Elegant Multi-Purpose Lanyards Made by Alexander Outdoors
Archive for the ‘stylish living on a shoestring’ Category
Elegant Lanyards by Alexander
In elegant dressing, elegant living on a shoestring, elegant survival, Elegant Survival Tools, stylish living on a shoestring on 03/03/2012 at 6:11 amHand-Washing Shirts
In Do-It-Yourself, Doing Laundry, economical housekeeping, Economical Soap, emergency iron, energy efficiency, line drying clothes, Line-Drying, Living without Electricity, Stylish Living, stylish living on a shoestring, sun dried shirts, Sun-Drying Clothes, Sundried Clothes, Survival Clothes Iron, Survival Tips, survival tools, washing a man's shirt line drying clothes, Washing by Hand, Washing Clothes by Hand, Washing Men's Shirts on 01/08/2011 at 11:36 am
Safe, Quick and Inexpensive Hand-Washing of Shirts and Blouses: the Alternative to Dry-Cleaning
Fine shirts are cared-for properly with hand-washing and line-drying.
A Few Significant Facts about Elegant Survival
In About Elegant Survival, Arbiter Elegantiarum, Elegance, Elegant Living, elegant survival, Elegant Survival FAQ, M-J de Mesterton, stylish living on a shoestring on 01/10/2010 at 12:05 pm
A Few Significant Facts about Elegant Survival
In About Elegant Survival, Arbiter Elegantiarum, Elegance, Elegant Living, elegant survival, Elegant Survival FAQ, M-J de Mesterton, stylish living on a shoestring on 01/10/2010 at 12:05 pm
Elegant, Nutritious Radishes
In Elegant Vegetable, Elegant Vegetables, Entertaining on a Shoestring, Gall Bladder Tonic, Health Food, Healthy Snack, Himalayan Salt, Home Cooking, Liver Tonic, M-J Recommends, Photos by M-J de Mesterton, Radishes, South of France, Stylish Living, stylish living on a shoestring, Summer Dip, Summer Drinks Party, summer harvest, Vegetable Dishes on 05/08/2010 at 7:46 pm
M-J’s Winter Health Smoothie
In cooking, Elegant Glass Coffee Mug, elegant living on a shoestring, elegant survival, Elegant Survival Favorite, elegant survival health, Elegant Survival Household Hints, Epidemic, Family Survival, Fighting a Cold, Flu, Gardening, Harvest Time, Health, Health Concerns, Health Food, Health-Nuts, Healthy Snack, Household HInts, Household Tips, M-J and one of her rock and gem paintings, M-J de Mesterton Original Recipes, M-J de Mesterton's Copyright, M-J on Elegant Survival, M-J's Original Ideas, stylish living on a shoestring, Survival Tips on 09/12/2009 at 10:57 am
M-J de Mesterton's Winter Health Smoothie
One half-cup of water, one fourth-cup of lemon juice, one jalapeño or serrano pepper (roasted, pickled or fresh), two stalks of celery, one-half of a cucumber, one tablespoon of thick yoghurt or one half-cup of buttermilk, one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and one tablespoon of parsley, all whirled in a blender till smooth. Add water if necessary for processing.
Copyright M-J de Mesterton 2009>Elegant Survival News
In elegant dressing, Elegant Survival News, Elegant Survival Recommendations, Fashion Faux Pas, How to Dress, Low-Rise, M-J's Original Recipes, stylish living on a shoestring on 06/04/2009 at 6:45 pm>
The Acid/Alkaline Balance
The environment of fluids in which your cells reside is known as your biological terrain. The following are four characteristics of your biological terrain: pH refers to the “potential of Hydrogen” and its activity level in fluids. Many people today have an overly acidic pH due to drinking colas, improper food combinations, consumption of processed foods, stress and pollution. Apple Cider Vinegar raises the alkalinity of the extra cellular fluid that surrounds your cells. An alkaline, versus acidic, environment is believed to be one of the major deterrents to tissue damage, aging and the growth of disease organisms. When your body consists of a more neutral to alkaline environment, the body can then use its amazing God given ability to heal itself naturally.
Our bodies are alkaline by design and acid by function. Maintaining alkalinity is essential for life health and vitality. All leading biochemists and medical physiologists have recognized pH or acid/alkaline balance as the most important aspect of a balanced and healthy body. They have long known that the maintenance of an alkaline pH is critical to cellular health.
We live and die at the cellular level. In order to understand pH balance, it is necessary to realize that all the 75 trillion cells of the human body are slightly acidic and must exist in a slightly alkaline environment (the body fluid) if they are to remain healthy and produce energy.
Alkalinity is anabolic (builds up) and acidity is catabolic (tears down). As each cell performs its task of respiration, it secretes metabolic wastes which are acidic. These wastes are the end product of cellular metabolism and must not be allowed to build up. The body goes to great lengths to neutralize and detoxify these acids before they are in a position to act as poisons in and around the cell, changing the environment of the cell.
Optimum alkalinity at cellular level equates to optimum health. Today, you can help put the alkaline balance back into your body by getting Apple Cider Vinegar .
“Apple Cider Vinegar is the #1 food, I recommend for maintaining the body’s vital acid-alkaline balance.” Gabriel Cousens, M.D., author of Conscious Eating
Apple Cider Vinegar keeps your pH level of your body fluids in sync so your body can fight disease naturally, the way it was meant to.
Simplicity Retro Pattern: Elegant Slacks and Classic Jacket
23 02 2009
Skirt and Slacks with Proper Waist: Very Flattering
Low-Rise Clothes: Time for an Uprising
23 02 2009
Trousers at Bookster U.K.
So, you are possessed of a perfectly shaped body and decide to go shopping. There is nothing available but low-rise pants and skirts that rest on the hip. The fashion industry and its manufacturers are saving big bucks on your back. You decide that to go against what seem to be the demands of current fashion is pointless, so you buy whatever looks prettiest on the hanger. Once it goes onto your well-toned corpus, something sinister happens: your legs now look a mere foot long, and your tight “abs” sit above the low-rise top of your skirt or slacks, looking for all the world like a beer-gut. What’s happening here? The fashion industry is sabotaging your looks while saving themselves money on yardage. It’s now impossible to find a pair of pants, tights, or a skirt that comes up to the natural waist; anything that does is derisively and incorrectly labeled “high-waisted”.
If you must have your clothes made for you in order to avoid this sick, disfiguring fashion regime, there are ways to do it without breaking the bank. A well-constructed pair of corduroy, moleskin or tweed trousers will get you through the depression in style, last for many years, and what’s most appealing about them is that they will make you look taller than everyone else (unfortunate fashion-victims that they are). Even a well-shaped jacket can be sabotaged by slacks, skirts, or trousers that hang below it. Last night’s Academy Awards brought out a cavalcade of men whose crotches landed below the bottom edge of their jackets–poor misguided fellows, yet rich enough to get it right. Overly long slacks creating a puddle of fabric on top of men’s shoes do not lengthen their legs visually–they just look wretchedly tailored.
A tasteful and reliable source for elegant, durable tweed jackets and trousers is Bookster U.K. They will guide you through the ordering process, and see to it that your clothes have an actual waist, so that your investment isn’t a waste. The clothes are made by Bookster in England. There are plenty of British and American companies that copy the traditional English styles, but have them made inexpensively in China. Yet, these clothes are crafted the old-fashioned way, close to where the fabrics are milled in the United Kingdom. It may take a couple of months to have a great pair of trousers or elegant jackets made, but you just might be wearing them for a lifetime. Bookster U.K. is a small operation with a huge reputation for customer service and fine clothing. They specialize in equestrian and tweed clothes, which are perfect for town and country.
