THE SAVVY SHOPPER

10 Leading Skincare Brands In Foreign Pharmacies - Part 2

2026-04-13T00:00:00.021-04:00

In Germany🇩🇪 skincare brands balance science, botanicals, and luxury. 5 Top Brands found in German pharmacies, favored by the locals include:

1) Augustinus Barder, a beauty luxury label that uses patented stem-cell technology (TFC8) to repair cell tissue.

2) Dr. Barbara Sturm, a beauty line famous for its anti-inflammatory ingredients and "vampire facials.”

3) Babor, a professional brand that pioneered sealed glass capsules of concentrated active ingredients to treat specific skin issues.

4) Weleda, established in 1921, is famous worldwide for its nourishing Skin Food cream.

5) Dr. Hauschka is a pioneer of natural, holistic beauty sourced from plants and herbs.

Other key brands include Balea, No Cosmetics, and Isana. Beiersdorf AG, a Hamburg company, created ♥Nivea cream in the blue tin in 1911♥ and turned it into a centuries-old global brand. If not in a tin, it’s not the original formula.

France🇫🇷 commonly infuses its skincare with thermal spring water, antioxidant-rich grapes, and botanicals to nourish and pamper the skin. The French like to cultivate an elegant image.

5 Top French Skincare Brands widely used in France are:

1) LaRoche-Posay formulates its skincare for sensitive skin using mineral-rich thermal spring water. Its Cicapliast Baume B5 is a cult favorite.

2) Bioderma aims to infuse the skin with micellar water (Sensibio H20).

3) Avène specializes in thermal spring water to soothe hyper-sensitive and dry skin.

4) Caudalie uses grape-seed antioxidants in its anti-aging skincare products. The retailer's Beauty Elixir is popular.

5) Nuxe combines botanicals with luxury. Huile Prodigieuse is its famous nourishing oil for the face, body, and hair.

Other key brands are Embrolisse (its Lait-Crème Concentrate is a cult favorite), Vichy, and A313.

Part 3 of our 5 part series will be published next Thursday. Can you guess the other countries (10 in total) to be featured?

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10 Leading Skin Care Brands In Foreign Pharmacies - Part 1

2026-04-09T00:00:00.033-04:00

Browsing in international pharmacies is fun! Let’s begin a series of 5 blogs, each blog featuring 2 countries, listing the 5 leading or top brands of skincare that are popular with the locals in that country:

Great Britain🇬🇧 likes to blend botanicals with science in its formulas. The UK beauty industry centers on high-performance and anti-aging ingredients.

5 Top British Brands are:

1) Elemis is a leader in luxury skincare. The Liberty Beauty Calendar always includes its items. Best sellers are its cleansing balms and anti-aging serums.

2) Medik8 is a science-led skincare line for anti-aging items. It is known for its Vitamin C lotions and sunscreen for day and Vitamin A potions at night.

3) Pai Skincare targets sensitive and acne-prone skin with remedies.

4) Osia is a luxury brand offering formulas that support the cellular health of the skin.

5) BYOMA is an affordable brand containing ceramides to moisturize and protect the skin barrier.

Other key bands include UpCircle, Ren Clean Skincare, and Evolve Beauty.

Canada🇨🇦 is known for its high-quality ingredients and innovations in skincare.

♥The Ordinary, called the disruptor in the beauty industry for its science-based, affordable skincare, was founded in Toronto, Canada, in 2016 by Brandon Truaxe, so I’m placing it before Canada's list as an extra, though I didn’t see it listed in any of my research! Due to its low price point, it’s widely used in the USA, and I bet in Canada too.♥

Five of Canada’s Top Skincare Brands used by Canadians follow:

1) Skinfix is known for its barrier-repairing moisturizers and lotions.

2) Three Ships Beauty offers plant-based skincare with 100% clean ingredients found in nature.

3) Reversa treats anti-aging with ingredients like glycolic acid at prices that won’t empty a wallet.

4) Province Apothecary uses certified organic ingredients in its entire line for a clean beauty routine.

5) Sahajan combines traditional Ayurvedic practices with modern science in its skincare.

Other key brands include Graydon Skincare, Nudestix, and Rocky Mountain Soup.

After you are introduced to 50 new skincare brands found in foreign pharmacies, you'll be familiar with them should they land in the aisles at T.J. Maxx, which, due to its amazing buyers, often happens.

Stay tuned for Parts 2 - 5 of our series on THE SAVVY SHOPPER.

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Should You Buy Fine Jewelry Today?

2026-04-07T00:00:00.026-04:00

Don’t get me wrong, I like quality and looking polished and coordinated, but I’m not a luxury bag, shoes, or apparel maven. Fine jewelry is my luxury temptation of choice, which is just as much of a luxury buy as a Hermès handbag. Therefore, who am I to judge? We don’t buy luxury goods because we need them, but because we want, ummm, love them, and they are not true investments like a stock portfolio.

Fortunately, I have a small capsule (not a collection) of fine jewelry, gifts I got for a special birthday or graduation, or a few pieces I saved up to buy as a wage earner over the years.

But would I advise buying fine jewelry at today’s prices? Sadly, I don’t think so. Like Chanel bags, Dior frocks, or Christian Louboutin heels, fine jewelry is significantly marked up in response to demand, and let's call it, created perceptions of greater value. Additionally, today we are being charged thousands of dollars for not a lot of gold. Skimpy chains, bands, and bracelets have gotten shockingly expensive!

IMHO, these 3 bracelets from Brilliant Earth are gorgeous ... what a classy stack! Would you like to know how much it would cost a customer to buy them? Here’s the breakdown in US dollars ...

Sol Starburst Diamond 7” Bracelet (1/8 ct. wt) in 14k yellow gold. Cost: $3,595

Diamond Flexible Tennis Bangle Bracelet (1 1/3 ct. tw.) in 18K White Gold $3,595

Sol Slim 6.5 In. Bracelet in 14K Yellow Gold. Cost:$2,350

Total cost before taxes: $9,540

Such a tidy sum is not practical for an average wage earner, despite the lovely aesthetics. The individual bracelets are not the thickest!

In fact, the price of gold has hit record highs of over $4,700 per ounce at this time. Driven by geopolitical tensions and central bank buying, gold has experienced a sharp long-term upward trend.

THE SAVVY SHOPPER will continue to feature fine jewelry as it’s too pretty not to, but as a value shopper, I can’t in good faith tell anyone to splurge on it. You’ll have to decide for yourself whether or not to empty your bank account.

Oh, my goodness, 6 bangles would double the tab! If I were to spend $9,540+ on jewelry, I would spend it on a single piece with the biggest single diamond I could buy, rather than a stack with multiple single diamonds, because a bigger diamond would be easier to sell on the pre-loved market if the owner absolutely needed money.*

With graduations and weddings in the future, what are your thoughts on buying fine jewelry at today’s prices? Is it worth it?!?

*BTW: Bigger gemstones are rarer (so cost more) than small diamonds. Tennis bracelets are pricey because of demand + the price of gold + the color of the diamonds must match, and a ton of diamonds are sifted through to find matching colors. {Clean Origins is known to own its own diamonds and offer above-average customer service. This blog is not sponsored.}

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Happy Easter 2026

2026-04-05T00:00:00.013-04:00

Another winter is over in the Western Hemisphere, and spring has arrived! We have persevered and overcome! Easter celebrates tenacity over trials with the hope of new beginnings!

