Elizabeth Taylor's Legendary Jewelry

Today I'll do a roundup of 5 pieces of the late actress Elizabeth Taylor's legendary jewelry, excluding her gorgeous emerald suite linked here in a previous blog. She loved jewelry as much as I do but unlike me, had the jet-set lifestyle to amass an exquisite collection. Hers was one of the most expensive private collections in the world. To be sure, the late film star loved jewelry for the all right reasons, not for its bloated monetary value but for the sparkle and beauty of the gemstones enhanced by the master craftsmanship of Cartier, Harry Winston, and Bulgari. During her lifetime, sometimes she invited people she was fond of into her bedroom to show and play with her jewelry. How fun ... and what a woman! So let's take a look at the 5 items I've selected to feature: 

1. The Taylor Burton Diamond (See first 3 images above👆) - At 69.42 carats, originally named the Cartier diamond by the jeweler who cut a massive white diamond into 2 magnificent diamonds, then sold the largest one to 5th and 6th husband, Richard Burton. Cartier said it was one of the most flawless pear-shaped diamonds in the world. The actress asked Cartier to create a necklace (as it was too big to wear as a ring) with smaller pear-shaped diamonds to showcase the large stone. After divorcing Richard Burton twice, Elizabeth sold the diamond in 1979 for $3 million, half of which she gave to charity. I wish I could say, it's in my jewelry box, but its whereabouts are unknown today.

 2) Cartier Ruby and Diamond Necklace, Bracelet, and Earrings - We're looking at unheated red pigeon blood Burmese rubies set with circular and baguette-cut diamond latticework. Given to her by one of the 2 loves of her life, 3rd husband, Mike Todd, and sold by Taylor's 4 children in 2011. The necklace fetched $3,778,500 at auction. The bracelet sold for $842,500, and the earrings for $782,500. 

3) The Mike Todd Diamond Tiara - A late 19th-century antique, the diamond tiara was another gift from Taylor's 3rd husband, movie producer Mike Todd in 1957. Old mine cut diamonds are set in platinum and gold with latticework. The family sold the tiara in 2011 at auction for $4,226,500.

4) - The Elizabeth Taylor Diamond Ring - Formally known as the Krupp diamond, the 33.19-carat Asscher-cut diamond is flanked by 2 tapered baguette-cut diamonds mounted in platinum. Another gift from husband and 2nd love of her life, Richard Burton, the diamond is D color, VS1 clarity, and is said to be Elizabeth's favorite piece of jewelry which considering her collection is really saying something! In 1968 Richard Burton paid $307,000 for the ring, and the family sold it in 2011 for $8,818,500.

5. The La Peregrina Pearl - The La Peregrina is the most symmetrical natural pear-shaped pearl ever discovered. Its original weight was 55.95 carats but in 2013 the pearl had to be drilled and cleaned to secure it to its setting which reduced its weight to 50.56 carats still making it one of the largest perfectly symmetrical pear-shaped pearls known to exist in the world. The pear-shaped pearl measures approximately 17.35 - 17.90 x 25.50 mm. The gem is steeped in history, legend, and allure. It was found by an African slave in the Gulf of Panama in 1513 (who is said to have earned his freedom for finding it) and sent to Philip II {Habsburg} who elevated the pearl to a Crown Jewel of Spain. The La Peregrina became a favorite of Spanish Queens starting with Philip II's 2nd wife Queen Mary I {Tudor} of England. In 1808 Emperor Napolean {of France} made his older brother, Joseph Bonaparte the King of Spain, but 5 years later after Napolean was defeated and Joseph kicked out of Spain, Older Brother took some of the Spanish Crown Jewels, including the La Peregrina pearl into exile, which he left in his will to his nephew, the future Napolean III of France. Later after Napoleon III lost his throne, he sold the pearl to an English aristocrat, James Hamilton, in whose family it stayed until 1969. Actor Richard Burton bought the pearl at the Sotheby's auction for $37,000. Elizabeth Taylor commissioned Cartier to re-design the necklace, setting the La Peregrina with additional pearls, diamonds, and rubies. As I said above, what a woman! It was sold in 2011 by Christie's in the Taylor estate sale for a record-breaking $11,400,000 to an anonymous buyer. The Elizabeth Taylor jewelry auctioned realised a total of $115, 932,000, much more than anticipated.

Elizabeth Taylor, Queen Mary I of England and Queen (Consort) Marie-Louise (d'Orleans) of Spain

As a jewelry lover and regular person, I hope these majestic pieces come up for auction again and find their way into a museum for all of us to enjoy for the price of admission. It's the only way any of us will ever get close to these sparklers! However, if you lived close to Christie's in 2011 you could've stepped into the auction house for a viewing before the auction.

Do you have a favorite?

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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.

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Makeup Organizers

When I got tired of wasting time searching for my stuff, my organizing gene kicked in! Now I'm a dedicated organizer. Everything big or small I own in my apartment must have a home. I also got rid of purely decorative items that can't do a job. No freeloaders in my small living space, at least the inanimate object must be able to hold something, or it goes!

The Syntus 360 Rotating Makeup Organizer sits neatly on a bathroom countertop to save space. You spin it around to see and get to all your makeup. The dolly organizer is slim and compact with adjustable partitions.💄 

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!

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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.

You can't beat the classic style and quality for the price at Lands's End. The retailer offers so many choices, structured or not structured. Fabrics include 100% linen, 100% cotton, cotton-with-a-touch-of spandex, smooth, velveteen, or knit; and the devil that is always in the details such as pockets with or without flaps, one button, 2 buttons, or 4 buttons that are shiny to stand out or not shiny to blend in. Of course, the blazers also come in timeless patterns and an assortment of mostly neutral colors.

