The Dog Woof Washer 360

The Dog Woof Washer 360 is a clever invention for people who have a hard time getting their furry best friends into the bathtub for baths. Our family was lucky! Our dog weighed about 50 pounds and as long as he didn’t hear the phrase, “need to give the dog a bath,” whereby he hid under the bed and growled warning us not to come near, we would trick him to come into the bathroom where we could lift him up into his bathwater for his weekly scrubb dub, dub. Once in the bathwater, he was fairly docile. Every dog has a different temperament!

Even for a docile dog, this is a practical device for summer mischief. If your dog jumps into a pond or rolls in mud, perhaps you’d like to clean him before he goes into the house.

The cylinder washer 360 attaches to a garden hose. You fill it with dog shampoo, where it mixes with the water and sprays out as subs over the entire body of your dog. It gets mostly 4 or 5 star reviews from customers who say the pressure is adequate, their dogs cooperate, and it’s a much faster way of giving their dogs baths. Adjustable for large and small dogs.

Although the Dog Woof Washer 360 folds up, some dog owners have had to tighten the screws to keep it from folding while in use, so I suggest not folding it if you have the space to store it. Perhaps folding and unfolding it time and again could loosen the screws since the device is quite inexpensive to buy ... as low as $10.49 at Walmart.

Our dog was lucky as he got a lovely warm bath in the bathtub instead of a cold water shower outside, but the Dog Woof Washer 360 is cheap enough to only use in the summer for the times you don’t want to let your dirty dog into the house. With it, you have the means to clean his dirty little butt, underbelly, legs and head before he enters your home.

Spraying our dog with a garden hose alone to him meant, “Let's play.” In his excitement he'd opened his mouth wide and run or jump into the stream of water. Not the ease or speed of pulling a circle spraying a mixture of soap and water over your dog’s body! Use only dog shampoo when giving your dog baths. A dog’s skin is too sensitive for human shampoo.

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Old Navy’s PowerSoft Trouser Pants

Longtime readers know I dislike sweat pants (as well as terrycloth lounge pants). I don’t wear or feature them. No, no, never, ever, uh, uh, uh! IMHO leggings are as comfortable yet can be dressed up or down, as opposed to, what looks like pajamas that should never leave the house. However I understand the cozy appeal of sweat paints. 
 
Old Navy has taken the comfort of sweat paints and turned it up a notch to create High-Waisted PowerSoft Trouser Pants. That’s right, light, smooth, and soft trousers! Like leggings, Old Navy's trouser pants are made of cozy sweat-wicking  compression fabric consisting of 77% polyester and 23% spandex. The pants fall under its activewear collection and yet, with the right top could be worn to the office. Sitting at the belly button, they are loose at the hip and wide at the leg. The result is casual smart style that is attractive and comfortable.

As you would expect from Old Navy, the PowerSoft Trouser Pants are so budget-friendly, you could buy more than one color. Usually black looks the dressiest, and the other shades more casual. Machine wash and dry, so you can wear them with abandon.

Adorable, cozy, and versatile style that looks like you make the effort to change out of your pajamas to leave home! 

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Othofeet Shoes

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Othofeet Shoes

Support shoes to treat common foot problems such as plantar fasciitis, diabetes, high arches, heel pain, bunions or flat feet can be eye-poppingly expensive. But! Orthofeet are about the same price as regular reasonably-priced shoes.

According to the retailer, biomedical engineers are employed to design its shoes to ease the symptoms that cause the above named conditions.

The site's wide range of stylish sneakers, sandals, boots, clogs, mules, Mary Janes, dress shoes or specialty shoes for athletics, hiking, or handsfree slip-on-and-off shoes for men and women look just like regular shoes. I'll go farther and call them cute!

Othofeet shoes have built-in orthotic insoles to provide arch support and proper foot alignment. They have ergonomic cushioned soles to absorb shock. You can select features like wide toe boxes or seam-free, padded interiors. Also each pair of shoes come with an arch booster, 1/8” removable insole and another 1/16” removable insole, which other companies make customers pay extra to order. Remove them to wear thicker socks, and insert them as a spacer to wear sockless. Such great value for fantastic support!

Free shipping and returns plus promotions of $15% - 25% off to make already fabulous price points even more affordable!

The website is super simple to navigate making it easy to zero in on inventory that addresses your individual foot condition! Best of all, you'll never go broke to alleviate it! 

Know that my blogs aren't sponsored, I'm simply thrilled to find a brand that is about 1/3 of the price of other orthotic designed shoes! Plus they go on sale!!!

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Playful Shoes Or Assessories

Ballet flat photos: Vivaia

My coats, jackets, shoes, and handbags tend to be black, a neutral shade that looks classic, dressy (when needed), and goes with all other colors. Living in Manhattan, where space is limited, I have to mix and match everything I own, and fit them into my generous (yet only 2) wardrobe closets at the end of the day. I highly recommend finding your neutral color for these 4 articles to make dressing and storage easy.