St. Paul the Apostle Church, a New York City Landmark, sits next to Lincoln Center. In early December, when Lincoln Center hosts its White Light Festival to celebrate the arts, the event turns into a big block party with live music, theater, and dance. St. Paul the Apostle Church participates by opening its doors with priests serving hot chocolate to the public. It’s a warm, welcoming chance to come inside out of the cold and walk around the church's majestic interior. Of course, Easter Sunday is a house of worship's biggest celebration. My friend, Carolyn, belongs to this church and sings in its choir, and her friend, Debbie, puts in a few appearances, usually for special events. The clergy is, without fail, welcoming and lovely to all who enter. They never ask you where you’ve been!😊

Talk about the Lamb of God, here’s an especially cute one!

Let's finish off with a joyful baby duckling who is wearing his Easter “bonnet" of rabbit ears.

Happy Easter, Everyone!✝

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Face Primer With SPF 30

2026-04-02T00:00:00.130-04:00

Today I’m revealing a skincare secret, which frankly I’ve never kept a secret. Often, people tell me I have beautiful skin, which I appreciate before blurting out my secret, so they, too, can have beautiful skin. I've never used foundation because it doesn’t feel clean. To me, wearing foundation feels like I have a film of goop or a mask on my face. Instead, after washing my face in the morning, I apply L’Oreal’s Miracle Blurr with SPF 30. But! For some insane reason (which I’ll discuss below), L’Oreal has discontinued it, forcing me to reluctantly find a replacement UV face primer.

The Miracle Blurr gel with SPF 30, all 1.7 ounces of it, sold for $19.99, and I often scored deals to pay even less. Right now, I have 1/5 of the gel left in my very last tube of Miracle Blurr that I’m using up.

So what makes Miracle Blurr an excellent combination of skincare and cosmetics? It's what I’m looking for in whatever I find next to replace it:

1) The ease of applying the gel saves me time in my morning routine by creating a smooth canvas on my face with a matte finish.

2) The SPF 30 is my anti-aging secret, shielding my face every day of the year from the sun's harmful rays.

3) The matte finish prevents shine and blurs pores and fine lines (which is the makeup part). I could apply it either under or over my under-eye coverstick, blush, and powder. Usually under.

4) The gel extends the endurance of any makeup I might wear. It prevents coverstick, blush, or powder from fading during the day or evening, so I didn’t have to freshen up as often.

Oh, for crying out loud, what replacement face primer with SPF 30 has all of these same benefits? Already I've discovered that many face primers do not come: (1) in a soothing gel that disappears into the skin, (2) with sun protection, (3) in a bigger size, (4) and with the same affordable price point! I must grin and bear the size and price adjustments, but won’t compromise on the SPF 30 or the matte finish! No, no, never, never, un, un, un!

I aim to try the following face primers with SPF 30 until I find the one I like the most, and hopefully, I’ll find it before buying all of them!

I’m not looking to add another face cream to my routine, but if the tubes don’t work out, I’ll move on to these 5-in-1 face primer promises in a jar choices.

Finally, I’ve discovered that L’Oreal’s parent company continues to sell face primer gel with sun protection in its pricer sister Lancome line at $45 for 1 ounce. I can’t help wondering if Miracle Blurr SPF 30 at $19.99 for 1.7 ounces was discontinued because the retailer wants to make more profit!?! Was $20 too puny a sum, huh? Ironically, a formula of Lancome was the face matte gel I started with years ago, before switching to the cheaper and excellent drugstore brand L’Oreal Miracle Blurr.

If you use a face primer with SPF 30 to recommend, please do! The first brand I’m testing is the👆 top image from Neutrogena.

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Anonymity Is Priceless

2026-03-30T00:00:00.225-04:00

I didn’t watch the John Kennedy and Carolyn Bessette docudrama. Certainly, I was aware of them in the 1990s and walked past their penthouse loft at 20 North Moore Street downtown in Tribeca a few times. When the Southern District of New York summoned me to serve as a grand juror on Centre Street, John was one of many assistant JAs who came into the courtroom to present evidence to us to secure an indictment. During the time of my jury duty, John stood directly in front of me, riding the elevator down to go out to lunch. BTW, I met or saw many celebrities in Manhattan, but I never met or saw John’s mother, sister, wife, or ex-girlfriend, Daryl Hannah, out and about.

This television series on John and Carolyn is making me think about anonymity. To be clear, anonymity is a state in which a person’s identity is unknown. I have heard the stories of the stress Carolyn felt when she lost her anonymity by marrying John Kennedy, Jr., and I can empathise with how trying and traumatizing it must have been for her.

To a degree, I can imagine the discomfort of being watched, judged, and critiqued everywhere she went, often in print. What a terrible state of feeling like you must be dressed impeccably, with every hair in place, even to dash out nearby in the mornings to grab a bagel or drop a letter in a mailbox. Sometimes I’ve thrown on a long coat before taking a shower or putting on makeup to pick up breakfast or deposit mail! But then to have strangers evaluate me or paparazzi jump out to take my picture would be horrifying! It’s been said that Carolyn began to crack under the strain and to feel like a caged animal. Quite understandable.

We should all be careful of what we wish for, as fame can seem ideal, like a best-case scenario. Singer Little Richard is credited as saying, Elvis Presley got what he wanted, but lost what he had.

Anonymity is priceless in New York City. One of my great pleasures is freely walking about, people watching, or going on window-shopping sprees. On an easy-breezy weekend of afternoon exploring often around the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, or in Midtown, sometimes people will smile at me when our eyes meet. At times, I might exchange little snippets of pleasant conversation or even a laugh with fellow New Yorkers who, just like me, are out and about, but we still maintain our anonymity. I also take for granted that such exchanges are genuine since I'm an unknown. I can be open and accessible, giving people the benefit of the doubt that they don’t have ulterior motives for interacting with me unless they prove me wrong, which, despite what outsiders think, usually doesn’t happen in Manhattan. New Yorkers are more benevolent and friendlier than many people imagine.

In absorbing the city and basking in its energy, anonymity is priceless as you walk the streets, enter shops, or stop to observe street entertainment. Some street entertainment is unintentional.😉 In New York City, you can be alone sans the isolation. You’re one of the crowd, with nobody bothering you or asking anything of you. Without a doubt, the freedom to be an observer has increased my wisdom. I’m smarter for having the space to process what I see. Being unencumbered enough to get lost in our thoughts in public is a gift!

How painful and restrictive it must have been for Carolyn Bessette, who was raised as an ordinary girl and married at age 30, to have lost her anonymity and with it the freedoms she enjoyed throughout her 20s. At times, the best things in life are free (like privacy, control over your own life, and peace of mind, to name a few), so be grateful if you still have your anonymity!

*By chance, John’s Aunt Jean Kennedy Smith sat a couple of pews in front of me during a Christmas midnight Mass at St. Ignatius Church on Park Avenue and East 84th Street with her adult children, including her son, William Kennedy Smith, the year he went on trial for rape. At the time, the press speculated whether or not Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis would let her beloved son, John, attend his cousin’s trial in support. A source claimed his family pressured him to attend. John made two appearances during the jury selection. The trial ended with an acquittal.

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Pineapple Greek Yogurt Ice Cream

2026-03-28T13:35:00.012-04:00

Photo: Stonyfield

Whenever I’ve been tempted to buy an ice cream maker ... and there have been several times, my decision-making rule kicks into gear. If I cannot make a food (1) tastier, (2) faster, or (3) cheaper, I buy it readymade. During the summer, my local supermarkets (blocks away from home) often run sales on 1.5 quarts of ice cream for $2.50 - $3.00 a carton. I’d have to eat a ton of ice cream to break even on the cost of an ice cream maker, not even counting the cost of the ingredients to make the ice cream. For the non-compressor models, you also must wait 24 hours to eat the ice cream. I can walk to and from my nearby supermarkets and have my ice cream eaten faster than that, with hours to spare; therefore, no ice cream maker will likely ever take up my counter space.

