Speaking Of Christmas

All images: Macy's.

The majority of the people on earth, about 69%, are not Christians. Christianity is followed by only 31% of the world's population, therefore, far from a majority. Can we not accept the world as it is? While we humans have different responses, in life we all ask the same ultimate questions* and try to arrive at the same place.

 

First aiming to live a life of greater purpose, followed by a hope for the best outcome that life doesn't end in death, but we find some ultimate good or meaning in our struggles and beyond our finite lives. Theologians spend years studying the human condition and its connection to the divine -- the world of concrete vs the world of ideas, the infinite vs finite. Believing requires a leap of faith, and for certain, time will tell. It's that simple and complicated.

We have all heard the catchphrase: Let's put Christ back into Christmas, but I like to focus on putting Christ back into Christians. As we move into the Christmas season, is it possible for us to worry less about cookie-cutter conformity and more about understanding and having a tolerance of others? Might we even leap to celebrating our cultural differences, as well as, showing generosity and hospitality to everyone as we embrace our own traditions?

I'm always honored when another culture or religion shows me warmth and goodwill. An invitation to fellowship can be an attempt to connect and share, not usually to convert. What's more, I think savvy modern people can tell the difference and navigate accordingly.

Moreover, when a clerk in a department store wishes me a "Happy Holiday" in lieu of a "Merry Christmas," it's an effort to be gracious from a stranger in society who doesn't know what tradition I practice and nothing more. Why should tolerance and good wishes from friendly strangers upset us? It's misplaced animosity perhaps based on fear and insecurity in a changing world. 

If a history buff like me, you realize the world simultaneously changes and stays the same. Everything we experience has been experienced before in another century or millennium. Times can change, but humans react the same. Life on earth is cyclical. Everything new becomes old and everything old is new again ... this time around "new" to us. Furthermore, when the world is ripe for change, it moves forward. You can't stop change forever.

I hope with the supply chain down this holiday season all people -- especially Christians -- worry less about exchanging material gifts and put their energies into showing more people benevolence, support, compassion, and collaboration. After a challenging pandemic apart, wouldn't it be a meaningful, awesome way to celebrate Christmas?! Let's dole out gifts of human acceptance and kindness beginning today!

The Nativity Scene Christmas decorations are available from Macy's the only major New York department store that seems to still sell them. {You won't find them at Saks or Bloomingdales.} I'm only a customer, and my blog isn't sponsored by the retailer. I do love Macy's however ... a must-stop for tourists and New Yorkers alike during the Christmas season! Starting on November 26th, the North Pole with SantaLand opens. Located on the 9th floor for in-person visits as well as online.

✯𐫰✯𐫰✯𐫰✯𐫰✯𐫰✯𐫰✯𐫰✯𐫰✯𐫰✯𐫰

*The Ultimate Questions in every religion are: Where do we come from? Is human life random or created by an all-powerful God? What is the meaning and purpose of life? What happens after we die? 

In examining the human condition, all religions have a diagnosis ... what went wrong; and a prescription ... here's how to fix it to get back on the right path. All religions offer hope that life, good, bad, or ugly, has intrinsic worth and meaning.

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Pasta e Fagioli

Photo: From America's Test Kitchen - not their recipe below, but it's what the soup resembled in the Time Inc cafeteria. It wasn't as tomato red as I sometimes see it elsewhere.

Years ago I discovered delicious Pasta e Fagioli at work in Time, Inc's cafeteria. I'd love to make it at home but never had a sure-fire recipe. Time's Pasta e Fagioli seemed to have bits of ham or Italian sausage in it, definitely not the ground beef used by a few cooks and closer to bean soup than tomato soup. Although I can't procure the exact recipe, I remember the taste and texture to this day. The following recipe comes close enough for now:

Pasta e Fagioli

Ingredients:

1 lb of spicy Italian sausage or Italian bacon (Ham or hot dogs work also, then spice to taste. Drop in a few red pepper flakes. Add some green Italian seasonings.)

2 medium onions, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

4 carrots, diced

1 garlic bulb, minced (or 2 teaspoons of dried garlic)

4 cups water

2 large chicken bouillon cubes (which contain salt, so don't add more until you taste it before serving.)

2-15-ounce cans of Northern white beans (Feel free to use pinto or pink beans, etc., if it's in the panty. It will taste good). 

2 tablespoons tomato paste

2 teaspoons dried basil

2 teaspoons dried rosemary

1 bay leaf

1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste

2 cups macaroni (or similar smallish pasta)

Sprinkles of grated Parmesan cheese - Add a sprinkle when cooking the soup, then garnish with the cheese before serving the soup.

Optional: Olive olive if you need it to grill the meat and vegetables  (see step 1 below).

Directions:

1) In a stockpot, brown the sausage, bacon, (or ham, or hotdogs) as it brings out the flavor. Toss in the onions, celery, and carrots as the sausage is browning. Towards the end, add the fresh garlic if using it. 

