More Advent Beauty Calanders 2019

Macy's 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar

As promised on Tuesday, I'm featuring a few more Advent Beauty Calendars 2019 which have a winning combination of quality products at a good value. This year I omitted advent  calendars priced over $200, as well as, those offering sample sizes instead of  generous (if not full sizes). Samples should be given to customers for free! I also left out the brands: No 7 and Sleek, because they are mostly sold out already and therefore too hard to find! Here are several attractive Advent Calendars still availabe to buy:

1) Macy's 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar (see above ↑)

Price: $129

What's inside:

• Ahava Mineral Hand Cream, 40 ml
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Full Size Liquid Lipstick - Heathers, 3.25 ml
• Borghese Crema Saponetta Cleansing Creme, 50 ml
• Boscia Matcha Mask Super-Antioxidant Mask, 13 ml
• Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet, 15 ml
• Clinique New Moisture Surge Eye Concentrate, 5 ml
• Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Deodorant, 30 ml
• dr. brandt Micodermabrasion Exfoliator, 7.4 ml
• Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, 15 ml
• Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair, 7 ml
• Girlactik Full Size Precision Eyeliner, 1.2 ml
• IT Cosmetics Confidence In A Gel Lotion, 5 ml
• Mario Badescu Rose Facial Spray, 59 ml
• NYX Professional Makeup Worth The Hype Mascara, 5.25 ml
• Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask, 15 ml
• Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Serum, 5 ml
• philosophy Microdelivery Face Wash, 30 ml
• Pure Aura Travel Size 24K Gold Peel-Off Mask, 30 ml
• RITUALS Shower Foam - Dao, 50 ml
• Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate, 10 ml
• StriVectin SD Advanced Intensive Concentrate, 10 ml
• Sunday Riley Auto Correct Depuffing Cream, 3 ml
• TONYMOLY Peach Punch Foam Cleanser, 10 ml
• Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, 2 ml
• $15 Gift Card
• Created for Macy's

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2) Rituals Advent Calendar

Price: $74.50 

What's inside:

• spoon/spatula
• The Ritual of Namaste Hydrating Ampoule 2ml, 
• Wonder Mask 10g 
• The Ritual of Sakura Shower Scrub 70ml
• The Ritual of Samurai Foaming Shower Gel Sport 50ml
• The Ritual of Namasté Velvety Smooth Cleansing Foam 30ml
• Nail Treat for gift set
• The Ritual of Ayurveda Foaming Shower Gel 50ml
• Advent Mini Candle Private Collection - Oriental Vetiver
• Advent Mini Candle Private Collection - Sacred Saffron
• Advent Mini Candle Private Collection - Savage Garden
• Advent Mini Candle Private Collection - Precious Amber
• Amsterdam Collection Body Mist 20ml
• Amsterdam Collection Hand Wash 110ml
• The Ritual of Namasté Pure Face Oil 5ml
• The Ritual of Samurai Ice Shower 70ml
• The Ritual of Dao Night Balm
• The Ritual of Hammam Black Soap 70ml
• Scrub Glove
• The Ritual of Ayurveda Dry Oil VATA 30ml
• The Ritual of Happy Buddha Body Cream 70ml
• Miracle Wipes - Travel

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3) Lookfantastic Advent Calandar

Price - £79/$99 in USA

What's inside

• Morphe 9A Palette (9 pan)
• Living Proof Perfect Hair Day (PhD) 5-in-1 Styling Treatment 30ml
• Caudalie Vinopure Clear Skin Purifying Toner 50ml
• Luxie 121 & 141 (2 brushes)
• Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream 30ml
• Illamasqua Nude Collection Liner – Raw
• Rituals The Ritual of Ayurveda Dry Oil 50ml
• Philip Kingsley Elasticizer 40ml
• OSKIA Renaissance Cleansing Gel 35ml
• First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads 20
• Avant Skincare Moisture Surge Overnight Treatment 50ml
• Prai Throat & Decolletage Crème (15ml)
• Lord & Berry Black Eye Liner
• Mellow Cosmetics Liquid Lip Paint – Tehran
• Rodial Dragon’s Blood Lip Mask (1 mask)
• Molton Brown Fiery Pink Pepper Bath and Shower Gel 100ml
• Emma Hardie Moisture Boost Vit + C Cream 20ml
• Neal’s Yard Remedies Wild Rose Hand Cream 50ml
• Bio Effect EGF Serum 5ml
• Eyeko Lash Alert Mascara 4ml
• Delilah Cosmetics Eye Brow Pencil
• Bubble T Limited Edition Bath Bomb
• Filorga Meso-Mask 15ml
• Sleek MakeUP Highlighting Palette – Solstice 9g
• Omorovicza Queen Of Hungary Mist Limited Edition 30ml

