Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Farewell Travers Fine Jewelers on Madison Avenue

These smart phone photos don't do the jewelry justice.
Recently I discovered one of my favorite shops on Madison Avenue, Travers Fine Jewelers, closed it's doors for good. Although much more high end than I can afford, I loved looking at its fine jewelry, and once partner, Sam Travers, let me try on a gorgeous oval stone ring I long admired! It was a Ceylon 12 carat sapphire and 14 solitaire diamond ring ... in fact a stunning replica of Diana, Princess of Wales' engagement ring that her son, Prince William, gave to fiancée, Kate Middleton upon their engagement. As you see, the shop also had the matching lookalike sapphire and diamond necklace and earrings Diana often wore, as well as, many fine diamonds, Burmese rubies, Colombian emeralds, Tahitian South Sea pearls, elegant watches and a variety of other beautiful necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. Is it any wonder I gawked at the shop's window display every time I passed?

Although the jewelry was beyond my budget (by 6 figures!), it was fun to see what flawless, top-of-the line stones look like.
This is the 12 carat sapphire and diamond ring I tried on. I love it! One of the partners once said he had sold it, but he was joshing!😍
Occasionally, I'd tease the partners by saying: "Oh, you're selling the sapphire and diamond ring I want to buy!!"🙂 At times they'd come to the front door of the shop to promise me a good price, to which I'd reply, "When I get my invitation to the Met Gala, I'll be back!"
Since the shop has closed, it appears I'm not the only person to have no society events where I could wear such lavish and expensive pieces of jewelry. I mean, where can I go? To the grocery store? Up and down Madison Avenue? Down into the subways? I think not!🙁

It's a tough time for brick and mortar stores. Travers Fine Jewelers is the 3rd retailer on the Upper East Side to close recently. Pier 1 shut its doors in late summer; and another of my favorites, Laytners (for home goods) is closing up shop after 31 years. All 3 businesses added to the milieu of my neighborhood, and they will be greatly missed. 
Whenever I walked by Travers, I looked for MY 12 carat sapphire and diamond ring. I always thought, "One day somebody will walk in to buy it. Unfortunately it will be somebody else, not me." :((( Philosphically speaking, I suppose I was spared the pain of losing it. But now the window is bare, the store empty and the glitter is gone.


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Thursday, October 24, 2019

More Advent Beauty Calanders 2019

Macy's 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar

As promised on Tuesday, I'm featuring a few more Advent Beauty Calendars 2019 which have a winning combination of quality products at a good value. This year I omitted advent  calendars priced over $200, as well as, those offering sample sizes instead of  generous (if not full sizes). Samples should be given to customers for free! I also left out the brands: No 7 and Sleek, because they are mostly sold out already and therefore too hard to find! Here are several attractive Advent Calendars still availabe to buy:

1) Macy's 25 Days of Beauty Advent Calendar (see above ↑)

Price: $129

What's inside:
  • Ahava Mineral Hand Cream, 40 ml
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills Full Size Liquid Lipstick - Heathers, 3.25 ml
  • Borghese Crema Saponetta Cleansing Creme, 50 ml
  • Boscia Matcha Mask Super-Antioxidant Mask, 13 ml
  • Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet, 15 ml
  • Clinique New Moisture Surge Eye Concentrate, 5 ml
  • Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Deodorant, 30 ml
  • dr. brandt Micodermabrasion Exfoliator, 7.4 ml
  • Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, 15 ml
  • Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair, 7 ml
  • Girlactik Full Size Precision Eyeliner, 1.2 ml
  • IT Cosmetics Confidence In A Gel Lotion, 5 ml
  • Mario Badescu Rose Facial Spray, 59 ml
  • NYX Professional Makeup Worth The Hype Mascara, 5.25 ml
  • Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask, 15 ml
  • Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Serum, 5 ml
  • philosophy Microdelivery Face Wash, 30 ml
  • Pure Aura Travel Size 24K Gold Peel-Off Mask, 30 ml
  • RITUALS Shower Foam - Dao, 50 ml
  • Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate, 10 ml
  • StriVectin SD Advanced Intensive Concentrate, 10 ml
  • Sunday Riley Auto Correct Depuffing Cream, 3 ml
  • TONYMOLY Peach Punch Foam Cleanser, 10 ml
  • Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, 2 ml
  • $15 Gift Card
  • Created for Macy's
***********************************************************************

