DeDivahDeals

Fashion and Fun after Fifty

Posts Tagged ‘NY’

MeJah Books, Inc.

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 .

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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PicMonkey Collage (5)

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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.

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Chicken Kabobs

What is your favorite grilled food? Mine are kabobs, whether made with chicken, beef, seafood or lamb, I like putting together ingredients for kabobs.

My BFF from New Rochelle was visiting this weekend, so in addition to some “girl talk” and a few cold Peach Bellinis, we dined on crabs, shrimp and chicken kabobs.

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Girlfriends for Life!

Ingredients:
Chicken breasts, mushrooms, Mango, grape tomatoes, red onion, sweet peppers, Adobe Seasoning, pepper, Lawry Hawaiian Marinade

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Soak wood skewers in cool water

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Thoroughly wash mushrooms, rinse tomatoes and peppers

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Dice red onion, if cut under stove’s exhaust fan there are no tears

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Cut mango, mushrooms, sweet peppers and chicken into bite size pieces

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Season with Adobe and pepper

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Skewer alternating veggies, mango and chicken. I usually start and end with a grape tomato, they seem to hold everything in place.

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Pour on marinade, cover with foil and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes

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Fire up the grill and place on non-stick foil, depending on your grill’s temp, cook thoroughly until chicken is done.

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Remove from grill and let sit for a few minutes before serving.

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Crabs and Shrimp purchased from Lewes Fishhouse.

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Linking up on Monday with Tough Cookie Mommy – come on over and join the fun!


Teenage Volunteerism

Hello Friends and Happy Friday Eve!

Today, my youngest begins volunteering at the Food Bank of Delaware. It’s so very hard to find summer employment for teenagers these days, and he needs gas money, so I made him a deal.  He will volunteer 3 hours a day, 3 times a week helping to prepare free summer meals for kids, and I will pay him $50.00 a week for gas and savings.

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As a 17 year old male, it’s important for him to build a good work ethic, but to have an opportunity to work in a field that gives back builds character.  I want him to understand that not everyone lives a privileged life and that we all have an obligation to help others. Whether it’s in donating money, clothing, food or time, we should all reach out into our communities to lend a helping hand.

Growing up in a housing project in New Rochelle, NY, my sister and I attended summer programs that provided free lunches.  Even back then, I knew this not only helped us but our grandmother as well, and that it was important to be grateful.  It would upset me when other kids would smash the milk cartons or throw away the fruit, I knew there were others even less fortunate who would have loved to have had that milk or piece of fruit.

If your High School student is also having a hard time finding employment for the summer, consider a volunteer opportunity in your area, it can also be a good topic for their Senior Project.

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Have a fantastical day – Smooches!

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Flea Markets & Swap Meets

Would you consider yourself a Flea Market Fanatic or Swap Meet Maniac if in every state you visited you had to seek out one?  

I wouldn’t but I love finding them in my state as well as others that I visit.  The first discovery was in 1976, the year we moved from New Rochelle, NY to Dover, DE and it was Spence’s Bazaar.  As a family we bought and then sold every Tuesday and Friday during the summer.  Buying fresh vegetables, clothing, jewelry, books, and games at a Flea Market was awesome and cheap!  Making money selling at a Flea Market was also awesome, however, my first experience wasn’t so positive.  I sold several cases of 1950’s and ’60’s Barbie Dolls with clothing and accessories to a women for $5.00 – I didn’t know, but she knew that she had ripped me off!

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Tayair and I were there in September (here)

In college during the 80’s I discovered Cowtown Flea Market across the Delaware Memorial Bridge in Pilesgrove, New Jersey.  It was the place to go for sneakers, knock off designer bags, tight Sergio Valente and Jordache jeans as well as items you needed for your dorm room before heading back to campus.  As a matter of fact hubby and I had our second date there, shopping then eating sausage sandwiches at the counter was where I fell in love with him, a man after my thrify heart!  I’ve also gone to some fantastic Swap Meets in California, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia.

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cowtown3 The Infamous Cowboy Statue

Even while vacationing in Florida we always dedicate one day to visiting Flea Markets and Swap Meets.  Malik looks for watches and has a pretty nice collection, when he was younger it was model cars of which he has a large collection.  Hubby would seek out new ties for work, me shoes and purses, and Tayair T-shirts.  During President Obama’s run in 2008 we must have purchased a dozen different styles of campaign T-Shirts.

