Give Me Five Monday Meme #52

Monday, September 21, 2009

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.
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Give Me Five of your favorite drinks.

1. Water
2. Sweet tea
3. Coke Classic
4. Coffee (cream and sweetener, please)
5. Welch's No Sugar Added Concord grape juice

I guess #5 is pretty specific but I recently tried a bottle of it and I LOVE IT! Being 'no sugar added', I anticipated a tart and unpleasant flavor but I'm really enjoying it. If I decide to start watching my calorie intake, I may just have to consider it a weight loss product :) So how about you, what are 5 of your favorite drinks??

Before or After?

At our Valley Girl meeting today, one of the ladies brought her Avon makeup supplies to do makeovers on those who were willing. If you read my blog from time to time, you might already know: I hate makeup on me. I hate the way it looks, I hate the way it feels and I hate the way it wipes off onto things like my phone, bleh!

So, without further ado...here is the before and after from today's makeover:

Just another confirmation that I do not need to be wearing makeup...or that I still haven't found the right makeup for my coloring yet. I look gray! I washed it off immediately when I came home...I sure don't need any excuses to buy an acne treatment! I've always had phobias about that...but that's another post entirely. For now, the search continues. I vote for the before :)

Yay, it makes me happy =]

Is it wrong for me to be *this* excited that The Office is back on with new episodes? I just watched the season premiere. Great way to start a new season. All the characters were pretty much spot on...that Micheal has some serious issues! Congrats Pam and Jim...now get married already.

Next up, pack your bags and call up some long distance moving companies because "You're going to Vegas!!!" I love watching the So You Think You Can Dance (dance, dance, dance) tryouts and this week they are in Phoenix, Az. I don't know what some of these people are thinking! That's not dancing, that's just weird. Day 2 is strange...and what is with the screaming guy? Sheesk! LOL Nigel: How close are we to Roswell? Good question! Next stop, Bean Town.

Give Me Five Monday Meme #51

Monday, September 14, 2009

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 of your favorite ways to be crafty or creative.

1. I love to cook! Can't wait to get my hands juicy and hear that sizzle.
2. Scrapbooking, I love to be creative showing off my pictures.
3. Photography. I've always enjoyed taking pictures of .... well, everything!
4. Crocheting. I'm just getting into it and I'm already creating my own patterns.
5. Various sewing projects. I think it's a lost art, not many of my friends know their way around a sewing machine, sad.

So, how about you? What crafts and crea-tivities do you enjoy?

Warning: Political post on health care reform

I don't go into politics much here on BeccA's Buzz. From time to time I do come across information on various current issues that I share with my readers and that sometimes includes what's going on in our government. I'm on record as saying, I'm not one for picking political sides....liberal vs. conservative or democrat vs. republican...I dislike politics on many levels but I get the need to have more than one choice.

Today I'd like to share a piece written by Jordan Sekulow. He and his father Jay Sekulow are out there on the front lines fighting and winning legal battles for you and me with the American Center for Law and Justice. He has written a very important article called Obama should be apologizing, not Congressman Wilson.

I do agree there needs to be health care reform...I do not agree with the current proposal. Do be careful if you choose to comment. I will be moderating comments closely. Go to the ACLJ.org and sign the petition if you want to say NO to government run health care.

Gold into Cash, serious cash!

Seriously.

When I first thought about that old broken, thin gold chain that was in my jewelry box...I never imagined it would be worth anything. Once I began to go through my old jewelry, I found a few thin chains, a heart locket that was dented and scratched and a big silver cross pendant that would NEVER stay polished. It was a gift and never looked very good because it tarnished faster than I could shine it up!

