Give Me Five Monday Meme #7

Monday, December 31, 2007

The 'Give Me Five' Monday meme is designed to share fun information with each other in a simple short list! Here's how it works. Each week, I will put out a random topic from my list of topics and you share 5 answers of your choice on the given topic and link back here! You can add photos, links or stories or just a simple list of your own of 5 things that relate to the topic as it pertains to you and your life experiences. It doesn't have to be in any order of importance unless otherwise specified.
Sign up for weekly reminder emails @ beccagirl@charter.net


Give Me Five ideas for kicking off your new year whether that be party suggestions or weight loss ideas or simply goals you have or crafty ideas you have been thinking about starting, the sky is the limit on this one!

No, I won't be talking about changing your cufflinks, but I will make some suggestions for giving your house or office a face lift for the new year!

1. Rearrange your furniture. It's the simplest way to get out of the same-old same-old slump that can actually be quite depressing! Just think outside of the box and with a little planning, you will have a new furniture lay out in no time flat! Don't be afraid to experiment! Grab that chair from the corner it has lived in since you brought it into the room and pull that out away from the wall! Forget all those old cliches' about the furniture has to be up against the walls or in a specific arrangement focusing on the tv. It's your house, you might just like it! And buddy up! It's easiest to have a friend help you do the actual moving of the furniture. You will be so happy just moving a pieces of furniture around, even if you simply trade the sofa and love seat positions!

2. Another great idea for refreshing your spaces is to simply rearrange your chotchkies! Go into a room that needs a face lift, and take down all the sit-a-rounds, picture frames, books, vases...you get the picture here. Take them all down and spread them out on the kitchen table. Then 1 by 1, take a piece back into the room and put it somewhere else than where it was before. I think you will be amazed by the results!

3. How long has it been since you updated family photos or simply rearranged the order they hang on the 'family photo' wall that every family seems to have and should have, I might add. You can do wonders by just taking those photos down and adding new ones in or arranging them by family member's age.

4. Another great idea is painting an accent wall. If you don't have much money, don't fret! You can pick up a can of 'Oopsie' paint at your local hardware store for like $5 a gallon! Oopsie paint is when someone orders a color to be mixed and it doesn't come out to their liking...the hardware store sells these cans of perfectly good paint very inexpensively and they will even shake the can again for you before taking it home. But I do suggest revisiting this aisle often as the selection of random 'oopsies' can vary from day to day. Another option for this is to ask for left over paint from a friend's project! Chances are they will give you the paint and you can make use of the leftovers to create an accent for your home!

5. To update your kitchen, clean out that pantry! That's right...what better way to kick off your new year than to get out all those old what-nots that have been plaguing your healthy eating. I'm not saying throw away your food here....I'm merely suggesting a reorganization to bring to the front all the unhealthy snacks lurking in the darkness of temptation in the back reaches of your snack shelf! Get those snacks out to the front...finish them off first and then replace them with healthier snacks! Besides, isn't it time to check for expiration dates on some of those things?

All of these suggestions range from subtle to major but they are all basically free and not really all that time consuming, if you think about it. You will be so surprised what a different feeling a few changes can make to your home or office spaces. This is where we spend the most amount of time, don't let it get you in a slump! Try any combination of these to kick off your new year in a new mood! Happy New Year!!!

Give Me Five Participants

1. Comedy Plus

2. Serena

3. maryt/theteach

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2008 is going to be great!

I have so many things to look forward to in 2008! I have many goals and am going to be refocusing my attentions back towards myself and what I need to get done. I have neglected certain parts of my life for a very long time now and have decided that I am going to make some changes to kick off my future!

I am not going to make any 'New Year's resolutions' per se because I find those to be extremely disappointing and frustrating. I don't want to set myself up for failure, after all, some of these changes are going to be in effect for longer than just the year of 2008. So without further adue, here are some of the things I'll be cooking up for the next step of my life:

• A new part time business opportunity to earn extra income.
• A new baby on the way (no, not mine, my cousin's) who is due in June.
• A rekindled interest in keeping my house clean and organized.
• More reading and studying, less TV.
• More activity and exercise, less bad food choices.
• Pay off my new tires.
• Pay off atleast 1 credit card.
• Spend more time with family than I do now. I see friends more often than family!
• Accomplish more while I'm at work.
• More writing.
• Explore a new opportunity to contribute to a woman's conference for women in transition.

This is just a few of the things I'm considering for change in 2008. It's time for a change...I can feel it!

Well, well, well...

