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

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What I Made

Reunion with the Too-Long Ignored Bread Maker and Garlic Roaster

With extra time on my hands during the pandemic, I have been able to spend more time in the kitchen and realized it was time to revisit some wonderful kitchen…

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May 1, 2020
What I Made

Mosaic Birdhouse

This summer, I spent several mornings with Stephanie, a woman who responded to my Facebook call for someone to teach me something new!  She offered to teach me how to…

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September 2, 2019
Other Stuff I Learned

Looking for Something to Read?

In my effort to continue growing and learning, I will often look for book recommendations.  (There are WAY too many options available if I were to just check out the…

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January 24, 2020

Categories

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

Recent Posts

  • Seven Ways to Have a Healthy Happy Halloween!
  • Go Apple Picking!! Here are 9 Great Reasons Why!
  • It’s Farmers’ Market Season–ENJOY! Each Trip Can Be Great for Your Health!
  • Coffee and Conversation–Take the Time to Talk. Bonus–You Benefit!

Previous posts

Recent Comments

  • Steve Bergman on Seven Ways to Have a Healthy Happy Halloween!
  • Seven Ways to Have a Healthy Happy Halloween! on Go Apple Picking!! Here are 9 Great Reasons Why!
  • Beckie on Go Apple Picking!! Here are 9 Great Reasons Why!
  • Sue Jacobson on Go Apple Picking!! Here are 9 Great Reasons Why!
  • Go Apple Picking!! Here are 9 Great Reasons Why! on 52 Ideas for Your Own Mini “Bucket List” Calendar–Make it Your Best Year Yet!
  • Fun art projects painted a few years ago. (They are two-sided. The other sides are ready for Thanksgiving!)
    Fun and games,  What I Did,  What I Made,  Working on Wellness

    Seven Ways to Have a Healthy Happy Halloween!

    October 14, 2026 /

    Let’s be honest. People do not tend to associate Halloween with healthy activities. I will never tell people to stop enjoying Halloween sweet treats. It can be one of the little joys in life. Saying that, you can still take care of your personal wellness while embracing the Halloween season! Apples and Pumpkins Apples and pumpkins are associated with Halloween. Let’s start there. If you have not yet gone apple picking, it may not be too late. (Check out my last post about the health benefits of going apple picking.) You may also have the opportunity to visit a pumpkin patch and pick your own. There are many ways to…

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    Beckie 1 Comment

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    The show is coming soon to the Genesee Theatre!

    The Elf on the Shelf–A Christmas Musical (It will soon be on the stage! Start your holiday planning!)

    November 6, 2019
    The Infinite Board Game

    The Infinite Board Game

    January 7, 2019
    We found the geocache!

    My Intro to Geocaching

    November 20, 2019
  • Not exactly sure which type of apples these are, but they look good!
    Fun and games,  Working on Wellness

    Go Apple Picking!! Here are 9 Great Reasons Why!

    September 13, 2026 /

    I LOVE TO GO APPLE PICKING!! Ever since I was a kid, I have loved going apple picking! Over the years, the joy has continued at full strength. Any season where I miss the opportunity, I feel the loss (but know that I will make it back). Apple picking is an activity for which you really are never too young nor too old. Take advantage of autumn, and put a trip to an orchard on your calendar. (It’s even suggested on the mini “bucket list” I shared at the beginning of the year! See #15.) Admittedly, I am writing this before getting to an orchard this season. Due to scheduling,…

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    Beckie 3 Comments

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    Part 2 of the 1-2 punch.

    9Round

    September 19, 2019
    Equipment

    Entering the World of Lacrosse…

    January 26, 2019
    The show we came to see was on the marquee, too.

    “Whose Live Anyway?” at the Genesee Theatre

    October 16, 2019
  • Cherries! So delicious!
    What I Did,  Working on Wellness

    It’s Farmers’ Market Season–ENJOY! Each Trip Can Be Great for Your Health!

    June 28, 2026 /

    It’s farmers’ market season! Visiting these markets can truly help you improve your wellness. In addition to the produce vendors, there may be other vendors selling prepared items or vendors preparing items right there. Saying that, here is my first recommendation: Go with a plan to buy at least 1-2 different items of produce which you will prepare at least that day or another specified day that week. Do not decide in advance what that will be. Whatever you see there will be, by default, in season. Go with the flow! If something looks interesting but you don’t know what to do with it, ask the farmers selling it. (I…

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    Beckie 2 Comments

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    At the Carolina Hurricanes hockey game.

    College Tour, Part 1: From Home to Chapel Hill, North Carolina

    April 10, 2019
    I am ready to bring some music into your lives!

    My First DJ Lesson!

    February 18, 2020
    Closet light fixture

    From Darkness to Light–Fancy Way of Saying We Changed a Closet Light Fixture

    March 31, 2019
  • Coffee Time
    Working on Wellness

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

    May 25, 2026 /

    In today’s high tech world, I am “old school” and believe in the power of coffee and conversation. (I also tend to have a love-hate relationship with technology, so “old school” activities often suit me well.) There is a strong connection between positive relationships and our health. There are many interconnected parts to wellness—mental health and physical health (to put it very broadly) affect each other. As we get older and social schedules and interactions change, this becomes more and more prominent and relevant. Now that my kids are both in their 20’s, my activities are no longer as connected to theirs. (As a consequence, I don’t interact with my…

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    Beckie 0 Comments

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    EVERYONE!

    “Something Rotten” Happened this Summer on Stage!

    October 10, 2024
    Not exactly sure which type of apples these are, but they look good!

    Go Apple Picking!! Here are 9 Great Reasons Why!

    September 13, 2026
    All together

    Accountability “Partners”–7 Ideas to Help You Reach Your Goals!

