Dec 12, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Last month I shared my new love for DoTerra Essential Oils. Since receiving my kit, I’ve been watching videos, taking online oil camp classes, and going to meetings to learn as much as I can. It sounds like a lot, but really it’s just another fun networking opportunity. Less than twenty minutes a day is all it takes to focus on one oil or blend, and learn the many ways it can be used.
In the past several years, I’ve learned to make bath scrubs, lip balm, soothing oil blends, and many other items. And who can forget SuperGirl’s recipe for lavender bath salts?
Just before I signed up last month, I went to a class on wellness. As we were leaving, our hostess gave each of us a small pine cone that looked more like flower, and asked which oils we’d like. She put a few drops of Elevation (a mood lifter) and Arborvitae (a purifying oil) on my cone and I left in my car for weeks. It was my own little air freshener without artificial fragrances.
See what I mean? Endless possibilities.
This past weekend I found these adorable jars shaped like beehives, so of course This Girl had to get them, right?! I think it goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway here) that I also grabbed up a box of epsom salts and smiled all the way home.
Here’s how easy it is to make a soothing bath soak: One cup epsom salts. Ten drops oil. For. Realz.
And the beautiful part is that you can blend several oils together. I like to choose complimentary oils to boost the effects. I made two separate salts. I like to call them my Bee Good to Myself Bath Salts.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Soothing Bath Soaks with Essential Oils
The DoTerra blends of OnGuard and Serenity offer a relaxing aroma while purifying and sanitizing the local environment, offering protection against stress and illness.
AromaTouch and Breathe combine to open the airways and allow for peaceful breathing, giving relief to stressful holiday moments.
The oils can also be diffused, used topically (use a drop or two of fractionated coconut oil to enhance the absorption).
In the salts, just add the drops to the epsom salts, stir, and let sit. Add half a jar (or all of it) to warm running water for an aromatic and soothing bath.
Yup. It’s really all that simple. And really all that beneficial.
And because they’re so easy and inexpensive, they make great gifts.
How do you like to give the gift of relaxation through the holidays? [To others and yourself!]
With a peaceful heart and a happy house,
Happy Holidays!
~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!
Dec 12, 2015 |
The gift giving season is upon us and there’s always that one person who’s difficult to buy for. Am I right? And usually, it’s the write person. (See what I did there?)
On this week’s upcoming Firsts in Fiction podcast, we’re talking about that very subject. Over the last week, we (and by we, I mean Aaron, Al, and myself, along with our merry media elves) have posed this question:
What’s a great gift to get the author in your life?
Finding the Write Gift
While I don’t want to give away the store (err, answers) here, I thought I’d at least share some of the FIF Family’s suggestions.
So put on your Santa hat and have a ho-ho-holiday time as we count down the best gifts to get your writer.
1. A private island. (Molly)
A Writer’s Paradise – a Private Island
Seriously. How often has your writer tried to get away from it all by locking themselves in the back room, sitting in a car, or running away to a coffee shop? See No. 3, below. Seclusion is necessary for the writer. In order to create our own worlds, we have to shut out the real one. A writer’s island holds no distractions like TV, ringing phones, or ~ dare I say it ~ the occasional familius interruptus.
More practical:
- noise-cancelling headphones
- a gift card for a spa day or one night at a hotel
- pocket notebooks to jot notes in when your writer can’t get to their workspace
- GIFT BASKET OPTIONS: white noise CD, postcard, small plant, candle
2. A private jet. (Al)
A Private Jet for Your Traveling Writer
Writing isn’t just writing anymore. Now it means book signings, conferences, marketing meetings, publicity appearances and more. A private jet is the ticket to get your writer out the door and back home faster. And with no other passengers to distract him or her, it also serves as a mobile private island. See No. 1, above.
More practical:
- gas cards and travel expenses
- writers conferences and retreats
- offer to keep them company and drive them to their next writing commitment
- GIFT BASKET OPTIONS: travel journal, map, luggage tags, small photo album
3. A cafe/bistro/restaurant of their own. (Molly, Aaron, Al)
The Write Cafe
We all know writers have ink in their veins. Let’s not ignore the caffeine IV they require. How often have you stopped into a Starbucks and seen someone leaning over their laptop, typing frantically with one hand while holding their coffee in the other? A small cafe allows someone else to be responsible for the food and clean up. All the writer has to do is write. And, bonus, when that book contract is finally signed and the manuscript published, you already have a place to invite everyone to celebrate the success!