Lot's to ponder today. No, not like how to fit mover NYC into a post, but things like "Why does my header work one day and then not the next?" I'm also pondering the Blog365 challenge for 2008. I know it doesn't seem like a difficult thing to do, but I'm thinking ahead here to the busiest times of the year for me.

Like tax season. There are days I may not be able to post and if you mess up once, frrrrrt! You've ruined everything for the whole year! I know some bloggers can actually do posts ahead of time and then have them scheduled to appear, but with blogger, you can't do that.

I participated in the NaBloPoMo in November and had a couple of VERY close calls with the midnight deadline...I didn't like stressing about it...but I've been wanting to write more regularly too, so I'm not sure if I will join the Blog365 or not. I know we can post videos and such too, but even that takes time to find one and get it posted. We'll see I guess!

Stop making me fatter!

People of the world, at this time of year it is nice to be remembered with home made treats and confections. A few of our clients here at the office have graciously stopped by with trays and baskets of all sorts of holiday yummies! While they are all wonderful and sweet, they are causing me to gain undesired amounts of weight!

Stop. It. Now.

Seriously, just give me an ipod chock full of yummy tunes! At least I could be entertained while I'm walking all those extra miles on my treadmill trying to reverse the effects of holiday snacking. :)

Long lost post

Well, you may have thought I was somewhere in drug rehabilitation like Britney you-know-who should be because I haven't posted in almost a week! Well, I assure you, I have no need for that, it's just been one of those things. I have been frustrated about my header and not knowing how to fix it for the past week and a half. The most frustrating part for me was spending aaaaaaaaallllllllll this time constructing it and adding the wording and getting a great background to match it and all that, just to have it ruined and I am now unable to share with my readers, my Christmas banner that I made! Grrr.

To my knowlege, there still isn't any kind of fix for the issue, I keep visiting boards and people say they will help me, but it's been a week and a half and no one has actually came through with a solution. If you have experienced this issue and know of a fix, please let me know! All the boards I've been reading say to find "header-inner" and "header-wrapper" and fix the dimentions on there, but I do not have either one of those in my html! So now what?

I plan to make some changes in the near future, probably to coicide with the upcoming new year, to make this blog more about me, and my thoughts and my writings and such. I don't care too much for all the different meme's I've been doing and when I look back at my blog, that's about all I can see lately. I didn't even do my own 'Give Me Five' meme this past Monday. I think that it mostly bothered me because none of my readers even noticed or commented or anything. So really, it's not a big deal. I'll just start again next week.

For now, I want to share with you something I wrote to a friend about some issues they are having with a friend and potentially in the throws of breaking up a long friendship. Obviously I have changed the names, for my protection LOL I am putting this here just in case someone out there is going through something similar and my words can be encouragement to move on or find clarity.

You know, X doesn't seem to be in a reasoning mood right now. If she didn't pay to have the coat cleaned, she's not going to even entertain the idea of the duckie stuff. She might actually turn it around and how dare you when you did blah blah whatever and figure out some way you owe her! She might not ever see things from the other side, that's her problem. She just has to learn that other people don't share her single sided view of the world. It's a small price to pay for a big lesson learned, I guess. At this point, you might as well cut your losses and just try to separate with the least amount of collateral damage as possible. Nothing will ever or could ever give you back the years of service and dedication and loyalty you put into your relationship. I'd sure hate to think that everything crumbled because of one comment from you. There has to be a whole lot more going on here, you just gave her the out she was searching for, it seems. I've seen her do that, be on the way out with someone and then the first little thing, she's ceasing the opportunity to take the victim role. Like with M, "She never called me back". Boo. Hoo. 6 years wasted. There was so much more going on than 'she never called me back'. We all suffered for that one.

I surely hope she can find a way in her life to stop thriving on the drama and all the attention ploys and feeling the need to contrive and belittle and control everything around her. If she keeps doing that, she's someday going to realize all she has around her are lies and fakeness. No one wants to be controlled like that or talked down to. X has soooo much potential of being this awesome friend and person to be around. It's all lost when she begins to twist and dig and self center everything. What will she do when she realizes the world doesn't revolve around her likes and whims? She has been catered to and spoiled for so long, her sense of entitlement has reached a soaring new height. No one on earth owes her anything. I can't spend my life being caught up in all that. I have a life of my own to answer for. A future to build with God as my focus and the eternal life to come has to be my priority! I can't be bothered with all this high school senseless and fruitless drama. We are supposed to be living purposeful lives to be more like Christ! Frankly I don't see how any of this bickering and not getting along and petty squabbles over who said and did and all that is furthering the glory of God!?!? As a matter of fact, it's going full steam ahead in the opposite direction taking down the witness to onlookers who would rather get along just fine without their Christian friends and all the dumb drama that goes along with it.

