Dr. Scholl's Ultra Hydrating Foot Mask

At first I thought a foot mask was silly and a waste of money, but my local CVS Pharmacy gave away a sample pack, so I took one. The pack contains one pair of slip-on-booties. So after you figure out how to get the plastic bootie open by pulling hard on the top seam to force it to part and split, producing an opening for you to slide your foot inside, you can decide for yourself. Inside the plastic bootie is a wet mixture of urea, hyaluronic acid, essential oils and a blend of moisturizing (shea butter, macadamia, coconut, olive) oils. Thankfully, there is no perfume, only a slight clean scent. Instructions say to wear the hydrating foot mask for 30 minutes.

Sure, you could blend your own foot mask with essential oils and creams, then slip your feet inside 2 generic plastic bags with the homemade potion -- but isn't it great when you decide not to make something yourself? Once in a while this blend is a lovely treat and not too expensive to soften and repair dry, rough abused feet. It achieves its claims of conditioning and smoothing skin that gets shoved into socks and shoes and sometimes takes a beating. Your toenails and foot cuticles benefit by absorbing some of the soothing formula also.

How are you spending your Friday?

What's more, you can reuse the plastic booties a 2nd time by storing them inside the generic plastic bag you now won't have to use on your foot because you let Dr. Scholl make the foot mask and booties for you. Dr. Scholl's Ultra Hydrating Foot Mask is worth the splurge! I'm not the spa pampering type. Still this very nice!

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Fashion Jewelry I Like

Photo: Maevery

Let's begin this subject with the truth. Nowadays I don't buy fashion jewelry, yet bought it in my 20s. In my 20s I just needed something to wear daily for work and a few social events. Fashion jewelry was what I could afford. I also thought I had to change my jewelry often ... I don't feel that way today.

Photo: Spiritual Gloss

As I got older I decided to curate what I own: Possess fewer yet better pieces of jewelry that I love. So nowadays I don't do quantity. I decide what it is I love and buy only it. So I save up my money for a few more expensive pieces of fine (real gold with real gems) jewelry. In other words, I curate; get it; then stop buying. I still look, but am slow to pull the trigger! 

However, not all my readers are at this point in their lives. Moreover, fine jewelry doesn't make everyone's heart flutter.

Like designer handbags and shoes, jewelry is never an investment. All 3 examples are luxury buys. We never need luxury, we buy luxury because we like material things. Not everybody wishes to spend their money on fine jewelry just like not everybody wants to spend their money on a Hermès handbag. 

Photo: Maevery

So for those readers, I can recommend 3 fashion jewelry retailers I truly like and would wear if I still bought fashion jewelry. For your money, you get substantial gold plated pieces with small, real diamonds and precious stones that are sturdy and pretty. Often I see the brands promoted on YouTube channels by vloggers who are gifted them by the companies, which is a common, acceptable practice on YouTube. None of the 3 merchants sought me out, so my spotlight on their goods is independent and unbiased. Despite my overall bias against fashion jewelry, I love the creations of the following 3 companies: 

1) Ana Luisa - The company is carbon neutral, meaning they give back everything they take from nature to make their stylish, smart, modern and durable jewelry. 

2) Spiritual Gloss - They offer fair pricing for dainty 14k gold and diamond fine jewelry by cutting out the middle man. The heavier cuban chain (above right👆) is 14k gold plated brass. All 14k or 18k gold cuban chains are pricer, costing thousands of dollars. Think: Budget-friendly for an expensive look that won't tarnish!

3) Maevery - Contemporary, chic, classic and wearable designs, the metals are 14k and 18k gold plated. Another place to get rich looks for less. 

Perhaps you travel, ruin things, or don't wear expensive jewelry to certain places. When going the fashion jewelry route in life, what lovely, affordable and solid pieces that won't fall apart anytime soon!

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Diet: Safe, Simple And Sustainable

Photo: New York Times

When it comes to dieting I'm with Dr. Jen Ashton, a doctor on ABC News, who says, "A diet should be safe, simple and sustainable." Such sage advice! In my own life, I find if a meal consists of 30% protein I don't suffer with hunger, and I try to mix up the foods I eat over the course of a week. 

By habit, I eat 3 meals per day and a snack at night. I try very hard not to snack in-between meals, yet haven't be able to give up my nightly snack!

Photo: UNC Lenoir

Ideally, we're supposed to eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper, but that order doesn't work for me. My order is eat breakfast like a pauper, lunch like a prince and dinner like a king. I suffer and starve if I eat dinner like a pauper! If in Europe I think I could adapt to eat lunch like a king and dinner like a prince, but never dinner like a pauper! It's easier for me to eat breakfast like a pauper.

Photo: Beauty on Raw

Another habit of mine is to alternate between different colors of fruits and vegetables each day, so for example, if I eat carrots and a banana one day, I have broccoli and a peach the next, followed by green beans and a pear on the 3rd day and cauliflower and an apple on the 4th. Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries are free food ... I can eat them as many times and days in a row as I desire.

