DeDivahDeals

Fashion and Fun after Fifty

Archive for April, 2014

I Got it @Goodwill | End of the Season OOTD

Hello Friends and Happy Goodwill Wednesday!

I wore this end-of-the-season outfit in March, but with all the activity at the end of the month I didn’t get a chance to post it. This is officially the last of the winter wardrobe pics because today it’s going to be 70 degrees…time for a pedicure because the boots have been put away!

I Got it @Goodwill

Everything was thrifted from Goodwill at different times and from different locations so it was fun putting it all together.

I got it @Goodwill OOTD

Even though I wore a short sleeve blouse, there was still a slight chill in the air so I opted to wear the brown suede jacket which was also thrifted.

Thrifted belt

Of the entire thrifted outfit, I like this unique thick belt the best, what do you think?

Thrifted Boots

Remember how excited I was to finally find a pair of Riding Boots, and to find them new at Goodwill for only $18.99 was awesome.  The hooks on the back gave them an edgier look which made it a better thrifted find.

Totally Thrifted from Goodwill

Totally Thrifted from Goodwill

Now it’s time to go through my closets and purge items that I did not wear last season or were much too tight thanks to menopausal weight gain or perhaps too much winter wine.  Anywho, whatever I find will be re-donated back to Goodwill which is the best part of thrifting.  

Today I’m linking up with one of my favorite thriftinistas over at ColorBlind and then I’ll swing by to see DC Goodwill Fashionista so if you get a chance, come on over and check out their thrifty finds.  

Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!

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Donate Stuff, Create Jobs | Goodwill and The Ad Council

Most of you know that hubby will retiring this summer after 32+ years of service with the State of Delaware.  Although he will be leaving the School District he won’t be leaving the workforce…at least not entirely.  He may not know where the next phase of life will take him, he does vow not to have to wear a suit and tie again. 

So with a closet full of them, where will they go after my sons have raided his closet, the answer is simple, they will be donated to Goodwill.  Hubby may be leaving his job, but in donating his suits, ties, suspenders and shoes he will be helping to create jobs for others.

Using this online Goodwill Donation Calculator we can determine just how much our donations will be helping the community.  For example, one man’s suit will provide 14 minutes of resume preparation and a pair of shoes will provide 19 minutes of the same.  

Try it out for yourself as you pack up your donations.

Donate Stuff, Create Jobs Donate Stuff, Create Jobs

You may not be leaving a job, but if your spring cleaning includes clearing out a cluttered closet to make room for more stuff, pack it up and donate it to Goodwill.

Goodwill_FB_SpringCleaning_FINAL4.indd

I’ll be the first to admit it, but hubby isn’t the only person that needs to clean out their closet…mine is due for some serious purging…need to make room for new shoes!

Too many shoes

For more information on just how your donations work, check out this “How We Do It” PSA.

Donate Stuff, Create Jobs

 

 

“This post was made possible through the support of Goodwill. All opinions are my own.”


Century 21® National Open House Month | Guest Post

April is Century 21® National Open House Month!

Just as the spring flowers are getting ready to bloom, many available homes on the real estate market throughout Delaware will be opening their doors to kick off the spring buying season.

C21 Open House

Here are some helpful tips so that you are prepared when attending Open Houses:


• Wear Comfortable shoes – as the warm weather approaches I know its very tempting to want to wear those high summer wedges, but it might be a good idea to leave them behind and grab your comfortable walking shoes since you will be doing a lot of walking through houses as well as going up and down stairs.

• Ask permission before taking pictures or recording a video

• Be respectful of the homeowner’s personal belongings – while it is acceptable to open closets and draws, you want to be mindful that you are not rummaging or snooping through the current homeowner’s personal belongings.

• Bring a notebook or tablet –you may have a copy of the listing advertisement, but it is always helpful to you the buyer to be able to make your own notes on the specific aspects of the property that you either like or dislike.

