Fashion and Fun after Fifty

Archive for November, 2016

Crock Pot Pasta and Smoked Turkey Sausage November 11, 2016

Happy Veteran’s Day to all who served

and are continuing to serve

for the

freedom of this country.

I don’t know about you, but as we get closer to Thanksgiving, I begin to focus more on clearing out my pantry and freezer in anticipation of preparing the biggest meal of the year. I tend to grocery shop less but still love to cook delicious meals for my husband and son. The Crock Pot is always on the counter and the oven is used less often.

Smoked Turkey

As you know, chicken is a staple in my house and it is always on the menu several times per week. However, last month hubby went to the Dominican Republic for a mini vacation so it was just Tayair and myself. Instead of having chicken he suggested we try Smoked Turkey Sausage, so that is what we had for dinner the night hubby returned home.

Using the Smoked Turkey Sausage gave this meal more flavor than using plain chicken.

Ingredients:

1 – Package fully cooked Smoked Turkey Sausage – Diced

1 – 14.5 oz can of Petite Diced Tomatoes

1 – Jar Alfredo Sauce

2 – Cups Penne Pasta (uncooked)

Italian Seasoning

Options: Minced Garlic and Red Pepper Flakes

Most people don’t realize that you can put uncooked pasta in the Crock Pot, but for my money, it’s much better as it doesn’t get mushy and cooks up well.

Instructions:

Spray the inside of the Crock Pot with Cooking Spray, add Pasta, Diced Tomatoes and Smoked Turkey Sausage. Sprinkle on a little Italian Seasoning and pour in Alfredo Sauce. Add 1/4 cup of water to the jar, shake and then pour remaining sauce into Crock Pot.

Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4 hours. If you prefer to use a red sauce like Marinara or spaghetti sauce as it works just as well.

Do you use Smoked Turkey Sausage in your meals?

Can Blogging Break Up a Marriage November 9, 2016

You do remember how innocently it all started out. At first you were just writing a few hobby posts every week no big deal, a time filler just having fun. Then you started getting followers who began to comment and so you started to take blogging a little more seriously. Your audience was growing and so was your attention to them…your virtual family and friends.

Perhaps after a few months you started to get the kids involved, asking them to pose and then asking hubby to take pictures of you with them in the store, the park or at the beach. He reluctantly obliged but never understood why he nor the kids could eat anything that was on the platter before you took a picture trying to capture the perfect “Hero Shot”. You set the table with fancy utensils, napkins, flowers and props for the blog post telling the family to dish out their meal from the pots sitting on the stove.

france_3

www.travelblog.goaheadtours.com

Then you start doing sponsored posts, sometimes getting a few hundred dollars deposited into your Paypal account or getting free products that the kids could use and free tickets to an event or for a weekend getaway that hubby enjoyed.

You became obsessed with seeking bigger pay days signing up for even more sponsored posts. You take pictures at sunrise, at sunset, in the rain and snow while on vacation and sometimes even at work. Selfies are taken in department store dressing rooms and out on the floor, with every purchase becoming part of an OOTD post and using hashtags for even more recognition.

You’re signing up at even more blogging community sites, submitting pitches for product reviews and adding more and more to your content calendar. Your photography skills are improving and your posting dates outnumber doctor and dental appointments highlighted on the family’s calendar. You become more selfish with your time especially if you also have a job outside of the home.

You can’t go anywhere without taking pictures and you began to schedule and attend events only if they are opportunities for a blog post including the kid’s school field trips. Leaving your business cards everywhere, on the grocery store and church bulletin boards, on the counters at the local liquor stores and blogging becomes more of an obsession.

sleep apnea

https://www.verywell.com

After homework with the kids and dinner with the family, hubby heads to bed while you toil away on your laptop until the wee hours of the morning. Your sex life begins to wane because hubby can’t keep his eyes open until all hours of the night as you edit and re-edit the perfect post.

Every shopping experience turns into an opportunity to promote a new product or service and you are proud to admit that you are a blogger with a major following on all your social media platforms. An expert in the field either as a Lifestyle Blogger, Foodie Blogger, Travel Blogger or Blogger Blogger.

You are constantly reading Social Media Examiner, other blogs, joining link parties, upping your video game and enjoying every moment of it, however, hubby has been put on the back burner and your relationship is strained.

He doesn’t understand why you have to attend a blogging event every week and why you can’t just sit and watch television without your Laptop or Smartphone, constantly checking Facebook stats, Twitter and Google Analytics.

You want him to understand and you need him to know that blogging has become part of your life and you want him to become a part of it as well…but will he ever?

Are you allowing your virtual life to overtake your real life…and will blogging break up your marriage?

Blogging for Small Business Presentation at eCommerce Sales and Marketing Workshop November 7, 2016

Last month I had an opportunity to present Blogging for Small Business at the 2016 eCommerce Sales and Marketing Workshop, which was sponsored by the Delaware Economic Development Office (DEDO) and Downtown Delaware held at DelTech in Dover, DE.

