Let's Be Grateful This Thanksgiving

In the world of hard knocks, COVID has reminded us of what we intuitively know but don't always let inform our actions. The world is interconnected. Whether we're talking about a disease, healthcare, global warming, or sharing the earth's resources, we need to look after each other to survive. If you simply care for yourself, eventually everybody parishes. 

Humans are basically good ... and selfish. "Love one another" is hard to follow sometimes, isn't it? Because emotions, insecurity and selfishness creep in. Yet if we only tend to our own tiny bubble everyone suffers. When COVID dies in 2021, I hope we keep its "We're all in it together" lessons. The year has been tough, but I'm grateful for the red flag of "must-do" some things better for humans and our country and world.

No turkey this year. I'm thinking: a chicken breast, cornbread dressing, sweet potatoes and broccoli. 

Personally, I think President-Elect Joe Biden is setting the right compassionate tone backed by science and facts to lead our country. I'm grateful for the experience and leadership he shows. When I was still in school I was a Congressional intern in Washington, DC and I remember the talk of Biden as a young Senator who was raising his two young boys alone after the tragic car crash of his 1st wife. Sometimes I sat in the Senate balcony with the Congressional press watching floor votes and can remember where Biden sat next to another young Senator Gary Hart and not far away from Senator Ted Kennedy. Once I was sent down to the chambers beside the floor to deliver a note to my boss and of course, delighted, I took in as much as I could of the activity at eye level. So Biden comes to office with a wealth of Washington government experience which should be good in leading the country. I am grateful for his relationships, character, empathy, and experience.

What a quiet Thanksgiving for those of us who won't be traveling to see family, or joining nor inviting friends over for dinner. Yes, the loneliness sets in.

At times how we handle stresses and calamities define us, right? A wise quote I read recently comes from becomingmininalist:

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Be patient and vigilant a little bit longer. Stay healthy friends!!

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Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Hemp Calming Relief Body Oil And Lotion

Palmer's, under the umbrella of E.T. Browne Drug Company, was founded over 175 years ago as one of America's 1st skincare companies. The brand specializes in treatment beauty products selling at affordable prices. The retailer has a worldwide distribution, with a commitment to sustainably sourced ingredients and ethical practices for the farmers who harvest the herbal extracts contained within its preparations.

At my local Walgreens, I picked up a sample of Palmer's new Cocoa Butter Formula Hemp Calming Relief Body Oil and Lotion. There was a week's worth of sample in the packages. On my next trip, I'll definitely buy bottles of each to slather all over my skin after a shower this winter. Both the oil and lotion are rich and super moisturizing, sharing a pleasant botanical scent I love. I called the company to find out what the amazing, clean and subtle smell is. The answer is Tagetes patula (French marigold) and eucalyptus. Hemp seed oil calms inflammation and irritation; and cocoa butter moisturizes and softens skin. They are hypoallergenic and dermatologists approved.

Palmer's is a name I knew of forever, yet surprisingly, overlooked at the drugstore. Now I'm hooked! The clean botanical scent, top-notch ingredients, and nourishing feel on the skin are fabulous and addicting! You want to use it every day!

Palmer's makes a slew of different skin cleansers, creams and treatments to address individual concerns for everybody in the family.

The emollients are an excellent value for real coconut oil, cocoa butter, hemp oil, olive oil, shea butter, and vitamin E. The formulas are developed from years of experience and tested by time and science.

Sold at drugstores, Target, Walmart, and Amazon at unbeatable prices ranging from $6 - $10. 

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Jewelry Holiday Gift Ideas At Macy's

The brilliance of a diamond tennis necklace has a huge effect. See my budget-friendly tips below.

Last week I was invited to a Macy's jewelry trunk show at Herald Square. You know I went, People!😍 It was the most upscale, expensive, and gorgeous jewelry I've seen in a department store. I tried on a flawless 12-carat Tanzanite ring ($85,000), a 7-carat pigeon-blood ruby ring with diamonds ($49,000), and a 5-carat emerald and diamond ring ($43,000). Each piece was spectacular, yet even before arriving, I knew I wouldn't be buying anything. Who walks into Macy's and drops that💰sum💸 on one luxury item? Rich folks and broke folks, that's who!

Some of the very expensive jewelry from Effy's trunk show at Macy's. Lots of trunk shows now.

