AOHI 240W Modular-Extension Fast Cable Set

In life, we all have things that annoy us. As an adult, I try to grin and bear bigger things as I work towards solutions, but the little hassles of life can drive me crazy! Today I'll share one: Apple devices (the MacBook Pro, iPad, and iPhone) have 3 separate-sized cables, so one cable never fits to charge a 2nd type of device. Your MacBook Pro's cable can't charge your iPhone or iPad. 

Having these different-sized cords gets annoying!! 

Sometimes you can create a neat workstation for all your separate cables to charge your devices, and at other times while in the middle of a job, you have to get up and move your lazy ass across a room to charge your will-die-soon device. Annoying, right?!

I have no doubt that in the near or distant future, a tech genius will develop a simple universal cable and charger to fit and charge all our unique devices. I've googled around the internet to see if I missed its invention. I haven't. However, I came across an extension fast cable set that simplifies charging our multiple devices with fewer accessories using adopter cables and 3-in-1 multi-ports. Rather close! It's more convenient and compact making it appealing to buy. I will hold off since it benefits me to get off my duff and walk across a room. It's not like physical limitations stop me from moving, it just feels like a nuisance.:)

This super cool modular-extension fast cable set comes with (at $129) or without (at $89) a MacBook charger. For comparison, here it is on Amazon. Depending on the sellers at the time you shop, you can sometimes save a few bucks on Amazon. Always worth a look!

Technology and skin care are two areas worth keeping up-to-date with so we're not lost when it's time to make a purchase, as well as, to know about innovations and progress. We wait for some things and buy others. Decisions and compromises are based on what we know and need at the time of temptation while wisely keeping the Big Picture (i.e., not going broke) in mind.

😐😐😐😐😐

Additional irritants I'd like resolved by re-designs are: (1) Bathtub/shower stalls -- Enlarge the space to hold family-sized bottles of shampoo, hair conditioner, and body wash, etc.; and (2) Refrigerators - Rethink the layout of space to make the width wider and the depth shallower. Nobody likes digging in the back to find the food they remember putting in there. Also, tall bottles of condiments and an opened bottle of wine should fit inside those refrigerator doors! Sheesh, there's lots of work ahead for geniuses to improve our gizmos.

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#Shorts: Jeweler Terry Quinn's 5 Ways to Save On Lab Grown Diamonds

As stated again and again on THE SAVVY SHOPPER, lab-grown diamonds are physically, chemically, and optically the same as natural (mined) diamonds. Nowadays the process of growing diamonds in a lab has gotten so good that jewelers and customers alike can't tell them apart. If diamonds are grown in a lab, it must be stated so on the diamond because it is so difficult to tell them apart.

Note that lab-grown diamonds cost far less than natural diamonds and therefore don't have the resale value but you should never buy diamonds as an investment anyway as you'll rarely if ever get what you paid for them. Diamonds are a luxury purchase, things of beauty, not an investment.

Today I'm sharing a YouTube video by a jeweler who has a brick-and-mortar store in Woodbridge, Virginia. Jeweler Terry Quinn expertly explains how to save money when selecting diamonds. Today's tips focus exclusively on buying lab-grown diamonds detailing his 5 tips on saving the most money when buying them. Worth a listen as I can't summarize his professional advice any more succinctly. (Remember jewelers must look at and buy a lot of diamonds to have stock for their customers.)

The first tip I learned from Terry today is to go with IGI ratings when buying lab-grown diamonds and GIA ratings when buying natural-grown diamonds. IGI and GIA are both reputable diamond grading institutions that use advanced technology and skilled gemologists to certify diamonds but until the perception changes GIA is still the most trusted for natural diamonds. GIA grades fewer lab-grown diamonds than IGI. Lab-grown diamonds will be more expensive and the selection of diamonds less if rated by GIA.