Don’t let hip-hop fashion and cheap clothing manufacturers dictate your style. It is time for an uprising against the tyranny of low-rise clothing.
Don’t let hip-hop fashion and cheap clothing manufacturers dictate your style. It is time for an uprising against the tyranny of low-rise clothing.
~~Copyright M-J de Mesterton; February 23rd, 2009
Elegant Survival Recommends Gloves for Safety and Style
21 02 2009
| I’ve advocated the wearing of gloves on Elegant Survival since its beginning in 2006. Try Gloves-Online.com |
Inexpensive, Tough, Useful Leather Gloves: One of Many Styles at www.gloves-online.com
Elegant Woman or Christmas Tree?
9 01 2009
I tend to bite my tongue in order to not offend people. However, I feel it is relevant and helpful to broach the topic of jewelry (spelled “jewellery” in Britain). I only wear earrings and a necklace together on rare occasions–like when Hell freezes over!
It was Coco Chanel who advised women to assess their ensembles before going out, and to then arbitrarily remove one piece of jewelry. These days, one sees otherwise presentable women wearing long, dangling earrings and several necklaces at once, perhaps a broach on the hat or coat, and then enough bracelets to open a booth in a souk. (These baubles may have sentimental value for the wearer, but to the discriminating eye, they just scream, “too many nuts and cherries on the sundae!”) Would you rather look like an elegant lady, or be festooned like a Christmas tree?
A strand of pearls or other tasteful necklace, such as one which features a simple jewel, OR a pair of elegant, non-pendulous earrings that separate you from the primitives, together with a watch, is a safe daytime jewelry scheme. A well-dressed lady may exercise a bit more flair in the evening. Beware, though, of appearing overly decorated–a person’s sterling qualities can easily be overlooked by the distraction that too much jewelry creates.
It was Coco Chanel who advised women to assess their ensembles before going out, and to then arbitrarily remove one piece of jewelry. These days, one sees otherwise presentable women wearing long, dangling earrings and several necklaces at once, perhaps a broach on the hat or coat, and then enough bracelets to open a booth in a souk. (These baubles may have sentimental value for the wearer, but to the discriminating eye, they just scream, “too many nuts and cherries on the sundae!”) Would you rather look like an elegant lady, or be festooned like a Christmas tree?
A strand of pearls or other tasteful necklace, such as one which features a simple jewel, OR a pair of elegant, non-pendulous earrings that separate you from the primitives, together with a watch, is a safe daytime jewelry scheme. A well-dressed lady may exercise a bit more flair in the evening. Beware, though, of appearing overly decorated–a person’s sterling qualities can easily be overlooked by the distraction that too much jewelry creates.
~~Copyright M-J de Mesterton 2009
Elegant Survival Recommends Burpee Seeds for Vegetables
18 01 2009
George Ball, the chairman of Burpee Seed company, says that, if you arrange your planting just right, “A hundred dollars in seeds will produce $2,500 in groceries.” Burpee’s new $10.00 Money Garden kit contains six seed envelopes for easy-to-grow vegetables, and is capable of producing $650 worth of groceries.
Burpee’s Money Garden Seed Kit includes bell peppers, beefsteak tomatoes, sugar snap peas, green beans, carrots and elegant Bibb lettuce. If purchased separately, the six envelopes of seeds would cost $20.
Burpee’s Money Garden Seed Kit includes bell peppers, beefsteak tomatoes, sugar snap peas, green beans, carrots and elegant Bibb lettuce. If purchased separately, the six envelopes of seeds would cost $20.
Burpee Money Garden Kit, Available Now On-Line Only Burpee’s toll-free Money Garden hotline: 1-800-333-5808.
Includes packets of:
Bush Snap Bean Heavyweight II (2 oz.)
Stocky plants are only 18″ tall, yet produce huge handfuls of sweet tender pods fully 8″ long. Delicious and productive. 53 days.
Lettuce Burpee Bibb (1000 seeds)
This small heading variety is the sweetest Bibb lettuce you’ll ever taste. Each head makes a delicious salad. Slow to bolt and disease resistant. 75 days.
Bell Pepper Home Run (30 seeds)
More uniquely flavored than any bell we’ve grown. Green, it’s sweet and mild. Fully ripe, it has a fruity taste worth waiting for. Blocky fruits are 3″ across. 60 days (green) 80 days (red).
Carrot Big Top (1500 seeds)
Extremely sweet at all stages of harvest. Grows crispy, thick, deep reddish orange roots up to 8″ long. Our finest quality carrot. 65-80 days.
Garden Pea Super Snappy (300 seeds)
The longest edible-podded pea. 5-6″ long, with 8-10 large, sweet peas per pod. Tolerant of powdery mildew. Ht: 28-32″. 65 days.
Large Round Tomato Steak Sandwich (30 seeds)
Luscious beauties offer old-fashioned taste for sandwiches and salads. Vigorous plants bear dozens of large, meaty 10 oz. fruits. Continues to bear fruit all summer. Indeterminate. 70 days.elegant bibb
Drinking Coffee in Middle Age May Help Prevent Dementia Later in Life
19 01 2009
Coffee for Mental Health
STOCKHOLM, January 14th, 2009
Middle-aged people who drink moderate amounts of coffee–three to five cups daily–can significantly reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, a newly completed study by Finnish and Swedish researchers suggests.
“Middle-aged people who drank between three and five cups of coffee a day lowered their risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by between 60 and 65 percent later in life,” said research team-leader Dr. Miia Kivipelto, a professor at the University of Kuopio in Finland and at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.
The study, which was conducted in league with the Finnish National Public Health Institute in Helsinki, was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease this month. The research on coffee and its effect on the prevention of dementia in its various forms was based on successive interviews with 1,409 people in Finland during the span of two decades.
The subjects were first tested for cognitive abilities and asked about their coffee-drinking habits when they were in their 50s. Their memory functions were tested again in 1998, when they were between 65 and 79 years of age.
Of the 1,409 research subjects, total of only 61 had by then developed dementia, 48 of whom had the Alzheimer’s variety.
Dr. Miia Kivipelto reported, “There are perhaps one or two other studies that have shown that coffee can improve some memory functions (but) this is the first study directed at dementia and Alzheimer’s (and) in which the subjects are followed for such a long time.”
Coffee contains several antioxidants which are known to counteract Alzheimer’s disease.
Some studies have also shown that coffee helps protects the nervous-system, which can also protect against dementia. Previous studies suggested that coffee protects against diabetes, which is now linked to Alzheimer’s.
“Middle-aged people who drank between three and five cups of coffee a day lowered their risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by between 60 and 65 percent later in life,” said research team-leader Dr. Miia Kivipelto, a professor at the University of Kuopio in Finland and at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.
The study, which was conducted in league with the Finnish National Public Health Institute in Helsinki, was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease this month. The research on coffee and its effect on the prevention of dementia in its various forms was based on successive interviews with 1,409 people in Finland during the span of two decades.
The subjects were first tested for cognitive abilities and asked about their coffee-drinking habits when they were in their 50s. Their memory functions were tested again in 1998, when they were between 65 and 79 years of age.
Of the 1,409 research subjects, total of only 61 had by then developed dementia, 48 of whom had the Alzheimer’s variety.
Dr. Miia Kivipelto reported, “There are perhaps one or two other studies that have shown that coffee can improve some memory functions (but) this is the first study directed at dementia and Alzheimer’s (and) in which the subjects are followed for such a long time.”
Coffee contains several antioxidants which are known to counteract Alzheimer’s disease.
Some studies have also shown that coffee helps protects the nervous-system, which can also protect against dementia. Previous studies suggested that coffee protects against diabetes, which is now linked to Alzheimer’s.