So I decided to find out how much cash for gold I could get. I went to the website, entered my info and they sent me a FedEx package in the mail. You simply put your gold, silver or platinum in the bag, fill out the inventory sheet (4 necklaces, 1 locket and 1 pendant in my case), seal up the prepaid package and drop it off at a staffed FedEx location! A couple of days later, they send you an email with an offer! Here's a picture of the small items I sent in:

I thought perhaps I'd get $20 or $25 for it. After all, one of the chains was broken and more than one was stamped with 10k, not even 14k. The locket was scratched and dented....anyway, what was taking up room in my jewelry box for usable pieces would certainly not be missed by me. I was delighted to receive an offer by email for $69.85!!! Say what?! Wow, I'm impressed. Now it's a couple of days later and the money has been deposited into my PayPal account. I think I'll go back and see what else I may have in there just taking up space! :) This was a very fun and exciting and profitable experience. I'd do it again! I need to get one of those metal detectors and go out on treasure hunts! LOL

Paul Harvey - The Testing Time!

I hope you have the time to listen to these 3 parts (about 24 minutes in all) that make up a very pertinent piece from Paul Harvey...from the early 1960's.

Part 1 of 3


Part 2 of 3


Part 3 of 3


Thank you for listening :)

'Fearless' by Max Lucado: Book review

"Fearless: Imagine your life without fear"

Wow, what a book! This couldn't have come at a better time for me. This book is a reminder to Christians everywhere that God is still in control and His plan is working to His divine specifications! We are never promised not to have trials. No, we are warned they will come! As Max so eloquently states, 'Fear not' (and it's variants) is the most common Christ-issued imperative!

I have 2 favorite chapters in this book. The first one is the first chapter called 'Why are we afraid?' It certainly helps to gain an understanding of where fear comes from. One of the statistics he gave was that 'ordinary children today are more fearful than psychiatric patients were in the 1950's.' (The Report Newsmagazine Jan, 22, 2001)

He then goes on, discussing letting faith be your default reaction to threats instead of fear. Take the story of the great storm that rose up when Jesus and the disciples were all in the boat out on the Galilean sea...he says, "...this story sends the not-so-subtle and not-too-popular reminder: getting on board with Christ can mean getting soaked with Christ! ... Christ-followers contract malaria, bury children, and battle addictions, and as a result, face fears. It's not the absence of storms that sets us apart. It's whom we discover in the storm: an unstirred Christ."

He also explains that fears cause us to raise doubts about Jesus' character. "Fear corrodes our confidence in God's goodness. We begin to wonder if love lives in heaven. If God can sleep in our storms, if His eyes stay shut when our eyes grow wide, if He permits storms after we get on His boat, does He care? Fear unleashes a swarm of doubts, anger-stirring doubts. And it turns us into control freaks. Fear at it's center is a perceived loss of control." "Fear drains us dry of contentment." "When fear shapes our lives, safety becomes our god. When safety becomes our god, we worship the risk-free life. The fear filled cannot love deeply, it's too risky!"

Time after time, Jesus called us to courage. Matt. 10:31, Matt. 6:25, John 14:1-3, Luke 24:38. These are just a few examples. Matt. 8:26-27 "He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?' Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, 'What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!'"

My second favorite book hits pretty close to home. I must admit having some issues with disheartening direction things seem to be going lately. It is called 'What if things get worse? Fear of global calamity' Jesus has equipped us with "...far-sighted courage. He listed the typhoons of life and then pointed them to the end. Trust in ultimate victory gives ultimate courage!" This book is just filled with encouragement for believers and biblical reminders that we will face storms and it's likely to get worse instead of better. But don't be fearful because it's all part of His divine and providential plan, even the ugly and painful persecution which seems to be on the rise! Max says, "Nature is a pregnant creation, third-trimester heavy. The universe is passing through the final hours before delivery. Painful contractions are in the forecast." Matt. 24:6-8

I highly recommend this book. Max Lucado is an extremely talented writer and I feel blessed to have this book in my library to give me strength and encouragement..not just for me but for those around me too! We all need to be reminded of what God's Word says about this life and the next. Order Fearless today and let me know what you think about it's message to you! "Imagine your life without fear!"

