The Sleep Pod Explained

Hug Sleep founders and husband and wife team, Matt Mundt and Angie Kupper partnered with Shark Tank's Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner to manufacture cocoon-like sleep pods based on the science of Deep Touch therapy. It goes on like a pair of pants using both legs. The sleep pod provides a gentle, calming pressure around your entire body to induce relaxation and a good night's sleep. Customers who are problem sleepers claim it's a game charger. Many prefer a sleep pod to a weighted blanket in relieving anxiety. One consumer whose daughter has autism and sensory processing difficulties is surprised by how it helps her child settle into sleep.

Made from a specialized 4-way stretch poly span material that provides a gentle, calming pressure to simulate the feeling of being hugged or swaddled, the sleep pod is lightweight, flexible, breathable, and doesn't trap heat. 

The USA-manufactured sleep pod can be machine washed in warm water and tumble dried at medium temperature. It's a cuddle for adults and through compression a calming way to doze off.

People who have trouble falling or staying asleep say it really works. To find the best deal do a Google search. Here is the Sleep Pod for $49.

 

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Perfect Veil Eau De Parfum

Perfumer Sarah Horowitz makes perfume for people who prefer subtle clean fragrances. Her Parfums' Perfect line features 5 signature foral scents, as well as, new interpretations of vintage favorites. The most followed and popular of these is Perfect Veil Eau De Parfum which she says is formulated to smell like clean, naked skin "only better." The scent is subtle when worn alone. It can also be layered to "increase any fragrance's warm and staying power."

Perfect Veil is a unisex fragrance appealing to both men and women.

Years ago a study was conducted by Dr. Alan Hirsch to find out which scents on women are favored by men ... and the winner was vanilla. Vanilla is also said to be a favorite scent of women.

At the moment I'm into rose, a floral fragrance -- which I buy from botanical companies. I'll link the brands below.

In addition, Sarah Horowitz offers custom blended fragrances for clients and is active on social media. Based in Los Angeles, she continues to experiment with and evolve her craft, as well as, teach perfumery classes.

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Eau de Cologne 4711

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Should We Line Our Waterline?

Photo: Getty images/Ingolf Hatz

The waterline is the rim of the upper or lower eyelid between our lashes and eyeballs. Lining my lower waterline is sometimes the only eye makeup I apply as a quick way to accent my eyes without putting on shadow or mascara. I think of it as the lazy girl's smoky eye since it creates the illusion of a smoky eye without the time it takes to do a complete and smudged smoky eye using additional makeup products.

Photo: YouTube

Although I've been lining my lower waterline for decades now without any side effects, optometrists don't encourage us to do so. The waterline area has specialized glands that excrete oil and the practice could obstruct the glands' natural ability to produce healthy tears.

You also must make sure the eye crayon pencils you use are soft and remain free of contaminants that could lead to eye infections.

Revlon Eye Colorstay eyeliner is a good and cheap option.

I have no scientific evidence to back up my guess that perhaps the reason I've been spared eye issues is usually I only apply the eye crayon in the morning after hopping out of a shower and don't use a lot of other eye makeup which would increase my chances for irritation or contamination. However, I can't say I've never reapplied my eyeliner crayon to my waterline later on in the day or used eye shadows and mascara at the same time. Moreover, in my 20s I often sampled display eye makeup at Ulta and Sophora ... a huge risky and stupid no, no!!!

Photo: Aishwarya - Loreal Infallible Waterproof eyeliners - Good eyeliner but difficult to sharpen. LOeal has other developed other types of eye crayons that roll up. 

IMHO the eye doctors' warnings should make us more mindful about safe makeup practices, as well as, more vigilant in keeping our makeup and our makeup tools super clean. 

But frankly, I don't want to stop lining my waterline altogether with a soft eyeliner crayon. It's such an easy and attractive look!

How about you?🤫

I'm still using Adrienne (how she spells her TV line) Arpel's eye crayon (which I stocked up on when it was discontinued). Her makeup including a newer eye crayon is hard to find nowadays, but it's a good one.

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The Lahore Diamond Necklace Is Dubbed The Coronation Necklace

I have long loved the Lahore Diamond Necklace, made by the jeweler Garrard for Queen Victoria in 1858 and thereafter worn by every British Queen, whether monarch or consort, for their coronations. For this reason, the necklace is called The Coronation necklace. 

Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Elizabeth II

It consists of 25 cushion-cut diamonds and a 22.48-carat center diamond pendant. The pear-shaped center diamond is the Lahore Diamond. As you can see, the necklace has matching pear-shaped earrings, which some Queens wear and others do not at their coronations. All 3 pear-shaped pendants are detachable. Queen Elizabeth II wore the Lahore Diamond necklace on many other occasions throughout her long reign. It must have been a favorite of Her Majesty's also! I don't have to own it, I just want to touch and try it on!