- Health
~~M-J, January 2009
Elegant Survival Recommends Berkeley Hat Company
24 01 2009
Berkeley Hat Company,
the largest hat store in California, has traditional hats for men and women, novelty hats, and Tilley Endurables for traveling. Their on-line shop accepts PayPal and credit cards. Prices are reasonable. It’s smart, in more ways than one, to cover your head during all seasons of the year. At Berkeley Hat Company, you can acquire a hat wardrobe for a song. Even if you aren’t looking for a topper, you’ll enjoy looking at the selection of hats at Berkeley Hat Company.
BERKELEY HAT COMPANY
2510 Telegraph Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
tel. 510 549-2955
Elegant Tweed Coat by Aquascutum
24 01 2009
Our friends at Bookster offer this ladies’ tweed coat by Aquascutum, size 10/8.
Aquascutum Women’s Tweed Coat at Bookster U.K.
Foods and Vitamins that Help Prevent Cancer
31 01 2009
Ginger root is believed to inhibit cancer-cell growth, particularly in the female reproductive organs.
The oleic acid in olive oil dramatically reduces the levels of the cancer gene Her-2/neu, which is found in breast cancer tumors.
Beans and other legumes may lessen the risk of breast cancer, because they can suppress the production of enzymes that encourage tumor growth. Try to eat beans three times a week.
Supplement your diet with vitamin B-6 and vitamin D-3.
Folate, a B-Vitamin found in leafy greens, is a powerful cancer-fighting agent. It fights the changes in DNA that cause cancer-cell growth.
Eating carrots may reduce the risk of kidney cancer and ovarian cancer.
Watermelon, tomatoes, and pink grapefruit, because of their lycopene component, can reduce the risk of prostate cancer and colorectal adenomas (tumors).
Citrus peels contain limonene, which acts as a sunscreen inside your epidermis.
The oleic acid in olive oil dramatically reduces the levels of the cancer gene Her-2/neu, which is found in breast cancer tumors.
Beans and other legumes may lessen the risk of breast cancer, because they can suppress the production of enzymes that encourage tumor growth. Try to eat beans three times a week.
Supplement your diet with vitamin B-6 and vitamin D-3.
Folate, a B-Vitamin found in leafy greens, is a powerful cancer-fighting agent. It fights the changes in DNA that cause cancer-cell growth.
Eating carrots may reduce the risk of kidney cancer and ovarian cancer.
Watermelon, tomatoes, and pink grapefruit, because of their lycopene component, can reduce the risk of prostate cancer and colorectal adenomas (tumors).
Citrus peels contain limonene, which acts as a sunscreen inside your epidermis.
~~M-J, 2009
Elegant Survival and Le Boulevardier Led the Way
2 02 2009
Le Boulevardier, Copyright M-J
Le Boulevardier sent this link to me: a Forbes article about what men will be wearing, with his comment that we at Elegant Survival have been lightyears ahead of fashion trends. We don’t advocate the style of a certain era, like some sites do, coming off like campy costumers. Our style has remained constant throughout the decades. We have written about the figure-and-image-enhancing qualities of classic cuts and fabrics, for both men and women. And let’s hope that the days of low-rise pants and ugly stubble are gone off the style radar, and relegated to the slums or prisons where they started. We are sick and tired of seeing men and women dressing and walking like slobs. Let the depression bring on some real dignity in human appearances. I’ve seen dogs that look better than the Hollywood crowd lately (maybe that’s why the brooch-pooch is so popular among them). Putting a movie star with a three-day growth on the cover of a style magazine is inexcusable. Beware of Splay-Foot, Shorty-Pants and Stubble-Face. They have made a mockery of the human race!
The Importance of Sleep
7 02 2009
I urge you to read this article about the importance of sleep, by Dr. Allen Josephs, which draws on current research to explain how a lack of sleep can make you fat, and even has the potential to kill you.
Elegant Cupboard Update
8 02 2009
Elegance Is Found in Simplicity
Recycle your analogous jars, fill them with your staples, and label them yourself. This reduces the visual confusion in your kitchen cupboards or cabinets.
Elegant Kitchen Cupboard Update, March 21st 2009
Elegant Kitchen Cabinet Organization Update, March 21st
Rival Crock-Pots and Slow-Cooker Appliances Save Energy
8 02 2009
Making my European meat sauce on a gas range or electric cook-top always made me wonder about the energy consumption involved. From now on, I am going to cook it in an electric slow-cooker. It will not only enhance the flavor of my sauce, but prevent it from scorching.
Today’s Crock-Pots, an invention by by Rival company, are very energy-efficient compared with gas-fired ovens, electric cook-top, gas-stoves or toaster ovens, and even wood-stoves. These units, commonly called “slow-cookers”, run on 100 watts of electricity. If used twice weekly, for eight hours at a time, your slow-cooker will consume about forty cents’ worth of energy per month.
Slow-cooking is a way to make inexpensive cuts of meat tender, as in New England boiled beef or stews. There are plenty of recipes on the internet which call for the use of an electric slow-cooker, including ones which employ dry beans, an excellent source of low-cost protein and fiber. Rival has a great recipe for boeuf Bourguignon on its Crock-Pot web-site. Bon appétit!
Today’s Crock-Pots, an invention by by Rival company, are very energy-efficient compared with gas-fired ovens, electric cook-top, gas-stoves or toaster ovens, and even wood-stoves. These units, commonly called “slow-cookers”, run on 100 watts of electricity. If used twice weekly, for eight hours at a time, your slow-cooker will consume about forty cents’ worth of energy per month.
Slow-cooking is a way to make inexpensive cuts of meat tender, as in New England boiled beef or stews. There are plenty of recipes on the internet which call for the use of an electric slow-cooker, including ones which employ dry beans, an excellent source of low-cost protein and fiber. Rival has a great recipe for boeuf Bourguignon on its Crock-Pot web-site. Bon appétit!
Simple Composting Tip to Enhance Your Kitchen Garden
10 02 2009
Photo Copyright M-J de Mesterton, 2008
Ever since a Spanish friend told me to bury my banana peel under the rose bush to make it flower more, I have been keen on making all fruit and vegetable scraps work for me outdoors. I dig a six-to-eight inch hole and lay in the orange and apple peelings and cores–anything vegetal can fertilize your soil. End-pieces cut from celery, carrots and capsicums (peppers) go into the garden, as well, and then are covered with a few inches of dirt. Coffee grounds and used tea are particularly appreciated by plants. This process will fertilize and enrich your garden during the cold months, and even prevent some pests in the warmer seasons. Citrus peels are said to repel cats and caterpillars. Here is some information I found about uses for citrus peels.
The proverbial French chef never lets anything go to waste in the kitchen, thus creative soups, stocks and French toast (pain perdú) were born. You can go him one better, though, and whatever vegetal matter doesn’t go into the pot can go back into the garden whence it came, with marvelous results. Just turn over your soil and see the richness, as what you have added to it turns into great fertilizer. Keep in mind that all material buried in your garden or compost-bin must be of vegetal, not animal origin. Meat and dairy products will attract vermin.
For easy-to-grow, non-hybrid survival seeds, see my article about the “Burpee Money Garden”. It could help you through a severe economic depression. Happy gardening!
The proverbial French chef never lets anything go to waste in the kitchen, thus creative soups, stocks and French toast (pain perdú) were born. You can go him one better, though, and whatever vegetal matter doesn’t go into the pot can go back into the garden whence it came, with marvelous results. Just turn over your soil and see the richness, as what you have added to it turns into great fertilizer. Keep in mind that all material buried in your garden or compost-bin must be of vegetal, not animal origin. Meat and dairy products will attract vermin.
For easy-to-grow, non-hybrid survival seeds, see my article about the “Burpee Money Garden”. It could help you through a severe economic depression. Happy gardening!
