Look Great And Classic In Spanx

Holiday sweets can make a body thankful for the invention of Spanx!🍪🍫🍬

Spanx was launched in 2000 by Sara Blakely with the aim of making women look and feel their slender best. Many people know that Spanx, the company, makes underwear and foundation garments to slim a silhouette, but they may not realize Spanx also produces male underwear, as well as, women's dresses, blazers, and trousers.

What's more, you never have to dry clean the attire. That's right! The blazers, pants, and dresses are machine washable!!

Although not exactly cheap, the stylish and shapely collection is sold at all major department stores including Macy's Bloomingdales, Saks, Kohls, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus --where it goes on sale from time to time. When it does, as much as I like the leggings which elongate the legs, at $89 they aren't what I'd spend my money on, but I think the business pants, blazers and dresses are a good investment. They look tailored and well made, plus you save on dry cleaning bills.

Wow, these trousers are gorgeous! They come in straight; flare; or wide legs; and are articles we tend to wear and hold onto for years.

I'd opt to save, not splurge on activewear, but would be on the look out and grab any Spanx leggings, t-shirts, or shorts that end up at T.J. Maxx, or go on sale at the major department stores. Without a doubt, Spanx is a quality brand to buy when the price is right!

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Should You Or Should You Not Buy Your Boss A Holiday Gift?

Photo: Judson Group

In the workplace sometimes a boss gives gifts to his/her staffers in appreciation for all their hard work. But as a general rule, an employee shouldn't buy his/her boss a holiday gift.🎁 

In the US, buying bosses presents is not common, nor expected, and sometimes frowned upon. No matter how much you like your boss, never forget your connection is primarily a business relationship, and you are the subordinate. In certain industries or positions, it could be interpreted as courting favor or a bride, especially if somebody at work is out to get you down the line. 

Companies worry about appearances and so should you. Sometimes corporate policies forbid it. You also want to avoid embarrassing your boss or causing other employees who live paycheck-to-paycheck discomfort by setting a precedent. What's more, I dislike the idea of asking everyone to chip in for a group gift for bosses because of the possibility of someone feeling pressure who can't afford it. If the office has petty cash available, it's fine to get approval for a group gift for the boss, but a better alternative is to get cookies, candies, or refreshments everyone in the department can partake in to build comradery.🎶

Feel free to give your boss a holiday card with a festive note you took time to write but it's also dicey unless one of you is leaving or you write a number of notes to a number of other employees too. I might share my homemade Christmas cookies, or if we have an especially good rapport, give a cute Christmas ornament costing around $10 (taking advantage of those early sales). It's a nice gesture for a boss who gives staff gifts but makes a big salary so s/he in no way needs a gift from a junior employee. Once I had a crafty assistant make me a handmade Christmas ornament, which was so thoughtful, time-consuming, and adorable I still have it years later.

You might also bend the rule if you work freelance and have a long-term, friendly, trusting relationship with no co-workers, office politics or misinterpretation to worry about. But even then good homemade cookies, candies, a craft, or just an inexpensive token gift with a lovely card is safer and gets the job done with aplomb.🔔

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Little Sky Stone For Last Minute Gifts

If you're looking for a last-minute gift for your bestie, a well-liked neighbor, or perhaps your cousin who's always got your back, why not give something that will last and not fade away after the holidays? Glut mindless shopping is so yesterday! One thoughtful, well-chosen gift is all you really need for the people in your life.

Little Sky Stone makes artesian, one-of-a-kind jewelry in sterling silver, 14k gold-plated, and 14k gold-filled metals with dainty genuine stones including opal, turquoise, emerald, garnet, citrine, amethyst, pearl, sapphire and druzy. (Druzy quartz is made up of tiny crystals that form on the surface of a stone.)

IMHO, customers aren't getting a super deal, but everyday earrings, rings, bracelets, and necklaces at reasonable and fair prices. Not great big stones, yet pretty little things with good design ... very appropriate and winning keepsakes for a bestie, a cousin, or a well-liked neighbor whose face you want to put a smile on and to say thanks for being you! 

Moreover, with gift-giving be equally good to yourself by considering your budget. With Little Sky Stone's lovely collection of unique artesian jewelry, there's truly no need to go into debt to spread some holiday cheer.

