Skinny Bread Pudding For One

Photo: Arabe Datsh - another good recipe for bread pudding.

Remember when 80s model Kate Moss was criticized for saying "Nothing Tastes As Good As Skinny Feels?" Well, I happen to agree with her and think it's good to practice the sentiment 90% of the time, then eat whatever we wish 10% of the time ... and I'm not anorexic or bulimic. I eat healthy, balanced meals most of the time. Nobody said anything about starving!

10% of the time perhaps you can enjoy my Creole Bread Pudding With Bourbon Sauce, but 90% of the time, you might consider a low-fat recipe with a fair amount of nutrition: 

Skinny Bread Pudding For One

Ingredients:

1 piece of whole-grain bread

1 egg

1/2 cup skim milk

A pinch of Stevia or a teaspoon of honey, sugar, or your sweetener of choice

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 

a sprinkle of cinnamon

Directions:

1) Cut your bread into cubes.

2) In a mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, sweetener,
vanilla extract, and cinnamon.

3) Toss the bread cubes into the egg and milk mixture and let the bread absorb the liquid.

4) I use either a pad of butter to grease a small baking dish or cooking spray before pouring the mixture into it. (Line the baking pan with aluminum foil and you can avoid washing a pan.)

5) Bake in a preheated 350-degree F oven for 20 - 25 minutes. Remove from the oven.

6) Wait at least 10 minutes before you eat it. You can also sprinkle the top with a bit more sugar or syrup. A sprinkle of more sugar or a little syrup adds only a trace more calories. 

We develop a liking for whatever food we eat over and over including low-fat desserts. I love skim milk and whole grains. The recipe works especially well with low-fat milk because of the whole-grain bread. Delicious! Moreover, when you eat unprocessed food that is low in fat or sugar soon your palate develops a taste for it. 

We can savor rich, high-calorie treats once in a while and likely enjoy them more if we eat them as treats instead of all the time!

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Dresses For A Senior Mother

Are you surprised by my choices? For a moment let's think outside the box. 

Today I'll post the dresses I bought for my elderly mom over the span of 2 1/2 years. The top 4 dresses are my latest purchase for her. She requested sleeves. She likes pink when available. Florals are lovely on her too. In the above image, 3 of the dresses are $12 and the pink gauze dress is $17, so steals at Old Navy this week!

Here are the 6 Features I Look for in Selecting Dresses for my Senior Mother:

1) Easy to slip on and off

2) Easy to machine wash and dry

3) Soft fabrics - I like cotton, linen, rayon, or a blend of these cool textiles for spring and summer. A little spandex is fine. She also has a part wool, part rayon knit dress for winter. 

4) She prefers loose clothes, so I usually order her a size large. Although my mother isn't large in weight or stature, the large size often fits her upper body better, the reason is a mystery to me.

5) Dress lengths that won't trip her  - At Old Navy, I must judge whether to order her dresses in petite or regular. She is petite in pants, yet ON dress styles aren't consistent in sizing. The 4 dresses at the top of the blog are called mini swing dresses, therefore I ordered her the dresses in regular as opposed to petite sizes, with the anticipation they'll fit her slightly above her knees -- not as the minis shown in the photos. If I'm wrong ON offers free returns or exchanges.

6) Cuteness - My mother is a chic dresser. Her style has become more casual as she's gotten physically less flexible and moves with less ease. I do my best to meld pizzazz with easy-to-wear and carefree fashion.

Frequently clothes made expressly for seniors look dowdy and old-fashioned or like bedclothes. Their greater cost is also puzzling. 

There's absolutely no reason for an elderly woman (1) to look frumpy, (2) to adorn ill-fitted clothes (3) to sport clothes resembling pajamas and slippers, or (4) to pay significantly more moola for them than younger women.

Crinkle Gauze Mini Swing Dresses - Also in hot pink, amber, black, and light blue.

Just like my clothes, my mother's dresses can be dressed up or down, and for the price of one dress at a senior apparel shop, at Old Navy, we brought an entire wardrobe of more attractive everyday dresses to wear over all 4 seasons!