Carbohydrates, such as bread, potatoes, rice, pasta and corn I hold off eating until dinner. The reason I do this is the more carbs (or starches) I eat, the hungrier I get. I hate being hungry in-between meals, as I'm sure everybody does! Younger, I made the mistake of consuming pretzels around 4 pm, which did nothing for me, but increase my appetite. Nowadays I'll have coffee or tea with milk if needed in the afternoon to prevent daytime snacking. This usually stops me from getting hunger until dinner.

Go to Healthline: eat and avoid

Yes, I eat sweets and drink wine, but not daily and not too often. They are treats. The wine I might have twice a month; and sweets (2 bites of chocolate; or an ice cream cone) perhaps twice a week. Luckily I'm more of a salt and/or cheese snacker, which I think is easier to incorporate into a meal. 

My cheat food, French fries, I eat every time I order a burger or fried fish platter regardless of time of day. No French fry gets left behind!🍔🍟🐟

This summer, I'm eating smaller servings of meat than in the fall and winter and more plants. We'll see how it goes. I'm also leaning towards ketogenic foods (i.e., a keto diet) and will see what that does for me. I use the term leaning towards, because I need all my food groups to feel satisfied, but I'll eat the "avoid foods" in smaller amounts like one piece of bread, not two. A 3/4 cup of corn, not 1 1/2 cups; and no banana or rice (triple dipping) on the same day as bread, corn, or potatoes, etc. You get the idea! I select one starchy food per day; and cow's milk stays on the menu. 

Frankly I wish we didn't have to put so much damn thought into what we eat, but as we move into the different decades of our lives we do! Only a trifle of pie for the pie hole, less cake to partake!😄 The weight is just too freakishly hard to get off, so it's better we don't put too many extra pounds on. Despite our more mindful eating habits, we still aren't as skinny as we once were when we could eat whatever the hell we liked! Yet, I refuse to give up and let myself go, and you should too. It's a matter of health and vanity. Yes, both ... I won't lie. Middle age spread begone! Don't come around here no more!!!🎵♩♪

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5 Summer Loose Dresses With Style

Photo: Fancyinn

When summer gets boiling hot, you don't want dresses grabbing you at the waist or wrapping around your legs. Yet every body part that must be covered can still be serenaded in style. The following 5 (under $40) go-anywhere-do-anything dresses -- are designed to keep fashionistas flushed (inexpensive), cool, and cute all summer long: 

1) Fancyinn Shift Dress with Pockets & Bell Sleeves - (See above image👆) - The ruffles and bell sleeves are feminine, girlie and fun. Pair with sandals, sneakers or ballet flats to dress it up or down.

2) Columbia Freezer III Dress - Usually I stay away from polyester in a dress ... unless it's designed by my favorite Japanese brand, Uniqlo (in their Airism tops and dresses); or this Freezer III dress with what is called advanced technology, i.e. a signature wicking fabric that pulls moisture away from the body to keep you dry and cool. In addition, this dress has UPF 30 in its fabric to block UVA and UVB rays.

3) Patagonia Alpine Valley Dress - Did you ever think you could buy a Patagonia dress for under $30? This Fair Trade Certified™  sewn dress is it! Made ultra-comfortable with soft cotton and a built-in bra. The brand is normally much more expensive!

4) FZ Fantastic Zone Summer T-Shirt Dress - Contains 65% cotton with 35% polyester to keep it soft and stretchy and wrinkle-free. With bonus swing pockets, the fit is loose but not baggy! How cute paired with a sunhat! 

5) Uniqlo's Cassie Byrne Camisole Dress - Must order up from your usual size, the retailer's quality is always top-notch and budget-friendly,  but recently their sizes are all over the place. I have dresses and tops that run from medium to extra large -- you never can tell what size to order anymore!

Uniqlo has a Marimekko collaboration dress with a substantial cotton fabric I love, but it's a wide and boxy-cut dress that goes below the knee, so I don't think I'd enjoy walking in it on a hot day. Tried-on, the dress looks shapeless too!  In spite of being 100% rayon, I prefer this Byrne Camisole dress that sits right above the knee.

These 5 versatile and comfortable dresses are all you'll ever need this summer ... with a few dollars left in the pockets for some ice cream!

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Weleda Offers A Century of Skin Care

Photo: Care To Beauty

Weleda is the world's leading maker of holistic, natural, organic and anthroposophical skincare, makeup and pharmaceuticals. The merchant is well-known for its baby and mother care products, as well as, its Weleda Skin Food line and homeopathic preparations. Arnica, birch, calendula, iris, lavender and wild rose are "leading plants" i.e., some of the main raw ingredients the company uses in their beauty treatments for their healing properties and to promote well being.