But! When spring arrives, it's time to let our hair down and add something fun and playful to our wardrobes, isn't it? In the past, I bought ballet flats in leopard or polka dots. Or when replacing my sneakers stepped out of my practical neutral color zone by selecting bright pink or orange!

Why is it a worthy purchase? Wearing a playful color or pattern can put a pep in your walk by lifting your mood. I get loads of compliments on my fun shoes from friends, coworkers, and strangers alike! In a fanciful color or pattern, people can sense I am approachable.

Here is a multi-colored pair of sandals I tried hard to buy. Unfortunately, when I needed new sandals, none were left in my size, so I missed out!

If you're replacing your walking shoes, sneakers, or sandals this spring or summer, consider getting a little wild and crazy. Stepping outside of your usual (and sensible) neutral palette in this most casual of seasons makes you feel happy!🌞🌴🩴

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Old Navy Summer Dresses

Once again, the spotlight is on Old Navy's summer dresses. Year after year, the retailer comes through! Old Navy dresses are casual smart. The right shoes and accessories will dress them up or down, and they are suitable for women of all ages.

Fabrics, including cotton, linen, and rayon, keep you cool in summer and are machine washable and dryable. In recent years, Old Navy has expanded the color selections of its dresses. Now each dress style is offered in up to 7 colors or patterns. The most in-demand colors sell out fast!

Mass-produced dresses have never bothered me! Wearers buy different colors, accessorize the same dress differently and also just wear a dress differently. The same dress looks different on various body types.

To boot: Old Navy's promotions and customer rewards mean you can buy these dresses cheaper than you could ever sew them! A whole dress (which is as cozy as a t-shirt) costs less than a t-shirt elsewhere!

It's a no-brainer, Old Navy summer dresses are affordable, comfortable, machine-washable, and fashionable!✅✓✔and✅

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Half Day's Garment Duffel Bag

Half Day's Garment Duffel Bag is a game changer! It's the most versatile travel bag we didn't know we needed. The duffel is durable, water-resistant, and lightweight, yet it hangs a business suit, dresses, and shirts wrinkle-free while also carrying shoes, folded clothes, and accessories. There is lots of room and pockets to separate a wardrobe for travel! After you get to your destination, you can unfold the bag and hang the whole bag up on a closet or shower rod if you wish. (After the bedbug invasion of 2010, I'd suggest not using hotel closets.)

Only having discovered the bag, I'm unaware of how to score a discount on Half Day's full retail price of $108 or $168. A search doesn't pull up any department stores that sell it. Major department stores always have promotion days, yet it isn't listed on Macy's, Nordstrom's, Bloomingdale, Saks, or Dillard's websites.

Amazon carries the Haf Day bag + less costly similar designed duffels so start your search there to find a proximate bag for less. If a frequent traveler, you may decide that paying the piper for the original is worth it.

The Moulyan Garment Duffle, at $39, is one of Amazon's cheaper alternatives I like because it is alike but has the 3rd way of wearing it as a backpack and not just as a tote or shoulder bag. If you're looking for a duffel garment bag, you should compare the two to decide which price tag best fits your budget and needs. The less expensive bag is good enough for weekends away or biyearly vacations. A salesman whose job is to travel might need the $100 - $200 bag. Read all the customer reviews to know. The majority will usually guide you correctly.

Certainly, the design is genius and super functional! What do you think of these 2 garment duffel bags? Do you carry a favorite garment duffel bag brand?

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Splurge Like A Savvy Shopper

How does a Savvy Shopper make decisions about a splurge? I'll use 2 emerald rings that (as of now) are on the market for sale to illustrate the thinking involved in whether (and if, yes, which ring) to spend your money on. But feel free to fill in the blank with designer shoes, bags, clothes, or whatever your temptation tends to be.

Let's start with: Don't tell yourself an emerald ring is an investment. Jewelry isn't, a Chanel double flap bag isn't, and Manolo Blahnik pumps aren't investments ... or even needs. All these pricey items are splurges, not necessities. We buy them because we want them, not need them, and more often than not, if we were to sell them, we won't make a profit. So never confuse a splurge with a need or a true investment! No and no!

That said, if you can afford a splurge sometimes it makes a hard working person happy and is well worth the money.

To demonstrate, let's say we decide to splurge and spend our money on an emerald ring. It allows me to post some lovely images today.😛😁

The next question to ask is what's our budget?

This 1st emerald ring is a stunner. It's a 6.14 carat natural Columbian emerald in a 4-prong setting of 18 carat gold. The emerald is surrounded by round brilliant and baguette cut diamonds. For average wage earners, the pricetag is a stunner too! Cost: $32,000.

So Savvy Shoppers who earn regular salaries, do we forget about a splurge? Heck, no ... if you can afford to treat yourself, you should every once in awhile! However, as a Savvy Shopper you should search for a ring that has a similar effect within your personal budget. Use the out-of-your-budget temptation as inspiration! 

