Pretty Things Borrowed From The Internet

The following are pretty things I love but either can't afford; don't truly need; or for the sake of practicality won't buy them. I love big blingy diamonds but can't justify spending 36k plus on a single piece of jewelry, and I don't need more dresses or sandals. Still, I love them all:

The top👆image is a ring designed By Bonnie Jewelry, as a gift for her Hong Kong mother. It's a 3 1/2 carat center pear-shaped diamond with two 1/2 carat accent pear-shaped diamonds. They are D-grade diamonds. Unaffordable for us average Janes ... yet stunning! The ratio of the center pear shape is ideal. The cut for a pear doesn't get any better, and you will pay a mint for it if you aren't Bonnie's mother!

Unlike the diamond ring, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark's Moss And Spy Elodie dress is affordable for a gal with a job. The high-lacy neck and A-line skirt look lovely on her! I try not to buy what I don't need and really have no upcoming events to justify buying a new dress, plus I have suitable dresses if an occasion to wear one pops up.

At 1st glance, Birkenstock sandals are quite ugly, but everybody is wearing them on the streets of Manhattan and I'm told they are ultra comfortable. Yesterday a woman told me she haven't taken hers off since buying them. Averaging $145 for leather, they run up to $200. Can so many people be wrong? If you walk miles and miles on city pavement with arch support and stability, ugly becomes beautiful!

If I go far from home on foot, I don't wear sandals. All summer long I wear Old Navy $2 flip-flops, inside my apartment only. I already own a supportive pair of Merrell sandals that I wear if I travel by car, or walk short distances. Birkenstock sandals would be worth the cost if its contoured arch support lets you walk all over town with ease. For sure your feet are worth investing in to prevent foot problems! Certain colors go on sale for $72, but I'll pass until I need a new pair of sandals.

Nice things, eh? That pricey diamond ring makes me wish I were either Bonnie's mother or Kim Kardashian, otherwise, I'm happy to be me!


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Raspberry Cake With A Raspberry Filling

Photo: Bon Appetit 

Although inspired by a delicate raspberry chiffon cake from Bon Appetit, my recipe is tweaked into a different Raspberry Cake. Here's why: First of all, I never buy cake flour (I'm not against it, but I already buy all-purpose, whole wheat, and sometimes bread flour -- enough already😁); 2nd, I think the small amount of flour in the original recipe will produce a puny 2-layer cake; 3rd, whipped cream is delicious, but what a hassle to chill the ingredients twice as you make it. Plus, I've reduced the sugar and salt in the original recipe, and I bet you won't miss them! Enter raspberry oil and/or freeze-dried raspberries (that you grind into a powder). Either enhances the flavor of the cake, and a squeeze of lemon in the batter and frosting balances the sweetness. What I love about European pastries are their nuanced flavors in lieu of ultra-sweetness. Here's my recipe:

Raspberry Cake With a Raspberry Filling

Batter Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2/3 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 eggs, room temperature, and separated

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar (to keep the egg whites stiff and foamy)

1 cup buttermilk (+ a little more if needed)

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon raspberry oil (or 3/4 cup freeze-dried raspberries, ground)

a squeeze of lemon

Batter Directions:

1) In a mixing bowl, sift together the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, ground freeze-dried raspberries if using, and salt.

2) In a 2nd bowl, use a mixer to beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff.

3) Next pour the wet ingredients into the dry and beat with the mixer: vegetable oil, egg yolks, buttermilk, vanilla extract, and raspberry oil if using.

4) Fold in the egg whites -- don't overbeat them. Fold them in.

5) Pour even portions of the batter into 2 - 9 inch buttered and floured baking pans.

6) Bake in a pre-heated 350-degree F oven for 30 minutes or until done in the center. After 5 -10 minutes of cooling, remove the cakes from the pans and let cool completely.

Filling Ingredients:

3 oz cream cheese

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 oz seedless raspberry jam or preserves

6 oz fresh raspberries, smashed

Directions for the Filling:

6) Mix the ingredients together and spread in the middle between the 2 - 9 inch cakes. You could carefully slice each 9-inch cake in half to get not one center, but 3 cake centers - spreading the raspberry filling on each center layer. It takes a daring and talented baker to not let the cakes break up into a crumbly mess! A single center layer works fine too and is safer.

Ingredients for the Frosting

5 ounces of cream cheese (+ condensed milk if needed, a little at a time for the right not too thick or thin consistency)

3/4 cup freeze-dried raspberries, ground, (or 1 teaspoon of raspberry oil)

A squeeze of fresh lemon juice

2 cups of confectionary sugar (Add more if needed.)

Save a few whole raspberries for garnish.

Directions for the Frosting

7) Using a mixer incorporate all the ingredients, adding in order.

8) Frost the top and sides of the 2-layer cake.

I like the idea in the original recipe of crushing some of the freeze-dried raspberries to garnish the top of the cake. Also, toss a few fresh raspberries on top. It's pretty!🎂

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I Want to Love Matcha

Photo: New York Times Magazine

I drink a fair amount of coffee (about 24 ounces) in the morning, but then try to switch to water and other beverages throughout the day.