Price: $74.50 

What's inside:
  • spoon/spatula
  • The Ritual of Namaste Hydrating Ampoule 2ml, 
  • Wonder Mask 10g 
  • The Ritual of Sakura Shower Scrub 70ml
  • The Ritual of Samurai Foaming Shower Gel Sport 50ml
  • The Ritual of Namasté Velvety Smooth Cleansing Foam 30ml
  • Nail Treat for gift set
  • The Ritual of Ayurveda Foaming Shower Gel 50ml
  • Advent Mini Candle Private Collection - Oriental Vetiver
  • Advent Mini Candle Private Collection - Sacred Saffron
  • Advent Mini Candle Private Collection - Savage Garden
  • Advent Mini Candle Private Collection - Precious Amber
  • Amsterdam Collection Body Mist 20ml
  • Amsterdam Collection Hand Wash 110ml
  • The Ritual of Namasté Pure Face Oil 5ml
  • The Ritual of Samurai Ice Shower 70ml
  • The Ritual of Dao Night Balm
  • The Ritual of Hammam Black Soap 70ml
  • Scrub Glove
  • The Ritual of Ayurveda Dry Oil VATA 30ml
  • The Ritual of Happy Buddha Body Cream 70ml
  • Miracle Wipes - Travel
********************************************************************************


Price - £79/$99 in USA

What's inside

  • Morphe 9A Palette (9 pan)
  • Living Proof Perfect Hair Day (PhD) 5-in-1 Styling Treatment 30ml
  • Caudalie Vinopure Clear Skin Purifying Toner 50ml
  • Luxie 121 & 141 (2 brushes)
  • Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream 30ml
  • Illamasqua Nude Collection Liner – Raw
  • Rituals The Ritual of Ayurveda Dry Oil 50ml
  • Philip Kingsley Elasticizer 40ml
  • OSKIA Renaissance Cleansing Gel 35ml
  • First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads 20
  • Avant Skincare Moisture Surge Overnight Treatment 50ml
  • Prai Throat & Decolletage Crème (15ml)
  • Lord & Berry Black Eye Liner
  • Mellow Cosmetics Liquid Lip Paint – Tehran
  • Rodial Dragon’s Blood Lip Mask (1 mask)
  • Molton Brown Fiery Pink Pepper Bath and Shower Gel 100ml
  • Emma Hardie Moisture Boost Vit + C Cream 20ml
  • Neal’s Yard Remedies Wild Rose Hand Cream 50ml
  • Bio Effect EGF Serum 5ml
  • Eyeko Lash Alert Mascara 4ml
  • Delilah Cosmetics Eye Brow Pencil
  • Bubble T Limited Edition Bath Bomb
  • Filorga Meso-Mask 15ml
  • Sleek MakeUP Highlighting Palette – Solstice 9g
  • Omorovicza Queen Of Hungary Mist Limited Edition 30ml
****************************************************************************************
4) Yves Rocher France Advent Beauty Calendar

Price: $59

What's inside:
  •  Eau de Parfum Sel Azur - 1,2ml / 0.04 fl. oz.
  • • Eau de Parfum Plein Soleil - 1,2ml / 0.04 fl. oz.
  • • 2 in 1 Jumbo Eye Pencil : eyeshadow and liner - 1,7g / Net wt. 0.06 oz.
  • • Botanical Scrub Body - 30ml / 1 fl. oz.
  • • Mango Coriander Bath and Shower Gel - 50ml / 1.6 fl. oz.
  • • Botanical Colour Nail Polish 41. Garance - 5 ml / 0.16 fl. oz.
  • • Botanical Colour Nail Polish 103. Camélia Nacré - 5 ml / 0.16 fl. oz.
  • • Nail Polishing Block - 4 sides
  • • At The Heart Of Pine Trees Bath and Shower gel - 50ml / 1.6 fl. oz.
  • • Botanical Colour Nail Polish 43 Cerise Noire - 5 ml / 0.16 fl. oz.
  • • At The Heart Of Pine Trees Body Lotion - 50ml / 1.6 fl. oz.
  • • Eyebrow Mascara 02. Châtain - 2,5 ml / 0.08 fl. oz.
  • • First Snowflakes Hand Cream - 30 ml / 1 . fl. oz.
  • • Hammam Argan Rose Bath and Shower Gel - 50ml / 1.6 fl. oz.
  • • Nourishing Cream Shampoo - 50ml / 1.6 fl. oz.
  • • 2 in 1 Cleansing Micellar Water - 50ml / 1.6 fl. oz.
  • • 2 in 1 Soothing Cleansing Micellar Water - 50ml / 1.6 fl. oz.
  • • Ultra-Rich Shower Cream - 30 ml / 1 . fl. oz.
  • • SOS Resistant Base Coat for nail polish - 5 ml / 0.16 fl. oz.
  • • First Snowflakes Bath and Shower Gel - 50ml / 1.6 fl. oz.
  • • 2 in 1 Nourishing Cream Hair Mask - 30ml / 1 fl. oz.
  • • Face Care 48h Non-Stop Moisturizing Gel Cream - 7ml / 0.23 fl. oz.
  • • Face Care Soothing Moisturizing Cream - 7ml / 0.23 fl. oz
  • • Grand Rouge Elixir Matte Lipstick Rose blush 200 - 3.7g - Net wt 0.13 oz.
*************************************************************************************

