#1 son is doing well and is actively seeking full time employment – say a little prayer for him
#2 son attended his final Homecoming Dance and was home before midnight
discovered and watched the new show “Sleepy Hollow” and now I am hooked
but most importantly, I am thankful for my health, family, friends , finances and of course my faith
oh and that tomorrow is Fri-Yay!
Thrifted Pumps from GW Boutique (Goodwill) – Do you remember this haul?
Speaking of which I am about due for another one – lol!
Thrifted from Goodwill
I wore this outfit on Wednesday and chose to add the red blazer because the weather was a bit cool early morning
This was another beautifully blessed week despite the 3 hour commute into work yesterday due to a tractor trailer accident on route 896 – no one was seriously injured just cited for inattentive driving!
Now it’s your turn, what are you thankful for this week?
Liberty Creek is one of my favorite wines so I am honored to work with them in sharing this information with you!
Liberty Creek® Vineyards Supports Operation Gratitude in Holiday Drive to Bring Music to Troops Overseas
Liberty Creek Vineyards is teaming up with Operation Gratitude to provide holiday cheer through the power of music to US military members serving overseas. Compilation CDs featuring holiday classics sung by top country crooners will serve to lift spirits, boost morale and provide comfort to service members far from home during the holiday season as part of the “Tunes for Troops” program. A Liberty Creek donation will enable Operation Gratitude to include the CDs in the care packages they send to troops around the world, for whom “home for the holidays” is not an option. Liberty Creek’s holiday drive began October 1st and will run through the end of the year. Consumers can contribute to the holiday drive by visiting LibertyCreekWine.com and entering the unique code found on specially tagged bottles of Liberty Creek Wine. In exchange for the support, Liberty Creek will donate $1.00 per code to Operation Gratitude, up to $10,000. Operation Gratitude will use this donation to provide the specially created holiday music compilation CDs. “At Liberty Creek Vineyards, we view the holiday season as a time to cherish what we have and give back to those who are in need of a boost during this time,” says Michael Shastid, Brand Marketing Specialist, Liberty Creek Vineyards. “We are honored to be joining Operation Gratitude in giving back to the US troops who give so much of themselves for us every day.” Operation Gratitude sends care packages and letters personally addressed to U.S. Service Members and wounded warriors, and believes music makes the packages even more meaningful.
“’Tunes for Troops’ is such an important part of our efforts, as music has the power to soothe, comfort and lift spirits among our troops, especially during the most difficult times to be away from loved ones,” says Carolyn Blashek, Founder of Operation Gratitude. “Liberty Creek’s continued support facilitates our ability to support US military members and to show our appreciation for the sacrifices they make.” For more information about Liberty Creek Wine and their program to support Operation Gratitude, please visit www.LibertyCreekWine.com.
Liberty Creek offers nine great-tasting and affordable wines in a vibrant fruit-flavored portfolio: Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, White Zinfandel, Sweet Red, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir and New Moscato and Pink Moscato. It’s an affordable option to keep in mind when stocking up for holiday parties and hostess gifts, with an added bonus of supporting “Tunes for Troops”.
I missed a few Friday Foodie Features last month but the timing is now right with the official start of Autumn. October begins the season of football, family and comfort foods and it also means a return to my all time favorite way to make a meal and that is with the Crock Pot or Slow Cooker.
It wasn’t too long ago that there were only a few Slow Cooker Seasonings available at the grocery stores, now there are several more options available on the supermarket shelves. I’ve tried a few of the new ones by McCormick’s and the Fiesta Chicken was a hit in my house, my men loved it – ‘ole
Ingredients:
1 can of black beans
2 cans of diced tomatoes
1 cup frozen corn
1-2 lbs or chicken thighs or breasts
1 packet of McCormick’s Slow Cookers Seasoning – Fiesta Chicken
Spray Crock Pot with cooking spray or use liner, put in chicken thighs or breast – remember NOT to wash the chicken.
Mix all ingredients into a bowl and stir
Pour mixture over chicken
I had this frozen tomato so I added it
tip when a tomato begins to soften, don’t throw it away, put it in the freezer to use later in sauces or the Slow Cooker.
Cook on low 7-8 hours
Served over rice – Cilantro optional – dinner is served!
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
What happens when it’s Friday night and you don’t feel like cooking, ordering pizza or going out and a bowl of cereal just won’t cut it? In our house when that happens we head straight to the garage and to the freezer. There is where I try to keep microwavable meals and snacks specifically for those occasions and last Friday night it was Lean Pockets Pretzel Bread Sandwiches.
I am not a big proponent of frozen meals & snacks because of the excessive sodium some of them contain but these Lean Pockets brand sandwiches are only 250 calories with 650 mg of sodium which isn’t a lot compared to others that contain well over 1000 mg of sodium.
The Lean Pockets Sandwiches were filled with Spinach and 3 Cheeses, Fontina, Romano and reduced Fat Mozzarella. I zapped one in the microwave for 2 minutes 30 seconds in the crisping sleeve then cut it in half. It didn’t seem like it had a lot of filling and could have had more spinach, but to my surprise it was quite good and hit the spot. The soft pretzel bread encased a flavorful mix of spinach and cheeses that paired well with my glass of Friday night wine!
Speaking of wine, I want to reintroduce my “play cousin” Cook E doe Face. She is a down to earth YouTube Vlogger who will have you in stitches as you watch her create some delicious dishes and “knock you on your butt cocktails”.
Cook E de Face is from Philly and I fell in love with her atty-tud (Philly slang) from the very first video I watched. In today’s world it is so easy to get caught up in the negativity but you know me, I like to keep it light. Cook E doe Face has me laughing out loud and reminds me of my own New York cousins. If it were left up to me she would definitely have a show on the Food or OWN Network!
For me Thursday is the best day of the week, we’ve made it through Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and start to look forward to the weekend. Thursday is a heads-down day at work, tying up loose ends, finishing up the weekly to-do list in anticipation of an easy breezy Friday.
Thursday is also a day of reflection some even define it as Thankful Thursday. As we rush through the week from one event to another, it’s nice to take a few minutes to think about and then speak aloud for which we are grateful. Speaking positivity into the atmosphere is a good way to keep life’s trials and tribulations in check.
“Count your blessing so that you can lose count of your problems”
I am thankful for my health both physical and mental!
I am thankful for my family, friends and faith!
I am thankful I have a job and today is pay day!
I am thankful for this thrifted denim skirt and striped top both from GW Boutique
For me Thursday is the best day of the week, we’ve made it through Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and start to look forward to the weekend. Thursday is a heads-down day at work, tying up loose ends, finishing up the weekly to-do list in anticipation of an easy breezy Friday.
Thursday is also a day of reflection some even define it as Thankful Thursday. As we rush through the week from one event to another, it’s nice to take a few minutes to think about and then speak aloud for which we are grateful. Speaking positivity into the atmosphere is a good way to keep life’s trials and tribulations in check.
“Count your blessing so that you can lose count of your problems”
I am thankful for my health both physical and mental!
I am thankful for my family, friends and faith!
I am thankful I have a job and today is pay day!
I am thankful for this thrifted denim skirt and striped top both from GW Boutique
 "Lean Pocket Sandwich in Crisping Sleeve")
 "Lean Pocket out of the microwave")