Yes, I like the cherry, raspberry, watermelon, or peach flavored carbonated drinks, however, stocking them isn't as convenient or cost-effective as I'd like. Drinking 2 cans of these carbonated drinks per day really adds up! In the summer I find stevia-sweetened black iced tea super refreshing as well as inexpensive; and in the fall and winter I'll sip hot teas (black, oolong, white, or tisane) with or without milk, but frankly, I don't relish tea as much as coffee.

I also bought a lot of Matcha tea right before the pandemic as it gets plenty of press for its health benefits.

I think of Matcha as the expresso of green tea -- but green tea is my least favorite tea to drink. Frankly both green and Matcha tea taste like downing dried ground-up grass to my palette.

Despite my dislike of Matcha tea, it has several known health benefits, such as containing polyphenol antioxidants. It has L-theanine which reduces anxiety, and it boosts energy without the crash of coffee.

So there are many good reasons to drink Matcha ... if only the tea was as delicious as coffee.

I continue to try to develop a taste for the expresso of green tea. I wonder if it is possible without adding a ton of unhealthy ingredients to it? Here's a recipe for a Matcha Latte, without an overload of bad ingredients, but I bet it isn't nearly as tasty as a Mocha Latte.😁

Hmm, once my supply of Matcha powder is depleted, will I rebuy it? Life is too short and there are plenty of other tasty beverages to drink. I suppose I'll just stick to my tried and true summer beverage of choice ... iced (black) tea.

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Old Navy For Lingerie

Customers agree: Victoria's Secret lost its way. Once upon a time, I bought work and casual clothing, as well as, all my lingerie from Vctoria's Secret. They were cut for a woman's body. Personally, I like to keep lingerie basic. Smooth, cotton, medium-rise bikini undies and a smooth bra with a front closure were my choices ... before it all went downhill at V.S. Their clothes were discontinued and the undergarments went from simple and well-made ... to overly sexy ... and finally to awkward and sleazy, not to mention the quality, too, went south. The borders of the bikini underwear fell apart soon after purchase. Without a doubt, Victoria's Secret lowered its bar (to cheap and tacky) and changed its style (from cute and feminine) which formally made it successful. What a disaster!

Comfortable, basic underwear is hard to find, but nearly everybody wears undergarments, so let's discuss: It's tough to find a style somewhere in between grandma's bloomers and butt floss. Plus in a fabric that's not heavy, nor slight.

If you liked Victoria's Secret's old craftsmanship and bikini style, give Old Navy a try. Their underpants are 95% cotton with 5% spandex, smooth and thin, but substantial in weight (that will hold up). They are super soft and comfortable. Also, it's great they come in high-rise and mid-rise providing full coverage without resembling grandma's bloomers.

Additionally, they come in alternate styles including thongs, briefs, and hipsters with cheerful colors and patterns to suit everybody's taste. What a steal for quality! Who knew Old Navy has fabulous underwear?!?

👚👗👠Furthermore H&M and Forever 21 have similar-looking underwear and price points which I haven't bought. Readers who have, can you review them under comments?

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4U By Tia Is Created For Curly Hair

Although all hair textures are biologically the same, made mostly of protein, namely keratin, curly hair forms deep in the scalp from a curved bulb and takes its spiral shape from irregularly distributed keratin.

Curls are naturally drier and more porous than straight hair. They are more fragile plus tend to take more abuse from daily styling; and finally due to their shape, conditioners have a tougher time migrating from the root to the end of curly hair.

4U by Tia is a brand founded by actress Tia Mowry offering a line of natural hair care products based on science for curly hair. 

Although not dirt cheap, it is created with good clean ingredients and sold at Walmart and Target so regular people on a budget can afford high-performance haircare to "elevate their curls." 

4U By Tia has lavish products to clean and condition your naturally curly hair; nourish and treat it; or tame and style it.

Because products designed for curly-and-people-of-color are made to be mild for hair that tends to be drier and more delicate, I think nearly every head can use it. 

Surprised? Here's why: Clean, natural ingredients made to stop stripping your scalp of its natural oils can benefit every hair type. I've had no issues using gentle formulas on my straight Caucasian hair.

Wishing a Happy Juneteenth to my fellow Americans and a few other countries who observe it!

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Mott And Bow Jeans

Mott and Bow Jeans began as an online retailer for men, but the retailer now also makes shirts and jeans for women. 

Founder Alejandro Chahin is from a Honduran family of denim manufacturers, from whom he learned the business, and as an adult, he started Mott and Bow with the aim of making premium jeans at a fair price. 

According to its website, the company uses the finest denim from the best mills around the world. It sticks to simplicity and controls the entire manufacturing process to reduce waste and control costs.

Priced at $99 - $129, Mott and Bow's jeans are popular and have many glowing customer reviews. Most of the styles are 98% cotton with 2% elastane for stretch. 

The jeans come in several fits including straight, slim, and skinny. They are stretchy and breathable for comfort. They also come in multiple washes. The website walks you through the process of finding your perfect style, fit, and size, plus if you fail to get your fit right, there are instructions in your package on how to exchange your jeans (with free returns).

What caught my eye were the many positive reviews written by journalist reviewers, as well as, satisfied customers often mentioning the comfort of the jeans at a reasonable price point.

Explain: Why do men's clothing and shoes tend to be sturdier and better made than women's? Not to mention the sizes are more precise. Do we all not need quality, affordability, and a good fit?

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