But, if you have a food processor or blender, you can still make creamy frozen desserts, almost like ice cream -- minus or with very little sugar. I’ve shared one such recipe before using frozen banana slices. It’s dreamy and creamy!

Today I’ve come across another frozen ice cream recipe using 3 healthy ingredients.👇

Pineapple Greek Yogurt Ice Cream

Ingredients:

20 ounces of frozen pineapple - Canned chunks or crushed work.
1 cup of plain Greek yogurt

1 tablespoon of honey or sweetener

Optional - 1 teaspoon of vanilla - I don’t add it with citrus/acid fruits. Lemon juice tastes better with those.

Directions:

1) Toss the frozen pineapple chunks into a food processor or blender (in a blender, you may have to add a tiny bit of milk).

2) It takes 4 - 5 minutes to blend into a creamy soft serve consistency.

3) Pour into a container and place it in the freezer for 1 - 2 hours to get a harder texture to dip out with an ice cream scooper.

You can garnish your healthy ice cream with coconut flakes or diced strawberries, or you could blend frozen strawberries with the frozen pineapple chunks to vary the flavor of the dessert. Once you are a pro, try the recipe with other fruits. To minimize the cleanup, I used an immersion blender, tossing and blending all the ingredients in a single 32-oz Greek yogurt container. After blending, I dropped it into the freezer. Brilliant or lazy?😊

Enjoy!

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Why You Should Eat Walnuts Everyday

2026-03-26T00:00:00.254-04:00

I won’t lie. I prefer other nuts like almonds and pecans over walnuts, but after I learned walnuts have several health benefits that other nuts don’t, I started using walnuts in place of pecans in many baked goods. Walnuts are cheaper, too. I also make a practice of popping a few walnuts into my mouth and putting a handful into my mother’s oatmeal each morning.

As it turns out, medical evidence suggests a daily dose of 1 - 2 ounces (i.e., a handful) of walnuts supports heart health, cuts bad cholesterol, supports gut health, and sharpens brain function, plus they may improve sleep with a natural infusion of melatonin.

Walnuts contain essential omega-3 fatty acids (ALA), magnesium, and antioxidants. They reduce inflammation and lower bad LDL cholesterol. Studies show that people who eat walnuts have faster brain reaction times and delayed age-related cognitive decline. Walnuts act as a prebiotic to improve the gut microbiome by increasing good bacteria. Although walnuts are energy-dense, they don’t tend to cause weight gain because they help to manage our appetites.

Here are tips for eating a healthy dose of walnuts every day:

1) Stick with a serving (1 oz to 2 oz) to control calories. 1 oz = 14 halves. Easy enough, as we don’t tend to gorge on walnuts.

2) Eat them raw, roasted, soaked in water, or added to cereals, salads, smoothies, or yogurt.

3) Walnuts are beneficial at any time of the day, yet studies show they improve cognitive performance if eaten in the morning.

4) I find Diamond of California to be the better-tasting walnuts without any bitterness. Walmart sells this brand at a cheaper cost then its own store brand, also. I always have a 32-oz bag in my refrigerator or freezer (as well as a big bag of lightly salted almonds as snack staples)

🍍🥚🍍🥛🍍🥚🍍🥛🍍🥚🍍🥛🍍🥚🍍🥛🍍🥚🍍🥛🍍🥚🍍

Here’s a once-in-a-while treat (due to the sugar), perhaps for Sundays or holidays like Easter, to bake using walnuts. If you’re ambitious, you could toast the walnuts for added flavor before using. It’s a scaled-down, less sweet Hummingbird cake:

Pinnapple and Walnut Sheet Cake

2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour

1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 20-ounce can of crushed pineapple with juice
1 cup of finely chopped walnuts

Directions:

1) Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.

Photo: Indiana Connection

2) Beat in the eggs, then add the vanilla extract and pineapple with juice, and fold in the walnuts. Do not overmix, just enough to incorporate all the ingredients, so the batter doesn’t produce a tough cake.

3) Pour the batter into a well-buttered square baking pan.

4) Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 30 - 35 minutes.

Cream Cheese and Nut Frosting

Ingredients:

8 oz cream cheese (I use low-fat)

2 tablespoons of butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups of powdered sugar or more

1/2 cup of chopped walnuts (These I don’t chop as finely as the walnuts in the batter.)

Mix together except the walnuts. Spread the frosting on a cooled cake and top the frosting with the chopped nuts.

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LaPointe's Feather Coat Is Fun

2026-03-23T00:00:00.001-04:00

Photo courtesy of Town & Country

As a Manhattanite living in a small apartment, I don’t buy clothes like the coat that comedian Sandra Bernhard is wearing in the March 2026 issue of Town & Country. Although guests to my home think I have good-sized closets, to avoid clutter, I must organize ... plus limit my wardrobe to classic outerwear, jackets, sweaters, and shoes that go with everything else I own. All my coats and many of my shoes are black! Why? For their versatility. They go with everything!

Still, what a fabulous piece this feathered coat is from LaPointe’s Spring 2026 Collection! I love the beautiful purplish-blue color! The bit of silvery glitter on the ends of its sleeves. The shape is full yet not overwhelming, and the midi length is perfect for showing off Sandra's stylish pumps. Classic, old-style, showbiz glamour!

Oh, what fun to borrow it for a night out on the town!

Above are other pieces I like from LaPointe's feather collection. With the jackets, we must also sport the matching purse. They go together like Rodgers and Hammerstein. Do you agree? Have you ever worn feathers?

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You Rock Joy Bauer

2026-03-20T16:37:34.741-04:00

All photos and recipes courtesy of Joy Bauer

Nowadays, I must snack more mindfully because I don’t want to weigh 300 pounds. To a certain extent, I’ve always been a healthy eater, never fasting and never starving myself with unhealthy, unbalanced diets, but when I was younger, I could get away with eating more calories. Not anymore. Yet, one thing remains the same: I will not starve myself!

Today I was very impressed watching nutritionist, Joy Bauer (whose recipes I often like), prepare 3 snacks on The Today Show. She lightened up tasty treats you could make for family or party guests, using healthy ingredients with a good dose of protein. I’ll post Joy’s recipes below, i.e., on my electronic recipe box (with a link back to her) so Savvy Shoppers and savvy eaters (including me) can for sure find them time and again. (I never know what will disappear from the internet):

In general, I don’t like chicken on my pizza, but this recipe is really barbecue chicken on pizza crust. I'll use a combination of mozzarella and extra-sharp cheddar. Joy’s original recipe follows:

Barbecue Chicken Pizza -recipe #1

INGREDIENTS

Dough

¼ cup whole wheat flour, white-whole wheat flour, or 1:1 gluten-free flour½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
Pinch kosher salt
¼ cup nonfat Greek yogurt

Toppings:

2 tablespoons BBQ sauce**¼ cup packed shredded chicken mixed with 1 to 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
A few thin slices of red onion
2 to 4 tablespoon 2% shredded sharp cheddar or Mexican blend cheeseOptional chopped cilantro and hot sauce for garnish

INGREDIENT DETAILS TO KNOW

*Pour off liquid before measuring**For gluten-free, choose a gluten-free brand of BBQ sauce.

INSTRUCTIONS

1) Preheat oven to 450º degrees. Mist a baking sheet with oil spray and set aside.

2) In a small bowl, add the flour, baking powder, and seasonings. Mix to combine everything. Add the yogurt and stir until you have a crumbled mixture.

3) Using your hands, press and fold the flour into the yogurt until all of the pieces come together to form an elastic dough. While at first the dough will be fussy and crumbly, after about a minute of pressing and folding it will come together. Form one ball about the size of a baseball.

