A few weeks ago hubby and I went to Wally World –aka- Walmart to pick up a few groceries but of course, we each stopped in the clothing section first and yes, we both put something in the cart other than milk, bread, and eggs. Hubby found a few shirts for Tayair to wear to work and I found a few skirts and tops for me to wear to work!
I normally wear dresses to work but their Faded Glory skirts are 95% cotton making them great for the end of the season, perfect to wear on the hottest dog days of summer.
They were also only $6.88, so together with the top the entire outfit was less than $10 and you know that made it perfect for my wallet!
The long necklace was purchased from Avon and it comes with matching earrings which I didn’t wear, instead am wearing a pair of small gold hoops.
The clutch was purchased last season from Kohl’s and was a good way to break up the blue. The bracelet is from Old Navy and if I am not mistaken the watch was also purchased from Avon.
Gotta love these denim wedge sandals which I think worked well with this casual outfit from Walmart. As a matter of fact, I was going to wear this outfit on our tour of The White House but instead wore the dress.
What do you think would wearing Walmart to The White House be appropriate?
In a few week’s Malik’s bags will be packed as he prepares for his return trip back to Bowie State Universityto begin his Junior year. While he was home we had a chance to talk about a lot of things including his father’s health and how to remain safe on campus and on the road.
This summer he again worked at Amazon and was able to make and save money for those “extradentials” . As parents of young adults it is very important to discuss their finances before they head back to campus.
You may remember that I previously posted this article by Michelle Singletary which helps parents “have the financial talk” with their students, but I wanted to repost it as a reminder.
In a week or two, thousands of young adults will be heading to college for the first time and they’ll be faced with a lot of financial choices. I wonder how prepared they will be. It’s not enough to hope they will be ready to handle their money. As the good book says, “faith without works is dead.” Good money managers aren’t born; they’re trained.
So, as your college freshman is packing up, there’s one piece of luggage that needs to have all the right stuff: the financial suitcase. Here’s what should be inside:
• The right debit card. Before heading off to school, make sure your child has a debit card that will work well at his or her college location. That might mean opening an account with a different bank or credit union that has ATMs on or near campus to avoid an out-of-network fee. Double-check that you can easily and quickly transfer money into the account without incurring fees. For this reason, you may also want to get an account at the same financial institution.
• Mobile bank alerts. If your freshman hasn’t done this already, he or she should set up alerts connected to the debit card. Alerts can be customized to report deposits, withdrawals and bill-due dates. Cardholders can also be notified when the account balance is getting low, which in turn will help avoid overdraft charges and other fees. Just be mindful of alerts received as text messages, which may incur fees from a mobile provider.
• Box of envelopes: Budgeting may not be easy at first. If you know your child is challenged in this department, try the envelope money-management system. Envelopes should be labeled the following way for the four major spending categories: eating out, clothes, entertainment and transportation. Every week, two weeks or month, depending on how your child receives income or spending money, put budgeted cash for each category into the envelopes. When the money is gone from one, there’s no more spending on that category.
• Commitment to save and not just spend. Yes, even students on a tight budget should save. If your student is getting a stipend or spending money from you or a job, encourage him or her to start the habit of saving something — anything — from the funds they receive not allocated for tuition, room, board and books. Suggest a “Life Happens” fund, which is different from an emergency fund. Money in this account can be used for pizza, parties, clothes, spring-break trips, concerts, etc. But when the money is taken out, your student should have a plan to replenish it.
Here are some things that students should not take to college
• Credit card: I know you’ve heard that it’s important for your child to establish credit. But it’s not time for that yet. As your student gets closer to graduation and needs to build credit to get an apartment or car loan, he or she can open a credit card account. But for now, as a freshman, consider credit an unnecessary luxury. Besides, debit cards with either the MasterCard or Visa logo can be used for almost any purchase. My daughter is a junior in college and she hasn’t had a need for a credit card.
• Expectation to spend excess student-loan money: Talk to your child about not accepting a student-loan refund, which is money in excess of the cost of attendance. If there is money left over, he or she may get a refund check. This is not free money. It’s a loan with interest that must be paid back.