If you or someone you know is in the market for purchasing a new home, please feel free to contact Cleo Clarke at (302)397-4063. And don’t forget to ask her about programs for First-Time Homebuyers or 100% financing!

 

 

Cleo Clarke, MBA
Century 21 Premier Homes
5350 Summit Bridge Rd.
Middletown, DE 19709
Email: cleo.clarke@century21.com
Office: (302)449-3222
Direct: (302)397-4063
Website: www.homesbycleo.com
Like me on Facebook – homesbycleo
Follow me on Twitter – @homesbycleo


Weekend Wind-Down Party

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!

Welcome to the Weekend Wind-Down Party (#WWDParty)

WWDPARTY BUTTON

I am definitely glad to see this week end because between hubby’s hospitalization and my stomach virus this has definitely been a heck of a week. I am glad for the weekend even though I need to start working on my 2013 income taxes, yes, I said, “start”.  I don’t know where the time went but it snuck up on me too quickly this year.  turbo tax

I finally got a chance to check out everyone’s posts Tuesday night and needless to say, if my stomach wasn’t messed up, I would have been drooling over some of those decadent desserts!  

Congratulations to this week’s Featured Bloggers

Reviews, Chews and How-To's

Reviews, Chews and How-To’s

Purple Hues and Me

Purple Hues and Me

The Casual Craftlete

The Casual Craftlete

the colored door

the colored door

Bakewell Junction

Bakewell Junction

View from the Fridge

View from the Fridge

Please feel free to post this button on your blog and check our Pinterest page as you are also being featured there.

I WAS FEATURED #WWDPARTY

The rules remain the same and it would be nice to see more link backs to the party, as this is the only way to be selected as a Featured Blogger as well as it being a courteous guest.

WWDParty Rules

 

We hope that you won’t just post and run but will take time to visit at least 3 other blogs then follow your hosts on at least one Social Media platform.

Weekend Wind-Down Hosts

This Simple Home

Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Google+

De Divah Deals

Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Google+/LinkedIn/

Instagram

Snippets of Inspiration

Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Google+

A Living Sacrifice

Blog/Facebook/Pinterest/Etsy/LinkedIn

Mustard Seed Mommy

Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Google+/Instagram

Moms Who Save

Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Google+/Instagram

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the party!



Friday Foodie Feature | Ceviche with Scallops

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!

We may have just turned the corner with the warmer temps on the horizon. Once the seasons change from winter to Spring and then to Summer, there are two things that are forefront in my mind – eating light and vacation.

Eating light while on vacation is great, but when that’s not possible, I try to make the best of it with foods that conjures up the places that I would rather be.

Today’s Friday Foodie Feature is Ceviche

 Ceviche with Bay Scallops

There’s something about mixing lime juice, fish and cilantro that reminds me of either a Conch Salad from the Bahamas or Ceviche from Mexico.  Conch is giant sea snail, which I can’t get in Middletown, but like ceviche it can also be made with scallops.  

This cold appetizer is a great way for me to start a vacation even if it’s only a mental one, and if I add a cold beer…everything is right in the world!

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb fresh bay scallops – diced into quarters
  • 6 limes or bottled lime juice
  • 1 jalapeno pepper – diced
  • 1/2 green pepper – diced
  • 1 Avocado – diced
  • 1/2 cup onions – diced
  • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes – halved
  • 2 tbsp orange juice
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup cilantro – chopped

  Ceviche ingredients

Dice the bay scallops into quarters, then place them into a bowl.  Pour in enough lime juice to cover them all.  Put plastic wrap around bowl, pressing down to ensure that all the scallops are covered and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Scallops cooked in lime juice

While the scallops are marinating or “cooking” in the lime juice prepare the other ingredients.

Ceviche ingredients

  diced veggies

 

Remove scallops from refrigerator and bowl, do not rinse.

scallops should be firm to the touch

The scallops should be white and firm to the touch.

