DeDivahDeals

Fashion and Fun after Fifty

Layering Up on Casual Fri-Yay

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!

Today is the 2nd week of the #WWDParty, and the link will be live at 6:00 p.m.  So after you get home and wind down, come back and share a link or two of any of your posts from the week.

One of my favorite fashion blogs is FreeUrCloset and this week Nensi featured “How to Layer Like a Pro” which I wanted to try but am by no means a Pro!  I can’t wear a lot of layers because I’m warm by nature and menopause definitely doesn’t make it any better so this is what I came up with.

Layering like a pro

 Layer 1 and 2 if you count the Infinity Scarf

Layering Like a Pro

 Layer 3 is the vest.  Believe it or not, this Cable Knit Sweater once belonged to Gloria, my sister so that makes it at least 25 years old!

Mark by Avon handbag

 

Boots | Rugged Wearhouse // Handbag | Mark by Avon

 

Infinity Scarf | Burlington Coat Factory

 

 Reversible Vest | Old Navy

 

So what do you think – semi-Pro?

Stay Blessed – No Stress in the New Year!

dedivahdeals-signature


Thankful Thursday

Hello Friends and Happy Thankful Thursday

This week there are several things for which I am thankful and of course it begins with my family, friends and faith.  I am also thankful that my youngest son is learning a few hard lessons while still at home.  Ever since we gave him a car he has tried to add options to jazz it up, some good…others not so much.  The latest was a set of rims that he received from a friend that I told him not to put on, did he listen? Nope.  Unfortunately, they were too large for his vehicle so he had to pay our mechanic to remove them! #hardhead

Early Monday morning, he slowly followed  me to Middletown Car Care to drop it off and then I had to drive him to school.  Needless to say, it was early morning and you know I am NOT a morning person!

Monday Morning at the Mechanic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skirt and Top | JCPenney // Shoes |The Shoe Dept // Necklace | TraciLynn Jewelry

I was not happy nor was he because he had to take my pictures!  Oh well, a small price to pay for the cost of having to have those dang tires taken off his car!  #teenagers

Monday at the Mechanic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am also thankful that my son understands that even though I nag him, I do it only because I have his best interests at heart.  Does your children appreciate your nagging, nope, but are you thankful for the nagging your parents did with you?

 

Monday at the Mechanic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Stay Blessed – No Stress in the New Year!

dedivahdeals-signature


Thrifting @Goodwill

Hello Friends and Happy Hump Day Wednesday!

I hope your week has been going well and that you are now gearing up for a wonderful weekend.  Two Saturdays ago I drove to Claymont to meet Erin, a model in the 2014 Goodwill Runway Show for her final fitting.

We met to find the last few pieces to complete her wardrobe and afterwards we did a little thrifting for ourselves.

Goodwill Thrifting

Erin found these metal pieces which she said she’ll use as candle covers, vases for artificial plants or maybe to hang her earrings.  What do you think, what would you use them for?

Goodwill Thrifting and Donating 005

This Briggs New York Skirt will be added to my collection ($3.75) and the new Victoria Secrets Handbag will be part of the Goodwill Runway Show Boutique.

Goodwill Thrifting and Donating 010

I hit the jackpot in the men’s department and was able to stock up on sweaters for my sons and hubby also $3.75 each #winning

Thrifting at Goodwill

Can’t beat finding a J. Crew sweater for only $3.75

Thrifting at Goodwill

Too bad this shopper found this faux suede jacket first, otherwise it would have been in my cart!  Don’t you think it would have been perfect with the skirt?

Goodwill thrifting

Even with snow on the ground, it’s never to early to think about Spring and Summer shoes.  Check out the embellishment on these acrylic sandals – cute!

Thrifting at Goodwill

 

Goodwill Thrifting

Now I need to gather more items to donate back to Goodwill!

Have you done any winter thrifting, if so, why not share at Thrifters Anonymous

Thrifters Anonymous

 DON’T FORGET THIS WEEKEND’S SALE AT ALL GOODWILL DE/DELAWARE COUNTY LOCATIONS!

goodwill sale january

Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in the New Year!

dedivahdeals-signature

 

 

 


Spider in the Smoothie

Hello Friends and Happy Tuesday

Now that we are halfway through the first month of 2014, you are either continuing your resolution to get healthy or have ditched it all together and have a freezer full of Talenti Gelato!

talenti gelato

So let’s just say for the sake of argument that you are maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating right, exercising and starting each day with a delicious and nutritious green smoothie.

You have a new Ninja Bullet and have stocked up on your healthy greens, kale and spinach, your fiber, Chia and Flaxseeds and fresh fruits, apples, mangos, berries, kiwi, pineapples and bananas.

fruit

 

One morning, still a little groggy you grab a banana from the bowl and begin to peel it only to notice a small white blotch.  Upon closer inspection you realize that spot is a cocoon, a cocoon filled with baby spiders!   Your first reaction…”what the what?… eeeew… gross…” and then fear takes your breath away!