More practical:
- treat them (and their family) to a nice dinner
- gift card to their favorite coffee shop
- single-serve coffee maker and a month’s worth of coffee
- GIFT BASKET OPTIONS: creamer, individual serving tray, souvenir mug, tea spoon
4. An office supply store. (Molly, Aaron, Al)
Endless Office Supplies
Solve the problem of running out of ink and paper by giving your writer full and permanent access to everything imaginable from a new computer to colored paperclips. No more moments of frustration when they can’t find their favorite brand of pen. And when they start a new project, they can supply their writing space in coordinating themes and colors.
More practical:
- ink and paper
- computer maintenance program
- mailing supplies
- GIFT BASKET OPTIONS: desk organizers, day planner, journal/pen set, stickee notes
5. A private library. (Aaron)
Just what a writer needs – more books.
Research is essential to writing a compelling story, but small town libraries (and some bigger ones) don’t always work out. Books are checked out by others. Magazines are ripped and torn. Plus, you can’t keep any of them. A private library assures your writer their much needed references will be available any time they need. When one thought rabbit trails to another, at least you’ll still be able to find your writer in the stacks. Information is King, and you just gave your writer the kingdom.
More practical:
- new computer and software
- Kindle or other eReader and a gift card for downloads
- external hard drive
- GIFT BASKET OPTIONS: books on writing, collector’s editions of favorite books, magazine/newspaper subscription, gift card to book stores
And since we’re in the season of giving, here’s an extra entry. Give. Most writers supplement their writing income by teaching, editing, and a plethora of other talents. It takes time, energy and resources away from their works-in-progress. You can help them hurdle over the starving artist syndrome by donating:
- Time. Clean their house, run errands, be a once-a-week personal assistant.
- Resources. Do you have connections or knowledge that can move their story along?
- Money. It costs a lot to live the write life. Even without the big-ticket items in this post.
What gift ideas do you have for the writer in your world? Leave a comment here and join us Tuesday, December 15 at 6:30 PST for this year’s Firsts in Fiction Holiday Podcast: Finding the Write Gift.
[If you have a question for the authors visit Aaron’s website for Ask The Author and if he uses your question on air this week, you’ll get a code for a free audio download of his novel, The Bargain. You don’t have to be a writer, and you don’t have to view the podcast to participate.]
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
Dec 7, 2014 |
This cute and creative idea was inspired by a magazine ad I saw years ago. It’s my favorite homemade craft.
People Feeder
This versatile project can be themed around any holiday, or any decorating style.
You’ll need:
- A wood birdhouse with plastic windows
- Acrylic paints
- Glitter (optional)
- Decorative add-ons (optional)
- Small candies
- assorted paint brushes
- cleaning rag
- water in a small dish (for brush cleaning)
People Feeder Supplies
Acrylic paints dry quickly, which makes this an easy afternoon craft. Starting with the inside of the birdhouse, pour a small amount of paint on the wood then use a paintbrush to spread it around and get into the edges. If you want to add a little extra touch, sprinkle glitter over the paint while it’s still wet.
After you’ve painted the entire birdhouse inside and out, carefully lay on its side separating the base and the lid, and let it dry overnight.
Let it Dry
Carefully scrape off any dried paint from the windows. For more creative detail, glue on painted decor or tiny tokens (miniature candy canes, ribbons, tiny packages, dollhouse ornaments).
Fill with your favorite small candies then step back and watch your people flock to this fun centerpiece.
This craft costs less than $10 for all supplies, and takes about an hour to complete.
Happy Holiday Decorating!
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
Bedford Manor on a Budget: Christmas Wreaths
Bedford Manor on a Budget: Candles in Cups
Bedford Manor on a Budget: Pine Cones on Display
Bedford Manor on a Budget: A Light Decor
Bedford Manor on a Budget: Pine Cones in a Vase
Bedford Manor on a Budget: Christmas Candies
Dec 6, 2014 |
What would the holidays be without a little sugar and spice?
This wonderful craft/gift idea was given to me by a dear client.
Christmas Candies
You’ll need:
- An airtight container
- Candies, cookies, or other sweets
- Packaging/tote bag
Although this gift may seem so simple to be personalized, the beauty is that it is extremely personal. Know a chocolate lover? Throw in some miniature candy bars. A big fan of mints? Wrapped or unwrapped, the airtight container will keep them fresh. You can package home-baked cookies, tea bags, or whatever special treats your loved ones like.
Wrap with a ribbon, and place inside a decorative tote and your gift is ready to give, even to yourself!
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
Five Years and a Party
Angry Christmas (or was it Awesome?)