~~Copyright M-J de Mesterton, 2009
Elegant Survival Pet Plan, Perfect for the Times
10 02 2009
“Curious Cat” by M-J de Mesterton, Copyright 2009
Dogs are often kept for warding off criminals, but a canine pet might eat you out of house and home. They are high-maintenance. A cat is independent, quiet, and capable of living on a twenty-pound bag of Cat Chow for four-to-six months. I wrote about cats on Elegant Survival last year.
My “pet” survival plan…
“Calm Cat” Photo Copyright M-J de Mesterton 2002
…is this: a realistic-sounding electronic barking dog from the following Home Protection source, and an economically-sound cat to repel vermin from the abode, where one has surely stocked-up on comestibles for the bleak future.
…
“Cool Cat” Photo Copyright M-J de Mesterton, 2008
Penny Talk: If You Call Overseas
16 02 2009
Penny Talk Costs a Fraction of Your Grandma’s Long Distance: Call Sweden for a Few Cents
Check It & Chuck It, Update
20 02 2009
The world is now very concerned about “black-hearted” goods made by fraudsters and negligent manufacturers in China, many of which have killed or sickened animals and people with poisons and other hazardous materials. Protecting yourself and children from dubious items containing poisons and other hazardous materials can be difficult.
Learning to identify those products that are made in China is important, depending upon what they are. Something like a cleaning tool may be of no concern, but a baby toy or a grooming product is. Makeup is potentially dodgy, since it frequently contains lead and aluminum. Read the fine print; many makeup products such as eyeshadow made in China will contain one or both of those carcinogens. I wouldn’t apply their makeup for all the tea in China.
The first 3 digits of the barcode is the country code showing where the product was made.
Learning to identify those products that are made in China is important, depending upon what they are. Something like a cleaning tool may be of no concern, but a baby toy or a grooming product is. Makeup is potentially dodgy, since it frequently contains lead and aluminum. Read the fine print; many makeup products such as eyeshadow made in China will contain one or both of those carcinogens. I wouldn’t apply their makeup for all the tea in China.
The first 3 digits of the barcode is the country code showing where the product was made.
Sample: All barcodes that start at 690 – 695 are MADE IN CHINA. 471 is Made in Taiwan
Companies now attempt to obscure place of origin.
However, you may now refer to the bar-code for proof. If the first 3 digits are: 690-695, it is Made in China.
BARCODES
00 ~ 13 USA & CANADA
30 ~ 37 FRANCE
40 ~ 44 GERMANY
49 ~ JAPAN
50 ~ UK
57 ~ Denmark
64 ~ Finland
76 ~ Switzerland and Liechtenstein
471 ~ Taiwan
480 ~ Philippines
628 ~ Saudi-Arabia
629 ~ United Arab Emirates
690 ~ 695 China
740 ~ 745 Central America
We all try to support our local producers and manufacturers, but it can be difficult indeed to find their products, if they do exist at all.
Memorizing these bar-code prefixes can aid you in that quest, and help you to survive.
Copyright M-J de Mesterton, 2008-2009
The Merits of Wearing Gloves
11 09 2007
I posted a piece on Elegant Survival about wearing gloves in December, 2006. I had worn kid gloves to an evening holiday party, and my husband wore gloves as well. A young lady commented favorably on our style. I spoke briefly about the merits of wearing gloves, expressing the hope that it would again become routine. I mentioned the scourge of staphylococcus aureus, whereupon she held up her hand with its missing finger–lost to the superbug! For years, I was regarded as an oddball simply for wearing driving gloves in Princeton. What a sad state of affairs that was, in a town known for its traditions. I also wore gloves at the supermarket to ward-off transference of germs on carts, et cetera*. I’ve read somewhere recently that glove-wearing is back in style. I hope that’s true.
~~Copyright M-J de Mesterton September 11th, 2007
*I also wash every grocery item which enters our home.
The Latest from Queen Rania of Jordan
27 03 2009
M-J Recommends Daisy Brand Cottage Cheese
21 03 2009
Daisy, the Elegant Survival Cottage Cheese
See this page for a distribution map.
M-J’s Ideal Cottage Cheese: Daisy
March 17, 2009 at 9:16 am
I’ve been searching for an ideal cottage cheese. I have found it.
Daisy Cottage Cheese from Dallas, Texas–brought to you by the folks who have the largest sour cream plant in the world. The flavor is fresh and clean, with slightly tangy overtones reminiscent of sour cream. Daisy Cottage Cheese is not watery like other brands, therefore, you get more for your money. Pick up a carton of another brand of cottage cheese, shake it near your ear, and you will likely hear it sloshing around in the carton. That does not happen with Daisy. And, unlike other brands, Daisy low-fat cottage cheese tastes as good as their regular variety. Daisy Brand has a good consistency and few ingredients. I’m fed-up with cottage cheese makers who cheat on volume and quality by adding water and other fillers. Daisy Cottage Cheese is a pure success.
See this page for a distribution map.~~M-J
Classic Pumps by Robert Clergerie, at Christabelle’s Closet
19 03 2009
Elegant Pumps, by Robert Clergerie; Size 7.5 US
Robert Clergerie Patent Leather Pumps, Made in France: Simple, Elegant Shoes for Evening, Cocktails or Teatime
It’s difficult to find classic, real shoes these days. When I speak of elegant dressing, I often mention closed-toe shoes, which used to be the norm. Sure, peep-toes and strappy high-heeled sandals are all the rage, but I don’t write about trends, except to disparage them and their lack of longevity. Exposing one’s toes and tottering about on stilts are never elegant. This pair of shoes almost represents my ideal for evening. Alas, they are a half-size too small for me. Advice to people approaching middle-age: buy your shoes a half-size larger than necessary, because your feet are about to grow a half-inch (once upon a time, these shoes would have fit me).
~~Copyright M-J de Mesterton, 2009
Non-Electric Tool: the Lehman’s Foodmill
19 03 2009
If the power goes out, or disappears altogether (with the ridiculous restrictions on energy-production in the U.S., you never know what may happen), there is an alternative to the food-processor and blender: the hand-operated foodmill. Lehman’s, a company of which I am fond and have featured here at Elegant Survival several times, has an affordable, efficient one.
Lehman’s Foodmill
M-J’s Ideal Cottage Cheese: Daisy
17 03 2009
I’ve been searching for an ideal cottage cheese. This is it:
Daisy Cottage Cheese from Garland, Texas–brought to you by the folks who have the largest sour cream plant in the world. The flavor is fresh and clean, with slightly tangy overtones reminiscent of sour cream. Daisy Cottage Cheese is not watery like other brands, therefore, you get more for your money. Pick up a carton of another brand of cottage cheese, shake it near your ear, and you will likely hear it sloshing around in the carton. That does not happen with Daisy. Daisy low-fat cottage cheese tastes as good as their regular variety.
Daisy introduced its cottage cheese lately at Albertson’s, King Soopers, and other western supermarkets. Some Sam’s Clubs also carry it. See this page for a distribution map~~M-J
Better Batter: Gluten-Free Flour
13 03 2009
Health and Happiness
This great product is the brainchild of a mother named Naomi, whose son was experiencing some symptoms resembling autism. The mother and child took a doctor’s advice to ban gluten from his diet, which resulted in a cure.Read about Better Batter Gluten-Free Flour
13 03 2009
Prince Charles, British Esquire’s Best-Dressed Man, and His Wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
Tweed, the Longevity Fabric
12 03 2009
My husband and I have worn classic clothes all of our lives. Tweed clothing has been our perennial favourite. When we renew our vows this summer in Scandinavia, we will be wearing tweed. Tweed for a wedding? It is an appropriate choice, because to us, tweed represents longevity.
