Mainstays Is Walmart's Private Label

Mainstays is Walmart's brand of home goods offered at affordable prices. A wide range of furnishings includes bedding, bath, furniture, home décor, kitchen, dining, patio and garden, mattresses, and arts & crafts. The products are probably made by different vendors for Walmart.

In helping my senior Mom, I've had to buy several home goods that she has overlooked in her elder years. I found some of her kitchen tools to be either outdated, inconvenient to use, or simply in need of replacement. So, I've become familiar with Mainstays' line of kitchenware and am duly impressed! You get decent quality without breaking the bank. In making decisions for her, I am relearning a lesson in getting good value for the money! 

A Mainstays kitchen tool is a great deal! Buying the top-of-the-line isn't always the right decision. Good value for the money is based on an item's purpose and frequency of use, as well as our judgment of "do we need the top-of-the-line or an item that's good enough?" If a good enough article can be replaced 25-30 times before reaching the top-of-the-line's price, we will come out ahead even if we must replace it.

Speaking from experience, we've replaced 2 12-cup  programmable Black & Decker coffeemakers with a 12-cup programmable Mainstrays coffeemaker which was offered for a rollback price of $12. The former is a great brand and we can say the same for Mainstrays, which was 1/3 of the price. Our latest coffeemaker does everything a customer needs it to do! You couldn't pay me to be in the same room if my mom sips anything less than a hot cup of good coffee in the mornings!😳

Some of Mainstays' prices seem too good to be true. We haven't tried its full line of products, and yet we haven't bought anything from the brand that has disappointed us! I'd recommend Mainstays as comparable to name brands of like commodities. When we need good enough housewares, we'll always consider Mainstrays.

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Dry Food Storage Containers & Cookie Jars

THE SAVVY SHOPPER loves to write about jewelry, luxury bags and the occasional fad, but it's the less costly, less sexy (to borrow a financial writer's term) things we buy every day that can raze through our paychecks!

If you need dry food containers or cookie jars, you don't always have to buy them. You can easily repurpose the containers from some of the food items you buy. Occasionally I buy tomato sauce that is sold in a Mason jar. Repurposing it is one less Mason jar, I have to buy. As it turns out, I already use Mason jars to store my rice, dried pasta, cornmeal, oatmeal, and ground flax seeds. They work very well to keep bugs out and the grains and ground seeds fresh! I also like the transparency of seeing the contents to know what to grab.

Glass jars with screw-on lids are my preferred dry food storage containers, but lately I repurpose Premier Protein Powder plastic cylinders to hold 4 pounds of white sugar, 2 pounds of dark brown sugar, bags of chocolate chips, bars of baking chocolate, and 64 ounces of dried powdered milk. I'm a buy-in-large-sizes to forget about it for a while type of gal! Like Mason jars, these much bigger plastic cylinders with screw-on lids keep my food items fresh and free of pests that crawl into dry food boxes. I like the ease of unscrewing the tops and scooping out the dried food when cooking or baking. Larger with a bigger opening and lighter than glass, the plastic containers are easy to lift from my cupboard.

Lacking counter space, I don't have to worry about the uniformity of my storage food containers, however, if you collect Mason/Bell jars or one type of plastic receptacle, you can achieve a uniform look. An Ambitious Artistic Repurposer can also decorate a set of repurposed plastic tubs. I can't claim to be so ambitious, but I do have a helpful tip. If you write the name of the dry food you're storing on the lid instead of on the side of the cylinder, you can simply replace the lids and not the containers if you change the food inside in the future. Nonetheless, whenever you wish to replace the tubs, they're free after you consume the protein powder!

Buying a set of specially made storage containers isn't cheap. Repurposing is good for the environment, your time, and your wallet! Use the money saved for a rainy day, a more expensive need, or a fun splurge!!!

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Splurge Like A Savvy Shopper

How does a Savvy Shopper make decisions about a splurge? I'll use 2 emerald rings that (as of now) are on the market for sale to illustrate the thinking involved in whether (and if, yes, which ring) to spend your money on. But feel free to fill in the blank with designer shoes, bags, clothes, or whatever your temptation tends to be.

Let's start with: Don't tell yourself an emerald ring is an investment. Jewelry isn't, a Chanel double flap bag isn't, and Manolo Blahnik pumps aren't investments ... or even needs. All these pricey items are splurges, not necessities. We buy them because we want them, not need them, and more often than not, if we were to sell them, we won't make a profit. So never confuse a splurge with a need or a true investment! No and no!

That said, if you can afford a splurge sometimes it makes a hard working person happy and is well worth the money.

To demonstrate, let's say we decide to splurge and spend our money on an emerald ring. It allows me to post some lovely images today.😛😁

The next question to ask is what's our budget?

