Walking Up - Down Madison Avenue

Can't go wrong with this designer

Walking up or down Madison Avenue to see the latest fashions is one of the great pleasures of being in Manhattan. The shop widows can be summed up in one word ... magnificent. LA's Rodeo Drive is shockingly pint-sized compared to the 6 miles of Madison Avenue. On the Upper East Side stretch (comprising 1.5 miles between East 86th Street to East 57th Street, there are about 400 luxury and flagship stores, selling apparel, shoes, high end accessories (like purses, belts, hair ribbons, etc.) and fine jewelry.

All that glitters is gold!

These twinkling diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds at Travelers Jewelers on Madison (at East 77th Street) are huge and real gold and gems! I swear, they blink at me every time I walk by!

Georgio Armani (at East 66th Street) has shimmering windows too ... presently featuring evening gowns. Despite the glare from the street lights and traffic, I'm posting a few. There are many more to see!

Wouldn't the elegant designer dresses look lovely with some jewels? Feel free to select your favorite necklace, bracelet and/or ring.

Next razzle dazzle up the avenue stopping at Giuseppe Zanotti (on East 68th Street) for a pair of embellished fancy shoes.

This 12 carat sapphire ring with 14 solitaire diamonds in white gold is my favorite. A kind salesman let me slip it on my finger, and it's a perfect fit! Each time I pass Travers, I look for it in the window. But alas ... after months and months, somebody with deep pockets walked into the jewelry store and bought my ring! {Are you reading this? That's right, MY ring, sister! I know your ring size!!}😁 Fortunately, I have this photo to show you. What a beauty ... I will miss it!😍

On Madison Avenue there are ever changing pretties to see, and the exercise and eye candy are free!


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A Single Serving Of Homemade Cake

Photo: Lake of Lakes

Although I eat healthy mostly, sometimes I crave a slice of cake. At home, I have adopted the practice of eating whatever I want as long as I'm willing to make it myself. Often an entire cake is too much, enough for a week when all I desire is a slice.

So here is a recipe for a single serving of homemade cake. You can either oven bake the batter in a cup cake wrapper; or just use a sturdy mug and pop it into your microwave:

Vanilla Mug Cake

Ingredients: 

4 tablespoons of all-purpose (or whole wheat)

Photo: cooksvanilla.com

flour (All-purpose flour is lighter, while whole wheat flour is whole grain healthy. You decide.)

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
a pinch of salt

1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon egg (Throw the rest of the egg into another dish. Waste not, want not! The cake will come out without the egg, but will be less rich.)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 tablespoons buttermilk

Other flavors:  

You can turn this cake into another flavor by adding the following ingredients to the recipe:

(1) Chocolate cake: 1 tablespoon of dark cocoa and 1/2 teaspoon of instant coffee; 
(2) Lemon cake: 1 teaspoon lemon extract and lemon zest; 
(3) S'mores cake: 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, one tablespoon of brown sugar, plus definitely use whole wheat flour (for a graham cracker taste).
(4) Carrot Cake: 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, 2 tablespoons of shredded carrot, and toss in a few broken nuts and raisins.

Directions:

Photo: BBC Good Food

1) In a microwave safe mug. I use an oversized mug. Use a fork to stir together all the ingredients, one by one. I like to add the buttermilk last to get the perfect amount of liquid. Add extra tablespoons of buttermilk if needy for a runny, but thick consistency. Mix until incorporated, but don't over mix -- as it toughens the cake batter.

2) Everyone's microwave is different. So the first time microwave for 60 seconds at a time. Repeat until the batter turns into a cake -- feeling firm to the touch on the edges and center.

(Or pour into a cupcake wrapper placed in a cupcake pan and bake at 350 degree in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes until a tester produces a crumb.)

Vanilla Frosting

Ingredients:

Confectionery Sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Drops of milk

Photo: howsweetitis

Optional: A teaspoon of butter (for buttercream. I omit the butter.) 

Other flavors: 

Add --
(1) cocoa for chocolate; 
(2) lemon extract for lemon;
(3) If making a s'mores cake, melt dark chocolate and drops of milk together to make a gonache topping and follow with a toasted marshmallow.
(4) For a carrot mug cake, top with vanilla frosting and/or add 2 tablespoons of cream cheese to the basic vanilla frosting. 

Directions:

Combine the ingredients and mix until creamy. Spread on your single serving cake. Enjoy!

If you keep it simple, making a mug cake from start to finish takes about 10 minutes! Easy to double or triple for 1 or 2 guests and after the meal, you won't have leftovers to eat!

Extra tip: On a lazy day, you can eliminate the extra step of making frosting by topping your mug cake with ice cream.