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The Wittelsbach-Graff Blue Diamond

On the left is the 35.56-carat cushion-shaped Wittelsbach diamond and on the right is the same diamond recut to 31.06 carats. Over billions of years, the element carbon (with a trace of boron) turned into a diamond. It's a stunning stone with a long history that raises a 21st-century conundrum to ponder. Let's begin the journey ...

The Wittelsbach-Graff diamond (↖left) compared to the Hope diamond

The rare blue diamond originates from Kollur Mine, India. King Felip IV of Spain is thought to have bought and included it in the dowry of his beloved 15-year-old daughter, Infanta Margaret Teresa in 1664 when she married Leopold I, the Holy Roman Emperor. The jewel was in the possession of the Habsburg family until it came to Munich, Germany in 1722 when Archduchess Maria Amalia, a Habsburg, married Karl of Bavaria of the Wittelsbach royal house. The gemstone then remained in the Wittelsbach family until it was sold in 1951 to a mystery buyer, then resold a few more times until in 2008 the London jeweler, Laurence Graff, bought it for $24.3 million. In 2010 the billionaire jeweler announced he had recut the diamond to get rid of its 350-year history of nicks, cuts, chips, and scratches from being set and reset into jewelry and a crown.

Erasing the history of the diamond to improve its girdle not only reduced the gemstone by 40%, but it has also started a controversy. Renamed the Wittelsbach-Graff diamond, the alterations enhanced its blue color from grey-blue to blue-blue and clarity from VS1 (very slightly included) to IF (internally flawless), as well as, arguably increased its monetary value by giving it a higher grade and modern cut.

So in the life of this diamond, there are 2 values at play, and what's right isn't always clear-cut, is it? The Habsburgs-Wittelsbachs wouldn't recognize their diamond today. Soooo what would you have done and why?

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Milani Rocio Roses Jewel/Gem Kits

If you have the ability to spot quality you'll find fabulous holiday gifts just about anywhere including at Walmart!

Milani is a stellar makeup brand for less on the same par as the luxury brands sold behind cosmetic counters at major department stores. I bought several shades of Milani's top-notch lipstick and blush at Ulta Beauty.

The following holiday kits and under-makeup primers are two examples of Milani's quality cosmetics for all the makeup mavens on your gift list. The 2 kit colors -- Luxe Jewel and Allure Gem --  are special holiday editions offered at an unbelievable steal for $14.97!!!

 

Here's what you get: 

• What Do We Think? Eyeshadow Palette – 6 rose gold, plum & soft pink mattes & shimmers
• Soft Focus Glow Complexion Enhancer – All-over complexion luminizer blurs & illuminates for a real-life filter effect for the face & body
• Color Statement Lipstick – Milani's best-selling cream lipstick formula is infused with nourishing vitamins A & C

🐪🐑🔔🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🐪🐑🔔

Here's what you get:

• Money Saving Bestie Eyeshadow Palette – 6 bronze & emerald-inspired mattes & shimmers
• Soft Focus Glow Complexion Enhancer – All-over complexion luminizer blurs & illuminates for a real-life filter effect for the face & body
• Color Statement Lipstick – Milani's best-selling cream lipstick formula is infused with nourishing vitamins A & C

🐪🐑🔔🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🐪🐑🔔

The primers below are separate buys for stocking stuffers. They give makeup a smooth base with a matte finish to last throughout the day. Cost: $8 - $13.

Milani is so affordable and fabulous, you'll have pocket money left over to get yourself a special edition kit too. Well Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa to you!🎁

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Consider A Water Flosser

My teeth are my most valuable possession and yet I hate flossing. Rarely do I have food stuck in between my teeth, it's the formation of plague I worry about and fight by flossing. 

Dentists agree if we don't floss properly or daily, using a water flosser is a good practice. Flossing isn't easy, it's tedious. Sliding dental thread in at just the right angles and not too forcefully ... who the heck knows if we are flossing properly? So right after buying a Philips Sonic Toothbrush for $40 I invested in a water flosser. 

Here are 3 top models both dentists and customers like: 

1) Waterpik ION Professional Cordless Water Flosser - (top image👆).  Very compact for small counters, its handle is detachable from its base during use. You have to plug the water flosser base into the wall to charge it about every 3 weeks.

2) Waterpik Aquarius - Rated as powerful in cleaning teeth as the Waterpik ION, but bulkier and stays in its charger plugged into the wall during use.