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The Met Gala 2024

Zendaya Photo: Theo Wargo/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty. My favorite dress of the evening! The rest of the photos are courtesy of Getty.

Sometimes celebrities wear gowns to media events that stand out over what would be thought appropriate off the red carpet and frequently the dresses are creative, risquè, and attention-grabbing. In other words, achieving their goal! 

As a non-celebrity, I would avoid anything too sheer or revealing, as well as, too outlandish or too much dress to handle, if say, I received a surprise invitation to attend the Met Gala in a fantasy world. At the high-profile fashion bash of the year, I'd still very much wish to look beautiful, as well as, enjoy the ball sashaying around all evening.

The theme of this year's Met Gala was "Garden of Life," so  I'll feature a few of my favorite gowns where IMHO, the lucky attendees managed to incorporate the Met Gala's theme while still looking classy and pretty! Not always easy to do!

My final photo of model Kaia Gerber (child of model Cindy Crawford and girlfriend of actor Austin Butler) shows the gown I'd be most comfortable wearing on or off the red carpet but I've separated it from my Met Gala 2024 picks because although it's a gorgeous dress, how does it fit in with the Garden of Life theme? Putting myself in Kaia's place, she may not have felt comfortable at this time in her life (and her first Met Gala invite) to take risks, instead opting for something safe and classic. Perhaps she's too practical, and perhaps it's wise to select a dress you feel very pretty wearing to enjoy the gala over a dress you're self-conscious and uncomfortable wearing, where you stand out like an ostentatious sore thumb. Certainly Kaia, in her 2024 Met gown, is nothing less than ravishing! 

At the end of the evening it's never ever wrong to be yourself -- just make it your best self when attending a camera-flashing, A-list affair. People (peers, the public) can never unsee!👀😳

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Consider Ballet Flats For Houseshoes

I've never met a human being who doesn't have personal quirks. In the context of today's blog, I'll define a personal quirk as a habit or attitude that's neither right nor wrong but peculiar to the person who has it.

My personal quirk is if I have a day I'll stay home and see no one I still like to shower; get out of my pajamas and houseshoes, and dress for the day. Even during the pandemic when there wasn't a chance of a surprise visit from a neighbor, family member, or friend, every single day I showered, dressed in a t-shirt, leggings, and ballet flats, then sat in my apartment. Day after day! Despite whatever worry, uncertainty, or inactivity going on in the world, I'm in a better frame of mind and more productive if I dress for the day. 

Another personal quirk of mine, I cling to a casual smart style. To me, loungewear and sweats look sloppy and too much like pajamas. I don't own them!

 The shoes I wear in my apartment and perhaps to go down to the mailbox or laundry room are often rejects -- ballet flats I bought for walking on the street, but as it turns out, lack arch support. So the soles of the shoes stay clean. My rejected flats that are not supportive enough for pounding on concrete are fine to wear inside my home. It's a savvy way of repurposing a mistake!

However if unlike me, you don't have mistakes to give a 2nd life to, these Amazon Essentials Ballet Flats fit the bill! Cozy and made good enough at a cheap price to hold up long enough to get your money's worth. Not to mention, they elevate your style over wearing houseshoes all day! You could even step outside on concrete in them if you must ... like on a patio or down the block to fetch something. 

In my quirky opinion, we all need a pair of dapper shoes to wear around the house that are houseshoes, yet not houseshoes! Like Jane Cleaver wearing pearls to vacuum, you'll feel better for it ... plus keep your floors relatively clean!

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Eileen Fisher For A Sustainable Life

Eileen Fisher has a boutique in all the renowned department stores such as Saks, Macy's, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale's. The retailer's apparel is pricey yet fair, and the style is simple, sustainable basics. I love the superb craftsmanship and natural fabrics, including silk, cotton, linen, merino wool, and cashmere that are characteristic of the brand. 