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Stuffits Reversible Shower Curtain

One of my favorite times of the year to browse at Bed, Bath & Beyond is now. The store runs sales on home goods tailored for college students to furnish their dormitory rooms. As it turns out, some of these useful items are clever for organizing and maximizing space in a New York City apartment. The discounts make it tempting to try new tools, and if it doesn't work out, not much is lost.

Now you see it.

Yesterday I picked up a reversible Stuffits Shower Curtain with easy access mesh pockets to hold paper towels for cleaning my bathroom fixtures; and organizing a few toiletries. 

Now you don't! By the way, the shower  curtain doesn't photograph well. My bathroom accessories (which you can't see) are matchy- matchy with the shower curtain.

Although the shower contain can be used as either an outside curtain or inside liner, I sandwiched it in between my shower curtain and liner, as I think my Pottery Barn island themed shower curtain is cute for my bathroom, and I prefer having a clear inexpensive liner that I can either brush clean or toss as needed. In showering this morning I liked the bulk of the 3 layers of curtain -- very sturdy preventing them from blowing open. If I tire of having the 3 layers, I can use this purchase as my next liner.

How I love using vertical space for extra storage! Perfect for bathrooms with limited counter space. Who knows what might end up in those mesh pockets. Do you have any ideas ... what would you put in them?


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5 Habits For Keeping Teeth And Gums Healthy

Call me vain regarding my teeth, since I'll do whatever it takes to maintain them in good shape. Preventative care is always less costly and better for our teeth, then having to fix neglect. What's more, I thought I was doing everything right to care for them, but I was wrong! I learned new better practises last week during my annual dental cleaning and checkup.

5 Habits For Keeping Teeth and Gums Healthy

are:

👄1) Brush your teeth for 2 minutes in the morning after breakfast.

👄2) Brush your teeth for 2 minutes before bedtime.

👄3) Foss your teeth for 1 minute before one of the brushings - 

So here's a surprise! The flossers (i.e. dental floss on a pick) I use are not as thorough as using dental floss on a spool that we must break off and twirl around our fingers, says my dental hygienist. The loose floss gets in between teeth better than the up and down motion of dental floss on a pick. I won't lie, I'm sorry to hear this as the floss on a pick is easy to use! C'est la vie. 

👄4) Rinse with mouthwash for 30 seconds twice a day -

This I do, but was told that alcohol free mouthwash is better than an alcohol based mouthwash because the alcohol kills nearly all the bacteria in your mouth, both good and bad, which can lead to an imbalance unless you rinse every single day, which I do!  Also: " ... studies by BioMed Research International suggest alcohol free mouthwashes have a better effect on the gloss, colour, hardness and wear of tooth composite restorations compared to mouthwashes that contain alcohol." Most of us have composites by the time we're in our 30s, as our gums wear away from our teeth. The expression "long of the tooth"originates from the reality that as gums recede with age, teeth appear longer.

My dentist likes Colgate Total 12 Hour Pro-Shield Antibacterial rinse or Listerine (which is also an antibacterial rinse).

👄5) A sonic toothbrush is "highly recommended" over hand brushing. 

My dental office likes the Phillips Sonicare Toothbrush - A basic, not an expensive model gets the job done. No need to buy all the bells and whistles, unless you wish to do so.

This last one I didn't expect. The dental hygienist was able to tell me which of my hands is dominant by looking at my gums. How so? I brush my teeth harder on the side that corresponds to my dominant hand! As it turns out, I brush my teeth too hard in general, which wears away gums. My new Phillips Sonicare Toothbrush should help me break this bad habit.

Another benefit of (only) sonic toothbrushes: They make 30,000 - 40,000 brush strokes per minute, compared with about 300 per minute if you brush by hand; the bristles rotate back and forth (the dental preferred way); and they remove plaque better by directing liquid and toothpaste between your teeth and below the gum line. So after returning home I ordered one.

Switching to a sonic toothbrush takes an adjustment. My first use tickled. The first day, it took me not 2 minutes to brush my teeth, but 6 minutes (i.e., 3 passes to get to all the teeth!), but soon I learned to cover all my teeth (including the backsides) in the 2 minutes the toothbrush runs before automatically shutting off. Beeps tell you to move through the teeth. Now I'm working on not spraying toothpaste on my bathroom mirror so I won't have to wipe it clean after a brush. Practice, practice, practice!

As it turns out, you can teach an old dog new tricks! New habits, better tools, cleaner teeth!

