Box Shorts Are Tendy This Summer

Photo: Shein

Boxer shorts are trendy this summer, and they're super stylish! Comfortable and flattering for many body types. Certainly, they look more like shorts than underwear. Their vibe reminds me of culottes, which is a cross between shorts and a skirt, some call culottes a split skirt.

Photo: J Crew

Tight shorts are seldom complimentary and neither are bloomers. Boxer shorts show just the right amount of skin, and the flair-out of the legs is not only fashionable but also cool in boiling temperatures.

The boxer shorts' band flatters the waist, and they look preppy paired with a sweater. I love the buttons on the image above on the left, but this detail will date the shorts by making them look the most like their underwear inspiration.

Like other apparel, you can find boxer shorts at different price points, fabrics, colors, and patterns. Go inexpensive to get in on the fad. Cotton is popular! So are vertical stripes. Yet, I'd avoid box-short sets. Generally, short sets are popular for children (I wore them up until age 12). For adults, it's too matchy-matchy.

Photos: J Crew (left) and Amazon (right)

Crisp, clean, and shapely, this summer trend looks classic and has the potential to last beyond 2024. 

You may also enjoy:

Nasty Gal For Edgy Clothes

Which Lenth Of Shorts Are You?

6 Best Fabrics To Wear In Summer

Lands' End Summer And Beach Wear

High Protein Granola Bars -- To Bake Or Not To Bake

Granola bar images istock

Since my senior mom has become a picky eater I spend more money on protein drinks and bars than I do on meat. One of my rules is she must eat real food -- unprocessed meat, carbohydrates, and either fruit or vegetables for dinner. At times, it's a struggle. So I buy 30-gram protein drinks and strive for 20-gram protein bars that are low in sugar. They are more costly than real food and not as tasty, but what am I to do?

I found 2 recipes for High Protein Granola Bars. Both are 20 grams of protein per bar, count as real food, and are easy to make. Since the recipes are on multiple websites without credit, I have no idea who created them. 

Nearly the same, the 1st recipe requires 5 ingredients and no baking. Add eggs and bake recipe #2:

I. No Bake 5 Ingredient High Protein Granola Bars

Ingredients

3 cups rolled oats

1 cup vanilla protein powder

1 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions

1) In a large mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients, oats, and protein powder.

2) In a 2nd mixing bowl, microwave the peanut butter and honey for a few seconds to soften them.

3) Combine the wet with the dry ingredients. You can add a few spoons of water to the mixture if it's too dry.

4) Press the mixture into an 8" by 8" pan lined with parchment paper.

5) Evenly distribute the chocolate chips and press them into the batter.

6) Refrigerate until the bars are firm before cutting with a knife dipped in water (to avoid sticking) into 16 bars.

🍪🥚🍫🍪🥚🍫🍪🥚🍫🍪🥚🍫🍪🥚🍫🍪🥚🍫🍪🥚🍫🍪🥚🍫🍪🥚🍫🍪

II. Baked 6 Ingredient High Protein Granola Bars

Ingredients

3 cups rolled oats

1 cup vanilla protein powder

1 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup honey

2 eggs

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions

1) Mix the dry ingredients, oats and protein powder.

2) Mix in the eggs.

3) Microwave the peanut butter and honey for a few seconds to soften them and combine them into the mixture.

4) Pour into an 8" by 8" pan sprayed with cooking spray and lined with parchment paper.

5) Distribute and press the chocolate chips into the dough.

6) Bake in a preheated 350-degree F oven for 10 - 15 minutes. Check and remove when the outside edges start to turn slightly brown.

7) Cool, and cut while still warm into 16 bars.

To bake or not to bake, that is the question. My answer: First try the unbaked granola bars and if you like them go no further. If curious, make the baked granola bar recipe and decide which texture you prefer. Also if you want add-ins like whole almonds, or sunflower seeds, or white chocolate chips, or coconut flakes, or raisins it's up to you. Feel free to dip your baked granola bars into melted dark chocolate with baker's wax if you desire. 

