Monday, August 26, 2024
Elizabeth Taylor's Legendary Jewelry
Friday, August 23, 2024
London Fog's Dupe For Christian Dior's Tote Bag
Three years ago Dior launched its wildly popular tote bag (called a book bag in the UK). Fashionistas bought them. But if you don't want to shell out $3,350 for it, have I got a smart dupe for you. It's London Fog's Beach Canvas Tote, and it sells at Walmart for $15, reduced to an unbelievable $10.50. The price points of both fashionable canvas bags are insane ... but only one is fabulous!
London Fog makes a durable, functional bag with the same vibe. The writing is only on one side, so you can show it or not. London Fog makes first-rate raincoats and umbrellas so I'd trust the quality of its totes also. Stylin' for a lot less.Thursday, August 22, 2024
Makeup Organizers
Since I don't have counters in my Manhattan bathroom I have to keep my makeup and skincare products inside my medicine cabinet so I bought smaller organizers to fit inside it. They are clear with divided compartments, and a step-level style. I can't spin them around, but can still see and reach for everything without moving anything.
Organizers are relatively inexpensive and over the years save you a ton of time! I also think I buy less since I can see the makeup I already have and nothing gets forgotten or lost! I'm also trying to use up what I have and eventually shrink or consolidate what I purchase. My long-term goal is to be an even more mindful shopper. One step at a time!
Start decluttering and putting things in place today. You'll wonder why it took you so long to get organized!
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
Sales On Blazer's At Lands' End
A blazer is one of those no-brainer traditional pieces that should be in every woman's (and man's) wardrobe. It elevates an outfit and acts as a light layering piece to take you from the late summer into the fall. Depending on the style, you could also wear it in winter under your coat to complete an outfit, as well as, for warmth once you get to the office.
Monday, August 19, 2024
Savon De Marseille Beau Terra Soap
One of my favorite T.J. Maxx finds is Savon De Marseille Beau Terra Soap, also the best liquid soap I've ever used. Why do I love it so? Let me count the ways:
1) It has a lovely and potent smell of roses, the fragrance I selected.
2) When I fancy a product whether it is soap, shampoo, condition, moisturizer, or even household cleaners I love big quantities of it so I can use it without soon running out. Savon De Marseille Beau Terra Soap is sold in a 1L (33.8 oz) size. With daily use, it lasts and lasts!3) Not only does it clean, but it feels gentle and nourishing so never dries my hands. Marseille soup is made from vegetable fats without coloring, perfume, or synthetic additives. True Savon de Marseille soaps are 72% olive oil (whereas Castile soaps are 100% olive oil).
4) It doesn't have the organic seal, though it's enriched with olive oil, botanicals, and super beneficial ingredients.
5) Usually products made in France are expensive, yet this soap is cheap, and the 1L size makes it excellent value for the money.
I hope I find it again at T.J. Maxx because if you wish to buy it for roughly the price I paid, you need a $100 order to get free shipping, and no matter how much I love it, that's a lot of soap!🌹
Friday, August 16, 2024
Protein Cookies For Breakfast
Here's how you can turn it into a real protein cookie to eat for breakfast, or anytime you need a cookie. If you're not a senior who's a picky eater, you don't need the Pure Protein bar 😉 --
Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies (a complete protein)
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Is Anyday Cookware Worth the Hype?
TODAY Illustration / Courtesy Christina Montoya Fiedler |
Anyday bowls are made of durable frosted borosilicate glass, a thermal-shock-resistant material that can withstand wide temperature fluctuations. In it, you can cook meals in the microwave or bake or roast them in the oven up to 500 degrees F without its lid. The lid can withstand oven heat up to 400 degrees F. Additionally, you can eat your cooked food out of the dish and then store any leftovers in the freezer within the very same dish. In fact, the microwave to table to a freezer in a single dish is its great appeal. Anyday dishes are also dishwasher safe.
A silicone knob on the lid lets a little steam escape during microwaving while a silicone gasket in the lid traps the rest of the steam for even cooking. Another innovative feature is its knob can be pushed down to create a vacuum keeping your meal warm.
What's more, Anyday cookware is designed to use steam technology to cook meals faster than usual. Proteins, vegetables, and grains -- foods that normally cook unevenly in the microwave instead cook evenly.
The dishes are airtight and leakproof making them ideal to carry your contribution to cookouts. Plus, nobody will ask if you want it back as they sometimes do with Tupperware. Btw: whichever receptacle you take the food in, the answer is always, "Yes, of course!"😛
Anyday bowls come in different sizes and can be bought individually or in sets. The College Dorm set, priced at $90, is a set of 4 smaller-sized bowls.
So what do I think of buying them? I'm tempted by the from-microwaving-to-eating-to-freezing-to-washing all in a single dish convenience. However, I'd avoid purchasing the sets. We rarely use entire sets of cookware. Frequently one size gets used while the rest stays idle. You are just not going to start cooking all your meals in a microwave and probably already own adequate cookware that chefs recommend for different types of cooking and baking, such as stainless steel or a cast iron skillet, etc.
Enthusiasm over new technology can easily lead to waste and spending more than you should. Start with one bowl, which may be all you'll ever use ... then add another size if needed.