As an attendee at the 2015 eCommerce Sales and Marketing Workshop I knew that I wanted to come back as a presenter. Especially since Blogging has become an integral social media platform for small business owners it was a natural fit for me to present. #DelawareBlogger

The eCommerce Sales and Marketing Workshop is a FREE 2 Day training program, however, small business owners must submit an application and commit to attending both days in order to be accepted. The eCommerce training covers an array of topics including Instagram, Facebook 101, Legal and Taxes, Reputation Marketing, Loans and Grants and Branding Your Business.

The courses were designed to assist participants in establishing their eCommerce business or supplementing their current sales practices. Designed for entrepreneurs, innovators and small business owners including non-profits looking to start or expand a business online.

The eCommerce training is for beginning and advanced entrepreneurs that desire to start or expand a business selling products and/or services via the internet. Most of the eCommerce participants have an existing Delaware-based business and were looking to enhance their business through the use of social media tools.

Continental Breakfast was available prior to the 9:00 am start of the workshop and my presentation was on Day 2. I had the honor and privilege to follow one of the Social Media Icons, Darnyelle Jervey, CEO, of Incredible One Enterprises. Every time I attend one of her conferences or listen to any of her many YouTube videos I walk away with more knowledge as was the case at this year’s eCommerce Workshop. I wish to thank Ken Anderson and Diane Laird for giving me the opportunity to present at this years eCommerce Workshop and do hope that the attendees walked away with more knowledge on why they should start a blog for their business.

Check out this YouTube Video which covers the first half of my presentation and if you would like a full copy of the slides, please sign up for my Newsletter and it will sent it to you.

Social Media Sunday Podcast with the Delaware Blogger November 6, 2016

DON’T FORGET TO TUNE IN THIS EVENING AT 6PM

http://bit.ly.2eBeYM

SOCIAL MEDIA AND FACEBOOK FAMILY GROUPS

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Slow Cooked Hawaiian Turkey Tenderloins November 4, 2016

I can’t believe that Crocktober is over, however, that is not going to stop me from cooking and posting my slow cooked meals. Thanks to my friends over at Jennie-O I received a package of Turkey Tenderloins so I decided to add a few ingredients to make this mid-week tasty treat for hubby and our son, Tayair.

Ingredients:

1 package Jennie-O Boneless Turkey Breast Tenderloin
1 package of frozen peppers and onions
1 small can of Pineapple Tidbits
1 bottle Hawaiian Style Barbeque Sauce
Cooking Spray

Instructions:

Spray inside of Crock Pot with Cooking Spray
Add 1/2 bag of frozen peppers and onions
Add Turkey Tenderloins
Add Pineapple Tidbits
Add remaining frozen peppers and onions
Pour entire bottle of Barbecue Sauce

mid-week meals Slow Cooked Hawaiian Turkey Tenderloins

Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 hours. Serve over pasta or rice and enjoy. However, because we had enough for leftovers, my son decided just to shred it and put on a whole wheat bun with coleslaw.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, have you started planning out your Turkey day recipes? If you need some inspiration, head over to the Jennie-O website for meal planning suggestions.

DISCLOSURE: I received the Turkey Tenderloins as a member of the Jennie-O Switch Circle. Recipe and all opinions are 100% my own.

So Long Short Sleeves Welcome Winter November 2, 2016

Well here we are again edging closer to the cold winter winds, so the time has come to say, “so long to short sleeves” This is the last time that I’ll be wearing a short sleeve dress to work without a cardigan or blazer. If you remember, this was actually the dress I wore to the Bloggers Night at the Grub Burger Bar.

My open toe shoes are also going to be packed up and replaced with tights, booties and boots. As much as I love the heat of the summer, I must admit that I am looking forward to the shorter and colder days of December.

I was trying to remember where I purchased this little black dress and then remembered that it was one of several that I had purchased to wear to my grandmother’s funeral in 2009. I am not sure if I wore it or chose instead to wear a blue one which was her favorite color. The Ethnic necklace with matching earrings were purchased several years before at a boutique in Wilmington.

These are my favorite peep-toe pumps; Jessica Simpson animal print that were purchased at a Consignment Shop in West Chester, PA. The purse is an Avon Accessory.

Hubby took a vacation trip to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic two few weeks ago, and for some strange reason I couldn’t sleep alone so I was up late way too late writing blog posts, including this one.

Now that he is back, I am sleeping like a baby and am very happy to have him home safe and sound. I am glad that he had an opportunity to get away and take some time to himself. After all he deserved it after the cancer diagnosis and the chemo treatments he underwent last year.

I am in the process of re-branding my business and my blog, so stay tuned for more exciting changes other than the obvious name change from DeDivahDeals to DelBlogger.

Speaking of staying tuned, don’t forget to follow me on AAU Teen Talk Radio on Blog Talk Radio – Social Media Sunday with the Delaware Blogger Sunday evenings at 6 pm and if you miss them, make sure to listen to the rebroadcast as it helps me with my ratings.

Click here to listen to last week’s Podcast.

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