You may also enjoy:

Real Italian Cooking

Dresses For A Senior Mother

5 Interior Design Styles - Part I

The Value Of A College Education

Walmart's Cheap Thrill Dresses

I no longer buy high-end summer dresses. The pricey ones hang in my closet while I grab a swing dress from (1) Lands' End, (2) Uniqlo, or (3) Old Navy to go to the theater, ballet, or a restaurant. I call them my Cheap Thrill Dresses. No dry cleaning is needed!

A Cheap Thrill Dress is a dress that's cute, cozy, decent quality, and won't break the bank. Paired with ballet flats and some bling, the garment looks polished and suitable for a night out on the town. You can wear a Cheap Thrill Dress without fuss. If you sit on a park bench; in the open air on the fountain at Lincoln Center; or decide to ride the subway, you won't have to fret about ruining your dress. Cheap thrill dresses can be machine-washed and dried all summer long!

Let me introduce you to a 4th retailer carrying Cheap Thrill Dresses worth considering. Walmart has a reasonably good brand, PPYOUNG, which is getting tons of 5-star reviews from happy customers. The dresses feel as comfortable as wearing T-shirts, yet are much more stylish.

The knit fabric of 95% rayon with 5% spandex is a winning combination for a hot steamy summer to keep you cool and wrinkle-free. The adorable swing style is universally flattering on nearly every body type.

What a versatile dress ... going from a night out on the town, to a Saturday running errands frock, or an all-day beach coverup, to an easy-to-pack in-a-suitcase vacation dress.

If ordering clothing from Walmart (or Target known to collaborate with upscale designers), I recommend reading all the reviews. Customers usually mention when a dress runs large, true-to-size, or small, plus check the manufacturers' size chart. 

The PPYOUNG dresses from Walmart come in several styles, colors, and patterns, and the price points are a steal making owning a few a no-brainer! 

You may also enjoy:

Big Ticket Looks For Less

Dresses For A Senior Mother

6 Best Fabrics To Wear In Summer

Save On Summer Fashion Essentials

Summer Eats

Fresh summer tomatoes are the best! Photo: HuffPost 

I post more recipes in summer on THE SAVVY SHOPPER than at other times of the year. Why? I have more time to cook and play. In summer, real food -- not junk food -- that doesn't take hours to prepare or cook also catches my eye. I slap it up here if I wish to share or find it again myself.

Fresh food I don't have to cook is one of the many things I love about summer. Last night I cut up an avocado, tomato, and onion, tossed them into a bowl, and seasoned them with cider vinegar (a friend gave me cider vinegar with a "mother" in it), salt, pepper, garlic and parsley. Mmm!

If you mash the ingredients, you'll have guacamole, more traditionally made with lime, but I prefer good vinegar.

In summer I love a late-night dinner of red wine and extra-sharp cheddar cheese on grainy rye bread. It's umami tasty! I could eat it as a supper 7 days a week, but I don't let myself! Only one day a week is my rule. I add cruditès of raw vegetables and fruit to balance out the meal. Another summer love is it stays daylight until 9 PM!

When you don't cook a meal what is your favorite at-home summer dinner? If reading this blog, you're looking at mine.

You may also enjoy:

American Potato Salad

Barbecue Franks And Beans

Stove Top Roast Chicken With Gravy

Bean, Avocado, Corn, Onion And Tomato

Doan's White Chocolate Coconut Cake Is A Favorite of Tom Cruise

All photos courtesy of Spectrum 1 News

Doan's Bakery in Westland Hills, Los Angeles, CA, has been family-operated since 1983. Its White Chocolate Coconut Cake became famous after actor Tom Cruise began sending it to his celebrity friends each year for Christmas. It's a $50 cake that costs $130 to ship overnight via Goldbelly nationwide. Mentions on Jimmy Kimmel's and Jimmy Fellon's late-night shows put the cake and bakery on the map. Bakery co-owner, Karen Doan [who partners with her son, Eric and his wife, Carrie] says the secret to the cake's success is to add more, not less of the finest ingredients. This means more coconut and white chocolate. Below is a copycat recipe with the hands of creator Karen Doan in the images making the original cake:

White Chocolate Coconut Cake

Ingredients for the cake batter

1 cup softened butter

1 1/2 cup granulated sugar

4 large eggs

1/2 cup canned coconut milk

½ cup buttermilk

1 tablespoon coconut extract

5 ounces white chocolate, melted

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions for the batter:

1) Beat together the butter and sugar.

