What a novel and personal gift idea!

I have always loved to give personal or homemade gifts. I always love to get these kinds of gifts, so I know other people appreciate them as well. Knowing my nephew's 4th birthday is coming up in a few weeks, I jumped at the opportunity to choose one of the personalized books that feature his name in a story from Kid's Personally. There were so many to choose from, they had all the popular names:

My nephew is all about the super heroes! His room is decorated with every kind of super hero you can think of! His dad reads to him every night, tall tails of heroic action, he loves it! He has a very healthy imagination and you can just see the wheels turning when he starts to tell you these stories as they play out in his mind.

So I chose the 'Justice League' book to personalize for him. I was able to give details about his name, age, location and a few of his friend's names too. Ordering the book was very simple. Once it came, I read it through and was so excited about it, I didn't want to wait for his birthday! The book was larger than I thought it would be at about 11" x 9".

It was only right for his dad to be the one to read it to him....after all, dad knows how to make the story really come alive!

It was so cute to see his face when he heard his name throughout the story! He would intermittently ask questions about what 'he' was doing and his eyes just went all around studying all 18 of the full color pages! He really really liked hearing how he helped the Justice League save the day from the evil Grodd, a super intelligent gorilla!!!

After he was finished reading his book, of course it had to go right to it's new home on his book shelf for safe keeping until the next time the Justice League calls! If you are looking for great personal and affordable gifts, maybe you should consider some personalized books or other gifts. I'm sure he will enjoy this book for many years to come.

Baby shower plans abound

My cousin and her husband are having their first baby and I am delighted to be the planner for the baby shower!!! I really can't remember the last time I've been able to plan a baby shower, it's so fun! Last November, I helped her plan a fun surprise birthday party for her husband and they were all so impressed by all my ideas, I was chosen to plan the shower. Her mom is funding and I'm planning, this is right up my alley! It's really a joy for me to plan and figure out all the details, I am very detail oriented.

Unlike in the past, this time I have used the internet for much of my planning. One website was able to allow me to create postcard type invitations and have them printed out. This will save on postage since I will be sending out nearly 60 of them, that's a savings of $9.00 in postage alone. With a special rebate, I got 100 personalized invitations for $14! They have all the information about where and when and where she is registered, who & how to RSVP and a special note to beckon them to attend. They really are quite nice, if I do say so myself!

I have also used the internet to plan games and activities. There are many you can purchase and many you can get ideas of your own from for FREE! I even found creative ideas for thank you favors for the guests to take home.

This shower will be alot of fun, as it is also fun to coordinate with the mom-to-be on things she will need, advice and her likes and dislikes. Among some of the things for the parents-to-be to contemplate: baby furniture, college savings, car seats, children insurance, diapers, diaper pails....the list goes on and on. She's so cute when she says, "I just can't believe how much stuff it takes to take care of one little baby!" How precious to welcome a new life into the world and a new life style to a wonderful couple who enjoy a God centered marriage! More on the developing shower details as they arise.

Share your prayer!

This is taken from my church blog:

Greetings one and all!

This is BeccA and you are reading my inaugural post here on the Valley View blog. I certainly hope to be contributing more in the future. Writing has always been a special treat to me. I mean really, it’s basically talking in written form and as you know, I always have *something* to say!

2008 is well under way and we have lots of fun and exciting things going on in our little church at the top of the hill. Next Monday night is our Family Bowling night and I am really looking forward to it. It’s a great opportunity to have some fun times with our church family! We are all relational beings by divine design and a lot can be gained by fellowshipping with those who share a common bond. So bring the kiddos and come on out to Imperial Bowl @ 6:30 on Monday Jan. 14, 2008. I hope to see you there!

I was thinking about what I could contribute to this blog in my signature creative and fun way. From time to time I have different ideas and think this would be a good platform to share them! God has really moved in my life over the past 2-3 years. This has coincided with joining Valley View and that in and of itself, I feel, was guided by His will as well. I’ve grown in ways I didn’t know I could. There has been much healing of hurts as well as an uncountable measure of knowledge gained through sermons, studies, classes and time spent with other members! I am not saying there isn’t still plenty to discover along the long road in my quest to draw closer to God but I do feel like I am on a good path and heading in the right direction. With God’s grace I will continue to grow!

In today’s busy world, it’s growing increasingly harder to keep up with all of the going ons of our friends and family. We have good intentions of remembering them in our prayers but from time to time we find ourselves remembering too late or after the fact. I feel frustrated that I didn’t remember something important happening to someone I care about! After all, if it were me having surgery or something, I’d want them to remember me in prayer! In an effort to rectify this frustration, for me, I’ve learned that I should just do something right when I think about it, even if it’s before said event.

