Meet Trendcue Pop-Shop

A Trendcue Pop-Shop

Last Thursday I attended my very first Trendcue Pop-Shop in New York's downtown Chelsea neighborhood. The event spotlighted the fashion of several new designers, namely: Nan Seo (womenswear), Stephen Sung (A. Posse sneakers), Josh Stark (organic cotton t-shirts), Polet Guzman (Muza lingerie and wearable art) and Isidoro Francisco (menswear).

Launched in June, 2016 by CEO Ryan Wiltshire, Trendcue, is a unique "marketplace where established and emerging designers, artists and creatives" come together to present their work to shoppers both online, as well as, in curated Pop-Up spaces via trendy venues around New York City.

A sponsored, social happening is a fun way for fashionistas to discover new designers and to see the latest collections from a diverse creative community. Meanwhile, a Trendcue Pop-Shop provides designers with the opportunity to "collaborate, brainstorm and learn from each other" under one roof.

Last week's Pop-Shop event featured music, a fashion show, video, several racks of menswear, womenswear, shoes, a smattering of accessories, the chance to talk with the designers about their work, as well as, an occasion to enjoy some cocktails, appetizers and ice cream cones.

Getting the word out is vital to a new brand's taking off. The Chelsea bash was expertly curated by its organizers; and the designer goods on view were top-notch -- with fine leathers and fabrics; solid craftsmanship; and innovative designs. 

An exciting, posh, friendly and fun energy pervaded the evening. It was an à la mode success for designers and attendees alike. 

The plan is to have a Pop-Shop each month going forward. For updates and cutting edge fashion, browse the website.

Isidoro Francisco

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Lovely Freshwater Pearls

By nature I'm an under buyer. However, if I see something, which has "me" written all over it at a great price, I pounce to buy it. Pearl jewelry usually has the word "me" written all over it ... as I enjoy wearing a few pieces. Not to mention: diamonds, rubies and sapphires (but oh, I digress!).

These Glitzy Rocks Colored Freshwater Pearl Stretch Bracelets are selling for $10 on Overstock. Sooo, I bought myself a treat in the white color. Love them! ♥

They are big, real, freshwater pearls. Yes, I see some blemishes and uneven coloring. My bracelet arrived with 24 unknotted pearls (that do not slide) on a comfortable elastic strand. None of the pearls are perfect, however for under $10 I didn't expect Akoya cultured pearls. For less than the price of costume jewelry, these freshwater pearls look very classic on the arm. As a matter of fact, I like them so much, I bought my mother a bracelet in white pearls also. She should receive hers in the mail today.

You can get the pearl bracelets for $4.50 per strand if you buy all 10 colors. Plus, Overstock coupons may be applied on the purchase for additional savings. (Wow, if only my under buying nature hadn't kicked in.) For a generous number of big, beautiful, real, freshwater pearls, it's a steal!

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The Five Second Rule For Food Is Untrue

Original photo: Greg Williams

A confession: If I drop non-sticky food on the floor at home, I pick it up and eat it, despite the presence of bacteria. My home is reasonably clean. I clean it. When I return from the streets of Manhattan, I remove my shoes and walk around my apartment in socks or house shoes. So I'm not that concerned about germs. I even feel like exposure to some germs builds up a body's immunities to keep us healthy.

I never eat food that has dropped on the bathroom floor, since I never take food into the bathroom. Sticky foods are another matter also. They pick up debris, that I'm not willing to pick off, so into the trash they go.

Still I'm sorry that the 5 second rule for food has been debunked by science. I really like that rule! It seems so sensible (waste not, want not :) and non-phobic. However in reality, I have never eaten food that has fallen on the sidewalk. I mean, who does that short of a young child? 

The study leads one to wonder if a large percentage of people are eating food that drops in a public place. Are they? If not, why was the study commissioned? And now definitively, they must stop! If it didn't make them sick before, surely it will now!

Yet truthfully, I will continue to eat the food I drop on the floor at home. Just last night, I dropped a strawberry on the kitchen floor, which I quickly picked up and ate. I have done the same with popcorn. What can I say? Old habits die hard. According to the study though, "Bateria can contaminate instantaeously," especially if you drop wet food like watermelon on a stainless steel floor. I will be vigilant and not take chances if I have lots of foot traffic, but I usually don't.

Do you eat food dropped on your floors too? If so,where do you draw the line? And now, will you stop?

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DIY Taco Seasoning Plus 8 Others

Photo: diskusjon.no

Recently I began making my own spice mixes to get the best quality. As a bonus, I get more spice mix for less moola. Plus, the seasoning has less salt. (More salt can always be added if a dish needs it.) Though delicious in all things Mexican, the taco mix is truly all-purpose. Grab it instead of salt and pepper to season meat, soups, vegetables and salads. I have used it as a rub on steaks. The following is my recipe:

Taco Mix

2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons paprika (Smoked piprika if I have it.)
2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt (Lately I'm using Himalayan pink salt.)
1/4 teaspoon cumin (It's a strong spice. A little packs a punch. Just like salt, you can add more cumin, separately for certain dishes.)
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon = 6 turns of the black pepper mill 
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (the hottest of the peppers!)
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Stir togther with a folk, then store in a small Mason jar with a tight lid. Making spice mixes ahead of time saves time when cooking! And of course, you can always double, or triple the recipe if you run out rapidly.

Not only do spices make food tasty, they keep us healthy.

I love this handy-dandy spice blend chart from Women's Health on how to mix 9 common ones, including their version of taco mix. You can print and post the chart on your refrigerator, if you wish, or bookmark it here. Bon appétit!


