february book giveaway!

January 30, 2018

Since tomorrow is the end of January, it is time for the February giveaway! We all know February is a big month for love – Valentine’s Day certainly helps put a focus on all things romantic. And, I have to say, I am thrilled with the growing popularity of Galentine’s Day because I think love in all forms should be celebrated! Believe me, I know the motivation of the retail industry for jumping on the Galentine’s Day bandwagon was probably for profit (not necessarily to use February 13^th to celebrate female friendships), but regardless of the motivation, the acknowledgement of Galentine’s Day is a positive one! (Thanks Parks & Rec!)

I remember one Valentine’s Day when I was young, my dad gave his three daughter’s iced sugar cookies with a romantic message – I think they said ‘sweetheart’ or ‘lover’ or something similar, spelled out in candy icing. My mom got angry, telling my dad it was inappropriate for a father to give a romantic gift meant for a sweetheart to his daughters. But, hey…why not? We were way too young at the time for boyfriends and we were tickled to be acknowledged on Valentine’s Day by our dad!

Maybe remembering that incident is why I always enjoyed showing my children a little extra love on Valentine’s Day when they were young – I always included a note in a lunch box or surprised them with a favorite sweet to celebrate how very much I loved them.

So, in the spirit of celebrating all kinds of love, I thought the February giveaway would celebrate the most important love of all – love of self! After all, if we don’t love ourselves, how can we expect to share love with others!

With that in mind, the giveaway includes two books to promote self awareness. They are 1,001 Ways to Live in the Moment by Barbara Ann Kipfer and Whatever You Are, Be a Good One by Lisa Congdon. The winner of the February giveaway, chosen at random, will win both books! Be sure to leave a comment to be entered to win.

Congratulations to Tracy, winner of the January giveaway. Tracy, your name was chosen at random as winner of the giveaway – I hope you enjoy your win! (To see more, click here.) Thank you to everyone who entered to win.

Instagram users, please read on! In the spirit of love, for our monthly challenge, let’s share sightings of hearts in nature…it is amazing how many are out there! Use hashtag #pleasuregram on every photo you post of a heart you see in nature during the month of February.

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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valentine candy craft diy

January 26, 2018

In the same way gingerbread houses are decorated for Christmas, or eggs for Easter, why not create candy skewers for Valentine’s Day? In my last post, I showed you some elegant Valentine’s Day skewers I created as gifts. Today, for Friday field trip, I am using the same idea as a fun children’s activity!

Just assemble a table full of Valentine’s themed candy and/or cookies, and add the children!

Just be cautious when using skewers with children – safety first! Consider the age of the children you are with, and be sure to supervise appropriately! (You can even cut off the sharp ends of the skewers if necessary.)

You may just find that the finished skewers never make it to a recipient! But, the children will have a blast creating (and eating) them!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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valentine, read my lips

January 23, 2018

Doesn’t everything taste better on a stick? Think about cake pops – a bunch of cake crumbs instantly become chic when placed on a stick! Why not do the same thing for Valentine’s Day…elevating candy or cookies to a new level by simply adding a stick!

Using Reese’s peanut butter hearts to make these pretty skewers.

It is easy to transform treats into chic Valentine’s Day candy skewers to gift to loved ones.

One skewer can be a perfectly elegant gift (and very affordable!)

Or, create a whole bouquet of skewers!

I hope you are inspired to create your own Valentine’s Day skewers! If you want, package your creation in cellophane and add a Valentine’s Day note with a witty pun. For my lip bouquet, I added a note that said “Valentine, read my lips.” Leftover pieces of ribbons from holiday packages are perfect to tie to your finished skewers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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snow place like home

January 19, 2018

The best part of a collection is enjoying it! My friend Phyllis has the cutest miniature snowman collection that she displays in her windowsill at this time of year.

The gorgeous, snowy view from out her kitchen window is supplemented by a variety of little snow people – all in miniature. Noticing this little collection is sure to provoke a smile!

Today on Friday field trip, I am sharing a few of the little snowmen I enjoyed last time I visited my dear friend – hoping to add a smile to your face as you start the weekend!

Do you have a collection that puts a smile on your face when you notice it during your daily routine?

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

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‘unbeetable’ hummus

January 16, 2018

When I was a kid, I hated beets! They were a staple on my grandmother’s Sunday table, but I would not go anywhere near them! But, as an adult, I have developed a fondness for these root vegetables.

My most recent beet discovery came when I visited Flora – a restaurant with a plant based menu located in the Blue Back Square section of West Hartford, Connecticut. It was the first time I had tried beet hummus and it was absolutely yummy! This snack motivated me to research every beet hummus recipe I could find to try and recreate Flora’s delicious appetizer the best I could.

Many of the recipes I found used chickpeas, but I chose to eliminate the chickpeas and make the beets the star of the dish! If beets appeal to you at all, I would definitely urge you to try beet hummus! Here is what I did to make beet hummus, as inspired by the one I enjoyed at Flora!

