Nov 27, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Y’all know how I feel about Christmas, right? That glorious holiday spirit. The season of making and baking, crafting and giving. Simply wonderful.
In the past few years, I’ve strayed from decorating every inch of Bedford Manor. I mean, it’s just me and the cats here, and I doubt they care how many stockings are hung unless they’re filled with catnip and toys.
Instead, I set up a few inexpensive decorations the week of Thanksgiving, and let them stay up until after New Year’s. They’re easy, quick, and I don’t feel like I’m drowning in Christmas when I walk through the house.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Meet Sven
For starters, I set up my Nutcracker Village. This is the twelfth or so year since I started collecting. What started as “I would like this set of four” turned into a beautiful holiday tradition. Each one I have is unique. This year, I set them on top the living room display cabinet, and hung the smallest ones on the tabletop tree.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Nutcracker Village
The mantle is next. One string of garland and a few oversized, old-fashioned jingle bells add some Walton-esque atmosphere.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : My Old-Fashioned Mantle
A long, narrow tray holds votive glasses and decorative glass stones. Battery tea light candles complete the look. You can piece this look together with inexpensive thrift store and dollar store finds, or purchase a complete set online and at holiday home decor stores.
Frankly My Dear . . . : Mantle Candle Tray
My new decorative contribution this year is the pine cone/bell mix. I simply took a large clear vase and mixed small pine cones and colorful jingle bells. Near the top I placed a battery tea light candle, and covered it with a few more cones and bells. The flickering light reflects off the shiny bells and casts pine cone shadows on the brick at night, and in the daylight the colors are just as bright and lovely.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Pine Cones and Jingle Bells in Clear Vase
It took me two days to decide if I wanted the “hassle” of setting up the big tree this year. Since last year I’d only set up the tabletop one, and I finished NOLA this year, I decided I’d celebrate and bring back my Mardi Gras-themed tree. I took three strings of lights: purple, blue, and green, and zigzagged them up and down and around, draped long ribbon from the craft store, and hung beads and masks I picked up at the local party store.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : My NOLA Mardi Gras Tree
The beauty is, when the season is over, it’s just as easy to pack and store as it was to set up.
So, from all of us Nuts here at Bedford Manor, we wish you a very relaxed and affordable Holiday season.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : November in California
And Frankly, My Dear . . .: That’s all she wrote!
Nov 26, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Frankly, On Faith.
God is not a game player in the sense of messing with us. He doesn’t tease or do a bait-and-hook.
But He’s a great Team Leader. He’s honest from the get-go. Transparent in His game plan for us.
God gave up His star player so the rest of the team could win.
He has never changed the rules. He didn’t replace you with a better athlete, because He knows you are His better athlete. For this game you’re in, for the piece on the board that you represent, the cards you’ve been dealt, the track that you’re on.
He’s in it with you. 100%.
You don’t have to worry about being left behind. You’re not going to be forgotten. The bus isn’t leaving without you.
“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them.
For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
~Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT
Never forget who’s team you’re on. Never forget who picked you first. And never forget you’re not alone, ever.
TWEET THIS: Frankly, On Faith: God is Not a Game Player, He’s a Team Leader. @MollyJoRealy #faith #God #team
Frankly, On Faith: God Wants Everyone to Win
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
Nov 25, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Social Media Saturday
So, here’s the thing. Yah, I know. Some of you hate that phrase. But there it is anyway. What? I’m gonna pretend it doesn’t exist? Fuggedaboutit.
I’ll keep this as short and sweet as one teaspoon of sugar in your coffee. [Unless that coffee mug’s a 24 oz. tumbler. Then we’re gonna be here a while.]
So, you’re on social media. Because you have to be, not because you want to be. And you hate it. I mean, You. HATE. it. Am I right? Yup. Know how I know? ‘Cause y’all tell me so. Regularly.
Why do some of you hate it? Because y’all think you don’t have anything to say. Or sure, you can chat up the store clerk with digressions on the value of laundry detergent fragrances, or your family at the dinner table when it comes to tonight’s hockey game or next week’s NCIS episode. But then you get in front of your Twitter feed.
And you stare. I mean, you just stare.
And that blinky spinny icon thingy on whichever media site you’re looking at. It taunts you.
It says, “You’ll never be as quippy as the next guy. Never!” And it gives off a computerized maniacal laugh. Muahahahahah . . . Okay. Too far? Yah. Maybe. Let’s walk it back a few steps.
Anyway. So how is it you have something to say to friends and your family and your coworkers, but y’all don’t know what to say to your Swarm?
Two words: Performance Anxiety.
Y’all get stressed.
*Insert Gibbs slap here!*
Stop it. Stop being stressed. Stop thinking you have nothing to say.
Obviously, you have a lot to say. And there’s an audience. They’re already ready for you. Honest!
All you have to do, is not change your voice.
Did ya hear me on that? It just means write the way you talk. Super simple. Not sure you can? Record yourself. Listen to how you hold the coffee audience captive. Pay attention to those “hello” moments at the gas station. And when you’re ready to share something of yourself in the world, pick a person to address. Direct your posts to one or two people, not the world at large.
It can be someone specific: Your 23-year-old daughter. Or the Postal Clerk you chat with once a week. Or it can be a general idea of someone: A 30-ish tall, dark and handsome guy named Rain. Or some insecure Italian redhead named Josie. The point is, you know how to reach these people. You already speak their language. So speak it into your keyboard.
Yah, it takes some practice. And here and there you need to pick a different audience. Maybe you send your tweets to Paige and your Facebook posts to SuperGirl. LinkedIn is for those business cohorts who said you wouldn’t amount to much [insert snickering laugh here]. But once you know who your audience is, you’ll recognize your voice. And you’ll be able to say everything you need to say.
Promise.
TWEET THIS: Social Media Saturday: That Time You Thought You Had Nothing to Say @MollyJoRealy #socialmedia
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
