For walks, you want a portable foldable dog water dispenser that’s a water bottle with a built-in drinking feeder, writes Answer Angel Ellen Warren.
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Dear Answer Angel Ellen: You answer questions about shopping and style for people, but what about man’s (or in my case, woman’s) best friend? In the good weather me and my dog love to go for long walks and hikes, but carrying a water bottle for her also requires a bowl since my dog certainly can’t drink from a water bottle. Yes, I know there are lightweight pet bowls that collapse, but I just forget to bring mine half the time. It seems there should be a one-and-done solution. Is there?
— Hannah S.
Dear Hannah: Yes there is! You want a portable foldable dog water dispenser that’s a water bottle with a built-in drinking feeder. Some also have a built-in bowl for food (or poop bag) storage. Your local pet accessories store, as well as amazon.com, has a huge number of styles of varying capacities at prices in the $9 to $15 range. If you’re shopping online, pay attention to the ratings to decide which to try.
Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I’m confess, I’m particular about my clothes. Especially the fit of my pants. I want my belt to stay in place, and I’ve learned from experience that most men’s pants in stores don’t have enough belt loops. The ideal number for me is seven. But good luck finding them.
— Carl M.
Dear Carl: Thrift and consignment shops have an enormous selection of preowned pants (and jeans), many of which have more belt loops than today’s offerings. Ralph Lauren’s Polo brand pants sometimes even have eight loops. The only other option I’ve come up with — and I don’t recommend it, since it will cost you plenty — is to have a tailor construct additional loops from excess fabric in seams or the pants’ cuff.
Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I’m running low on my Estée Lauder Futurist foundation. When I saw the replacement cost of $50, I had sticker shock. Can you recommend a similar product at a lower cost?
— Alice S.
Dear Alice: I don’t think anyone needs to pay $50 for a makeup item (although, who doesn’t want a small splurge once in a while?). While I haven’t tested the product you’re running out of, you’ve got plenty of good options at lower prices at your drugstore. Many let you return products you’ve tried and concluded they don’t work for you.
My best advice is first make sure you can return opened makeup items at the store(s) of your choice, then take home a few and keep trying until you find one that suits you. I did this with eyeliner at Walgreens recently. Drugstores with a knowledgeable salesperson in the cosmetics department are hard to find but your best bet. Department stores have trained cosmetics help, but with products like yours that they’re selling more in the $50 range.
Angelic Readers
From Bethany S.: “Please tell your reader Melissa H. that if her boyfriend objects to her wearing too many rhinestone accessories at one time, he should cough up some diamond jewelry that she can wear instead! Earrings, a necklace, even a tennis bracelet!”
And a different viewpoint from Leslie L.: “To Melissa H., whose boyfriend laughed and said she was wearing too many rhinestones for one outfit: Boyfriends (and husbands) are kind of notorious for not noticing what a woman wears. If he noticed and spoke up, I would listen and take heed.”
Reader Rant
Joan K.’s cry for help: “Too much sun over the years has resulted in vertical chest wrinkles and jiggly and wrinkled upper arms. I am not 25 years old! Young people have not encountered these problems! Every woman’s garment with a scoop neck — blouse, dress, T-shirt — is cut too low and sleeves are too short. What is wrong with these designers? I am so angry. This is a serious problem. Are we supposed to wear turtlenecks and long-sleeved shirts in the summer? Designers and retailers need to address these problems! The manufacturers and RETAIL have to wake up!”
Send your questions and rants — on style, shopping, fashion, makeup and beauty — to [email protected].
