Yesterday morning, as I got dressed and was putting on my gold chain necklace that I ALWAYS wear, I heard something "clink" on the floor in front of my dressing table. I looked down and there was a tiny piece of gold there. I realized it had come from my gold chain necklace. I went ahead and put on the necklace. BAD decision as last night, I could not remove it - that tiny piece was part of the clasp. So, I slept in my necklace. Today, I took it to a nearby jewelry store. I knew they had their own henchmen there - none of that "we'll have to send this out and it will take 3 weeks stuff". I had not been in this store in 3-4 years and was shocked at how low the inventory was and how pedestrian it also was. It used to have a lot of really beautiful, often unusual fine jewelry. No more. One of the henchmen is the owners son and I asked him about the small inventory. He said they do mainly repairs and re-settings these days - women are no longer buying fine jewelry. I was stunned until I thought for a bit and realized I should not have been surprised. About 10 years ago, I was asked by a woman I knew who owned a small jewelry store that carried lots of high end fine jewelry, to come help her at a small trunk show at out town's most expensive ladies clothing boutique. We sat there for 4 hours and did not sell one single thing!! I told my friend that this was not their customer. This customer liked "showy" clothes with lots of details - lots going on with these clothes. Jewelry requires simple, plain clothes that allow the jewelry to shine. Well, today, not only do women prefer "showy" clothes if they actually bother to dress up (yes, they still DO dress up for Derby here!), but most often today, women are dressed casually to the point of it being rather "careless". Just what jewelry goes with Lulu Lemon work-out clothes? Work clothes? Pretty casual these days - even lady executives no longer wear beautifully tailored suits and dresses for work. With "casual", a simple necklace, a bracelet (maybe - some people have trouble typing on the computer while wearing one), perhaps a ring (again, some have trouble typing) and perhaps earrings (always having to take on off to talk on the phone). When women go out to dinner at night, it's "dressy casual" with more emphasis on the "casual" than the "dressy" part. Church? If they go, it's either VERY casual or dressy casual. When I went to church Easter Sunday, one woman greeted me and said she was hoping I would be there as she always looked forward to see what lovely brooch I would be wearing. These days, the Queen and I are about the only ones who wear brooches anymore - occasionally the Duchess of Cambridge, but pretty rarely. So yet another "pretty" thing that has gone the way of the Dodo bird. I wonder what my DD will do with my jewelry? Will she actually wear it or sell it? I only have one granddaughter and her mother and maternal grandmother have tons of jewelry, much far nicer than mine. And then there are the three grandsons. It rather breaks my heart to think that probably no one will even want my lovely jewelry, lovingly collected over the past 50+ years - some even earlier gifts from my parents. I hate change...

On a budget and prefer to minimize cleaning? Consider a thick clear shower curtain liner treated for mold/mildew only -- forego the additional curtain that helps block light and air (needed to enable drying the space). As to the rest, keep it simple. Unnecessary accessories are not decoration, they're clutter. Stick with stainless steel to the extent possible for hinges, door knobs, faucets as well as towel rods, ttissue holders, toothbrush and hair dryer holders -- preferably all attached to the wall. Aluminum that also will not rust is a good second choice. Chrome and/or glass would not rust either. http://cmepub.com/product/bibnglo-hair-dryer-holder-wall-mount-hair-blow-dryer-holder-space-aluminum-hanging-rack-organizer-for-hair-dryer-toothbrush-towel-rack-bathroom-accessories-storage-organizer-with-cup/ Avoid straw/fabric baskets and ceramics. Avoid items that need to set atop the counterspace -- leave that clear for your guests to have a place to set their toiletries. An accessory that is also a necessity -- one that can make or break the space: Do choose a trash can with a lid with foot control. Trash should NOT be seen. https://www.google.com/search?q=Stainless+steel+bathroom+trash+can&client=firefox-b-1-d&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjnkbyk46zqAhW3gnIEHQtcB-UQ_AUoAXoECBQQAw&biw=1366&bih=654#sgro=om&spd=16503686925006431228  While stainless steel might cost you a little more now, especially if you buy it in an "upscale shop" rather than a big box store, it is very likely you will never need to replace it again ... and what is your cleaning time worth. An efficient space will be a more attractive modern space. Art -- what works for your space -- is a purely personal choice. What do you want to invest (for decoration purposes only) in a space that has great potential to damage anything that is susceptible to dampness -- such as a framed picture? https://www.touchofclass.com/coastal-tranquility-metal-wall-sculpture-multi-metallic/p/B164-001/