5) L’Occitane Advent Calendar

Price: $64

What's inside:
  • Immortelle Essential Water 1 fl.oz.
  • Almond Milk Concentrate Net Wt. 0.7 oz.
  • Immortelle Divine Foaming Cleansing Cream 0.4 fl.oz.
  • Shea Butter Foot Cream Net Wt. 0.3 oz.
  • Immortelle Precious Cream Net Wt. 0.17 oz.
  • Shea Butter Comforting Eye Patches Net Wt. 0.05 oz.
  • Shea Butter Intensive Hand Balm Net Wt. 0.35 oz.
  • Shea Butter Milk Extra-Gentle Soap Net Wt. 0.8 oz.
  • Almond Shower Oil 1.18 fl.oz.
  • Shea Light Comforting Cream Net Wt. 0.17 oz.
  • Almond Delicious Hands Net Wt. 0.3 oz.
  • 5 Essential Oils Conditioner 1.1 fl.oz.
  • Aqua Réotier Ultra Thirst-Quenching Cream Net Wt. 0.17 oz.
  • Shea Body Shower Oil 1.1 fl.oz.
  • Almond Delicious Soap Net Wt. 1.7 oz.
  • Immortelle Divine Cream Net Wt. 0.14 oz.
  • Shea Butter Hand Cream Net Wt. 0.34 oz.
  • Verbena Eau de Toilette 0.33 fl.oz.
  • Rose Hand Cream Net Wt. 0.34 oz.
  • 5 Essential Oils Shampoo 1.18 fl.oz.
  • Cherry Blossom Hand Cream Net Wt. 0.35 oz.
  • Immortelle Overnight Reset Oil-in-Serum 0.16 fl.oz.
  • Shea Butter Ultra Rich Lip Balm Net Wt. 0.13 oz.
  • Herbae Eau de Parfum 0.16 fl.oz.

Rich, festive, coveted, high quality and a good value: Advent Calendars you'll be delighted to give and use. Plus, you'll have a few bucks left in your wallet to buy other Christmas gifts!


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Tuesday, October 22, 2019

The Body Shop: 2019 Advent Calendars

 Dream Big This Christmas Ultimate Advent Calendar
In years past I've featured my 5 top most desirable Advent Calendars, but every year they come out so early; are so expensive; and are sold in such limited quantities, good luck in getting one! So this year, let's forget about advent calendars from Liberty and Diptyque. Not only do they cost hundreds of dollars, you must buy them right now in October if they haven't already sold out! I say buy your favorite scent from Diptyque, or a floral dress or shirt from Liberty, but go elsewhere to love an advent calender for less. (This year the Liberty Advent Calendar increased in price to $475! Diptyque is charging $425 for theirs.)

So where can you turn for a good assortment of quality products at a reasonable price? I highly recommend The Body Shop -- who this year has not one, but 3 different tiers of advent calenders at 3 different price points! The retailer has long used clean ingredients to make their skin and hair products starting from ethically sourced raw components. Here are the products that come with each Body Shop Advent Calendar