Beet Hummus Recipe

½ lb. fresh beets (4-5 medium), prepared
2 Tbsp. tahini (sesame seed paste)
1 garlic clove, minced
4 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (2 lemons) plus 1 Tbsp. zest (1 lemon)
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
Extra virgin olive oil as needed

To prepare the beets (cleaning them prior to cooking), I covered them with water in a saucepan and simmered them until tender and they felt soft when pricked with a fork. It took about 35 minutes. After they cooled down, I peeled them and cut them into cubes.

I put all the ingredients except the olive oil into a food processor and processed until smooth. When serving, I drizzled the hummus with a bit of extra virgin olive oil.

Pita chips, as well as fresh carrot and cucumber curls, go great with this hummus!

Even though I wouldn’t eat them as a kid, I really enjoy beets as an adult! One of my favorite beet dishes – the beet soup at The River Tavern in Chester, Connecticut.

I think the pretty color of beet hummus makes it ‘unbeetable’ to serve as a Valentine’s Day appetizer! I hope you are inspired to try it!

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

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at frost glance

January 12, 2018

Bitter cold temperatures made walking along all the town beaches this past week risky business! I felt I was in danger of frostbite when I took my hand out of my mitten long enough to snap a couple photos!

But, with wind chills below zero and over 13” of snowfall last week, Long Island Sound was definitely something to look at! I don’t know if I would say the beaches looked magical or if they looked more like something out of a science fiction movie, but they did look amazing!

For today’s Friday field trip, I am sharing some of this frozen beauty through photographs! And, you don’t have to risk frostbite to enjoy them!

Seeing ripples of waves frozen in action is pretty cool (pun intended)!

Wouldn’t a polar bear look right at home in this photo! (I was tempted to draw one in!)

Thanks for stopping by!

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

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homemade chai spice

January 9, 2018

I really enjoy the flavor of chai. At least, what we here in the U.S. call chai.

In India, chai is tea. Although there are some variations, the basic components are the same – usually a black tea base, whole milk, spices, and a sweetener of white sugar. Cardamom is the most common ingredient used as a spice, but every family has a blend to suit its tastes. In the same way, here in the U.S., spices can be adjusted in a homemade chai spice to suit individual tastes.

That is what I decided to do. It took me quick a bit of experimentation on a recent snow day to come up with my own favorite combination of spices. I used Penzeys brand spices to make my mix because they are so very flavorful, but you can use whatever you have in your cabinet.

Since I try my best not to eat processed foods (especially with the beginning of a new year), my motivation was to come up with a chai spice to use as a change up for my almond milk. I will use this in warm almond milk, adding a small amount of honey as a sweetener – if I am in a really decadent mood! For a mug of heated milk, I use ½ teaspoon of my homemade spice.

This spice can be used to flavor tea, quick breads, smoothies, etc.

I hope I have inspired you to come up with your own chai spice mix. You can try my combination and adjust the ingredients to your own taste!

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

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christmas movie nostalgia

January 5, 2018

Last year I shared photos from the holiday display at the Beaumont Farm in Wallingford, Connecticut. It was such a cool display of scenes from the movie Christmas Vacation. Since I shared those photos, I came to realize that Bill Beaumont, owner of the farm, creates a display every year and has been for around 15 years.

Each year, Beaumont creates a display using a classic Christmas movie as inspiration. This year, I didn’t make it to the farm until after Christmas, but I still want to share this year’s display for today’s Friday field trip.

Beaumont chose an oldie this year – a stop motion Christmas television special originally broadcast in 1970. The Rankin/Bass production is called Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town, based on the song of the same name.

If you have ever seen this classic, you know Fred Astaire is the narrator of the movie. He tells the story of how Santa Claus and several traditions came to be.

Beaumont did an amazing job of portraying the movie on the corner of his farm – creating 9 characters and 6 scenes that truly give visitors the feel of the original production.

I wasn’t sure I had seen the movie, but once I started touring the display, I instantly recognized the evil Winter Warlock…I also remembered Burgermeister Meisterburger and Fred Astaire’s postal carrier character.

How about you? Do you remember this movie?

I would love to request Elf for next year’s display. ;)

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

To see last year’s Christmas Vacation display, click here.

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word for the year 2018

January 2, 2018

Do you have a word for the year? I don’t feel a need to have one every year, although I usually have a yearly focus. For 2018 I have a clear focus, but I find it impossible to find a single word to represent it!

I have some very major schedule changes I want to accomplish in 2018. I wondered how that could be represented in a single word. Maybe overhaul? Revamp? Redesign? Not very sexy! How about something a little more subtle…like shift, change, or redesign? My 2018 goals just don’t seem to fit into a single word!

I DO think I can represent an attitude for the year with a quote…one of my favorites from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”

I think I will leave you with this quote and forget about a single word for 2018.

I hope your 2018 fulfills all your dreams!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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february book giveaway!

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word for the year 2018