A 2nd tip I learned today was the 2 ways of creating lab diamonds CVD (chemical vapor deposition) and HPHT (high pressure high temperature) have caught up with each other. Both methods are effective in creating high-quality, authentic diamonds, identical to those found in nature. Until recently HPHT lab-created diamonds were whiter and they continue to cost more because of perception leading to their greater demand.

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Toffee

Both toffee photos: iStock

Although I cook and bake, I'm not a candymaker. Making candy is more precise and sometimes more dangerous than either cooking or baking. The mixture of ingredients gets very hot, 1st degree burns hot if it accidentally splatters on your skin! Because making candy is more exacting there's also a higher degree of disappointment and failure!

That said, I like toffee and will make this recipe if nobody else steps up. Sometimes called Christmas Crack, my family never consumes it for Christmas, but at other times of the year:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Toffee

Ingredients:

40 Saltine Crackers

2 sticks of butter (= 1 cup)
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter (= 6 ounces)
16 ounces chocolate chips

A garnish of your choosing - See below.

Directions:

1) Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. (Before parchment paper, a greased sheet of aluminum foil was used). Lay the saltine crackers side by side on top of the parchment paper. Set aside to make the toffee.

2) In a saucepan melt the butter and sugar on medium heat on the stovetop. Stir until the mixture begins to boil. Next, let it simmer for 3 minutes without stirring.

3) Pour and spread the very hot toffee mixture evenly over the crackers then transfer to bake in a preheated 400-degree F oven for 5 minutes or until bubbly.

4) Remove the toffee from the oven, then spoon dollops of the peanut butter evenly over the toffee. Place the tray back inside a hot oven for a minute to help melt and spread the peanut butter over the mixture.

5) Top with chocolate chips. Place the tray back in the oven for another minute to melt and spread the chocolate.

6) Sprinkle the top with any of the following if you wish: white chocolate chips, chopped peanuts, or a sprinkle of sea salt.

7) Freeze the mixture for 1/2 hour or refrigerate for a couple of hours to firm up the toffee.

8) Break the Chocolate Peanut Butter Toffee into pieces. At last, it's ready to eat!

I don't know who added peanut butter or re-named the confectionary treat Christmas Crack, however, it bumped the toffee up a notch to decadence! I prefer it topped with chopped peanuts, but many others like a sprinkle of sea or kosher salt. You decide.

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Look What's Happening At Uniqlo

What's happening at Uniqlo, one of my favorite retailers for basics? Their lifewear clothing, which is designed with a ton of Japanese innovation, is ultra-affordable!

So now I'll answer the question: It's a fantastic time to buy winter coats and accessories or wool knits at reduced prices from sizes XXS - XXL. At brick-and-mortar Uniqlo stores, there are usually plenty of colors and sizes left. Online tends to sell out quicker because some of Uniqlo's if-you-know-you-know customers don't have brick-and-mortar stores where they live so the inventory sells out faster online.

Uniqlo's apparel is so vast I can only post a smattering of its outerwear, sweaters, jackets, and parkas that will take you from winter into spring at price points seemingly too good to be true for the quality. There's no need to pay an arm or a leg to cover an arm or a leg here!

Online you can already start browsing Uniqlo's Spring and Summer Collections with more pieces launching in the coming months.

If you're reading THE SAVVY SHOPPER in cold, frigid weather I'll leave you with the images of Uniqlo's SV Protective Hats already selling online. Hopefully, summer will shortly follow this launch!

Think of wearing these ultra-stylish SV Protective Hats outdoors in the hot beaming sun! Soon, my cherished readers, soon!!🌞

BTW: I'm not an ambassador of Uniqlo and this post is not sponsored.

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5 Coach Bags Going From Office To Dinner

When you spend the day at the office but plan to have coffee, drinks, or dinner with friends after work you want a bag that holds all your essentials and yet can easily travel with you. As a big Coach fan, it's where I would always look first for fine leather or canvas bags at affordable, sane prices: See Coach, Coach Outlet and the Coach page on Amazon.

