october book giveaway!

September 30, 2016

Yes, it is already time to announce the book giveaway for October!

The selection this month is The 52 Lists Project by Moorea Seal. This book provides a year of weekly journaling inspiration by prompting you to create 52 lists, one for every week of the year.

Forget about a ‘word for the year’ for 2017 – use this beautiful journal to create a thoughtful list each week that will provide self-reflection and cause for celebration! This book is yours to make your own!

This unique journaling project is a must for 2017! Leave a comment on this post during the month of October for a chance to win this book. You will receive it in plenty of time to start your new year being more mindful of the person you are becoming every day! Learn how lists can be a tool for self-discovery, exploration, and plenty of fun too!

Thank you to everyone who left a comment for a chance to win last month’s selection The Year of Cozy by Adrianna Adarme. Read more about the book by clicking here. The winner of this fabulous book is Christina! Enjoy Christina!

Instagram users, please read on!

By now you must know my favorite thing about fall is white pumpkins! Please, share your white pumpkins during the month of October by posting to Instagram with hashtag #pleasuregram.

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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getting in the mood

September 27, 2016

I am doing my best to get into the fall mood. This year, it seems particularly difficult for me to welcome the new season.

I decided to use a couple hours of free time to visit some local farms; hoping to shake off some of my resistance to the change of season.

Okay – it was nice to get out and get a little fresh air, but I am still not feeling fall! How to you get into the spirit of autumn?

I have one last idea to help change my seasonal outlook – a trip on Saturday that is sure to push me over the edge into fall mode…I will share that with you next week! ;)

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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a library themed restaurant

September 23, 2016

I can’t help but share some photos from a visit to a new restaurant; today on Friday field trip.

You know my penchant for a good theme!

Well, The Library Wine Bar and Bistro is housed in the building that was originally a city library, built in 1899 and it totally embraces its roots!

It has been restored back to its classic, architectural beauty by the Gouveia family of Gouveia Vineyards, Wallingford, Connecticut. Yes, the same vineyard I visited and shared on last week’s Friday field trip!

I am totally in love with this place! In my imagination, I have already planned an entire library themed shower in one of the restaurant’s beautiful private rooms!

I hope I have inspired your imagination as well!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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easy salt cellar diy

September 20, 2016

Yes, I do have a Weck jar addiction. I can’t help it. I see the Weck jar as the sophisticated cousin of the Mason jar…so much design sense…so much class!

You have seen me use the Weck jar in many ways in the past. Today, I am sharing my latest use for the beloved Weck jar!

When I recently found an unidentified small insect in my salt cellar, I decided it was time to find one with a lid! I know insects are probably not attracted to salt…and, it may have been a one-time incident, but it was an occurrence that needed to be avoided in the future! Yuck!

Shopping around for a replacement salt cellar, I happened upon a life-changing item… a wooden top for a Weck jar! OMG! How is it possible I have never seen these before? I instantly grabbed one to fit one of my small Weck jars – the perfect size for a new covered salt cellar!

How simple, yet how exciting! Love it!

I hope I have inspired you to come up with your own use for a Weck jar with a lid! I can already imagine some cool Halloween applications!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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a connecticut vineyard

September 16, 2016

Connecticut may not seem a likely state for vineyards, but we do have them! Today’s photos for Friday field trip prove it!

Recently, I attended a meeting that was held at a vineyard. Although the meeting was held indoors – someone made a bad call there – I took a few moments to sneak outside to check out the view.

A warm summer evening was the perfect time to enjoy the lovely grounds!

I now have Gouveia Vineyards on my list of places to visit. I plan on returning when I have some time to really explore! This could be a perfect leaf peeping location!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a really marvelous weekend! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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roasted bell pepper walnut dip

September 13, 2016

I love this dip! I was inspired to create it by a recipe in last month’s giveaway book. (Click here for more on the book.) I had all the ingredients on hand and thought it sounded great to use as a veggie dip.

After making it and tasting it, I decided this dip is a ‘must make’ for fall. When the sour cream and chips or cheesy nachos make an appearance during television football, I am enjoying this healthful dip with some veggies or some crisp whole wheat pita chips!

The recipe says red bell peppers, but any color sweet bell pepper will do – I have used yellow or orange as well. I recommend serving this dip warm or at room temperature, and I think my flavorful Penzy’s smoked paprika makes it extra special!

To make :

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Rub the peppers with the coconut oil and put them onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, until blistered and blackened in a few places. Transfer the peppers to a bowl and immediately cover it with plastic wrap. Set the covered bowl aside for 10 minutes to give the steam the chance to make the skins remove easily.

Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees.

Spread the walnuts on a separate baking sheet and toast for 7 to 10 minutes, watching carefully that they do not burn. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

Remove the peppers from the bowl, and after giving them a chance to cool, slip off their skins and discard them. Remove and discard their stems as well.

Add all the ingredients to a food processor or blender and process to preferred consistency. You may want to leave the dip a little chunky. Season to taste – I used 1/2 tsp fine sea salt.

The end of summer farmer’s markets have some wonderful bell peppers right now! I hope I have inspired you to try this healthful dip or to create one of your own! Enjoy!