• Entitlement mentality: Leave at home the attitude of having to experience everything. Going on that spring-break trip may not be feasible, especially if your child has student loans.
As your freshman is going over the checklist of things for college, make sure his or her financial suitcase is stuffed with tools and strategies that will help to avoid any money missteps.
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Have you had “the financial talk” with your college student?
Two weeks ago my son’s and I had an opportunity to tour the East Wing of The White House along with my best friend and her family who were visiting from Rancho Cucamonga, CA. The mini men and I took the Amtrak Regional Rail from the Wilmington station at 7:04 am and arrived at Union Station in DC an hour and a half later.
It was another warm July morning so it was a pleasure, albeit a bit costly to catch a cab from Union Station to the White House instead of walking the 1.6 miles. I was thankful to my best friend’s son who had invited us to take the tour with them, however, we didn’t get the memo of the prohibited items so my sons and I ended up walking at least 5 miles trying to find a locker to store my purse and camera.
Unfortunately, I never found one and thought I would have to miss the tour, but fortunately, Noah’s office was close enough that he could store it there until we completed the tour.
Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, the following:
Video Recorders
Handbags, book bags, backpacks or purses
Food or beverages, tobacco products, personal grooming items (i.e. makeup, lotion, etc.)
Strollers
Any pointed objects
Aerosol containers
Guns, ammunition, fireworks, electric stun guns, mace, martial arts weapons/devices, or knives of any size
Obviously, there were several security checkpoints to clear before we were actually inside The White House, but once inside we were able to take our time on this self-guided tour. Thanks to the change in the “no photo” policy we were also able to take a lot of pictures and if you follow me on Instagram you probably saw a few of these.
The tour began at the Visitor’s Entrance where you are welcomed by a recorded greeting from the President and First Lady Obama, and the self-guided tour gives you plenty of time to check out the various rooms and portraits. We were also fortunate in that we were treated to a musical performance by the Drama Kings and Queens, a Los Angeles Speech and Language Therapy Center, Inc.
Through the windows you can see carefully landscaped gardens and grounds and floral arrangements brighten some of the rooms. The carpets are rolled back and the rooms are roped off, however, you can get a good view of the Library, Vermeil Room (gilded silver), China Room, The Diplomatic Reception Room, The East Room, The Green Room, The Blue Room, The Red Room which was my favorite and The State Dining Room.
I was really fascinated by the Red Carpet, it’s the one that President Obama walks on during his major announcements. The President and First Lady were in Philadelphia for the DNC Convention so we didn’t get an opportunity to see them in person.
However, we did see a lot of pictures and the China Sets from each of the various administrations. We stayed on the main floor as the second and third floors are used exclusively by the Presidential family and guests.
It was a once in a lifetime event and I was glad to be able to share it with not only my best friend since 4th grade but also with my sons.
After the tour we had a quick lunch together and then said our goodbyes at the Metro Station. They headed to the airport and the mini men and I took the Metro to the National Air and Space Museum where we hung out to stay cool until it was time to head back to Union Station and catch the train back home.
Have you ever taken a tour of The White House? If not, and you want more information on how to request one, click on this link
The summer is flying by too quickly, and I have been trying to wear as many pairs of my sandals as possible before it’s time to cover up my tootsies.
With this outfit, which is a dress from Ross Dress for Less and purse from Avon I have chosen a pair of yellow flats also from Avon and a mustard color wedge again from Ross Dress for Less.
I find wedge sandals to be very comfortable but flat sandals are always better for driving. The yellow bracelet is from Old Navyand to it I added a few miscellaneous bangles.
The necklace was purchased from an online jewelry store. I am not sure where I purchased the ring but most likely it was from Burlington Coat Factory.
So have you taken a vacation yet? Hubby and I have decided to wait until the fall and then take a mini vacation to a Caribbean Island for a little rest and relaxation before the new year.
Malik, our youngest son will be returning to Bowie State University in a few weeks. He has been working two jobs this summer so that he can return back to campus with extra funds to handle his “extradentials” – which is definitely a load off of our plates.
Okay, so which pairs of sandals would you have chosen to wear with this dress?
