Today’s “Friday Foodie Feature” is being preempted by these images which I captured this morning from my driveway.
As I sat in the car saying my “commuting prayer” I looked up to see a beautiful sun filled sky. I immediately stopped praying, grabbed the camera from the back seat and snapped three pictures. It was a few minutes past 8:00 am, and running late as usual I didn’t take time to review them. The sun was so bright while taking these pictures I couldn’t really see what I had shot.
Everyday when I get to work the first thing I do is read “Our Daily Bread” Devotion of the day. I hadn’t planned on viewing the pictures until later but when I saw the title of today’s devotion – THE GIFT OF LIGHT, I was filled with chills!
Now if you look at the pictures again you will notice red spots, strategic in their placement which may have come from the glare on the camera lens…
…but take a look at these cell phone pictures that I took last Saturday night as we crossed the Delaware Memorial Bridge a little after 8:00 p.m.
Last week at Pockets Discount Liquors they had a taste testing of Ciroc‘s new flavored Vodka, Amaretto. I had previously purchased a bottle but never opened it, so I was curious as to the taste – ooooo it was nice and smooth! I’ve had the Peach flavored Ciroc but like the Amaretto better, it’s not as sweet which makes for a better mix and it would also be good straight over ice.
I am not a big Vodka drinker and I need some cocktail ideas…so you know I had to check out my “cuzzy’s” Vlog. Here she is making her “Thank You Lawd” Cocktail, which I might try using the Ciroc Vodka…and a few other ingredients!
Do you have any cocktails recipes you want to share?
Hubby and I left early Saturday morning so we could attend the Wedding of my 2nd cousin Kyton Carolina, who was getting married to Shivon Anderson in Mt. Vernon, NY. We wanted to be on the road before 9:30 am so that we could cross the GW Bridge before noon…unfortunately it didn’t happen.
It was smooth sailing going across the Delaware Memorial Bridge
Driving the New Jersey Turnpike wasn’t too bad either…until Exit 11 and that’s when the backup occurred due to road construction!
Finally the skyline of NYC
Crossed the GW way off schedule
We finally made it to New Rochelle at 1:00 pm. but with less than an hour to relax and converse with our friends before dressing. Sherri and I sat outside and had a Barcardi Mojito which definitely helped me unwind, hubby stay inside and talked with Curtis.
Now I am ready for a Wedding
I cleaned up nicely – right?!
We made it to the Church a little late but thankfully we didn’t miss any of the ceremony.
Unfortunately my family fun ended abruptly when our son called to tell us he was rear-ended in the school parking lot after football practice. Hubby and I never made it to the reception at Glen Island Park instead we turned around and headed back to Delaware.
Crossing back over the Delaware Memorial Bridge at sunset
What a WWW – Whirlwind Weekend Wedding!
BTW – Kyton was a Jr. Usher in our Wedding 23 years ago – talk about feeling old!
In 1998, a young woman who was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago relocated herself, a son and a daughter from Brooklyn, New York to Claymont, Delaware. Still grieving from the untimely death of her fiance’ and left alone to raise the small children she decided to become a small business owner.
A transplant from New York unable to find the cultural exchanges that she had grown accustomed decided to open Mejah Books, Inc .
Emlyn DeGannes, or “Ms. M” as she prefers to be called left the Interior Design Industry in NY to become a small vendor in the Tri-State Mall. There are days when Mejah Books, Inc. is filled with the sounds of Latin, Caribbean or Reggae music, but on this particular Saturday it was the soothing sounds of Meditation Music.
The staff is pleasant and engaging, you are invited to purchase a cup of coffee, tea or water while you shop. However, if not there to make a purchase feel free to take a seat to read, relax, meditate, or even take a nap. The aroma, a mixture of oils and incense envelops you into warm comfort.
I walked around checking out the many book titles, magazines, artwork, handcrafted jewelry, body scrubs and lotions. It reminded me of the small boutiques in Soho, as men women and children wandered in and out exchanging pleasantries, enjoying a family day outing. It didn’t feel as though I had entered this Zen-like area from the cool corridors of a Mall.
There are books of interest for everyone including children who are welcomed to come in, sit and relax with or without their parents, a perfect place for the back to school crowd.