After perusing the gems at the trunk show I walked around the jewelry department, looking at everything in the display cases. To be sure, Macy's has a huge array of jewelry from costly to moderate prices. (It's why I love Macy's ... throughout the store, you can find quality items to fit any budget.) From now until Christmas, expect tons of sales. Wait for a Friends and Family, Black Friday, or VIP sale to get an extra 30% off on already well-priced merchandise.

Coseup of the Effy trunk show sapphire and ruby rings - the expensive heirloom line.

If you ask me (and even if you don't😊) jewelry is always a winning holiday gift. The following are beautiful examples of mid-priced jewelry from Macy's showcases -- precious (diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds) and semi-precious (the amethyst) stones set in 14k gold:

1) Diamond Pavè Huggie Hoop Earrings; 2) Ruby & Diamond Necklace; 3) Amethyst & Diamond Accent Oval Ring

4) Effy Emerald & Diamond Earrings; 5) Belle de Mer Pearl Studs; 6) Diamond Hoop Earrings

7) Italian Gold Bangle Bracelet; 8) Velvet Bleu by Effy Sapphire & Diamond Bracelet; 9) Effy Emerald Drop Earrings

The 2 pairs of emerald earrings and ruby heart pendant look gorgeous in the store. I wanted them!!! The 5-carat amethyst ring is a splendid color, size, and clarity ... and affordable unlike precious stones of similar size. The hoop earrings, pearl studs, and gold bangle are classic pieces that never go out of style. The sapphire and diamond tennis bracelet is as lovely as its pricier all-diamond sisters. I've linked all the jewelry (except the diamond necklace, which is at the store to try on) so you can read more details. Lots of the pieces are available in other gemstones also, and the pearls are in other natural colors.

Macy's makes sparkle more affordable, and the trunk shows have fun, to-die-for, eye candy. Will I ever get tired of gawking at jewelry? Never!👀 

Extra Budget Tips: Due to its brilliance, a diamond tennis
necklace of 3 carats has a huge effect, therefore, bigger may not be worth the exponential price increase of buying more carats. Consider how 5-7-or 10 carats of diamonds get more expensive, not simply doubling or tripling per carat, but exponentially. And yet on your neck, the effect is not always as big as the exponential rise in cost! Until you bump up the diamonds to 20-30 or 50+ carats, i.e., Elizabeth Taylor or Queen Elizabeth II size, the effect isn't automatically more stunning, so may not be worth the huge price hike. Therefore, my budget-friendly tip is to buy the "effect," not the carat weight in a tennis necklace.

Curiously, sometimes the 10-carat stone necklaces twist and turn on the neck while the 3 carats don't ... which is definitely a disappointing effect!

To get the most "effect" for less money, buy a graduated diamond-style tennis necklace. People notice the bigger stones at the front, not the decrease in sizes going towards the back of the neck, an area unseen if you have flowing hair. The entire necklace, including the smaller diamonds towards the back, will sparkle like crazy! A big effect at a lower cost!! Another tip in buying a tennis-style necklace or bracelet for less is to consider compromising on color and clarity since the diamonds are tiny. But, the color in the line must be consistent and match!

Of course, at a trunk show try on the Queen Elizabeth II big gemstones. I say, be a dreamer, then a realist! And yes, Your Majesty, I will definitely accept your kind invitation to see the Crown Jewels. Hey people, you never know who reads the blog.🙂😍💂

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5 Coach Outlet Bags Reduced And Fabulous

The Coach Emery bag I love costs $395, cheaper than Chanel or Louis Vuitton, yet still steep (see the blog here). As a value shopper, it may be a while before the price drops enough for me to own it. Meanwhile, there's no need to wait to replace a bag! 

The Coach Outlet online store has so many beautiful full-grain leather bags so we can always find quality and style for less equivalent to our budget-buster 1st choice. And since the holiday gift shopping season is here, I'll select several winning Coach bags costing under $100. $100 finds keep $300 in the bank! Perhaps you, too, can replace your own bag, or find a holiday gift for a loved one:

1) First up is the Gallery Tote - (Top image↑) - It is made of cross-grain leather and has outside and inside pockets. Both the body and shoulder strap are of sturdy leather construction. These days many leather totes and purses cut corners with a cloth strap, but not Coach!

2) The Rowan Satchel - is another cross-grain leather bag with exterior and interior pockets for organization. The Rowan has a structured design; zippers; and 4 chic golden feet. I bought this bag in black with gold hardware. It comes in 6 colors of leather, as well as, several colors in canvas.

