Beckie Lives and Learns

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

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

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Fun and games

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

I grew up in the 80’s, and yes, I had a Rubik’s Cube.  I would play around with it, but I would be thrilled if I could solve just one…

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March 22, 2021
Other Stuff I Learned

TEDx: Reboot–Prepare for a Reset, a Fresh Start, a Do-Over

We all have times when we feel a need to reboot.  We need a reset, a fresh start, a do-over. Sometimes you need to stop, turn, and take a new…

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January 12, 2020
What I Did

College Tour, Part 4: Time for Tennessee

After leaving the University of Georgia, we started on the next leg of our college tour–we were heading to Tennessee to visit the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.  After a…

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April 17, 2019

Categories

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

Recent Posts

  • Coffee and Conversation–Take the Time to Talk. Bonus–You Benefit!
  • 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!

Previous posts

Recent Comments

  • Coffee and Conversation--Take the Time to Talk. on Joining a Book Club–A Great Decision for So Many Reasons!
  • 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!
  • Coasters in action!
    What I Made

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

    October 8, 2023 /

    I was so pleased that my family (myself, husband, and college age kids) enjoyed spending time together creating citrus rope coasters.

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    Beckie 3 Comments

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    Here is some of the gnocchi before it was put on a lined tray and placed in the freezer.

    Potato Gnocchi–A Nice Change from all the Matzo

    April 29, 2019
    I think that the tinted bottles with the artificial flowers really turned out nicely!

    Tinted Glass with Flowers, a Pinterest Success (mostly)!

    May 12, 2019
    The lime is now mostly naked (and we have some nice zest).

    Key Lime Pie

    July 10, 2019
  • What I Did

    Summer Community Theater–Excited to be Back on Stage!

    September 4, 2023 /

    Perform, rinse, repeat After last summer’s experience performing in my community theater’s production of “Footloose,” I knew that I would plan to audition again for the summer of 2023. I anxiously waited for the announcement of the summer show. Not that it would change whether or not I auditioned, but I still wanted to know. The musical for the summer of 2023 was going to be Rogers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.” Honestly, I didn’t have much of a reaction to that. I was familiar with some of the music and aspects of the story but had never actually seen a production of it, either on stage or screen (not even the…

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    Beckie 4 Comments

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    I am ready to bring some music into your lives!

    My First DJ Lesson!

    February 18, 2020

    Reverse Tie-Dye–Family Fun Creating Coordinated Sweats!

    January 3, 2021
    The show we came to see was on the marquee, too.

    “Whose Live Anyway?” at the Genesee Theatre

    October 16, 2019
  • The chips, dips, and popcorn bar in all of their delicious glory!
    What I Did

    Graduation Party DIY Style!

    June 7, 2023 /

    My daughter just graduated from high school (CONGRATULATIONS to my girl!), and I had asked her a few months prior if she wanted a graduation party. No surprise, she did. I am a big fan of open house style parties when there is a large crowd involved. (I am also a fan of pot luck parties when there is a large crowd, but that did not seem appropriate in this situation.) I really wanted to host a party that she would enjoy, and I wanted her to be able to invite whomever she wanted, but I didn’t want this to break the bank. I am sharing this information because it…

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    Beckie 4 Comments

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    Final stop--University of Louisville

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

    April 17, 2019
    The back entrance to Enzo and Lucia. This is the one I had seen for many years prior to actually trying out the restaurant.

    Lunch at Enzo and Lucia–My Mouth is Watering Just Thinking About It

    May 17, 2019
    VOLS WIN!!

    My First Live SEC Football Experience–GO VOLS!

    January 5, 2024
  • Getting older with grace and style!
    What I Did

    Dear Gen-Xers:

    March 12, 2023 /

    Dear Gen-Xers: You are my target audience because we have something important in common. I would love for everyone to read and enjoy this blog, but, over the past few years, my personal goals and reasons for having this blog have been tweaked. My goals and reasons have not changed completely. They have just morphed and shifted a bit as life has progressed. Undoubtedly I want readers, but the primary reason I am doing the activities I write about is to help myself. By writing and sharing my “adventures” and experiences, I can hopefully help my fellow Gen-Xers along the way as well while giving much deserved credit to those…

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    Beckie 4 Comments

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    VOLS WIN!!

    My First Live SEC Football Experience–GO VOLS!

    January 5, 2024
    RAMBUTANS

    Want to Try a New (to you) Fruit? I Present…THE RAMBUTAN!

    November 12, 2020
    All smiles after our axe throwing adventure!

    Axeplosion!

    August 18, 2019
  • Return to community theater after two decades!
    What I Did

    My Return to Community Theater After a Two Decade Hiatus

    September 11, 2022 /

    This summer I did something which I had not done in 21 years: I auditioned for a community theater musical! The last show I did was, as mentioned, 21 years ago. My husband was in the cast with me back then (we were already married), and we did not have any kids. Fast forward—my husband auditioned with me again. Although I had not performed in a few decades, my daughter is a “theater kid,” so I have been a proud, strong theater mom for nine years. I always loved watching her perform and I loved seeing the relationships she developed with others in the cast. This summer it was time…

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    Beckie 7 Comments

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    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
    Follow the paw prints! Welcome to Clemson!

