy shops and Ebay offer them, and they are an inexpensive novelty item. 

The glowing studs are constructed of stainless steel and come with two tiny batteries. Some are diamond shaped, while others are star shaped.

Are earring studs that glow in the dark for you? If so, what color would you get?

Ho! Ho! Ho! You're welcome, my merry peeps!🎄

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Gifts For Him

Men's Tumbled-Leather L.L.Bean Boots, 10'' Shearling-Lined

For a myriad of reasons, men are harder to shop for than women. Our brains are wired differently, and women talk more about their wants or needs. Men not as much. Also, men's clothing is more precisely sized, making it difficult to get the fit of a pair of pants, or shirt right. There's just more margin for error. When clueless about what kind of gift to buy for a man, I fallback on the usual suspects: books, liquid and gift cards. 

L.L. Bean is a retailer I also turn to for well-crafted gifts that last. If I don't know what to get a man (or woman), I get something I would love. Here are a few possibilities:

1) Ultralight 850 Down Jacket - I don't understand why, but even in the middle of winter when I'm layered from head to toe, a man will just wear a jacket. This high performance jacket is 850-fill down. It repeals water and is super durable. Spiffy too!

2) Men's Ragg Wool Hat and 3) Men's Ragg Wool Gloves - Each is mostly lambswool lined with soft polyester microfleece to insulate when wet.

4) Sweaters galore: Choose from lambswool; ragg wool; Shetland wool; cashmere; cotton-cashmere blend; double cotton and more. Styles include crew necks, v-necks and cardigans.

5) Men's Tumbled-Leather L.L.Bean Boots, 10'' Shearling-Lined - (top photo) L.L. Bean made their first iconic boots in 1912, and what a gorgeous boot it is! I'm super envious that the men's boot comes in black. It is only offered in brown for women. (Why ... oh, why only brown for the ladies?) Men also have a 2-tone color: Maple/Brown. It is a premium grain, soft leather boot with a broken-in feel that is water resistant. They are light, comfortable, and his feet stay dry after hours of wear. This is the holy grail of winter boots.

L.L. Bean has stylish, yet practical stuff for under $25 too. Buy a nice gift at every price point! Still scratching your head?: Gift card. What is your fallback gift for a man?

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5 New Maybelline Products in 2017

Photos: Maybelline

As stated in older blogs (which you can find in the search box), Maybelline has truly stepped up the quality of its makeup in recent years. At drugstore prices, it now rivils the luxe brands. With rich pigments and winning formulas, Savvy Shoppers can save lots of moola without compromise. Plus, Maybelline's inventory keeps improving, as well as, expanding. Here are 5 new products launching in January 2017, some are already out at places like Walgreens, Target and Walmart:

1) There is a new Maybelline The 24K Nudes palette, which I saw stocked already at Bed, Bath and Beyond. (Sending Angie Smith, reader and friend of THE SAVVY SHOPPER, an alert: Go to BB&B ASAP to pick one up! You will love it like the first 3 The Nudes!!) 

The 24K Nudes palette reminds me of THE NUDES (warm, natural colors) with a bit of shimmer (like the Rock Nudes palette). All 4 The Nudes palettes are natural hues, with the Rock Nudes leaning towards cool colors; whereas the others: The Nudes, The Blush Nudes and now the 24K Nudes leaning towards warmer colors.)

2) More matte lip colors are coming out. Look for Maybelline Matte Nude Lipstick, as well as, it's Vivid Matte Liquids.

3) Maybelline Dream Cushion - is a full coverage cushion foundation that offers a luminous finish.

4) Maybelline Face Studio Master Camo Color Correcting Kit - is a palette with 5 color correction concealers, plus a pearly highlighter. There are 3 versions of the kit to match different skin tones.

5) Maybelline The Colossal Big Shot - A new mascara with a new brush and collagen-mousse-like forumula to keep it from flaking and clumping as it volumizes lashes.