Elegant Survival Pick of the Week from Christabelle’s Closet
8 03 2009
Shimmer Skirt, Made in France
Was$35.00–NOW ONLY $10.00
7 03 2009
Multi-Purpose, Three-Season Safari Jacket in Black Silk
Ultra-Useful Black Silk, Lined Safari Jacket by Ralph Lauren
These days of economic disaster bring desperados in the form of purse-snatchers and pick-pockets. An elegant safari jacket has four ample pockets that button, in which you may carry all that you require for a shopping trip, light travel or touring. This Ralph Lauren ladies’ safari jacket is made of silk, is lined, and has a belt at the true waist to make you look chic, slim and elegant while protecting yourself from various elements.
Time to Start Your “Victory Garden”
27 02 2009
Advice from the Dallas Morning News on Growing Your Own Vegetables this Year
You My Be Able to Start Your Vegetable Garden Now
It’s Not the Bagginess of Hip-Hop Trousers that Offends, Butt…
26 02 2009
…I mean but the low-hanging thereof. My photo shows elegant baggy or wide-legged trousers. Baggy pants, as in Oxford Bags, have been chic for decades in classic clothing. But, most people, when referring to the problem of low-sagging pants (trousers) just use the term, “baggy pants”. That’s really unfair, since what is being excoriated is the plumber’s crack, a source of derision for all times. What people abhor is the hideous sagging lowdown pants/trousers style. It really amounts to indecent exposure–someone’s underwear and opening showing in front, and whatever you wish to call it bared in the back–that’s the issue. Here is an article which I was sent by Sweden’s The Local–News in English:
http://www.thelocal.se/8941/
Elegant Survival News
In elegant dressing, Elegant Survival News, Elegant Survival Recommendations, Fashion Faux Pas, How to Dress, Low-Rise, M-J's Original Recipes, stylish living on a shoestring on 06/04/2009 at 6:45 pm
The Acid/Alkaline Balance
The environment of fluids in which your cells reside is known as your biological terrain. The following are four characteristics of your biological terrain: pH refers to the “potential of Hydrogen” and its activity level in fluids. Many people today have an overly acidic pH due to drinking colas, improper food combinations, consumption of processed foods, stress and pollution. Apple Cider Vinegar raises the alkalinity of the extra cellular fluid that surrounds your cells. An alkaline, versus acidic, environment is believed to be one of the major deterrents to tissue damage, aging and the growth of disease organisms. When your body consists of a more neutral to alkaline environment, the body can then use its amazing God given ability to heal itself naturally.
Our bodies are alkaline by design and acid by function. Maintaining alkalinity is essential for life health and vitality. All leading biochemists and medical physiologists have recognized pH or acid/alkaline balance as the most important aspect of a balanced and healthy body. They have long known that the maintenance of an alkaline pH is critical to cellular health.
We live and die at the cellular level. In order to understand pH balance, it is necessary to realize that all the 75 trillion cells of the human body are slightly acidic and must exist in a slightly alkaline environment (the body fluid) if they are to remain healthy and produce energy.
Alkalinity is anabolic (builds up) and acidity is catabolic (tears down). As each cell performs its task of respiration, it secretes metabolic wastes which are acidic. These wastes are the end product of cellular metabolism and must not be allowed to build up. The body goes to great lengths to neutralize and detoxify these acids before they are in a position to act as poisons in and around the cell, changing the environment of the cell.
Optimum alkalinity at cellular level equates to optimum health. Today, you can help put the alkaline balance back into your body by getting Apple Cider Vinegar .
“Apple Cider Vinegar is the #1 food, I recommend for maintaining the body’s vital acid-alkaline balance.” Gabriel Cousens, M.D., author of Conscious Eating
Apple Cider Vinegar keeps your pH level of your body fluids in sync so your body can fight disease naturally, the way it was meant to.
Simplicity Retro Pattern: Elegant Slacks and Classic Jacket
23 02 2009
Skirt and Slacks with Proper Waist: Very Flattering
Low-Rise Clothes: Time for an Uprising
23 02 2009
Trousers at Bookster U.K.
So, you are possessed of a perfectly shaped body and decide to go shopping. There is nothing available but low-rise pants and skirts that rest on the hip. The fashion industry and its manufacturers are saving big bucks on your back. You decide that to go against what seem to be the demands of current fashion is pointless, so you buy whatever looks prettiest on the hanger. Once it goes onto your well-toned corpus, something sinister happens: your legs now look a mere foot long, and your tight “abs” sit above the low-rise top of your skirt or slacks, looking for all the world like a beer-gut. What’s happening here? The fashion industry is sabotaging your looks while saving themselves money on yardage. It’s now impossible to find a pair of pants, tights, or a skirt that comes up to the natural waist; anything that does is derisively and incorrectly labeled “high-waisted”.
If you must have your clothes made for you in order to avoid this sick, disfiguring fashion regime, there are ways to do it without breaking the bank. A well-constructed pair of corduroy, moleskin or tweed trousers will get you through the depression in style, last for many years, and what’s most appealing about them is that they will make you look taller than everyone else (unfortunate fashion-victims that they are). Even a well-shaped jacket can be sabotaged by slacks, skirts, or trousers that hang below it. Last night’s Academy Awards brought out a cavalcade of men whose crotches landed below the bottom edge of their jackets–poor misguided fellows, yet rich enough to get it right. Overly long slacks creating a puddle of fabric on top of men’s shoes do not lengthen their legs visually–they just look wretchedly tailored.
A tasteful and reliable source for elegant, durable tweed jackets and trousers is Bookster U.K. They will guide you through the ordering process, and see to it that your clothes have an actual waist, so that your investment isn’t a waste. The clothes are made by Bookster in England. There are plenty of British and American companies that copy the traditional English styles, but have them made inexpensively in China. Yet, these clothes are crafted the old-fashioned way, close to where the fabrics are milled in the United Kingdom. It may take a couple of months to have a great pair of trousers or elegant jackets made, but you just might be wearing them for a lifetime. Bookster U.K. is a small operation with a huge reputation for customer service and fine clothing. They specialize in equestrian and tweed clothes, which are perfect for town and country.
Don’t let hip-hop fashion and cheap clothing manufacturers dictate your style. It is time for an uprising against the tyranny of low-rise clothing.
Don’t let hip-hop fashion and cheap clothing manufacturers dictate your style. It is time for an uprising against the tyranny of low-rise clothing.
~~Copyright M-J de Mesterton; February 23rd, 2009
Elegant Survival Recommends Gloves for Safety and Style
21 02 2009
| I’ve advocated the wearing of gloves on Elegant Survival since its beginning in 2006. Try Gloves-Online.com |
Inexpensive, Tough, Useful Leather Gloves: One of Many Styles at www.gloves-online.com
Elegant Woman or Christmas Tree?
9 01 2009
I tend to bite my tongue in order to not offend people. However, I feel it is relevant and helpful to broach the topic of jewelry (spelled “jewellery” in Britain). I only wear earrings and a necklace together on rare occasions–like when Hell freezes over!
It was Coco Chanel who advised women to assess their ensembles before going out, and to then arbitrarily remove one piece of jewelry. These days, one sees otherwise presentable women wearing long, dangling earrings and several necklaces at once, perhaps a broach on the hat or coat, and then enough bracelets to open a booth in a souk. (These baubles may have sentimental value for the wearer, but to the discriminating eye, they just scream, “too many nuts and cherries on the sundae!”) Would you rather look like an elegant lady, or be festooned like a Christmas tree?
A strand of pearls or other tasteful necklace, such as one which features a simple jewel, OR a pair of elegant, non-pendulous earrings that separate you from the primitives, together with a watch, is a safe daytime jewelry scheme. A well-dressed lady may exercise a bit more flair in the evening. Beware, though, of appearing overly decorated–a person’s sterling qualities can easily be overlooked by the distraction that too much jewelry creates.