I think you have enough going on, that you should try to declutter your plate a little. You have a full and happy life and have so much to look forward to and things to keep you busy! It's great, God has blessed you in so many ways. I'm sorry you are having so many physical issues right now, but I just know in my heart that de-stressing will help you feel better physically too. I hope the doctor can get some relief to you too. Let me know what you decide to do about the X stuff. If I were you, definitely don't do any of this stuff in front of other people like at that thing on Sat. Even though you know they aren't that happy with her or her kids, don't put them in the position of taking a side and standing up with you against her. Remember, not many people have the balls to stand up to her and the whole thing might backfire. Just cut your losses. Sometimes life isn't fair, but you have to let God be the judge and jury on that and He *will* do that thing He does! :) We have to give Him room to opperate!!!!
Love,
Me

Enjoy!

I think we can all relate to this on some minor level. Enjoy!!

An apology...

To all of my regular visitors and faithful readers...I owe you an apology. I have not been quite up to posting for the past couple of weeks with the exception of a couple of memes and in turn my blog appears as a sad abandoned afterthought!

I finished the NaBloPoMo challenge of 'once per day, every day of the month' of November and just kinda took a break from posting. My friend mentioned a similar challenge on a much grander scale. A couple of bloggers are talking about starting a challenge to post once per day everyday of 2008!!!

I'm not too sure I would be able to keep up with that, especially considering tax season! Sometimes I have a bunch to talk about and sometimes I don't. I mean, I could make things up to talk about, like diamond pendants or something, but I don't think that would impress readers and make them want to stop back by. Really, I don't think I would be able to keep it up without altering some posts dates and such, and that would be cheating, so forget that!!! Oh well, I promise to be back to making regular posts real soon...lots going on right now!

Give Me Five Monday Meme #6

Monday, December 10, 2007

The 'Give Me Five' Monday meme is designed to share fun information with each other in a simple short list! Here's how it works. Each week, I will put out a random topic from my list of topics and you share 5 answers of your choice on the given topic and link back here! You can add photos, links or stories or just a simple list of your own of 5 things that relate to the topic as it pertains to you and your life experiences. It doesn't have to be in any order of importance unless otherwise specified.
Sign up for weekly reminder emails @ beccagirl@charter.net

Give Me Five things about Christmas/Holiday cards: buying them, getting them ready, sending them, receiving them, displaying them, tips for recycling them, getting/sending 'family newsletters', traditions, pictures, etc.

1. This year I have taken a new approach to sending my cards. I saved the cards I received last year and am 'reduce, reuse & recycling' them into new cards with my scrapbooking and paper crafting supplies and sending them back to the people who sent them to me! I figure if it was good enough to send out last year, it's good enough to get, right? Also, the cards are much nicer as handmade, people really like that you put effort into something for them. Also, my mom and I have a bet going to see how many people actually recognize their cards coming back to them! (for more tips on how to do this, I will be posting about that soon, along with illustrations!)

2. I love getting cards, some of them are really beautiful! Some of them make me wonder what the person was thinking exactly when they chose this card over other ones at the store! I also love all the color they bring to the house and watching to see if I get 2 alike!

3. I dislike waiting in line for stamps and/or to mail them off...this time of year is horrible for dealing with the post office, yucko!

4. When I buy cards, because let's face it, you always send more than you get to recycle! When I buy them, I try to buy them on the after Christmas clearance sale, the day after the holiday. Sure, there is a lot of craziness on that day, but it's all worth it to get a box of cards for 75% off! Hellooooooo!!

5. My mom sends out a newsletter every year in her Christmas cards. Even though we are grown now, my brother and I always get a mention, it's usually a brief 1 or 2 line entry that sums up our year. This year I was able to mention my trip to England and Italy in September. For me, it's usually some kind of trip or that I moved :) I know some people who strongly dislike the 'family newsletter'. One friend in particular mentioned that if people aren't close enough to you to already know what your family did that year, chances are they don't care to know. Well, I see your point, but I must admit that I tend to agree more with my mom's idea behind sending out her letter, which is that not everyone she sends a card and letter too are Christians and she wants everyone to know that even if you are an old Christian lady, your life can be filled to the brim with all sorts of fun stuff! So many people think being a Christian means you have to not do this and not do that and not have any fun, well, my mom is here to show, that's not true at all!!! I like her thinking there...if I ever have a family, I will also create a family newsletter and that friend can just throw it away. Of course, I hope we will all still be friends then and they will know already what we did that year, because they did it too! :)

Give a gift that gives to others!