This 1st emerald ring is a stunner. It's a 6.14 carat natural Columbian emerald in a 4-prong setting of 18 carat gold. The emerald is surrounded by round brilliant and baguette cut diamonds. For average wage earners, the pricetag is a stunner too! Cost: $32,000.

So Savvy Shoppers who earn regular salaries, do we forget about a splurge? Heck, no ... if you can afford to treat yourself, you should every once in awhile! However, as a Savvy Shopper you should search for a ring that has a similar effect within your personal budget. Use the out-of-your-budget temptation as inspiration! 

Be flexible and willing to compromise to find something similar that you can afford. Many people who don't wish to go into debt wouldn't pay $32,000 for a single piece of jewelry just because they have the money in the bank. Ask if this ring is worth 32,000 smackers leaving your bank account? Proof!

THE SAVVY SHOPPER way is to be a dreamer, then a realist! Obviously someone with deep pockets wouldn't have to deplete their savings to spend $32,000 on jewelry. But one day perhaps your $32,000 will have to cover unexpected expenses. Know and stick to your own budget. Spending like high rollers doesn't make us high rollers. No one should break the bank on a splurge. A splurge is meant to bring us happiness, not worry and insecurity. So let's take our dream ring and shop like a Savvy Shopper!

The 2nd emerald ring is what an ordinary wage earner might end up buying. It's a 2 1/5 carat natural (origin not stated) emerald in a 4-prong setting of 14k yellow or 14k white gold. It is surrounded by brilliant round diamonds with additional baguette cut diamonds to equal 1/2 carat of diamonds. Cost: Full retail - $5,000. Ebay price $2,900. Macy's sale prices - $1,499 and sometimes as low as $1,049.

The compromises are 2 1/5 carats vs 6.14 carats, 14k gold vs 18k gold. Both are natural emeralds but I would bet that the $32,000 emerald is a higher color grade. The emerald likely has a more desirable saturation of color. Both emeralds have inclusions, which are accepted in the gemstone.

Between the 2 rings, the 6.14 carat emerald is deeper and the 2 1/5 carat emerald is shallower, but much of the bigger stone in this design cannot be seen. The 6.14 carat emerald has a higher setting. You'd have to try on both rings to know if you'd get more finger coverage and if bigger or smaller looks better on your hand. A higher ring setting is not de facto more desirable.

Finally, there's the cost of insurance. Whether to insure a ring you pay slightly more than $1,000 for is debatable because you likely could afford to replace it. However, more risk and pain would follow not insuring a $32,000 ring that was lost or stolen, which a Savvy Shopper takes into account before making the purchase. How pricey should your splurge be? Sales taxes and insurance add up. Total expenses can slap you in the face!

In summary: Splurges should make us happy, not penniless! If a material thing would burst your budget, figure out what you love about the article but compromise to bring the cost down. Find something affordable that gives you the similar effect as your temptation. First a dreamer, then a realist is THE SAVVY SHOPPER way to buy all things -- needs and splurges.♥

Extra Tip: If you wait for Macy's promotions, you can get a ring, earrings, and a necklace for less than the price of the 1st ring, but will you wear them all? It's a beautiful collection. Still buy only the pieces you know you'll wear often. Never buy jewelry that stays in a box.🛍

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THE SAVVY SHOPPER Is 16 Years Old

Photos: Abobe

THE SAVVY SHOPPER is 16 years old today. It's unbelievable how time flies. 

Sixteen years ago in 2009 Barak Obama served as the first African American president. Lady Gaga and The Black Eyed Peas were new artists, and eggs cost $1.34. Times change! Life is like a pendulum that swings back and forth. Do we ever learn the lessons of history? Hopefully we can, do, or will sooner than later.

Dear readers, you are awesome for spending time with me! Thank you for stopping by and/or returning.

If you'd like to learn more about a subject or something related on THE SAVVY SHOPPER just let me know and I'll do my best to write about it.

Thinking of time gone by, I remember my 16th birthday. That day made my 46-year-old Father feel old. It's all relative! After he came home from the office, he took me out for a drive because he knew I was eager to get my driver's permit, which I did a week after my 16th birthday. I missed one question on the written exam and later scored 100% on the road test after taking 3 lessons at a driver's school. To show me the basics, Dad had me drive around 2 telephone poles in an empty parking lot for a couple of hours. He said since he had no breaks on the passenger side of his car, it was best to attend a driving school. I agreed! If I ever wanted to leave the parking lot and learn to drive under real road conditions, I needed to learn from a professional. Sweet 16 began, fortunately without a bang with no car crashes!

Still after passing the tests and getting your driver's license, it takes time to become a confident driver. Out in traffic I remember thinking, "WOW, this is incredible. They let ANYBODY get behind the wheel!"😳

Over time I became an excellent driver. Practice does it.