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Lookalike Style: Valentino Rock Stud Shoes And Chanel Classic Flap Bag

Sooo. I avoid knowingly writing blogs that infringe upon a brand's copyright because it's wrong and illegal to buy such goods (a/k/a replicas). That said, designer inspired goods (a/k/a dupes) are fine as they don't steal a manufacturer name, nor use their label. Lookalikes are sold openly, not in a back room. They may not include every tiny detail of the authentic article, but are close-enough-for-less to achieve the look. Personally, I will buy an inexpensive imitation as long as there is transparency: it doesn't pass itself off as real, or slap the designer's name on the product. Moreover, when someone admires it, I tell them it's a copycat. Why pretend otherwise?

Here's a short article on US copyright laws here to grasp what practices the fashion industry allows.

Angie, friend of THE SAVVY SHOPPER, has long desired a pair of Valentino Rock Stud shoes, but not enough to pay the full retail price of $995 - $1095. My nearby TJ Maxx gets them sometimes for $700, but not at Angie's local TJ Maxx. Sooo! I decided to find a spectacular leather Valentino Rockstud inspired shoe for Ang. IMO, leather shoes are a must. Not so with a handbag, but in a shoe, leather's ability to breathe and give is vital.

I think I succeeded! 😍👠 Drum roll please🎶:

The doppelgänger is Kaitlyn Pan RockStud - This shoe's name is clearly on the label of the shoes, which come in a wide assortment of colors and styles in both heels and flats.

👛👜👛👜👛

One day, I may buy a Chanel inspired Classic Flap bag. The iconic bag was the very first pocketbook ever designed ... in an era when women carried clutch bags. The always practical and stylish Coco Chanel conceived of a purse for women to carry, leaving their hands free. So she created a chain attrachment resembling a piece of jewelry to be draped over a shoulder. 

The Chanel Classic Flap is the best selling designer bag in the world. Despite its beauty and versatility, I can't justify spending $5,900+ on a real one. Wow!

Going Chanel inspired lessens the pain abundantly! Here's a suitable leather lookalike for oodles less. Not a dead ringer, as you can see, not the same chain and no logo. No one would mistake it for a geniune Chanel, but quite nice! It has the vibe! It comes in large (Chanel's jumbo) or ex-large (Chanel's maxi). (Update: Now you must google the seller's name and/or "Chanel inspired" to buy the bag. It is no longer sold on Amazon.)

Note that since 2010, Karl Lagerfeld, the head creative director of Chanel added another inside flap to the bag (so it is at times called the Chanel Double Flap bag). If to save money, you buy a used Chanel Classic Flap bag made before 2010, it will only have a single flap. This inspired Chanel Flap bag copied by manufacturer Ainifeel has the double flaps.

Here are other Chanel inspired bags for less by none other than Karl Lagerfeld sold under his own name. The stock is ever changing.

The double flap holds the shape of the bag longer, while a single flap bag offers more storage room inside the purse. 

BTW, if buying a spanking new $5,900 bag, I'd buy the Jumbo Caviar Double Flap bag in black. IMO, the bag is lovelier in the alternate lambskin offering though it starches easily. Perhaps, not an issue for people with deep pockets.🙂

I like the inspired bag, but do I really want it? Hmm. Handbags are not my tempation trigger. So I'm still deciding. Meanwhile, here is the $29 purse I use, rain or shine ... in other words mindlessly.

Do you have a Chanel designer, or a Chanel inspired bag? What is your favorite designer bag of all?

Update: New Chanel prices as of July 2021:

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PureFlow Q17 Fan

The PureFlow Q17 fan is an investment, but at $99 it is about 1/3 less than other bladeless fans. Although compact, it puts out a powerful airflow. In lieu of only 3 fan speeds, there are 12 speeds. You can easily set it on the floor, or on top of a piece of furniture. And sans blades, no need to worry about curious children or pets getting hurt.

The fan is designed to circulate air throughout an entire room. It vertically tilts 90 degrees and has a 90 degree horizontal oscillation. This keeps the air flowing in every direction.

Moreover, a heavy smoker lives above me, who oddly enough, smokes at midnight-ish 3:00-ish am and 5:30-ish am every morning. What a nightmare at such vulnerable hours. The cigarette smoke migrates into my apartment and makes it hard to breathe, so I sleep with the fan sitting on a foot stool, pointed up at the ceiling. It does only some good (and I worry she will burn the place down during hours the rest of us are sleeping.) How I wish this mindless, nocturnal being would stop her nocturnal, unhealthy smoking, and I could simply use the fan to cool off, but I digress.

Highly energy efficient, yet it emits twice the air flow of a normal fan. Best of all, it is super quiet.

The Q17 fan has an automatic 9 hour shut-off timer which I do not use. I mean, how hard is it to click off?

