This time last Friday I was at the 5th annual Goodwillde 2015 Runway Show that was held at the Sheraton Wilmington South Hotel. It was my 2nd year as a volunteer Stylist and this year’s event was just as exciting and fabulous as ever. If you had an opportunity to view my previous video you would have seen some of the behind-the-scenes preparations as there is definitely a lot that goes into creating this wonderful fundraiser.
My models, Barbara, Nicole, Malik, Katrina and Matt were such an awesome group, they each made my participation a fun and enjoyable experience. Also under the guidance of Colleen and Julie at Goodwillde, we all had such a wonderful time that I am truly looking forward to next year’s Runway Show.
The actual Runway Show was an exceptional event, however, the highlight for most attendees was probably the Second-hand Chic Boutique. The boutique containedone of a kind, name brand items which were all hand-picked by the stylist and all of the items were available for sale.
Some of the brands included Ann Taylor Loft, Coach, Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton and more and there was definitely something for everyone, especially for the die hard thriftinistas!
This video shows just a few highlights from this year’s Runway Show and I hope to see some of you in attendance next year!
Hello friends, I hope all is well in your world. I certainly hope that today’s snow storm is actually the last snowstorm of the season because my wardrobe is so ready for Spring. On Monday, I couldn’t help but wear this sleeveless top even if it was covered by a wool jacket. Do you remember this peplum top that I purchased from JCPenney?
My husband thought I was crazy and he shivered in the doorway to take these pics, but I was actually quite comfortable.
I hadn’t brought up all my winter clothes from the basement so when I saw this top hanging next to the jacket I knew they needed to be paired together – like water and wine, they mix so well together – what do you think?
Speaking of wine, on Sunday, I will be attending A Taste of the MidAtlantic Wine & Food Festival in Wilmington. I can’t wait to share some of the highlights next week and I do hope to see a few of my Delaware followers there as well.
To make the peplum top more “wintery”, I added this thick animal print belt and ethnic necklace. The brown “Mudd’ boots, thrifted khaki skirt and wooden bracelet and earrings completes the outfit.
What say you, are you ready for winter to end? Have a wonderful day.
As you start your annual Spring cleaning please take note that there are several brushes that should be replaced more often than once a year. Replacing these brushes will avoid cross contamination and the spread of nasty germs.
Toilet Brush & Plungers
Although toilet brushes and plungers can be cleaned and disinfected by soaking them into a bucket of water and bleach after each use, it is also a good idea to replace them at least twice per year.
I store our plunger in a ceramic flowerpot which is lined with a grocery bag, that way if we need to use it in another bathroom we are not carrying around a ‘naked’ (germy) plunger from one room to the next.
Sponges/Dish Brushes
To sanitize and disinfect a sponge you can always place it into the top rack of your dish dishwasher, but if you are using a sponge to clean the counter tops, make sure to replace it at least once a month, more if it begins to smell or has an odor. Do not use sponges to wipe up meat juices, if so, discard immediately.
MakeUp Brushes/Tools
Makeup brushes should definitely be cleaned regularly, at least weekly using a product like Elf or baby shampoo or even a dishwashing liquid. (Watch this quick tutorial) Replacing your brushes when they begin to show signs of wear, shed bristles or when the handles begin to weaken.
Loofah Pads/Shower Brushes
Loofah and Shower Brushes definitely need to be replaced bi-monthly, if not more often if the bristles begin to bend or if the loofah begins to unravel. Tip – before discarding loofah, use it to give the shower doors a good scrubbing. Just pour on a little Dawn dishwashing liquid and rub down the glass door to remove dried on soap scum.
Scrub Brushes
Small scrub brushes or scouring pads that are used on the floor, inside the tub or shower should also be replaced monthly. Once the pad begins to flatten or bristles begin to bend, you are exerting more energy to get the area clean. At that point it’s best to just discard and replace with new.
BTW – hair brushes can be placed in a sink or bowl filled with warm water and shampoo for about 15 minutes, longer if it contains a lot of hair products. Comb through the bristles using a fine tooth comb, then lay it on it’s side to dry. Hair brushes tend to last a lot longer than most other brushes.
Hello friends, I hope all is well in your world. Hubby and I fight every night…no not literally, well maybe…but actually it’s about the comfort level of our bed. He is always cold and I am a cover kicker – thank you MENopause! He also suffers from insomnia so every time he gets up, I wake up, causing for a very drowsy morning.