3) Philips Sonicare Power Flosser 3000 - the model I use right now. Philips makes very good dental tools according to several dentists and product review sites. This one also stays in its charging base plugged into the wall during use.

Overall, plug-in-the-wall water flossers are more powerful and clean your teeth better than portable handheld units. While considered a plug-in-the-wall water flosser, the jury is out on how long the Waterpik ION's lithium battery lasts. Although I prefer using it, the inconvenience of possibly having to replace a battery is a  job and expense I'd rather skip.

Using a water flosser requires a learning curve. At first, the process of water flossing is an epic wet mess like a tsunami in your bathroom. You'll shoot water EVERYWHERE! Practice makes perfect. Here are some tips: Hang your head down in the sink. I fill the water tank up past the waterline then leave the lid off in order to floss my entire mouth in one pass. Another trick is to leave the device turned off at the handle until you get it in place inside your mouth. Expect to get your hand drenched unless you master laser-like focus while flossing. I do wish the Philip's water flosser cylinder utensil rotated as you move it over the inside-backside of your teeth, but you still manage, and the reason I leave the lid off the water tank is there is always a little water left in the tank I like to pour out so the tank is completely dry the next time I use it.

I always use the maximum settings of 10 and deep cleaning. Water flossing once per day is enough, and it should be done before (not after) brushing your teeth to loosen and then brush away the plague.

Teeth are strong, yet delicate. Although our teeth are covered with the strongest and hardest mineral in our body, called enamel, that enamel can easily be broken down by sugar or a lack of oral hygiene. Not brushing, flossing, and getting regular teeth cleanings will lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and eventually tooth loss. Once gone, they cannot regenerate and are gone forever.

You'd think a jewelry lover like me would name a sentimental piece of jewelry as my most valuable possession, but you'd be wrong ... it's my pearly whites. A sonic toothbrush or water flosser is by far a more essential gift than a piece of jewelry!🎁

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5 Uniqlo LifeWear Gifts To Blow Your Mind

Regular readers know that Uniqlo, the Japanese innovator of LifeWear sustainable clothing, is my absolute favorite retailer for basics. I don't know why Uniqlo doesn't just hire me as their spokeswoman already! I wear their outerwear and clothing, plus blog about their quality and great price points frequently. I mean, I'm a true believer in Uniqlo LifeWear! 

Here are 5 of my favorite articles that make awesome holiday gifts and demonstrate how budget-friendly doesn't have to mean a lack of quality, style, or durability! 

I own each of the following pieces and continue to love wearing them again and again, and so with authority I highly recommend every single piece as a perfect, not to mention, ultra-useful holiday gift:

1) Blocktech Coat -  (see top image👆) Lightweight as a cotton shirt, yet serves as a raincoat, as well as, looks stylish as a 3-season (spring, fall, and early winter) all-weather coat when paired with a sweater as temperatures drop. It has pockets, snaps, a zipper, and a hood. When it's pouring rain outdoors, the Blocktech coat keeps me completely dry ... and surprisingly warm. I bought the coat in black for versatility and love the other colors also.

2) Heattech Crew Neck Long-Sleeve T-Shirts - A great layering t-shirt that functions exactly like silk fabric to keep you warm and insulated without overheating. The knit fabric is thin, soft, stretchy, moisture-wicking, and machine washable. I own the t-shirt in two colors.

3) Heattech Beanie and 4) Heattech gloves - You can buy a cashmere beanie and gloves from Uniqlo if you wish, but these are soft and warm like cashmere. Although I must have cashmere scarves against my neck, I have both cashmere hats and a Heattech hat and no longer buy cashmere gloves because the fingers of all knitted gloves wear out quickly. The Heatteck gloves are as warm and nearly as soft as cashmere (i.e., you have to work to tell the difference). I can machine wash the Heatteck gloves and they are also 50% cheaper than cashmere, so I buy a pair to keep in every coat and jacket pocket I own. So affordable I never have to remember to transfer gloves from a coat to a jacket!

5) Uniqlo line of sweaters - Styles and fabrics galore are for the choosing - I bought merino wool cardigans I've worn for nearly a decade as they are well-made and lasting. But there are many other styles, fabrics, patterns, and colors offered, so you're on your own to click the link to take a browse. Turtlenecks, cable, bright, neutrals, cashmere, wool, cotton, you name it!

