Tuesday, April 11, 2023

J. Crew Factory's Summer Dresses

Cotton is a popular summertime fabric that tends to be cool and comfortable. A cotton dress is a good investment because not only is it easy to wear and easy to machine wash and dry, it lasts for years before showing signs of wear and tear.

The following are cute dresses from J. Crew Factory, the same quality as in the J Crew retail stores:

J. Crew Factory is less pricey than J. Crew's retail stores. The factory offers discounts along with special promotions as high as 50% off. It also carries stylish accessories to complete the look. Although the footwear is adorable it tends to lack arch support, which is ok for the suburbs, but not for walking miles on city blocks.

J. Crew Factory is where costly budget-buster dresses at J. Crew morph into budget-friendly ones. I especially love the top👆sleeveless dress. You?


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Sunday, April 9, 2023

Happy Easter 2023

Photo: The altar of Westminister Abbey, London England 

Once again we celebrate hope, optimism, and human perseverance. 


A belief that ultimate good can overcome challenges, evil, and the limitations of life. Existence is layered and multifaceted. There will be trails, and yet everything has an opposite. Up - down, hot - cold, bad - good, despair - hope. Death - eternal life? It's a leap of faith.

We also celebrate all the goodness life has to offer both in nature and manmade ... from flowers (nature) and colored eggs (art!) to human kindness (generosity of spirit).

Photo: David Attenborough's Facebook post.

Every year there's a new cycle of life. Welcome to the world little lamb. My lovely Readers make the most of your time here on earth!

🐣🐇🌷

A flashback photo of my mom and me on Easter Sunday. Dad was taking the picture. Unlike Christmas or Thanksgiving, it was the one holiday we sometimes treated ourselves to eating out and after our dinner hobnobbing around town.


Happy Easter from THE SAVVY SHOPPER!🐥



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Thursday, April 6, 2023

Supergoop Dupe: Trader Joe's Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40

Supergoop, featured here on THE SAVVY SHOPPER is the legendary sunscreen known for its ultra-effective sun-shielding ingredients and hailed for its oil-free non-greasy, invisible application. Although it isn't chemical-free, dermatologists universally love and recommend it. Selling for $36 for a 1.7-ounce tube -- cheap it isn't, which matters when you should use sun protection generously every day of the year.

Universally dermatologists are also loving and praising Trader Joe's Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40 as an excellent dupe costing much less at $9 for 1.7 ounces. Both sunscreens pass the invisibility test. Both are SPF 40. Both are water-resistant for up to 40 minutes. There is a slight texture difference -- Supergoop is more matt, yet perhaps not significantly so to pay the difference. Trader Joe's dupe is creamier, a tad heavier which some people in side-by-side face comparisons like -- therefore it boils down to personal preferences and what you want to pay.

A few YouTube dermatologists describe Trader Joe's dupe as shockingly similar and the best dupe to the original product they've ever tried. The consensus is to run to Trader Joe's before it sells out.

A legitimate question to ask is why do skin doctors approve of the chemical ingredient sunscreens? Because chemical sunscreens tend to be lighter, silkier, and disappear into the skin better than mineral-based sunscreens. They reason the best sunscreen is the one people will use daily because they like its lightness. 

Conclusion: Save, don't splurge. Buy Trader Joe's dupe for this everyday sunscreen essential.


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Monday, April 3, 2023

Portland Leather Goods Are About Quality

Portland Leather goods are designed to be simple, durable, and affordable. It's genuine leather people don't have to save 6 months of salary to buy! The inventory is understated and basic, yet well-crafted and pragmatic. In your possession, the well-priced pieces will endure for decades.


My favorite articles are the backpacks, totes, and Chelsea boots. A selection of small leather goods (again note, they're real leather, not synthetic!) is a good value even before applying a 25% discount code or perusing the Amost Perfect Sales section.

The wallets do everything we need them to do, and for simple basic designs, the above Chelsea boots (available in several colors) and matching tote bag are a smashing duo!


What Portland Leather items tempt you? Do the fair prices compared to their French competitors surprise you, or make you wonder why you'd ever pay 1000s more for a designer name?


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Friday, March 31, 2023

#Shorts: Platform Shoes

Take a good look at the impractical shoes of youth. I wore them once upon a time. Platform shoes are a hazard. With elevation, you have little control when losing your balance. If the side of your platform steps on a pebble, you're going down!

Undeniably cute. Funny, I don't toss them as I tend to be a discarder (I know ... a made up word, but it fits), not a collector.

Alas, I've now joined the sensible shoes set!


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Thursday, March 30, 2023

Viori Beauty Developed By The Yao Tribe of Southern China

Viori shampoo and conditioner bars have over 6,300 mainly 5-star Amazon reviews. There's a bar for every hair/scalp type -- oily, normal, and dry. 
Handcrafted with Longsheng rice water and natural ingredients (the term natural is unregulated so check ingredients), the formulas are developed by the Yao Tribe, who for 2,000 years lived secluded in the Longsheng mountains of Southern China. The tribe women are known for their thick, long, healthy hair traditionally washed with a blend of Longsheng rice water. 
The bars are infused with various essential oils to smell clean and amazing. They are made to moisturize, strengthen, rejuvenate, volumize, increase the natural shine, repair, as well as, gently clean the hair and scalp. What's more, they are 100% vegan, sulfate-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free, and plastic-free.
Some of the profits (5%) from sales go back to helping the Yao Tribe who provide the Longsheng rice used to make the rice water for the shampoos and conditioners. Viori also works directly with the Red Yao villagers to develop projects they believe will help their communities thrive, economically, culturally, and environmentally. The company claims to have a lifetime commitment to supporting the well-being of the tribe.
The shampoos and conditions are fun gifts to give and get. Without plastic containers, they are not only easy to pack for trips but easy on the environment. One bar lasts 4-6 months, making paying for its rich botanical ingredients easier on the wallet.


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