2) Next mix in the eggs one at a time.

3) Mix in the coconut milk, buttermilk, coconut extract, and melted white chocolate.

4) In a separate mixing bowl combine the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, and salt.

5) Fold in the dry ingredients, 1/4 at a time, into the wet ingredients. Mix just until incorporated. 

6) Pour into a large buttered bundt pan [or 2 buttered 9" cake pans if you wish].

7) Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 45 - 55 minutes or until the center of the cake produces a crumb when tested with a toothpick.

8) Cool for about 15 minutes before removing from the pan(s) while still warm. If you make the bundt cake, you'll flip it over. The bottom becomes the top.

Ingredients for the Frosting:

1/2 cup butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 cups of powdered sugar, more if needed
1 tablespoon coconut extract

14 ounces of flaked coconut (toasted if you wish to toast it) for the top and sides of the cake.

Directions for the Frosting:

1) Beat the butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar together until fluffy. Add the coconut extract and incorporate.

2) Spread it on the cake. Professional bakers put the cake in the refrigerator, then frost it a 2nd time.

3) Finish with the shredded coconut -- padding it on the sides and top of the cake.

Will you make a bundt or 2-layer cake?🎂

You may also enjoy:

Carla Hall's Caramel Cake

A Pretty Rainbow Almond Cake
Easy Homemade Strawberry Cake

Raspberry Cake With A Raspberry Filling

Are Almond Skins Bad For Us?

Photo: iStock

Almonds are a nutritional powerhouse. There are two varieties: editable sweet and noneditable bitter almonds. 

Sweet almonds are the variety we buy to eat.

Noneditable bitter almonds contain a toxin, called glycoside amygdalin that when eaten, gets broken down into hydrogen cyanide, a toxic compound that can cause accidental death in adults who consume 10 to 12 of them.

Photo: iStock

Editable sweet almonds are sold in supermarkets and specialty food shops. They are high in fiber and antioxidants like flavonoids and vitamin E, protecting us against free radicals that cause chronic disease and premature aging. Vitamin E reduces inflammation, boosts immunity;and helps widen blood vessels to improve blood flow. Almonds are a natural fighter against obesity, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, gut health, and Alzheimer's.

Compared to other nuts, sweet "almonds are one of the healthiest nuts to eat. They are higher in fiber, protein, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, magnesium, calcium, iron, folate acid, and other nutrients." Many of their nutrients like vitamin E are contained in their skin. Almond skins are not only good to eat, but they also provide additional antioxidants and fiber.

Some people like to soak their almonds in water for up to 8 hours. According to certain health nuts, it makes the almonds more digestible, enhances nutrient absorption, and adds prebiotic properties to promote a healthier gut microbiome. Whether soaking provides benefits is undetermined. Health nuts are not necessarily wrong, it just means there have not been scientific studies to back their claims. This could be because nobody has put up money to conduct the research, or the studies conducted can't establish cause-and-effect conclusions.

Dry almonds right out of the bag are a healthy snack too. Removing the skin of almonds is a taste or texture preference. Skinless almonds have fewer nutrients than almonds with skins. When people worry that the skins of almonds are poisonous, they confuse sweet with bitter almonds. Almonds sold in first-world countries are sweet almonds. They are wholesome, and 100% of an almond is safe to eat.

You may also enjoy:

All About Apples

Homemade Nut Bars

Avocados The Healthy Snack

Healthy Food Is Not Expensive

The Value Of A College Education

Photo: CUNY

I like Bill Maher but it always irritates me when a man who has the benefit of a college education devalues the importance of a college education.😳 He's not the only university-degreed public figure to do so. Mike Rowe, a TV personality who seems to lean conservative with a libertarian streak on his podcasts, goes as far as to fund a charity to steer young people towards training in blue-collar professions. He has said, a higher education is more worthless today than yesterday.