I have an expensive pink linen scarf a friend gave me because at 5'0," tall she was too short in stature to pull off wearing it. It's a very big scarf. At 5'7'' I usually drape it around my arms and shoulders to wear as a makeshift shawl - jacket. Due to its premium quality, I'll have the scarf for the rest of my life. Eileen Fisher uses materials that feel great and hold up over time. I was a browser long before receiving my scarf.

The merchant creates clothing in 12 shapes. Each customer is encouraged to find her own fit, size, and fabric. Articles are also designed to mix and match, so when dressing, you can do more with fewer pieces in creating different outfits. What also helps is the Eileen Fisher style is not garish, but understated, polished, and always current.

Once upon a time, I thought of Eileen Fisher's clothing as fashion for older women, but it really isn't true. It's merely the opposite of trendy fast fashion. You pay more for staple versatile pieces that you'll wear for years to come.

The good news is both the merchant and the department stores that carry Eileen Fisher offer special sales on the clothes. Periodically you'll also score a piece at T.J. Maxx by browsing its The Runway section!

Eileen Fisher also takes back clothing you no longer want to wear. You get $5 and depending on the condition, the fabric gets recycled or the clothes cleaned and resold by the merchant online as second-hand or third-hand clothing under the "renew" tab. Worth a browse to possibly pick up a bargain. I've never heard of a designer so committed to recycling and repurposing its apparel. 

Buying the right pieces that last and ones you'll repeatedly wear, plus catching a sale or gently worn article is how to spend less for a garment you'll own forever.

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A View of Lower Manhattan

All Photos taken by Carolyn C.

My friend, Carolyn C., spent the afternoon in lower Manhattan, namely Wall Street and the South Street Seaport. Affectionally, I like to call her my Intrepid New Yorker Friend because there is not an inch of the city she does not explore. 

Carolyn has given me permission to share her photos of Trinity Church and the South Street Seaport. This is where New Yorkers who live in Manhattan go when summoned for jury duty. The court houses which make up the Southern District of New York sit several blocks away.  

The tomb of Alexander Hamilton

In recent years developers built residential high-rises in lower Manhattan, but much of it is protected as historic. The neighborhood is a bit separated from Midtown, the Upper East Side, and the Upper West Side requiring subway rides to get here. 

Do you spot the Fearless Girl?

Lower Manhattan is one of the oldest quarters of the city, with little shops, bars/restaurants, and public spaces for music, readings, and miscellaneous entertainment. 

One summer I took the subway down to the seaport to listen to a series of lectures and author talks.

I love living in New York too and Carolyn is a great friend to trek around town with ... from Broadway to Central Park to lower Manhattan and off the beaten path seeing everything from cherry blossoms to art exhibits and old or historical buildings. Thank you, Carolyn, for capturing some of downtown for us on your most recent jaunt.

Have you ever walked from Battery Park or Wall Street back uptown? It's very doable if you have the time to walk.

🌷🌱🌹🌱🌸🌱🌷🌱🌹🌱🌸🌱🌷🌱🌹🌱🌸🌱🌷🌱🌹🌱🌸🌱🌷🌱🌹🌱🌸🌱

Update:

Where did my Intrepid New Yorker Friend, Carolyn, go next? Answer: Up to the Bronx to spend the day at the New York Botanical Garden:  

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Maria Tash Piercings

Although I'm not a big fan of multiple ear piercings for myself, I know where I'd go if I were. Full disclosure, I got my ears single-pieced when I was 22 years old because I looked in my car mirror to change lanes on my way home from work one day to see that I had lost another clip-on earring. That is what it took to get me to pull into a shopping center, enter a high-end store, and have my ears pieced on the spot. Definitely, a sensible move if you don't want to continue losing earrings. 

Nowadays multiple ear piercings are trendy, but I don't want to work that hard, or have to buy so many earrings! However, if you don't mind buying and putting in all those extra earrings on in a given day, having your piercings done by Maria Tash is the smart way to go. It's costly, yet anytime you decide to permanently alter your body THE SAVVY SHOPPER recommends paying the piper to have it done properly by a well-trained professional. It's safer and you avoid mistakes when putting holes in your flesh.

