Welcome to my blog ~ where aesthetics are a passion, details are a priority, and pleasure in simple things is celebrated!
I invite you to share my inspirations for a creative life and a lifetime of adventures.
Thanks so much for visiting, Jackie
I promised to share some pink holiday accents from Terrain in Westport today…I am a gal of my word!
Check out this ‘pretty in pink’ holiday décor inspiration! Enjoy!
I hope these photos have inspired you to incorporate an unexpected color into your holiday décor!
Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!
And, remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
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Well, I didn’t actually have s’mores for dinner…they were dessert to my dinner of a fabulous cheeseboard and a glass of Napa wine!
Connecticut has had some cool evenings this week – perfect fire pit weather!
On today’s Friday field trip, I hope to inspire you to enjoy something unconventional for your next meal. Maybe some Ferris Acres (my favorite ice cream spot)…or, Trader Joe’s yummy cinnamon bun spread on apples! Don’t rule out ‘cake for breakfast!’
Have a fabulous weekend. Thanks for stopping by!
Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
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No trip to San Francisco, no matter how short, would be complete without a stop at the famous Painted Ladies. These are a row of colorful Victorian houses located at 710–720 Steiner Street, across from Alamo Square park.
So, of course, on my first trip to San Francisco, one of the stops on a 9 mile walk around the city included Alamo Square park to snap a couple shots of the famous ladies!
I am sharing my glimpse of these gals here for today’s Friday field trip.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend!
Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
P.S. The title of this post, if you don’t recognize it, is taken from the Full House theme song ;)
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One of the places I did not expect to go when I started thinking in advance about my recent California trip was a tour of Alcatraz! However, my son set up a tour and I was enthusiastic to check it out!
One and a quarter miles offshore from San Francisco, this small island was once a fort, a military prison, and a maximum-security federal penitentiary (closed in 1963). It is also the site of the first lighthouse on the West Coast.
Alcatraz Island is a designated national historic landmark and the National Park Service does an excellent job of preserving the island. It also provides tourists a very well organized ferry ride out to the island with a great self-guided tour once on the island.
I have never seen any prison in my lifetime so it was a little creepy to tour a vacated federal penitentiary, but so very interesting!
I spoke with a guard who was working on the island at the time the penitentiary closed and he told me his family never even locked the doors of their home while living on the island! Learning that the island housed prisoners who continually caused trouble at other federal prisons (including the notorious Al Capone), I think I would locked my door if I was an island resident!
What a great historic tour!
This was the library – I wish the books were still there!
I hope you enjoy seeing some of the photos I took while on Alcatraz Island today on Friday field trip!
Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!
Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
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I guess no visit to Northern California would be complete without a visit to the Golden Gate Bridge. I was interested in seeing it while in San Francisco, but really had no expectations.
The walk up to the bridge, and walking on the bridge itself, ended up one of my favorite visits on my most recent trip to California. There are so many awesome overlooks along the walk up to the bridge, it is a major sensory overload! And, the walk across the 1.7-mile expanse provides beautiful (though breezy) ocean views!
It is amazing to think that when opened in 1937 – over 75 years ago – the Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world!
It is easy to see why the Golden Gate Bridge is in the top ten of most visited landmarks in the United States.
I hope you enjoyed sharing some of my very first views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!
Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
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Starch balls made from a cassava/yucca shrub! Yes, that is what boba is and tea drinks made from these balls are my current addiction!
You have seen me post about bubble tea before. But, in California, it is available everywhere and I was able to consume it daily on my visit!
The term boba references the entire drink-plus-toppings, the most popular topping being tapioca pearls (which also happen to be called boba). The drink as a whole is also known as bubble tea.
Boba — the drink in its entirety – originates from Taiwan. Originally, boba pearls were used in shaved ice desserts and paired with syrups, beans, and rice balls. Milk tea was also consumed regularly and thankfully, someone decided to merge the two, creating the wonderfully delicious drink I happen to adore!
Boba culture made its way to America through Taiwanese neighborhoods and blossomed near college campuses and high schools, where students would gather for study groups. Probably the strong Asian influence is the reason the drink is so much more popular in California than here on the East Coast.
Boba is the quintessential topping at any tea parlor. Once these balls of cassava root are rolled into bite size bunches, they’re boiled and flavored, often with brown sugar or honey. The result is a subtly sweet, chewy addition to a tea drink. If you’re trying milk tea for the first time, I’d definitely recommend going classic and adding boba – the best part of the drink!
To make it even more confusing – my favorite milk tea drink during the time I was in California contained no milk at all! My favorite drink was strawberry jasmine tea fresca…so yummy! And, I got this at my favorite place to get boba – Boba Guys! The line at Boba Guys was typically down the street – for good reason! Be sure to visit if you happen to be on the West Coast!
Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!
Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
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I often say my life runs in themes, and it really does!
If you thought the banyan tree on Tuesday was the end of my fascination with trees, you were wrong! I am leaving you this week with one last tree! Like the banyan, this tree is also located in Fort Myers, Florida.
Look at those roots!! I hope you think it is as cool as I do!
Thanks for stopping by!
Have a fabulous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
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Hi friends! It’s been a busy work week, but I thought I’d share the one sunset I was able to break away for!
Enjoy your weekend!
And, Happy Mother’s Day!
Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
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I guess everyone needs to make a quick swing by the Chinese Theatre movie palace when in Hollywood! After all, it is the most sought-after theatre in Hollywood for studio premieres! And, the Hollywood Walk of Fame is right there!
I wasn’t interested in looking at every star on my visit, but I did find a couple I thought were pretty cool to look at!
And a footprint or two were interesting as well!
Whose star would cause you to stop and take a photo?
Have a fabulous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
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The quintessential Southern California spot for me is Laguna Beach!
It has such great vibes! I couldn’t let an area visit go by without a quick stop to my favorite beach!
Here are a couple photos for today’s Friday field trip to show you why Laguna Beach is so addicting! This trip, I brought back a great souvenir – a perfectly beautiful piece of driftwood. Placed on my desk, it is a constant reminder of beach days ahead!
Have a wonderful weekend! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
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