I know we need a new mattress as our current one is over 10 years old but sometimes trying to find something to satisfy us both can be time consuming and costly, but I had enough. Last week I used my lunch hour and headed over to the Sleep Number store in the Exton Square Mall for a “Noontime Nap”, and it felt good. I didn’t literally fall asleep, even though I could have because the comfort level of their i8, it was enough to put me out for at least a few minutes.
The i8 dual-layer is designed so that you can personalize your comfort. The temperature balancing is great allowing each one to sleep just right. The exclusive SLEEP NUMBER® technology makes it the perfect solution for couples…hey this just may save our 25 year old marriage – or at least provide us with a good night’s sleep for the next 10!
Sleep Number stores also carry a large selection of bedding, so whether you are in the market for a new mattress or perhaps just want a noontime nap, head over to your local Sleep Number store and try out a mattress, I guarantee it will give you a few minutes of soft slumber.
Hello friends, I hope all is well in your world. I was hoping that by the time we stepped into March, we would be stepping into Spring, unfortunately in Delaware, we are still stepping in snow!
I was out and about on Friday and Saturday and it wasn’t too bad, but yesterday morning it was snow, sleet and rain so I just got back into bed and pulled the covers over my head. With a dip in overnight temps this morning the roads were slick and trees were bent but at least we are better off than we were this time last year!
Not wearing a skirt or dress today, instead I decided to pull out my “goldenrod” suede suit, what color do you see? By the way, what’s it up with the “color of the dress“ controversy? I tried to get my girls to explain it to me on Saturday night, but actually I just wanted to know whose dress it was but they couldn’t tell me, so if you know, please let me know.
With this suit, the animal print scarf breaks up the color and booties are my go-to ones in the winter. I hope that spring comes soon because stepping into snow and ice with heels can be dangerous! I hope the weather is better where you are, enjoy and be safe!
Going to school is not everybody’s favorite childhood memory. Sure, you probably enjoyed parts of your education, but those memories are often squashed by the many other unpleasant learning experiences you had. If that’s the case for you, the idea of learning may seem utterly unappealing now.
But don’t turn your nose up at it just yet. Learning new things can be one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll have, and it becomes much easier if you first learn how to love learning again. Consider these tips to help you get past your learning block.
1. Unlearn Certain Learning Habits
Chances are when you entered the school system, you were introduced to a certain way of learning. Though that method may have helped many people, it may not have been the right one for you. If that’s the case, unlearn those learning habits and start again. If you were taught to take copious notes, but those notes never stuck, throw that method out the window and try something else for memorization. Swap unhelpful learning habits for helpful ones.
2. Brainwash Yourself
If you have plenty of bad memories about education, take some time to brainwash yourself when it comes to learning. Tell yourself how much you love learning new things, and practice fun learning so that it sticks. Having fun with education will help to wipe out the negative education stigma you’ve carried through the years.
3. Banish Negativity
There are plenty of emotional learning beliefs attached to education, many of which are negative. You may have been told you can’t possibly learn something, or others may make a joke in passing that you’re too stupid to do anything right. Words like that stick, even if they’re meant as a joke, and they may be the reason you’ve disliked learning in the past. You’ll need to banish all negative emotional beliefs and replace them with positive ones.
4. Experiment
Experiment with different types of learning to determine what’s best for you. Try watching documentaries, reading articles, searching YouTube videos, writing things down, and more to see what method of learning you enjoy most.
5. Foster Curiosity
Any time you wonder where something comes from, how it’s made, or why it exists, don’t ignore the question. Look up the answer. With the Internet, you can learn just about anything, which may prompt a desire to learn more.
6. Learn What You Love
Take stock of your interests and further your education in those areas. If you’re interested in something, you’re much more likely to want to learn about it. Begin with learning about what you love and branch out from there.
7. Embrace Failure
Though the saying is cliche, it still rings true: Thomas Edison failed a thousand times before successfully making the light bulb. And from each of his failures, he learned something. Instead of taking failure as a sign that you aren’t good enough, take it as a sign of education.
8. Go Foreign
An excellent way to begin learning again is to start learning about a foreign country. Pick a country you’ve always wanted to visit, and study the culture, food, clothing, and currency. A great resource for studying foreign currency can be found here.
9. Get a Study Buddy
Find someone else who is interested in learning about something you’re researching and learn together. Turning it into a social event will make the learning even more enjoyable and memorable.
10. Write About It
Recording what you’ve learned over a day, week, or month is very helpful for some people. It helps them remember everything they’ve learned as well as the excitement they felt as they did it.
11. Take Classes
Even if you’ve completed the highest form of education possible, you can still take classes to learn more. Many colleges offer night classes, and there are many online classes for adults to help you learn something you’ve always wanted to.