Mike Rowe (right) and Bill Maher (left)

IMHO, it couldn't be further from the truth. If you have the intellect and means, you cannot spend 4 years of your life in a more transforming way. Education changes you as a person. Once your mind has been stretched by new ideas and other cultures and learns critical thinking, it never returns to its original dimension. 

Do you know who'll believe these skeptics? Sadly (1) Parents without a college education who are anxious about the costs of sending their children to college. (2) Libertarian and right-wing politicians sitting in Congress who want to cut taxes to zero for multi-millionaires and billion-dollar corporations by defunding public education. (3) Young inexperienced people without guidance or encouragement or foresight.

A free public education was fundamental to our Founding Fathers at a time when only the well-to-do could afford an education. Education has long been valued in democratic countries as a bedrock for a strong democracy. Do we want an ignorant or an educated electorate? Because the zeitgeist seems to be turning.

Often a university degree is the one sure way out of poverty for a person who is born poor with no connections and few opportunities. If a person has the desire, brains, and work ethic to become a doctor, dentist, or accountant, it's in the country's interest to help them pay for their education. Society benefits when its members have access to higher learning. Getting it should not be determined by whether you are rich or poor. If someone from a lower-income family has the aptitude to be a scientist, educator, or engineer, it's in society's interest to use tax dollars to help educate a future scientist, educator, or engineer.

The middle and working classes pay the bulk of taxes in the USA. We can well afford to use some of it for Pell Grants and low-interest government loans to help defray the cost of tuition for the working and middle classes. 

We have a long history of striving to do better than our parents. These were the dreams of generations of immigrants. How do we benefit now by abandoning our aspirations to do so? Rather than thumbing down efforts to raise society's collective intelligence, let's continue to lift it up!

On average college graduates earn more money than high school graduates. A college education opens doors to higher-paying jobs you can't get without a university degree. After graduation, the country acquires a higher-earner taxpayer.

But aside from earning more money, the critical thinking you master in college helps you do nearly everything else in your life better. Moreover, how are you going to spend your paycheck if your vision is limited because you haven't learned about other countries and cultures? Or worthy subjects such as art, geography, history, economics, finance, etc., etc.🌍🌎🌏

In society, there are examples of people who are smart, or successful, or self-motivators without higher learning. Granted there are degree-less people who read books and are self-taught, yes, but it's a harder path to tread without structure, direction, and guidance which is what a university offers. More people are not self-motivators than those who are. It takes effort, dedication, and internships to acquire a level of expertise in a given field. Most accredited universities also require coursework outside of a major with the goal of turning a student into a well-rounded person. College is much more than just a pathway to a job.

I'll finish where I started. I like Bill Maher ... but would Bill Maher be Bill Maher if he had skipped college? His post-high school education is an important component that makes him the satirist he is. A show like Real Time with Bill Maher would be a different show, no? I would bet real money that Real Time is written and produced by people who went to college. I know of at least one staff member who did. The man at the top, Bill Maher!📚

You may also enjoy:

I Took The Colbert Questionert 

Self-Sufficiency Makes Life Better

When Time Marches On Without Us

John Prine's April Passing From COVID Hurt

Where Do Canadians Buy Clothes?

On my bucket list is visiting Canada, starting with Montreal or Quebec (so two trips) to familiarize myself with retailers where Canadians like to shop for clothes. I'm open to both luxury and affordable markets. It's fun to explore shopping districts away from home, and you never know where you'll find inspiration or a steal.

Below is a roundup of where a few Canadian women say they buy their clothes. Some explained why they favor them. The recommendations are 100% theirs. Perhaps one day I'll step foot in the following --

25 Popular Canadian Apparel Shops: 

Aritzia - Expensive but I have to say that they really hit the sweet spot of the modern trendy look. I would say Wilfred and Babaton are the house brands that make more sense for a 30-something - Talulah and TNA are more sporty, and casual, which reads younger. Also, check out the Sunday Best line.

Frank and Oak For basics - Women's clothes are online only but pretty well made. I avoid most of their poly stuff, but anything cotton, silk, merino, etc. is very nice and they have decent sales every other month or so.

