A Pretty Dress I Did Not Buy ... Sigh

Oscar de la Renta - Floral Print Seamed Dress, Periwinkle

Like many people I can be a bit of a fashionista attracted to beautiful things. Fortunately, I don't tend to be an emotional buyer, but generally stick to my budget and am good at separating my ''needs'' and ''wants.'' An emotional buyer can easily go broke; or live in a house of clutter. Not wanting to fill a closet with beautiful but impractical things keeps me from making impulse buys.

When I saw the above Oscar de la Renta fit and flare dress, I loved it instantly! It is made of silk and cotton, and I love the cute floral print, as well as, the color blue. A lovely, flattering, ladylike dress. And classic, no worry of it going out of style anytime soon.

So why did I let the dress go? Well, it costs around $2,400. (Later it went on sale, but not drastically.) I couldn't justify buying such a pricey, although exquisitely tailored dress. It's not as if I sing and dance in front of thousands of people with my bandmates, or walk across a stage collecting awards. Moreover, I never get followed by paparazzi with bulbs flashing in my face. Often I shlep to shindigs on a subway.

So nope, I have nowhere special enough to wear this beautiful Oscar de la Renta dress. I have pretty, less expensive dresses to wear to all the events I attend. And despite missing out on this periwinkle beauty, I was right not to buy it. I still love the dress, but it will have to live here on the blog. Am I hearing some Ooos and Ahhs from my readers? Or is it only me?

Consider the questions: Are you an over buyer or under buyer? Do you shop with your heart or your head?

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Sephora Collection: Cream Lip Stain

Recently I visited Sephora to find a long lasting lip color. My mission: Find lip color that stays on to reduce the need to reapply lipstick as often as I do. I'm tired of it fading! Luckily, a rich pigmented, full coverage lip color exists under the Sephora Collection line, which means get excellent quality for less moola. 

There are 40 colors in the collection, including an assortment of nudes, berries, pinks, reds and what I call Katy Perry bold hues. I bought a nude called pink tea, #40. It goes on wet and smooth and changes from a creamy texture into a silky, long lasting lip stain. Some shades are mattes, others are satin finishes. They are infused with avocado oil and don't dry out your lips like some lip stains do. The product I applied is comfortable and not sticky; and indeed, it does last for hours. 

For the best coverage, I like to apply the Sephora Lip Stain in the morning and touch it up later in the day with Maybelline Baby Lips (tinted lip balm) or even lipstick, but if I don't, I still have color on my lips when using only the cream stain, and thus accomplish my goal of less fuss.

So if you're looking for richly pigmented colors that last for hours, I recommend the Sephora Collection: Cream Lip Stain. It works as it claims, plus the many shades are beautiful! $14 each.

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Happy New Year From THE SAVVY SHOPPER

Photo: Abstract Wallpaper

I'm hoping 2017 is kinder to us than was 2016. On the dark side, we survived a nasty, polarizing election, as well as, the deaths of so many beloved luminaries in such quick succession that at times it seemed like fake news, another characteristic of 2016. Sad events are hard to shake off while still fresh.

On the bright side, The New Year begins here in the USA with President Barack Obama still holding office for all of 20 days. Personally, I will miss his intelligent, measured, informed and steady leadership.

The Obama Christmas card

Moreover, there has never been a classier First Lady than Michelle Obama. We should thank the Obamas for their dignity, focus on meaningful progress, and for inspiring us with their attitude towards their critics: "When they go low, we go high." We will do well to embrace their grace and positive example as our guide in tackling change and trepidations in 2017.

Furthermore, Malia and Sasha are turning into beautiful young women. I will miss this warm, down-to-earth family!  

Soon ... onto the next phase of their lives. As I understand it, when President Obama leaves office, he wants to mentor the next generation of leaders in the Democratic party, as it strives to rebuild. So we will have his leadership in another vital capacity.  

Taking another lesson from the Obamas: Change sometimes requires a call to action. Is something not what you want it to be? Get involved. Make things better!