12. Feed Your Passion
Everybody has something they’re passionate about, whether it’s music, art, sports, or cars. Feed the passion by learning more about it. This goes beyond casual study. Really devote your time and efforts to becoming an expert in that field.
13. Make Pros and Cons Lists
This may seem odd, but pros and cons lists can be a helpful motivator in the search for enjoyable learning. Write down positive experiences you’ve had with learning as well as negative ones to help you recognize the best ways for you to pursue education.
14. Travel
Even if you’re only able to travel a few hours from home, traveling can help feed a passion for learning like nothing else. Every state has it’s own history and landmarks that you can learn about, and traveling to the ones you can may increase your desire to learn.
15. Make it Hands On
Classroom learning can be incredibly boring, and it may be one of the reasons you’ve hated learning in the past. If that’s the case for you, you’re likely to love hands-on learning. Working with your hands to learn about something can increase your desire and ability to learn ten fold.
You don’t have to go back to school to love learning again. Use these tips for simple ways to enhance your desire and ability to integrate new facts, ideas, and theories into your daily life.
Disclaimer: This Guest Post was written by someone other than the author of DeDivahDeals. The author of this post, has submitted their article to DeDivahDeals for the purpose of being published on this blog as a Guest Writer.
Hello friends, I hope all is well in your world. Last week on my YouTube channel, the Brunch with Blake episode was entitled “Breakfast Burrito” and I put some SalsaCrazy Habanero Salsa onto them at the end which really kicked it up a notch. It’s true, the SalsaCrazy Habanero Salsa is “As Hot as The Dance” and if you don’t know how to Salsa, you can order a Free DVD to learn how, with the code that is printed on the side of the jar.
Because I like my foods a little spicier than most it was definitely a great taste for me with the tomatoes, green chilies, corn, onion, garlic, vinegar, Serrano and Red Habanero Chili Peppers – talk about a kick to the tongue! The Breakfast Burrito was made with Hot Turkey Sausage but the spiciness went up a few degrees when topped with the SalsaCrazy Habanero Salsa.
I now want to create other recipes using this Salsa because it deserves to be more than just a dip for tortilla chips. So if you have any suggestions please leave them in the comment section and then head over to Amazon and order a jar, your taste buds will “Dominate the Dance Floor” for sure!
Check out the video for the recipe which also included Jennie-O Hot Turkey Breakfast Sausage, Eggs, Shredded Cheddar Cheese and Tortillas and Spinach Wraps.
Headed to Hollywood – Part III – Eco Friendly Hotel
Hello friends and welcome to Thankful Thursday. Today’s post is Part III of my fabulous trip to Los Angeles. If you recall in Part I, I mentioned that there was a mix up in the room reservations so Pam and I had to hang out in the lobby for several hours.
Fortunately, The Standard Downtown LA is a small hip, eco friendly hotel, with a dimly lit lobby which was more like a pass thru, therefore, people couldn’t assume that our lingering was unseemly i.e. “lounge lizards waiting on a pickup” – even with brighter lights they wouldn’t have thought that!
Anywho, we did take several pictures outside in the courtyard which made the wait more enjoyable…after all what is a blogger with a camera – a HAPPY blogger!
Later that evening we met up with Alexandria then we along with Mendy, Sarah, Maria, Jake, and Kay who had arrived later decided to have dinner at the hotel instead of heading out. We ate on the patio of the 24/7 Restaurant and our waiter, Tracey was extremely nice and the food was wonderful. Most of us ordered the same Salmon dish which was perfectly prepared, and after a glass of Pinot Grigio all was fine for the rest of the night.
Pam and I finally received our room keys so after dinner we each headed our separate ways to get a good night’s sleep before the next big day.
There are several size rooms at the The Standard Downtown LA and mine was Medium.
The 300 sq ft Medium rooms feature a queen-size, comfy bed with Egyptian cotton sheets, fluffy down pillows and duvet, a glass encased shower with custom bath amenities, X-Large bath towels, cozy robes, free WiFi, a 14-foot working desk, 24-hour room service, an overstocked minibar, and big sunny windows that open, but I didn’t try to open it.
In the lobby
The Shop
L.A.-centric fashion boutique, curiosity cabinet, and barbershop combine to create The Shop at The Standard, Downtown LA. Rudy’s Barbershop handles the barbering while The Shop procures unique finds from Retrosuperfuture, Clare Vivier, Comme des Garcons, A Peace Treaty, Bumble & Bumble, Kristen Elspeth, and RGB, as well as Standard collaborations with artists and designers like Quiksilver, KAWS and José Parlá. Open Mon-Fri 9:30am – 8:30pm and Sat & Sun 10am-6pm.
