Nov 20, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
As I write this late Sunday night, social media is abuzz with the deaths of iconic people who, for good or bad, were a part of the fringes of media that continues to weave its way through my life.
The first is Mel Tillis. Oh, how I remember “Coca-Cola Cowboy” and “Neon Rose.” Country music was a staple in the family car when we drove up to Grandma’s, on the portable radio when we worked in the garden, on the Hi-Fi for Saturday morning housecleaning. In the late 80s the genre seemed to shift to a more rock feel, so I turned back to the local Top 40 Radio or listened to old tapes. Fast-forward a few years and it’s regained its roots. I now enjoy the croonings of the like of Brad Paisley and Chris Stapleton (especially his remake of Tennessee Whiskey.)
The second is Charles Manson. Living in Southern California, it’s hard to not know someone who knows someone who knows someone who has some connection to someone else who was affected by the 1969 Tate-LaBianca Murders. I can’t say I like any part of this, but his legend is as big as O.J. Simpson or The Billionaire Boys Club. There are just some things that captivate society, and the Manson “family” did just that.
And since these things come in three’s (or so they say), I’m holding my breath and praying it’s not David Cassidy.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : My First Partridge Family Album
Raised on The Partridge Family, I have loved David/Keith even when it went momentarily out of vogue. What can I say? I had the playhouse fantasy of us being the same age and him finding me more irresistible than any other 12-year-old in the world. I watched The Partridge Family every summer afternoon. It was a consistent anchor in a tumultuous world of moving cross-country and teen hormones and debilitating shyness. As long as David/Keith was in my life, I knew everything was okay.
I watched the biographies [even the really bad ones], the tell-all tele-dramas. If he was in a show, I watched it. That man could sell me snake oil in a bottle as long as he sang about its virtues.
As I write this, news reports are telling me of his downfall. His failing body. And a rumor of death that has yet to be confirmed.
This ranks up there with Davey Jones of The Monkees. My first teen idols. Even David’s brother, Shaun, ranked up there. All cute smiles and dimples. And when I saw David in Vegas so many years ago and he looked at me and sang, “I think I love you,” I think I melted!
What’s that? You don’t know the story? Well, let me recap for you:
About fifteen or so years ago, a former boyfriend came to town. We hadn’t seen each other since he moved away over a year earlier, and since it was close to my birthday, he took me to lunch. We drove to the outskirts of the neighboring town, to a quaint little restaurant off the freeway that garnered much attention for it’s 50’s-era style. The food was great, and the coffee was decent. We started talking about really good coffee and he suggested we make the 30-minute drive to the nearest Starbucks [Yeah, this was before my part of the world had a Starbucks on every corner]. I’m game! So off we went on an impromptu coffee run.
Now, when I say I live in the Southern California desert, I mean it. Most yards are dirt, unless you can afford rock-scaping. It’s 90 degrees in the shade, but for Thanksgiving we expect a cool-down trend so it’ll only be 80. Brr. Break out those holiday sweaters, y’all. Anyway, the nearest Starbucks at the time was in Barstow. And how it is that Barstow got a Starbucks long before we did is still a bone of contention around here. Must have something to do with the international outlet stores they have up there.
Sweet. We’re taking a drive, seeing the sights, headed to Barstow. Could life get any more thrilling?
So. You get my excitement at driving just for good coffee. I was thinking this would be a really great birthday!
We were so busy chatting and getting caught up that we missed the first turn off. Hmm. No worries. There’s another one in a mile.
Missed it. Again.
So we kept driving. It’s not easy to get lost on the 15-North. It’s not like there are any side streets to get in the way or mislead us. So we just kept talking, driving, figuring we could turn back once we reach Calico Ghost Town. A darn good birthday drive.
Missed it, yes, again. We were just about to turn around when I saw it. The first billboard indicating Sin City lay ahead: Las Vegas! And what, you ask, did the billboard advertise for that fine town? David Cassidy in Concert. Ohhh, babyyy….! I remember this larger-than-larger-than-life David in a silky red button down suit smiling down at me with The Rio Hotel & Casino in the background. I loved that billboard. I’m pretty sure I drooled. Or squealed. Or both.