Let’s take that up to another level, which brings me to the idea behind this post. ‘Share your prayer!’ In today’s high tech world, you can certainly find some form of written communication via email, texting or instant messaging. I decided to put my prayer into this form. “What do you mean, God doesn’t have a cell phone!?” What I’m saying is this: at the same time you are praying to God, go the extra step and type, text or journal it out. Then send it to your friend! It’s actually a very personal way to let them see that you are praying for them and what you are actually praying on their behalf. Our prayers are important not only for those we are lifting up but they mean alot to God as well. Even so that the bible tells us in Revelation 8:3-4, the prayers of the saints are burned with incense up to God!

So the next time you have these things on your mind, take a moment to share your prayer with the individuals themselves. I’m sure they will appreciate your words of faith and love and praises that you’ve expressed to God with their need or situation in mind, I know I would! Just stick to the subject at hand and try not to expound on outside issues or your prayers for other people. It’s not a show and tell people!

Until next time…thanks for reading! Feel free to leave comments, maybe you have ideas you’d like to share too!

=============
(For the Proverbs 31 investigators, as stated above, this post is written by me and also posted over at my church's website in the 'Blog it' section found here. I retain all the rights to the post and this is me giving you permission to use it. I realize it will need to be edited to exclude the bowling and such :) Also, I could expound the topic a bit if need be. The meat of it is only about 350 words or so.)

Here is an example of a recent prayer email to a friend:

I just wanted to come to you right now and lift up my friend 'T'. As you know she's going to have a very important surgery tomorrow morning on her back. Lord, I just pray that you are with the doctors and nurses who will be taking care of her and altering her body in an effort to correct some of the damage from this illness. I know you are gracious and loving and you have all the power to make sure the outcome is successful for her. Her recovery will be long but sometimes we have to go through the pain to get to the reward!

You are perfect and holy and worthy of all praises and we thank you for sharing your love with us even when we don't deserve it! "Who is like you, o Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" Thank you so much for sharing your Son with us and His offering on the cross to make atonement for our transgressions. He is the only way to you and how blessed we are to see the path!

You are the Great Physician and that's why I'm praying for your will to be done for 'T's back situation from here on out! Thank you for bringing special people in our lives who look past the filth of our mistakes to see that you are here in us and worth caring about. I ask all these things in Jesus' name, Amen!

Cross it off the list!

I'm getting things done on my big list so I'm here to cross them off! I'm beginning to think I need some kind of organizer to keep it all straight, not so much something like an assisted living software but maybe like a little version of me following me around quietly and keeping me on track. Someone who's job it is to keep up with appointments and run my errands. Ok, now I'm just dreaming!

I have now completed as much as I can on the curtains for my Sunday School class teacher. I will just take my things to her house and finish the rod pockets there as well as finishing the 4 accent pulls to be the desired length to give the curtains proper "droop."

I will take photos to show off my handy-work. They are really very simple curtains, but I think they will look nice in her space!

1 down, 30 to go! :)

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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Birthday gifts

This month was a big birthday month for me. I had 3 adult birthdays and 1 child's birthday to plan for. Some people are easier to buy for than others. It also depends on how much time I spend with each person too. I find it more difficult to shop for guys than the gals. I've been known to give things I like to the person, if I'm not sure what to get, in the hopes that they will like it too. That plan has worked out well too. Sometimes, I keep notes all year long from different conversations that come up or different situations that result in a pretty good gift list. Depending on the conversation, I'd give someone a cordless phone battery if they were in need of a new one or some other useful item they need. Some things get put on that "I'll get one as soon as I get extra money" list and who knows when that will be! You'd be surprised how happy that kind of gift will make someone! You should keep a list of things people like from conversations, too!

Shopping for a 1 year old

As soon as I get back from my vacation, I will be excited to see my 'nephew' turn 1. This will be extra fun for me because I was privileged enough to be asked to witness his birth! It was so awesome and breath taking, I just fell in love with him right away. I mean, it was sorta hard to see his little face through all the joyful tears, but I was so happy to meet him! I had spent alot of time with his momma during her pregnancy and we grew alot closer as friends during this time. She also helped me through some hard times I was having by always being a good listener and actually trying to understand where I was coming from. That means so much to me!

I remember one day, right towards the end of her pregnancy, I was sitting a few feet away from her while she was laying on the couch. That baby in her belly was just flip floppin' and tossing and turning and doing aerobics! I told her that I didn't know how anyone could ever get any rest with all that flip flopping going on inside their body! Remember, I've never been pregnant. I told that baby if he didn't give mom a rest and knock it off, he was grounded! LOL

So, I've got to watch him growing and changing this year. They certainly do go through alot of changes in their first year. He's been walking for about a month now, and I can still remember seeing him let go and take off that first time. So precious!!!!