Spiders on Bananas in the UK The fear that you might have eaten one previously not noticing the white blotch that are now infested with spiders…ok I’ll stop.

No, that couldn’t happen in the US could it?  We have the FDA regulating our imports right…oh, forget about that pesky little government shutdown thingy, that wouldn’t have affected my local produce – right?

Probably not, but unfortunately it did occur in the UK and it was reported by the Huffington Post  (here).  What should you do to ensure the fruits and veggies you are buying to keep healthy won’t make you sick?

fruit (1)

WASH IT BEFORE YOU EAT IT!

 Sounds simple right, but there are a lot of people including my husband who doesn’t wash fruit before he eats it.  Fortunately for him that’s the first thing I do after we unpack the grocery bags.  Sure there are products on the market made specifically for washing fruits but I wonder if they too could leave a contaminant on the fruit.

You could use a spray bottle or submerge the fruit in a mixture of water and white vinegar.  Your best bet is to simply wash them under cold running water using a vegetable brush or rubbing briskly with your hands then blotting them dry with a fresh paper towel.

Radish

I know there’s nothing like biting into a freshly picked apple or peach at the Orchard or a few fresh berries from the field.  Just remember to bring along a bottle of water to rinse them before you eat them, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Lettuce

Do you wash ALL your fresh fruits and veggies before eating them?

Stay Blessed – No Stress in the New Year!

dedivahdeals-signature


“You sho is UGLY”

Hello Friends and Happy Monday

If you are a Delawarean, you probably read the news that our license plates has been voted the ugliest in the nation!  After shaking my head in astonishment I immediately thought about this scene from The Color Purple

Embedly Powered

The survey conducted by CarInsurance.com stated that our basic blue and gold plate with no art and “The First State” motto was ugly.  I wouldn’t call it ugly…boring yes…ugly…no, but we ranked 51st behind all the states and the District of Columbia.  Wyoming’s license plate was voted the favorite.

Take a look and tell me what you think- Ugly Yes or No?

Where did your state’s license plate rank?

Circa_1990s-2000s_Delaware_License_Plate

Stay Blessed – No Stress in the New Year!

 

dedivahdeals-signature


Weekend Wind-Down with Slow Cooked Spinach Ziti

Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!

Today there is a twist to the Friday Foodie Feature which I think you will like.  It’s a party – that’s right a P * A * R * T * Y  and you are cordially invited to attend the first Weekend Wind-Down Party!

You can link up now or wait until this evening when you get home from work.  The party is casual so you can kick off your shoes, turn on the Crock Pot, relax and then share… share… share!

Weekend Winddown Link Party (1)

The house rules are simple, you can link any post and it will be featured on 8 different blogs.  We will each choose several features from the link up each week to highlight the following week!   We will also be pinning features to Pinterest as well as social media shout-outs!  So link up, visit others and have fun!

Linky Party Rules

Weekend Wind-Down Hosts

This Simple Home @

Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Google+

DeDivahDeals @ 

Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Google+/LinkedIn/Instagram

Snippets of Inspiration @

Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Google+

A Ranch Mom @

Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Instagram

Mendez Manor @

Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Google+/LinkedIn/Instagram

A Living Sacrifice @

Blog/Facebook/Pinterest/Etsy/LinkedIn

Mustard Seed Mommy @

Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Google+/Instagram

Moms Who Save @

Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/Google+/Instagram

If you are joining the party, please copy this button and add it to your blog.

Now let the party begin with today’s Friday Foodie Feature

Slow Cooked Spinach Ziti

Slow Cooked Spinach Ziti

I had been thinking about making this dish for quite sometime and hubby kept asking if I wanted him to make it (baked) in the oven.  I said, “nope, I want to slow cook it.”  He didn’t think the uncooked noodles wouldn’t get done in the Crock Pot but they did and he loved it.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lbs of ground turkey/chicken/beef

  • 2 jars of Spaghetti Sauce

  • medium onion – diced

  • 2 cloves of garlic – diced

  • 1 package of frozen spinach

  • 1 box of Rotini Noodles

  • 1 package of Mozzarella and Shredded Parmesan Cheese

  • Ricotta Cheese

Brown ground turkey Brown the ground turkey and dice the onions and garlic.  Remember to turn on stove’s blower while cutting onions for no tears.   Dice onion and garlic cloves

Add the two jars of spaghetti sauce, diced onions and garlic then stir to mix ingredients thoroughly.

add two jars of spaghetti sauce

add diced onions and garlic cloves

spray Crock Pot with Cooking Spray

Spray the Crock Pot with cooking spray for easier clean up.

begin with layer of meat sauce

Cover the bottom of the Crock Pot with the meat sauce, then begin layering the pasta, spinach, and Ricotta cheese, repeating until you’ve reached the top of the Crock Pot but you can use less if you want.

layer with noodles

add layer of frozen spinach

Add a few dollops of Ricotta Cheese add a few scoops of Ricotta Cheese

Sprinkle with Mozzarella Cheese

sprinkle with Mozzarella Cheese Top with Parmesan Cheese

Sprinkle the final layer with Parmesan Cheese, cover and cook on high 4-5 hours or low 8-10 hours, or until pasta noodles are soft.

cover and cook on high for 5 hours

Stir and then sprinkle on more Parmesan Cheese

Stir to thoroughly mix all ingredients and to ensure noodles are soft.  Sprinkle with more Parmesan Cheese, cover and let sit for an additional 5 mins before serving.

