Monkees, Davey Jones death and memories

I was so sad to hear that Davey Jones died today.  

Davey Jones of the Monkees

Just thinking about the Monkees takes me back to my childhood.  I remember having my girlfriends over to my house and we would dance to my record player.  

I had this album:

I watched the tv show.  Do you remember how we used to ask each other which Monkee was our favorite?  Mine was Peter Tork.  I liked his shyness.  My sister always said Davey Jones.  

I remember when Marsha Brady got to have her dream date with Davey Jones on the Brady Bunch.  What a dream come true that would have been for any girl in those days.  And, he came to her school dance.  Woo Hoo.  Lucky girl.  Marsha Marsha Marsha.

Just look at them.  Doesn't that take you back?  Things just seem so different now.  What innocence.  Was it really like that? 

When I watched the Monkees, I loved the slapstick comedy.  They were just so wacky.  Each one of them was fun to watch.  Davey Jones was sweet and always had the girls chasing him.  Not just on the show, but in real life too.  I have heard on my Facebook page that many of my friends have seen him in concert recently.  He had a very long career.  

I'm feeling old today, just hearing this news.  I think, wow, this is just going to keep happening from here on out.  I'm over 50 now.  It's not like I think my life is over or anything like that.  But, I know that my mother in law is always talking about movie stars that have been dead for a really long time and that I have never heard of.  I'll bet if I ask my kids who Davey Jones is, none of them will know.  But, I know.  And, I will remember.

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Snow Day!

I woke up to snow this morning.  I can always guess that it snowed when I wake up because it's quiet.  We don't get a lot of snow where I live, just a few times each year, so it's an event.  This storm is very welcome.  We have NOT had any winter to speak of.  It's been more like spring all season.  The plants are even starting to bud and bloom.  It's been a strange time indeed.  I asked hubby to take some outside pictures to share with you. 

He is such a talented photoguy.  He can make anything look interesting!

Here is our little cottage with a teeny tiny snowman.  Brrrrr.  The heater just kicked on.  It's nice to be inside my cozy little house on a day like this. 

I'm linked at Outdoor Wednesday

 

A case of the Blahs

Do you ever just feel "blah" for no reason?  I was feeling that way this morning.  I would way rather feel happy.  I don't have any reason to feel blah.  I have lots of reasons to be happy.  But, sometimes you can't reason your way to feeling good.  Can you?  

I started thinking....  What can I do to switch the channel and be happy?  Then it hit me.  Happy Chocolate by Isagenix.  So I ate one of these.  

Wait 10 minutes.  Happy?  Happy-er?

actual time....Twelve minutes later.  Yep.  Much happier.  I think I will have another!

10 more minutes.  Wowzer.  I banished the blahs and got so distracted that I don't remember finishing the second Isadelight.  I might have set it down.  I walked in to my office that I'm redecorating and decided to "tweet" about it.  (my first one! find me: luluscottage)

Happy Chocolate. How cool is that?  My BFF eats these everyday.  She goes crazy if she runs out.  No wonder she is always happy!!

Where do I get these?  I get them from my online Isagenix store.  Check it out: click here.  And if you want some, don't buy on my website, I can get you a better price if you email me!

The best tool in life is.......

Being nice!  Who wouldn't want to be nice?

Someone was mean to me today.  This was not a personal situation, it was a business situation.  I was offering to do something that I did not have to do for someone.  This person not only wanted what I was offering, this person made demands and wanted me to do more.  Things that were not even within my power to grant.

That reminds me of how important it is to be nice.  I don't think that we all need to be sugary sweet all the time, but being rude should never be an option.  What does it get you, really?  I think that the power of persuasion will win over aggression any time.  

Who wants to be yelled at?   Who wants to be argued with?  Who wants to be told what to do?  I don't.  

I would rather try to figure out a way to get people to cooperate with me.  I'm not saying it's easy, but it's way more effective.  

I've learned that when dealing with angry people, if they get an angry response, the anger just grows.  What can they say or do when their angry diatribe is responded with kindness?  Being kind and nice can be a weapon of it's own.  

I think that the one who can keep their cool and react with grace is the most powerful one.  

I was born with a temper.  It's just always been there.  Over the years, I have learned that if I lose my cool, I will also lose what ever battle I'm in.  

It's funny.  Being nice under pressure can take a situation in to a whole new direction.  One that I am often surprised at.  Pleasantly.  

If YOU are the mean person, (and I have been this person myself...believe me....just ask my kids!), you can't possibly feel good about yourself for that.  Find a way to take a breath, take a moment and change course.  The more you do this, the more it becomes natural.  

So, the next time someone is treating you in a mean and rude way.  Try wielding the most powerful tool there is, kindness. They won't know what to do. Ask questions.  When I'm at my wits end with someone, I like to say "what would you like for me to do?".  Sometimes that makes them realize that they are being unreasonable. It may frustrate the aggressor, but in the end you will diffuse the situation and come out being the better person.  

I remember a time when people (for the most part) always had the filter on.  You had to have manners. It was expected for you to be polite.  If you watched a news show on tv and the people disagreed, they didn't yell at each other.  They didn't interupt each other.  They took turns talking and tried to make their points.  Compare that to news and politics shows today, where they talk loudly right over each other.  It's hard to even listen to. 

The people in the movies and on television back then also had manners. You would be embarrassed if you or someone you knew "acted badly".  It just wasn't done.  Being nice wasn't a charactaristic, it was how everyone acted!

Just because everyone on tv is yelling at each other and being rude, doesn't mean that we have to live like that, does it?  Let's all try being a little bit nicer to each other. It's what I'm striving for.