Other new Maybelline products launching include a Brow Highlighting Pencil, Face Hightlighter Liquid in a tube, pigmented Baby Lip Balm Crayons and a special edition eyeshadow that is now only available on Amazon.

Most of Maybelline's products cost from $5 - $10. Where else can you get non-better mascara for $6, or a makeup palette with rich pigments for an Alexander Hamilton!? Plus, drugstores and BB&B offer deals, taking more money off. Look polished for oodles less!

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Holiday Party Dresses

Glitzy Angel - TFNC Florence Metallic dress

It's the season to add pazzazz to your wardrobe. A little silver here, a bit of gold there, and accents of glitter. Let's have fun on THE SAVVY SHOPPER by picking a few party dresses, shall we? I'll be your wardrobe stylist by putting together several possibilities -- Christmas red and green, classic black, lace and bronze metallic. It is time for us to shimmer and sparkle!
  

Rickety Rack - Glitter Empress dress	Lulus - Star Dust Gold Sequin Bodycon dress
Dress the Population -  Hayden Lace Fit & Flare dress	Dress the Population - Grace Sequin Lace dress
Dress the Population - Mearcella dress	Adrianna Papell Pleated Jersey Sheath dress
Dress the Population - Avie dress	Topshop - Hanky Hem Lace Midi Dress

Do you have a favorite holiday dress style? Tell us about it. Can you see yourself in one of these?

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Jarware Wide-Mouth Mason Jar Citrus Juicer

Not everything useful is high-tech, nor costs a million bucks. Sometimes a simple, cheap tool improves your life 100%. This citrus juicer sells for $3.99. I have a metal citric juicer that costs alot more, but using one hand to squeeze a lemon half with it is tough. 

Twirling the lemon (or lime) halves over the ridges of this gadget is much easier for me, and I get more juice out.

Furthermore, I especially love how this little gizmo fits right over a wide-mouth Mason jar! The rim (minus the medal lid) secures it in place. The lemon (or lime) juice goes straight into the jar. After removing the rim and juicer, I can pour cold water, sweetener and ice directly into the same jar to drink a refreshing one-and-a-half pint of lemonade. It is a one-jar clean-up!

Love the small footprint of the juicer when storing it away also. This little pointy juicer is genius engineering!

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Two Faced La Creme Lipstick: Unicorn Tears

Unicorn Tears is one of the 10 new colors.

Two Faced has 10 new shades of their La Creme lipstick. The formula is a combination of creamy color and intense hydration. All 10 hues, ranging from naughty nude to candy apple red, are pretty and wearable.

Photo: New Beauty. A swatch of Unicorn Tears

I am wild about the shimmering Unicorn Tears color (above) for holiday parties, although I could also make a case for Wham!, an iridescent raspberry and Sugar Daddy, which is a lovely nude rose. 

Somehow the 10 new shades have a wow factor, as well as, an understated and classic look. As you can see from the color drenched Unicorn Tears in the images above, they flatter both fair and dark complexions.

A tube of Two Faced La Creme Lipstick makes a coveted stocking stuffer, or anytime gift. 

Do you like to pick out a shade for someone, or play it safe with a gift card?💋

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10 Best Mascaras

Photo: New Beauty

Introducing a friend or sister to new beauty products is lots of fun, and mascara makes a fabulous stocking stuffer. Whether a woman wears it everyday or not, most of us keep a tube of mascara in our makeup bag.

Some beauty products require spending big bucks to get better ingredients because top ingredients matter, but mascara isn't one of them. Regardless of whether you save or splurge, all formula's of mascara do basically the same thing. There are some very fine brands of drugstore mascara available.

A great mascara lengthens and volumizes your lashes without clumping or flaking off, and you shouldn't end up with raccoon eyes at the end of the day. Sometimes a great  mascara has an innovative brush that makes separating, lengthening, or curling the eyelashes easier. One brush might be designed to give you natural, yet defined lashes, while another is designed to create drama.