2nd floor
SPiN STANDARD, LA’s first professional ping-pong club, is located on the mezzanine, just up the escalator above the lobby. Players of every ability test their table tennis skills on 11 pro-level tables.
The Roof
The Rooftop at The Standard, Downtown LA offers stunning, panoramic views of Downtown Los Angeles and the mountains beyond. The Rooftop features a heated swimming pool, (which is closed until March), red AstroTurf deck, dance floor, nightly DJs, bar, outdoor fireplace, waterbed pods, sculptured topiary and a Biergarten. We went up to get pictures of the view, however, I was told that I couldn’t use my camera so these are from my phablet.
All in all, The Standard Downtown LA was a cool place to stay and I slept like a baby so I didn’t even need to use the complimentary ear plugs. I did however, bring them back home to use when hubby starts to snore!
Stay tuned for Headed to Hollywood Part IV – The Lost Bookstore.
Hello friends, and happy Hump Day Wednesday. Have you ever gotten dressed thinking that you looked okay only to realize later that you made a major fashion mistake? Well that is how I feel about this outfit which is aptly entitled YIKES, STRIPES AND TIGHTS a Fashion Fail!
I have to admit that it was still dark when I got dressed and I was in a hurry, running late as usual, perhaps the jet lag from the trip to LA or just because it was Monday, I messed up. Actually, I am blaming my husband, because when I asked him if the shoes were okay, he said, “well it matches the bag”, that should have been my hint and a half to go change.
Alright, alright, I know that I messed up…tights are too dark…there are too many colors…patterns, just a mess but hey, I am entitled to a fashion faux pas, so please be kind with your comments.
This thrifted multi-patterned dress is cute, but with the black striped tights…well it’s a bit too much, I should have gone with beige or suntan hose or perhaps the shoes were too much…two tone and stripes – nope…not a good look, should have worn my OTK suede boots.
I even tried to find something Boho Chic to compare it to and even that was hard…so now this outfit will live in infamy and my great-great grands may one day find it and say, “what the heck was that ole lady wearing!”
Hello friends, I hope all is well in your world. We had another cold and snowy weekend in Delaware and the winds were blowing something fierce. Everyone is dreaming of the warmer days of spring and summer, but until then we have to deal with the harsh reality of winter.
Not only are body protecting clothes essential to handling the cold weather in the Northeast but protecting your face and lips is of utmost importance as well. The cold winds can rob your face of much needed moisture causing redness and soreness not to mention dry and cracked lips.
Jordan Naturals has produced natural body and skincare products that are made of pure, healthy ingredients of which I had an opportunity to sample a few of them. The line of all natural Bretanna Witch Hazel is definitely not your “grandmother’s Witch Hazel”, as they are infused with essentials oils such as Geranium Rosehip Seed Aloe, Aloe Lavender Chamomile, and Aloe Citrus Sage. Bretanna Witch Hazel gently tones skin, balances the Ph and leaves your face refreshed, moisturized and clean.
After cleansing my face in the evening, I’ll use a cotton ball with a few drops of the Aloe Lavender Chamomile to tone, and hydrate my face, the essential oils provides a calming scent that helps to ease me into sleep. The next morning I use the Aloe Citrus Sage Witch Hazel which contains an energizing fresh scent preparing me for a busy day ahead.
The Jordan Naturals Lip Balms are made of aloe, coconut oil, chamomile and lavender and their smooth texture not only keeps my lips soft and supple, they also smell great. Lip balm is something that I always carry in my purse or in my pockets so along with the gloves to keep my hands warm, the balm keeps my lips protected against the harsh winter winds.
This time last Friday I was at the 5th annual Goodwillde 2015 Runway Show that was held at the Sheraton Wilmington South Hotel. It was my 2nd year as a volunteer Stylist and this year’s event was just as exciting and fabulous as ever. If you had an opportunity to view my previous video you would have seen some of the behind-the-scenes preparations as there is definitely a lot that goes into creating this wonderful fundraiser.
My models, Barbara, Nicole, Malik, Katrina and Matt were such an awesome group, they each made my participation a fun and enjoyable experience. Also under the guidance of Colleen and Julie at Goodwillde, we all had such a wonderful time that I am truly looking forward to next year’s Runway Show. 
The actual Runway Show was an exceptional event, however, the highlight for most attendees was probably the Second-hand Chic Boutique. The boutique contained one of a kind, name brand items which were all hand-picked by the stylist and all of the items were available for sale. 