In the ’90’s, and during our early years of marriage we would rent space at New Castle Farmers Market.  Selling surplus household items as well as those tight jeans and barely-there club dresses with hubby practically giving those away – lol!  Now as a couple we go for fresh veggies, vitamins and herbal teas, boy how times have changed!

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Now it’s Dutch Country Farmers Market in Middletown, where for $15 you can rent 3 parking spaces on the 1st Saturday of the month beginning in April to September.  Last weekend I made almost $200 – “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”!

Dutch Country Farmers Market http://dutchcountryfarmersmarket.com/ Trash or Treasures Middletown, DE Water Tower Flea Market Designer Inspired Purse - sold for $5.00

Are  you a Flea Market Fanatic or Swap Meet Maniac?

 If so, where do you go and what was your best find?

Top Ten Flea Markets in America

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Flea Markets & Swap Meets

Would you consider yourself a Flea Market Fanatic or Swap Meet Maniac if in every state you visited you had to seek out one?  

I wouldn’t but I love finding them in my state as well as others that I visit.  The first discovery was in 1976, the year we moved from New Rochelle, NY to Dover, DE and it was Spence’s Bazaar.  As a family we bought and then sold every Tuesday and Friday during the summer.  Buying fresh vegetables, clothing, jewelry, books, and games at a Flea Market was awesome and cheap!  Making money selling at a Flea Market was also awesome, however, my first experience wasn’t so positive.  I sold several cases of 1950’s and ’60’s Barbie Dolls with clothing and accessories to a women for $5.00 – I didn’t know, but she knew that she had ripped me off!

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Tayair and I were there in September (here)

In college during the 80’s I discovered Cowtown Flea Market across the Delaware Memorial Bridge in Pilesgrove, New Jersey.  It was the place to go for sneakers, knock off designer bags, tight Sergio Valente and Jordache jeans as well as items you needed for your dorm room before heading back to campus.  As a matter of fact hubby and I had our second date there, shopping then eating sausage sandwiches at the counter was where I fell in love with him, a man after my thrify heart!  I’ve also gone to some fantastic Swap Meets in California, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia.

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cowtown3 The Infamous Cowboy Statue

Even while vacationing in Florida we always dedicate one day to visiting Flea Markets and Swap Meets.  Malik looks for watches and has a pretty nice collection, when he was younger it was model cars of which he has a large collection.  Hubby would seek out new ties for work, me shoes and purses, and Tayair T-shirts.  During President Obama’s run in 2008 we must have purchased a dozen different styles of campaign T-Shirts.

In the ’90’s, and during our early years of marriage we would rent space at New Castle Farmers Market.  Selling surplus household items as well as those tight jeans and barely-there club dresses with hubby practically giving those away – lol!  Now as a couple we go for fresh veggies, vitamins and herbal teas, boy how times have changed!

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Now it’s Dutch Country Farmers Market in Middletown, where for $15 you can rent 3 parking spaces on the 1st Saturday of the month beginning in April to September.  Last weekend I made almost $200 – “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”!

Dutch Country Farmers Market http://dutchcountryfarmersmarket.com/ Trash or Treasures Middletown, DE Water Tower Flea Market Designer Inspired Purse - sold for $5.00

Are  you a Flea Market Fanatic or Swap Meet Maniac?

 If so, where do you go and what was your best find?

Top Ten Flea Markets in America

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Snack $avings @DollarTree

Hello Friends, I hope you are having a terrific Tuesday!

Recently, I read an article that had suggestions on the products that you should and should not buy at your local Dollar Stores.  I agreed that buying party supplies and paper products was a good idea and with not buying toys which may contain high levels of lead.  Purchasing cleaning supplies saves money, but I only buy name brands because some of the others are watered down which makes them a waste of money.

The only statement in the article that I did not agree with was that food items should never be purchased.  Granted there are some items in a Dollar/99 Cents store that shouldn’t be purchased because of it’s obvious non-compliance with FDA’s regulations, however, there are a lot of products that I would and have bought at Dollar Tree stores.