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4) Yves Rocher France Advent Beauty Calendar

Price: $59

What's inside:

•  Eau de Parfum Sel Azur - 1,2ml / 0.04 fl. oz.
• • Eau de Parfum Plein Soleil - 1,2ml / 0.04 fl. oz.
• • 2 in 1 Jumbo Eye Pencil : eyeshadow and liner - 1,7g / Net wt. 0.06 oz.
• • Botanical Scrub Body - 30ml / 1 fl. oz.
• • Mango Coriander Bath and Shower Gel - 50ml / 1.6 fl. oz.
• • Botanical Colour Nail Polish 41. Garance - 5 ml / 0.16 fl. oz.
• • Botanical Colour Nail Polish 103. Camélia Nacré - 5 ml / 0.16 fl. oz.
• • Nail Polishing Block - 4 sides
• • At The Heart Of Pine Trees Bath and Shower gel - 50ml / 1.6 fl. oz.
• • Botanical Colour Nail Polish 43 Cerise Noire - 5 ml / 0.16 fl. oz.
• • At The Heart Of Pine Trees Body Lotion - 50ml / 1.6 fl. oz.
• • Eyebrow Mascara 02. Châtain - 2,5 ml / 0.08 fl. oz.
• • First Snowflakes Hand Cream - 30 ml / 1 . fl. oz.
• • Hammam Argan Rose Bath and Shower Gel - 50ml / 1.6 fl. oz.
• • Nourishing Cream Shampoo - 50ml / 1.6 fl. oz.
• • 2 in 1 Cleansing Micellar Water - 50ml / 1.6 fl. oz.
• • 2 in 1 Soothing Cleansing Micellar Water - 50ml / 1.6 fl. oz.
• • Ultra-Rich Shower Cream - 30 ml / 1 . fl. oz.
• • SOS Resistant Base Coat for nail polish - 5 ml / 0.16 fl. oz.
• • First Snowflakes Bath and Shower Gel - 50ml / 1.6 fl. oz.
• • 2 in 1 Nourishing Cream Hair Mask - 30ml / 1 fl. oz.
• • Face Care 48h Non-Stop Moisturizing Gel Cream - 7ml / 0.23 fl. oz.
• • Face Care Soothing Moisturizing Cream - 7ml / 0.23 fl. oz
• • Grand Rouge Elixir Matte Lipstick Rose blush 200 - 3.7g - Net wt 0.13 oz.

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5) L’Occitane Advent Calendar

Price: $64

What's inside:

• Immortelle Essential Water 1 fl.oz.
• Almond Milk Concentrate Net Wt. 0.7 oz.
• Immortelle Divine Foaming Cleansing Cream 0.4 fl.oz.
• Shea Butter Foot Cream Net Wt. 0.3 oz.
• Immortelle Precious Cream Net Wt. 0.17 oz.
• Shea Butter Comforting Eye Patches Net Wt. 0.05 oz.
• Shea Butter Intensive Hand Balm Net Wt. 0.35 oz.
• Shea Butter Milk Extra-Gentle Soap Net Wt. 0.8 oz.
• Almond Shower Oil 1.18 fl.oz.
• Shea Light Comforting Cream Net Wt. 0.17 oz.
• Almond Delicious Hands Net Wt. 0.3 oz.
• 5 Essential Oils Conditioner 1.1 fl.oz.
• Aqua Réotier Ultra Thirst-Quenching Cream Net Wt. 0.17 oz.
• Shea Body Shower Oil 1.1 fl.oz.
• Almond Delicious Soap Net Wt. 1.7 oz.
• Immortelle Divine Cream Net Wt. 0.14 oz.
• Shea Butter Hand Cream Net Wt. 0.34 oz.
• Verbena Eau de Toilette 0.33 fl.oz.
• Rose Hand Cream Net Wt. 0.34 oz.
• 5 Essential Oils Shampoo 1.18 fl.oz.
• Cherry Blossom Hand Cream Net Wt. 0.35 oz.
• Immortelle Overnight Reset Oil-in-Serum 0.16 fl.oz.
• Shea Butter Ultra Rich Lip Balm Net Wt. 0.13 oz.
• Herbae Eau de Parfum 0.16 fl.oz.

