Dec 15, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Frankly, My Dear . . . :Five Things Friday
It happened again. I’m in the middle of doing my other nine thousand things to do, when I realize I’ve yet to write today’s blog post. Well, nothing like waiting til the eleventh hour. Literally.
So, in order to get this done in time to still rightfully claim I wrote a blog post today (Friday), I give you Five Things Friday, The Late Night Edition.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Five Things Friday
- I love cleaning my house on Friday nights. I know I’m a bit weird that way. But I’ve always loved having all the lights on as I move from room to room and dust, sweep, mop, freshen. Also because then the rest of the weekend belongs to me, and only eight-thousand-ninety-nine things on the To Do list.
- TV. I can crank up the Pandora tunes, put on an old DVD, or watch any show I want. There’s something about starting a binge-watch when you know you still have close to 48 hours to see more. It’s not always a bad thing, staying up til daybreak.
- It’s a time to relax. Even when I have something to do the next day (which is like, almost always) I can still chill on a Friday night with a nice drink and dinner, or cat cuddles and Candy Crush.
- It’s usually open. Because I rarely make plans for a Friday night, I’m available to do whatever I want on a Friday night. Friends call for coffee? Yup. Wanna movie date? I’m your girl. Or, see Items 1, 2, and 3 above.
- It’s Alpha and Omega. The end of the work week (usually) and beginning of the weekend. It gives me that down-time I need to focus and prep for the next week.
And, bonus item: It gives me that last-minute opportunity to do stuff like, oh I dunno. Write a blog post I almost forgot to write.
As long as I’m here, I think I’ll key in tomorrow’s post. Hey, it’s only thirty minutes away . . .
With a stopwatch and strong coffee,
Happy Friday.
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Dec 8, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Five Things Friday
I love this time of year. [I say that a lot, don’t I?] Well, I do. The cool temps, the furry sock, the fur-family snuggling up like socks. It’s just so many kinds of wonderful.
One of the reasons I love it is I don’t get strange looks when someone says, “So, whadya do last night?” and I reply with, “I watched some Christmas program.” Yeah. They tend to frown on that in June through August. [Although they shouldn’t. Just sayin’.]
On average, I watch more Christmas shows than, well, average. Oh! Oh! *waves hand emphatically* And I almost forgot to mention that I’ve rediscovered the beauty of old shows on Hulu. Yup. Shows I used to watch as a kid and in my teens (am I dating myself? Well, why not? Someone has to!), like Charles in Charge! [Who remembers, “I loved my life out loud and it broke!”] Last week, with all the streaming apps on my Roku, I binged through Christmas eps of some awesome shows including Perfect Strangers, Family Ties, Growing Pains. Remember all those? My goodness. And how ’bout them old detective shows like Simon & Simon? That’s there, too.
But I digress. This post is about my favorite Christmas movies. I realize now this is a stupid post to write, because really? Only five favorites? That’s like asking a rabbit which of her kids she loves best? There’s too many to consider! But, I’ll do my best.
And since there’s this thing about copyright images, I apologize for not having any visuals to assist you this week. But you understand. Blogging is better when you’re not behind bars.
1. It’s a Wonderful Life. Y’all had better know this one. It’s how my Bedford Manor got its name. This is almost a sacred movie to me. I can’t just pop it in the DVD player on a Saturday afternoon. Oh, no. This is a house-cleaned, phone-turned-off, popcorn-made and chocolate in the mug kind of movie. When it’s dark outside and there’s a cozy fire in the fireplace [oh, please. Where else would the fire be? Wait. This is So Cal. Don’t answer that.] There’s always been a beauty in this movie. George’s ability to discover what really matters, and share that lesson with those he loves. Sigh. Pure beauty.
2. Miracle on 34th Street (1994 version). Don’t get me wrong, I like the original, too. But there’s something about this one that just grabs me. Sure, it’s a remake. But it’s also an original. And it’s well worth time to get the warm fuzzies and say, “I believe!”
3. The Polar Express. Who doesn’t adore this incredible visual delight? The children on the cusp of “Do I or Don’t I believe?” The train conductor leading them closer to Christmas. The singing and dancing elves. Santa! And the jingle bells. This, along with It’s a Wonderful Life (see #1 above, on the off-chance y’all scrolled past it), are the reasons I decorate with bells every year.
4. ELF. I love ELF! ELF’s my favorite! There is singing at the North Pole and in New York. Sugar, sugar, sugar, and wait . . . Oh yes. Sugar. What’s not to love?
5. Christmas in Connecticut. This old-time classic of the writer (go figure!) pretending to live on a farm, and a war hero pretending to love someone else, and there’s a boss and a corporate boss and babies who don’t belong to anyone, and an uncle who’s hired to flip flapjacks. It’s my kind of entertainment.
BONUS: And y’all know I’m not really wrong on this one . . . DIE HARD, the original. Oh yes. Nakatomi Plaza. Argyle. And that most quotable line, which, actually, is not terribly quotable when you’re writing a family-friendly blog. So, uhm. Use your imagination. And imagine Bruce Willis saying it. There ya go.
Five Things Friday: Favorite Christmas Movies
With a string of popcorn and something warm in the mug,
Happy viewing!
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
Dec 1, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Five Things Friday
The holiday season can bring families together, feelings of holiday cheer, and more stress than you can shake a stick at.
It’s also a season of “How do I possibly do this?” and “How can we manage that?”
Finding that perfect gift for someone isn’t always an option when the price tag is higher than your ceiling.
