DeDivahDeals

Fashion and Fun after Fifty

Posts Tagged ‘family fun’

Quick and Easy Summer Snack

I love the warmer and longer days of Summer because we spend more time outdoors on the deck or around the pool and less time in the kitchen.  Last weekend I went grocery shopping to pick up the ingredients to make a Shrimp Boil which was absolutely delicious so I will definitely be making it again.  The next time I will document how it was made and also put it in a blog post or video. 

It was the 4th of July holiday weekend so we also had to have a few snacks which included no-salt chips and spinach dip, and I also picked up a container of Palmetto Cheese Spread.

 

 

quick and easy summer snacks

As a kid growing up in New Rochelle, NY, Pimento Cheese Spread which came in a small glass jar was a special treat, a treat that we couldn’t always afford.  My grandmother would buy a jar during the holidays to spread it onto celery sticks and serve to “company”.  I can still remember sneaking a few pieces from the tray to take into my bedroom where I would take my time to enjoy every bite of that pimento cheese spread on a crunchy celery stick, savoring every bite as if it were my last meal.

Now that I can afford pimento cheese spread, instead of simply spreading it onto celery sticks, I decided to copy the pictures from a box of Triscuit crackers and top the Palmetto Cheese Spread with diced cucumbers, sliced tomatoes and Kalamata Pitted Olives. 

This quick and easy snack was delicious and has now become one of my favorite summer snacks, there is no need to wait until the holidays!

Summer Snacks made with Palmetto Cheese Spread

Palmetto Cheese Spread which is tagged “The Pimento Cheese with Soul” has a kick to it thanks to the diced Jalapeno peppers and it is also Gluten Free if you need that as part of your diet.  Palmetto Cheese Spread is one of my favorite summer snacks which I will carry over to the holidays, but of course it will be spread onto celery sticks for “company”. #childhoodmemories

 

How about you, what is your favorite summer snack?


Painting with a Twist Ribbon Cutting

As a member of the Middletown Chamber of Commerce I had an opportunity to attend the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Painting with a Twist located in the Dove Run Shopping Center. 

Dove Run Shopping Center

Having never heard ofPainting with a Twist nor having had a paint brush in my hand since elementary school – well not counting the paint brushes that I use for the house, I thought I would just go to hang out and take some pics for my blog. 

However, when I say that I had a blast, I mean I had a blast and I even painted something decent enough to hang in my home office!  

(Nothing compared to The Rising Phoenix featured in Monday’s post!)

It was a fun and entertaining evening and why wouldn’t it be…wine paired with step-by-step painting instructions, music, food and dancing.  This was definitely a great way to work off some stress after a long work week and to head into the weekend.

Painting with a Twist in Middletown, DE

Painting with a Twist in Middletown, DE Painting with a Twist in Middletown, DE Painting with a Twist in Middletown, DE

The next day after telling a few people about how much fun I had, most of them knew about the franchise and some even said, “that their parents loved it”.  I guess since I’m a boomer, they naturally assumed that I should have at least heard about it – but sadly I didn’t!  Now that I know about it and had such a great time, it definitely won’t be the last time that I attend a session.

Painting with a Twist in Middletown, DE Painting with a Twist in Middletown, DE Painting with a Twist in Middletown, DE

For those of you who don’t know about the Painting with a Twist franchise, here’s what their website states,

“Painting with a Twist® painting sessions are the answer! Invite your friends, sip your favorite beverage* and enjoy step-by-step instruction with our experienced and enthusiastic local artists. You’ll leave with a one-of-a-kind creation and a new found talent you’ll want to explore. Book a private party and choose from over 5,000 paintings. From birthday and bachelorette parties to date nights and team buildings, we can help you celebrate anything!

* Please check with your local studio regarding options for bringing or purchasing alcohol.”

Painting with a Twist in Middletown, DE

I tried to keep up with the painting instructor but was taking time away to video and take pictures that several of the instructors had to assist in keeping me on track, “thank you Christian”.  I did however, do a pretty good job and that was with only 3 beers and 1 glass of Moscato! 

Check out my Instagram page for more pics and I’ll upload a mini video to my YouTube channel this weekend.

get Twisted with Moscato

 

Our themed painting was “Eternal Daze” and it was amazing to see the variations of each finished painting.  The wine, music and dancing definitely brings out the creativity in all of us!!