At Maria Tash, you 1st meet with a stylist who examines and measures your ears and then gives you advice and suggestions to make sure your vision matches the anatomy of your ears. The locations of the piercings are determined along with you and marked with a special pen before the needle goes in, so the piercings are personalized, even, and precise.

Every client heals at a different rate. Healing times also depend on the piercing location. The chart below gives you an idea of approximately how long it takes for ear piercings to heal.

The earrings you buy are 14k or 18k gold with GIA-certified diamonds, as well as, colored gemstones. They come in many sizes, shapes, lengths, and styles to fit individual customers.

Maria Tash has locations all over the world including New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, London, Dublin, Paris, and the Middle East. Taylor Swift, Naomi Watts, and Helen Mirren are a few celebrity clients.

Save up ... having your ears pieced at Maria Tash ain't cheap, but money well spent!💰💸🤑

Despite not being a fan of multiple piercings, I am a fan of having your piercings done at Maria Tash for the hygiene and precision. You need an expert who'll pierce in the right places. 

One word of caution: For the luxury price, the retailer should offer a lifetime warranty on its jewelry, but doesn't. Often customers must pay for repairs, which IMHO reflects badly on Marla Tash. I mean, how cheap for a business not to stand behind its pricey jewelry!

Extra Tips: Maria Tash earrings are also sold by 3rd party jewelers, which you can look for in your town. James Free offers 20% off Black Friday sales. Other 3rd party sellers, such as Tappers and Millo, offer free shipping and returns. 

The earrings are beautiful and real gold, yet it's the skill of the piercers that drives a Savvy Shopper to pay a premium.  

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Loewe's Popular Puzzle Bag

Photo: Fashionphile

The popular decade-old Puzzle bag was the debut bag of Loewe's new creative director in 2014, Jonathan Anderson, and what a brilliant brainchild it turned out to be, putting a purse from a forgotten heritage brand on top of every luxury fashionista's wish list. The puzzle bag's unique cuboid shape and cutting method create its recognizable geometric lines. It was first conceived as a man's duffle bag. After women began buying it, the puzzle bag was also parlayed over to the women's department.

The Puzzle bag became a hit, not only due to its artistic modern design but also because of its rich and durable calf leather and outstanding craftsmanship. Each bag is hand-stitched together. The bag is fairly practical too. Not only does it hold all your everyday essentials, but it's also super versatile to use: You can clutch carry it, grab its top handle, or wear it as a shoulder or crossbody bag. Plus the bag has no screaming logos. Industry people like to call the Puzzle bag quiet-luxury, an if you know, you know bag. It also folds flat.

The bag is available in 5 sizes: Nano (5.25 x 4" x 2"), Mini (6.75" x 4.5"), Small (9.5" x 6.25" x 4.25"), Medium (11.5" x 7.75" x 4.75") and Large (14" x 8.25" x 5.75"). 

Now there are 2 versions, the Original Puzzle bag and a redesigned version called the Puzzle Edge bag. Here's the difference: (1) The Original Puzzle bag is made of several pieces of leather that are separately hand-sewn together, and it takes longer to make while (2) the Puzzle Edge bag has fewer pieces of leather that are folded into the same iconic cuboid shape for quicker production. (1) The Original has visible black lines where the seams are sewn together (2) while the Edge with leather folds doesn't. (1) The Original bag has metal feet and (2) the Puzzle Edge omits them. I don't know about you, but I favor bags with metal feet to protect the bottom of the bag. Why remove them?

Photo: Fashionphile

Many observers fear the Puzzle Edge is replacing the Original Puzzle bag, but so far both editions are for sell on the company's website at about the same price.

So will the original puzzle bag eventually be phased out? Nobody knows, but it kind of looks like it. More customers seem to prefer the original over the newer puzzle edge.

The puzzle bag still maintains its early duffle bag likeness, and fashion editors think it will be around for a long, long time to become a classic, making it hold its value on the resale market.

So which bag are you? The original or the edge?

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