I'm here! I did a new topic a few hours ago with an update. Not good. As I said in my new topic, I didn't leave here in a huff, I was just mad at the world, and didn't even get online except to check mail, and today I'm even madder. I'll try to read the replies later, but let me reiterate, stay HOME on TG. Do not believe you're safe with anyone you don't live with. And if you pray, please pray for my family. :(

We are very brand-oriented so like many these days, get specific items from specific companies. - Use our local supermarket chain for certain items. Toilet paper, some basic produce (their produce is, interestingly, more local-oriented and frankly better/riper than Whole Paycheck). They are the only ones, for example, who carry the hydroponic Kumato tomatoes, the Kobayashi Farms artisanal romaine, and real Tuscan melons from a Central Coast farm that only picks when the brix levels are judged high enough. I try to get them from on-line ordering, but sometimes going into the store is the only way. - I use Imperfect Foods (formerly Imperfect Produce) altho as mentioned above, they are very flawed. Still, they have some items I have a hard time finding elsewhere. We love their Great River potato chips - much fresher than the stale stuff in the stores. And thru IF we have discovered some specialty items we would never have discovered otherwise, as they often will feature 'special buy' items for a month or two. I love the Zoi honey yogurt, and again, not easy to find in most stores but IF usually has it. IF also introduced us to Stepladder Creamery's Ragged Point brie-style cheese, which is now a staple in our house. - Normally don't like Stonewall Kitchen products - jams & sauces too sweet - but they carry the Tillen Farms Pickled Baby Cucumbers (cornichons) which are a special variety they grow. They are pickled with fresh dill, onion and garlic, so the brine is mellow rather than harsh; should be refrigerated for a day prior to opening so they will become super-crunchy. For serving you can bring them to room temp. - Some items I get through Amazon. Only use Whole Food on rare occasions, since I dislike their meat/fish/produce. - We get our jam from the WeLoveJam folks, after a NYT article mentioned them. It's a couple who bought one of the few remaining farms left in Silicon Valley, CA, and for over 20 yrs has been making great jams, including some rare fruit varieties like limequat. Their Blenheim Apricot jam has less sugar than any other artisanal brand we've tried, and really tastes like fresh fruit. Sadly, they are trying to retire so have the farm up for sale - one day soon I'm afraid I'll get an email saying they're finally found a buyer who will take over the farm! They want to keep it a farm, but that's a hard sell these days, especially with our drought conditions and climbing interest rates. There is a small independent specialty market we started using more often during the lockdown. I really wish they did delivery, or at least a pick-up service, but unfortunately it's walk-in only. Excellent meat, dairy, and cheese depts. Otherwise, we have numerous ethnic markets around so no real need to mail order. Ethiopian injera, Mexican markets and bakeries, Caribbean grocers, Eastern European delis, Asian/SE Asian/Indo-Chinese markets; along with scores of herbs, coffee and tea purveyors, are all reachable by car within our county. Interestingly, a number of the Thai/Laotian restaurants lately are making their own versions of sai oua, the super-spicy pork sausage, and also sell it in frozen 1-lb pkgs on the side. Used to be that only one or two eateries did it, but now we know of at least half a dozen in our own town that are willing to sell their sai oua retail. Surprising because that's not common for any other Asian restaurants. Chinese restaurants sometimes will have a deli section, but that's as far as it goes.