 

Painting with a Twist Painting with a Twist partners painting with a twist Painting with a Twist in Middletown, DE Getting twisted and painting was so much fun, and with plenty of food and beverages this is definitely a great place to go for a “Girl’s Night Out” “Bridal Party”, “Guy’s Night Out” or just to have fun with the family. 

snacks for the painting attendees food was plentiful

They will travel to off-site locations for church groups, senior centers and homecoming affairs.  Gift Cards are also available so it would be a perfect stocking stuffer, graduation or birthday gift. 

Middletown Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting

Check out their website and if there is a Painting with a Twist near you, I recommend you sign up and go have an awesome time.  

If you have already attended an event tell me how much you loved it because I know you did!

Painting with a Twist attendees painting masterpiece


Bring Back the Blue Laws

I never thought that one day I would say, “Bring Back the Blue Laws” in Delaware.  However, with all the anger, anxiety and angst in the world today, I sometimes wish the Blue Laws were still in effect, well not all of them, but at least the one about shopping on Sundays.

Retail store closed sign

In 1976, my uncle Ernest (deceased), was an Air Force Master Sergeant stationed at Dover Air Force Base, in Dover, Delaware.  He wanted to relocate his mother, my grandmother from The Projects in New Rochelle, NY to a home in Dover. 

When we moved to Dover, there were more Amish Horse and Buggys on the road than there were cars, there were even hitching posts at the local ACME.

Amish carriage

Spirits could not be sold but I was too young to drink, so not being able to purchase alcohol from a “package store” wasn’t a big deal.  I do, however, remember that after attending Sunday Service, we would go home to change clothes, have dinner and then just chillax (chill and relax). 

We would kick back and read, watch television or walk around the neighborhood.  After dinner we would have a family meeting, which my sister and I hated but it did start the week off right.

Sunday, was a day that we looked forward to of not doing anything major and if any chores were required, like ironing it couldn’t be done before 6:00 p.m. 

Life wasn’t exactly “Little House on the Prairie” but as a Boomer who longs for a little of that life, it was a time of rest, relaxation and reflection…something that we can all benefit from today.

 

I am not naive and do understand that in today’s world it wouldn’t be economically feasible for retail stores to close their doors. Employees can ill afford to lose a day’s pay especially with the cost of everything being so high; but wouldn’t it be nice if we all could just unplug and unwind to reconnect with our family and friends just one day every week?

Relax it's Sunday

Chime in, what are your thoughts?


Thankful Thursday Then & Now |Graduation 2014

On Thankful Thursday February 1st, 1996, I gave birth to a healthy son, al-Malik Glorian Blake, his first name in Arabic means “King or Monarch”.  His middle name was given in memory of my sister, his aunt Gloria whom he never met.

On Thankful Thursday May 22nd 2014, I watched that son walk across the stage at the Bob Carpenter Center on the campus of the University of Delaware to receive his High School Diploma.

I am thankful but where did the time go?

As a young boy, I helped him learn how to walk and then last week he walked out the door a High School Senior with his Cap and Gown…walked into the gymnasium with a glow of excitement and anticipation, yet filled with anxiety of an unknown future…he then walked back into the house a High School GRADUATE…soon he’ll walk again, but this time it will be off to College.

I am thankful but where did the time go?

cap and gown in hand

Appoquinimink  HS Graduation Appoquinimink  HS Graduation receiving diploma HS graduate

Where Did The Time Go?

Graduation 2014

Congrats Grads

Appoquinimink  HS Graduation my son, the graduate

Graduation 2014

It was a beautiful Thankful Thursday and the weekend was filled with family and friends with love and support because “it take a village to raise a child!’

it takes a village to raise a child

family

family at graduation family at graduation family at graduation where did the time go? Graduation 2014 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES Graduation 2014 Graduation 2014 Graduation 2014 111 PROUD PARENTS Graduation 2014 126

food

post graduation festivities

Graduation Cake

food

fun

fun after graduation

Malik's 1st babysitter

Graduation 2014 191 Graduation 2014 195 Graduation 2014 215

Family and Friends after Graduation Family and Friends after Graduation Family and Friends after Graduation Family and Friends after Graduation Graduation 2014 199 Family and Friends after Graduation Family and Friends after Graduation Family and Friends after Graduation Graduation 2014 Graduation 2014 Graduation 2014 Graduation 2014 Family and Friends after Graduation Family and Friends after Graduation Family and Friends after Graduation

I am thankful for my family, my friends and of course my faith.   I am thankful for the love and support that I receive from my family and friends and they will never know just how much it all means – I am thankfully blessed!

