The Today Show Finds Trench Coats For $100 or Less

A trench coat is a wardrobe essential.  When I see people replacing their heavy winter coats with a lighter trench coat, it starts to feel like Spring.  It's outerwear that travels well and looks smart.  Waterproof and layered enough to protect you from the chill of a strong wind, trench coats come in many styles including loose, belted and double-breasted.  They can be buttoned, zipped or snapped closed.  Understated or patterned, there is also an array of colors and embellishments.

I must give a shout out to the The Today Show for featuring 9 selections all $100 or less.  I will add two more retailers to their list, Lands' End – for unbeatable quality, style and prices for men, women and children.  Outerwear from LE is durable, multi-pocketed and usually machine washable too.  And London Fog, a company which has been making polished, affordable, well-made raincoats for over 60 years.

Treach coat, $100 anthropologie.com	BKE doubled coat, $90 buckle.com	Old Navy twill coat, $43 oldnavy.gap.com
Black Rivet army coat, $90 wilsonsleather.com	Wallis cotton coat, $70 wallisfashion.com	Bubble coat, $50 modcloth.com
Black Rivet trench coat, $50 wilsonsleather.com	Chiffon trench coat, $70 chicwish.com	Gap coat, $80 gap.com

Thank you to the Today Show.  Wilsons Leather is a nice discovery.  Trench coats are so practical, you can wear them nearly all year around.

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Cupcakes For A Party Of Two

Photo by What's Up Cupcake

I have many friends and relatives born in the month of March.  So to save time, as well as, our waistlines, I only bake 2 cupcakes at a time.  Not only is it fast and easy, but if you don't have a big family to feed, who needs 12 cupcakes?  Sometimes all you want is a serving.  And by making them from scratch, you can use premium ingredients: real vanilla, butter and whole grains.  Here is my recipe:

2 Vanilla Cupcakes

Ingredients: 

¼ cup whole wheat flour 

2 tablespoons sugar

1 egg white [save the yolk for an omelet]

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla

½ teaspoon baking powder

A pinch of salt

2 tablespoons milk

[Add a tiny punch of baking soda if you use buttermilk or honey instead of milk or sugar, or if you use lemon juice/zest to make lemon cupcakes]

Directions:

1) In a mixing bowl whisk the ingredients together, one at a time until smooth.

2) Line a muffin pan with 2 cupcake liners, filling each one with the batter.

3) Bake at 350 F for 10 – 12 minutes until golden brown and the centers bounce back. 

Vanilla Icing

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 tablespoons milk

½ cup powdered sugar, plus extra

Directions: 

(1) Put the butter into a mixing bowl; melt in the microwave.

(2) Whisk in the vanilla and milk.

(3) Add the powered sugar a little at a time, as much as necessary, until the icing is stiff and creamy.  Note: I usually use milk, but cream in this recipe is divine.

For chocolate cupcakes, add 2 teapoons of real cocoa powder, or melted bittersweet chocolate to both the batter and icing.  Plus, cut the vanilla in half and add a pinch of baking soda to the batter.  [Baking soda helps cakes rise when combined with an acidic ingredient like buttermilk, honey, lemon, chocolate, vinegar or yogurt.]  You can make a vanilla and chocolate cupcake to satisfy tastes.  Decorate with colored sprinkles, chocolate shavings or shredded nuts, if you wish.

Making one cupcake is simple too: Follow the directions above, cutting the ingredients in half.  But with cupcakes, much like drinking, do you really want to indulge alone?  C'mon, invite a friend over.

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KNO Clothing Is Fashioned To End Homelessness

The models are students from The University of Pennsylvania 

KNO Clothing is not your typical fashion house, but an online retailer on a mission to end homelessness.  Co-founders and college friends, Stephen Caldwell and Anthony Thomas, first noticed the plight of homelessness in Pennsylvania, where they lived and saw that not enough was being done to restore the lives of people experiencing it.  So in November, 2010 they launched KNO Clothing, which uses 50% of its profits to fight homelessness and poverty in America through fashion.

Customers can feel good about a purchase.  For every article of clothing sold, the company donates an item to a homeless person.  Working closely with non-profits to determine needs, KNO also funds local agencies who provide shelter and services for the homeless.  So far the company has helped cloth over 500 people and house over 11,000 people in 102 communities.