I pointed and said, “Ooh, let’s go there!” I was just joking. He wasn’t. He said, “Wanna go?” Just like that. Uhmmm… WHAT?!?! Five dollars in my back pocket. Never been to Vegas. Hair and makeup not quite done properly. We were only supposed to be getting coffee. So I made a quick phone call to my family and said, “Hey, I’m gonna be home seriously late… like, tomorrow morning!” and it was settled.
Two great things happened that night. The first is that David Cassidy stood ten feet in front of me with his microphone, looked into my eyes and sang, “I Think I Love You”, to the dismay of all other females in the audience. The second is that I had a really great cup of coffee. In Vegas.
Now that’s a birthday!
So please, David. Don’t die before I have the chance to put on the old tunes and sit back with a Caramel Macchiato and remember all the good times we’ve had together. Somewhere in my garage is a box of items I never scrapbooked. In there is the table card for your concert. I think I’ll dig it out. And maybe soon I’ll stop in at The Rio and tell ’em Frankie sent me.
TWEET THIS: That One Time Coffee Took Me to David Cassidy @MollyJoRealy #davidcassidy #partridgefamily
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Nov 19, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Frankly, On Faith.
This is the time of year we don’t need reminding to be thankful for what we have. Food on the table, surrounded by family and friends.
Or do we?
Is it the big things that bring to mouth the words, “I’m thankful.”?
Or is the little, everyday things?
This week I challenge you to give thanks for things not often considered:
- For teeth as we brush them, for the ability to chew food.
- Strangers we pass. They’re someone’s family.
- The fridge that holds our food.
- The attendants at gas stations and convenience stores.
- The air that we breathe.
- The ground we walk upon.
- The pile of papers in the other room. Notes, bills, junk mail, letters from loved ones.
- The ability to show emotion.
There are so many more we can add to this list.
What will you give thanks for this week?
Frankly, On Faith . . . : Give Thanks
TWEET THIS: What will you give thanks for this week? @MollyJoRealy #thanksgiving
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
Nov 18, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Social Media Saturday
It happens. There you are, at the local coffee shop typing out tweets and you realize you clicked “Tweet” when you meant to click “Cancel.” Or you shared that superfluous snapshot on Instagram.
Hey, it happens. If we’re not drowning in our multi-tasking, we’re not living. Right?
You share so many different topics that nobody knows anything about you except your platform’s multiple personality disorder.
Yeah.
It happens.
So, on the in-depth heels of last week’s Social Media Saturday, this week offers tips on how you can funnel down to what’s important to your followers, and to you.
- Take a survey. Give your readers the opportunity to tell you what they like and don’t like.
- Follow the score. Watch your analytics. Amplify what works (#coffee, #amwriting), and pare down what doesn’t (#hashtagsthatnobodyelseknows).
- Post photos of kittens. Seriously. This totally gets attention. Every time.
- Share more. Make sure your posts are distributed frequently over Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google+, and Pinterest.
- Share less. Don’t give up every aspect of your personal life. Your readers don’t have Smell-O-Vision so step-by-step recipe photos are only necessary to show how something’s done, not look-how-each-layer-builds-upon-itself. Unless you’re making Hamburger Pie. Then it’s totally okay.
- Make a list. Check it twice. Keep a short list of topics and make sure your posts fall under those categories. It’s easy to want to share every aspect of life with your peeps, but save that for your private page with friends. Your followers are a little hungry for what your posts can do for them. So offer tips on what they follow you for: writing, Faith sharing, learning Italian, cooking, how to drink coffee without spilling, that sort of thing.
- Do a Self-Inventory. This is in line with 2 and 6 above. Find out which topics people are most responsive to. Make sure they’re at the top of your list moving forward. If you post nine times about coffee and only get one reaction [I know. I’m laughing, too], then maybe it’s time to switch to afternoon tea. Or lasagna. #foodie
How do you find focus on your social media?
TWEET THIS: How do you find focus on your social media? @MollyJoRealy #socialmedia
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!
