Beckie Lives and Learns

If it's not illegal, immoral, or blatantly stupid, I am willing to give it a try!

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • What I Made
  • Fun and games
  • What I Did
  • Other Stuff I Learned
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • What I Made
  • Fun and games
  • What I Did
  • Other Stuff I Learned

No Widgets found in the Sidebar Alt!

What I Did

Happy Birthday to Me!

Birthdays come each year (stating the obvious).  Some approach the date with dread. I choose to make the most of it.  I tell people that as I get older, I…

read more
January 5, 2019
What I Did

Israeli Folk Dancing on a Wednesday Night

My good friend, Donna, invited me to join her at her Israeli dance class on a Wednesday night.    She has been dancing with this group for years, and she…

read more
February 25, 2020
Other Stuff I Learned

WE ARE BEING INVADED BY EUROPEan buckthorn!

I originally heard about buckthorn at a TEDx event at my local library last year, but I honestly did not do anything afterwards.  I recently saw on the Lake County…

read more
December 18, 2019

Categories

  • Fun and games
  • Other Stuff I Learned
  • Uncategorized
  • What I Did
  • What I Made
  • Working on Wellness

Recent Posts

  • 52 Ideas for Your Own Mini “Bucket List” Calendar–Make it Your Best Year Yet!
  • Shabbat Morning Services are Good for My Health
  • Accountability “Partners”–7 Ideas to Help You Reach Your Goals!
  • 8 Great Reasons to Plan a Game Night!

Previous posts

Recent Comments

  • Beckie on 52 Ideas for Your Own Mini “Bucket List” Calendar–Make it Your Best Year Yet!
  • Stephen Bergman on 52 Ideas for Your Own Mini “Bucket List” Calendar–Make it Your Best Year Yet!
  • 52 Ideas for Your Own Mini “Bucket List” Calendar–Make it Your Best Year Yet! on Want to Try a New (to you) Fruit? I Present…THE RAMBUTAN!
  • Shabbat Morning Services are Good for My Health on Joining a Book Club–A Great Decision for So Many Reasons!
  • Accountability “Partners”–7 Ideas to Help You Reach Your Goals! on Want to Try a New (to you) Fruit? I Present…THE RAMBUTAN!
  • Equipment
    Fun and games

    Entering the World of Lacrosse…

    January 26, 2019 /

    Many moons ago when I was in high school, I was a member of the Mathletes.  I say this with pride! I was good at math, I enjoyed being part of the math team, and some of my best friends (who are still some of my best friends 30+ years later) were my teammates.  My son, who is also very good at math, gave me such a look of disgust when I suggested that he might enjoy doing something similar. My son is a sports guy–he loves to play sports; he loves to watch sports; he loves to talk about sports.  One of his main hopes when he started high…

    read more
    Beckie 1 Comment

    You May Also Like

    The show we came to see was on the marquee, too.

    “Whose Live Anyway?” at the Genesee Theatre

    October 16, 2019
    The Infinite Board Game

    The Infinite Board Game

    January 7, 2019
    Success with the Rubik's Cube!

    I am a 51 Year Old Woman Who Has Finally Learned How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube!

    March 22, 2021
  • TEDx notebook
    Other Stuff I Learned

    Falling in Love with TED

    January 20, 2019 /

    My husband’s name is Steve.  Who is Ted? Actually, TED is more of a what than a who.  About a year ago, I started watching a lot of TED talks. I had heard about them and had seen a few, but while on a driving trip, I really started to learn what TED talks had to offer. My family took a driving trip last winter from Chicagoland to Florida and back.  I don’t like driving; I do it to get from point A to B. My husband, on the other hand, is a car guy.  My son was 15 with a learner’s permit, so this also provided him with a…

    read more
    Beckie 2 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Looking for Something to Read?

    January 24, 2020
    Learning and Loving

    Great Decisions–We All Benefit by Learning about our World

    January 25, 2021
    Hanging out with Daisy, Mrs. O'Leary's cow. (She was innocent!)

    Chicago History Tour–I Love to Play Tourist Locally!

    November 27, 2019
  • Other Stuff I Learned

    Up, Up, and a Say!

    January 16, 2019 /

    I recently signed up for a business related class at my local library.  (Ironically, this was on the same day that I learned how to sew the coffee cup cozy mentioned in the last post, but it was at my other local library.  I may be doctor, but I don’t golf, so I find other things besides housework to do on my day off.) I decided to attend the class just because I thought it would be interesting and potentially useful.  The class was “Craft Your Perfect Elevator Speech.” (Now does the punny title make sense? It made me chuckle.) I would like to share some of the tips I…

    read more
    Beckie 2 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Lots of extra virgin and flavor infused olive oils!

    The Olive Tap–An Olive Oil Tasting Emporium

    May 23, 2019
    Fingerspelling in American Sign Language (ASL)

    Let’s See If I Can Learn American Sign Language

    June 27, 2020

    WE ARE BEING INVADED BY EUROPEan buckthorn!