Be flexible and willing to compromise to find something similar that you can afford. Many people who don't wish to go into debt wouldn't pay $32,000 for a single piece of jewelry just because they have the money in the bank. Ask if this ring is worth 32,000 smackers leaving your bank account? Proof!

THE SAVVY SHOPPER way is to be a dreamer, then a realist! Obviously someone with deep pockets wouldn't have to deplete their savings to spend $32,000 on jewelry. But one day perhaps your $32,000 will have to cover unexpected expenses. Know and stick to your own budget. Spending like high rollers doesn't make us high rollers. No one should break the bank on a splurge. A splurge is meant to bring us happiness, not worry and insecurity. So let's take our dream ring and shop like a Savvy Shopper!

The 2nd emerald ring is what an ordinary wage earner might end up buying. It's a 2 1/5 carat natural (origin not stated) emerald in a 4-prong setting of 14k yellow or 14k white gold. It is surrounded by brilliant round diamonds with additional baguette cut diamonds to equal 1/2 carat of diamonds. Cost: Full retail - $5,000. Ebay price $2,900. Macy's sale prices - $1,499 and sometimes as low as $1,049.

The compromises are 2 1/5 carats vs 6.14 carats, 14k gold vs 18k gold. Both are natural emeralds but I would bet that the $32,000 emerald is a higher color grade. The emerald likely has a more desirable saturation of color. Both emeralds have inclusions, which are accepted in the gemstone.

Between the 2 rings, the 6.14 carat emerald is deeper and the 2 1/5 carat emerald is shallower, but much of the bigger stone in this design cannot be seen. The 6.14 carat emerald has a higher setting. You'd have to try on both rings to know if you'd get more finger coverage and if bigger or smaller looks better on your hand. A higher ring setting is not de facto more desirable.

Finally, there's the cost of insurance. Whether to insure a ring you pay slightly more than $1,000 for is debatable because you likely could afford to replace it. However, more risk and pain would follow not insuring a $32,000 ring that was lost or stolen, which a Savvy Shopper takes into account before making the purchase. How pricey should your splurge be? Sales taxes and insurance add up. Total expenses can slap you in the face!

In summary: Splurges should make us happy, not penniless! If a material thing would burst your budget, figure out what you love about the article but compromise to bring the cost down. Find something affordable that gives you the similar effect as your temptation. First a dreamer, then a realist is THE SAVVY SHOPPER way to buy all things -- needs and splurges.♥

Extra Tip: If you wait for Macy's promotions, you can get a ring, earrings, and a necklace for less than the price of the 1st ring, but will you wear them all? It's a beautiful collection. Still buy only the pieces you know you'll wear often. Never buy jewelry that stays in a box.🛍

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Happy New Year 2025

Photo: iStock

Here we are again starting a brand new year. Truthfully, I'll live the new year much like I did the old one. No monumental changes that I can predict.

For several years now, I've been on a reduce-and-organize kick. I don't deprive myself of things that make my life better, easier, or happier, yet for sure, I've become a more mindful shopper. Call me an under buyer as opposed to an emotional buyer. Beautiful, impractical things stay on a retailer's shelf even if I fall in love while standing in front of them! I do that plenty of times! Still, if I don't have a place, budget, or need for ''it'' (whatever it is) I move on. [↑Photo of fireworks above left: Istock] 

Rockefeller Center tree taken on December 30, 2024

I also take stock of what I already own such as articles of clothing like t-shirts, leggings, or shoes; scented soaps; skincare products (retinols and moisturizers are a weakness); or makeup from eye shadows to lipsticks and have formed the habit of using up what I have at home before adding new products. Over time I've learned our lives get simpler if we're not always out and about looking for more commodities to haul home. When we do replace possessions that either run out or wear out, we can fully enjoy new purchases. It turns out that buying more than enough doesn't tend to save us money or increase our happiness. So my motto is: Always buy enough, not more than enough!

Photo: Dreamstime

There is an area of life where spawning more than enough rocks ... and increases happiness. It's showing kindness to our fellow humans. We can't shower others with more than enough kindness. If you can help someone do it. Little appropriate kindnesses can make a huge difference in the lives of other people. Judge people less. Assess your time and energy to know what you can give. Be generous with your time, acceptance, and hospitality. There are no small gestures only overthinkers who are afraid of extending themselves. In instances when your goodwill isn't received well (as there are all kinds of imperfect people in the world) remember you're only responsible for your good intentions, not someone else's reaction. Move on to the next human, chances are s/he will be on the same page as you! Surround yourself with positive, generous, kind people.

So in 2025, let's rekindle our best efforts from 2024, 2023, 2022, etc. ... and continue growing wiser and better at connecting with one another.

Happy New Year🎉, Readers! Now and then drink the champagne. Know that I love and appreciate you! Many thanks for your support!!

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