PeaceBang is just plain drowning in writing projects that aren’t getting off the ground AT ALL. The fact is, I’m working on my Doctor of Ministry degree and that has to take priority over all else. The summer is slipping away and is actually quite full of writing and research responsibilities for my D.Min., so the BTFM book proposal that I had thought would just pop into being isn’t going to happen. Nor is any blogging on BTFM for awhile because quite frankly, haven’t I said it all, or most of it?

I love talking with you, presiding over the raucous cacophony of opinion we get going on here, exhorting you to be your most beautiful, vibrant selves, and damning the Crocs on your beloved feet (hey, I’m wearing them around, too, let’s be honest — there’s nothing better for walking the dog and doing quick, anonymous errands in towns far afield of my own). But right now, please understand that while I DO CARE, I cannot advise you individually by e-mail as I have been wont to do for the past two years. Nor am I blogging on ministerial image right now because switching into BTFM gear takes a kind of energy that God isn’t giving me right now. I am, however, blogging as usual at www.peacebang.com and welcome your visits there. I know, it’s just not as much fun, but it’s where I’m at.

Love to you, my pigeons. Now go and by lovely and fierce for the kingdom of God.

And Miss Crawford looks elegant as well, doesn’t she?

xoxo PB

Too much going on right now to blog about fashion tips. Stay cool until I come back.

Meanwhile, keep in touch at www.peacebang.com.

Kiss of peace, PB

This blog is two years old today!!

It was born when SisterBang read a post on make-up tips for ministers at my original PeaceBang blog and suggested that I start a blog on that subject. I said, “Heavens, I think I’ve said pretty much all I have to say on the subject” and she said, “You HAVE NOT and you know it!!” She recalled to my mind the many times we had gnashed our teeth over the frumpy, drab or even downright unkempt appearance of otherwise wonderful male and female ministers, and how she herself had decided not to attend a certain church because the clergy photo on the church’s web site showed someone so dowdy and dated in appearance as to persuade my sister that this was a probably a very nice “old hippie” who clearly identified far more with a previous era than with this one.
SisterBang acknowledged that this might be an unfair and unkind judgment, but had visited enough UU churches to know that it might also very well be an accurate one. She said, “Start a blog. Talk about this issue. Make it funny. Someone really needs to say this stuff and it has to be a minister.”

Thus was born Beauty Tips for Ministers.com and the gabby, irreverent and “cheeky” alter ego of Victoria Weinstein when she writes as PeaceBang for it.

I’d like to thank SisterBang for the original inspiration, Scott Wells for being my invaluable and never impatient webmaster, and Suzyn Smith Webb for originally making a Christmas gift of the domain name. I’d like to thank YOU, my reverend punkins, for reading it and for contributing comments that have helped your sisters and brothers of the cloth to shine better as God’s All-Stars.

If you have appreciated this blog (especially if PeaceBang has taken time to advise you personally off-line), and if you would like to show your appreciation for BTFM and its author in a tangible way, please feel free to make a gift by clicking on the “Show PeaceBang Some Love” link above.

Kiss of peace, and go be beautiful,
PeaceBang

I said attending, and aren’t I the lucky one? It is not my congregation’s tradition to offer either of these services, so I get to be a worshiper this Holy Week before joining with my own dearly beloveds for Easter morning at my own congregation.

But I am thinking of those of you who will be very much on the run over the next few days and I simply want to say, please take care of your good selves. Please eat well, stay hydrated, wash your hands often, rest as much as you are able between public appearances, keep a fresh hankie on you at all times, be careful shaving (gents) and ladies, bring an extra pair of pantyhose for an emergency and a comfy pair of slippers to church to slip on in the privacy of your study.

Scrub under your nails every night, wash your face well and with care, don’t over-do the caffeine (let the Holy Spirit do more and you won’t need so much java), keep your hair clean and neat, and tuck a lip balm into your pocket. When you get a moment in the sacristy, sit up in a chair and take ten slow, deep breaths. Rub your hands together to warm them and cup them over your eyes. Take your vitamins. Shine your shoes. Check yourself in the mirror before you go out to wash feet tomorrow night. Even servant leaders don’t want to have spinach stuck between their teeth.

