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
For today’s Friday field trip – a little something to brighten up your day!
These photos are all of the same light fixture…
located in the main staircase of the Four Season’s Hotel in Orlando.
Hope they add a little brilliance to your weekend! Have a great one!
And, remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
no comments
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
no comments
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
no comments
For Friday field trip today, a visit to one more of my favorite stores for holiday shopping!
Have a little virtual shopping trip with a few photos from this holiday season at Grace in Niantic, Connecticut.
Enjoy!
Hope your holiday preparations are coming along! Thanks for stopping by!
Have a fabulous weekend, Jackie
no comments
The games have begun…the shoppers are off!
I promised a week of shopping inspiration and today I share some photos from one of my favorite ‘beachy’ vibe shops.
Today, for Friday field trip, a holiday visit to Taken for Granite in Stony Creek, Connecticut.
Choose this brick and mortar store over internet shopping and delight in the personal service, gorgeous gift wrap, and carefully selected merchandise offered!
Enjoy!
Thanks for visiting! Have a wonderful weekend.
Remember to take pleasure in simple things…like visiting a beautiful gift shop! xo Jackie
no comments
Typically, this is the week everyone starts thinking about holiday shopping.
I have definitely started thinking about it myself and I have visited a few of my favorite stores. Because I am such a visual person, I don’t really enjoy internet shopping. I like to see the merchandise and enjoy how it is styled and displayed. And, I certainly appreciate a beautifully and creatively wrapped purchase over a box left at my doorstep!
As a homage to brick and mortar stores, this week I am sharing a few photos from my favorites this holiday season.
Today, some photos from my favorite home and garden store – Terrain. For overall holiday décor, Terrain is hard to beat! A visit to the Westport store is a sure way to put your holiday spirit into overdrive as well as inspire your holiday décor!
Thanks for stopping by!
Remember to take pleasure in simple things and have a blessed Thanksgiving! xo Jackie
no comments
Here in Connecticut, the weather has turned cold. Thoughts of fall are being replaced by winter and holiday preparations…Christmas decorations are on display everywhere!
I think it is the perfect day to take a glimpse of some warmer days that are not that far behind us! Don’t you miss that feeling of sand between your toes?
For today’s Friday field trip, a few photos of the beach taken during my recent stay at the Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island, Florida.
Enjoy!
Thanks for stopping by!
Have a fabulous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
no comments
I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity recently to visit White Oak Conservation in Northwest Florida. White Oak is one of the world’s premiere wildlife breeding, education, and training facilities. This wildlife conservation facility spans 13,000 acres of pine and hardwood forest and wetlands. Its mission is to save endangered wildlife and habitats through sustainable conservation breeding, education, and responsible land stewardship.
Founded in 1982, White Oak leads professional efforts to improve veterinary care, develop holistic animal management techniques, and better understand the biology of critically endangered species.
As you can tell by the photos in my post today for Friday field trip, my favorite part of my visit to White Oak was the opportunity to be ‘up close and personal’ with a group of giraffes! That, and getting together with a fabulous group of people, made my afternoon at White Oak one I will never forget!
I also had the chance to see rhinoceros, cheetahs (including baby cheetahs!), and antelope as well as a brief sighting of some okapi (a beautiful and rare giraffe relative).
Founded in 1982, White Oak is well known in the conservation and zoo communities and leads professional efforts to improve veterinary care, develop holistic animal management techniques, and better understand the biology of critically endangered species.
I hope today’s post may inspire you to visit your local zoo! A shout out to White Oak and to all the friends that shared the amazing afternoon visit with me!
Thanks for stopping by!
Have a fabulous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
no comments
I have eaten a lot of ice cream in my day and I thought I had a couple favorite spots that couldn’t be beat. That is, until my recent trip to Ohio!
I found the ice cream by which all other ice creams should be measured! This super flavorful and perfectly textured dessert is sold at Jeni’s scoop shops throughout Ohio (and select other states). OMG. It is truly amazing!
I was visiting the motherland…all Jeni’s ice creams are handcrafted in the production kitchen in Columbus, Ohio. Talking to locals about the ice cream, we actually even found someone who planned their wedding colors around a Jeni’s ice cream flavor! (If you are curious, that flavor was brambleberry crisp.)