Rich, festive, coveted, high quality and a good value: Advent Calendars you'll be delighted to give and use. Plus, you'll have a few bucks left in your wallet to buy other Christmas gifts!


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The Body Shop: 2019 Advent Calendars

 Dream Big This Christmas Ultimate Advent Calendar

In years past I've featured my 5 top most desirable Advent Calendars, but every year they come out so early; are so expensive; and are sold in such limited quantities, good luck in getting one! So this year, let's forget about advent calendars from Liberty and Diptyque. Not only do they cost hundreds of dollars, you must buy them right now in October if they haven't already sold out! I say buy your favorite scent from Diptyque, or a floral dress or shirt from Liberty, but go elsewhere to love an advent calender for less. (This year the Liberty Advent Calendar increased in price to $475! Diptyque is charging $425 for theirs.)

So where can you turn for a good assortment of quality products at a reasonable price? I highly recommend The Body Shop -- who this year has not one, but 3 different tiers of advent calenders at 3 different price points! The retailer has long used clean ingredients to make their skin and hair products starting from ethically sourced raw components. Here are the products that come with each Body Shop Advent Calendar: 

1)  Dream Big This Christmas Ultimate Advent Calendar: 

Price: $170

What's inside:

• Banana Truly Nourishing Hair Mask 240ml
• Coconut Hand Cream 1 FL OZ
• Drops of Youth™ Youth Concentrate Sheet Mask .7 FL OZ
• Shine Lip Liquid in Apply Taffy 8ml
• Chamomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover 8.4 FL OZ
• Special edition Juicy Pear Body Butter 1.69 FL OZ
• Special edition Warm Vanilla Shower Gel 2 FL OZ
• Shea Body Butter 6.76 Ounce
• Coconut Exfoliating Cream Body Scrub 1.69 FL OZ
• Strawberry Clearly Glossing Shampoo 8.4 FL OZ
• Moringa Hand Cream 3.3 FL OZ
• Carrot Moisture Cream 1.69 FL OZ
• Strawberry Clearly Glossing Conditioner 8.4 FL OZ
• British Rose Shower Gel 8.4 FL OZ
• White Musk Flora Eau de Toilette 1 FL OZ
• Spa of the World™ Japanese Camellia Body Cream 1.69 FL OZ
• Eyeshadow Brush
• Oils of Life™ Intensely Revitalizing Cream 1.69 FL OZ
• Shine Lip Liquid in Cherry Gum .2 FL OZ
• Rose Dewy Face Mist 2 FL OZ
• British Rose Body Yogurt 8.4 FL OZ
• Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask 75ml
• British Rose Hand Cream 3.3 FL OZ
• Drops of Youth™ Youth Concentrate 1 FL OZ
• Aloe Calm Hydration Sheet Mask

2) Dream Big This Christmas Deluxe Advent Calendar:

Price: $110

What's inside:

• Rose Dewy Face Mist 2 FL OZ
• Mango Fragranced Bath Bomb 1 piece
• Special edition Juicy Pear Shower Gel 2 FL OZ
• Layers of Fun Nail File
• Chamomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover 2 FL OZ
• Strawberry Clearly Glossing Shampoo 8.4 FL OZ
• Fuji Green Tea™ Body Butter 1.69 FL OZ
• British Rose Shower Gel 2 FL OZ
• Special edition Warm Vanilla Hand Cream 1 FL OZ
• Red Bath Lily
• Aloe Calm Sheet Mask .60 FL OZ
• Coconut Exfoliating Cream Body Scrub 1.69 FL OZ
• Green Tea Fragranced Bath Bomb 1 piece
• Shea Lip Butter 0.3 FL OZ
• Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Facial Soap 3.5 Ounce
• British Rose Instant Glow Body Butter 1.69 FL OZ
• Vitamin C Glow Sheet Mask .60 FL OZ
• Strawberry Clearly Glossing Conditioner 8.4 FL OZ
• White Musk Body Lotion 2 FL OZ
• Strawberry Lip Butter 0.3 FL OZ
• Pink Grapefruit Hand Cream 1 FL OZ
• Aloe Soothing Day Cream 1.69 FL OZ
• Beauty Blender Sponge
• Shine Lip Liquid in Cherry Gum .2 FL OZ
• Shea Body Butter 6.76 Ounce