2) Next add the water and chicken bouillon cubes. (You can substitute chicken stock and salt to taste if you wish. I rarely buy chicken stock, so use water and bouillon.)

3) Mash one can of beans only. Add both cans of beans and diced tomatoes into the pot.

4). Follow with the dried spices.

5) Finally add your pasta and bring to a boil for about 12 minutes until the noodles are al dante.

My leftovers for the week.

Don't forget to garnish with extra shakes of parmesan cheese. This soup is a balanced meal with your meat, vegetables, and starch in a delicious sauce. I was always delighted to go down to the cafe to see it on the day's menu. Buon Appetitio!

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When Time Marches On Without Us

In Manhattan we walk a lot ... all around town. From its inception, New York City was transient and in flux with businesses opening and closing frequently. Nowadays I notice new businesses seldom have a clock on their walls. Likewise, old clocks are disappearing from public spaces and streets, and I don't like it one bit. I miss having huge historical clocks in prominent places!

I realize everyone, along with their mothers and brothers and grandpas, have cell phones to tell the time, but I'm not one to carry a phone in my palm at all times. I leave it inside my purse, and I'd rather nonchalantly glance up at a big clock to keep track of the day. 

Additionally, I love the charm of seeing old timepieces in strategic places where crowds of people congregate. What will our 21st-century history and relic be for the future? 

As a customer inside an establishment, I like having a clock to look at while waiting for my turn to be served. Lovely and functional decor for customers and employees alike ... no?

My cousin is upset because his kids can't tell time by the hands of a clock as it's not even taught in schools anymore!

Furthermore, it would be disorienting for me to work in an office without a clock. Although at my places of work, I've always had clocks available, I wear my watch to work just in case. While working, I'd never want to give the wrong impression, I'm counting the minutes to leave the office by repeatedly taking out my phone to check the time, but gee whiz, I'd be equally unhappy spending the workday clueless about the hour. I like to know what time it is!

Also if I'm having a coffee, drink, or dinner with a friend, I want to know what time it is without raising an incorrect suspicion that I'm bored or in a hurry to leave. Again, I'd rather nonchalantly look up at the clock on a wall. These days I have to sneak a peek at my wrist.

No mister! No sister!! I don't need to get home soon. I just need to know what time it is  ... at all times!😁

Have you noticed how difficult it has gotten to find a clock in public; or as you pass by its window, the wall of a newly opened business? Where have all the clocks gone? I hope and pray, not long time passing. Say it isn't so!!

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Ametrine The Bicolor Quartz

All photos are from Macy's unless otherwise noted. Find them here.

On THE SAVVY SHOPPER, we've discussed amethyst and citrine, both members of the quartz family of gemstones. Quartz is the chemical compound silicon dioxide, shortened to silica.

 

Mother Nature also makes a bicolor quartz that uniquely combines the purple of amethyst and the golden yellow of citrine. Called Ametrine, a mixture of amethyst and citrine, its defining feature is having both colors in a single stone. 

Like most quartz, ametrine has great clarity, meaning it is transparent with few inclusions. Color gives ametrine its value -- the more intense the purple and yellow are, the more desirable, plus there should be an even split between the 2 hues with a clear boundary. On Moh's Scale of Hardness, this eye-catching quartz rates a 7 just like its quartz siblings, making it suitable to fashion into jewelry.

The reason ametrine has 2 colors is due to different temperatures existing while the crystal was forming in the mine. A lower temperature left the iron within the crystal unoxidized to form amethyst while a higher temperature oxidized the iron within the same crystal to form citrine. {Bracelet linked here.} A gemologist would have to confirm what I envision ... a ray of sunshine hitting or more poetically, kissing the stone to make ametrine.

Nearly all commercially sold ametrine is mined in the Anahi mine in Bolivia, and for this reason, the gemstone is sometimes known as bolivianite. In fact, ametrine is the national stone of Bolivia.

Considering its beauty and rarity on earth, ametrine is surprisingly budget-friendly compared to similar gemstones. Unlike more common gemstones like diamonds that are in higher demand, not everybody knows to want ametrine. 

Often fashioned into emerald or Asscher cuts, the violet and golden gemstone looks lovely set in yellow or rose gold, as well as, complements every skin tone as it has dual cool and warm undertones.

Let's play a game: If you could only have one gemstone in a ring or necklace, would you want an amethyst, citrine, or ametrine?

Photo: Wikipedia to show you ametrine as found in nature.

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The Beauty Products I Use Right Now

 

Once a month I notice YouTubers post their empties to recommend beauty products they enjoy using. Today I'm doing likewise ... but fortunately, my bottles are filled... and they are in my bathroom being used by me right now. As it turns out, I reviewed nearly all of them on THE SAVVY SHOPPER in previous blogs. Still, loving them and for sure, I'd buy each again, as well as, grab them whenever I see them for less:

Skincare - Daytime Routine:

1) Noxema Cleansing Cream - My old tried and true.