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The state of the economy has forced us all to be more frugal but my sons are trying to eat me out of house and home!  They are always snacking and can easily polish off a large bag of chips in one sitting…wonder where they got that from (lol).  Therefore, I am always on the hunt, usually with coupons in hand, in search of snacks that they will eat and be satisfied without breaking the bank.

That’s where Dollar Tree comes in, and it has always been my “go to” store for snacks, even when the boys were small, it was the place to stop before going to the movies.   Not all products are sold in all stores and I was surprised with what I found in their freezer section, taking note that packaging was clearly marked Made in the USA, (The Bronx, NY, Altoona, PA, Pennsauken, NJ and Rancho Cucamonga, CA).   There are many name brand products made specifically for non-grocery type stores as evidenced by their sizes, however, the quality remains the same and manufacturer’s coupons are accepted.

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Turkey Creek Snacks – Pork Rinds/Chicharron (for me)

Pennysticks Brand Pretzels

David Sunflower Seeds

Utz Onion and Garlic Potato Chips

Popcorn Indiana Sea Salt Popcorn

Luigi’s Italian Ice

Baker Best Soft Pretzels

Golden Krust Jamaican Patties

Sapphire Teriyaki Noodles and Vegetables

Our Foods Orange and Teriyaki Chicken

Do you shop at dollar stores, and if so, what do you buy?

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Thank you Jennifer and Christine at store # 3730, Beaver Brook Plaza, New Castle, DE, for a pleasant shopping experience.  The shelves were fully stocked and the store was very well maintained!

BTW – don’t forget to complete the customer survey on the back of the receipt to enter their sweepstakes!

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~~ ALL OPINIONS ARE SOLELY MY OWN  – I WAS NOT CONTACTED BY DOLLAR TREE NOR ANY  PRODUCT MANUFACTURER FOR AN ENDORSEMENT ~~


Why I Liked TVOne's Belle's

TVOne just ended it’s first season of their new sitcom, Belle’s starring veteran actors Ella Joyce, Keith David and  Miguel Nunez as well as Elise Neil and newly minted reality actress and home girl (money earning Mt. Vernon) Tami Roman.  The show is narrated by 12 year old Nadka Alaya as Pam in a role similar to Aaron Meeks as Ahmad in Soul Food.   However, unlike Soul Food, this is light comedy, not forced comedy like Roc or The Hughley’s or extreme unreality like Basketball Wives, light comedy similar to Sparks.

As a “fifty something”  wife and mother, I enjoyed this show for several reasons: the time, 10 pm on Friday…end of the work week…after dinner…after hubby and sons have gone to their rooms…after weekly home pedicure…and after the 4th glass of Red Wine has kicked in. Light comedy with an excellent cast of characters that appear to work well together, great guest appearances like Wendy Williams and Gary Dourdan, a show that I hope remains on the air for a long time.

Thank you, TVOne for bringing family programming that I truly enjoy!

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Very Inspiring Blogger Award

A few weeks ago I was nominated for another Very Inspiring Blogger Award by The Big Forest, a blogger from the UK whose pictures always delight me.  If in the real world we could present these types of awards to people who we’ve never met but simply enjoy what they represent I think the world would be a better place.  I am always honored and humbled to receive recognition from a fellow blogger and take great pride in nominating others.

The rules of acceptance are:

Display the award logo on your blog

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Link back to the person who nominated you

http://thebigforestuk.wordpress.com/

State 7 things about yourself

1. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio;

2. Raised in New Rochelle, NY;

3. In my next life I want to be a beach bum;

4. It takes a lot to make me angry and I can’t remember the last time I was;

5. I am 3.5 years nicotine free and being a quitter was the best decision of my life;

6. I look for the good in everyone, however, some people make it very difficult;

7. I hate to sweat, therefore, I hate to exercise, but have to in order to balance out my love of carbs

Nominate 15 other bloggers for this award and link to them

In no particular order I am nominating the following bloggers whose posts I enjoy reading:

1. http://www.coffeeandcardigans.com/

2. http://livingoutsidethestacks.com/

3. http://pslovecharli.com/

4. http://fashionforlunch.wordpress.com/

5. http://cncfashionaccessories.wordpress.com/

6. http://faddrops.wordpress.com/

7. http://www.mail4rosey.com/

8. http://sugarandswag.com/

9. http://thereversecommuter.wordpress.com/

10. http://myfashionforwardblog.wordpress.com/

11. http://lezoemusings.wordpress.com/

12. http://katherinescorner.com/

13. http://www.quitetheblog.com/

14. http://www.ohsoamelia.com/

15. http://thepleatedpoppy.com/blog/

Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award’s requirements

Have a wonderful night – Smooches!