4) Place the ball on the prepared baking sheet and flatten with your palm. Roll it out into a thin circle using a rolling pin or a soup can until it has about a 7-inch diameter. Your shape can be somewhat artisanal or you can make it perfectly circular by pinching the outside perimeters with your fingers.

5) Place in oven on the middle rack for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and add the BBQ sauce on the crust and spread it out evenly. Add the saucy chicken, red onion slices, and sprinkle on the cheese.

6) Place back in the oven for another 5 to 8 minutes until the cheese is melty and the crust is crispy and browned around the edges. Garnish with optional chopped cilantro.

Mini Corn Dog Muffins - recipe #2

INGREDIENTS

1 cup white whole-wheat flour, or all-purpose flour*
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1½ teaspoons kosher salt1 (15-ounce) can sweet corn, drained (or 1½ cups frozen corn, thawed)
3 tablespoons butter, melted
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup nonfat or low-fat vanilla yogurt
¼ cup honey
2 tablespoons milk or water
8 pre-cooked chicken or turkey sausages, each cut into 5 pieces (about 40 pieces total)

Optional Toppings and Dips: Honey, hot honey, ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce

INGREDIENT DETAILS TO KNOW

* For a gluten-free version, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend in place of the white whole-wheat flour.If you’re making these gluten-free, double-check that your sausage brand is gluten-free too.

INSTRUCTIONS

1) Preheat the oven and prep the pans. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly coat two mini muffin tins with nonstick cooking spray.

2) Mix the dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.

3) Add the wet ingredients. Add the corn, melted butter, eggs, yogurt, honey, and milk or water. Stir until everything is combined and the batter is smooth. Be careful not to overmix—the batter should be thick and scoopable.

4) Fill the muffin cups. Spoon about 1 heaping tablespoon of batter into each mini muffin cup. Press one sausage piece into the center of each cup, gently pushing it down so the batter rises around it and partially covers the sides.

5) Bake and serve. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden and the cornbread is set. Let the muffins cool in the pan for a few minutes, then carefully remove them. Serve warm with honey, hot honey, ketchup, mustard, or BBQ sauce.

Caramelized Onion Dip - recipe #3

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 medium onions, thinly sliced (~6 cups worth)

1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1 cup lite sour cream, or nonfat or 2% Greek yogurt

½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

INGREDIENT DETAILS TO KNOW

*You can use nonfat or 2% plain Greek yogurt or light sour cream. Pour off any liquid that may have settled on top of the container before measuring. You can also half the sour cream or yogurt with light mayo.

INSTRUCTIONS

1) Add the oil to a large skillet and warm over medium heat. Add the onions with ½ tsp salt. Allow them to cook, stirring often, for about 60 minutes, until they’re nicely browned and fragrant. If the onions start to burn, lower the heat to low.

2) Also, if the onions become too dry at any point, add a tablespoon of water to the pan. The onions will reduce in size to yield about 1 cup when they’re caramelized.

3) When the onions are done cooking, let them slightly cool. Lay them on a cutting board and chop into tiny pieces. Alternatively, you can use a pair of kitchen scissors and snip them into small pieces right in the skillet.

4) In a mixing bowl, blend the sour cream, remaining salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix in the onions. Taste and season with extra salt, pepper and minced herbs.

5) Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. If it becomes thicker than you’d like, simply mix in a few extra tablespoons of yogurt or sour cream.

NOTES

• Caramelizing such a large amount of onions in one pan will take some time, about 60 minutes over medium heat. While a smaller amount of onions (just one or two) will caramelize more quickly, you’ll need this full amount for the addictive, onion-y flavor. Trust me on this. Use the largest and widest skillet you have on hand. Once your onions get started, I suggest putting on some great music and multitasking while they cook; you can dance, tend to other food items that need prepping, or catch up on a juicy episode of whatever you’re currently watching. You’ll need to stir them occasionally, so don’t stray too far from the kitchen!

• You can opt to caramelize the onions ahead of time and store in an air-tight container for up to 3 days or freeze them for up to 3 months.

• I use 3 medium yellow onions (~6 cups worth of slices), which will cook all the way down to just about 1 cup, if you can believe. You can use any onion but I recommend using yellow or sweet onions.

• If using nonfat Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, 2 tablespoons provide about 35 calories, 2g fat, and 2g protein.

🍅🍴🧅🍴🌽🍴🍅🍴🧅🍴🌽🍴🍅🍴🧅🍴🌽🍴🍅🍴🧅🍴🌽

Even as a teenager, I skipped dips as empty calories, empty nutrition. With Joy’s low-fat, protein-dense onion dip using Greek yogurt, I get to experience what I missed! If you make all 3 snacks for a gathering, you’ve got meat, whole grains, and vegetables. Pour a glass of wine and add strawberries and blueberries for dessert. That’s a complete meal in my book! Hat’s off to Joy Bauer!👏

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Admiring 2 Harry Winston Diamond Rings

2026-03-18T00:00:00.046-04:00

Another day, another eye candy blog. Let's browse: Here are 2 gorgeous Harry Winston diamond rings average wage earners can admire, yet likely not afford to buy. Even if consumers have the money in the bank, it would be unwise to spend it on luxury items like high-end jewelry rather than on necessities, emergencies, or retirement. But looking, ooing, and ahhing are free. So here we go!

The first ring is crafted in platinum; set with a 12.55-carat step-cut emerald, in a D-color that is internally flawless. The main diamond is flanked by 2 tapered baguette diamonds. The cost depends on the carats, color, and clarity a customer selects if buying it directly from Harry Winston. Both rings are available, with consumers choosing their center diamond.

Ring number 2 is crafted in platinum; set with a 6.01-carat pear brilliant-cut diamond, with E color and VS2 clarity; and it is also flanked by two baguette-cut diamonds. Once again, it’s available and customizable at Harry Winston’s, but Fortuna auctioned this 6.01-carat diamond ring for $187,000.

Oh, what if an average earner loves, loves, loves these beautiful diamonds as much as I do, but could never justify a Harry Winston purchase?

As I always say, "First a dreamer, then a realist!" Use the Harry Winston rings as inspiration and be willing to make some compromises to fit your budget! So what is a practical person who isn’t one of the new billionaires in our country to do?

Consder lab grown diamonds costing considerable less! Lab-grown gemstones are physically, chemically, and optically the same as gemstones that form over billions of years in the Earth's mantle. Be flexible on carat size, color, and clarity, and switch from platinum to 18k or 14k gold to lower costs. The benefit of gold over platinum is that the ring can be resized to fit a changing finger size over time. The 👆lab-grown pear-shaped diamond on the left is 2 carats in 18k gold, priced at $2,424.10, and it, too, is gorgeous!

For the emerald cut ring, this lab-grown diamond ring to the right👉 is without the side baguettes for $1,979.25. Still, if you yearn to dupe the Harry Winston design at a higher price, another option is here. Research all sellers thoroughly before making any purchases.

On a jewelry budget, perhaps rings are the best splurge, because you can admire their beauty while you wear them, unlike a necklace that requires standing in front of a mirror. You catch the sparkles of a ring as you toss your hand around!

Angara

Although much less than Harry Winston, $2,000+ for jewelry isn’t exactly cheap either, is it? If you’re simply looking for bling to wear without investing weeks of salary, there are yet more compromises you could make. You could buy lab-grown white sapphires, which are inexpensive and crafted in 925 sterling silver, which is still categorized as fine jewelry. Sterling silver is softer than gold, so you wouldn’t want a sterling silver engagement ring that you might wear daily, banging it around. Do. Not. Accept. That fiancée of yours must work a little harder! Sterling silver is a fine metal for necklaces, earrings, and rings you wear mindfully when you have few chances of banging it. Moreover, it's wise to take lower-priced jewelry that you can afford to replace on vacation.