The vendor's name sounds odd to English-speaking ears. Founded in 1921, Weleda derives from the Germanic prophet and healer, Velda. Its philosophy is based on the principles of social thinker and educator Rudolf Steiner; and its botanical formulas aim to "awaken the skin's natural functions" as well as, balance the mind, body and spirit by only using the plants and components of nature.

The products are never tested on animals and contain no paragons or phthalates, synthetic fragrances or preservatives. The retailer promotes sustainability and respect for nature in its business practices.

In summary: After studying plants for 100 years, Weleda's ingredients are "certified natural per nature."

Sold at Target, Walmart and Costco, the Weleda beauty and skincare line includes a wide range of pure skin washes; rich moisturizers; body butters; lip balm; and antioxidant-rich-anti-aging treatments ... all created to nourish, support and re-balance the skin.

Its rubs remind me of what is commonly found in English and German pharmacies which tend to embrace alternative therapies in beauty potions. Not all the retailer's claims are supported by science, yet the price points are affordable for a garden of pure and rich skincare. Think: Superior moisturizers and body butters containing good clean ingredients for less! 

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5 Walking Sandals With Arch Support + 2 for the Pool

Merrell Women's Sandspur Rose Leather Sandal

No longer do I make the mistake of wearing unsupportive sandals. Sure, I aim for cute and stylish, yet I've become a sensible shoe woman. I've crossed the rubicon, and there's no turning back! All my shoes, including my sandals, must be fit for walking miles on unforgiving concrete and thus support my feet. It's the numero uno quality I look for in footwear and will forgo style if necessary. That said, if I can find both fashion and foot doctor approved sandals, I'd buy them, but the shoes don't go home without function!

Nowadays all my shoes including sandals must have 4 details: 

1) Arch support - I have high aches. They scream for structure!

2) Stable heels - 1 & 2: Like peanut butter and jelly or locks and bagels. 

3) Leather uppers - Any shoes I've owned not made of leather have failed me. They don't conform to my feet, and they  don't let my feet breathe, so they get hot. I'm done with synthetic upper materials in shoes. Finito!

4) A firm yet soft foot bed - Forget rock hard. Finita!!😂 After a certain age, we start to lose the fat that pads the soles of our feet, so the cushioning must be in the footbed of our shoes. 

Now that we know what to look for, the following are 5 sandals to consider if you walk a lot on city pavement:

1) Merrell Women's Sandspur Rose Leather Sandal - Luckily I found these sandals on sale last winter, yet they start at a reasonable price, and many other Merrell styles have the same arch support and stable heels construction. These are super stylish on the feet!

2) Berkenstock Women's Arizona Soft Footbed Fashion Sandal - Super pricy and popular with men and women. For the money look for 100% upper leather with the soft footbed selection. Paying $100+ for synthetic Berkenshock sandals is crazy! Like the other sandals selected by THE SAVVY SHOPPER, this one conforms to the shape of your foot and heels. Comes in women's and unisex sizes.

3) Therafit Eva Women's Leather Adjustable Strap Slip On Sandal - For women who love slides. Offers superior arch support and deep heel cups for stability. 

4) Rockport Women's Briah Perf Sling Wedge Sandal - A garden party sandal, obviously not for hiking miles and miles in, but supportive and stable enough to get you to the party on public transit without the need to carry a change of shoes to the party. Full grain leather with a soft breathable interior including cushioned heels and a supportive outsole. The upper Nubuck leather is made to look new for the life of the shoes. Very affordable shoe, as well as, shoe brand!

5) Vionic Backstrap Sandal -Vionic sandals have built-in orthotic arch support that is especially supportive for plantar fasciitis sufferers. Like the other choices, the shoes are made to ease heel pain.

Bonus sandals for the beach and swimming pool: 

1) Arches Support Flip Flops - They are bonus sandals because they aren't leather; and according to podiatrists, you shouldn't walk long distances on city pavement in flip flops ever ... and yet, sometimes you must go near the water where leather would be ruined! 

To be honest, I wear $3 Old Navy flip flops, or $10 Crocs from T.J. Maxx at the beach or by the pool, as well as, around the house, but Arches have the podiatrist-favored real arch support and are made strong to last. After a season of wear the thongs sometimes break on my Old Navy and Croc flip flops ... once causing me to walk 2 blocks home barefoot in my neighborhood. Arches are reinforced to not have such inconvenient "blowouts."

2) LLSOARSS Plantar Fasciitis Feet Sandal With Arch Support - Customers claim they are as supportive as Vionic sandals for less. At times Amazon lists them as low as $12. LLSOARSS flip flops have superior arch support and are constructed to stop heel pain. They prevent sore and tired feet too. A few customers say they experience foot odor when wearing LLSOAESS, which won't happen if you save them for the pool.

The numero uno element of supportive sandals is met in this list of 5 sandals  plus 2 for the pool ... and with style!  Looks like we don't have to skip fashion this summer!🏖

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