KNO began selling t-shirts and expanded to tanks, polo shirts, hoodies and dresses.  The garments are soft and casual.

It is clothing produced with workers in mind.  KNO uses fairly traded and organic cotton, or a sustainable blend of organic cotton, recycled polyester and natural rayon fibers.  The company supports eco-friendly growing methods and is concerned about fair wages, the safety of the people who make the clothing, plus giving back to local communities.

A video on the website says it best: "KNO Clothing is more than the threads on your back. … [It's] fashioned to end homelessness."

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A Mobile Computer Cart Instead Of A Desk?

The Z Mobile Cart is perfect for small spaces.

Trust me.  Living in New York City forces you to think about every piece of furniture you bring into your home. In an apartment, space is as valuable as your property.  Whenever I think about buying furniture, I always ask myself if I mind losing the space it will occupy.  Personally, I like a bit of sparseness and would rather not fill-up every nook and cranny in a room.

For several years I have wanted a desk for my laptop.  But I value my space more.  I'm happy I waited, because as it turns out, I really don't need a desk.  The reason: Computers keep shrinking.  They have gotten so compact, and just when you think they can't get any smaller, they do.  With constant innovations, in a few short years most of us may be able to replace our present computers with one the size of an ipad, or something so tiny we can't imagine it now.  So why invest in an expensive desk that soon may become obsolete?

But right now I still want my computer off my dinner table and my notebooks and pens off my living room couch.  With this in mind, I bought a Mobile Computer Cart.  Ideal for small spaces, it has a sturdy steel "Z" frame, a lower shelf for storage and wheels for mobility.  The cart is versitile and looks good against a wall.  I can pull a chair up, and the cart becomes a desk; or pull the cart over to the couch to work.  It also has a center ledge, where I keep a calculator, extra note paper, pens, a TV remote control, a cordless phone, hand cream and lip balm.  So everything I need in order to work is organized and at my fingertips. [I made a pouch out of a cotton placemat (on sale for 98 cents), so the stuff doesn't fall off when the cart moves.]

I bought the cart at Walmart even though there isn't one in Manhattan.  If you don't have a store in your town, Walmart will ship goods to a local FedEx office free of charge, where you can pick them up.  A variety of carts and workstations are available for desktop and laptop computers.  The Z Mobile Cart costs: $35, plus you can usually find a coupon to save more.  It's a steal! 


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The Savvy Shopper Is Three Years Old

You know the old saying about how time flies?  It's true!  THE SAVVY SHOPPER celebrates another year {tomorrow, 3/3 - to be exact}.  Who knew?  

Thank you, Readers, for stopping by ... and contributing.  I love reading your emails and hope you find some wisdom, practical tips and entertainment here.

Going forward, let's attempt another spectacular year of writing.  Now for the presents!

***** *****

Companies offering birthday gifts to you ... free, if you sign up:

Retail:

1. Aveda – Get a free Personal Blends Pure-Fume, or body care product custom blended with the aroma of your choice, worth up to $24.

2. Sign up for The Body Shop's Rewards Card to receive a free birthday gift, plus 10% off on all purchases and other promotions.

3. Old Navy – Subscribe to Old Navy's emails and get a $10 gift card on your birthday.

4. Sephora – Join their birthday club to get free beauty products.

5. Victoria Secret – Receive a free $10 gift card in your birthday month, plus free products throughout the year, for carrying an Angel card.

Food

6. Baskin-Robbins – Get a free scoop of ice cream on your birthday.

7. Ben & Jerry's –  Eat free ice cream on your birthday.  In April, there is always a free cone day: It's April 3, 2012 this year!

8. Benihana – Receive a free $30.00 gift certificate on your birthday.

9. Captain D's –  Spoil yourself with a free fish or shrimp birthday dinner.

10. Cold Stone Creamery – Get a free birthday creation for joining the Cold Stone Club.

11. Denny's – Receive a free grand slam on your birthday.

12. Dunkin Donuts – Get a free medium beverage.

13. Godiva – Sign up for Godiva Rewards Club and receive a free chocolate truffle/candy each month, including the month of your birthday.