Soroptimist Tea Party

It was a beautiful day outside (this can't be FEBRUARY!), the perfect day for a tea party.

Blue Table Setting

I was invited to return as MC for the Jackson Soroptimist Tea and Fashion Show.  I did this last year and had a fabulous time.  I was honored to be asked back again.  I'm not a member of the Soroptimist.  they are a wonderful group of ladies who know how to have fun.  

I was nervous before the event. I couldn't figure out what to wear.  I bought a new dress, but I ended up wearing an old favorite.  I had a bad hair day.  The script was written by the coordinator, Angela, and I wanted to read it just the way that she wrote it.  I usually talk pretty fast, but I knew that I would need to talk slow for this and that was a challenge.  All in all, my part turned out okay.  Whew.  In fact, I think I was just getting the hang of it at the very end. 

Easter Table Setting

The theme was chosen by Angela, it was based on the Calendar Girls that posed semi nude for charity and raised a lot of money (and many eyebrows too!).  She did a great job organizing the music, the models and she even decorated two of the tables. Hats off to her for a great job.

The tables were all decked out each with it's own unique theme.  To go with the Calendar Girls theme, each table represented a month.  There were so many great ideas decorating these tables, I'm going to share just a few.

 

Green Table setting

Many of the ladies wore hats.  Sometimes I wish we still wore hats and gloves.  Oh, and matching shoes and purses.  Wouldn't that be fun?  There was a fashion show, but the ladies in attendance could have been the fashion show.

glass snack trays

Valentines Day Table Setting with Hearts

 It felt so nice to be in such a beautifully decorated place.  Everyone was dressed so pretty!

Red Table Setting

 

This red table is the table that I sat at.  We all agreed that we would like to have a pair of REAL shoes just like these pretty little ornaments!

 
My friend, Debbie won this gift basket.  It's funny because it's all about cats, and Debbie LOVES cats.

And, the little girls that were all dressed up....too too precious!

The food was scrumptious!  

 

Why I love Facebook

It's true.  I DO love Facebook.  Some people love it, some people hate it.  

"Image courtesy of people-clipart.com"

Here is why I love it.  I work from home.  And, I live in the country.   When I am at home, there are no people around.  Except hubby, he works from home too.  So, when I need a break, there is no water cooler for me to go hang out at.  

If I could go hang out at the water cooler, I might hear the latest gossip, or a joke or something that happened to someone.  I can hear all of that on Facebook.  It's my water cooler.  

I love hearing all the little comments that people make.  I enjoy your family pictures. I even want to know what you are doing.  

I try to "like" as much as I can.  I like it when someone "likes" my comments and pictures.  I'm sometimes surprised at who is looking.  For me, it's a nice little connection.

In fact, I have gotten to know some people on Facebook that I wouldn't have gotten to know otherwise.  I feel like an insider on Facebook.  There are people that I ONLY know on Facebook.  My Facebook Friends.

There are some things that I DON'T  want to read on Facebook.  I don't want to know when someone is sick.  I don't like hearing that in person either.  Ew.  So, reading all those details, NO THANKS.  

I also don't like gory pictures.  If you just cut yourself or had an injury, I can do without the picture.  Please spare me!

I don't like foul language.  I can deal with that, but I don't like it.  

It's quite alright with me if you say and do things you shouldn't do. If you want to fight with a friend on Facebook, that's okay with me.  It's like reality tv, entertaining.  Just don't say anything bad about me!  

Personally, I find it hard to find things to say on Facebook, myself.  I'm not one that posts every little thing that I'm doing on Facebook.  My life would bore people anyway, I'm sure!  

The best way to find me on Facebook, is to look on the top right corner of my blog and "like" Lulus Cottage.  I will find you and we can be Facebook Friends!  I look forward to hearing ALL about you!! 

Enter to win this Necklace!

I made this necklace for you!  I hope you like it.  It's black beads on black chain with silver accents.  It will go with everything!  I showed it to my daughter and she wants it (that's always a good sign!).

I made one for myself too, here it is:

If you would like to enter my drawing for this necklace and earring giveaway here's how:

To enter the drawing, leave a comment letting me know that you want to enter with your contact information.

And.....

If you share my giveaway on your blog, your name will be entered to win 2 extra times! Just leave me a comment after you announce my giveaway on your blog and I will put your name in the drawing once for the comment and twice for sharing....that's THREE entries!  And, I look forward to coming to your blog to visit!

The drawing will be held on my birthday, March 19th at noon PST.

Good Luck!

Let's make a new necklace (out of an old one!)

Are you ready to make some new jewelry?  If you have been following my blog, you already know that I LOVE to make new things out of old things.  

I found two necklaces at a yard sale,  I took them apart to get the beads.

Here are my instructions on how to make the necklace using chain, beads and O rings.

I took a pin (this pin is made for jewelry making), placed a small bead, large bead, small bead on it.

Then I bent the pin with my pliers and snipped off the excess.  Next I curled the pin to make a loop.

I repeated that process until all the beads were done.

Next, I took an 0 ring and I opened it and used it to attach the bead to a chain.

I alternated large and small beads. For a little extra bling, I added some small silver beads close to the chain. 

I made a necklace for ME and.....I made another one for YOU! I also made a bracelet for myself out of the left over beads.  I can't wait to wear it!  It will go with everything. 

Yes, that's right!  I'm giving this away.   I will write a separate post letting you know how you can enter to win this necklace and earrings set.

Did you like the instruction to go along with the necklace?  I really want to try my hand at making a video.  Check back soon.