Oak and Fort - For more unique and architectural looks. Their fabrics aren't great and are very rarely natural but they do some really neat outside-of-the-box clothes.

Simons - I mostly shop here for the access to other brands and their frequent sales. I'm not a huge fan of their house lines (Twik, Iconé, and Contemporaine). Pretty good loyalty program and easy shipping.

Gap - I buy here for the neverending sales on basics and the occasional really great deal. Also in the USA.

eBay - Especially doing searches and limiting it to Canada to avoid high shipping fees and duties. I like searching for pre-owned Aritzia brands, Theory, Eileen Fisher, Joie, Isabel Marant, Dusen Dusen, Nic and Zoe, and vintage.

Silver and Gold

Silver and Gold Boutique - Trendy and casual style.

Street and Saddle - Quality and fitted garments.

Seek Shelter - Clothes made to improve with wear.

Jeska Grue - Silk and linen fabrics.

Beaton Linen - Linen dresses, jumpers, and fabrics too.

Korinne Vader - Linen dresses, bottoms.

Nordstrom Rack - Also in the USA.

Winners - In the USA known as T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and Home Goods.

Marshalls - Also in the USA. The sister company of T.J. Maxx or T.K. Maxx in UK countries. Canadians named it separately. Don't count the retailers and tell me there are 26 because I didn't count Marshalls twice. It's counted under the Winners corporation. :)

Holt Renfrew - Known for its exclusive designer collaborations and high-end fashion brands.

RW & Co - Classical Canadian clothing.

Reitmans - Good for work clothes.

Ricki's - Trendy and casual clothes

Cleo - Linen pants, blazers, and dresses.

Uniqlo - Also in the USA. Good quality basics and layering pieces that look expensive. 

Dynamite - A mix of dresses, tops, and jeans.

Laura's - Slightly pricy, but for clothes that will last for years. Classic Canadian clothing.

Mark's - Great bargains.

Hudson Bay

Hudson's Bay - Tons of options on their website. My note: The Bay and Hudson's Bay operate under the HBC portfolio. HBC is North America's oldest company, founded in 1670. HBC also acquired Saks Fifth Avenue in 2013. The Bay is like Macy's or Saks in the USA.

Blondie Boutique - Online shopping only except in Calgary, Canada.

Wow, most of these merchants have no stores in the US, so are new to me. How about you?

Click the links of the Canadian retailers to check them out!🇨🇦

You may also enjoy:

My Window Shopping Spree

The Sample Sales Of New York City

Macy's Herald Square We Love You As You Are

Leather Biker Jackets: Let's Discuss Business Models

Chef Geoffrey Zakarian's Half Sour Pickles And BBQ Sauce

      

These two recipes from Chef Geoffrey Zakarian are definitely keepers. Pickling cucumbers is too darn easy not to try it. I suggest following the instructions exactly the 1st time out. You can blanch the cucumbers thereafter if you like pickles less raw.

Directions:  

Toss all the ingredients in a canning jar, screw on its lid and store in the refrigerator for at least 5 days before eating.

🍅🥒🍊🍅🥒🍊🍅🥒🍊🍅🥒🍊🍅🥒🍊🍅🥒🍊🍅🥒🍊🍅🥒🍊🍅🥒🍊🍅🥒🍊

I love a scrumptious barbecue sauce. I have 2 recipes for you. For mine click here. The one below is extra special!

The BBQ Sauce for Burgers

The Barbecue Sauce Ingredients

Directions:

Toss all the ingredients (except for the bacon) into a stockpot and simmer on a stovetop for 40 minutes. You can save the bacon to top the burgers. Chef Geoffrey tosses them into his BBQ sauce at the end of the cooking time, but I prefer my sauce to be healthier with fewer calories. {I don't put bacon on burgers either. For me, it's too much of a good thing. I eat crispy bacon with eggs for a weekend breakfast. Moderation is ideal.}

Thank you, Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, for sharing your restaurant recipes!

You may also enjoy:

Let The Barbecues Begin

Barbecue Franks And Beans

Homemade Chicken Fingers

Celebrate The 4th of July With The Everly Brothers