I love how the fan cools without blowing you to bits. It's a gentle, yet effective breeze. Plus, I adore the small footprint and George Jetson aesthetics.

Available at Bed, Bath & Beyond. Watch for sales on this fan as autumn begins.🍁🍂 

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What's New At Uniqlo: Your Fall Wardrobe

As autumn returns, Uniqlo has us covered in "LifeWear" basics. You can't beat the retailer's innovation, style and value. Here are a few articles that caught my eye for our upcoming fall and winter seasons:

1) Merino-blend V-Neck Long-Sleeve Dress (top↑) - The dress has premium Merino wool with a touch of nylon stretch. Elegant, but easy every day wear. Available in several attractive neutral colors.

2) Women 3D Fine Merino Ribbed Long-Sleeve Dress - Designed seamless, as well as, to keep you cozy and ultra warm on frosty days. Comes in 4 colors. I love it in red. Click the dress link to see them.

3) Women Melange Wool Hooded Knitted Coat - Although the 100% wool knit is listed as a coat, it only provides the warmth of a sweater, which is all we need in early fall; and it has the look of a polished jacket. The pockets and a hood come in handy. Available in navy and brown too, but WOW, the wine is stylish!

4) Shoes and boots!👠👢
Now Uniqlo has a small collection of shoes. I have tried them on in the store, and they are comfortable. No frazzle-dazzle, just the classics: a pointed-toe pump with 2-inch block heels; rounded-toe, ankle boots with block heels; and pointed-toe flats. Unfortunately, the sizes only go up to 8, and of course, there are women who have a bigger foot. (No sizes 8.5 - 11 ... disappointing if one needs it.) Each style is ultra versatile to go with dresses, trousers and skirts. 

Budget-friendly prices for a quality and flattering wardrobe. And now it's your turn to browse at Uniqlo. What do you like?


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Emerald A Timeless Stone

The Bvlgari emerald suite, including this necklace given to Elizabeth Taylor by Richard Burton Circa 1962-1967.

The legendary Egyptian Queen Cleopatra reportedly had a deep passion for emeralds, which she presented to foreign dignitaries engraved with her image as a symbol of power. Wouldn't you love to go back in time to get one? Gimme!

Since I wrote about the other precious stones, I must cover this one too.

Columbia is where the most famous emeralds are mined. It supplies about 70% of the world's emeralds. Other places of origin include: Zambia (the 2nd largest supplier), Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Madagascar, Australia, France, Germany, Canada, the USA, and pretty much the rest of the world.

All photos of the Bvlgari emerald suite -Time magazine

 The most coveted emeralds are an intense, sometimes bluest green color. A pure green desirable hue is the perfect balance between blue and yellow. Emeralds that are more yellow than blue hold less value.

Like diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, jewelers consider emeralds a precious stone. Like Aquamarines and Morganites, emeralds are a variety of the mineral beryl. Chromium (and sometimes vanadium) give the mineral its green color. Chemically, they're called beryllium aluminum cyclosilicate, but the name beryl will certainly do! The lovely green stones rate an 8 on Mohs Scale of Hardness, so it is strong enough to wear as jewelry. Of the 4 natural precious stones, emeralds are the rarest and most brittle.

Earrings from Bvlgari emerald suite.

One characteristic emeralds share with sapphires and rubies is, there are few "clean'' ones in nature. Nearly all have imperfections or "inclusions." These may include gas bubbles; "jardins" (which are lines and branch-like imperfections); or fractures. While inclusions often tell experts the origin of the gem, naturally, the fewer, smaller and less noticeable the imperfections are to the naked eye the better. Greater clarity gives the emerald greater value (along with the other c's: carat, cut and color).

The ring from the Bvlgari emerald suite.

Emeralds are almost always oiled to enhance their color and hide inclusions. The oil isn't harmful or permanent but allowed as a standard treatment that doesn't lessen the gem's value. Other treatments need to be disclosed to a buyer, such as using dye to improve the color or filling in any cracks with resin or polymer to increase its clarity. The latter treatments do lessen an emerald's value, as the stones' natural beauty has been artificially improved. Also emeralds are a brittle stone, so fillings potentially impact the longevity of the stone. At any rate, they need to be cleaned carefully and should be priced accordingly. 

Photo: Macy's - Costs far less, and yet still a pretty little thing.

You never want to pay top dollar for inferior stones, but perhaps don't mind spending a lot less for treated (and disclosed treatments of) emeralds in a pretty setting. Or a lighter hue that is still appealing at a lower cost. A fair trade-off.

Do you have emeralds in your jewelry box?


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