3)  Dream Big This Christmas Beauty Advent Calendar:

The Price: $70

What's inside:

• Special edition Juicy Pear Hand Cream 1 FL OZ
• Strawberry Fragranced Bath Bomb 1 piece
• Special edition Warm Vanilla Shower Gel 2 FL OZ
• Layers of Fun Nail File
• Special Edition Juicy Pear Body Butter 1.69 FL OZ
• Pink Grapefruit Lip Butter
• Coconut Exfoliating Cream Body Scrub 1.69 FL OZ
• Shea Soap 3.3 FL OZ
• British Rose Shower Gel 2 FL OZ
• Vanilla Delight Fragranced Bath Bomb 1 piece
• Strawberry Clearly Glossing Shampoo 2 FL OZ
• Strawberry Clearly Glossing Conditioner 2 FL OZ
• Mango Hand Cream 1 FL OZ
• Pink Bath Gloves
• Red Bath Lily
• Coconut Shower Cream 2 FL OZ
• White Musk Body Lotion 2 FL OZ
• Mango Fragranced Bath Bomb 1 piece
• Strawberry Lip Butter 0.3 FL OZ
• Mango Soap 3.5 Ounce
• Coconut Hand Cream 0.67 FL OZ
• Shea Body Butter 1.69 FL OZ

The Body Shop's Advent Calendars contain a lovely combination of skin treatments, moisturizers and makeup tools people will actually use. Lovely clean fragrances -- more botanical than perfume, which are never overpowering. Even if you decide to splurge on the most expensive "ultimate" advent calendar, it's nowhere near the cost of its luxe cousins, and yet you get super comparable quality skin and hair care items! Lots of pampering potential in a box!

On Thursday, I'll do a part 2 - More beauty Advent Calendars to consider, which offer appealing products and value.


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My Loaded Potatoes Quick Meal

Salad as a meal, never!

Sometimes I don't want to cook because of the clean-up ... due to laziness; a long hot summer, or the lack of time. It's when I turn to quick meals. My latest quick meal is Loaded Potatoes. 

The recipe changes slightly depending upon what I have in my refrigerator at the time. I'll list the ingredients I often use as a guide. But feel free to toss in leftover meats, or vegetables you have, or love. You can oven bake the potatoes 1st, scrape out the insides, then smash and mix the filling with melted butter and cream and stuff it back on top of its skin. But, I'm not going to lie, I don't take the time, as the Loaded Potatoes are no longer a low-fat, quick meal. And isn't the point of coming up with a quick meal, not to go through the extra steps? So I've learned to like: 

Microwaved Loaded Potatoes

Ingredients: 

1 baking potato (or 2-3 small potatoes from a 5 lb bag)
1/2 cup broccoli, fresh, or frozen
ham, diced (or crumbled crispy bacon)
1 carrot microwaved tender, then sliced (Often I skip this step of microwaving the carrot 1st and simply slice it as thin as possible -- it gets tender enough for me to eat.)
1 stalk celery, sliced
1/4 of an onion, diced
Mexican salsa (or Italian tomato sauce)
Salt, pepper and spice to taste
Extra sharp cheddar cheese

Optional: Whatever else you have in the refrigerator: mushrooms, red peppers, garlic cloves, etc.

Directions:

1) Microwave the potato(es) until done. It takes 5 - 8 minutes, depending on the size and how many potatoes you use. Poke with a fork to test for softness. Lay in a bowl and slice and dice them. I leave the skin on to eat as it has lots of nutrients too. I don't do so, but if you wish to mash the potatoes and add butter and cream, this is the time to do it.

2) Toss the other vegetables and meats on top and distribute evenly. Microwave for 1-2 more minutes. Add minutes of time at this stage to tenderize the vegetables.