Here are few ideas for giving without going broke:
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Five Things Friday
- Give the gift of time. Spend a few hours chatting over coffee. Catch up with an old friend. Drive over to your brother’s house. Take a loved one to dinner. Turn off your phone and outside distractions, and just be with each other. Rediscover the commonalities you have, and learn how you’ve changed.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Five Things Friday: Gifts That Don’t Cost
- Give the gift of service. How often do we say, “I wish there were more hours in a day?” What we mean is, “I can’t possibly do everything on the list, all the time.” Helping someone with household cleaning, running errands for them, or driving them to appointments is a great gift. Companionship while conquering a To Do List is a double gift!
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Five Things Friday: Gifts That Don’t Cost
- Give the gift of encouragement. We all need to be emboldened. Tell your peeps what you admire about them, and watch them soar. Keep telling them, and they’ll soar even higher.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Five Things Friday: Gifts That Don’t Cost
- Give the gift of creativity. We’re all good at something. Some are woodworkers, some excel in the kitchen. Others are writers, painters, quilters. Each of us has a talent that is meant to be shared with others. Create a homemade gift, or spend time creating/crafting with others and helping them discover what they’re good at!
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Five Things Friday: Gifts That Don’t Cost
- Give the gift of asking. To truly bless others, we need to know what they want or need. Pay attention. Develop deeper conversations. When they say “A”, don’t misinterpret it as “B”. Understand that understanding is deeper than just talk. Formulate questions that lead you to their answer, and be creative with your solution.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Five Things Friday: Gifts That Don’t Cost
What gifts do you like to give?
TWEET THIS: Five Things Friday: #Gifts That Don’t Cost @RealMojo68 #holiday
With a light bulb and a thinking cap,
Happy gifting!
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
Nov 24, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Frankly, My Dear . . . :Five Things Friday
This post is late again, but that’s because I’ve been trying to think what I could possibly write. This week I’ve been overwhelmed with a sense of thankfulness and gratitude. Not just for the season that it is, but because so many things come to mind that make me smile and fill my soul with joy.
Yes, thankfulness is what this post is about.
- Words. This goes without saying (no pun intended, y’all), but without words, I’d be lost. I am strongest, healthiest, happiest, when I’m able to communicate and network. Some creatives paint, or design buildings, or calculate equations. I word. Yeah, like a verb. I’m so incredibly-can’t-describe-it-fully over-the-moon in love with words.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Thankful for Words
- Food. Because I need to eat. And I love to cook and bake. Because being in the kitchen is my next favorite place to being in front of my laptop or a good book. There’s something beautiful about adding ingredients together to make something edible, delicious, and worth sharing.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : The Unemployment Cookbook
- Books. Like y’all didn’t see this one coming. Of course I’m crazy thankful for books. Books to read, to learn from, even books that aren’t so greatly written are helpful (as in a what-not-to-do sort of way). Whether they’re on Kindle or in print, books are magical worlds to encounter and each world is different. I can time travel, fix someone else’s problems, experience cultures I’ve yet to visit. I can be a superhero. All without leaving home.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Thankful for Books
- Happy Planners. I know. I talk about these a lot. But especially now that I’m gearing up for next year. I love the creative scheduling it gives me. The ability to do life on my terms, the color-coordinating of my week with my topics with my focus with my destination with my mood. Happy Planning tracks my reading, writing, social media, work, house, budget, and social schedules. They keep me on track with projects. And they allow me to be creative through every step. So yeah. I’m super thankful for Happy Planners.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : MoJo’s Happy Planners
- Families. There are so many family blends. My blood family takes the cake. We are a crazy, fun, hilarious, loving group of peeps that have so many inside jokes y’all need an interpreter at the family dinners. Then there’s the church family, the writing family, the faux fams, the friends-closer-than-a-brother-family, and all my besties who make up a quasi-sister-clan. I’m thankful for so many things, but mostly for these people who love me as I am yet keep pushing me to strive toward a better greatness than I see in myself. You are all beautiful, and I couldn’t make this journey without you.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Family
With open arms and a peacock feather for everyone,
Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
Nov 17, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @@MollyJoRealy
Frankly, My Dear . . . :Five Things Friday
Ahh, winter. Wait. What? It’s only November. Okay. Ahh, autumn.
Somewhere.
Sometimes here in the desert. But not too much. And not too often.
Still, there’s a lot to be said about living in SoCal when the season starts its thang.
“Such as?” you ask. Hey. Someone asked, or I wouldn’t be writing this post. Okay. You got me. It was me. Still, as I’m screaming to nobody in my car while driving Bear Valley Road (much to the attentions of other drivers, mind you), “What good is November in Southern California?! I mean, seriously?!” Well. Let me tell ya.
- We sometimes get winter weather. Or at least the threat of it.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : November in California
- But by afternoon it can be [Note, I said can be] 75 and sunny. #bestofbothworlds
- Nobody looks at you funny when you blast The Beach Boys Christmas Album from your car. At least they shouldn’t. Little Saint Nick. Classic. Just sayin’.
- It makes you appreciate the falling leaves as few and far between as you find them. The scent of patchouli is a rare favorite at Bedford Manor.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Fallen Leaves
- The nearby mountains start making their own snow if you’re inclined to ski and snowboard and that sort of thing. [Thinkin’ of you, Denise!] But since I’m not . . .
- BONUS ITEM: It’s never too early to put up your Christmas decor. Even if it’s sunny and there’s no snow. #bestofbothworlds #again
Frankly, My Dear . . . : November in California
What do you like about November where you live?
TWEET THIS: What do like about #November where you live? @MollyJoRealy #California
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