Nov 16, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Yup. I did it again. I signed up for something awesome. I’m now a Wellness Advocate for DoTERRA.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Molly Jo Realy: My DoTERRA
I know, I know. How many plates can This Girl spin? Well, as it turns out, always one more than I thought I could.
If you’ve been around the blog for any length of time, you know essential oils are, well, essential to me. And you’ll also know that Mohmie and Spartacus are pretty good friends and keep me well supplied. But after supplying me with EO’s here and there for a few years, I figured it was time to stop playing and get serious. It was time to buy in bulk and not the piecemeal here-and-there action I’d been doing.
So of course the inevitable happened. My body decided to defect on me and inexplicably broke out with allergies of all kinds. From a sinus infection to a flu bug to stomach issues to a face breakout that rivals a pizza eating teenager, it was just gettin’ all kinds of ugly ’round here.
Well. Since I was already planning to go big or go home, I opted to enroll and save myself some money. Super Bonus: The Enrollment Kit I wanted is 20% in the month of November. Can you say schweet? I thought you could.
Fast forward to payday and I’m on the phone with Naomi and we’re getting set up and I go to add the kit to my cart . . . and it’s not there. Like, the system says it doesn’t even exist! Say whatwhat?! So bless her unSouthern heart, Mohms gets on chat with DoTERRA and is told there was a delivery issue and they’ll honor the offer when it’s available.
I think we all know by know that didn’t quite work for me. I’m crawling out of my skin, needing some EOs to calm my nerves inside and out, a little physical care, a little emo, a little house stuff. So. I get on the chat with DoTERRA and state the obvious: “I’m trying to sign up and the system won’t let me.” Long story short-like I could make a long story short. I tried once or twice. Didn’t work. Oh. Focus. Sorry . . . Back to it- I’m on chat with DoTERRA and the guy says, “Hmm, sounds like a tech issue. I’ll get you all signed up.” And. He. Did!
Frankly, My Dear . . . : DoTERRA
And my kit of awesomeness arrived last night. And I’ve been pretty ecstatic ever since. Last night I fell asleep to Serenity Blend in my new diffuser. Serenity, folks. As in, Serenity, the female protagonist from my work-in-progress CENTRAL. I’m tellin’ ya. #itsasign.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : DoTERRA Serenity and Lumo Diffuser
And that crazy hormone-slash-stress-induced allergic face issue? At 10 am this morning I realized my face hadn’t itched all day. All. Day. After three weeks of stress-causing-breakouts-causing-stress, DoTERRA’s Correct-X seems to be just what I needed.
And the Lifelong Vitality Pack. I can already feel my innerds feeling better.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : DoTERRA Lifelong Vitality Pack
Stay tuned. It’s only Day One. Let’s see where this all goes.
Oh, and the shampoo and conditioner? Fuggedaboutit. Best hair day ever. At least, for a really long time. Just sayin’.
Did I mention I’ve only had my kit for 24 hours? #amazing
Anyway, SuperGirl is still going to being doing monthly posts on Essential Oils because she’s awesome that way. Now and then we’ll tag-team and maybe create some stuff together. Oh. Teams. My DoTERRA team is simply amazing. Educated. Helpful. Caring. Fun. Holy cow. I mean, when ya walk into a room full of strangers and they hug you and say, “Pick a pine cone!” Well those are my kinds of people. Kim and Krystal are fabulous leaders. [Pine Cone Explained: For realz. She has pine cones from her back yard tree, and put a few drops on oil on them for us to take home. My car smelled like Arbor Vitae and Elevation for five days, y’all. Five. Days.]
So there you have it. I’ll have a neat little link on the side bar so feel free to check out my site, ask questions, whatever.
But first, I have a question for you: Do you use essential oils? If so, what’s your favorite and why?
With a drop of lemon and a quiet house,
Happy Everything.
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
Click on the photos below for more information:
DoTERRA Enrollment Kit Discount
Frankly, My Dear . . . : DoTERRA Save 10% in November
Frankly, My Dear . . . : DoTERRA Oil of the Month- November: Clove