And now my blog is Sweet 16 also! Where does the time go?

Since the beginning of humankind, poets have thought about it. We all know the Ecclesiastes verses. Let's end with a lesser known poem addressing the idea of ...

Time

By Tony Avila Sampson

TIME born with all the sky?
Can TIME suffer and also die? 
Is TIME flat? Or is TIME round?
Where is TIME? Can TIME be found?
Is TIME there with each beat of the heart?
Was TIME there from the very start?
Must TIME go to that being made?
Does TIME show by that being fade?
Can TIME give and also take?
Must TIME be for that to make?
Is TIME real? How is TIME there? 

Can TIME be found in a breath of air? 
Does the portal of TIME drape the eye as it blinks? 
Can TIME be more stranger than a brain that thinks? 

Does TIME provide a way dimensions are spaced?
Are all creatures of TIME somehow inwardly paced?
Is all manner of TIME with all matter that be?
Does TIME flow endlessly?
How does the future with TIME flow past? 
Does TIME move slow? Can TIME move fast? 
Does TIME have a speed limit we call 'now'?
Is something 'like' gravity pulling TIME? How?
Is TIME bound? Or is TIME free?
Is TIME that what is meant to be?

Happy 16th Birthday, THE SAVVY SHOPPER!🎈🎂🎊

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My Favorite Oscar Dresses 2025

All photos courtesy of Getty

Here are my very quick picks of favorite Oscar dresses for 2025. I want to publish them this year before the award winners are selected. I went with the classics.

A few attendees not on my list of favs wore gowns that fashion editors might choose because they are look-at-me different, but I'm sticking with timeless.

There's nothing wrong with an actress having quirky fun with fashion, but I'd always want to look beautiful if walking across a world stage. Sometimes you can't have both, fun and glamour, so the latter would be my ideal. 

Some of the gowns which appear black on television are dark blue or dark green. Now perhaps you'd like to share your Oscar gown likes too? 

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Since it's so early I'll give you my predictions on who'll win.

Best Actor: Timothée Chalamet in A Complete Unknown
Best Actress: Cynthina Erivo in Wicked

Why? Impeccable acting combined with their ability to sing (and sing so well!) as their characters gives them the edge to win.

10:41 Update: Oh, the Academy didn't agree with me. I have no doubt these talented and deserving young actors will win in the future.

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Southern Lunch Lady Coleslaw

Recipe Friday is here! Every time someone brings this dish, people ask for the recipe. It was featured on a cooking show called Tim Farmer's Country Kitchen. According to the host, the recipe is now in the public domain. Here is the exact recipe, but know that when making it I drastically cut back on the sugar and use low-fat (not fat-free) mayonnaise. Our family prefers savory to sweet, so we also add salt, pepper, and garlic to taste. But try the original recipe at least once as a treat ... and to taste it as it's meant to be. The rest of the time, I'd reduce the sugar to about a tablespoon for a large head of cabbage. Frankly, once familiar with healthier fare, it's delicious too.

Southern Lunch Lady Coleslaw

Ingredients:

A big head of cabbage, shredded

2 large carrots, shredded

2 cups of mayonnaise

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup white vinegar

1 tablespoon mustard

1 tablespoon pickled jalapenos

Directions:

1) Shred and combine the cabbage and carrots in a mixing bowl.

2) Combine the mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, and mustard in a separate bowl.

Photo/recipe

3) Pour as much or as little as you like over the coleslaw. Some people like it dry and others like it wet. I like enough dressing to be creamy without the coleslaw swimming in mayonnaise. Pour and stir until you get your preferred consistency. 

4) Top with pickled jalapenos.

A huge batch of homemade coleslaw is a delicious dish to serve at a potluck gathering! No one would go home hungry. Enjoy.

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Together Let's Critique MacDuggal's Trapeze Dress

MacDuggal's Trapeze dress is a feminine, playful style you can have fun wearing to summer and garden parties. It's comfortable, flowy, dressy, and easy to zigzag around in while mingling with everyone at the gathering.

The frock's pleats and ruffles at the bottom are ultra-flattering. Loose and lovely draping complements most body types. 

Personally, I like a dress a tad longer than this MacDuggal one, the skirt to hang 1 - 2 inches above the knee. An extreme mini-dress is also more casual and less versatile.

Right before the pandemic, I saw a famous award-winning actress (who stands 5' 9 1/2" tall) inside William-Somona at Columbus Circle in Manhattan. She wore a designer mini-mini dress that was the wrong proportion for her very long legs despite her well-toned attractive body. Unless your petite frame has short legs, a mini-mini dress makes you look out of balance, like you are all legs. A human daddy-long-legs isn't as chic as one would think! 