Italo rings

Italo is one of several jewelry companies making lab-grown white sapphires in 925 sterling silver. With its ongoing deals, a buyer can score Harry Winston dupe rings at $70 - $100. Decent quality for the price.

Even so, I’m thinking if my ☆・*Fairy Godmother☆・* were to ever appear, she’d procure those 2 Harry Winston rings for me. I know she would, and I’m waiting! Are those fast twinkling lights I see, you know, the kind when a body holding a wand👤👗 materializes out of thin air?😛

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Oscar Dress Picks 2026

2026-03-15T22:15:00.059-04:00

Every year for fun, I select my favorite Oscar gowns. IMHO this year, not only are Jason Bateman and his wife, Amanda Anka, the best-dressed couple of the evening, but Amanda is wearing my overall favorite Oscar dress of the evening. I love its shimmer, the classy, revealing-yet-not-too-revealing skirt of the gown. It flatters her curves and is ultra glamorous from head to toe.

At the Academy Awards, black dresses were worn in abundance with other neutrals and not much color. The individuality was in the details of the frocks.

Alana Haim in Louis Vuittron (most daring!), EJAE in Dior, Rose Byrne in Dior

Alana Haim’s dress from the front angle is modern and cosmopolitan sans the huge side slits, which I didn’t notice right away. I wonder if it comes with a silk underlayer? I’m thinking, brrrr, air conditioning.

Teyana Taylor in Chanel, Demi Moore in Gucci, Emma Sands in Louis Vuitton

Zoe Saldana in St. Laurent, Gwyneth Paltrow in Giorgio Armani Privè, Anna Cathcart in Jenny Packham.

The last 3 are simple yet elegant dresses. I also love Zoe Saldana’s Cartier, Gwyneth Paltrow’s and Teyana Taylor’s Tiffany necklaces. (Click the photos to enlarge.)

The overall look of Oscar night was sophisticated and grown-up.

Photo: PEOPLE

I must add that Gwyneth has a beautiful body, but I her Oscar dress isn’t as elegant from the sides as the front. Actresses are bolder with less inhibition than regular people. At high-profile events, my sole motivation is to look my very best self. Again, I think air conditioning, brrr!

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Old Navy Fragrances Are Lovely

2026-03-12T00:00:00.086-04:00

Old Navy has a collection of hair and body mists that smell amazing, more clean than perfumy. In launching them, the clothing retailer partnered with Sol de Janeiro, one of the fragrance industry’s hottest brands. I love pampering my senior Mom by spraying her hair and arms with them. The fragrances are pleasant without an artificial or overpowering scent, and the mists have corresponding body lotions and body washes.

The 5 scents are:

1) Gourmand Thrill - described as sweet and delicious with notes of toasted pistachio, creamy coconut, and salted amber.

2) Fresh Splash - described as crisp and aquatic with notes of juicy pear, salty beachwood, and white wood.

3) Vanilla Crush - described as warm and woody with notes of seductive vanilla, tonko bean, and warm woods.

4) Floral Sweet - described as juicy and bright with notes of crushed raspberries, sensuous amber, and white potchouti.

5) Amber Vibe - described as sensuous and smoky with notes of Italian mandarin, golden oud, and sundried amber.

I discovered the lineup at my local Old Navy. They are available in 150 stores with plans to expand further in 2026. Made without parabens, sulfates, or animal testing, the products cost between $7.99 and $16.99. My local Old Navy sectioned off an area of the store with a curated selection of skin, body, and hair care items, which seem to focus on good, clean ingredients. I picked up a set of moisturizing, hair repair shampoo and conditioner!

These Old Navy fragrances are closer to nature's toiletries of flower oils, salt-kissed air, and sweet spices. If you gravitate towards botanicals over aromas such as Chanel No.5 or Dior Eau de Parfum, I highly recommend them! Try them.

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#Shorts: Old Navy Dress Alert!

2026-03-11T16:19:00.010-04:00

What a darling summer dress the Old Navy Fit & Flare Mini Dress is! 100% cotton in the floral pattern I like best, the dress comes in a total of 8 colors and patterns. With a sweetheart neckline, wide straps, fitted top and a flared skirt, this little number is machine washable. Oooo, look, you get side pockets too!

Although customers are reporting the length isn’t too mini, um short, I’d likely order it in tall. Love summer dresses that are above the knee, yet I’ll no longer wear super short dresses like I could get away with in my younger years. Moreover, a bit of extra length gives a summer dress more versitility.

Last year Old Navy’s mini dresses were not too short or as mini as one would think, and the only way to know about this year’s dress styles is to go into the brick-and-mortar store and try one on! If only the dress came with a lovely yet unhealthy bronze tan and a bright sunny day!

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A Retinol, Retinal, Retin-A Primer

2026-03-10T00:00:00.098-04:00

The Ordinary offers highly affordable (approx. $9–$15) vitamin A serums, primarily in squalane, that are designed to target anti-aging by treating fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin texture. For years, I’ve used these serums in strengths of 0.2% and 0.5%, as well as other name brands, which also claim to improve collagen production and cell turnover.

Certain dermatologists, such as YouTube’s Dr. Dray, question the efficacy of The Ordinary’s higher strengths as being more effective. When adhering strictly to results based on the known scientific studies, Dr. Dray recommends we use the following over-the-counter serums: (1) Differin Gel, (2) La Roche Posay Adapalene, (3) Avene Retinial 0.1 Intensive, (4) CeraVe Resurfacing Reinol or (5) Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair.

A few days ago, I started using The Ordinary Retinal 2% Emulsion, a high-strength retinaldehyde (a/k/a retinal) formula, which I like as it has the well-studied retinaldehyde ingredient, and it doesn't irritate my skin.

So let's have a quick review of Vitamin A serums: The medical or generic name for Retin-A is tretinoin (= prescription strength). Differein Gel is an FDA-approved non-prescription retinoid called adapalene 1% that was developed to treat acne. When 1st on the market, it was obtained by prescription, then it became non-prescription. Adapalene works by regulating skin cell turnover and reducing inflammation to clear, treat, and prevent blemishes, but this same remedy also eases the signs of aging.

Usually, tretinoin, a/k/a Retin-A, is too harsh on virgin skin, which must build up a tolerance for it to avoid the painful side effects of dry, flaky, raw skin. It’s best to start with non-prescription strengths of retinol or retinal. The good news is that all 3 forms (strengths) of Vitamin A serums have efficacy as anti-aging serums. We don’t get better results with higher-strength Vitamin A serums; rather, the benefits come from regular, consistent use.

Here’s how the different forms of Vitamin A serums work: retinol -> retinal -> retinoic acid. Retinol is converted into retinoic acid in 2 steps, whereas retinal requires 1 step. Retinoic acid is the active, oxidized metabolite of Vitamin A (from either retinol or retinal) that regulates cell growth, differentiation, and gene expression in the body. It’s potient skin renewing (or cell turnover) power is what erases the visible signs of aging.

And there you have it in a nutshell!

The Ordinary was the original game changer in making affordable anti-aging products, but other skincare companies followed. CereVe, Olay, L’Oreal, Neutrogena, Differein, Roche Posay, ROC, No. 7, and Avene (to name several) are fantastic drugstore options backed by science!

Choice galore lets consumers who take the time to learn about skincare ingredients find the best deals for less moola, so we can afford to use them daily without breaking the bank!