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Fine Goose Down Pillows

Photo: Bed, Bath & Beyond

My parents always had feather pillows. I'm sure they didn't pay an arm and a leg for them. Our old feather pillows were plush and perfectly supported our heads and necks in all our sleep positions: back, side and stomach. 

The comfort of a bed pillow is very subjective, but how did buying one get so complicated? Goose down verses down alternatives verses memory pillows verses non-traditional shapes like wedges, squares and horseshoes, etc. It gets very confusing! All you can do to narrow down your choice is to lay your head on the possibilities in a store (as you would try a mattress) and buy the most comfortable. 

I proceed straight to the goose down pillows. Familiar with sleeping on them, I can't get used to synthetic fills on a nightly basis. I also select extra firm (but not rock hard), since within six months, most pillows soften. However, if you can't sleep on a firm pillow, you should go with a medium or soft density pillow, since you need to be able to sleep well from the get-go.

I also want the goose down pillow to come zipped up in a fine 100% cotton enclosure. I don't care about pure silk, or Tencel Lyocell (which wicks away moisture). The goose down and cotton enclosure feel cool and smooth enough to me. Plus, the pillow goes into a pillow case, so I'm not paying for silk.

Then I buy a pillow protector (a barrier against dust mites and bed bugs.) I mean, why not? Protection against dust mites extends the life of the pillow; and if you live in New York City, you are petrified of bed bugs! 

I selected an 800 goose down fill, a queen-size, which weights 28

ounces. (Queen, since that's what my old pillow was, and I won't need to buy new bedding.) Unfortunately, I have to pay $199 (minus 20% = $159) for it. I bet my parents paid about $20 for the same quality pillows years ago, and those pillows lasted forever. My mom hang them out in the sun periodically. Now feather/down pillows are washable, yet dry cleaning is often recommended. More then likely, I will be afraid to machine wash a $200 pillow! 

So here's what I learned:

1) A goose down pillow lasts a good 10-15 years if you take care of it. Feather/down fill count (such as 600, 700, or 800 fill) and weight (21 ounces, 24 ounces, 28 ounces, etc.) make a difference in comfort and how flat the pillow gets when you lay your head on it to sleep. Some people will like a pillow lighter and flatter, while others prefer one heavier and filler. The fill comes in different percentages of down to feathers. Just lay your head on the options to decide and don't sweat the math!

2) I dislike goose down alternatives and memory pillows. They have no give and feel hot. Often they are cheaper and must be replaced every 2-3 years. Who wants to buy another pillow so soon? I mean, I have other things to do.

3) At the end of the pillow-shopping day, buy whatever feels most comfortable to you. It's all subjective.

4) It is risky to buy a pillow online. If you don't see, touch and place your head on a pillow, you might make a mistake and not buy the pillow that is right for you. If you are braver then me, I did find an online pillow, which appears to offer excellent quality for the price: Royal Hotel's Goose Down Pillow. I nearly ordered it, but went with an 800 fill instead that I tried out at Bed, Bath and Beyond. If only I could've put my head on the Royal Hotel one. At $79 bucks, 750 fill, 28 ounces and 90% down, it's a steal! Anyone need extra pillows?

5) Reluctantly $172 (with tax, sheesh!) is my limit for a pillow. I like some pillows in the $300-$400 price range (LL Bean, I'm thinking of you), but I am too damn cheap to buy a pillow that is half the cost of a sofa!

How the heck did a bed pillow get so crazy expensive? After my pillow arrives, I will want to hire a guard to stand outside my home!

Do you have a favorite type of pillow for sleeping?

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Save On Cosmetics At Bed, Bath And Beyond

 

Wow, Bed, Bath & Beyond is the best place ever to shop for cosmetics and personal care products.

The store near my home has a huge beauty section, so there's plenty of choice. Just like stepping into Sephora ... for less! BB&B is often several dollars cheaper per makeup item, compared to Sephora or the corner drugstore. One example is Maybelline lipstick: At Duane Reade/Walgreens, the lipstick is $8.99 verses $5.50 at BB&B.

But it doesn't stop there! BB&B offers their own Hermon Face Value knockoff brand on many popular products, so customers can save as much as $10 on a single product without compromising on quality. Olay's Regenerist Micro-Sculping Cream at $24.99 has a Hermon knockoff selling for $14.99. I buy nothing but the Harmon brand knockoff of Listerine's Whitening  Anticavity mouthwash. It costs half of what Listerine does.

Plus when I get to the cash register, I pull out a Bed, Bath And Beyond coupon, saving another 20% off a single article. BB&B is very liberal with their coupons. If you sign up, you get their coupons via email -- those expire. But any paper coupons you clip out of magazines, or receive in the mail are honored past their expiration dates. So hang onto them! 

I had a $20 coupon from Maybelline, which was about to expire, so last Thursday I stopped by BB&B to redeem it.

Using my Maybelline manufacturer's coupon along with two BB&B (20% off a single item) coupons, I brought home the following Maybelline cosmetics:

Photo: Beautyloom

1 - FACESTUDIO Master Contour blush palette - $9.99

1 - Maybelline Brow Drama Pomade Crayon - $6.99

1- Maybelline New York ColorSensational Lipcolor - $5.50

Minus coupons, my grand total was an unbelievable $1.88. How's that for savvy shopping? Happy Belated Birthday to me!

And don't worry about BB&B's bottom line. The Maybelline coupon is like cash to them, and over time I buy plenty of bedding and other housewares there as well. In fact, on Saturday I returned to buy an 800 fill goose down bed pillow. Wow, that's a big ouch out of a budget, even with 20% off!

(Click to enlarge) After shopping, you can sit outside for a cup of coffee. Starbucks and TJ Maxx are next door.

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