Queen Victoria and Queen Camilla

A Queen Regnant is a Queen in her own right, a monarch who has the same powers as a King. (Queen Mary Tudor, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth II are 3 Queen regnants.)  A Queen Regent (examples: Queen Katherine of Aragon and Queen Katherine Parr) is a Queen who is left in charge by the King during his absence or who rules for a period until her minor child, a future monarch, comes of age. A Queen Consort (Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, and Queen Camilla) is the wife of a King. She acquires her status through her closeness to the King, her husband. All 3 are addressed as Your Majesty.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Kentucky Oats Lily Cocktail

Photo: Distillerytrail.com

Tomorrow is a big day around the world for television celebrations with family and friends to watch King Charles III's Coronation starting at 5 am in the USA followed by The Kentucky Derby in the evening at 6:30 pm -- both eastern standard time. Depending on where you are on the globe, you'll be getting up very early or staying up very late to watch one or the other.

 

We average Janes and Joes aren't going to get a front-row seat to attend either event, but will have more fun, as well as, the best views at home parties in our very own living rooms. I don't know about you, but miraculously my invitations to both events got lost in the mail!🤥 

At the Kentucky Derby many people want to try the traditional Derby drink, a mint julep, but often discover they don't like the taste of bourbon, its main ingredient. If you are one of them, here's another traditional and refreshing Derby drink you'll see people sipping at Churchill Downs between the races. It's a festive and suitable drink to serve at either a Derby or Coronation party. BTW: The Kentucky Derby will be race #12 - the last race of the day.

 

Let's discuss the origin of the cocktail. The Kentucky Oats is America's "premier and most lucrative" race for 3-year-old female horses i.e., fillies which runs yearly one day before the Derby. The winner is awarded $1.2 million dollars and a garland of lilies. At Churchill Downs in the winner's circle, you might hear the phrase, "lilies for fillies," and now you know how the drink got its name. Below is the recipe:

Kentucky Oats Lily Cocktail

Ingredients:

Photo: Caitlin Bensel/Southern Living

Per serving --

3 ounces (1/3 cup) cranberry juice 

1 ounce (2 tablespoons) lime juice (some people use sour mix)

1/5 ounce (1 1/4 teaspoon) Triple Sec 

1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) FINLANDIA vodka

Crushed ice

Optional: fresh smashed berries for garnish

If making a pitcher full add: 3 parts cranberry juice; 1 part lime juice or sour mix; 1/4 part Triple Sec; 1 part FINLANDIA vodka, and crushed ice

Directions:

Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker or pitcher, shake or stir, and pour into a tall glass over crushed ice. Add a few smashed berries if you wish.

Enjoy tomorrow's celebrations, my lovlies!👑🌹🥳🎉

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Goelia's Award Winning Style Is Affordable

Goelia Design was founded in 1995 by women. The retailer offers superior fabrics, craftsmanship, and style ''at the best possible price" in addition to customer rewards and reductions. We're talking silk dresses, worsted wool trench coats, and leather skirts. The wools are soft and smooth, and the color palette tends to be neutrals. You'll find reasonably priced dresses made of polyester or cotton also.

The details in the pieces are gorgeous! Classic design that's feminine plus a little edginess too. To boot, the clothing is versatile ... going from day to night! Goelia is gifting some of their garments to YouTube vloggers but unfortunately, the company hasn't stumbled upon THE SAVVY SHOPPER with freebies to review.😟

Oh well, my relationship is with my readers, so I'm featuring a sampling of the clothing anyway. Comfortable, wearable, and timeless fashion at a fair price, making Goelia a worthy retailer to discover. Good news readers, Goelia ships to the USA, Europe, Asia, and Australia, so be sure you click and peruse the website corresponding to your location.

Do you see a favorite?

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Homemade Chicken Fingers

Deceptive photo, they weren't burnt or dry.

My senior mom has become a very picky eater. The supermarkets where I shop don't carry Tyson's Chicken Tenders, meat in a form she'll eat, so I bought 2 huge chicken breasts (nearly 3 pounds at $1.99 per pound = $5.49), cut them into pieces with my trusty meat shears, and made homemade chicken fingers for the 1st time ever in my life. How hard could it be? Not hard at all as it turns out. So crispy, tender and delicious, I'll post my easy-breezy recipe below (so I too can make it again):

Debbie's Chicken Fingers

Ingredients:

Chicken breasts - I had 2.76 pounds.