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Common Purslane Is A Perennial Superfood Plant

2026-03-05T00:00:00.013-05:00

Wow, I learn something new every day! I’m a city girl, and don’t know much about botany. Outside of well-known plants, I’m clueless. I did not know the following existed until last week! Here’s what I learned ...

Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea) is exceptionally easy to grow and naturalized all over the world. It’s very adaptable in all climates, though it thrives in warm, sunny, and dry conditions. Somewhat invasive, it is a highly resilient, drought-tolerant succulent that grows as a weed in nearly all soils, preferring well-drained, sunny spots. It is a summer annual in cooler zones and a perennial in warm climates.

If you’re as ignorant as I am, you might be tempted to remove it from your backyard or cracks in your concrete and toss it into the garbage, but no, you shouldn’t! Here’s why:

Common purslane is a nutrient-dense superfood. It is packed with omega-3 fatty acids (the highest amount of any land-based plant), along with high levels of vitamins A, C, and E and minerals like magnesium, calcium, iron, and potassium.

Its high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation in the body, the risk of strokes, and support a healthy heart. Its high content of antioxidants supports immunity and skin health. Its mineral richness supports bone health and regulates blood pressure. The plant also contains small amounts of vitamins B1, B2, B3, folate, copper, and phosphorus. This nutrient-dense powerhouse is low in calories at 16 calories per 100 grams. Studies indicate it also helps reduce insulin and blood sugar.

Purslane is a tasty weed that is categorized as a leafy green vegetable. It has a slightly salty and tart taste, and just like spinach or watercress, you can toss it in salads or on sandwiches. Mix it into grilled vegetables or add to stews.

Calorie for calorie, purslane is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on earth! It may look like a weed, but looks are deceiving! Now that I know what a common purslane is, I want to grow some in a flower pot. I’m curious to taste it. How about you?

One note of caution: If you find purslane in your neighborhood, be sure it hasn’t been sprayed with chemicals before eating it.

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Ways My Worried Friend Could Save Money

2026-03-02T00:00:00.211-05:00

Photo: Forbes

I have a Manhattan friend who is always worried about not having enough money to maintain her present lifestyle. I try to sympathize, and yet, we’re two different types of people in outlook and approach. I may write about value and bargains, but I’m not preoccupied with not having enough money to live on. Justified or not, I have confidence I’ll always manage. I don’t sound like the broken record that my friend does. As it happens, she inherited money 3 times, and IMHO, is better off than the average American who lives from paycheck to paycheck. This makes it tiring listening to her, but I find it’s best to just let her talk. She knocks down any logic I offer, and it doesn’t stop her from talking about the subject again and again since her anxiety is real.

A glass-half-empty attitude is draining. If you really need to tighten your belt, do it! Instead of rehashing your fears, take action!

Sometimes I fall into the trap of wanting to fix problems when someone else just likes to vent. So here goes.

Photo: HuffPost

Ways I think my friend could save if she had to, but I don’t believe she really has to:

1) She could cut her cable tv subscriptions.

2) She could lower her cell phone with a better plan. Last year, she was paying per minute. This year, she changed her plan to one without unlimited texts ... a huge mistake. It limits her ability to share information and keep in communication with her contacts, which is never a wise decision. Out of habit, people will continue texting her, and, like last year’s per-minute rate, her inflexible plan will significantly raise her bill. The world is not going to stop texting anytime soon.

3) She could stay in her neighborhood to buy food. Taking buses and trains to shop outside of her neighborhood adds up! Also, where she shops tempts her to buy more prepared food (cheese boards, salads, and desserts), which she wouldn’t buy if she shopped locally. Furthermore, she could use her transportation costs to buy some gourmet food in her own neighborhood, and still come out ahead. Again, we take different approaches. I like to simplify repetitive tasks, saving time, whereas my friend may love leaving her neighborhood to spend half the day food shopping. In the suburbs, the question becomes whether driving to multiple stores (it takes gas) saves you any money.

Photo: Dreamtime

4) She spends a lot of money on airfare for family events, which may be unavoidable since she wants to see and maintain relationships with her family. Her family's short notice often requires her to book expensive airfares. If she can afford it, fine. If not, she’s got to tell them she can’t attend every function.

5) She spends too much on her hair to the tune of $200 - $450 per salon visit, which she realizes. Her remedy is to teach me how to color her hair. Aye yi yi! I’ll try.😳

6) The more self-sufficient we can be, the better. We don’t have to pay for services once we can do certain tasks for ourselves. We may get a sense of accomplishment, also.

In summary: (1) Be realistic about what we can and cannot afford. (2) Trade worry for a positive frame of mind. (3) Take action when needed! (4) Embrace independence and simplicity in life to worry less about finances ... and hopefully enjoy more leisure time!

Friends make their own budgeting decisions. We may not know all the details, or they may simply be vendors, so only give advice if asked. Write blogs instead.🤭

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Greek Yogurt Reese’s Cups

2026-02-27T16:07:00.016-05:00

Both photos: Instagram here

I've been making my own version of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for years, sometimes for Christmas. I have never actually made cups, but I spread my mixture of peanut butter, eggs, and sugar onto a cookie sheet, bake it, top it with a melted block of chocolate, and then cut it into squares to eat. Delicious, here’s that recipe.

There’s an entirely new recipe floating around the internet that I recently tried. Per serving, it has more grams of protein, no sugar or eggs, requires no baking, so it's faster and easier to make ... the reason I wanted to try it. There are too many uploads of the recipe to know who originated it ... and I tweaked the ingredients myself to improve it. Many of the posters use powdered peanut butter and protein powder, which I do not stock. A few add maple syrup. I think it's tasty without additional sweeteners. Another change I make is adding a tad of milk to the melted chocolate because after the chocolate melts, it re-hardens during the refrigeration stage, and you don’t get an even amount of chocolate with each bite. Making a chocolate ganache spreads more evenly and maintains its consistency as a chocolate topping. So the following is my version of the recipe, which is ultra satisfying:

Greek Yogurt Reese’s Cups

Ingredients:

2 cups of plain Greek yogurt

4 tablespoons of crunchy peanut butter

1/4 cup of dark chocolate chips (or any chocolate you have)

1 tablespoon of milk, then add drops if needed

Optional: Sugar, dark bown sugar, honey, or maple syrup to taste. I omitted the sweetener.

Directions:

1) Soften the peanut butter in a microwave, then stir the Greek yogurt into it. If you buy peanut butter powder and/or protein powder, feel free to use them, but the recipe also works with just peanut butter. Add sweetner if using it. Pour into 2 dessert dishes.

2) In a separate bowl, combine your chocolate and milk and toss into a microwave to melt, then stir to make a ganache and spread over your 1st yogurt peanut butter mixture.

3) Refrigerate for 30 minutes or longer. Makes two 1-cup servings.

This recipe is good for eating a healthy sweet as a lunch, which is how I ate it. There are days I don’t want a lot of lunch or a fussy lunch with a lot of cleanup, so this recipe is a keeper. Try it too if you wish!

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What No Smudge Lipstick Does Taylor Swift Wear?

2026-02-26T00:00:00.069-05:00

When Taylor Swift went on her Eras Tour, she wore bold red lips. The megastar singer needed a lipstick that would not smudge during the length of her shows. The lipstick she chose was Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLust Legendary Wear Matte Lipstick in Elson 4, a vivid blue-red lipstick in a luxurious, long-lasting formula. Wearers like its comfortable, weightless feel that glides on seamlessly for velvety full coverage with one swipe. It’s designed to last 12 hours, but I have yet to find any lipstick that doesn’t need freshening up every few hours. Certain brands like this one will endure longer than others.