Remember that PeaceBang loves you, is praying for your strength and stamina during this very challenging week, and knows that you will bring the beauty and grace of God to all those you encounter.

You are the resurrection and the life! Hallelujah, pigeons!

PeaceBang does have to get after her sermon in a moment, but she wants to ask if any of you do your regular shopping for toiletries online. As I get older and time gets dearer and gas gets more expensive, and because I have pretty good brand loyalty and know what needs to be in my medicine cabinet and supply closet month unto month, I am finding that a visit to www.drugstore.com is a good option for me.

There was a time it seemed easy to jump into a CVS or Brooks Pharmacy, or to peruse the aisles at Target or to swing by the grocery store if I ran out of contact lense solution. I have less time and patience for this nowadays, and I find that when I DO “jump into” the local pharmacy, I often leave with impulse buys. So this month, I am replenishing my deodorant, toothpaste, mascara, moisturizer, floss, and a few other items through drugstore.com. As an extra bonus,drugstore.com often stocks discontinued favorites I can no longer find in the stores, like my favorite Max Factor Stretch & Separate Waterproof Mascara. I love that I can go to one website and find what I need consistently, rather than leave the CVS with half of my list unpurchased because they’re low on stock or whatever.

I have only ordered from drugstore.com once before and I don’t remember their packaging as being overly ponderous — I could recycle the box, and the rest of the packaging was the same as it would be in the drugstore (still too much, but that’s a post for another time).

Shipping is free for orders over $49 — this time it was about $6, which seems worth it in time, gas and aggravation.

Do any others out there get your basic toiletries online? Got any hot tips?

PeaceBang is still in Florida hunting alligators but she would like to inform you that it is apparently time for the UU BLOG AWARDS, so please nominate her!

My little Luddite-ish mind finds the nomination process a bit daunting, actually, but I know that you’re a lot more sophisticated that way than I and will show your PeaceBanging loyalty by choosing a few favorite posts and nominating your favorite “cheeky fashion maven” for some honors.

I love that you care so passionately about the relative cuteness/hideousness of the shoes I was considering and that we can have fun like this.

You crack me up. Seriously.

By the way, I did a shoe audit last night and found a pair of 3″ brown wedges I forgot I had purchased at Payless last year. I think they’ll work for a lot of my outfits. NOW I’m thinking that I might be able to skip the purchase of a brown shoe and focus on finding some suitable flat or low-heeled BLACK shoes that aren’t Olive Oylish like the ones I currently wear (and have almost worn out). They are Keenes and have the dumbest, roundest toe of all time. I hear clown music whenever I put them on.

I MIGHT get the Little Dutch Girl/Pilgrim shoes in black, which has a silver buckle. But I might start hearing clown music when I put THOSE on, too.

Ah, dilemmas! And while I’m on the subject, why can’t I find a pair of good snow boots that don’t make me look like the love child of Dusty Springfield and Chewbacca?

And I agree with whoever said that the ankle-boots-with-skirt thing looked hideous in the 80’s, and it will probably look hideous now. Only extremely leggy young fillies who are careful to coordinate rich-colored hose with their boots and skirts should try it. I’ve seen it in the fashion mags and it CAN be done, but not by the likes of meatball-shaped moi, I’ll tell ya.

Ta-ta, darlings! You’re a riot! And did I tell you that some of the latest shoe fashions are called “Shooties?” Apparently a hybrid of shoes and booties.

Silliness!! Ees good for the heart.

xoxo PB

I lost your e-mail! Would you be so very kind as to remind me who you are and to write to me again? I am so very sorry for my idiot-ness! I thought I carefully saved your e-mail but I guess that means I carefully deleted it. Argh! (pirate eye)