We definitely had more than enough for two meals, I even froze half to be used next month.

more than enough for two meals

Invite your family and friends to the first

Weekend Wind-Down Party!

 

 


Wine 2 Water

Hello Friends and Happy Thankful Thursday!

2014 is the year that I will be celebrating my 53rd birthday, and for that I am thankful.  I am also thankful for my family, my friends, my faith and my health. Thankful that I don’t have any major medical issues but I do have a few concerns which I will address this year.

Water does a body good My number one concern is the lack of drinking water…not the lack of having fresh tap or bottled water like in some countries, but the lack of me actually drinking it.

 

Why Your Body Needs Water I am smart enough to know that my body needs water, but am not smart enough to drink more than just one 16.9 oz bottle a day!

I’m dehydrated and have begun to get the sharp pains, it’s like my kidneys are kicking me in the back and saying, “hey stupid, put down that wine and drink more water!”

According to the For Dummies website, “You must have water in your diet. It is brimming with minerals and electrolytes, and you can’t live without it. Water is a solvent. It dissolves other substances and carries nutrients and other material (such as blood cells) around the body, making it possible for every organ to do its job.”   Bottled Water

The #1 reason I don’t drink more water is because I’ve always had an overactive bladder which doesn’t bode well with a long commute, I would however, make a good spokesperson for Depends.  In order to prevent me from having to stop at a restroom on the way home, I’ll only drink 1 bottle with lunch.

Once home I conveniently forget to drink more and instead will have a few glasses of Red Wine which may be good for the heart but it makes my kidneys quite jealous.

This year I have made the wise decision to drink more water and to make sure I won’t forget, I’ll put it in a wine glass and add a few lemon slices.  This should be a good motivator, what do you think?

Do you have any other suggestions that will help me drink more water?

Water is good for the body

How about you, do you drink the recommended daily amounts of water?

BTW – did you notice my new blog design?  I want to thank Katherine @ Katherine’s Corner who created it for me.  

Come over and meet her then join in today’s link up!

Thursday-Favorite-Things-blog-hop-co-hostesses-new

Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in the New Year

dedivahdeals-signature2  


Staying Warm in a Skirt

 

 Hello Friends and Happy Hump Day Wednesday

 

 My husband usually takes an interest in what I wear to work, even though he complains that I have too many clothes.  Our schedules overlap with him leaving before I wake, and when I get home he’s downstairs working out and I’m anxious to change.  On Sunday when he asked what I had chosen I reluctantly said, “pants, because of the snow”, he knows I prefer to wear dresses and skirts to work and jeans or pants on the weekends.  Most if not all of my skirts are thrifted, they are the first things I look for at Goodwill.

Even though it’s the winter season and we are dealing with snowstorms and extreme temperatures I still like wearing skirts to work and will simply layer up with tights, boots and sometimes even Long Johns!

Faux Suede Knee High Boots

 Faux Suede Boots // Rugged Wearhouse

It's cold but that won't stop me from wearing my skirts

 

Animal Print Maxi Skirt – Goodwill

 

Of course I’ll wear a long coat but I am quite comfortable in a skirt during the winter.

OOTD 1 8 14 016

 How about you ladies, do you wear dresses and skirts in the winter?

I Feel Pretty warm in my boots as does Alison, so come on over and join in on her Link Up today.

I-Feel-Pretty

Stay Blessed – No Stress in the New Year!

dedivahdeals-signature

 


Are you Serious ~ The Holidays Are Over Already?

Hello Friends and Happy Tuesday

Can you believe that it was just a week ago today when we were preparing for New Year’s festivities and the week before that Christmas – are you serious – the holidays are over already?

Holidays 2013

As I sit writing this post the snow is falling with a vengeance for what is to be the first major snow storm of 2014, and it’s name is Hercules.

I changed the calendar, #2 son and hubby returned to school, I returned to work but it seemed too soon – the holidays are over!  No more shopping, wrapping or singing Christmas Carols.  I already miss the TV specials, Charlie Brown Christmas, It’s A Wonderful Life and the Twilight Zone Marathon…are you serious the holidays are over already?

Purse | Avon ~ Animal Print Booties | Deb Shops

OOTD 1 2 14 052

Ring | Avon

OOTD 1 2 14 054 Slacks | Boscov’s ~ Top | Goodwill ~ Suit Jacket | Value City

 What will you miss most about the holidays?  

Are you styling and profiling today?  If so, come show it off at Style Sessions Fashion Link Up.

StyleSessionsLogo_zps1d35aa03

Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in the New Year!

dedivahdeals-signature21