To the readers of THE SAVVY SHOPPER, you are awesome! Thank you for the honor of your time. I love getting your emails and comments, plus cherish a few friendships developed with my fellow bloggers. Sharing our thoughts, interests and knowledge with one another is what makes blogging worthwhile. I love♥ hearing from you and am grateful you stop by for a read. 

Warm, good wishes to all my lovely peeps all over the globe for a ...

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It's Christmas Once Again

St. Peter's Square, The Vatican, Rome Italy

Can you imagine attending midnight mass at St. Peter's Basilica on Christmas Eve? Who must you know to get tickets ... His Holiness, the Pope? (I'd love to come, P. Francis, if you're reading this!)🎄

It has been a difficult year for our little ole world ... embroiled in war, terrorism, the rise of (blind?) nationalism, and all kinds of other undesirable "isms" around the globe. There are deep fears and insecurity affecting how people vote these days. Some folks are worried about the rise of isolationism and tyranny similar to that of the 1930s. Countries are turning to conservative leaders and dicey ideologies out of worry, and I hope we don't pay a heavy price for such leanings in our future. Democracy needs to prevail; and at the end of the day, truth and compassion must win out.

After a turbulent 2016, we probably need a little Christmas more than ever!

Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque crèche at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

If you visit New York City, you can stop at the Met to see the 17th-century Christmas tree and Nativity figures above. The huge centuries-old exhibit goes up every (late) November.

A "Christmas plant" in the corner of my Manhattan apartment.

Meanwhile, at home, I put up some of my decorations. Just like Egyptian hieroglyphics, my "Christmas pothos" only requires vertical space. It is green and festive, and guests seem to appreciate it.

My apartment-size crèche on top of my entertainment center.

Lest we forget, Christmas celebrates a humble, holy child who brought hope, peace, joy, and a new beginning to the faithful in an uncertain world.

I borrowed this soothing hymn from my friend, Patricia of The Red Cardinal, who sings it in her choir. It is a beautiful rendering and so apropos for our holiday season.

Merry Christmas & Peace to Everyone all over the world!


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Coconut Macaroons ... Delish

Photo: Food Network

The time has come to eat bake Christmas cookies. Do you make the same cookies every year like we do? Coconut macaroons are always on our list. We keep them pure and simple. It's the texture of the coconut and taste of vanilla that makes this cookie delicious. When perfectly baked, they look exactly like the photo above: Slightly crispy on the outside, yet soft, chewy and completely done on the inside. Here is our family recipe:

Coconut Macaroons

Ingredients:

4 large egg whites

1/2 cup white sugar

16 ounces sweet, shredded coconut
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
a tiny splash of lemon juice
a tiny splash of rum

Directions:

1) Mix all the ingredients and beat until uniform. (If your batter is a little wet, you can add a spoonful of flour. If the egg whites are from extra large eggs, your dough can be sticky, so adding a little flour will help. Also pop the batter into the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes to make it less sticky and easy to work with.)
2) Scoop up the batter with a spoon and drop onto a cookie sheet. Shape more like a ball (as opposed to flat) so that you end with a chewy center.
3) Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes.
4) Remove from the oven and let cool. 

We like our coconut macaroons plain, but you can dip yours in melted chocolate (with paraffin wax) if you wish.

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LED Stud Earrings In 9 Illuminated Colors

People who love Christmas sometimes wear over-the-top Christmas sweaters, or Santa Claus (or Reindeer) motif pins that light up. Are you one of those people? If so, it's not a bad thing, and you are probably a spirited, fun person, who knows how to have a good time during the holiday season. If you can't be festive and over-the-top to celebrate Christmas, when the deck-the-halls can you?

In addition to the ugly Christmas sweater and Christmas themed chotskies, look what else is available: LED Stud Earrings that light up in an array of colors just like Christmas lights! Amazon, some Etsy shops and Ebay offer them, and they are an inexpensive novelty item. 

The glowing studs are constructed of stainless steel and come with two tiny batteries. Some are diamond shaped, while others are star shaped.

Are earring studs that glow in the dark for you? If so, what color would you get?

Ho! Ho! Ho! You're welcome, my merry peeps!🎄

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