What flavors did I try? On my visits to Jeni’s while in Columbus, I ordered a ‘flight’ of half scoops – 3 half scoops served in a dish. This way I could try 3 different flavors per visit.
On one of my two trips to Jeni’s while in Ohio, cream puff was my favorite flavor of the three!
Cream puff is a salty-sweet custard vanilla reminiscent of the filling inside old world cream puffs. Jeni was inspired by the massive cream puffs served in the 100 year old Ohio restaurant, Schmidts when she created this yummy flavor!
My second flavor choice was salted peanut butter with chocolate flecks. This is the perfect flavor for anyone that loves peanut butter and chocolate together. Originally named ‘The Buckeye State,’ this regular flavor is made with salted ground roasted peanuts and rich chopped dark chocolate.
My third flavor choice was brown butter almond brittle. Made with a sticky almond toffee candy crushed into butter cream ice-cream, this flavor is inspired by Krokan – a Norwegian toffee-like treat.
In flight number 2, on my second visit to Jeni’s, the sweet cream biscuits and peach jam was my favorite flavor! Buttermilk ice-cream, crumbled shortcake biscuits and swirls of sweet-tart jam made from Georgia peaches made this flavor over-the-top delicious!
I also tried wild berry lavender – a berry flavor of pulverized black currants scented with sweet orange and lavender essential oils. Because of my love for lavender, I found this flavor very unique and tasty!
Lastly, I tried sun-popped corn. This flavor is made with organic popcorn kernels popped by the sun in kettles in the New York Hudson Valley. It truly tastes like a bowl of freshly popped popcorn!
Jeni’s is consistently adding new flavors – both temporary and standards, so there are always interesting flavors to try – like sweet potato éclair or super moon (blue violet and vanilla marshmallow swirled together)!
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams was founded in 2002 by Jeni Britton Bauer using whole ingredients with dairy from grass pastured cows and no synthetic flavorings or dyes. Jeni is a James Beard Award-winning author of two cookbooks and her New York Times best-seller Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams has been dubbed the “homemade-ice-cream making Bible” by the Wall Street Journal with more than 100,000 copies in print!
Used sample tasting spoons at Jeni’s scoop shop in Columbus, Ohio
Guess what? If your mouth is watering and you wish you could try Jeni’s ice cream – you can! Jeni’s is available online as well as in select markets! If you don’t have a shop near you, I strongly recommend you order some at least once in your life – especially if you are an ice cream lover!
Thanks for stopping by! I hope I have inspired you to make or try a new flavor of ice cream!
Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
no comments
The most picturesque place we found during my recent visit to Columbus with a friend was just south of the downtown – the quaint, historic neighborhood of German Village.
Settled back in the 19th century by German immigrants, the neighborhood is now a hip location to shop, dine, or just walk around. With many alley-like streets made of brick and pristine landscaping, German Village oozes with character.
We visited a few unique shops – like the 32-room bookstore called The Book Loft and the gift shop at the top of all the local’s list – Helen Winnemore’s.
We also stopped at a candy shop for award-winning fudge and some ‘buckeyes’ to take home. In case you didn’t already know, Ohio is the ‘buckeye state’ and Brutus Buckeye is the mascot of Ohio State University – and, believe me, Columbus certainly has buckeye fever! The candy version of a buckeye is a peanut butter flavored ball dipped in chocolate!
Another noteworthy visit while in German Village was to Jeni’s scoop shop – with shops located throughout the city, this mouth-watering ice-cream brand originated in Columbus. (I will share more about Jeni’s in its own upcoming post!)
For dining, tourists can find a classic German meal at Schmidt’s, but the hip locals favor Lindey’s. And, because Lindey’s has the best outdoor dining in the Village, that was our restaurant choice for dinner while in German Village.
Outdoor dining at Lindey’s in German Village, Columbus, Ohio
You can probably tell by my photos, that for us, the best part about visiting German Village in Columbus, Ohio was admiring the buildings and the landscaping! Walking around the neighborhood was like attending a garden tour!
I hope you have enjoyed my little piece of German Village on today’s Friday field trip!
Thanks for stopping by!
Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie
no comments
