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Dried Vanilla Beans photo by B.navez (via Wikimedia Commons) Who says facebook is a waste of time?  It's true, you're on it when you should be doing something else.  But. Reading a fb friend's status sparked the idea for today's post.  After discovering how ridiculously easy it is to make real vanilla extract, I decided to stop buying the tiny-teeny-weeny commercial bottles.  So from now on I'm making my own.  With two simple ingredients, I will be rich in vanilla extract ... and it will cost less.  Here is the recipe:  Homemade Vanilla Extract Ingredients:   1 cup vodka 6 vanilla beans (also known as pods) * plus time Directions: 1. Using a sharp knife, cut the vanilla beans in half, lengthwise.  For a snazzy appearance, leave the very ends attached (so the pods look like a fork in the road). 2. Next place the cut vanilla beans in a canning [Mason, Ball, Kerr's] jar. 3. For every 3-6 vanilla beans, cover completely with one cup of vodka. 4....

One of the things I'm grateful for is you .  From my stats, I know you live all over the world. Thanks for your emails, ideas and simply for stopping by from wherever you are logging on.  I love hearing from you! State fair photo by my childhood friend, Pam H.  I'm grateful for my  friends. Hey little buddy.  You can be thankful that on this day, you're safe.  Looks like he read the preceding post on the importance of sleep, right? Click to enlarge I am touched by this 1936 photo of a child praying before school lunch.  Take a look.  She has a bottle of milk, a small sandwich, hot soup and an apple.  Her mother sent her to school with a clean, starched dress and a big bow for her hair.  It reminds me of the hopes and dreams every parent has for a child, and I wonder how this child's life unfolded. Are you counting your blessings today?  Sometimes it's the everyday things that really matter. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! You may also ...

Sleep is a building block of good health.   During sleep the body repairs [damaged cells] and rejuvenates itself. It is also "important in forming memories," says Robert Stickgold, PhD of the Harvard Medical School.  When you sleep, your brain organizes the experiences and "skills you learn during the day, refining and making sense of them." There is a significant link between how well someone sleeps and his/her overall health and function, according to the Harvard studies.  A chronic lack of sleep leads to illnesses such as heart disease, hypertension and stroke, as well as, depression, weight gain, diabetes and obesity. It turns out that too little or too much sleep is a bad thing.  Studies show that adults who sleep less than 7 hours, or more than 9 hours don't live as long as those who average 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night.  And laboratory animals die faster from a lack of sleep than a lack of food or water. So if you want to stay healthy, function at full c...

Go sleeve or sleeveless A reader of  THE SAVVY SHOPPER  called my attention to this convertible dress. What a creative and smart wardrobe staple.  Thank you, Loretta! You buy one dress – a piece of easy-to-work fabric -- and transform it into a dozen different looks.  Learning to style the dress definitely calls for a bit of practice, but with the help of  YouTube  tutorials, you can master a style, one possibility at a time. The dresses are classic and comfortable and come in an assortment of solid colors.  I think the dark colors are dressy.  A single convertible dress can take you through the holidays with a myriad of styles.  It is perfect to pack for out-of-town trips when the  less is more  principle rules.  Take one dress along to wear to many parities and events.  Look cute and chic and unlike the day-before without packing more than a carry-on bag.   Below are two manufacturers of convertible dresses.  T...

Empire State Building Photo by CNN Despite a hurricane, fights over voting rights and annoyances over voting procedures, the people have spoken. I don't mind living in a country with at least two political parties.  It's called a democracy.  And I don't mind living in a pluralistic society.  That's called the 21 st  century.  With the election over, let's get back to compromise and respecting differences.  As President Obama said, we are not red states and blue states, we are the United States. We live in hard times, not just here at home, but all over the world.  People need hope, jobs and opportunities to take care of their families.  I know I'm not alone in wanting to see politicians and everyone else work together for our common good.  Why is New Jersey's Governor Christie being attacked for praising the President's quick response to Sandy?   I was a congressional intern in Washington, D.C. at a time when U.S. Senators from oppo...

Believe it, or not, Christmas is only 7 weeks away, and Hanukkah begins on December 8 th  this year.  So it's not premature to start thinking about gifts.  Anticipation and early planning will help you sail through the season on a budget.  To avoid the stress of the Christmas rush, prepare early.  Your goal is to make the people on your list happy with a carefully chosen gift that you can afford: Here are five great gift ideas to consider: 1.  Benson & Clegg cufflinks  – For the gentlemen in your life, take advantage of a special offer:  Buy two, then get two free enamel cufflinks, made in England and hand finished in a range of elegant designs.  Under $45 a set. 2.  Camileon Heels  – For women on the go, comfortable shoes with easy-adjustable heels.  A wearer can walk to her destination in kitten heels.  Once she arrives, her 1 ½  inch heels transform into 3 ½  inch heels in seconds.  No more carrying a...