I'll feature 5 recommendations for bags that are compact and come in several colors or textures plus share one huge benefit that makes each one travel-friendly. All have straps, either a shoulder or crossbody strap for hands-free portability!

The following are 5 Coach From Desk to Dinner Bags:

The above 4 also have side compartments and pockets to organize all your necessities so you can reach in to grab items without a search or emptying your bag. It makes it simple to travel light. Still, there's a 5th bag I'm obsessed with right now for the woman who can't travel quite as light. Perhaps you need a tote to take papers, water, a computer, or an umbrella home after leaving work: 

Maggie Tote Bag

The Maggie Tote, our 5th bag, is bigger, professional, dressy, and ultra gorgeous! What a stunning and versatile bag ... as are all 5 Coach bags. Dressy in the right color! Of course, patterns or canvas tend to be a bit more casual. You can pick your color, according to lifestyle and how you wish to use your bag.

Golly, I really love the tote! Want, need, want, Ahhhhhhh😱Coach temptation strikes again!!👜🦖

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Come Meet Halara

Halara portrays itself as women's activewear inspired by everyday clothing, an accurate description backed up by a browse on its website. Definitely, customers can wear the versatile pieces outside of the gym and every day. Although casual wear, many of the dresses, pants, leggings, and denim clothing can be dressed up or down. 

The attire is comfortable, well-made, and durable at super affordable prices, mostly around $39.

The fabrics are designed to move with "activewear-inspired functionality" that feels good "blending performance and comfort in every piece." You get fashion and practical bells and whistles such as built-in bras, pockets, micro-weaves, soft thermos, and airy fabrics.

Consumers can scan by activity, fabric, or type of clothing they desire. Without painful prices, an encounter with Halara is comfortable for you and your wallet. Her wares are made to style and move with you throughout the day.

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Neutrogena Collagen Bank Face Moisturizer with SPF 30 Sunscreen

Sunscreen should be worn on exposed skin every day of the year without exception. While many drugstore brands of sunscreen are ample and cheap, I can understand paying a little more for what goes on your face. If the consistency of sunscreen is too thick, white, or greasy we're less likely to reach for it. To boot, it might cause some faces to break out!

Neutrogena, a drugstore brand, is a top-notch skincare line, bar none. Neutrogena's Collagen Bank SPF 30 Moisturizer and Sunscreen does double duty as a fantastic sunscreen and anti-aging face moisturizer. It contains peptides that reportedly penetrate "10 layers of skin" to stimulate the production of collagen. Peptides (short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds) are anti-aging ingredients that help treat fine lines and sagging by plumping up the skin.

This non-greasy formula melts into the skin, absorbs quickly, and does not leave a white cast, the reason to pay a bit more! It's also fragrance-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, dye-free, dermatologist-tested and non-comedogenic. Because it's a light agreeable formula, we're more likely to use it. 

As a drugstore brand, this Neutrogena Bank formula costs less than many luxe face sunscreens/anti-aging moisturizers yet more than sunscreens for the rest of the body. Customers can wait for a 2-for-1 or other sale to get the best value. Finding great drugstore skincare saves us money, and Neutrolgena is worth the splurge!

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The Rose Diamond Bandeau

Queen Mary of Denmark has a new tiara! The Danish royal family has the tradition of preserving its history by repurposing old jewelry that is no longer worn into new contemporary pieces, and this is what Queen Mary did when commissioning her new tiara. It joins Denmark's Crown Jewels.

Called the Rose Diamond Bandeau, the new Danish tiara features rose-cut natural diamonds that were once part of a diamond girdle (or belt) owned by Princess Charlotte Amalie of Denmark (1706 - 1782), daughter of Frederick IV. Suffice it to say nobody wears a diamond girdle anymore, but royals still wear tiaras and crowns for coronations, royal weddings, and state banquets. 