3) Lena Crossbody - Fans of bucket bags will love the Lena Crossbody for its inside pocket and large capacity to hold lots of stuff. The bag is of cross-grain leather and has a drawstring and snap closures. A gorgeous green color, it has an emerald interior that one reviewer uses turned inside out. As I like to say, once you pay for a product and walk out the door, it's nobody's business how you use it!

4) The Mae File Crossbody - is of refined pebble leather, which is one of my favorite textures of leather because pebble leather is scratch-resistant and stays new looking for decades! Like the other Coach bags, there are inside and outside pockets, and it comes in several colors. Had I had to stick with the same shape as my budget-buster 1st choice, the Emery bag, I would have bought the Mae File Crossbody instead of the Rowan Satchel. However, I like the structured look of the Rowan with its too cute golden feet better.

5) Mini Camera Bag -  Camera bags are wildly popular at the moment. IMHO, men can carry them too without looking feminine, not that there's anything wrong with men who adorn a feminine accessory as what is considered feminine for men evolves. The Mini Camera bag comes in black and an array of colors, as well as, in leather and canvas. The name says mini, yet the purse is a decent, practical size. There's also a bigger size for just over $100.

In life, many of us live on a budget. As a wise person said, "Ain't nothin' wrong with that!" When you can't always get what you want certainly at Coach, you can get what you need and love ... which are stylish bags in full-grain leather of lasting quality ... in black with gold hardware, or a lovely new color to complement your wardrobe. Enjoy!😍

Extra budget tips:

Happy and casual

1) Personally I buy bags in understated, neutral colors to go with all my outfits and coats. But if a unique hue brings you joy and despite its limited use, there's nothing wrong with buying it. On the other hand, if you want a bag to go with everything, stick with understated neutral colors. The bag on the right is adorable, but the combination of colors makes it a casual bag limiting its use. Complements your black or camel coat, yet not your red plaid trousers.

2) Skip the pricey SLGs (Small Leather Goods) - Compared to the cost of a bag, SLGs are expensive. The Coach wallet on the left is stylish and well-make, but it will wear out faster than the bags and for a few dollars more, you can buy a bag! Instead, I buy nice enough SLGs from T.J. Maxx for $8 - $15, which look fabulous inside my better value Coach bags, leaving more dollar bills to put in the wallet! Plus, you never know what brands will end up at T.J. Maxx discounted! I see Italian leather and designer names all the time! Budget-friendly SLGs are equally stylish, durable, and hurt less to replace.🦖

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Maybelline Nudes of New York Eyeshadow Palette

With the need to wear face masks many of us aren't thinking of makeup as we do in normal times, but I notice women are still wearing eye shadow and it's an excellent practice to look pulled together on Zoom calls. Looking your casual best helps to lift your mood as it's an area you can control! As usual, Maybelline makes it easier with top-notch shadow for less!

Maybelline launched yet another gorgeous nude palette in early 2020. Its Nudes of New York Eyeshadow Palette contains 16 creamy mix and match shades that are universally flattering on every skin tone: light, medium or dark. Luscious and rich pigments, rivaling top brands Urban Decay and Too Face, glide on smooth to last all day long. The palette makes a fabulous splurge or no-fail, holiday gift that won't break the bank! From fresh pale pink for a rosy natural gaze to subtle shimmer and browns to create a killer smoky eye, there's not a wasted dud color in the bunch!

Golly, despite having Maybelline's other nude or "mini city" palettes, these are such pretty shades, the Nudes of New York Eyeshadow Palette is a must-buy from the beauty brand! For the price, you can buy 2 and keep 1 palette for yourself! Available at Ulta, Walmart, Target and local drugstores for $11.99 - $13.99, depending on the retailer.

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Back At Uniqlo on Saturday Wearing Uniqlo

 

The SAVVY SHOPPER is a written word, not a photoblog, therefore photos of me are few and far apart. (You're welcome readers, I spare you!😁)  Every once in a while, I throw one up here because it's normal to be curious about a blogger.

New Your City is very spring-like for several days. In fact, it will be 76 degrees F today in November ... summer! This was me on Saturday browsing in one of my favorite stores, Uniqlo, the innovative Japanese retailer of super practical and budget-friendly clothing, accessories and occasionally shoes. Frankly, the shoes are not up to the same standard as Uniqlo's other offerings, but the merchant has just ventured into shoes, so their quality will likely improve if continued. Fashionistas will be tempted to buy Uniqlo shoes for their unbeatable prices ($19 - $49) and perhaps the looks ... not for their durability though. Also, they lack adequate support and comfort for walking on concrete city blocks.