It was Coco Chanel who advised women to assess their ensembles before going out, and to then arbitrarily remove one piece of jewelry. These days, one sees otherwise presentable women wearing long, dangling earrings and several necklaces at once, perhaps a broach on the hat or coat, and then enough bracelets to open a booth in a souk. (These baubles may have sentimental value for the wearer, but to the discriminating eye, they just scream, “too many nuts and cherries on the sundae!”) Would you rather look like an elegant lady, or be festooned like a Christmas tree?
A strand of pearls or other tasteful necklace, such as one which features a simple jewel, OR a pair of elegant, non-pendulous earrings that separate you from the primitives, together with a watch, is a safe daytime jewelry scheme. A well-dressed lady may exercise a bit more flair in the evening. Beware, though, of appearing overly decorated–a person’s sterling qualities can easily be overlooked by the distraction that too much jewelry creates.
~~Copyright M-J de Mesterton 2009
Elegant Survival Recommends Burpee Seeds for Vegetables
18 01 2009
George Ball, the chairman of Burpee Seed company, says that, if you arrange your planting just right, “A hundred dollars in seeds will produce $2,500 in groceries.” Burpee’s new $10.00 Money Garden kit contains six seed envelopes for easy-to-grow vegetables, and is capable of producing $650 worth of groceries.
Burpee’s Money Garden Seed Kit includes bell peppers, beefsteak tomatoes, sugar snap peas, green beans, carrots and elegant Bibb lettuce. If purchased separately, the six envelopes of seeds would cost $20.
Burpee’s Money Garden Seed Kit includes bell peppers, beefsteak tomatoes, sugar snap peas, green beans, carrots and elegant Bibb lettuce. If purchased separately, the six envelopes of seeds would cost $20.
Burpee Money Garden Kit, Available Now On-Line Only Burpee’s toll-free Money Garden hotline: 1-800-333-5808.
Includes packets of:
Bush Snap Bean Heavyweight II (2 oz.)
Stocky plants are only 18″ tall, yet produce huge handfuls of sweet tender pods fully 8″ long. Delicious and productive. 53 days.
Lettuce Burpee Bibb (1000 seeds)
This small heading variety is the sweetest Bibb lettuce you’ll ever taste. Each head makes a delicious salad. Slow to bolt and disease resistant. 75 days.
Bell Pepper Home Run (30 seeds)
More uniquely flavored than any bell we’ve grown. Green, it’s sweet and mild. Fully ripe, it has a fruity taste worth waiting for. Blocky fruits are 3″ across. 60 days (green) 80 days (red).
Carrot Big Top (1500 seeds)
Extremely sweet at all stages of harvest. Grows crispy, thick, deep reddish orange roots up to 8″ long. Our finest quality carrot. 65-80 days.
Garden Pea Super Snappy (300 seeds)
The longest edible-podded pea. 5-6″ long, with 8-10 large, sweet peas per pod. Tolerant of powdery mildew. Ht: 28-32″. 65 days.
Large Round Tomato Steak Sandwich (30 seeds)
Luscious beauties offer old-fashioned taste for sandwiches and salads. Vigorous plants bear dozens of large, meaty 10 oz. fruits. Continues to bear fruit all summer. Indeterminate. 70 days.elegant bibb
Drinking Coffee in Middle Age May Help Prevent Dementia Later in Life
19 01 2009
Coffee for Mental Health
STOCKHOLM, January 14th, 2009
Middle-aged people who drink moderate amounts of coffee–three to five cups daily–can significantly reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, a newly completed study by Finnish and Swedish researchers suggests.
“Middle-aged people who drank between three and five cups of coffee a day lowered their risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by between 60 and 65 percent later in life,” said research team-leader Dr. Miia Kivipelto, a professor at the University of Kuopio in Finland and at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.
The study, which was conducted in league with the Finnish National Public Health Institute in Helsinki, was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease this month. The research on coffee and its effect on the prevention of dementia in its various forms was based on successive interviews with 1,409 people in Finland during the span of two decades.
The subjects were first tested for cognitive abilities and asked about their coffee-drinking habits when they were in their 50s. Their memory functions were tested again in 1998, when they were between 65 and 79 years of age.
Of the 1,409 research subjects, total of only 61 had by then developed dementia, 48 of whom had the Alzheimer’s variety.
Dr. Miia Kivipelto reported, “There are perhaps one or two other studies that have shown that coffee can improve some memory functions (but) this is the first study directed at dementia and Alzheimer’s (and) in which the subjects are followed for such a long time.”
Coffee contains several antioxidants which are known to counteract Alzheimer’s disease.
Some studies have also shown that coffee helps protects the nervous-system, which can also protect against dementia. Previous studies suggested that coffee protects against diabetes, which is now linked to Alzheimer’s.
“Middle-aged people who drank between three and five cups of coffee a day lowered their risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease by between 60 and 65 percent later in life,” said research team-leader Dr. Miia Kivipelto, a professor at the University of Kuopio in Finland and at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.
The study, which was conducted in league with the Finnish National Public Health Institute in Helsinki, was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease this month. The research on coffee and its effect on the prevention of dementia in its various forms was based on successive interviews with 1,409 people in Finland during the span of two decades.
The subjects were first tested for cognitive abilities and asked about their coffee-drinking habits when they were in their 50s. Their memory functions were tested again in 1998, when they were between 65 and 79 years of age.
Of the 1,409 research subjects, total of only 61 had by then developed dementia, 48 of whom had the Alzheimer’s variety.
Dr. Miia Kivipelto reported, “There are perhaps one or two other studies that have shown that coffee can improve some memory functions (but) this is the first study directed at dementia and Alzheimer’s (and) in which the subjects are followed for such a long time.”
Coffee contains several antioxidants which are known to counteract Alzheimer’s disease.
Some studies have also shown that coffee helps protects the nervous-system, which can also protect against dementia. Previous studies suggested that coffee protects against diabetes, which is now linked to Alzheimer’s.
- Health
~~M-J, January 2009
Elegant Survival Recommends Berkeley Hat Company
24 01 2009
Berkeley Hat Company,
the largest hat store in California, has traditional hats for men and women, novelty hats, and Tilley Endurables for traveling. Their on-line shop accepts PayPal and credit cards. Prices are reasonable. It’s smart, in more ways than one, to cover your head during all seasons of the year. At Berkeley Hat Company, you can acquire a hat wardrobe for a song. Even if you aren’t looking for a topper, you’ll enjoy looking at the selection of hats at Berkeley Hat Company.
BERKELEY HAT COMPANY
2510 Telegraph Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
tel. 510 549-2955
Elegant Tweed Coat by Aquascutum
24 01 2009
Our friends at Bookster offer this ladies’ tweed coat by Aquascutum, size 10/8.
Aquascutum Women’s Tweed Coat at Bookster U.K.
Foods and Vitamins that Help Prevent Cancer
31 01 2009
Ginger root is believed to inhibit cancer-cell growth, particularly in the female reproductive organs.
The oleic acid in olive oil dramatically reduces the levels of the cancer gene Her-2/neu, which is found in breast cancer tumors.
Beans and other legumes may lessen the risk of breast cancer, because they can suppress the production of enzymes that encourage tumor growth. Try to eat beans three times a week.
Supplement your diet with vitamin B-6 and vitamin D-3.
Folate, a B-Vitamin found in leafy greens, is a powerful cancer-fighting agent. It fights the changes in DNA that cause cancer-cell growth.
Eating carrots may reduce the risk of kidney cancer and ovarian cancer.
Watermelon, tomatoes, and pink grapefruit, because of their lycopene component, can reduce the risk of prostate cancer and colorectal adenomas (tumors).