I hope you have a Happy Hump Day and will enjoy the rest of the week!
The summer wouldn’t be complete without a visit to a local art studio in Wilmington especially on the first Friday of the month. If you haven’t had a chance to check out the Art Loop then you are really missing out.
This month Cherné Altovise added a twist to her stop by having Katarina Lawrence, a Mixed Media and Henna Artist on site who was creating some beautiful and unique body art.
This was actually my second time visiting the Cherné Altovise studio and if you remember this post from March you saw a few of the many talented artists in attendance. This month, there was only one very talented artist, and as you can tell by the following pictures, he really captured the attention of the visitors.
It was a nice evening which brought several people into the studio to not only see the live art show, but to also view the various art pieces hanging on the walls, or to purchase accessories, listen to the music from a DJ or simply to network and connect with others.
If you don’t live in Delaware, have you attended a local Art Loop in your home town, city or state? However, if you do live in Delaware make sure you check out the Art Loop on the first Friday of the month.
Thank you Drive Shop USA and Kia for giving me an opportunity to review the 2017 Sportage SX FWD.
A few weeks before the sweltering summer heat hit the Delaware Valley, hubby and I spent a beautiful Saturday afternoon walking through Battery Park in Old New Castle. If you remember this post, I stated that I wanted to return to the park with my husband as it had such a nice walking trail.
Also, if you follow me on Instagram you would have seen the pictures we took at the 1/4 mile marker. Hubby is still working on getting his energy level back up after those 6 months of chemo for small intestinal cancer.
The day started out being very beautiful however, we got some well needed rain towards the end of our walk, so we left earlier than we wanted. Both of our sons are working this summer so it was nice spending some quality time alone as an “old married couple”.
We both loved the 2017 Kia Sportage as it was a smooth ride with comfortable leather front seats and best of all, it was equipped with a Dual-Zone Auto Climate controls. I don’t know how it is in your house, but in ours, my husband and I often disagree on the temperature so we are in constant duel over the controls. Although the seats were leather, it wasn’t an uncomfortable sitting situation if you know what I mean!
The 2017 Kia Sportage comes with many standard features including Dual Front Airbags, Front Seat Mounted Airbags, and side Curtain Airbags which are great safety features. All of the other features on this model were standard and a few of them are listed below. The MSRP of this vehicle is $33,395.00 and the fuel economy is listed as 23 MPG, 21 city, 26 highway which makes it a negative for me.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
4.2” Color Infotainment Center LCD with Navigation
Sirius/XM Satellite Radio w/free 3-mo subscription
Leather Seat Trim
Push button start with Smart Key
Rear Camera Display
Blind Spot Detection
Lane Departure Warning
Front/Rear Parking Assist System
10 year/100,000 mile limited Powertrain warranty
5 year/60,000 mile roadside assistance
The fuel economy may be a negative on this vehicle, but here are my Top Five Favs:
Smart Hands-Free Power Liftgate and large storage capacity
Adjustable lumbar seat support controls
Power Folding Heated Side View Mirrors with LED Turn Signals
Lighted Door Handle
Panoramic Sunroof
The 2017 Kia Sportage did have a jerky acceleration on the back roads however, was smooth as silk on the highway at higher speeds. Also, as you can see the rear seat comfort is one of concern especially for adults as there isn’t much leg room in the back.
Overall, I would say that this is a great vehicle for someone who unlike me doesn’t have a 100 mile daily commute as the fuel economy is low, however, the seat controls with lumbar support made the commute a lot less uncomfortable.
The color of this 2017 Kia Sportage is Burnished Copper and it was so gorgeous, it actually complimented my maxi dress – what do you think?
The Blind Spot Detection and Lane Departure warnings are also great features for long distance travel and the rear trunk is a definitely a great size for loading it with shopping bags, luggage or dorm room supplies when taking a kid back to college which is what we will be doing in a few weeks – where did the summer go??
Check out the following YouTube video to get a better view of the inside and outside of the 2017 Kia Sportage then leave a comment below as to which feature you liked best.