3) Salt, pepper and spice to taste with dried garlic, onion powder, red pepper flakes and other dried green leaf spices.

4) Pour on the sauce of your choice: Mexican salsa, or Italian tomato sauce.

5) Top with a generous portion of cheddar cheese. (If I use Italian tomato sauce, I might switch to Mozzarella and  sprinkle on 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese instead of using cheddar. But sharp cheddar is good with tomato sauce too.)

6) Microwave for another 1-2 minutes to get the cheese hot and bubbly.

As you see, homemade meals can be fresh, quick, easy, balanced and as healthy as you wish! After dinner all you need to wash is a bowl, cutting board and a few utensils, and you're done.😊

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Trendy Faux Fur Coats

All photos: Nordstrom - Apparis Sophie faux fur coat

THE SAVVY SHOPPER is fashion heavy this month since designers launch their fall collections. As I browse department stores and Madison Avenue windows I see how trendy faux fur coats and jackets are this fall. Every fashion house seems to have faux fur in their collection! 

Know that the price is not always cheaper than real animal furs, nor the fad necessarily better for the environment. The reasons are a couple: Many big designer names make faux fur out of acrylic and polyester -- synthetic fibers constructed from plastics, which take 500 - 1000 years to biodegrade. Another reason is real fur lasts for 60 - 70 years and can be recycled by passing them down to a younger generation to wear. Here is a worthwhile article to read which explains the real fur verses fake fur dilemma.

Designers: 1) Bardot; 2) Avec les Filles animal print; 3) Sam Edelman; 4) Rachel Parcell grooved jacket

When I was in my 20s I thought for a benchmark (50? or 60? year) birthday I'd buy a mink coat to keep warm, but after I got my goose down coat, the need and desire for mink evaporated. Also winters in America are less harsh than years ago. How many days would I actually wear it? Fortunately my practice is to let myself want big ticket items for a while. Too often instant gratification results in money spent unwisely on wasted purchases. 

But frankly, I still think fur coats look rich and stylish, but I'm a practical gal (over an image gal) who tends to buy goods based on needs, as well as, sustainability.

Topshop boxy faux fur coat

Originally faux fur appeared to be a great compromise, and I'm still tempted to buy a faux fur neck wrap/warmer to get the mink look. (No way do I need another winter coat of any kind.)

Teddy faux fur coat designed especially for Nordstrom

Considering the faux fur dilemma, should I buy a neck wrap? Doing the right thing means weighing benefits and drawbacks.  Now I'm not as hot to buy one. Hm, what will I do if it stares me in the face at T.J. Maxx? How do you feel about faux fur?


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The Marriage of Charles II And Catherine of Braganza

I recommend all 3 biographies as scholarly in understanding history. The middle bio is drier; while the 2 books on the ends explain Charles II's character and are written with more flair. Don't let the "King's Bed" title fool you into thinking it is not a serious bio. Paramours are expertly fleshed out and connected to explain the King, events, and the royal court.

Recently I found myself back in Stuart England. My desire was to learn more about the life of Catherine of Braganza, who married King Charles II, becoming the Queen of England. Unable to find a comprehensive biography on her, I turned to bios of the King.

What a complicated royal court the new Queen found herself joining and was powerless to change. It would not be wrong to say, Charles II was a rake, a predator with royal pimps and powerful mistresses, and yet, unlike the bloodthirsty Tudor kings (such as Henry VIII), he had something of a heart. Although he neglected his wife too often, when necessary, Charles II also protected her (from statesmen in the realm who hated her due to her Catholicism). What's more, the King refused to divorce his Queen because she couldn't produce an heir, as well as, recognized and took care of his 12 illegitimate children by 7 of his (I lost count!) powerful mistresses. He gave each a title, property, and wealth* [funded from taxes and bribes paid by France's Louis XIV via an ultra-secret treaty].

I have no idea how Queen Catherine coped with her flawed husband who lived (his princely, then kingly) life exactly as he pleased. When first married, she tried to object, but couldn't change the libertine life that characterized the Stuart court at Whitehall, so she had no choice but to accept and make the best of her humiliating circumstances.