In the picture above, I happen to have on some of the articles I've recommended on THE SAVVY SHOPPER. How apropos to be wearing the Uniqlo dress I bought in the spring to Uniqlo! Truly, a useful transitional dress, or when the weather is wonderfully out-of-wack balmy. I'm wearing a Uniqlo airism bra top underneath it as a camisole, as well as, a Uniqlo nylon parka. The sneakers are the decades-long-world-popular Converse, and I insert Nazaroo insoles inside for arch support so I can walk around the city in them. No-show (plus ankle) socks I always buy 5 pairs for $9.95 at H&M. My black "liberated" leather Foley & Corinna crossover purse completes my outfit. And of course, during our pandemic days, we never leave our homes without our face masks. Bulletins are posted at the door of all New York City retailers: You must wear a face covering to enter.

How I love days before we start freezing! It's so lovely to be out and about without all the essential layering of cold weather!!

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Spicy Ground Beef and Eggplant Stirfry

Luckily my local supermarket always has delicious lean, ground beef for sale, so I have it for dinner at least once every other week. Sometimes as burgers, chili, or spaghetti with meat sauce. But at other times I like to try something new -- mix up the meat and vegetables to eat a variety of colors in a diet.  A few days ago, I made ground beef and eggplant stirfry, but you could easily substitute chunks of beef or chicken and whatever vegetables are in season. This is a good way of eating vegetables you don't love that are nonetheless good for you. [For me it could be asparagus or okra. I don't hate asparagus or okra, yet never crave them either.] My recent dinner, featuring ground beef and eggplant is a quick one-pan meal that turned out tasty:

Spicy Ground Beef and Eggplant Stirfry

Ingredients:

2 stalks celery, diced

1 small onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, cut up

1 jalapèno pepper, sliced

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef, broken up

1 eggplant, diced

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon basil, or a bunch of fresh basil

Season to taste, I use rosemary, parsley, dried garlic and basil, as well as, fresh.

Directions:

1) Dice the carrots, celery, onion, garlic, jalapèno pepper and grill with the broken up ground beef in a skillet uncovered until the beef starts to brown. Uncovering it at first lets the liquid evaporate so that you don't end up with a stew.

2) Salt and spice to taste. Add diced eggplant.

3) Cover with a lid and simmer until the eggplant is tender. (It's fine to cover it now so the eggplant can steam.)

Serve on brown rice; a grain of your choice; on top of grainy bread; or rolled inside a tortilla with cheese. The stirfry dish is very versatile. Enjoy!
 

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That Hermès or Chanel Bag Vibe For Less

Top: Hermès Birkin; bottom Hermès Kelly bags

Full disclosure: In shops, I love looking and touching Hermès and Chanel handbags as much as any of the luxury bag fashionistas on Youtube. So I know them well. However, purses are not my luxury temptation. While I'm attracted to the undeniable quality and beauty of the Chanel Classic Double Flap; Hermès Kelly; Hermès Birkin; and Chanel CC Trendy WOC in that order, personally, I would never, ever spend $3,100, $7,100, or $9,000 to $40,000+ on one bag. It's nuts! And the Previously Loved Market, costing 1,000s of dollars per bag, is still too high. I don't care enough about owning Hermès or Chanel to part with the money. Honestly if Walmart or Target came out with a decent enough bag, I'd take it to meet the English Queen or the Bidens, America's next President and First Lady. Plus tell everybody who asked where I bought the bag as I would not care!

If you ... like me, appreciate the uber-expensive bags, yet are ok with a vibe and leather for less purchase, the following inspired bags (as opposed to Doppelgängers) give you enough of the look and craftsmanship to last over time without infringing upon the legal copyrights of the designer brands. Some of the lookalikes are still pricey ... yet sell for way under $1,000:

1) For a Hermès Birkin consider the _______.*1 BTW: A Berkin is the top bag of all bags designed to hold its value.

2) In lieu of a Hermès Kelly look at the _______.*2 With your savings, you could buy a car!

3) For the top-selling bag in the world, the Chanel Double Flap, you might like Rebecca Minkoff. The quilted pattern is a Chevron in luscious black leather with gold hardware. Best of all, you keep $6,900 in the bank!