Hello friends and happy Hump Day Wednesday. This week’s Fashion after Fifty OOTD is another closet staple and my version of “Boho Chic”
These palazzo pants were purchased several years ago from TJMaxx and they were an extra, extra large, but because I loved them so much, I bought them anyway and tacked them on the sides.
As some of you know, we, the boomers of the 60s weren’t overly concerned with “what went with what or what didn’t go” with a certain style, which is why I mixed the accessories in this outfit.
Mixing silver, gold, resin, and brass bracelets, rings and necklaces made this such a fun and funky way to dress up a plain white tank top from Walmart.
The sandals also have Goldtone rhinestones in them so once again the mixing and maxing of accessories added to the fun of this Boho Chic yet casual Friday outfit.
I can’t remember where I purchased the leather purse but it must have been an an Afrocentric Boutique as evidenced by the continent of Africa emblem.
Everything old is new again which is why this like the tie dye maxi dress from last week’s post will remain in my closet for several more years. This is another classic outfit that will never go out of style.
Do you have a favorite “throw back” or classic closet staple?
Hello friends, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Mine started out great as I presented a Basic Blogging Workshop at the Elsmere Library. It was a very interactive class and fortunately the library was air conditioned so it was very cool and comfy indoors.
However, by the time the workshop ended the temps outside had risen to cause a statewide excessive heat warning.
If you are in an area affected with this excessive heat, here are a few tips from the Office of Emergency Management to help you keep cool and safe during a summer scorcher.
Basic Tips
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Stay indoors in air conditioning as much as possible.
If you do go outside, stay in the shade.
If your home is not air-conditioned, spend at least two hours daily at an air-conditioned mall, library or other public place.
Wear sunscreen outside along with loose-fitting, light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
Drink water regularly even if you are not thirsty. Limit alcohol and sugary drinks which speeds dehydration.
Never leave children or pets alone in the car.
Avoid exertion during the hottest part of the day.
Take a cool shower or bath.
Make sure to leave plenty of water for your pets.
Be a good neighbor, check on elderly and people with disabilities in your community who may need assistance keeping cool.
Additionally, residents should contact their local and/or county offices of emergency management regarding any open air-conditioned senior centers or cooling stations.
Encourage them to use their AC or help them get to a cool place.
Make sure they are drinking enough water.
During heat emergencies, NYC Cooling Centers are open.
What Is It and How Do I Get It? Heat Stroke results from having an abnormally elevated body temperature. Whenever our body works out, it naturally generates heat, which usually escapes through the skin or through the evaporation of sweat. However, when you work out in extreme heat or humidity (or when you work out at a high intensity outside and do not hydrate yourself), the heat your body produces may not be able to dissipate well enough and your body temperature rises, sometimes up to 106°F or higher.
Infants, the elderly, athletes and those who work outside and physically exert themselves under the sun for a living are those at highest risk for heat strokes.
How Do I Know It’s Heat Stroke? Heat stroke symptoms can sometimes mimic those of a heart attack or other conditions. Often, an individual will experience signs of heat exhaustion before the condition escalates to heat stroke. Heat exhaustion symptoms include nausea, fatigue, headache, muscle cramps, dizziness, weakness and vomiting.
Heat stroke symptoms include a high body temperature, the absence of sweating, red or flushed dry skin, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, hallucinations, disorientation, agitation, seizure and/or coma.
Prevention: Avoid working out in high-temperature or humidity environments. If you cannot avoid physical exertion in these environments, be sure to frequently hydrate yourself to help keep your body temperature down and take breaks as often as possible. Also, avoid drinking caffeine, alcohol or tea, as this may lead to dehydration.
Treatment: Heat stroke is a medical emergency that can lead to brain or organ damage and even death. If you or someone around you is exhibiting symptoms of a heat stroke, immediately call 911.
• While you’re waiting for emergency medical services, get the victim to a shady area, remove clothing, apply cool or warm water to the skin, fan the victim to promote sweating, and place ice packs under the armpits and groin.
• Further treatment must be administered by a trained medical professional.
Sunburn
Anyone who’s spent a long day out in the summer sun is more than likely familiar with sunburn.
How Do I Get It? Sunburn is literally a burn to the skin caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays and anyone can get it from being out in the sun.