Give Me Five Monday Meme #50

Monday, September 7, 2009

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 end-of-summer wrap up thoughts.

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer time. I had some goals for this summer that went unattended. Also, some of you might want to sum up some of the summer time excitement that you did actually get around to...or some combination of both! :)

1. Visit the river. Easily one of my favorite summer time activities...didn't happen once this year. :(

2. Finish the kitchen project. Some of you may remember stories I've posted about getting a new floor in my kitchen and how everything was in my living room....well, there are certain parts of the kitchen that have yet to make it back into a new home in the newly designed kitchen. Still working on it though!

3. Take advantage of opportunities at my second job. This I have been able to do! I try to say yes whenever my schedule permits. I figure, if I don't work when someone asks me, that is a wasted opportunity to make money that will only come that one time around. So it's been nice to have the extra money. Only trouble is, I seem to need it when it comes instead of getting ahead. Oh well, sometimes keeping up is just as important as not getting behind!

4. Hang out with friends. Clearly affected by #3, I did not enjoy this one as much as I would have liked this summer. But there were a couple of fun times with friends :)

5. Give Me Five meme is back! After a few months on hiatus, I revived the GM5 meme for Mondays and it seems to be a hit, again!! Keep up the great work everyone!!

I hope you are sitting down...

I'm about to talk about makeup! Yes, you heard me right and I warned you to be sitting down!

I had fun learning about Bare Minerals makeup and all that it offers, including SPF 15: priceless! I love the idea that it is made from real minerals and not chemicals and preservatives. I always felt like a clown when my friends put makeup on me with the way the other traditional foundations and powders felt packed onto my face. If someone isn't used to the feeling of it, a little feels like a lot! Bare Minerals claims to feel weightless, well I'd love to give that a try! I do have a birthday coming up...Hmmm.....



Happy Birthday me! I'll just email her the link and I'll be blended and flawless in no time! Well, after some trial and error and a couple of turns on that instructional DVD too! LOL

Give Me Five Monday Meme #49

Monday, August 31, 2009

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 places in the world you'd like to live for a year.

1. New York, New York
2. England
3. Italy
4. Greece
5. Hawaii

Hey, I can dream, right? I'm feeling that strong desire to get away lately. Last week was very trying. There have been some changes to my life this week that actually have me contemplating moving. That's right, as in pack up some moving boxes and have new keys on my keyring! Until I can make those kinds of changes, I just want to dream about new places to live.

Give Me Five Monday Meme #48

Monday, August 24, 2009

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 back to school memories.

1. Butterflies in my tummy.
2. Planning that perfect 1st day of school outfit.
3. New school jitters.
4. How heavy books seemed after the summer off.
5. Meeting my new teacher and hoping she was nice.

Dinner for 1 at the car wash

Friday night after work I decided to go by the car wash and give my car a good once over. It's been a long, long time since I've washed or vacuumed it and frankly, it was filthy inside and out! I love using those clean up wipes for all the interior surfaces and knobs and dials. It's crazy how fast a car gets dirty!

Now I don't know about you but I can sometimes be surprised what ends up in the floorboard of the back seat. Partial drinks migrate back there along with junk mail and papers of all sorts. I've even found gloves buried under there, if that gives you some indication as to how long in between cleaning it all out I get around to.

So the first thing to do is clear out all the trash in preparation for the industrial vacuum which will suck in anything that will fit through it's nozzle in a 2 foot radius. That's $.75 and 2 minutes well spent!

Suddenly I'm aware of a man at the trashcan near my car. And he's rooting around in there. You know, not just walk up and toss...but pulling things out! Ok, searching for 'treasures' of some sort like usable clothing that has been tossed, I get that. These are hard times we're having! No, no...he proceeded to pull out a partially empty Gaterade bottle and opened that puppy up and took a big ol' drink off it like it was fresh from the store! Who the heck knows who had their lips on it before him or even how old it was!!