IMHO ruffles at the bottom of this trapeze dress are enough of a good thing. The halter with pleats and bottle ruffles (pictured above in pink and blue) is much cuter than the green dress with no pleats and additional ruffles on sleeves. Perhaps because more ruffles are too much of a good thing?

Then again, what else would you wear in a breeze? What do you think? Are the ruffles on the cape too much of a good thing? Is it the short length that throws everything else (including having a cape) off?

Overall, the trapeze style is an adorable dress for the summer. 

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When You Need To See A Doctor

Today's topic isn't the most exciting one but is terrific information to know! If you need medical care you may wonder where to go? Below is a helpful chart from Wellcare, the insurance company, to explain your options:

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Your Primary Care Provider (PCP)

... Your personal doctor ... is your first stop for getting care. Call your doctor if you aren't feeling well or need a regular check-up.

Telehealth or Virtual Care
Telehealth allows you to talk to a doctor over the phone or by video. You can get medical advice, a diagnosis, or a prescription from wherever you are.

24/7 Nurse Advice Line (if included in your plan)
... call the Nurse Advice Line if you have a health question or need advice when you're sick. The nurse will help you decide if you should go to the doctor, take medication, or visit an urgent care or emergency room. ...

Urgent Care Center
Urgent care is usually a great option if your illness or injury isn't life-threatening. Urgent care centers can help with injuries like sprains and strains, small cuts, cold and flu symptoms, and more. In-network urgent care centers offer quality care and often have lower costs and faster service than the emergency room.

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When urgent care centers first appeared in Manhattan I didn't understand the value of them. Some are associated with hospitals. I learned what great care they provide when my senior mom fell in my apartment. I wheeled her to a nearby urgent care center 3 blocks away. The physician ordered onsite x-rays and once we had the results, about an hour later, the doctor wrote up an order for me to take her over to the emergency room for admittance to Lenox Hill Hospital. It was immediate care. A visit to the doctor's office would've required a one or two-day wait. Also, I didn't think we should call an ambulance unless she truly needed one. As it turned out she had fractured her pelvis but could still walk aided by a walker. The Urgent Care Center was the perfect beginning level of care!

A co-worker who cut her lip went to urgent care for staples with
follow-up visits, and a friend with a viral infection got a prescription for antibiotics. She bypassed a long wait time for an appointment and a huge co-pay by visiting an Urgent Care Center.

Urgent care centers are awesome for swift exams and treatment in non-emergencies. Excellent to receive a diagnosis, x-rays, vaccines, or remedies not requiring ambulances and hospitalizations. But as I discovered in taking my mom, they're good for the latter too. Luckily, I was able to push her to the hospital in her wheelchair, and I love ♥Manhattan♥ for how consolidated everything is!🦽

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Meet The Floto Milano Crossbody Shoulder Bag

Sometimes I regret not buying Coach's full-sized Cassie Crossbody bag before it was discontinued, an action by Coach that surprises me. Nowadays you can get a smaller Cassie 19, which is still a terrific bag, yet too small (7 inches long) to hold my essentials. With the Cassie 19, I'd have to carry a tote too.

Let me introduce you to Floto, an American small business that sells bags handcrafted in Italy on Amazon.

The retailer's Floto Miano Crossbody Shoulder Bag is a twin style to Coach's Cassie Crossbody bag for 1/3 of the price! The Floto bag is certified full-grain Italian leather (namely calfskin). The leather is hand-stained to patina by artisans in Tuscany to look better over time.

It comes in 2 sizes: Large: 8.5"W x 3.5"D x 6"H and Small: 7". The Floto Crossbody is shaped so similarly to the Cassie and has the same turnover closure plus 3 compartments to organize daily necessities such as a back pocket with a zipper to fit a cell phone. It's such a timeless and popular style!

With customer service, a warehouse, and a leather workshop located in Connecticut, the leather merchant offers a lifetime limited warranty meaning it strives to make good if anything goes wrong with the normal usage of its bag.

Amazon is bad for small businesses when they can't compete, yet a positive aspect is Amazon also gives small businesses a platform to sell their creations if or before they can afford to open brick-and-mortar stores. It's an opportunity for small businesses to reach and sell to customers far and wide. 

For consumers, it's safe to buy online from unfamiliar small businesses due to Amazon's free returns policy. Still, I'm committed to mindful shopping as I don't want to see a change in Amazon's free returns policy. Nowadays more retailers require customers to return items in-store to avoid fees because of abuses of online free returns. In appreciation for great customer care, let's treat everybody's money as if it were our own! Savvy Shoppers expect to be treated in good faith by retailers and are fair to retailers with generous return policies!

Wow, the Floto Milano Crossover Shoulder bag, as well as, the whole Floto line is such a smart Amazon find! Superb leather and craftsmanship at a reasonable price. Nice!

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