There are many ways to give at this time of year. Working for an accounting firm, I can tell you that there are a lot of people and businesses trying to finalize their contributions before the end of the year for tax reporting purposes. That's great but maybe it's time to look beyond your cash assets and give in other ways. Perhaps car donations!

These days, you can give an old or unused car, boat, trailer, RV...you get the picture. If you have ever considered this kind of donation, may I suggest Car Angel? They are a non profit company that uses the donated vehicles and such to make videos for kids and teens! Here's one of their videos to give you an idea of the message they are trying to further:



It's so cute!!! Car Angel Ministries uses these videos and other literatures to help single mothers, homeless people, teen and adult rehab situations, food distribution and help to orphans as well as prison reform programs. They offer fast and free nation wide pick up of your donated vehicle and will give you all the documentation needed for the IRS requirements on you tax return deduction, if your tax situation enables you to itemize your deductions. So help them, help others!

Wine about this!

It has been a couple of months now, since my big trip to England and Italy. I must say, I haven't enjoyed a glass of wine since my time in Tuscany! Oh the meals of splendor and succulence! My mouth may never be the same! But I digress.

Recently I had the pleasure of receiving this fine gift:

The package was well padded and inside I found a beautifully wrapped bottle of 2005 Belvedere Chardonnay complete with a bow! Alongside I also discovered a 2004 bottle of Bradford Mountain Zinfandel, also finished with a bow, perfectly presented as a wrapped gift in Gold Medal tissue papers. The package also included a number of other accoutrement. I found a gift card with my name printed on it! I also found a special holiday gift guide explaining all the different wine of the month options they offer as well as explanations about the gift memberships.

Included in my box was a copy of the latest addition of The Wine Press, the Gold Medal Wine Club Newsletter Vol. 17 No. 9. I read through it with much delight. It was full of commentary, photos of the vineyards and fun facts, there was even a funny little cartoon to entertain me! The newsletter contained an article about the 2 yummy wines I received giving information even down to the fruits invloved in it's making, awards they have been recognized for and what to pair them best with, just to name a few details! I was particularly fond of the 'Food for Thought' page which offered up recipes too! What a great idea for a gift for yourself or any other wine lover on your list this year!

Give Me Five Monday Meme #5

Monday December 3, 2007

The 'Give Me Five' Monday meme is designed to share fun information with each other in a simple short list! Here's how it works. Each week, I will put out a random topic from my list of topics and you share 5 answers of your choice on the given topic and link back here! You can add photos, links or stories or just a simple list of your own of 5 things that relate to the topic as it pertains to you and your life experiences. It doesn't have to be in any order of importance unless otherwise specified.
Sign up for weekly reminder emails @ beccagirl@charter.net

Give Me Five things you like and/or dislike about Christmas trees (putting them up or fond memories, favorite ornaments or tree toppers, etc.)

1. I always loved putting up the Christmas tree when I was growing up. My mom taught me how to separate all the different limbs by size and how they went on the tree. She always taught me how to do the garland and lights and the angel on top. But then there was a time when my mom stopped putting up the tree and I couldn't stand for that. So I began to put it up on my own. I really enjoyed it.

(Just and example!)

2. I can still remember the smell of the old ornaments. My mom rarely got any new ones and the old ones were well worn. But the smell...that musty, been-in-the-basement-for-years smell was like no other. My favorite ornaments were ones that we made like the paper santa hat with dangling eye balls. My mom had this beautiful angel that lit up, I can still remember how she held a light in each hand like candles and there were lights under her dress.

3. I love the look of a tree with lots of tiny lights all over it! I have a 6 1/2' pre-lit tree with clear lights on it. Sometimes I like to just turn the tree on and turn out all the other lights in the house and watch it spin around and around (yes, the whole tree turns around and around). All of my ornaments for my tree are silver, white, iridescent or clear so everything shines and sparkles!

4. I dislike taking down the tree. It's no fun and that means I can't see it again for another year! :-(

5. I love it when people put their decorated trees in front of a window so we can see them all lit up as we drive down the streets! I also love it when people decorate the trees outside in the yards, if they have them!

Give Me Five Participants

1. Deb - Mom of 3 Girls 2. Queen-size funny bone 3. Mom Knows Everything 4. Comedy Plus

5. Kwizgiver 6. Mama Pajama 7. Misty Dawn 8. Cat.

9. PhoenixTheBloggingMama 10. Tina Kubala 11. Skittles

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