Monday, August 12, 2024
Uniqlo's Wireless Airism Bras
Uniqlo's bras rock! Our acquaintance began with Uniqlo's "AIRism" bra tops which I'm a big fan of ... then I noticed its everyday bras were briefer forms of its bra tops, so I started buying them.
The styles get discontinued, but the non-removable padded cups remain the same. They're an easy fit!
The left image has just been discontinued. Its replacement on the right is a tweaked version at the straps of the former. You can't get any more of the left online, but they're still in the stores marked down to $19.90. It's a steal, but frankly, the price is what I think bras ought to cost! {I mean, let's take a look at the price of jockstraps, shall we?}
The fabric is soft, smooth, and seamless. It supports yet is ultra comfortable. The bra is durable too. Grab a couple of last season's edition before they're gone! You'll be happy to score such lovely basics at a fantastic price.
Friday, August 9, 2024
NOW Solutions For Natural Beauty
The company's prices are surprisingly inexpensive, plus it often has coupon codes such as 25% off a $40 order and gives customers $5 for signing up for emails to sweeten a purchase. It's good value for the money.
For consumers familiar with health food stores, NOW Solutions has every type of personal care inventory you could think of, for example: fascial scrubs, purifying toners, moisturizers, and treatments, skin detox masks and clays, skin butters and oils, vitamin creams, progesterone cream, joint and muscle creams, natural deodorants, shaving cream, shampoos and conditioners, toothpaste and mouthwash for oral care, and anti-aging elixirs to give you some idea!
Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Skincare At A French Pharmacy
When in a foreign country I love checking out its pharmacy. There are so many unique and fascinating beauty and personal care products inside that are not found in our home country pharmacies.
Let me introduce you to 3 skincare items you'll find in a French pharmacy that you can also buy on Amazon. All 3 are dermatologists' approved!:
1) A313 Pure Retinol Cream Top image 👆 - A synthetic vitamin A prescription-strength concentrate you apply at night to reverse the signs of aging. No prescription is needed here!
2) Biafine Act Emulsion Cream - It's a healing ointment containing Trolamine and water to treat skin wounds from chapped skin to light burns including sunburns. Rub it on to protect and mend.
Tuesday, August 6, 2024
Clinique's New Smart Clinical Repair Retinoid
Clinique is known for its excellent skin care. Launching this summer is a new retinoid stick balm and overnight face cream the retailer is calling Smart Clinical Repair™ to treat fine lines and wrinkles plus firm up the skin. In addition to retinoids, it contains peptides and hyaluronic acid, which are 3 effective ingredients to fight the natural aging process none of us escape.
Friday, August 2, 2024
The Health Benefits Of Mushooms
Today I will paraphrase an interesting health article I read in Life Extention - The Science of a Healthier Life - July/August 2024 ...
Mushrooms have an amino acid known as L-ergothioneine. Our bodies can't make it yet the compound is so essential to human health that our cell membranes have special transporters to deliver it into our cells.
In a 2021 population study, scientists noticed some interesting findings in people who ate mushrooms. Consumers who regularly ate one serving of mushrooms (a fungus) had a 16% lower risk of death. People who refrained from red meat and ate a serving of mushrooms daily had an astonishing 35% decrease in all-cause mortality. The scientists attribute the health benefits to one compound, namely this L-ergothioneine amino acid.
What's more, in observational studies, scientists connected L-ergothioneine to specific health benefits: L-ergothioneine may promote healthy aging by fighting oxidative stress and decreasing the rate of telomere shortening that inherently occurs as we age. Our eyes, brain, and red blood cells suffer the most from oxidation stress. These tissues have high concentrations of L-ergothioneine transporters which points to the important role the compound plays in protecting them. Telomeres are the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes, and unfortunately, they naturally shorten as we age.
L-ergothioneine also appears to act as a sunscreen for DNA, protecting against skin cancer and boosting DNA repair.
As it happens, L-ergothioneine and its transporter are present throughout the brain. Several studies have linked L-ergothioneine to preserving brain function in the areas of learning and memory. In a trial of adults, 5 mg of L-ergothioneine daily significantly improved brain function enough to make scientists take notice.
In the observational study, L-ergothioneine levels in the body were associated with better heart health lowering cardiovascular mortality by 21%.
Photo: foodandwine |
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
It's A 10 vs Pantene Miracle Rescue
I tend to splurge on skincare but save on haircare. With my skin, I try to prevent damage from happening, but our hair is already dead, so I simply trim off any damage.
A worthy competitor at a lower price is Pantene Miracle Rescue Deep Repair Condition. Pantene's line has the corresponding formulas to the It's A 10 brand. What I like is, Pantene is recognized as a great brand for hair products with a ton of satisfied customers. It's available at drugstores, Walmart, and Target so there are promotions further lowering its price if you wait for them, and with the money saved, you can also buy the shampoo, as well as, put some change back in your wallet.
Difeel is a T.J. Maxx discovery I use daily. |
On hair products, there's no need to splurge for high-end brands since it's easy to save without compromising. You'll find new outstanding hair care shampoos, conditioners, and treatments in the beauty aisles of T.J. Maxx! Always worth a browse.