Posts Tagged ‘family’
MeJah Books, Inc.
Posted on: August 20, 2013
- In: African Art | Book Store | Culture | DE | Egyptian Art | NY | Small Business Owner | Soho
- 10 Comments
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.
- In: alcoholic beverages | cocktails | Cooking | Food | Food Network | microwave meal | OWN Network | Philadelphia | Recipes | Snacks | Vlog | You Tube
- 2 Comments
Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay!
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!
Check out this recipe for Flatline Cocktail.
Have a fantastical day – Smooches!
OOTD – Thrifted & Thankful Thursday
Posted on: July 18, 2013
- In: OOTD
- 17 Comments
Hello Friends and Happy Friday Eve!
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
Your Turn – what are you thankful for?
Have a fantabulous day – Smooches!
Linking up today with Katherine’s Corner and Thrifters Anonymous
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
Posted on: July 4, 2013
Independence Day: The Federal Holiday in the United States that commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, when a budding nation of 13 colonies declared its independence from Great Britain. Now celebrated and associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, beach trips, concerts, family reunions and concerts.
Delaware, one of the original colonies to revolt, celebrates up and down the state with activities the whole family can appreciate and participate in.
So what are your plans for today?
Eating?
Drinking?
Grilling?
Chilling?
Whatever it is – be safe and enjoy!
Bowling for Birthday
Posted on: June 23, 2013
- In: Birthday | Bowling
- 4 Comments
Hello Friends, I hope you had a wonderful weekend!
Today for my son’s 21st birthday all he wanted was money and to go bowling, oh and he also mentioned something about a beer. Well he got the money, but not the beer…with his father being a Muslim he knew that wasn’t happening. We did however, go to Mid County Lanes in Middletown and had a great time…at least I did.
Now that my sons are getting older I am beginning to really miss the days when we had family fun time, so today was also a gift to me, a gift for my “giving birth day”!
My “Giving Birth Day” Gift
S T R I K E !!
I’m left-handed but can only bowl using my right hand – weird
Hubby bowled even with his bad back!
Family Fun Time with my men
I remember when these used to come with laces – nicely styled velcro!
Family Fun Time at Mid County Lanes
After bowling we went to Ruby Tuesday for dinner.
A Birthday Cupcake courtesy Ruby Tuesday
My Family!
Have a fantastical night – Smooches!
Plants in the Back Seat
Posted on: May 19, 2013
- In: Lowes
- 6 Comments
Hello Friends and Happy Sunday
I hope you had a good weekend with an opportunity to spend quality time with your family/friends and did something fun and enjoyable. Yesterday, I took my car in for an oil change and Malik was my chauffeur so I took full advantage by having him drive me all around town running errands – it was good being Mommy! I had him drive me to Dunkin Donuts, Dutch Country Farmers Market, Family Dollar, PNC Bank and then finally to Lowe’s it was fun for me, not so much for him.
We gave him Tayair’s old car, remember the 2002 Hyundai Elantra, well you would have thought it was a new Mercedes because when he realized the plants had to ride in the back seat he wasn’t happy! I purchased two hanging baskets, a Color Combo Patio plant, Sweet Basil, Heirloom Tomatoes, Curled Parsley and Cilantro and they rode shotgun in the back seat fully protected by a yard of plastic – it was hilarious!
Hanging baskets – Petunias, Calibrachoa and Lobelia
Curled Parsley – boil and drink like tea it’s great for the digestive system
Cilantro is a wonderful fragrant herb
Basil also keeps the bugs away from your garden
Fresh Garden Tomatoes – scents of summer
Hibiscus is a perfect patio plant
Color Combo Welcome Plant – Bidens, Licorice Plant and Trailing Petunia
Love the handles on these hanging baskets
Time to check out
Malik reluctantly loading the cart
The plants riding in the back seat (along with vacuum cleaner)
Today I cleaned in and around the pool and cleared out my little garden which was overrun with Mint from last year.
Before
After
Have a wonderful evening – Smooches!
Mother’s Day Will Be Bittersweet
Posted on: May 12, 2013
Reposting from Mother’s Day 2012
REPOSTING FROM 2012
Mother’s Day will be bittersweet
- today at 50, I’ve been a mother for almost 20 years
- my grandmother was 50 when I was born, she took me & my sis under her wing at the age of 57 and lived to be 98
- Mother’s Day will be bittersweet
- the parent of a 3 month preemie weighed a mere 2.5 lbs, not sure if he would live or die
- my God is Awesome
- i look in the mirror and see my mother
- bore but did not raise me
- died before I really got to know her
- feared I would have to care for her in her old age
- grandmother said in order to live a long life you have to treat everybody right and pray
- Mother’s Day will be bittersweet
- not a friend but a fierce protector and provider
- mother never saw her grandsons
- a mother of 2…
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