    January 18, 2025
  • What I Did,  Working on Wellness

    52 Ideas for Your Own Mini “Bucket List” Calendar–Make it Your Best Year Yet!

    January 1, 2026 /

    We are busy. I am stating the obvious. There are a lot of things that we all want to do and a lot of things that we have to do. Saying that, it is still extremely important to take care of ourselves—physically, emotionally, socially. I saw an advertisement for a “Bucket List” calendar. That was my inspiration for this post. Although we have so many obligations, we should take some time out for other activities to make life more enjoyable and meaningful. Here is a list of assorted ideas to add to your calendar throughout the year. The ideas are not intended to require a lot of time or money,…

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    Beckie 3 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
    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
    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
  • What I Did,  Working on Wellness

    Shabbat Morning Services are Good for My Health

    April 16, 2025 /

    I believe that attending Shabbat morning services is good for my health. Over the past few years, I have started attending Saturday morning Shabbat services more regularly. I go on my own. I do it by choice. There is no “reason” for me to attend except for the fact that I want to attend. I am at the stage of life where I am “between” major life events of family and friends. To my knowledge, there are no upcoming weddings, babies, or Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebrations on the calendar. I will go out on a limb and say that most of us as kids and even when getting older…

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    Beckie 0 Comments

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    Return to community theater after two decades!

    My Return to Community Theater After a Two Decade Hiatus

    September 11, 2022

    My 30(ish) Minute Beauty Getaway

    June 8, 2019
    I was ready for Sixteen Candles to transport me back to the 80's!

    The Music was Like, Omigod, Totally Awesome!

    June 18, 2019
  • All together
    Working on Wellness

    Accountability “Partners”–7 Ideas to Help You Reach Your Goals!

    January 18, 2025 /

    With the new year upon us, I am sure that many of us are setting new goals for our lives. Although not a solution for everything, having some type of accountability “partner” (this “partner” may not be a person per se) can help us all stay on track with making steps toward our goals. Below are some ways and suggestions to incorporate an accountability partner into your plans. (FYI—There are no fancy pictures here, just what I hope are some helpful ideas. If you click on some on the included links, then you will see a nice variety of photos. Enjoy!) 1) Do you want to exercise more? Find someone…

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    Beckie 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Cherries! So delicious!

    It’s Farmers’ Market Season–ENJOY! Each Trip Can Be Great for Your Health!

    June 28, 2026
    Fun art projects painted a few years ago. (They are two-sided. The other sides are ready for Thanksgiving!)

    Seven Ways to Have a Healthy Happy Halloween!

    October 14, 2026

    Summer Wellness–9 Ways to Make It a Regular Part of Your Life

    June 12, 2024
  • Some of the classics!
    Fun and games,  Working on Wellness

    8 Great Reasons to Plan a Game Night!

    December 8, 2024 /

    I LOVE GAME NIGHT!! I really do believe that most people enjoy a game night. (This is not based on scientific research. It’s just a hunch.) Now that holiday season is upon us, this is a great opportunity to bring back or continue to enhance game night! Why am I a firm believer in game night (or game day or game time)? Here are some reasons (acknowledging that there is some overlap, but that’s okay): 1: Playing a game provides a great opportunity to bond with family and friends. Families can enjoy game nights with a wide range of family members and/or numbers of participants. Some games seem to transcend…

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    Beckie 0 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Fun art projects painted a few years ago. (They are two-sided. The other sides are ready for Thanksgiving!)

    Seven Ways to Have a Healthy Happy Halloween!

    October 14, 2026
    Equipment

    Entering the World of Lacrosse…

    January 26, 2019
    The Infinite Board Game

    The Infinite Board Game

    January 7, 2019
  • EVERYONE!
    What I Did,  Working on Wellness

    “Something Rotten” Happened this Summer on Stage!

    October 10, 2024 /

    Now that it has been three summers in a row (check out these links to read about summers one and two), I am officially saying that community musical theater is my summer “thing.” Earlier in the year, the plan was to audition for whatever show was going to be produced. When it was announced that it was “Something Rotten,” I was thrilled! For me, the main things I hope for in a show are lots of dancing and ensemble opportunities. This show is it! (If you have never seen it before, I recommend you look on-line. You can find a recording of entire performances.) In the past I had gone…

    read more
    Beckie 2 Comments

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    We found the geocache!

    My Intro to Geocaching

    November 20, 2019
    The show we came to see was on the marquee, too.

    “Whose Live Anyway?” at the Genesee Theatre

    October 16, 2019
    Getting older with grace and style!

    Dear Gen-Xers:

    March 12, 2023
  • Working on Wellness

    Summer Wellness–9 Ways to Make It a Regular Part of Your Life

    June 12, 2024 /

    Although I still hope to enjoy and share new adventures and experiences, I will be sharing more wellness ideas and suggestions in this post. Hopefully you will find my experiences and ideas beneficial and inspire you to continue to focus on improving and maintaining your personal wellness. Summer is finally approaching!! Here are nine suggestions to help you focus on personal wellness this summer in an enjoyable way but without spending a fortune. You may notice a lot of overlapping within these ideas. That is fine and intentional! Make the most of your summer! 1) WALK. Go outside. Just walk. Walk alone, with a friend, with your dog. Just move…

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    Beckie 0 Comments

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    All together

    Accountability “Partners”–7 Ideas to Help You Reach Your Goals!

    January 18, 2025
    EVERYONE!

    “Something Rotten” Happened this Summer on Stage!

    October 10, 2024
    Not exactly sure which type of apples these are, but they look good!

    Go Apple Picking!! Here are 9 Great Reasons Why!

    September 13, 2026
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