Now might be a great time to browse. When LE runs sales, they're very good and if missed, they'll roll around again. The white 100% linen jacket (above right👆) is on sale at 70% off for $40! My gosh, what a steal!  It's a smart and comfortable wardrobe piece you'll wear forever.

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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!🌹

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Protein Cookies For Breakfast

Today I'll share two recipes, one for a senior and another for everyone else. First up: For breakfast some mornings I make a hot bowl of cereal for my senior mother. In her cereal, she gets 1/4 cup of 1-minute oatmeal, an overflowing tablespoon of crunchy peanut butter, about 1/4 cup of milk, and sometimes 1/2 banana. Microwave it for 2 minutes and after it cools but is still warm, I dice a Pure Protein Chocolate Chip bar and mix it in. She gets protein vitamins, and fiber but is none the wiser that she's eating a healthy breakfast as it tastes and smells like a cookie! According to her, she doesn't eat 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)

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups oatmeal flakes

1 cup of crunchy peanut butter

1 large ripe banana, mashed

1 teaspoon vanilla

a pinch of salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

a sprinkle of nutmeg

1/4 cup honey

2/3 cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips

Options: (1) 1/4 cup of raisins - I add raisins to keep the cookies moist longer. You could puree them before adding. (2) Although we're not dried fruit in cookie fans, you could use other dried fruit if you like. (3) If you wish to chop 1/2 cup of nuts like walnuts, pecans, or almonds, feel free to toss them into the batter. (4) A couple teaspoons of flax seeds is another healthy choice.

Directions:

1) In a mixing bowl, mix all your ingredients, one by one, together.

(2) Refrigerate the batter for 1/2 hour or more.

3) Drop a tablespoon size of batter onto a buttered foil-lined cookie sheet about 1 inch apart. Flatten the top if you wish.

4) Bake at 375 degrees F for 12 - 14 minutes or until they are slightly golden brown.

5) Remove and let cool before serving.

Protein cookies are for people who don't eat breakfast.🙂

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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.

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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.

NOW Solutions For Natural Beauty

NOW Foods, a retailer focusing on healthy living, has a skincare line called NOW Solutions. Its beauty arm offers a wide range of clean personal care products, organic oils, premium skincare lotions and potions, as well as, aromatherapy. You'll find the natural beauty line sold at health food stores in the US and Canada. These first-rate products are formulated to be safe, effective, affordable, and cruelty-free.

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!

You must do the research to know exactly what to buy. At times people waste a lot of money on natural remedies that have no science behind their effectiveness when instead they should discuss their health with their doctor.

That said, NOW Solutions is serious about the purity of its ingredients; product efficacy; and keeping prices reasonable. Put this trusted brand for natural and organic goodies on your radar!

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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.

3) Bioderma Cicabio Mains Repairing Barrer Balm - A repairing barrier balm to soothe very dry hands and skin. Users say it also smells divine.

Amazingly these used-in-France offerings are sold at reasonable not outlandish prices! 

Essayez l'un de ces produits pharmaceutiques français si vous souhaitez ajouter quelque chose de très spécial à vos soins de la peau.🇫🇷

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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. 

Retinoids are vitamin-A-based skincare products used to help speed up the turnover of old skin cells. Peptides are short chains of amino acids the skin needs to make the proteins in collagen and elastin. Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the skin. It lubricates the skin and helps it to retain its moisture. As we age our skin loses moisture so simply moisturizing our faces will soften our lines and wrinkles and instantly make us look younger! Hyaluronic acid is an exceptional moisturizing ingredient in skin creams returning the skin to the dewiness of youth.

I'm featuring the launch of Clinique's new Smart Clinical Repair™ because if you have a loyalty card from a favorite department store you may have points you can use to lessen the cost for Clinique products or use your points to get them for free. But if not, know that you don't have to spend $80 for stellar skin care. There are many equally good skincare lotions and potions on the market containing these same effective ingredients -- retinol, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. Below I'll link a few of these less expensive brands without compromise. On this blog, we cover superior brands at every price point because ingredient knowledge and product choices are a consumer's best friends!

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The Health Benefits Of Mushooms

Photo: Getty

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%. 

So in summary: Mushrooms contain a potent amino acid called L-ergothioneine. Scientists think it is responsible for many key health benefits: (1) combating oxidative stress, (2) slowing the rate of telomere shortening, (3) preserving cardiovascular health, as well as, (4) cognitive function, and (5) supporting DNA repair. In a population study, people who ate mushrooms bore these 5 benefits and lived longer than those who didn't eat mushrooms.

Mushrooms are rich in vitamin D and good sources of vitamins A, B6, and C. They also contain iron, phosphorus, copper, potassium, selenium, and fiber.

Finally here's my recipe for Salisbury Steak, a favorite, it has plenty of onions and those mega-healthy mushrooms. After writing today's blog, I'll be shopping for mushrooms. What about you?

🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄🍄

Extra recipe: A simple way to sautè mushrooms as a side dish:

Ingredients: 

8 ounces mushrooms

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoons wine

Photo: foodandwine

1 sprinkle of thyme

Salt and pepper to taste.

Directions:

1) Toss all the ingredients into a skillet and simmer on medium-low heat for about 10 minutes until all the liquid is gone.

I won't waste a bottle of wine just to remove 1 tablespoon. If I have no open wine, I flavor the mushrooms with soy sauce, dried rosemary, Cajun spice (instead of salt and pepper), and organic cider vinegar.  Feel free to spice as you like.

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