The Heart Shaped Bag

The heart-shaped luxury purse trend wouldn't have caught my eye had Sophie Shobet not featured it on her YouTube channel (see sidebar for her link) in addition to it being near Valentine's day.

Adorable as they are, I don't plan to buy into the trend. It's too much money to spend for a novelty bag that due to its shape likely won't hold all one's essentials ... plus I'm not a bag maven. My tendency is to buy a goes-with-everything black crossover bag, then I don't think of buying more bags until it wears out. That said, different strokes for different folks, and the heart-shaped pocketbook is feminine and super cute!

Why all the designers are launching heart-shaped bags in 2022 I haven't a clue. There's no research to explain it. Why do you think it's a trend?

Chanel has a small and large size; and my favorite brand, Coach, is on-trend too with a color-block, red and pink version. 

Do you want a heart-shaped bag or do you own one?💕

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Drew Barrymore's Valentine To Customers: Lip Kit Duo

Flower lipstick by Drew Barrymore has become one of my favorites. The reason? Because of its stellar quality in addition to its array of natural, gorgeous colors rivals the luxe brands at a fraction of the cost. If you wish to try it, now may be a perfect time because ...

For Valentine's Day, the beauty company is offering a limited-edition bundle lip kit duo pairing a full-sized lipstick with a full-sized lip liner to create cupid-approved lips at the special sale price of only $16 per kit. When I went to the website a promotional coupon also popped up to reduce the final price further, and free shipping was offered, making a purchase that arrives in your mailbox a steal!

Although you can mix and match the hues yourself, Drew has the following guide of complementary colors for those who seek help:

There's absolutely no reason to pay more when you get the quality and beautiful hues, bar none of Flower to create lusciously rich pigmented and moist lips. I have several Flower lipstick shades ... all of them super wearable, not to mention, relatively cheap! Plus the packaging looks as good as the luxury brands.

Now is your chance to splurge, save and discover a great makeup brand simultaneously!♥💋

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A Cautionary Tale: Toe Nail Fungus

Here's a cautionary tale: A savvy friend did a bad thing because she had a momentary lapse of good judgment. At T.J. Maxx she slipped her bare feet into a pair of very cute toe-shaped water shoes. Well, nobody is perfect, however, this one and only time is all it took to catch a nail fungus (a/k/a onychomycosis). She says she never tries on shoes in stores barefooted, but since the water shoes were shaped like real feet, she made an exception because her sock didn't fit into the shoes and she was unsure whether to go up 1/2 size. Still, she knew better! 

Her nail fungus began on the big toe of one foot, but since she had zero experience with this disease, at first she didn't know what was the matter with her big toe ... and so repeatedly soaked her feet in a moisturizing foot bath to treat it, thereby spreading her nail fungus from one big toe to all 20 of her digits, fingers and toes. Yikes!

Her doctor says there is no quick cure for nail fungus, and it is very contagious! If the fungus is on the skin or in-between the toes, it is called Athlete's foot.

The remedy to heal a nail fungus is to swallow a prescription drug called Tervinafine, one tablet per day, for 6 months or longer. Although rarely, Terbinafine can cause liver damage. While taking it, a patient must have a blood test monthly to ensure the drug isn't affecting the liver. Holy Moly!!

My friend recommends also painting a coat of liquid solution with 25% undecylenic acid plus sprinking foot powder containing 2% miconazole nitrate on the nail fugus extra remedies before sticking your feet into socks or sandals.

Geeze! A second of error ... 6, 8, 9, ??? months of medicine and doctor visits to cure it. Is it worth it? No.

As of yesterday, this savvy friend who had a momentary lapse of good judgment is not experiencing any problems with Terbinafine, but golly, let the example of her momentary lapse of good judgment stop the rest of us from trying on rack shoes barefooted that other people may have tired on! I'm sure I've done so a couple of times over the years myself. Boys and girls, just don't do it! Never, ever, um, um, um!! Our moms were right!!!

Other safe practices to keep foot/nail fungus away include: Always walk around public pools or gyms in flip-flops. Use a disposable foot bath moisturizing boot only once, then toss it out. Reusing it is not worth the money saved. 

Many thanks to my friend for sharing her story. The lapses of our friends remind us not to suspend our own good judgment. As my father (quoting Sam Levenson) always said: "Learn from other people's mistakes. Life is too short to make them all yourself!"

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Black Forest Cookies

I'm still busy away from blogging but I'll jump on as time permits. Today for the first time ever I tasted a soft, chewy, and ultra chocolatey cookie that I never knew existed! The rich dark chocolate (like an Oreo) cookie is filled with chunks of white chocolate (or substitute dark chocolate chips) and maraschino cherry pieces. I think both the taste and texture make the cookie delectable. Here is the recipe:

Black Forest Cookies

Ingredients:

1 stick butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar (I try to cut the sugar a tad without a resulting cookie failure😏)

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

6 tablespoons good cocoa

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

a pinch of salt

1 cup maraschino cherries, finely chopped

1/2 cup white chocolate chips (or chopped and feel free to substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips)

1) In a large bowl and using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

2) Next add the egg and vanilla and beat with the mixer.

3) In a 2nd bowl combine the dry ingredients: flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.

4) Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in portions until just combined.

5) Mix in the white chocolate and maraschino cherries.

6) Cover the dough and refrigerate for 2 hours or more.

7) Scoop the cookie dough (into tablespoon-size balls or globs) and deposit onto a buttered or parchment-lined prepared cookie sheet.

8) Bake in a pre-heated 350 degrees F oven for 9 - 11 minutes or until the edges set.

I like Black Forest Cookies even better than the cake. Delicious paired with a cup of milk or coffee. Down the hatch or freeze a batch!

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Taking A Blogging Break

photo: minsmash.com

A temporary pause: I'm stepping away to take care of a few things, but will return as soon as events permit. Stay tuned, my lovely readers.

Be good while I'm away!😘

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The French Slip Dress

Revolve

The French Slip Dress is a classic. Rumor has it every stylish French woman has a slip dress in her wardrobe and thus the name. The dress comes in different lengths and necklines ... and can be cut or styled to look elegant or playful.

VIR Girl

They also come in different colors and fabrics, although the most classic color and fabric are probably black silk ... with white silk a close 2nd.

ASOS 

Old Navy has its version of the French Slip Dress (below) which unfortunately I didn't see until it was no longer available in my size. I first spotted it online Christmas week, then went to the store to find it, and asked the manager: How did I manage to miss this dress when it arrived? He said the brick and mortar store only got a few of the dresses in and therefore hid them in an obscure place before they ended up in the discounted section for quick sales. What?!? Oh no!

Old Navy calls its version a Loose Vintage T-Shirt Midi Shift Dress, but it looks like a French Slip Dress to me. Instead of 100% silk, it's 100% cotton, and you can dress it up or down with shoes and accessories if your size is still in stock. Sorry I missed it. Next time around! The good thing about a classic is, it never disappears.

Uniqlo

Uniqlo's slip dress in its signature Airism fabric and built-in bra is a collaboration with fashion designer, Mame Kurogouchi, but I'm not a fan of a deep plunging neckline. It is simply a matter of personal taste. I tend to like more versatile necklines you can wear anytime and anywhere. Of course, a sweater or stole would hide a plunging neckline.

So it seems a classic is making a restyled comeback in 2022.

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