    December 18, 2019
  • Cozy #1
    What I Made

    Sew Cool, Part 2

    January 16, 2019 /

    A week ago, I learned how to use a sewing machine.  (If you are interested, check out the previous post discussing that adventure.)  I had the chance to return to the library for a class to put my new knowledge to use.  I would create a COFFEE CUP COZY!! I am perfectly happy with starting small and practical.  I arrived excited and a bit nervous. Sure, I was just going to be making something for fun for myself, but, honestly, no one likes feeling like a fool (even when no one else is watching.)  Did I remember anything? It had only been a week. I had looked at Pinterest in…

    read more
    Beckie 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    When forming the matzo balls, my husband made one especially for me!

    Matzo Ball Soup, Chicken Salad, and Some of the Most Amazing Brownies EVER

    September 14, 2019
    Some of the paint blending magic. Oooohhh!

    Walk, Sweat, and Paint

    July 20, 2019
    Our pour painting success!

    Pour Painting–Easier and More Successful than Expected!

    January 10, 2022
  • What I Did

    Going Back to My Original Plan…

    January 9, 2019 /

    In the “About Me” section, I described why I started a blog.  Well, I have to put my original idea into action. In my head, the idea of reaching out, filling my life with new ideas and experiences, and sharing these adventures was great!  In my head, everything comes about so smoothly and easily. Then reality starts to kick in. I admit that I am a little nervous about putting myself out there. Once I post my idea on a Facebook page, what will happen?  Will I embarrass myself? Will I be ignored? Will people say, “I love your idea!” but nothing comes of it? (How often do you and…

    read more
    Beckie 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    All smiles after our axe throwing adventure!

    Axeplosion!

    August 18, 2019
    Inner trim panel of the door removed to allow access to the broken car handle assembly

    Trapped! (aka Broken Car Door Handle)

    August 15, 2019
    Return to community theater after two decades!

    My Return to Community Theater After a Two Decade Hiatus

    September 11, 2022
  • Janome Magnolia 7330
    What I Made

    Sew Cool!

    January 9, 2019 /

    I learned how to use a sewing machine today (1/9/2019)!  For some of you, this is no big deal and seems completely underwhelming.  For me, this was very exciting! Knowing how to use a sewing machine is just one of those “things” I felt I should know.  In junior high, my classmates and I took home economics (focused on food prep) and typing (I am proud of the fact that I am a very good typist due to my 7th and 8th grade typing classes), but we did not have sewing as part of the curriculum. Libraries aren’t just for books anymore.  A library can be a place where one…

    read more
    Beckie 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Coasters in action!

    Making Rope Coasters with the Husband and College-Age Kids–A Successful Family Project

    October 8, 2023
    The painting, stamping, cutting, and decoupaging is done!

    Mixed Media Art Project–Painting, Stamping, Decoupage

    October 30, 2019

    Reverse Tie-Dye–Family Fun Creating Coordinated Sweats!

    January 3, 2021
  • The Infinite Board Game
    Fun and games

    The Infinite Board Game

    January 7, 2019 /

    Do any of you ever go to Half Price Books stores?  If not, check it out if you have the chance. As long as you are not looking for something specific, it is a great store to visit and just look around.  Before the holidays, I decided to look around my local store to see if anything caught my eye. In addition to books, you can often find puzzles, music, or games there.  Well, sitting on the shelf fully covered in its original plastic wrap was “The Infinite Board Game.” I am constantly trying to get my family to spend more time playing games (not video games) and less time…

    read more
    Beckie 1 Comment

    You May Also Like

    All smiles after our axe throwing adventure!

    Axeplosion!

    August 18, 2019
    I'm juggling!

    Learning to Juggle (Literally, not Figuratively)

    June 5, 2020
    Success with the Rubik's Cube!

    I am a 51 Year Old Woman Who Has Finally Learned How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube!

    March 22, 2021
  • Birthday signage
    What I Did

    Happy Birthday to Me!

    January 5, 2019 /

    Birthdays come each year (stating the obvious).  Some approach the date with dread. I choose to make the most of it.  I tell people that as I get older, I just get better and use more hair coloring.  Saying that, most years I choose to throw myself a party. This is usually a potluck brunch.  Chaos is a part of this process each year. Why, then, do I do it? There are several reasons.  First of all, having plans for guests is a great way to inspire more housecleaning than what would otherwise take place.  I have learned in my house that having a neat house so that it is…

    read more
    Beckie 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Final stop--University of Louisville

    College Tour, Part 5: Last Stop–University of Louisville

    April 17, 2019
    If you have the chance, give a book club a try! Hopefully you can enjoy so many benefits like I have!

    Joining a Book Club–A Great Decision for So Many Reasons!

    February 15, 2024
    EVERYONE!

    “Something Rotten” Happened this Summer on Stage!

    October 10, 2024
Newer Posts 

Pages

  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy

Categories

Ashe Theme by WP Royal.