14. Gold Star Chili – Receive a free 3-way chili.

15. Hard Rock Cafe – Celebrate your birthday with a free sundae, along with a shout out from the staff.  No need to sign up for this one!

16. Hooters – Get a free menu item on your birthday by joining the Hooters eClub.

17. iHop – Offers a free birthday meal for joining the Pancake Revolution. 

18. Johnny Rockets – Join their e-club to receive a free birthday burger.

19. Ponderosa – Sign up to get a free steak dinner.

20. Starbucks – Get a birthday beverage of your choice.  Starbucks provides employee benefits that are not typical in the food industry, which is another incentive for me to buy their coffee, occasionally.

If you apply yourself, you can drive around on your birthday redeeming all your free gifts.  The perfect comedy sketch for Ellen Degeneres, no? 

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Favorite Oscar Dresses 2012

1. Angelina Jolie is posing in a black, velvet Atelier Versace gown; 2. Natalie Portman's red poka-dot dress is vintage Dior Haute Couture; 3. Cameron Diaz has on a glittering, Gucci gown with Tiffany jewels; 4. Stacy Keibler is wearing a stunning, liquid gold, Marchesa dress and her for-now boyfriend, a debonair George Clooney; Penelope Cruz's smoked blue gown is a custom designed Armani Privé.

Overall, the attendees looked smashing at last night's Academy Awards, in my opinion.  I didn't see any big missteps.  Since actresses hire stylists today, we don't see many embarrishments.  I think celebrities had fun with this year's gowns, but still appeared glamorous.  While last year's dresses were classic and pretty, the trends this year were gowns with one shoulder and other asymmetrical pieces ... plus a few long sleeves.  As you can see, I didn't mind Angelina's leg, but most of the one-shoulder gowns didn't make my list.  Fashion is subjective. [I love that shimmering blue dress behind Penelope Cruz above too.]

So ... who wore your favorites? 

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Healthy Oscar Night Munches

This Sunday night millions of people will watch The Academy Awards.  It's usually a long night, so many of us will make several trips into the kitchen for snacks.

A snack is supposed to be a portion of food that's smaller than a meal, but it doesn't always work out that way, does it?  Ideally, snacks should be 200 calories or less.  Healthy snacks are a combination of protein and complex carbohydrates.  Snacks that are good for you will satisfy hunger, stabilize blood sugar and provide long lasting energy.  Nutritious snacks are also low in calories and high in fiber.

Here are several food items I will have on hand to sustain a very long, but hopefully, entertaining night with the Oscars:

1. A walnut (unsalted) and almond (roasted, salted) mix – I buy pound bags of each of the nuts and mix them. About 24 nuts is 150 calories, or one snack.

2. Fruit: apples, cherries, blueberries, strawberries, bananas, plums

3. Cheddar cheese and whole grain saltine crackers

4. Swiss cheese and whole grain pumpernickel bread

5. Peanut butter – A dollop on apples, bananas, carrots or celery.

6. Yogurt: Coconut-pineapple, cheesecake and pomegranate flavors. Top with dark chocolate shavings.

7. Hummus

8. Spicy Popcorn – Make your popcorn anyway you like.  I use a Hot Air Popper.  Then sprinkle with a bit of olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt and cayenne pepper.  Toss.  It's awesome! 

9. Spinach Dip –  See below.

10. Red and sparkling rosé wine – Cheers!

Spinach Dip

Ingredients:

16 ounces 1% cottage cheese

10 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

2/3 cup low-fat mayonnaise (Don't use fat-free. It's awful!!!)

1 small onion

1 stick celery, include the leaves

1 teaspoon garlic powder

A dash of onion powder

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste

1 teaspoon soy sauce

½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon cider vinegar

Seasoned salt to taste, begin with ½ teaspoon

Directions:

Throw all the ingredients into a food processor and blend until creamy.  (Instead of celery, you can use a sweet turnip, or watercress, or red bell pepper to get a crunch with a different flavor.)  Pour into a serving bowl.  Use the dip for vegetables, whole grain crackers and crusty breads.

Watching the Academy Awards with family and friends is fun, but the show will undoubtedly run on ... and on ... and on.  So while you stay up to the very end, satisfy your cravings and boredom with these healthy snacks, so you will still fit into your own dresses and trousers in the morning.

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