Old Diamond Cuts including the Rose and Old Mine Cuts

The effect created by cutting gemstones has changed over time with the advancement of new tools. Rose-cut diamonds are an old style of diamond-cutting by hand that has been replaced by today's brilliant-cut diamonds to enhance a gemstone's sparkle. Unlike brilliant-cut diamonds, rose-cut diamonds lack a pointy bottom pavilion. Instead, they have a flatter bottom and feature a dome crown of only 3 to 24 facets, which is fewer than the brilliant-cut's 57 to 58 facets. A rose-cut diamond is meant to glow under candlelight in lieu of flashing all over the room. Often it is described as a romantic cut of diamond.

The photos I've uploaded here are courtesy of the Royal Danish House and Royal Danish Collection. The above image on the left shows us the original girdle. Here's a link to explain more about the history of the piece and the process of changing it into a tiara if you're interested in knowing the details.

The images of Queen Mary of Denmark show her premiering her new Rose Diamond Bandeau in December 2024 at a State Dinner for Egypt. 

The press has mentioned how the mounting of the Rose Diamond Bandeau is similar to the Dutch Diamond Bandeau, a favorite tiara of Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. The Dutch Diamond Bandeau tiara, once a Queen's necklace, has its own history. As it turns out, its giant diamonds are old mine-cut diamonds in contrast to the Danish tiara's rose-cut diamonds. 

Brilliant, Rose, and Old Mine Cut Diamonds

BTW, a bandeau tiara is defined as a hairpiece comprised of a single row of gemstones. Usually, the bottoms of diamonds are enclosed, not exposed as in other styles of tiaras.

Queen vs Commoner🙂 As an ordinary person who doesn't host or attend state dinners, a bandeau tiara reminds me of a row of diamonds on a tennis bracelet. For sure a single row of big ole diamonds is lovely in all forms of jewelry!

Well done, Queen Mary.😍

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Oatmeal, An Apple & A Carrot For Breakfast

Recipe and photos courtesy of Simple Food

The following is a recipe from Simple Food on Facebook. An appetizing and healthy breakfast is what I see! As Aristotle knew, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

Oatmeal, An Apple, & A Carrot For Breakfast

Ingredients:

2 cups flaked oatmeal, ground in a food processor

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1 cup of milk

1 carrot, grated

4 tablespoons raisins soaked in hot water

a medium apple, unpeeled but diced

1/4 cup walnuts, chopped

3 eggs

Optional: 1 package of vanilla sugar (or substitute 1 teaspoon of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract)

Directions:

1) Toss each ingredient one by one into a mixing bowl and
incorporate.

2) Grease a 7" cake pan. I use butter. Pour the mixture into it and distribute evenly.

3) Bake at 360 degrees F for 50 - 60 minutes.

4) After it bakes but is still warm, remove from the baking pan and cut into pieces.

Packed with protein and fiber, vitamin A, some vitamin C, and minerals, eat a serving for breakfast or a snack. Delish!

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Coach's Lana Shoulder Bag

Regular readers know I'm a huge Coach leather bag fan. Coach is a designer-level in quality bag that doesn't market itself as a designer bag company but rather as a fine leather goods company. Established in 1941, consumers get superior craftsmanship at reasonable starting price points plus frequent 30% - 50% off sales. Sometimes bags end up on Coach's Outlet website, for even less.

What bag am I loving at Coach right now? My answer is the Lana, which is one smart, stylish bag! Its polished pebble leather will last forever, and its glossy surface makes it both a dress and casual bag.

The bag is so well thought out with a detachable strap, an inside snap pocket, a zip compartment, and metal protective feet. It also comes in two sizes. Both roomy and compact, the bag lets you organize all your stuff! To boot, if anything ever goes wrong with a Coach bag, the retailer repairs it for free.

Although personally I've never gotten in on the trend, Coach too offers accessories such as scarves and charms for its bags, including our featured Lana, for customers who like to style their bags.

There is nothing wrong with adding accessories to style a bag, but for me, an expertly crafted, solid, leather bag that holds up is style and purchase enough! 

Coach delivers again with another aesthetically pleasing, practical, and superior leather bag that people with jobs can afford!

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