1)  Dream Big This Christmas Ultimate Advent Calendar

Price: $170

What's inside:
  • Banana Truly Nourishing Hair Mask 240ml
  • Coconut Hand Cream 1 FL OZ
  • Drops of Youth™ Youth Concentrate Sheet Mask .7 FL OZ
  • Shine Lip Liquid in Apply Taffy 8ml
  • Chamomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover 8.4 FL OZ
  • Special edition Juicy Pear Body Butter 1.69 FL OZ
  • Special edition Warm Vanilla Shower Gel 2 FL OZ
  • Shea Body Butter 6.76 Ounce
  • Coconut Exfoliating Cream Body Scrub 1.69 FL OZ
  • Strawberry Clearly Glossing Shampoo 8.4 FL OZ
  • Moringa Hand Cream 3.3 FL OZ
  • Carrot Moisture Cream 1.69 FL OZ
  • Strawberry Clearly Glossing Conditioner 8.4 FL OZ
  • British Rose Shower Gel 8.4 FL OZ
  • White Musk Flora Eau de Toilette 1 FL OZ
  • Spa of the World™ Japanese Camellia Body Cream 1.69 FL OZ
  • Eyeshadow Brush
  • Oils of Life™ Intensely Revitalizing Cream 1.69 FL OZ
  • Shine Lip Liquid in Cherry Gum .2 FL OZ
  • Rose Dewy Face Mist 2 FL OZ
  • British Rose Body Yogurt 8.4 FL OZ
  • Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask 75ml
  • British Rose Hand Cream 3.3 FL OZ
  • Drops of Youth™ Youth Concentrate 1 FL OZ
  • Aloe Calm Hydration Sheet Mask


Price: $110

What's inside:
  • Rose Dewy Face Mist 2 FL OZ
  • Mango Fragranced Bath Bomb 1 piece
  • Special edition Juicy Pear Shower Gel 2 FL OZ
  • Layers of Fun Nail File
  • Chamomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover 2 FL OZ
  • Strawberry Clearly Glossing Shampoo 8.4 FL OZ
  • Fuji Green Tea™ Body Butter 1.69 FL OZ
  • British Rose Shower Gel 2 FL OZ
  • Special edition Warm Vanilla Hand Cream 1 FL OZ
  • Red Bath Lily
  • Aloe Calm Sheet Mask .60 FL OZ
  • Coconut Exfoliating Cream Body Scrub 1.69 FL OZ
  • Green Tea Fragranced Bath Bomb 1 piece
  • Shea Lip Butter 0.3 FL OZ
  • Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Facial Soap 3.5 Ounce
  • British Rose Instant Glow Body Butter 1.69 FL OZ
  • Vitamin C Glow Sheet Mask .60 FL OZ
  • Strawberry Clearly Glossing Conditioner 8.4 FL OZ
  • White Musk Body Lotion 2 FL OZ
  • Strawberry Lip Butter 0.3 FL OZ
  • Pink Grapefruit Hand Cream 1 FL OZ
  • Aloe Soothing Day Cream 1.69 FL OZ
  • Beauty Blender Sponge
  • Shine Lip Liquid in Cherry Gum .2 FL OZ
  • Shea Body Butter 6.76 Ounce

The Price: $70

What's inside:
  • Special edition Juicy Pear Hand Cream 1 FL OZ
  • Strawberry Fragranced Bath Bomb 1 piece
  • Special edition Warm Vanilla Shower Gel 2 FL OZ
  • Layers of Fun Nail File
  • Special Edition Juicy Pear Body Butter 1.69 FL OZ
  • Pink Grapefruit Lip Butter
  • Coconut Exfoliating Cream Body Scrub 1.69 FL OZ
  • Shea Soap 3.3 FL OZ
  • British Rose Shower Gel 2 FL OZ
  • Vanilla Delight Fragranced Bath Bomb 1 piece
  • Strawberry Clearly Glossing Shampoo 2 FL OZ
  • Strawberry Clearly Glossing Conditioner 2 FL OZ
  • Mango Hand Cream 1 FL OZ
  • Pink Bath Gloves
  • Red Bath Lily
  • Coconut Shower Cream 2 FL OZ
  • White Musk Body Lotion 2 FL OZ
  • Mango Fragranced Bath Bomb 1 piece
  • Strawberry Lip Butter 0.3 FL OZ
  • Mango Soap 3.5 Ounce
  • Coconut Hand Cream 0.67 FL OZ
  • Shea Body Butter 1.69 FL OZ
The Body Shop's Advent Calendars contain a lovely combination of skin treatments, moisturizers and makeup tools people will actually use. Lovely clean fragrances -- more botanical than perfume, which are never overpowering. Even if you decide to splurge on the most expensive "ultimate" advent calendar, it's nowhere near the cost of its luxe cousins, and yet you get super comparable quality skin and hair care items! Lots of pampering potential in a box!

On Thursday, I'll do a part 2 - More beauty Advent Calendars to consider, which offer appealing products and value.


