Zlogger - Learn, Live Well And Share.

Photo: Vaccines ProCon Perhaps your children are grown, out of the house, and you no longer think about vaccines. But did you know getting immunized against disease is a life long job? I did not really think about it. Recently my pharmacy sent me an email to get a booster shot for whooping cough, which prompted me to do research to see: (1) if doctors agree and (2) what other possible shots we need as adults. As it turns out there are a few to consider if you fall into certain catagories. Here is a list followed by links to learn more about each infection and who should be vaccinated: A handy List 😷***************************************************************************** 😷 Adult Vaccines You Need (source: Vaccineinformation.org ) 1 ) Chickenpox (varicella) If you’ve never had chickenpox or were vaccinated but received only 1 dose, talk to your healthcare provider to find out if you need this vaccine. learn more 2 ) Haemophilus ingluenzae type b Some adults with certain high-risk...

By nature I'm a mindful (not an impulsive or compulsive) buyer. Lately I try to be a minimalist ... buying only what I need, not more than what I need.  Despite hauling in less, clothes wear out. So  recently I added 3 new wardrobe basics: 1) L.L. Beam Tee, Crew Neck, Short Sleeves - I bought 3 teal colored, combed cotton t-shirts to replace my blues that are tattered. But I had to check several retailers to find the bright colors of spring. Surprisingly, Old Navy , GAP and Uniqlo are only carrying neutral colors this year, namely white, black, gray, navy and very pale pink. What's up with only neutral colors for spring tees?😮 When are we supposed to wear bright colors??? Next: 2) Uniqlo Geometric-Print Short-Sleeve Bra Dress  - In Summer I adore Uniqlo's bra dresses. A full support bra is built-in for comfort. The cut and fit are ladylike. The dress is flattering yet easy-to-wear just like shorts. I have 4 sleeveless bra dresses in different floral prints and colors...

Poison Rose Lip Powder Palette shades: Lip Priming Balm (nude) Zira (shimmering rose gold) Calypso (matte rose) Damask (matte fuchsia) Ottoman (matte scarlet) Luxe brand  NARS  never disappoints. Its formula's and pigments are top notch and the colors are always beautiful. For spring, NARS collaborated with British fashion designer, Erdem Moralioglu. D esigner  Erdem is passionate about 2 things, the color yellow and flowers, which are reflected in the new NARS Erdem Strange Flowers Collection . The new launch includes an innovative dry powder lip palette, 6 lipsticks, 2 blushes, a highlighter stick and blotting paper. The lipsticks are $28, the blush $30 and the 3  palettes  go for $49.  6 lipstick colors: Bloodflower (bright cherry red) , Moon Orchid (sheer light pink), Larkspur (sheer orchid), Voodoo Lily (sheer muted lavender), Wild Flower (deep plum purple),  , Carnal Carnation (sheer raspberry red) The Erdem Strange Flowers Collection has...

Photo: Playbuzz An old American spiritual says,"He's Got the Whole World in His Hands,'' and what an interconnected world it is. We, humans, are here to enjoy and take care of our planet. Today on Earth Day , is an excellent time to remember our responsibilities as stewards and ask ourselves can we do anything better to care for Mother Earth ? It turns out that "environmental plastic is a growing disaster." Most plastics are made from "non-renewable resources" of petroleum or natural gas, "extracted and processed by destroying fragile ecosystems ." Think about it the next time you buy bottled water! And getting rid of plastic causes other problems. It isn't biodegradable, so plastic bags and bottles pervade landfills and our ocean. Producing and burning plastic pollutes everything on earth : air, land and water. The concern is so great that New York City plans to ditch plastic grocery bags, bottles (sold in parks), drinking straws and ...

It's you, not me. We are breaking up. Like many of you, I lo v e the taste of  Nutella , but according to nutritionists Nutella doesn't love us back. Unfortuntely, this delicious treat contains a host of bad ingredients -- sugar, harmful fats, chemicals and only a trace amount of chocolate or hazelnuts. There's almost nothing in Nutella that young children or adults should eat! Instead let's make our own homemade Not Nutella Spread . Like all the recipes on THE SAVVY SHOPPER , it is easy-peasy with better ingredients: Cacao Hazelnut Butter Ingredients: 1 cup hazelnuts (combine with almonds, if you wish) 3 tablespoons cacao powder (or cocoa powder) 1 teaspoon real vanilla 1 tablespoon of honey Optional: Drops of skim milk (as a last step if the nut oils aren't enough for a creamy consistency.) Directions: 1) Roast the nuts on a baking sheet in the oven for 10 minutes. Allow to cool. 2) Toss into a food processor and give it a whirl. Add the rest of your ingredients,...

My living room has no center overhead light so I have 3 floor lamps to light the room. The 4th corner could use a light too, but I have a slender 4 cube storage unit there. And, I don't want track lighting, nor the expense of installing it. It looks like IKEA has come to the rescue. The retailer sells a selection of Solvinden lamps . Not only do you not need an electrician, you don't need outlets, so you can put them anywhere in a room. The lamps are 100% solar powered with solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity.  No cords, no plugs, no supply of batteries needed. Just smart, eco-friendly lamps! And wallet-friendly too, costing: $7 - $17, depending on size. Oh, the more light-in-a-room solution is here! You may also enjoy: DIY: Drop Cloth Curtains Shelf Helpers To Organize Selectiong The Right Houseplants The Best Places To Go For Antiques And Home Decor

Photo: Betty Crocker I don't know which I prefer: American (made with eggs and mayonnaise), or German potato salad. My mother made mostly German and now that I'm an adult, I make mostly German potato salad too. (Shhh, don't tell her. I am not turning into my mother.) German potato salad seems more ambitious because of the clean up. It requires frying bacon and so you have a greasy skillet to wash and grease to dispose of. I cheat dealing with the mess by microwaving  slices of bacon in between paper towels on a large plate. Then I trash the greasy paper towels and simply wash a not-too-greasy plate. The paper towels absorb 99% of the grease. I also microwave whole unpeeled potatoes instead of boiling and peeling them. Let the microwaved potatoes cool off a bit before you handle them. Here is my recipe: Ingredients: 4 medium washed, unpeeled potatoes 6 slices (or more!) crispy bacon 1/2 onion, diced 1/4 cup cider vinegar About 3 tablespoons hot water 3/4 teaspoon salt, or to...

I have several Old Navy summer dresses in my wardrobe. They are fashionable, cool and comfortable like shorts, machine washable and relatively cheap. Most prices start at under $40 before Old Navy's unbeatable sales and promotions kick in for a final cost of $10 - $25.  Here are a few cute offerings on ON's website  to consider. New styles appear often: I must report that the craftsmanship can be hit or miss at times. Occasionally, I've received a dress with the waistline too high that I sent back, but 95% of the time, the dress is lovely. With free shipping and returns, it is well worth the risk.  Customer care at Old Navy is friendly and top-notch!   Everyday summer dresses are not articles, I like to splurge on because it isn't practical or necessary. Better to have a carefree dress you don't have to worry about soiling. But that doesn't mean I don't want to look pretty or will accept a subpar dress! With experience you learn which styles flatter you mo...