4) For a Chanel WOC peruse the Nobrand - Instead of a wallet on a chain, Nobrand is a small evening bag, not a wallet, but if you think about it, a small purse is much more practical since you can fit more essentials inside. A slim size for gala events of genuine leather for under $45. Heck, with $3,05o in savings, you could take a taxi home to save your heels, or have an extra drink and skip the driving!

5) In place of a Chanel WOC, or small Chanel Flap bag, examine the Coach Klare Crossover With Linear Quilting - My favorite, it has the black (full-grain Nappa) leather with gold hardware of a classic Chanel bag that we know so well and love!

Coach Klare Crossover 

Coach is a top-notch luxury grade brand of leather goods and a great value. IMO, the Klare Crossover -- although having a different interior and strap -- looks as rich and beautiful as Chanel bags. 

If you wish to find even cheaper alternative bags, they are on the market too, usually made of vegan leather and less durable for fleeting needs. The 5, revised to 3 leather inspired examples I've selected cost more than vegan leather, last longer ... and often go on sale! The choice is yours.

_________________________

*1 &2 Update Nov. 9, 2020: 

Dear Readers,

Sometimes blogging leads to surprising reactions. As Hermès bag alternatives, I recommended you buy the leather bags of a company who, then wrote me a lovely email asking me to remove their brand name from my post. The marketing manager explained they spent so much time, effort and money distancing themselves from Hermès bags to position their company as an independent brand. With sensitivity to the retailer, I've revised the blog removing all mentions of their brand name and bag photos. THE SAVVY SHOPPER wishes this now omitted fine leather bag maker a bright and fashion-forward future.

My follow-up research on Hermès alternatives is complete! For a follow-up blog (and new Hermès' bag vibe recommendations, go here.

 

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Breakfast Quinoa Cereal Bowl

Photo: FreshOfftheGrid

Frankly, breakfast isn't my favorite meal. As long as I consume some sort of protein, I don't care what sits before me alongside my big cup of coffee with milk. I could just drink several cups of coffee with milk and be satisfied. But in the interest of balanced nutrition, I often add a protein cookie or bar. (Oddly enough I favor a savory breakfast of eggs, sausage (or bacon) and biscuits over sweet options despite not being the healthiest breakfast.)

When I was a young child, I wouldn't eat breakfast, so my worried parents made me drink a tall glass of hot chocolate milk (using Hersey's cocoa) and told me I had to drink it before taking me to school. Later they replaced the cocoa with Carnation Instant Breakfast, a product they found at the supermarket. I drunk breakfast in a glass from grade school until I graduated from college and into my 30s if I'm being honest.😁

And yet as an adult, I'm committed to eating healthy food over junk and not skipping breakfast. So, I try to work whole grains, as well as, rotate healthy foods into my diet throughout the week.

So here's a tasty breakfast cereal that takes no time to cook. You can also vary the ingredients, so it's not the exact same breakfast every time you eat it:

My Breakfast Quinoa Cereal Bowl - one serving (and easy to double, or triple, etc.)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Quinoa

A handful of mixed nuts, chopped - walnuts, almonds, pistachio, pecans, etc. 

A splash of milk

1 teaspoon of chia seeds

1 tablespoon of any other multi-grains you have in your pantry, such as Buckwheat or bulgur, etc.

Sweetener of your choice - maple syrup; brown sugar syrup; Golden Syrup; a spoon of brown sugar; honey

Dash of cinnamon

Optional: Fruit of your choice - blueberries, apple, peaches, strawberries

Directions:

1) Toss the quinoa into a saucepan with water. Bring to a simmer. 

2) If you do add another whole grain requiring cooking time, toss it in with the quinoa. 

3) Top with a lip and simmer on medium/low heat for about 13 minutes until the grains are tender. Sprinkle in some cinnamon.

2) You can toast your nuts -- they taste better if you do, yet I often don't. Chop the nuts coarsely on a cutting board and set aside.

Photo: SMEstreet

3) After the quinoa is tender, turn off the heat and toss in the rest of the ingredients: the nuts, chia seeds, milk (as much or as little as you like), or yogurt, sweetener and optional fruit.

4) Stir and pour into a cereal bowl.

A protein boost in a bowl with different textures without much fess. As a bonus only one pot and a bowl to clean up! Unless you simply wait for your pot to cool, that is.🙂

On weekends try this non-alcoholic tisane punch too:

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