Ms. M is also an author and one of her recent works “Voices…Letters to Ms. Em Reflections of Life While Doing Life” is now part of the Education curriculum at the University of Delaware where she is also a guest speaker.
Now that her son, Jordan and daughter Jewel are grown, she continues to work even outside of the bookstore. She mentors young ladies through Voices of Beautiful Flowers; is a Cyber School Instructor with achievementcharter.com and she also receives correspondence from inmates from all over the world. Ms. M takes time to write each of them back or she may send a book of encouragement. In the back room she has a credenza that contains hundreds of letters and cards from these men and women.
To say, Ms. M is a busy lady would be an understatement, “every day brings more life to discover, you just have to open your heart to find it.”
If you happen to be in Claymont, stop in at the TriState Mall and visit Ms. M at Mejah Books, Inc. The shop is open everyday, Monday through Saturday 10:00 am to 9:00 pm and on Sunday 12:00 to 5:00 pm. I look forward to returning and featuring her in another one of her many community projects.
This exciting opportunity was offered to me by The Money School of Delaware in April at The Green Tie Event and I have been over the top excited ever since. I haven’t taught since 1983, and am really looking forward to returning to my first love.
My grandmother would also be super duper excited and I know she will be watching over me.
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Hubby and I are enroute to New Rochelle, NY to attend the wedding of my cousin Kyton and his fiance’ Shivon…hey guys we are on our way!
Unfortunately, we will be missing Middletown’s Annual Old Tyme Peach Festival which is a major event for our little town. I know this year it will be bigger and better than last with perfect weather!
What happens when it’s Friday night and you don’t feel like cooking, ordering pizza or going out and a bowl of cereal just won’t cut it? In our house when that happens we head straight to the garage and to the freezer. There is where I try to keep microwavable meals and snacks specifically for those occasions and last Friday night it was Lean Pockets Pretzel Bread Sandwiches.
I am not a big proponent of frozen meals & snacks because of the excessive sodium some of them contain but these Lean Pockets brand sandwiches are only 250 calories with 650 mg of sodium which isn’t a lot compared to others that contain well over 1000 mg of sodium.
The Lean Pockets Sandwiches were filled with Spinach and 3 Cheeses, Fontina, Romano and reduced Fat Mozzarella. I zapped one in the microwave for 2 minutes 30 seconds in the crisping sleeve then cut it in half. It didn’t seem like it had a lot of filling and could have had more spinach, but to my surprise it was quite good and hit the spot. The soft pretzel bread encased a flavorful mix of spinach and cheeses that paired well with my glass of Friday night wine!
Speaking of wine, I want to reintroduce my “play cousin” Cook E doe Face. She is a down to earth YouTube Vlogger who will have you in stitches as you watch her create some delicious dishes and “knock you on your butt cocktails”.
Cook E de Face is from Philly and I fell in love with her atty-tud (Philly slang) from the very first video I watched. In today’s world it is so easy to get caught up in the negativity but you know me, I like to keep it light. Cook E doe Face has me laughing out loud and reminds me of my own New York cousins. If it were left up to me she would definitely have a show on the Food or OWN Network!
On Sunday hubby and I celebrated our 23rd Wedding Anniversary and had dinner at our favorite restaurant, Chesapeake Inn and Marina. This lovely restaurant is located in Chesapeake City, Maryland on the waterfront and overlooks the C&D Canal. We have enjoyed having our Anniversary dinner here for years not only because of it’s location which is only 10 mins from the house, but because it has the best seafood and the atmosphere is enjoyable.
Before leaving for the evening our son took a few pictures of us on the back deck.
When I think back on our courtship, relationship and marriage I can only say – God is Good!
My youngest will be entering High School as a Senior which means no more standing at the bus stop in the rain…he drives, and no more back to school shopping…he wouldn’t be caught dead shopping with his mother…besides he has his own Debit Card.
His last year in High School is bittersweet but it doesn’t mean I can’t go “Back to School Shopping” and take advantage of the end of the season sales.
I didn’t purchase, but these Bandolino pumps were so comfy @ $24.99
Leaving TJ Maxx I saw Barbie, a true fashionista, whose skirt and top were purchased at Nzinga’s Boutique. A perfect outfit to wear out and about running errands or shopping (s/o to Steve aka Ken – lol)
 "Lean Pocket Sandwich in Crisping Sleeve")
 "Lean Pocket out of the microwave")