Here is a list of 10 Best Loved Mascaras. They have different price points, but get high ratings from hundreds of customers. Did your favorite make the list?:


1) Avon Big and False Lash Volume; 2) Covergirl The Super Sizer; 3) Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill


4) L'Oreal Telescopic; 5) Lancome Definicils; 6) LeVolume de Chanel Waterproof; 7) Marc Jacobs O!Mega Lash Volumizing

8) Maybelline Lash Sensational Luscious Waterproof; 9) Nars Audacious; 10) Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof

What's in my makeup bag, you ask? Answer: Lancome Definicils. Chanel is the one, I wish I weren't too cheap to buy, and Maybelline is the one I will switch to in the future, as the drugstore brands have really stepped up the quality!

What's your favorite mascara?

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How To Make Gravy From Roux

Photo: Food.com

My usual method for making gravy is to add cornstarch to the pan drippings for roast chicken, beef or turkey, but I didn't thicken the gravy with cornstarch on Thanksgiving Day.

Instead, I used flour to make a roux, which turned into the perfect gravy consistency. Cornstarch thickens gravy, but sometimes when over cooked, the gravy thins out again. I didn't want to take any chances of serving runny gravy on Thanksgiving. As it turns out, my gravy was such an unexpected hit that making gravy from roux will become my new regular way of gravy making.

What an unplanned pleasure for me! I tried something new, and it paid off. The day before Thanksgiving, I had a vague idea of using flour to thicken gravy, but I didn't know how to make roux. I knew flour tasted raw unless cooked a certain way, which is the sole reason I have always used cornstarch to make gravy. 

I'm so glad I took a risk! Furthermore, I considered buying a couple of jars of ready-made gravy as a backup, but decided against it. Succeed, or fail, the desire was homemade gravy all the way.

A dinner guest asked me to post my winning recipe on THE SAVVY SHOPPER ... and to tell you the truth, if I ever want to make the gravy again, I'll have to return here myself. So now my lovely readers, you understand why these recipes are published on the blog.
Before we start, know that I use bouillon cubes, but certainly chicken, or beef stock can be substituted.

Homemade Gravy

Photo of roux: The Creekside Cook

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons of flour
2 large bouillon cubes (I used Maggi chicken flavor.)
32 ounces water (or substitute 32 ounces of beef or chicken stock. I dissolve the bouillon cubes in the water ahead of time and let stand.)
1 teaspoon dried garlic
1 teaspoon dried onion powder
12 turns of the black pepper mill (= 1/2 teaspoon fresh pepper)
salt to taste (if using stock. No salt needed if using bouillon cubes)
1/2 teaspoon dried celery
About 1/3 teaspoon dried sage (I omit sage if making a beef gravy.) 

Directions:

1) Melt 2 tablespoons of butter into a large skillet. (After a roast, if I have a pan of meat stock and dripping to scrape, I do not use butter. Only if not enough liquid is left in the roasting pan, do I use butter. Fat needs to combine with flour to make a roux. You can get the fat from the chicken or beef drippings ... or you must use butter.

2) Whisk in 3 tablespoons of flour, and cook over a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes. Keep whisking as the butter bubbles and simmers.

3) Next add the liquid from the meat to the roux: If you have pan drippings, scrape and use the juices. With enough juices from the roast, there is no need to add water. Use the meat juices as your liquid. If you don't have enough pan drippings, round out the liquid with water to get 32 ounces of liquid. (You can use wine as part of your liquid, if you wish).

4) Season to taste. Add the black pepper, dried garlic, onion powder, celery and sage.

5) Simmer and stir until the mixture thickens into gravy.

Leftover gravy using my recipe freezes well for several months, as opposed to, a gravy made with cream. (A cream, or milk gravy separates if reheated). Bon Appettè!

I really enjoyed hosting Thanksgiving this year. First of all, I would not have discovered this delicious new way (to me) of making gravy had dinner not been at my place. It takes having company over for many of us to apply ourselves. Thank you, Thanksgiving company, for your tasty contributions, not to mention your wonderful ... well, um, company! Until next time ...

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