I write about Uniqlo to the point readers might think the blogs are sponsored, but they are not. I'm only a customer.🙂 A trip to Uniqlo will blow your mind, and you too will become an enthusiast, a true believer of the self-proclaimed LifeWear merchant!

If Patricia of the Red Cardinal reads this post, Tish, please tell us if Uniqlo in Brisbane sells the same items? 

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Which Office Party Dress Will You Wear?

In December many companies host a holiday office party for their employees normally outside of the office at a nearby restaurant. The trouble is usually workers must come to the office in the morning for a full day of work before leaving to attend the holiday party, and, if you are like me, you try to find something somewhat festive to wear that day for the after-work holiday party.

I come to work a little dressier ... spiffing up a tad more than a regular workday but short of simmering in a full-length ball gown. Although colleagues get why I'm overdressed that day (as they're in the same jubilee boat), I try to wear attire that doesn't look too out of place at 10 am, and yet has a party dress vibe for the evening.

So do any of these 7 dresses fit the occasion? If so, choose your office party dress, one you will need to wear the entire day and evening:

1) SL Fashions - (Left top image) Ruched Sequin Sheath Dress - Black.

2) SL Fashions - (Right top image) Sequined 3/4 Sleeve Sheath Dress. - Red. Would you wear a little black dress or a holiday red dress?

3) Karl Lagerfeld Paris (Left image) - Pearl Knit Sweater Dress -Black

4) Marina - Beaded Sleeve Dress - (Middle image) - Black

5) Marina - (Right image) Cowl neck sheath dress - Navy

6) Eliza J - Women's Sequined Velvet 3/4-Sleeve Sheath Dress - Black slate

7) SL Fashions - Sequined Chiffon-Cape Dress - Black/Gold

Shorter party dresses can be called cocktail dresses. Which dress is your favorite and why? BTW: Unless it's 80+ degrees F outdoors, I'm wearing black opaque tights and closed-toe shoes!🎄

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Chicken Noodle Soup

Photo: iStock

Chicken noodle soup is sometimes called the ultimate comfort food. At home, it's usually made with leftover chicken, but making it fresh from scratch gives it an even better flavor. The following takes all of 30 minutes and you can use chicken breast or ground chicken, both are super tasty, and one of them will be on sale at the supermarket. Here's a super easy recipe:

Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients:

Choose one - Both are delicious: {a} 1 lb of white chicken breast; or {b} 1 lb of ground chicken

1 onion, chopped

4 celery stalks and leaves, chopped

2 - 3 large carrots, scraped and sliced

8 cups of water

2 large cubes of chicken bouillon (or 4 small cubes)

1 teaspoon of dried garlic (or 4 - 5 fresh garlic cloves, minced)

1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

1/2 teaspoon coriander

a shake of parsley

1 bay leaf 
5 ounces dried noodles - chooose one: flat egg; shells; or curly

Optional: Toss in 1/2 cup of frozen peas at the last minute of cooking.

Directions:

1) {a} If using chicken breast, pouch them in white wine and (if needed water) for 10 - 12 minutes and after they are cooked, dice into cubes.

{b} If using ground chicken, brown it in a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil in a frying pan. Salt and pepper to taste. Toss the chicken of choice in a stock pot or large saucepan.

2) Add the water and chicken bouillon.

3) Toss in the sliced and diced vegetables: onions, celery, and carrots.

4) Next add all the spices. If you use ground chicken, toss the garlic in as you brown it - searing gives the garlic extra flavor, but if you pouch chicken breast, just toss the garlic in the stock pot along with the cubed cooked chicken breast.

5) Once the vegetables are in the pot, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

6) Finally add the dried noodles and simmer until they are al dente.

7) Toss in 1/2 cup of frozen peas at the last minute if you wish. The green looks lovely.

Chicken noodle soup is a later edition in my cooking repertoire, but after I ate canned soup of mostly broth without chunks of anything, I decided to stop buying canned chicken noodle soup and make my own. 

This chunky chicken noodle with vegetable soup is a light one-pot dinner. Start with cheese and crackers, and add grainy bread and a salad. Heck, make Emeril's Bloody Marys (recipe👇) to drink, or sip a glass of wine while preparing the soup. Enjoy!

 

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