His birthday party will be just a couple of weeks after I get back, so I need to be thinking about his present. I mean, it's his first birthday so I wouldn't expect him to really know what's going on but I still want to get him something fun. I love to get things that are sentimental, but with boys, it's usually better to get like RC cars or trucks are popular gifts. Except this is his first birthday, I can still get away with learning toys too. Any suggestions??

For all you moms out there...

especially the ones with young children, don't forget to take pictures! I was talking earlier about digital cameras and how they are awesome these days with the better technology and features.

The problem is, and I hear this alot, 'I don't have time to snap photos! I'm too busy chasing after the kids.'

I hear you. I do! But I cannot stress to you enough to keep that camera handy around the house, throw it in the diaper bag. Make it a practice to capture those little fun times that make you smile. You will not regret it in the end!

And for all the scrapbooking moms out there (even if you haven't started scrapbooking yet, but would like to some day) I say once again, "You can't scrapbook it if you don't have pictures of it!" Mark my words....I've been preaching this so long, my friend Jen told me the other day, "My youngest one snuck off and I found him playing pee-a-boo in my shower! All I could think was Aunt Becca is gonna say, 'Why didn't you take pictures?' So I ran down the hall and grabbed the camera and snapped a couple of really cute pictures of it."

Fun with digital photography

I used to say, that the technology just wasn't there yet in the world of digital photography to deliver film quality photos. Or at least not in digital cameras that normal people (non professionals) like myself could afford, anyway.

My first digital camera was an inexpensive basic model that sported a whopping 3.2 mega pixels. Woo. The quality was ... ok. I certainly took my share of photos with it. I did enjoy getting the gist of the photo on the display screen. That was a plus. Also being able to edit and crop the photos at home was definitely an added bonus to traditional developing and printing options.


In preparation of my upcoming trip overseas, I decided to upgrade the quality of my digital camera. I now have a Canon Powershot A630. I love this camera! Not only does it have all the above mentioned features, but it boasts 8 mega pixels, the display screen can flip around and be maneuvered so you can capture angles yet keep your ability to see what you are taking. It has so many features, well, let's just say I am still learning about it. Thus far, I have been impressed with the clarity and quality of the photos taken. I look forward to using this camera on my vacation and will certainly share my photographic experiences here for everyone's enjoyment! Did I mention, I love my new camera???

It was bound to happen eventually.

What you are about to hear is a story that happened to me just the other night. For you see, I am now in the habit of 'can hunting' on my way home late at night. 'Can hunting' is just that, searching out aluminum cans to recycle. It's one of the many ways of making money I recently started to incorporate into my way of life. I like to hunt cans late at night through the park near my house because there are no other people driving through the park at that late hour! I feel safer and it's easier to do what I need to do without other cars, bicyclists and the like. I also circle a couple of streets on the outskirts of the park too.

I always approach the cans cautiously. Sometimes they are not exactly empty. I know this must sound yucky to you readers out there, but it's free money just laying there! I can't help myself! So I have a way of pouring that's really more of a centrifical flinging than anything. I like the liquids to splash away from my ankles! I go can hunting at least once or twice a week now, I just can't help myself!

Well, anyway, it was bound to happen eventually, I stopped to pick up a can and did my test-fling-are you empty-dump move when I felt something inside the can come out and fall onto the ground and scurry away. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I threw the can and got the bleep out of there. I couldn't make out exactly what it was, but it was BIG and dark, it kinda reminded me of one of those Madagascar hissing cockroaches they used to make the participants on Fear Factor eat! I can't even stand to look at a small picture of one on my blog, so click at your own risk!

I might be done 'Can hunting' for a while...

What to wear, what to wear!

Ok, now I'm having a dilemma and I'm asking you people to help me out here. I will be traveling to new destinations. I've bought new clothes, but what do I wear to the different places? I'm fairly certain I know which outfits I'd like to wear for my photos in Italy, that came very easy to me. It also seems like the Lord has really helped me find just the right shirts to fit my mood right now. I am so thankful! Normally it is hard for me to even find clothes I like because I am oddly proportioned. Basically all belly! Seriously, I could pass for at least 9 or 10 months pregnant right now. I'm working on it, but I have come to a place of acceptance. See me, love me. I am embracing my budah-belly-ness.