Now, you might think that was pretty gross but I have to be honest with you when I say, this was NOT the first time I've seen this happen-at this car wash even. I had been there another time and a man was 'dumpster diving' and drank a Yoo-Hoo chocolate drink! Now *THAT* is sick!! Bleh, seriously, I may have just thrown up a little in my mouth at the memory of seeing it.

Dear Lord,

Please let this have been the same man. Surely there aren't 2 people doing this in the world?!

I pretty much figured no one would believe me so I grabbed for my camera. By the time I got it out, he had moved on to the next couple of trashcans where he scored a motherload of various breads. As you can see here, he is lining them up on top of the trash can (of course) and bagging them up to enjoy later.

He then walks off enjoying what appears to be a *scrumptious* bagel, carrying his prized bag of loot. Dinner for 1, car wash style!

Give Me Five Monday Meme #47

Monday, August 17, 2009

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 memorable things you have done before.


1. Flown a few times in a helicopter (loved it!).
2. Floated weightless and care free in one of the pools at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island, Nassau Bahamas.
3. Made pasta by hand at a culinary class in Tuscany.
4. Got up close and personal with the ancient stones of Stonehenge in the English countryside.
5. Stood in awe at the edge of the Grand Canyon.

For me, adventures in travel rank high on my list of happy memories. I don't care to sit around thinking about what Medicare supplement will work for me. Unfortunately, in order to afford trips, I have to spend most of my time working :) But even planning a trip makes me happy. I wonder where my next adventure will take me!

Facebook friends, Vote for PJ today!

I entered PJ into a 'Cutest Cat' photo contest on a Facebook Animal Rescue page. You can vote for PJ 1 time a day, each day until the 17th. I don't think he'll win with only just entering him today and there's only a few days left to vote. Besides that, everyone who sees my post asking for votes seems to be also entering their cat photos into the contest LOL And all the photos really are very cute so it's hard to pick just one to vote for. It's not impossible for him to win or even come close but without exposure like promo from this blog and the like, it'd be like trying to score high on the GMAT test without proper GMAT prep! Aint gonna happen :) So go log into Facebook and follow my link to vote...everyday AND tell your friends on Facebook!! Here's a sneak peak at the picture of PJ, see, isn't he the cutest!?!?!?!

Chill-axin' in the sun!

Give Me Five Monday Meme #46

Monday, August 10, 2009

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 random things you've never done before.

1. I've never stood underneath Mount Rushmore.
2. I've never ridden on a camel.
3. I've never been para sailing.
4. I've never driven an 18 wheel truck.
5. I've never built a dog house.

Curiosity can lead you into charted territories

Sometimes when I'm sitting at my desk at work, I get the distinct feeling my desk and the floor are vibrating. Kinda like an earthquake's after shock. Now for the most part, I get that these things happen on minute scales from time to time. Also, sometimes there are crews blasting in the vicinity of our office location due to the construction of the new casino, like we need another one of those here in St. Louis. But I digress.

So my curiosity got the better of me today and I decided to try and find a real time seismograph. Of course, I couldn't find one but I did find the SLU website showing screenshots for recent seismograph readings. Can anyone reading this blog help me interpret this reading from 8-3-09?

Seriously, that's freaky! What do the various colors mean? Other readings listed from around Missouri, Southern Illinois, Tennesee and the like, show similar activity at the same time. I'm sure this is more common that we are told but still. Freaky!

Big changes coming soon!

There are some pretty big and exciting changes coming here to BeccA's Buzz...Mum's the word so stay tuned to find out!!!

Twitter much?

How many of my blogging friends are on Twitter? Let's follow each other! Follow me here and I'll follow you, too. :)

Give Me Five Monday Meme #46

Monday, August 3, 2009

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 words that describe your blog!

1. Random
2. Faith
3. Oddball
4. Pet Peeves
5. Fun!