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$avings At The Salvation Army

I was in Wilmington on Thursday for a doc appointment and afterwards I drove over to The Salvation Army which is located by the train station. As a child I remember my grandmother taking us shopping at a Salvation Army on North Avenue in New Rochelle and it was never fun or exciting. However, when I walked into this Salvation Army my heart started palpatating and my mind filled with excitement! It had been over 16 years since the last time I was here and things had really changed, the lighting was bright, the merchandise was neat and the space was huge. It was here back in the early ’90’s that we bought our first dining room set, a Butler’s Pantry and a crib. The pieces were nice but I had to strip and re-stain the table, re-upholster the chair pads and disinfect the crib. Although we no longer have the dining room set or crib I did keep the Butler’s Pantry and it is currently in our living room storing the “good China” and wedding photo albums.

According to the history of The Salvation Army it was founded based on the gospel of Jesus Christ helping the poor, the homeless, the hungry, and the destitute and what William Booth started in 1865, is just as relevant today. Donating and shopping at The Salvation Army helps so many people and great causes that it makes you feel good about spending money in their stores.

Upon entering this location what struck me was the department store atmosphere, the bright lighting, the open landscape, overly organized and color coordinated merchandise. I spent the first few minutes just walking around checking out the signage, tags and watching and listening to the associates interact with customers. The associates were busy on the floor yet, when they passed, they acknowledged you with a smile and a few kind words, this really made me feel welcomed, wanting to linger longer and spend more. I was so impressed that I sought out an employee who turned out to be the store manager, Don Walker. I expressed my delight explaining that I was a Blogger and would be writing about my positive experience. He thanked me, provided an update on the changes at the Salvation Army and then took the time to explain and write down the sales policies.

  • Monday and Tuesday – 1 color tag in every department is 50% off

  • Wednesday is Family Day and 3 colors in clothing, shoes and books are 50% off

  • Thursday/Friday/Saturday – 1 color tag in clothing and shoes is 50% off (yesterday it was Blue)

I love the fact that they are closed on Sundays, and sometimes I wish Delaware would return to the days of the “Blue Laws”. Stores were closed and people went to church, rested and/or spent time with family and friends. I think we all need a day to shut down and just take time to relax especially during these crazy times of discord. Don also told me that they get new furniture from a local store and it’s sold at extremely reduced prices, so if you are in the market for a leather Lazy Boy Chair, come here first. I took a lot of pictures so you can see just how organized, and spacious this location is and I vowed to return to do more shopping and less documenting.

Please note, because I took so many pics inside the store, I need to write another post detailing just my purchases. Look closely at the pictures to see how neat and clean the floors are, the hangers are all set straight, no dust on the furniture and the mirrors sparkle…I need this at my house!


OOTD – Picnic Pattern

Every time I see red and white gingham my mind takes me back to the family picnics we had as a child.  Whether it was at Bear Mountain, NY or Silver Lake, DE  spreading that red and white tablecloth across a dirty wooden table meant a day filled with FOOD, FUN, and FAMILY!

One year a bunch of us kids got lost in Bear Mountain and we were scared to death that a real bear was going to eat us (child’s imagination running wild).  We roamed around the woods for what seemed like hours, scared and arguing over which way was the right one back.  Eventually we found our way and none of the adults seemed to miss us so we didn’t get into trouble and life was good again.  Things got even better when we saw that red and white gingham tablecloth covered with FOOD – hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, corn on the cob, potato salad, chips, Kool-Aid, cookies and watermelon!  We ate until we got sick and made a pact to never venture into the woods ever again – aaah more  wonderful childhood memories!

Blouse and pants – Goodwill// Shoes – Payless// Ring – Mizoutlet.com// Belt – Rainbow Shops//Bracelets, Ankle Bracelet and Earrings – Jewelry Box

Yesterday’s downpour filled up the pool!