King Charles II was a 17th century Don Draper, a cad, who you still like (in spite of yourself) ... I suppose because you see him as debauched, but not evil. After a happy start in life, followed by the beheading of his father, Charles I, he was one of the few kings to live outside the privileged walls of a castle, without money, position, or stability and among the local folk before the Restoration of the English Monarchy in 1660. As the restored King of England, Scotland and Ireland, he was generous, charming, self-deprecating, well-intentioned, and had unfailingly good manners. He became a popular king in England. He had flashes of temper or coldness but usually could control it. Unlike some kings, he wasn't petty, nor vindictive. He loved reading unflattering criticism about himself and laughed along with it.

May 29, 1630 - February 6, 1685

For all his faults, Charles II is difficult to hate. There are times the King showed genuine courage, decency and loyalty. Author Christina Croft shared the following with me: "I recall one book about her [Queen Catherine] that portrayed so beautifully her terror that she was about to be arrested for her beliefs [Catholicism]. She was led before the King and, to her amazement and that of the court, he stepped down and took her hand in a show of affection and solidarity. It was very moving to read ... that one episode enabled me to forgive all his misdemeanors!! I also like the way he threw off his jacket and got to work with all the other people trying to put out the Great Fire of London [1666]."

Charles II had a soft spot for his illegitimate children, another of his admirable traits. Unlike the later Hanovers, the Stuart Kings loved and were attentive to their children.

Still your heart goes out to the sheltered, convent-raised Portuguese Princess who left her home to become his Queen, and you wonder what might have been ... without all the stress and nonsense of the Stuart court. Portugal sent a very classy daughter to England. She was intelligent, religious, kind and fun-loving when given a chance. She had a talent for acting, dancing and athletics. Catherine of Braganza is credited with introducing the practice of drinking tea in England. Charles II grew fond of her, and she remained devoted to him, despite the fact he was never at any time faithful to her. Not only did he have multiple courtesans and casual flings, his serious mistresses along with their bastard children were flaunted within his court, as well as, openly in public. His philandering brought sadness and isolation into her life.

November 25, 1638 - December 31, 1705

Queen Catherine had 4 miscarriages and stillborn children. Nobody can really know why she couldn't carry her babies to term, but as it turns out, the Queen was given quinine by 17th-century doctors, which is known to cause miscarriages. Also, the stress of having powerful wenches and their bastards in her face; the worry of being tossed out by divorce; and having little say in her own court, couldn't have helped matters in the least. Then there were the sexually transmitted diseases, including syphilis the King and his French mistress, Louise deKèrouaille (who caught "the pox" from him), were known to have been treated for in 1674. Miraculously the Queen is not known to have contracted the disease. 

But could she have caught other viruses affecting childbearing? We will never know ... but perhaps Charles II's hedonism was a factor in his own lack of a legitimate heir. He alone was responsible for his lubricious court. Queen Catherine remained a treasure ... her integrity and benevolence intact. It is speculated that the King never divorced his Queen partially out of guilt.

The book, The Kings Bed, depicts Charles II as a clever and shrewd King, but mentions that some historians reason, he was "a man who never truly grew up" ... perhaps "his problems stemmed from the violent death of his father and the subsequent years of his enforced exile." The King's "contemporaries agreed, his time in France [in the court of his cousin Louis XIV] corrupted him." Modern psychiatrist Dr. Paul Harlow thinks Charles suffered from "arrested emotional development stuck irredeemably in adolescence," listing several symptoms, including his "avoidance of emotional mature relationships and the need for endless female couplings ... In his formative years he lost the close contact of a mature male figure, leading him to 'Don Juan syndrome,' a condition in which a man fails to take charge of his life in an adult, mature way," notes Dr. Harlow. Also, toss in the factor: As absolute ruler, Charles received a pass from the expectation of following normal, social behavior. Accepting moral responsibility for his pleasure dome lifestyle "didn't come into play."

According to the same book, Charles isn't viewed as a psychopath as "he enjoyed life too much and engaged in it too well to be a psychopath." Moreover, the authors observe: "Whatever his failings ... Charles carried himself well enough throughout his life, usually with good humor and with a good word for the humblest of his subjects, though he cared little about them. ... Generally speaking, as long as he got his way, he was congeniality itself."

Furthermore, his erotic and parasitic behavior cut the monarchy down to size. For his subjects, it "broke the spell" of the idea of divine monarchy. Majesty -- or ''greatness of God" was forever after seen as less majestic and more human.