Frankly, I never wear a bold red lip color because it's high-maintenance. For it to stay put, you have to prep your lips with either a dab of foundation, concealer, or primer, next line your lips with a lip pencil, and then lock in the color with a dusting of powder. Unless I’m going to a special event, I just want to get out of the bathroom! So I lean towards nudes and naturals, sometimes with a little shimmer, often skipping the prepping, linining and powdering even for a night out on the town. It’s time you never get back!😉 A nude lip color can be worn on its own, but it wears off faster than red lipstick, and you must reapply it several times during a day or night. Even a subtle touch of color gives a face more polish, which Glamour magazine calls creating facial contrast. Creating facial contrast is also why we wear eyeliner or shadow. In the 21st century, society views wearing cosmetics as a sign of enhanced femininity but not masculinity. I was into bolder colors in my 20s than I am now.

That said, you bet I'd follow Taylor Swift's lead if I were going on stage in front of 1000s of eyeballs with iPhones recording me! She needs her fans in the top tiers of an arena to see her. Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLust Legendary Wear Matte in Elson 4 is a glamorous color on her.

There is a 2-area rule when applying vibrant makeup hues to our faces, for example, wear it on your eyes and lips, or your eyes and cheeks, or your cheeks and lips, but not on 3 areas. One area must remain minimal. Intense hues applied to all 3: eyes, cheeks, and lips, isn't flattering but starts to look cheap and overdone. You’re welcome!

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The Story Hybrid: A Suitcase in a Backpack

2026-02-24T00:00:00.013-05:00

Have you heard about The Story’s Suitcase-in-a-Backpack sold exclusively at Target? Wear it as a backpack, but open and pack it as a suitcase. It’s 35L in size and has a water-resistant polyester exterior with a zip-around closure. It has padded shoulder straps, an outside zipper pocket, and holds up to a 17-inch laptop inside. The hybrid travel backpack features interior mess compartments and pockets to separate and store all your items.

What gives this hybrid travel backpack its hot internet buzz and makes people want it is this: The combination backpack-suitcase is spacious yet small enough to qualify as your personal bag, to take along with your carry-on luggage unchecked aboard an airplane. In other words, you can board with 2 unchecked bags and no fees! It fits under an airline seat! As a bonus, when you’re pushing it to your gate to board your plane, it has an integrated trolley strap that slips over a wheeled suitcase.

Available in 5 colors, customers buy it to take an extra unchecked bag on an airplane, but the travel hybrid backpack also makes a great lightweight weekend suitcase that holds lots of stuff you can organize! So roomy that if you stuff it to the brim, it gets heavy.

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Breakfast Oatmeal Carrot Apple Cake

2026-02-22T13:16:00.023-05:00

We violated this cake before I knew I’d post a photo of it.

I tweaked a recipe for a (no fat, no flour, no sugar) healthy cake because had I not done so, it would have been a big, uneditable glob of gooey mess. There is no way you can make a fluffy cake with just fruit, applesauce, and oatmeal. Oatmeal will always be chewy, and not in a good way, if you transform it from cereal to cake! Moreover, cake is not good with zero sweetness. Still, I was intrigued by the recipe. Life is not always an either-or situation! Sometimes you can eat a no-compromise, full-out, high-calorie cake, and at other times you might choose to eat a little healthier. IMHO, you’ll want a real carrot cake when hosting dinner guests; to satisfy a dessert craving, or on your birthday ... and the following Oatmeal Carrot Apple Cake for a Sunday breakfast:

Breakfast Oatmeal Carrot Apple Cake

oatmeal flakes, 2 cups ground in a food processor (Grinding makes oatmeal finer and less chewy because it absorbs more moisture.)

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

3 eggs

1 teaspoon lemon juice (Lemon juice, vinegar, or buttermilk are 3 ingredients that causes baking soda to rise.)

1 cup applesauce

1 cup milk

2 small apples, shredded (about 1 cup)

1 cup carrots, shredded

1/2 cup walnuts

1/4 cup raisins (I add to keep a sheet cake moist for extra days.)

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1 teaspoon of pumpkin spice (or the equivalent of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and allspice)

Butter to grease the baking pan.

Directions:

1) Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl, one by one. I stirred with a fork.

2) Thickly butter a 9” by 9” square baking pan. There’s no other fat in the cake!

3) Pour and spread the cake batter, then pop it into a preheated 350 degree F oven. Bake for about 30 minutes.

4) Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes before removing it from the pan.

Low-Fat Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

4 ounces (1/2 package) cream cheese

About 2 cups (or more) of powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1) Mix and keep adding powdered sugar until you get the desired thickness.

2) Spread on top of the cake.

So what did I add to the Facebook recipe?: Flour, sugar, milk, lemon juice (your cake won’t rise without it), raisins, butter for the pan, and a low-fat cream cheese frosting. Whoever posted the original recipe did not make the cake. If they had, they wouldn’t have ended up with cake! You don’t have to be a professional baker to know it.

What motivated me to make this recipe was ... I had all the ingredients in my pantry, and a bowl of oatmeal didn't sound all that appealing. This is how my senior mom and I are eating our oatmeal this Sunday morning. A close enough 2nd to real full-fat carrot cake to be tasty. Good texture like carrot cake. Breakfast oatmeal, our way!

I’ll leave 2 links below for traditional and flakier carrot cakes to eat, not for breakfast but as dessert.🥕

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Oreck Elevate Command Vacuum

2026-02-19T08:30:00.016-05:00

To borrow a term from financial journalism, a vacuum cleaner isn’t a sexy topic, but I bet all households need one!

I use an Oreck Elevate Command Vacuum. It is recommended for hard floors and low to high-pile carpet, both of which I vacuum. I’ll start by stating I prefer upright vacuums that contain bags.

Uprights are more compact than canisters, and I’d rather push a handle than pull a canister to vacuum. I also wish to change and toss out dirt inside a bag over the less sanitary and greater mess of emptying and cleaning a bagless vacuum. So in selecting a vacuum, I start with these two preminators.

The Oreck Elevate Command Vacuum is super compact and lightweight to move around furniture or to carry up stairs. It has strong suction, nearly too strong on carpet on the carpet setting, as it ripped a corner lining of my 8.6 x 10-inch area rug! Nowadays, I only vacuum using the lower (hard floor) setting. However, I do like the ease of use and the excellent suction in achieving a good cleaning. Moverover it’s quieter compared to a commercial vacuum cleaner. Check the noise level when you are tempted to save a few bucks by ordering commercial instead of residential vacuums. Turned on, the Orack lights up, and it flattens to roll under a bed. I choose not to pay $100 more to buy the Oreck model with a swivel head. Would I have liked it? Sure. Is it worth another $100 bucks? You must decide for yourself.

Oreck upright vacuums lack attachments for anything beyond floor cleaning. So there is no hose on the side to clean couch crevices or blinds, and this lack of a hose gave me pause about whether or not to buy it. What sold me was Oreck's soft belly with a zipper over a hard plastic belly upright vacuum. A soft belly that you unzip to change the bag is lighter and more compact than a plastic belly when storing in a closet. No potential for plastic breaking off after years of opening and closing to change a vacuum bag, either.

Oreck has the reputation of being a durable vacuum cleaner with decent customer support, should anything go wrong. The Oreck Elevate Command Vacuum is a no-nonsense model. It does its single job of vacuuming the floor well, and I love how little space it takes to hide it away in a closet; therefore, I decided to pay the piper, expecting it to last for years to come.

I managed to buy it in 2025 during a promotion offering a $50 discount with 6 free hepa bags.