Anyway, back to what to wear. So, what do you wear to a sunrise at Stonehenge? A hoodie and jeans? How about the castle feast? I will not be able to rent costuming to take with me and don't own any I could take. Seriously, what do I want to look like in these photos? Maybe I should go for something more dignified? And then, the castle feast...I mean it's not like I'll see men dressed up in cufflinks and cumber buns. It's not your standard 'dress up' fair. I wish I had something sort of empire waist and bell sleeves. Oh gosh, I just thought about shoes! What kind of shoes do you wear to Stonehenge??? Um, help!

Beating the system

I got a new PDA cell phone here while back, and the only thing I noticed it couldn't do was take pictures. I chose this particular one because I knew I needed to get on board and update my technology. Get organized. And hey, let's face it, it was in my price range. At the time, I didn't really care that it didn't take photos, I didn't think it would be a bid deal. Boy was I wrong.

I've had a camera phone for so long before this, I really miss being able to change the wallpaper to my kitties or whatever fun place I'd recently visited. Who doesn't get tired of looking at the same ol' thing day in and day out? I know what I'm missing! I had a free month of internet at first and I went online and just downloaded a couple of wallpapers so I could have something other than the default screen to look at. That was fine at the time but I only had like 3 to choose from because you still had to pay for the right to download it.

My phone uses a mini disc for memory storage. My new camera takes an SD type. Well, guess what I just found? The mini disc adapter that came with the mini disc!!! Yay! So I conducted an experiment and hoped for the best. I took the mini disc out of my phone, put it inside the adapter, put them in my camera, snapped off a few shots of my furry babies and then put the mini disc back into my phone and it worked!!! I'd never thought of trying this before but I'm glad I found that adapter. I did it again and this time, I took a few more shots. It's really hard to get 2 cats to do something interesting when they are close to each other. Well for my 2 it is anyway. Here's the best shot of them together, it's currently the wallpaper on my phone ;-)

I need to formulate a list

Yes, as you might remember, I am Queen List-maker! But I am beginning to feel the crunch of time coming down on me with my planning and preparing for this trip. I mean, just look at the countdown over there in the sidebar...it's not taking a break! As of the time of this post, I am looking at only 19 days before take off!

So, I will need to make a list of everything I am expecting to get done before leaving and I need to coordinate it with the schedule I have already created for the days left. Right now I have a list of different topical lists of things that either have to be bought, printed, copied, acquired, packed, read or completed before I can leave! Those lists include (but are not limited to *that's the accountant in me*):

• Things to pack: carry on
• Things to pack: luggage
  
• Things to do to prepare for trip
• Paperwork for traveling
• Things to do at home to be gone for 2 weeks

So as you can see, I really need to consolidate all this information into one so I don't miss anything. I have a feeling, I'm going to need a vacation after my vacation!

You're Invited!

Well, it started out as a book party and has now turned into a real party with guests and eats and all that! My friend Jen has just started selling At Home America and I wanted to do a party for her. She even graciously offered to have the show at her house, since I just don't have time to prepare my house and also, most of my people are towards that neck of the woods anyway!

Like many people, I had never heard of At Home America (or AHA) before, but they are 25 years old! There aren't very many distributors in our area that I know of, so it's very likely to be new to many people.

I personally describe their merchandise to be a mix of Pampered Chef, Home Interiors, PartyLite and Home Made Gourmet type items because they have bakeware, dinnerware, jar candes, tee lights, difusers, wax melts and warmers, wreaths, sit arounds, plaques, lots of wrought iron items and even cast iron items, clocks, hooks, shelves, vases, lamps, serving bowls, mixing bowls, full on furniture, serving caddys, throw blankets, painted wooden words of all kinds, rugs, mirrors, magazine racks, photo frames, sconces, phones, radios, an old style turntable, drinkware, coasters, towels, soap dispenser, runners, a vintage fan, decorative pillows, stemware, dip mixes, beer bread mixes (but you can use any carbonated beverage), serving platters, an over the sink rack and much more! That's just in the everyday catalog!

Right now they have a fall and holiday catalog too that has wonderful fall and thanksgiving must-haves as well as Christmas and winter decorations and serving accoutrement. They have like 700 items too take in and you can check out the catalogs online and let me know what you like if you can't come to the party. I will make sure you get it :)

I sent out 42 invitations, of course only about 20% will show up...but hopefully more can come. The party is set for Sat. September 8th, 2007 at 4:01 pm. If you live in the greater St. Louis Area and would like to come, by all means, shoot me a comment and let me know, I'll give you all the information! If you bring a friend, you will earn extra 'Auction Bucks' which can be used to win a special prize :-)

I'm worried about my pictures...

and I haven't even taken them yet! I guess more specifically, I'm worried about the photos of me on my vacation. Maybe I should explain. You see, I have really long hair. It's mostly all one length (although I am going for a haircut before I leave, but more on that later) and frankly there's a fine line most days between hair that gets a se