Drain but do not rinse then add other ingredients

Drain scallops and add other ingredients, stirring to mix well

mixed ceviche

Ceviche can also be made with any other firm fleshed fish, ie, red snapper but use the freshest fish possible and make in the same day of purchase.

Serve with Tortilla Chips and Enjoy

What foods reminds you of a Spring or Summer vacation?  Come back at 6:00 p.m. and share it at the

Weekend Wind-Down Party!

Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!

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Cancer Don’t Care | Thankful Thursday

For far too many years, we have had several relatives affected by cancer, mostly breast but lung and colon cancer has also reared their ugly heads.  We watched them go through treatment, recovery, get worse, become survivors or die.  Cancer don’t care who you are, where you live, or even how you live. breast cancer awareness

Lung cancer has taken the lives of smokers as well as non-smokers and breast cancer invades the bodies of men as well as women and for far too long.

We have watched the deterioration of some and dealt with the sudden death of others. We have grieved as a family and attended the funerals and memorial services.  Cancer don’t care about any of this.

My mother-in-law battled colon cancer, she put up a good fight, in and out of Hospice Care for over a year until her small frame, weighing less than 100 lbs could no longer take it…she died on Saturday August 31, 2013. colorectal cancer awareness

“You have cancer” is a phrase that no one ever wants to hear, especially a healthy, active, non smoking, non drinking man who is entering his next phase of life.  Retirement papers signed after 32 years with the State of Delaware…now onward to that 2nd half of life and getting a start on the “honey-do” list.

Cancer Don’t Care!

Colonoscopy began at the age of 45, he ate little to no red meat, exercised daily, had a happy life with a happy wife and kids in slow suburban Middletown, DE.

Cancer Don’t Care!  

Years of pain and an irritable bowel, yet, no detection of cancer, until one specialist working in God’s favor does an endoscopy and there is was hidden in the small intestines.  

Cancer Don’t Care!

Diagnosed on the 21st…surgery on the 26th with no signs it has spread, and guess who’s home today!   colon cancer survivor

God is Good and

I AM THANKFUL!!!!!!!!!

 

DDD Signature with butterflies and frame

 


High Heels in High Places | NABFEME

Friday night I attended “High Heels in High Places” which was presented by NABFEME, the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music & Entertainment, Inc.  This FREE event was held at the Nemours Building in Wilmington and was sponsored by Sisterent.com.

Johnnie Walker, President and CEO of NABFEME kicked off the evening with a brief description and stated the the mission of NABFEME, which “was created to be a vehicle of support that would increase the awareness and raise the profile of minority women in entertainment.”  

Johnnie Walker, President and CEO of NABFEME

Demia Avery, owner of Avery Sisters Entertainment was the MC and sat on the dais with 10 empowered women representing industries and positions that included:  Sales and Hospitality; Entrepreneurship; Authors; Music and Concert Promotion; Fashion; Life Empowerment Coach; Entertainment Attorney; and Recording Artists. 

Demia Avery, MC

Panelist of High Heels in High Places

Friend and owner of Mejah Books, Emylyn DeGannes was one of the panelist, and you may remember her from a previous feature on my blog (click here).

Cynthia Tyre, Emylyn DeGannes and Patty Harris

This 3-hour interactive event was a “power surge” from ladies-in-the-know to help others grow.  The audience participation was lively with great questions and observations as well as few light hearted comments from a man in attendance. 

Don’t Try It – Just Do It” was one of the well received catch phrases, “Mentors Are Angels in Disguise”; “Live Out Your Passion and You’ll Never Work” and “Stand and Be Still – With God Nothing is Impossible” were the major themes throughout the night and struck a cord with many of the attendees.

The evening ended with networking, exchanging of cards and group photos.  It was a great event and I would like to thank Avery Sister Entertainment for bringing NABFEME to Wilmington and look forward to other empowering events in Delaware.

Group Photos

Group Photo

Stay Blessed – No Stress in 2014!

 

DDD Signature with butterflies and frame