    College Tour, Part 2: Carolinas on My Mind–University of North Carolina and Clemson University

    April 10, 2019
    The performance stage

    Aloha from the Suburbs!

    August 24, 2019
  • Our pour painting success!
    What I Made

    Pour Painting–Easier and More Successful than Expected!

    January 10, 2022 /

    I have seen photos and videos of pour painting projects, and I always thought that the final products looked so beautiful and interesting.  Pour painting is a method where acrylic paint is poured onto a surface, and the design is created by the flow of the paint. The videos make it look easy.  I decided to see if the process was as easy as it looked.  (You never really know until you try.)   To start, the video that I finally used to learn and teach my family is this one. Although my kids were not thrilled with the idea of doing an art project with me (they were forced into…

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    Beckie 2 Comments

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    These are the tomatillos that were in the bag.

    Time to Try and Taste Tomatillos

    March 17, 2019
    Eucalyptus shower melts

    Eucalyptus Shower Melts–Another Pinterest Find

    June 15, 2019
    Dragon Fruit

    Dragon Fruit–Trying a New (to us) Fruit

    February 6, 2019
  • I can now fold this fitted sheet!
    Other Stuff I Learned

    I FINALLY Know How to Fold a Fitted Sheet!  

    December 12, 2021 /

    Not to brag, but, academically, I have earned a lot of letters behind my name.  (If curious, they are B.S., M.D., M.P.H.)  I have a career and work outside the home.  That does not, however, mean that I don’t want to have the skills of the stereotypical domestic goddess.  I would love to keep a spotless home, prepare gourmet meals, and dress like I just stepped out of a magazine.  Reality kicks in, and I do the best that I can.  That is all any of us can do.  That does not mean that I am not going to try to make little bits of progress toward the unrealistic vision. …

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    Beckie 9 Comments

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    Fingerspelling in American Sign Language (ASL)

    Let’s See If I Can Learn American Sign Language

    June 27, 2020
    The Breathing Festival

    The Breathing Festival 2021–The Power of Our Breath

    February 7, 2021
    TEDx notebook

    Falling in Love with TED

    January 20, 2019
  • Success with the Rubik's Cube!
    Fun and games

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

    March 22, 2021 /

    I grew up in the 80’s, and yes, I had a Rubik’s Cube.  I would play around with it, but I would be thrilled if I could solve just one side.  I honestly don’t even remember if I successfully solved two sides.  One may have been my limit.  (Also, I didn’t cheat by removing and replacing the stickers.)   I was always impressed by those who could solve a Rubik’s Cube but never imagined that I would be amongst them…until now!  Before you read any farther, I am letting you know right now that you will not learn how to solve a Rubik’s Cube in this post.  It is really…

    read more
    Beckie 18 Comments

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    Some of the classics!

    8 Great Reasons to Plan a Game Night!

    December 8, 2024
    All smiles after our axe throwing adventure!

    Axeplosion!

    August 18, 2019
    The show we came to see was on the marquee, too.

    “Whose Live Anyway?” at the Genesee Theatre

    October 16, 2019
  • The Breathing Festival
    Other Stuff I Learned,  What I Did

    The Breathing Festival 2021–The Power of Our Breath

    February 7, 2021 /

    I have always been interested in health and wellness.  Recently I completed some additional Gale courses on brain health and mindfulness.  (I previously did a Gale course to learn some sign language.) Participating in The Breathing Festival and learning about breathwork seem like a great next step.  I learned about this festival from a wonderful person, Nicole Price.  (I am biased.  She is my cousin, but that does not at all change the fact that she is absolutely fabulous!)  Rather than just sharing my Festival experience after the fact, I want to let you know about it now so that you can check it out and hopefully share your experiences,…

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    Beckie 10 Comments

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    Fingerspelling in American Sign Language (ASL)

    Let’s See If I Can Learn American Sign Language

    June 27, 2020
    Local trees since we cannot travel currently

    Experience Five (Virtual) Tours of National Parks in Just One Hour! (aka How to Travel while Sheltering at Home)

    April 3, 2020
    Souvenir Dish

    The Emerald City

    February 5, 2019
  • Learning and Loving
    Other Stuff I Learned

    Great Decisions–We All Benefit by Learning about our World

    January 25, 2021 /

    As an adult, I have learned to appreciate the library, much more now than I did as a kid.  In addition to checking out books, movies, and music, I have taken advantage of multiple library programs.  These have ranged from lectures to demonstrations to hands-on projects and more.  Last year I chose to participate in something new (to me), and this did force me to step outside of my normal “box.” My local library is one of many hosts of the “Great Decisions” program.  This is a discussion program on world affairs and was developed by the Foreign Policy Association.  I will admit that my knowledge of world affairs is…

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    Beckie 5 Comments

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    Me and my sign--I watched how it was created from start to finish!

    It’s a Sign! (aka The Birth of a Banner)

    March 22, 2020
    TEDx notebook

    Falling in Love with TED

    January 20, 2019
    Souvenir Dish

    The Emerald City

    February 5, 2019
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