For the crust:

1 cup oatmeal

3/4 cup dried parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon homemade saltless creole seasoning (I now made it without salt and add salt or bouillion cubes in recipes.)

1  1/2 teaspoons Himalayan pink salt (It's what I had.)

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

2 teaspoons dried garlic

1/2 cup milk

Directions:

1) Cut the chicken breasts into chunks or thick strips.

 

2) Into a food processor add the oatmeal flakes, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic, and creole seasoning. Pulse until finely ground and pour into a mixing bowl.

3) Spray an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet with cooking spray or grease lightly with butter.

4) Wet the chicken pieces with drops of milk and drop them into the dry oatmeal mixture. You need about 1/2 cup of milk to sprinkle on the chicken pieces.

5) Arrange the coated chicken fingers on a greased or sprayed baking sheet and bake in a preheated 400-degree F oven until brown. The chicken meat will turn from pink to white in about 20 minutes.

Chicken fingers (the whole breast) or tenders (the pectoralis minor part of the chicken) are about the only way my mom will eat chicken nowadays. She ate them, so tonight we got the job done.

Freeze the leftovers. 

A side dish: Roasted Potatoes

Ingredients

3 potatoes, unpeeled and cubed

1 small onion, diced

olive oil

garlic powder

parsley 

tarragon

1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun or steak mix seasoning

A few turns of the peppermill

Directions:

1) Wash, slice or cube unpeeled potatoes (any variety) and onions.  

2) Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with the seasonings.

3) Transfer to an olive oiled, foil-lined baking tray.

Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 25 - 30 minutes.

Another side: BBQ Beans

Bon Appètit!

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Should You Pay $10,200 For a Chanel Bag?

Chanel - cow's (caviar) leather. Also comes in lambskin.

The Chanel classic flap bag increased another 16% in 2023. The medium flap bag now sells for $10,200, up from $8,800 earlier this year.

1) Karl Lagerfeld

Chanel's business model now seems to be to jack up its prices 3 - 4 times each year without giving consumers anything in return for it, such as improving the craftsmanship of its bags. As many customers have noted, the bag's quality has slipped over time. The 2023 Chanel flap bag is not as well-made as the designer's older flap bags, and its hardware is no longer gold-plated. The newer flap bag's hardware is even known to tarnish. Some say the leather quality has sunk too. 

2) Karl Lagerfeld; 3) Coach -- unlinked but easy to google by name. Oh, the Coach is gorgeous!

Although I still love the style of Chanel's classic flap bag, I won't be spending $10,200 to own one. That sum is insane and absolutely not a good investment! IMHO, Chanel's unrelenting, frequent price raises are gauging its customers, and I no longer can judge anyone for buying Chanel illegal replicas. But if you, like me, are of the mind that two wrongs don't make a right, there are many legally inspired classic Chanel flap leather bags on the market, and it's where personally, I'd turn. We can find a similar effect at a fair and reasonable price. {Plus there are many faux leather-inspired Chanel flap bags for even less money. They'll wear out sooner than real leather but are cheap enough to get your money's worth if you have to rebuy them.}

4) Tori Baurch; 5) Kate Spade

Throughout today's blog are Chanel-inspired leather flap bags. While they are not replicas -- fakes designed to fool people into thinking they are real Chanel bags, they are inspired and legal to give you a classic Chanel vibe for at least $9,700 less. Unlike Chanel, these inspired bags periodically go on sale for further reductions. You keep "the insane" difference of your own money for your benefit instead of forking it over to Chanel. Here's one I bought from Coach Outlet.

DHGate.com

Yes, there's a degree of compromise in looks; and depending on price (over $100, or under $100), the interior lining of an inspired bag may or may not be leather. But golly, consider this: With the latest price hike, an authentic Chanel flap bag buys 3 - 11 live dairy cows!

Isn't it time to say no to retailers you love, who don't love you back? Plus reports are leaking that Chanel isn't passing its HUGE profits on to its factory workers, who also must get permission to talk to one another while they work and don't get paid when they show up for work on a day Chanel experiences a supply problem.

As longtime readers know 99% of my blogs are positive with tips on what to buy, in lieu of what not to buy, or panning retailers, but when pricing gets ridiculous with no regard for customers or employees, we must speak up! When business practices aren't fair for EVERYONE involved, buyers can just say no. 

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Pond Los Angeles 4-Way Transform Tote

Pond Los Angeles makes luxury leather bags and accessories at fair prices for the modern woman. It uses the same high-end materials as the haute couture brands without the latter's excessive markups. The independent retailer focuses on innovative design, expert craftsmanship, and attention to detail, all the features we want without the shocking markup! It's a label for consumers who want timeless well-made essentials but can't justify spending thousands of dollars more for a status name.