(Credit: Thinkstock)
How Do I Know It’s Sunburn? Sunburn is recognized by red or reddish skin in areas that have recently been exposed to the sun. The skin is hot to the touch and often painful. Other symptoms include peeling skin or blisters where the burn was most severe. Individuals with fair or light-colored skin are at a greater risk of sunburn injury.
Prevention: If you’re going to be out in the sun, the best way to protect yourself is to apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before heading outside.
For the most complete protection, apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher that has both UVA and UVB protection to shield your skin from both the sun’s burning rays (UVB rays) and it’s aging rays (UVA rays) that are connected to melanoma skin cancers. If you plan to be active or go in the pool, make sure you use a sweatproof/waterproof sunscreen.
For best application, use about a tablespoon of sunscreen to cover your entire face and ears, and use about a shot glass full to cover each of the other exposed parts of your body. Reapply every three hours.
Treatment:
• Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin are helpful in reducing pain, especially when taken early on.
• Aloe vera gel helps to cool and calm the skin as well as reduce pain and promote healing. The gel forms a protective layer on the skin that seals in valuable moisture, preventing dehydration and promoting faster healing.
• For mild sunburn, cool compresses with equal parts milk and water calm the skin. Apply to the sunburned area for 15-20 minutes at a time.
• Avoid scrubbing or shaving the skin.
• Of course, stay out of the sun while you’re sunburned.
For severe burns, see your doctor.
How are you and the family keeping cool this summer?
Last Saturday night, hubby and I attended the Wilmington High School Class of ‘74 White Party held at the Chase Center on the Riverfront. My husband actually graduated in 1975, but it was a 1974 Scholarship Fundraiser attended by many of the graduates including those from the classes of 1974 and beyond.
Needless to say, we had a great time and because it was an all white party I was able to purchase a new dress, which most of you would have seen if you follow me on Instagram. Hubby and I had gone shopping a few weeks prior where I found this cute dress at Boscov’s .
The shoes are closet staples but the purse was also a recent purchase from Steinmart, a store that I hadn’t shopped before. However, it won’t be the last time I shop there, because I also purchased a white lace dress for another #whiteparty which we will be attending in August.
Hubby custom designed his white suit from the World of Alfa, which is an online designer of men’s clothing created by the actor Boris Kudjoe.
The World of Alfa offers high styles at low cost and I must admit that we looked GOOD!
Not only did we look good but everyone in attendance was also looking good and feeling fabulous especially out there on the dance floor where we jammed to “blasts from the past”. The songs were spun by DJ Touch Tone and hyped by Lady B of Old School 100.3.
Please check out my Facebook page to see a few short videos.
We had a great time and had almost made it to the bewitching hour of 2:00 am which was the time the party was to end, but we left around 1:00 am, which was still a late night for us both.
There was a cash bar and finger foods, also a few vendors and photo booths but I found the “charging station” to be an added bonus so that I could keep my phone’s battery from dying and losing out on some great pics.
Driving home hubby and I talked and laughed about the good time we had and we are looking forward to next month’s event in Townsend, Delaware which is being sponsored by hubby’s fraternity, Omega Psi Phi.
The heat is on and I need to stay cool so my go to style for these hot and humid days are maxi dresses with this one being one my favorites. I like that the upper portion is solid red with the lower portion being a multi-color tie dye print.
Tie Dye prints are another one of those classic fashion combinations as referenced in last week’s post.The multi-color patterns created in tie dyed clothing is what makes and keeps them popular.
As a boomer who grew up in the 60’s, I am glad that this style is something that hasn’t gone out of style or died away like vinyl records, cassette tapes and 8-tracks – do you remembers those?
Speaking of 8-tracks tapes, I still have a box of them in the garage which once belonged to my uncle, and please don’t ask me why I am still holding onto them!
The red purse was purchased from Avon and the orange sandals I believe are from Old Navy. The necklace and bracelet set is also from Avon.
I am enjoying the heat and humidity of the summer because I know that in less than 90-days we will be preparing for the winter of 2016!
How are you keeping cool this summer?
Head over to the TOP OF THE WORLD LINK UP PARTY and share your pics!