Citrus peels contain limonene, which acts as a sunscreen inside your epidermis.
The oleic acid in olive oil dramatically reduces the levels of the cancer gene Her-2/neu, which is found in breast cancer tumors.
Beans and other legumes may lessen the risk of breast cancer, because they can suppress the production of enzymes that encourage tumor growth. Try to eat beans three times a week.
Supplement your diet with vitamin B-6 and vitamin D-3.
Folate, a B-Vitamin found in leafy greens, is a powerful cancer-fighting agent. It fights the changes in DNA that cause cancer-cell growth.
Eating carrots may reduce the risk of kidney cancer and ovarian cancer.
Watermelon, tomatoes, and pink grapefruit, because of their lycopene component, can reduce the risk of prostate cancer and colorectal adenomas (tumors).
Citrus peels contain limonene, which acts as a sunscreen inside your epidermis.
~~M-J, 2009
Elegant Survival and Le Boulevardier Led the Way
2 02 2009
Le Boulevardier, Copyright M-J
Le Boulevardier sent this link to me: a Forbes article about what men will be wearing, with his comment that we at Elegant Survival have been lightyears ahead of fashion trends. We don’t advocate the style of a certain era, like some sites do, coming off like campy costumers. Our style has remained constant throughout the decades. We have written about the figure-and-image-enhancing qualities of classic cuts and fabrics, for both men and women. And let’s hope that the days of low-rise pants and ugly stubble are gone off the style radar, and relegated to the slums or prisons where they started. We are sick and tired of seeing men and women dressing and walking like slobs. Let the depression bring on some real dignity in human appearances. I’ve seen dogs that look better than the Hollywood crowd lately (maybe that’s why the brooch-pooch is so popular among them). Putting a movie star with a three-day growth on the cover of a style magazine is inexcusable. Beware of Splay-Foot, Shorty-Pants and Stubble-Face. They have made a mockery of the human race!
The Importance of Sleep
7 02 2009
I urge you to read this article about the importance of sleep, by Dr. Allen Josephs, which draws on current research to explain how a lack of sleep can make you fat, and even has the potential to kill you.
Elegant Cupboard Update
8 02 2009
Elegance Is Found in Simplicity
Recycle your analogous jars, fill them with your staples, and label them yourself. This reduces the visual confusion in your kitchen cupboards or cabinets.
Elegant Kitchen Cupboard Update, March 21st 2009
Elegant Kitchen Cabinet Organization Update, March 21st
Rival Crock-Pots and Slow-Cooker Appliances Save Energy
8 02 2009
Making my European meat sauce on a gas range or electric cook-top always made me wonder about the energy consumption involved. From now on, I am going to cook it in an electric slow-cooker. It will not only enhance the flavor of my sauce, but prevent it from scorching.
Today’s Crock-Pots, an invention by by Rival company, are very energy-efficient compared with gas-fired ovens, electric cook-top, gas-stoves or toaster ovens, and even wood-stoves. These units, commonly called “slow-cookers”, run on 100 watts of electricity. If used twice weekly, for eight hours at a time, your slow-cooker will consume about forty cents’ worth of energy per month.
Slow-cooking is a way to make inexpensive cuts of meat tender, as in New England boiled beef or stews. There are plenty of recipes on the internet which call for the use of an electric slow-cooker, including ones which employ dry beans, an excellent source of low-cost protein and fiber. Rival has a great recipe for boeuf Bourguignon on its Crock-Pot web-site. Bon appétit!
Today’s Crock-Pots, an invention by by Rival company, are very energy-efficient compared with gas-fired ovens, electric cook-top, gas-stoves or toaster ovens, and even wood-stoves. These units, commonly called “slow-cookers”, run on 100 watts of electricity. If used twice weekly, for eight hours at a time, your slow-cooker will consume about forty cents’ worth of energy per month.
Slow-cooking is a way to make inexpensive cuts of meat tender, as in New England boiled beef or stews. There are plenty of recipes on the internet which call for the use of an electric slow-cooker, including ones which employ dry beans, an excellent source of low-cost protein and fiber. Rival has a great recipe for boeuf Bourguignon on its Crock-Pot web-site. Bon appétit!
Simple Composting Tip to Enhance Your Kitchen Garden
10 02 2009
Photo Copyright M-J de Mesterton, 2008
Ever since a Spanish friend told me to bury my banana peel under the rose bush to make it flower more, I have been keen on making all fruit and vegetable scraps work for me outdoors. I dig a six-to-eight inch hole and lay in the orange and apple peelings and cores–anything vegetal can fertilize your soil. End-pieces cut from celery, carrots and capsicums (peppers) go into the garden, as well, and then are covered with a few inches of dirt. Coffee grounds and used tea are particularly appreciated by plants. This process will fertilize and enrich your garden during the cold months, and even prevent some pests in the warmer seasons. Citrus peels are said to repel cats and caterpillars. Here is some information I found about uses for citrus peels.
The proverbial French chef never lets anything go to waste in the kitchen, thus creative soups, stocks and French toast (pain perdú) were born. You can go him one better, though, and whatever vegetal matter doesn’t go into the pot can go back into the garden whence it came, with marvelous results. Just turn over your soil and see the richness, as what you have added to it turns into great fertilizer. Keep in mind that all material buried in your garden or compost-bin must be of vegetal, not animal origin. Meat and dairy products will attract vermin.
For easy-to-grow, non-hybrid survival seeds, see my article about the “Burpee Money Garden”. It could help you through a severe economic depression. Happy gardening!
The proverbial French chef never lets anything go to waste in the kitchen, thus creative soups, stocks and French toast (pain perdú) were born. You can go him one better, though, and whatever vegetal matter doesn’t go into the pot can go back into the garden whence it came, with marvelous results. Just turn over your soil and see the richness, as what you have added to it turns into great fertilizer. Keep in mind that all material buried in your garden or compost-bin must be of vegetal, not animal origin. Meat and dairy products will attract vermin.
For easy-to-grow, non-hybrid survival seeds, see my article about the “Burpee Money Garden”. It could help you through a severe economic depression. Happy gardening!
~~Copyright M-J de Mesterton, 2009
Elegant Survival Pet Plan, Perfect for the Times
10 02 2009
“Curious Cat” by M-J de Mesterton, Copyright 2009
Dogs are often kept for warding off criminals, but a canine pet might eat you out of house and home. They are high-maintenance. A cat is independent, quiet, and capable of living on a twenty-pound bag of Cat Chow for four-to-six months. I wrote about cats on Elegant Survival last year.
My “pet” survival plan…
“Calm Cat” Photo Copyright M-J de Mesterton 2002
…is this: a realistic-sounding electronic barking dog from the following Home Protection source, and an economically-sound cat to repel vermin from the abode, where one has surely stocked-up on comestibles for the bleak future.
…
“Cool Cat” Photo Copyright M-J de Mesterton, 2008
Penny Talk: If You Call Overseas
16 02 2009
Penny Talk Costs a Fraction of Your Grandma’s Long Distance: Call Sweden for a Few Cents
Check It & Chuck It, Update
20 02 2009
The world is now very concerned about “black-hearted” goods made by fraudsters and negligent manufacturers in China, many of which have killed or sickened animals and people with poisons and other hazardous materials. Protecting yourself and children from dubious items containing poisons and other hazardous materials can be difficult.
Learning to identify those products that are made in China is important, depending upon what they are. Something like a cleaning tool may be of no concern, but a baby toy or a grooming product is. Makeup is potentially dodgy, since it frequently contains lead and aluminum. Read the fine print; many makeup products such as eyeshadow made in China will contain one or both of those carcinogens. I wouldn’t apply their makeup for all the tea in China.