The brand's 4-Way Transform Tote is clever. Compact yet spacious with smartly placed organizing pockets, it fits a 13" or 15" laptop in a padded section, a water bottle, and everything else you need for work when on the run. The structured tote is produced from American Saffiano leather that is waterproof and scratch resistant. The tote's leather won't show wear and tear. And you have to admire the tote's versatility. A true multi-tasker!

Carry the tote by its handles, use it as a shoulder or crossover bag, or transform its straps into a backpack. Additionally, at the airport, the shoulder straps can convert into luggage straps using a built-in converter.

The Pond Los Angeles Transform Tote is the perfect, well-thought-out, travel bag with zippers and slots, and pockets, oh my! There's also an interior leather key leash with a D-ring. Not dirt cheap yet reasonably priced, plus it goes on sale, and it sometimes lands on the pre-loved market deeply discounted! This is the kind of leather bag, worth splurging on because you get a lot for it -- quality, functionality, and durability! You're not paying for a name. Be on the lookout for a deal!👀

On Thursday, I'll discuss a famously popular bag, and I've already written the blog. Please keep this bag in mind to understand how you might sometimes save for a worthwhile splurge verses one that perhaps isn't worth spending the money on.

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Weekend Eats: Bread Toppers

Photo: Serious Eats

Sometimes my favorite meals are the easiest. You can open a bottle of merlot wine, buy a wedge of brie and a fresh loaf of grainy bread, and voilà, you have the makings of a delicious feast!

It's almost blueberry season! Make ahead a jar of blueberry jam to top brie cheese on bread or toast.

Blueberry Jam

Ingredients: 

2 cups fresh blueberries
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1/2 cup of honey or maple syrup

Directions:

Dump the blueberries, chia seeds, and honey or maple syrup
 into a saucepan and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes or so. I use a potato masher to smash the blueberries (leaving chunks). Remove from the heat and pour into a jar. It thickens as it cools. Refrigerate until needed.

Serve on grainy bread (or multigrain toast) on top of a spread of brie cheese.

🍏🥄🍽🍴🧅🥄🍽🍴🍋🥄🍽🍴🍏🥄🍽🍴🧅🥄🍽🍴🍋🥄 🍽🍴🥄🍽🍴🍏

Another topper for your slices of grainy bread is chilled chicken salad. It's also a chance to use leftovers -- chicken and/or vegetables! If you don't have fresh leftover vegetables, frozen vegetables work too.

Dijon Chicken Salad With Vegetables 

Ingredients:

16 oz cooked white chicken breast, diced

Select one: 10 oz frozen, cooked and cooled California Mix vegetables, diced; cooked asparagus, diced; or raw onions, celery, and carrots, diced

Photo: Christy Denny

1/2 - 1 cup low-fat mayonnaise (Don't use tasteless fat-free.)

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons lemon juice (Often I use vinegar.)

Salt and pepper to taste (Began with a teaspoon of salt, and go from there.)

Optional: 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped

Variation: Often I use a chopped green apple and 2 - 4 chopped baby carrots in my chicken salad for a satisfying crunch. We enjoy food due to its texture and flavor.

Directions:

Toss all your chosen ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix well. Chill for one hour before serving on your fresh (or toasted) grainy bread.

Add some fresh fruit (grapes, strawberries, orange and peach slices, whatever is in season) and you're consuming all the major food groups - protein, whole grains, fruit and vegetables. Bon Appetite! 🍷

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#Shorts: A Red Wine Boldness Chart

Although red wine is my alcoholic beverage of choice, I only drink a glass occasionally if I host a dinner or join friends at a restaurant. The exception is during the summer, I will sometimes have a glass of wine with a cheese and fruit platter as Sunday dinner. Unfortunately, as we grow older we have to watch our calories, and I'd rather eat than drink.

But when I do have a glass of wine, I enjoy it. I tend to drink Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Melbac and I try to avoid wines too rich in tannins - organic substances in grape skins and seeds that can make wine taste bitter or acidic, perhaps also described as sharp or bold. The tannins in wine give it health benefits, but if you don't enjoy the wine, what's the point of consuming it?

Another consideration, a bolder wine tastes delicious paired with heavy food such as a big thick steak, while lighter wines, sometimes called drinking wines, are perfect with appetizers.🧀

The above Wine Boldness Chart by Wine Folly is a handy-dandy guide when selecting wine. In my decades of life, I've tasted at least 9 on the chart ... plus whatever mystery wines I've sampled at wine tastings and can't remember.

I hope you find the chart useful!🍷

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