On Queen Catherine's final visit to her husband's deathbed in 1685, she was overcome with grief and tears. The Queen half-fainted in response to his suffering, as well as, his tenderness towards her and had to be carried back to her own rooms. She sent back a note asking Charles to forgive her if she had ever offended him. To which the dying King replied, "Poor woman, she begs my pardon! I beg hers with all my heart."

Here again, you wonder what might have been. The actor, Jon Hamm who played and knew Don Draper so well, always maintained that while his character was distinguished in his professional life, he was a coward in his private life. Was Charles II a coward also? 

A question scholars always ask is: What of his early promise went unfulfilled, due to his duplicity and need of a huge purse?

If Charles had put his energy into what should have been his most important intimate relationship, his marriage (and cared more about statesmanship) in lieu of a pleasure-seeking court, what an influential team the outwardly Protestant King and his capable Catholic Queen might have been in England at a time of fierce religious intolerance. Perhaps, just perhaps the Stuarts would be remembered as the dynasty that brought the country back together ... and is it possible the Stuarts would still be sitting on the throne today? We can only wonder.

As head of the Church of England, King Charles II was a pragmatist. In private, he sympathized with the religion so many of the people around him (his mother, Queen, brother, James, his courtesans) followed. On his deathbed, he willingly converted to Catholicism. He died bravely, remaining congenial to the end. The cause of death was perhaps a stroke ... more probably kidney disease, but possibly accidental mercury poisoning from experiments in his windowless lab at Whitehall.

Later in life ... years after the Glorious Revolution of William and Mary (1688), the widowed Catherine of Braganza returned to Portugal to successfully act as regent for her brother, Peter II ... where she died in 1705.👑


*Charles gave his mistresses the rights to the proceeds from certain government taxes collected or the King's pardons. For example, Louise deKèrouaille got the money from prisoners who paid bribes to be pardoned - a practice at the time. Many were in jail because they couldn't pay their debts. If they couldn't pay her, she then sold the prisoners into indentured servitude for $3 - $12 a head, and they were shipped off to Virginia as slaves effectively, making her and her descendants rich.

At times mistresses, Barbara Villiers and Louise deKèrouaille, were able to crush politicians who dared to criticize their influence on the King, then were given their properties (now lost to the heirs of the ousted men). They broke the property up and sold it increasing their own wealth. Barbara Villiers "borrowed" jewelry from the Crown, but in her hands, the pieces became gifts. Charles II did nothing, so Queen Catherine was powerless.

Interesting fact: Prince William will be the 1st direct descendant ever of Charles II -- 350 years later -- to sit on the British throne. His mother, Diana Princess of Wales was a direct descendant of 2 rival mistresses: Barbara Villiers and Louise deKèrouaille. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Sarah, Duchess of York are also direct descendants of Charles II through Louise deKèrouaille. It's one big happy illegitimate family! But we're cool with Prince William and company. Heaven forbid if we never let bygones be bygones and had to atone for all our ancestors. Hopefully, we can look at history without judging innocent people who try to live meaningful lives.


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Lilysilk Clothing, Bedding And Accessories

Natural fabrics rule as they are stylish, comfortable, durable and often affordable. Lilysilk offers silk dry goods, including clothing (like tops, dresses, trousers and blazers); accessories (such as scarves, under garments, or hair ties) and bedding (for example pillowcases, sheets and bedspreads).

Lilysilk also sells a smattering of cashmere and wools.

By definition, a savvy shopper is a curated buyer, so lacking a Paris Hilton trust fund, each of us must decide how to spend our money. In my case, I'd add a lovely silk blouse, dress, blazer, or scarf to my wardrobe; but forgo the expense of silk pillowcases, sheets, or pajamas, in other works, items needing frequent washings. I'm fine with cotton PJ's and bedding I can mindlessly machine wash and dry; but, will spring for a versatile piece of clothing such as a brazer to pair with all my trousers for work or dress-up. But everybody is different, so know your own budget and needs!

In addition to quality merchandise that customers love, the retailer provides excellent customer service: from fast deliveries; to lovely packaging and presentation. Also  customizing certain wares like pillowcases is available.

Lilysilk as a fabulous place to go for a wardrobe staple, splurge or special gift.


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