The first 3 digits of the barcode is the country code showing where the product was made.
Learning to identify those products that are made in China is important, depending upon what they are. Something like a cleaning tool may be of no concern, but a baby toy or a grooming product is. Makeup is potentially dodgy, since it frequently contains lead and aluminum. Read the fine print; many makeup products such as eyeshadow made in China will contain one or both of those carcinogens. I wouldn’t apply their makeup for all the tea in China.
The first 3 digits of the barcode is the country code showing where the product was made.
Sample: All barcodes that start at 690 – 695 are MADE IN CHINA. 471 is Made in Taiwan
Companies now attempt to obscure place of origin.
However, you may now refer to the bar-code for proof. If the first 3 digits are: 690-695, it is Made in China.
BARCODES
00 ~ 13 USA & CANADA
30 ~ 37 FRANCE
40 ~ 44 GERMANY
49 ~ JAPAN
50 ~ UK
57 ~ Denmark
64 ~ Finland
76 ~ Switzerland and Liechtenstein
471 ~ Taiwan
480 ~ Philippines
628 ~ Saudi-Arabia
629 ~ United Arab Emirates
690 ~ 695 China
740 ~ 745 Central America
We all try to support our local producers and manufacturers, but it can be difficult indeed to find their products, if they do exist at all.
Memorizing these bar-code prefixes can aid you in that quest, and help you to survive.
Copyright M-J de Mesterton, 2008-2009
The Merits of Wearing Gloves
11 09 2007
I posted a piece on Elegant Survival about wearing gloves in December, 2006. I had worn kid gloves to an evening holiday party, and my husband wore gloves as well. A young lady commented favorably on our style. I spoke briefly about the merits of wearing gloves, expressing the hope that it would again become routine. I mentioned the scourge of staphylococcus aureus, whereupon she held up her hand with its missing finger–lost to the superbug! For years, I was regarded as an oddball simply for wearing driving gloves in Princeton. What a sad state of affairs that was, in a town known for its traditions. I also wore gloves at the supermarket to ward-off transference of germs on carts, et cetera*. I’ve read somewhere recently that glove-wearing is back in style. I hope that’s true.
~~Copyright M-J de Mesterton September 11th, 2007
*I also wash every grocery item which enters our home.
The Latest from Queen Rania of Jordan
27 03 2009
M-J Recommends Daisy Brand Cottage Cheese
21 03 2009
Daisy, the Elegant Survival Cottage Cheese
See this page for a distribution map.
M-J’s Ideal Cottage Cheese: Daisy
March 17, 2009 at 9:16 am
I’ve been searching for an ideal cottage cheese. I have found it.
Daisy Cottage Cheese from Dallas, Texas–brought to you by the folks who have the largest sour cream plant in the world. The flavor is fresh and clean, with slightly tangy overtones reminiscent of sour cream. Daisy Cottage Cheese is not watery like other brands, therefore, you get more for your money. Pick up a carton of another brand of cottage cheese, shake it near your ear, and you will likely hear it sloshing around in the carton. That does not happen with Daisy. And, unlike other brands, Daisy low-fat cottage cheese tastes as good as their regular variety. Daisy Brand has a good consistency and few ingredients. I’m fed-up with cottage cheese makers who cheat on volume and quality by adding water and other fillers. Daisy Cottage Cheese is a pure success.
See this page for a distribution map.~~M-J
Classic Pumps by Robert Clergerie, at Christabelle’s Closet
19 03 2009
Elegant Pumps, by Robert Clergerie; Size 7.5 US
Robert Clergerie Patent Leather Pumps, Made in France: Simple, Elegant Shoes for Evening, Cocktails or Teatime
It’s difficult to find classic, real shoes these days. When I speak of elegant dressing, I often mention closed-toe shoes, which used to be the norm. Sure, peep-toes and strappy high-heeled sandals are all the rage, but I don’t write about trends, except to disparage them and their lack of longevity. Exposing one’s toes and tottering about on stilts are never elegant. This pair of shoes almost represents my ideal for evening. Alas, they are a half-size too small for me. Advice to people approaching middle-age: buy your shoes a half-size larger than necessary, because your feet are about to grow a half-inch (once upon a time, these shoes would have fit me).
~~Copyright M-J de Mesterton, 2009
Non-Electric Tool: the Lehman’s Foodmill
19 03 2009
If the power goes out, or disappears altogether (with the ridiculous restrictions on energy-production in the U.S., you never know what may happen), there is an alternative to the food-processor and blender: the hand-operated foodmill. Lehman’s, a company of which I am fond and have featured here at Elegant Survival several times, has an affordable, efficient one.
Lehman’s Foodmill
M-J’s Ideal Cottage Cheese: Daisy
17 03 2009
I’ve been searching for an ideal cottage cheese. This is it:
Daisy Cottage Cheese from Garland, Texas–brought to you by the folks who have the largest sour cream plant in the world. The flavor is fresh and clean, with slightly tangy overtones reminiscent of sour cream. Daisy Cottage Cheese is not watery like other brands, therefore, you get more for your money. Pick up a carton of another brand of cottage cheese, shake it near your ear, and you will likely hear it sloshing around in the carton. That does not happen with Daisy. Daisy low-fat cottage cheese tastes as good as their regular variety.
Daisy introduced its cottage cheese lately at Albertson’s, King Soopers, and other western supermarkets. Some Sam’s Clubs also carry it. See this page for a distribution map~~M-J
Better Batter: Gluten-Free Flour
13 03 2009
Health and Happiness
This great product is the brainchild of a mother named Naomi, whose son was experiencing some symptoms resembling autism. The mother and child took a doctor’s advice to ban gluten from his diet, which resulted in a cure.Read about Better Batter Gluten-Free Flour
13 03 2009
Prince Charles, British Esquire’s Best-Dressed Man, and His Wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
Tweed, the Longevity Fabric
12 03 2009
My husband and I have worn classic clothes all of our lives. Tweed clothing has been our perennial favourite. When we renew our vows this summer in Scandinavia, we will be wearing tweed. Tweed for a wedding? It is an appropriate choice, because to us, tweed represents longevity.
Elegant Survival Pick of the Week from Christabelle’s Closet
8 03 2009
Shimmer Skirt, Made in France
Was$35.00–NOW ONLY $10.00
7 03 2009
Multi-Purpose, Three-Season Safari Jacket in Black Silk
Ultra-Useful Black Silk, Lined Safari Jacket by Ralph Lauren
These days of economic disaster bring desperados in the form of purse-snatchers and pick-pockets. An elegant safari jacket has four ample pockets that button, in which you may carry all that you require for a shopping trip, light travel or touring. This Ralph Lauren ladies’ safari jacket is made of silk, is lined, and has a belt at the true waist to make you look chic, slim and elegant while protecting yourself from various elements.
Time to Start Your “Victory Garden”
27 02 2009
Advice from the Dallas Morning News on Growing Your Own Vegetables this Year
You My Be Able to Start Your Vegetable Garden Now
It’s Not the Bagginess of Hip-Hop Trousers that Offends, Butt…
26 02 2009
…I mean but the low-hanging thereof. My photo shows elegant baggy or wide-legged trousers. Baggy pants, as in Oxford Bags, have been chic for decades in classic clothing. But, most people, when referring to the problem of low-sagging pants (trousers) just use the term, “baggy pants”. That’s really unfair, since what is being excoriated is the plumber’s crack, a source of derision for all times. What people abhor is the hideous sagging lowdown pants/trousers style. It really amounts to indecent exposure–someone’s underwear and opening showing in front, and whatever you wish to call it bared in the back–that’s the issue. Here is an article which I was sent by Sweden’s The Local–News in English:
http://www.thelocal.se/8941/