Now it’s your turn, what are you thankful for this week?

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Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in 2014!


Purex & Family Fun Magazine | #spon promo

Summer is right around the corner and if you have little ones or are entertaining the grands this year, sometimes coming up with fun activities can be a challenge and the last thing you want to hear is, “I’M BORED“!

Purex has teamed up with Family Fun Magazine with a chance for 15,000 Grand Prize winners to receive a FREE subscription to their magazine.

Enter to Win a FREE subscription to Family Fun Magazine

I remember when my sons were young, Family Fun Magazine was my go-to for cool tips on outdoor games and activities, DIY’s, recipes and vacation planning.  So be ready for when the kids are out of school and you need a few ideas for some family fun, enter to win today by clicking here.

GOOD LUCK!


Festive Family Fun

Hello Friends and Happy Monday!

I trust you all had a great weekend with an opportunity to do something special with your family or friends.  Saturday evening after spending all day sitting on hard gym bleachers at our son’s 1st wrestling tournament, hubby and I attended a festive family event. The family members were some that we had never met before nor did we know they live only 12 miles from us. 

It was at my mother-in-law’s funeral this past summer that a cousin told us about this annual family affair and invited us to attend.  It was a festive evening spent with our new found family members and their wonderful friends.

Here are a few highlights from the evening.

Family Festivities

Family Festivities

Their home was beautifully decorated and decked out for the holidays

Family Festivities Family Festivities

Plenty of food and drinks…

Family Festivities Family Festivites Chatter and Cheesecakes…

Family Fun

Joyful jokes and jolly …

Festive Family Fun Family Festive Fun Family Festive Fun

Many conversations and memories from past…

Family Festive Fun

Festive photo in front of twinkling windows…

Family Fun Festivities Family Fun

Giggles, games and gambling…

A night of Festive Family Fun led to a our first Snowy Sunday…

Winter weekend

Did you do anything festive this weekend?

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Car Shopping Is No Longer A Fun Event!

Once upon a time not so long ago car shopping was a fun and exciting adventure, flipping through magazines, reading the classifieds, looking for the perfect car, with the perfect color for the perfectly affordable price.  That was “BK”, “before kids”, now as a parent of 2 sons we are once again in the market for a car, not for me nor hubby but for #1 son.

We were very fortunate the first time when we found a 2002 Hyundai Elantra at a very affordable price but with very high mileage and now, “Miranda” is on her last legs.  She is not going to make it much longer and it’s not worth putting any more money into having her serviced.  She was dutiful in her position and served us well, she valiantly got the  boys back and forth to High School with weekend jaunts to the mall and grocery store.  Now the time has come to find a replacement and it is not a fun event.  The sticker prices are a hard pill to swallow but we must keep in mind that good safety features and good insurance ratings are our number one priorities.

Hubby and I spend a few hours yesterday looking for vehicles that might fit the bill, first stopping at Carman Auto Group in New Castle.  We didn’t see many but there was a 2012 Ford Fiesta, with mileage that wasn’t too high but was a bit out of our price range.

Ford Fiesta

Carman 1

Our next stop was at Willis Chevrolet in Middletown.  Willis is where I have my Hyundai Sonata serviced and customer satisfaction is their #1 priority so it wasn’t a surprise to find that they had a few vehicles that caught our attention.

A 2011 Ford Fiesta SES, mileage was a bit high for it’s age and a sticker price worth negotiating, the other vehicle was a 2009 Chevy Cobalt Sport, mileage and price more palatable.

Willis 1

Ford Cobalt

Willis 2

Now comes the fun part…the research…checking State Farm Insurance, KBB, Carfax, Cars.com, AAA, Costco and any other website to compare prices, and safety features – this is no longer a fun event and I still have to get a hooptie for son #2 – do you know where I can get a 2fer!

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