2) Art Naturals Vitamin C Advanced Moisture & Brightening Serum - I have the set and use the retinol at night on nights I don't use the Neutrogena retinol oil.

3) Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer with SPF 15 

4) Cooking grade coconut oil - As an after-shower body moisturizer. It's cooking grade to simplify gathering -- no need to buy 2 coconut oils. Once gone, I'll switch over to extra virgin olive oil for even more simplicity.

Skincare - Nighttime Routine:

1) Noxema Cleansing Cream - used again before bed.

2) and 3) - Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Oil followed by Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream - They came full-sized as a kit found in the beauty aisle at T.J. Maxx for $16 bucks ... how could I not grab 2 kits -- to use one immediately and put one on deck? Before finding the set, I was already using the retinol cream and after I finish the retinol oil ... do I need both? I'll decide later after I run out.

Hair Care

1) Shea Moisture Peace Rose Oil Shampoo - A stellar overall brand, I buy any formula I see with the Shea Moisture label on it. I've never had a failure with any of the retailer's formulas despite mixing and mismatching the varieties of formulas of their shampoos with their conditioners. I enjoy trying the entire line, but the peace rose smells so AMAZING, I  love it especially!

2) Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo - I don't yet have the matching condition, but if I see it at T.J. Maxx, it's my next beauty buy. After you try Shea Moisture's many hair products, you can find them at drugstores, Walmart, Target, and Amazon, so you'll never go broke using this none-better, excellent brand!

3) Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydrating Shampoo

4) Shea Moisture Superfruit Complex 10 in 1 Multi-benefit Hair Mosque - As fantastic as the other formulas, I grabbed the mosque as another hair conditioner. It leaves your hair clean, not greasy. Again ... 3rd time saying it, you simply can't go wrong with a Shea Moisture formula!

So these are the beauty products I'm now using, folks, my not-so-empties that I'll buy again and again as needed. In recent years I've tried to switch over to as many organics as I can afford, as well as, to simplify my personal care regime, plus find everything needed in the aisles of a drugstore for less! 

It looks like I have lots of hair shampoos and conditions, doesn't it? My goal is to reduce: I keep 1 shampoo and 2 conditioners in the bathroom open and using ... with one extra shampoo and condition in stock waiting in the wings to replace an empty. I'm nearly at my one + one quantity aspiration. #WorkingThroughMyStash.

Drugstores have stepped up their offerings of quality and clean beauty making it unnecessary to shop anywhere else. So convenient and cost-effective for products that truly work!

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Fermented Foods Boost Our Immune System

Photo: 1,2,3RF

After years of reading about the power of fermented foods, I now drink 1/2 cup of homemade kombucha daily ... or try to eat kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt, or pickled vegetables (includes green pickles, i.e., baby cucumbers) -- alternating them into a given week of meals. Cider vinegar contains a few probiotics and can be turned into a delicious vinaigrette salad dressing. Fermented foods, a source of natural probiotics, help to rev up our immune system by keeping our gut microbiome healthy and balanced.

According to Dr. Vincent Pedre, author of 'Happy Gut,"and quoted in Better Nutrition magazine, "Seventy percent of our immune system is located in our gut lining." It's the area where ''the immune system is programmed," he states in the article (October 2021 issue). 

Fermented foods introduce good bacteria that fight the bad bacteria (microbes), which can also live in our gut microbiome. We carry about 4 pounds of microbes in our gut to help us digest our food. 

{Although not qualified to know having not gone to medical school, I wonder if some of the people who have irritable bowel syndrome would benefit from eating fermented foods. For sure, it won't hurt them and possibly balance their gastrointestinal tracts.}

Paraphrasing the article, fermented foods increase the variety "of microbes in the gut and decrease levels of 19 inflammatory markers in the blood." Dr. Pedre claims good bacteria helps to ''protect us from having a runaway inflammatory immune response" if we get an infection. In addition, eating fiber helps to maintain good gut bacteria and improves its performance.

As Dr Pedre explains, the combination of eating fermented foods and a high fiber diet gives us the best defense in fighting off colds, flu, and even COVID-19.

If not already eating fermented foods, consider including them in your diet ... but start slowly (for example, consume 1/2 cup of kombucha or 2/3 cup of pickled vegetables or 1 cup of yogurt in a meal -- mixing it up over a week). Let your digestive system adjust to the addition of fermented foods to your diet. Don't suddenly shock your gut with a ton of probiotics by eating too much of a good thing in a single day. Over time, you can increase your intake of fermented foods without the side effects (i.e., having to run to the bathroom).

Getting your probiotics by eating fermented foods is better and less expensive than taking probiotic pills. Food gives you organic probiotics in the right amounts.

On occasion, I make kimchi, less often yogurt, and pickle my own black olives; and now regularly I make kombucha. It's surprisingly easy ... as well as, interesting to learn how, so give it a try.

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