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Friday, October 18, 2019

My Loaded Potatoes Quick Meal

Salad as a meal, never!
Sometimes I don't want to cook because of the clean-up ... due to laziness; a long hot summer, or the lack of time. It's when I turn to quick meals. My latest quick meal is Loaded Potatoes

The recipe changes slightly depending upon what I have in my refrigerator at the time. I'll list the ingredients I often use as a guide. But feel free to toss in leftover meats, or vegetables you have, or love. You can oven bake the potatoes 1st, scrape out the insides, then smash and mix the filling with melted butter and cream and stuff it back on top of its skin. But, I'm not going to lie, I don't take the time, as the Loaded Potatoes are no longer a low-fat, quick meal. And isn't the point of coming up with a quick meal, not to go through the extra steps? So I've learned to like: 

Microwaved Loaded Potatoes

Ingredients: 

1 baking potato (or 2-3 small potatoes from a 5 lb bag)
1/2 cup broccoli, fresh, or frozen
ham, diced (or crumbled crispy bacon)
1 carrot microwaved tender, then sliced (Often I skip this step of microwaving the carrot 1st and simply slice it as thin as possible -- it gets tender enough for me to eat.)
1 stalk celery, sliced
1/4 of an onion, diced
Mexican salsa (or Italian tomato sauce)
Salt, pepper and spice to taste
Extra sharp cheddar cheese

Optional: Whatever else you have in the refrigerator: mushrooms, red peppers, garlic cloves, etc.

Directions:

1) Microwave the potato(es) until done. It takes 5 - 8 minutes, depending on the size and how many potatoes you use. Poke with a fork to test for softness. Lay in a bowl and slice and dice them. I leave the skin on to eat as it has lots of nutrients too. I don't do so, but if you wish to mash the potatoes and add butter and cream, this is the time to do it.

2) Toss the other vegetables and meats on top and distribute evenly. Microwave for 1-2 more minutes. Add minutes of time at this stage to tenderize the vegetables.

3) Salt, pepper and spice to taste with dried garlic, onion powder, red pepper flakes and other dried green leaf spices.

4) Pour on the sauce of your choice: Mexican salsa, or Italian tomato sauce.

5) Top with a generous portion of cheddar cheese. (If I use Italian tomato sauce, I might switch to Mozzarella and  sprinkle on 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese instead of using cheddar. But sharp cheddar is good with tomato sauce too.)

6) Microwave for another 1-2 minutes to get the cheese hot and bubbly.

As you see, homemade meals can be fresh, quick, easy, balanced and as healthy as you wish! After dinner all you need to wash is a bowl, cutting board and a few utensils, and you're done.😊





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Monday, October 14, 2019

Trendy Faux Fur Coats

All photos: Nordstrom - Apparis Sophie faux fur coat
THE SAVVY SHOPPER is fashion heavy this month since designers launch their fall collections. As I browse department stores and Madison Avenue windows I see how trendy faux fur coats and jackets are this fall. Every fashion house seems to have faux fur in their collection! 

Know that the price is not always cheaper than real animal furs, nor the fad necessarily better for the environment. The reasons are a couple: Many big designer names make faux fur out of acrylic and polyester -- synthetic fibers constructed from plastics, which take 500 - 1000 years to biodegrade. Another reason is real fur lasts for 60 - 70 years and can be recycled by passing them down to a younger generation to wear. Here is a worthwhile article to read which explains the real fur verses fake fur dilemma.
Designers: 1) Bardot; 2) Avec les Filles animal print; 3) Sam Edelman; 4) Rachel Parcell grooved jacket

When I was in my 20s I thought for a benchmark (50? or 60? year) birthday I'd buy a mink coat to keep warm, but after I got my goose down coat, the need and desire for mink evaporated. Also winters in America are less harsh than years ago. How many days would I actually wear it? Fortunately my practice is to let myself want big ticket items for a while. Too often instant gratification results in money spent unwisely on wasted purchases

But frankly, I still think fur coats look rich and stylish, but I'm a practical gal (over an image gal) who tends to buy goods based on needs, as well as, sustainability.
Topshop boxy faux fur coat
Originally faux fur appeared to be a great compromise, and I'm still tempted to buy a faux fur neck wrap/warmer to get the mink look. (No way do I need another winter coat of any kind.)
Teddy faux fur coat designed especially for Nordstrom
Considering the faux fur dilemma, should I buy a neck wrap? Doing the right thing means weighing benefits and drawbacks.  Now I'm not as hot to buy one. Hm, what will I do if it stares me in the face at T.J. Maxx? How do you feel about faux fur?


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