Thank you for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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thoughts on fall fashion 2016

September 9, 2016

I started to organize my fall wardrobe this past week. For Friday field trip today, I am sharing a few of my ‘closet’ thoughts.

For this fall, I have a favorite trend. I am loving exposed shoulders. (These trendy cutouts are great for all ages since undergarments can still be worn.) One great dress and one neutral sweater with cutout shoulders are plenty to embrace this continuing trend and stay current with fall!

Another fashion favorite for the new season – and guilty pleasure – is a message tee. There are so many great ones out there and one t-shirt for weekend wear is a fun and inexpensive way to change things up for the season! Think ‘powered by caffeine’ or maybe a witty saying exposing your candidate pick this election year, or a tee in support of breast cancer awareness coming up in October. I love this ‘body by pizza’ tee that I found at Target. I don’t usually wear tees, but I like to wear one while I do my outdoor painting or projects in the fall, and purchasing a new t-shirt for the season doesn’t break the bank!

This photo came from The Limited’s website.

Been there, done that. Sometimes, enough is enough. When a trend lasts for years, it gets old. Remember how the chevron pattern was beat into the ground? I am currently feeling this way about fringe and tassels. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good tassel, but I have been embracing this trend for a few years now…time to move on! Although I will be wearing some of last year’s embellished purchases, I will not be buying any more clothing or accessories with fringe or tassels this fall season!

As always, fashion trends are about what works for you. I know I will not be purchasing a puffer jacket or wearing statement chokers this season, but this long-limbed gal is loving the extra-long sleeve trend! And, although I may not purchase velvet clothing this season, I may incorporate this trend into my home décor.

I hope you are inspired to pick one or two trends you love this season and use them to update your fall wardrobe…what are you embracing for the new season?

Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend. Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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creating a change in perspective

September 6, 2016

How was your Labor Day weekend? Mine was great! I was able to visit a friend I don’t get to see often enough. I left my coastal town in Connecticut to spend some time at my friend’s log cabin in Dutchess County, New York. Though my usual time off is spent at the beach, my Labor Day off was spent in the woods!

Changing up surroundings is great for a change in perspective. Once I recognized this fact, it seemed I had examples of perspective changes all around me this weekend!

Did the yellow watermelon make you look twice? Great example, right? (This was purchased at a farmer’s market over the weekend – very juicy and very yummy!)

Probably the best example I found of a perspective change though; was on our hill walk. That’s right – not a mountain – just a small hill! You might think climbing a hill barely worth the time, but you know what? A walk up this hill – a mere 550 feet above the Hudson River – created an amazing change in perspective.

Just with this little shift in elevation from the top of the hill, a whole new perspective came into view – the Catskill, Taconic, and Berkshire Mountain ranges as well as much of the Hudson River Valley!

I am proposing that you create a little change in your own perspective. Something as simple as changing your usual route to work can be amazing! Give it a try! Be inspired to create a little change in your perspective this week.

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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summer garden mint

September 2, 2016

Now that summer is on its way out, you are probably thinking about all the ways you can use or preserve the remaining herbs in your garden.

For Friday field trip today, I am sharing a way to use your overwhelming crop of garden mint.

If you grow mint, you know exactly what I am talking about! Mint can easily take over a garden! I learned years ago, the best way to plant mint in the garden is to first plant it in a terracotta pot and then plant the entire pot in the ground. This contains the growing area and prevents the mint from taking over the entire garden!

A great way to use your mint is to make some mint syrup! I love to experiment with all types of simple syrups, but this easy, three ingredient recipe I am sharing today comes from The Beekman 1802 Heirloom Vegetable Cookbook by Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell.

Make up plenty, keeping some for yourself and package some up in pretty bottles to give as gifts. It can be used in iced tea or seltzer or spooned over fresh fruit or ice cream. Or, in my case, used on shaved ice or spooned over The Pantry’s sorbet! Enjoy!

Fresh Mint Syrup

1 ¼ cup packed, fresh mint leaves
1 cup sugar
1 cup water

In a medium saucepan of boiling water, cook the mint leaves for 10 seconds to set their color. Drain, run under cold water, and drain again. Transfer the mint to a food processor and puree.

In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to melt the sugar. Stir in the mint, remove from the heat, cover, and let stand for 30 minutes at room temperature.

Strain the syrup thought a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl, pushing on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. To store, transfer to a jar and refrigerate up to 1 month.

Remember, if you don’t have mint growing in your garden, you can always purchase some at your local farmer’s market or specialty store. The photos here are from Gilbertie’s Herb Farm in Westport, Connecticut – a great source for fresh herbs. As you can see, mint comes in many varieties at Gilbertie’s! Chocolate mint, grapefruit mint, orange mint, ginger mint or any of the many varieties sold at the herb farm would be wonderful to create a syrup this year – and, when planted – many years to come!

Have a fabulous holiday weekend!

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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october book giveaway!

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a library themed restaurant

easy salt cellar diy

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roasted bell pepper walnut dip

thoughts on fall fashion 2016

creating a change in perspective

summer garden mint