Still, I understand that vacuum cleaners have gotten expensive! So for consumers who have a small budget and really need to spend less, Housebrush offers a Cordless Vacuum Cleaner on a self-standing stick that many customers say cleans well and has a good battery life that is also rechargeable. There’s a small bagless compartment that collects the debris. It comes with convertible nozzles to clean 8 surfaces, not just floors. Customers also like the similar SVHT vacuum on a stick, costing even less. Perfect for dorms or tiny spaces. For a house, you’d likely need a more substantial vacuum cleaner, but I cannot speak from experience. Read all the customer reviews to know what type and size of vacuum cleaner is right for you!

Years ago, a co-worker bought a hot pink Oreck vacuum! A blast from the past. The black Oreck Elevate Command Vacuum is meeting all my needs, though I looked for the pink, a fun color to push around.:)

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How Do You Use Glycerin?

2026-02-16T00:00:00.005-05:00

I ordered 4 ounces of anise oil to make springerle for Christmas next year. Instead, a pharmacy sent me 6 ounces of glycerin. I hate to waste it. Although I know it is often an ingredient in soap and moisturizers, I don’t know how to use it. So I looked it up.

Glycerin (C3H8O3 - glycerol) is a compound derived from plants (from the triglycerides of such oils as soybean, coconut, or palm), animal fats (from beef or mutton tallow), or synthetic petroleum products (like propylene). It’s produced as a byproduct of making soap or splitting animal fats. Glycerin is also a natural ingredient found in fermented foods like beer, honey, and vinegar. If you are a science geek, go here for the in-depth details.

Suffice it to say, glycerin is a humectant (a substance that retains moisture, meaning it stops the loss of moisture), so it's often added to skincare as a moisturizer.

As a powerful moisturizer, glycerin needs to be diluted with water, rosewater, or mixed into lotions to prevent irritation and stickiness on the skin.

Photo: musimmas

According to several sources, you mix 1 part glycerin to 2 - 5 parts water or rosewater and can put it in a spray bottle to use as a mist. Or you can add 1 - 2 drops of glycerin to one application of your regular face or body toners and lotions. You can also add 1 - 2 drops on a cotton pad along with a cleanser or toner to remove dirt on your skin, or you can add 1 - 2 drops to hand lotions, lip balms, or overnight face masks to boost their moisturizing properties.

Safety tips for using pure glycerin include: (1) Always dilute, (2) apply to damp skin, and (3) avoid excess. Too much of a good thing is rarely a good thing!

Frankly, I don’t think I’d go out of my way to buy pure glycerin, but now I know more about it, and sometimes we do have lotions or moisturizers that work well in warm seasons, but need an extra boost to work better in drier, colder seasons. In such cases, it sounds like a few drops of glycerin could enrich an already sitting-at-home moisturizer, turning it into the ultra winter moisturizer!

Aren’t we all the wiser? If you have experience using glycerin, feel free to share.

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Godiva Chocolate Truffles on Valentine’s Day

2026-02-12T00:00:00.070-05:00

Godiva Chocolate Truffles are the best! A bite sits on your tongue and scrumptiously melts in your mouth. In Manhattan, I’ve often stepped into a Godiva shop, bought 2 truffles, and slowly eaten them on my walk home. With rich, select dark chocolate, two truffles are all it takes to be ultra satisfying. Unfortunately, Godiva closed all of its physical retail stores in North America, including those in Manhattan, in 2021, voiding our chances of passing one. So if we want to continue savoring the retailer's delicious truffles, we’ll have to try making them at home. The following recipe is ideal for Valentine’s Day:

Copycat Godiva Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients:

12 oz (Belgium to be authentic) dark chocolate 70% cocoa, finely chopped

6 oz heavy cream

1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, sliced

3 tablespoons of white table sugar

3 tablespoons Cognac (or, if you wish, Cognac extract, 1 teaspoon)

Optional flavors: Instant coffee or vanilla extract. I’m too lazy to make 3 different truffle flavors, but it can be done. You can also make truffles with white chocolate.

Directions:

1) In a saucepan, combine the heavy cream, butter, and sugar. Bring it to a gentle boil, then turn off the heat.

2) Add the chopped chocolate and whisk until you get a smooth ganache mixture. (If the mixture is too dry, carefully add a little extra butter here.) While cooling, stir in the Cognac.

3) Place the pot in the refrigerator for 10 to 20 minutes to help it solidify.

4) Next, whisk the mixture by hand or with an electric mixer

until it thickens.

5) Once firm enough, roll into tablespoon-sized balls and place on parchment paper.

6) Refrigerate for 4 hours or less time in the freezer until firmer.

6) Finally, roll the firm truffles into unsweetened cocoa powder, grated nuts, chocolate sprinkles, or dip them into melted chocolate with paraffin wax.

Although I’ve always bought, not made, Godiva Chocolate Truffles, times and circumstances change. The cost of all candy has skyrocketed! What's more, it's good to know how our treats are made and what ingredients go into them.

🍫🍬Happy Valentine’s Day! ♥♥♥

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Harry Winston’s Sunflower Collection

2026-02-09T00:00:00.025-05:00

Brrr, Manhattan is experiencing a deep freeze, forcing us to stay indoors. So today, let’s get our sunshine in an indirect way.🌞 Without leaving your home, come with me to Harry Winston to admire his Sunflower Collection. It’s for diamond lovers, although a customer could select the pieces set with several colored gemstones that feature rubies, emeralds, sapphires, or yellow diamonds!

We, ordinary wage earners, can’t afford the collection, but we can be inspired by its beautiful design when occasionally buying or being gifted more affordable jewelry.

1st up: The Sunflower Graduated Diamond Necklace is set in platinum with round brilliant-cut diamonds. The so-called small necklace has 429 round brilliant diamonds weighing 20.60 carats. That’s the small?😳 I could live with “small,” -- little puny 20 carats of diamonds in this necklace! Could you?

What’s more, the collection has matching watches, rings, earrings, and bracelets! So let’s continue our blog shopping spree, shall we?

The Harry Winston Premier Sunflower Automatic Watch is 36 mm in size with a yellow mother-of-pearl dial and a pearly yellow alligator leather strap. It comes in blue, red, and green also, but we’re focusing on sunshine yellow today. The Sunflower Diamond Two-Motif Twin Ring, set in platinum, has 36 round brilliant diamonds totaling 3.58 carats; its center stones weigh 0.70 carats.

The Sunflower Diamond Earrings on Wires in small, set in platinum, have 18 round brilliant diamonds weighing 3.73 carats. The center diamonds are approximately 0.70 carats. The platinum Harry Winston Sunflower Earrings on Wires in medium have 18 round brilliant diamonds that weigh 4.43 carats, and the center stones are 1.00 carats. Ooh, la, la, these resemble the Sisi’s Stars I covet!

Now we’ve arrived at selecting a bracelet: The Sunflower Diamond Bracelet in small has 198 round brilliant diamonds weighing 9.70 carats, and the large has 165 round brilliant diamonds weighing 16 carats. Both are set in platinum.

Visiting Harry Winston on my blog is much friendlier than going in person to the 5th Avenue flagship store. The shop is not welcoming to browsers, unlike Tiffany down the street, whose associates are fantastic to tourists!

17 round brilliant diamonds weighing a total of 1.72 carats, with a center stone of 0.70 carats conprise the small, set in platinum

Still, I will always be grateful to the jeweler, Harry Winston, for buying and donating the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian in Washington DC in 1958, so it’s on public display. The story is, he sent the Hope Diamond there in the US Mail!!😲

I hope you've enjoyed your Harry Windson stop on THE SAVVY SHOPPER! Before we know it, the weather will turn into a warm sunflower-growing season again. Let's never lose our love for summer, Mother Nature, or her jewels!🌻

Meanwhile, stay warm, my lovelies, in these frigid temperatures!

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