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candy cane rice cakes

December 29, 2020

white chocolate and candy cane rice cake

I like to think I discovered the rice cake ice cream sandwich.  I started making them over 30 years ago.  What was the very first one I made?  I spread two rice cakes with peanut butter and sandwiched softened vanilla ice cream in between the two.  SO crunchy and delicious!

But for the holiday version, I cannot take total credit since a local grocery store called Stew Leonards came up with the holiday rice cake that I now use for Christmas rice cake ice cream sandwiches!

holiday rice cake recipe

Many Christmases ago, I found the white chocolate and candy cane coated rice cakes at Stew Leonards and they instantly became my favorite holiday treat!  These days, the store only makes them by special order and I can never remember to order ahead.  So, instead of giving up on holiday rice cakes – I make them myself!

candy cane rice cakes

It is easy enough to do.  I simply melt down a good white chocolate (I like Lindt or Ghirardelli) to add to one side of a rice cake.  A heaping tablespoon of melted white chocolate goes into the center and is spread evenly with a knife.  While the chocolate is still wet, I sprinkle crushed up candy canes on top!  So simple, yet SO yummy!  For 8 rice cakes, I use 11 ounces of chocolate and 8 crushed candy canes.

Once the rice cakes are made, they can be eaten as is or as part of an ice cream sandwich.  I think vanilla, eggnog, or peppermint stick ice cream works best in a candy cane rice cake ice cream sandwich!  Of course, it needs to either be a homemade ice cream or a very good quality ice cream.  It is the holidays after all – no skimping!

rice cake ice cream sandwich

Now that you know how to make them, put all your leftover candy canes to good use!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S. Click here for more on ice cream sandwiches.

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diy abstract tree ornament

December 24, 2020

As you may know by now, as a fun holiday countdown, I am doing the final four days of DIY ornaments countdown!  Today is day four of the four days in a row of posts on how to create an ornament from a clear glass ball ornament.

For the DIY on ornament number four, I started with an abstract design on the glass.  I created this design by using a glue gun!

glue gun ornament diy

After my glue gun design was set, I sprayed the ornament with gold spray paint.

spray paint on ornament

I sprayed the top silver fastener with an antique gold spray paint and replaced it when it was dry.  Spraying the metal top definitely makes a big improvement to the finished ornament!

painted ornament cap

When the spray paint was completely dry, I accented the pattern with dark furniture wax. (I used Annie Sloan dark wax.) I just rubbed the wax randomly on areas of the pattern with a paper towel.  Complete!

That was the last of the four DIY posts for glass ball ornaments.  I hope you enjoyed this little mini-series and I hope you were inspired to create some new designs of your own!  Pick up some glass ball ornaments after the holidays on clearance to start making next year’s creations!

Thanks for stopping by!

I wish you good health and a most blessed holiday!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie xo

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diy initial glass tree ornament

December 23, 2020

DIY monogram ornament

As you may know, as a fun holiday countdown, I am doing the final four days of DIY ornaments countdown!  Today is day three of the four days in a row of posts on how to create an ornament from a plain clear glass ball ornament.

There certainly are an infinite number of ways to decorate homemade ornaments and the best thing about making your own is tailoring them to your own taste and décor.  If you follow my blog, you know I love topography and an initial ornament was pretty much a guarantee on one of the four designs.

So, for ornament DIY number three, I crafted an initial ornament.  I chose a cream and black color scheme.

DIY monogram tree ornament

Since the glass ball was clear, I started by pouring a little bit of cream color acrylic paint inside the ball and swirled it around until the whole inside of the glass surface was covered.  I set it aside to dry.

I sprayed the metal fastener at the top of the ornament in a flat black to complement my design.

Next, I simply drew on an initial with a black permanent marker and added a black velvet ribbon to complete the elegant look of the ornament.

black and cream monogram ornament

That is it for ornament number three DIY!  Tomorrow’s post will be the final ornament DIY – number four!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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diy golden feather tree ornament

December 22, 2020

golden feather ornament

For a fun holiday countdown, I am posting a final four days of DIY glass ornament design countdown!  Today is day two of the four days of posts on how to create four different ornaments from plain clear glass ball ornaments.

For day two, I have a super simple design!

diy golden feathers

The only requirement is to dip a white feather in some gold acrylic metallic paint!  If you follow this blog, you know I love dipping white feathers in gold paint!  I find a lot of different ways to use them!

Once the feather is dry, it just gets placed inside the ornament.  So simple and elegant!  I love it!

feather ornament on tree

I had spray painted the top piece of metal on the ornament with champagne gold spray paint in advance to give it a more subtle look.  I removed it carefully – it comes off and on easily with care.  I also added some glitter to the metal top before replacing it.

white candy canes and ornament

That’s it!  An easy DIY!

Check back tomorrow for ornament DIY number three!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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diy snowberry glass tree ornament

December 21, 2020

gold and gray snow berry ornament

There certainly are an infinite number of ways to decorate homemade tree ornaments.  The best thing about making some is tailoring them to individual taste and décor!

I recently saw a box of clear glass ornaments on clearance at the craft store and decorating them to my taste and décor was my exact plan.  Actually, the box of ornaments was the only holiday item left in the whole Christmas section of the store on the day I stopped in!  People definitely were shopping earlier this year!

snowberry ornament gray ribbon

I had to purchase the box because it ended up costing less than $2. after the sale price and with a coupon!  Since a snow storm was predicted for Connecticut, I thought coming up with four ornament designs would be a good indoor project while housebound.

And, as a special fun holiday countdown, I am posting the four DIY ornament designs I came up with as a four- day countdown!  For today and the next three days, I will put up a post each day on how I created one of the four ornaments I designed from the plain glass balls!  Today marks day number one of four.

golden and gray clear snowberry ornament

The first design I created uses a paint marker to decorate one of the clear glass ornaments.  (Remember my pussy willow ornament from years ago?  Click here for easy DIY instructions.  That post also shared how to fill a glass ornament to create a cute book club themed ornament.)

I am calling the design I created for the first ornament ‘snowberries.’  I simply drew some ‘stems’ with a gold paint marker.  Then, I used a white paint marker to add white circles.  To make a suggestion of berries, I used a black permanent marker to add a little bit of definition to each white circle or ‘berry’.

To finish it off, I just put a little bit of ‘snow’ inside the ornament…just a little…keeping the clear look, but suggesting a little iciness with the added snow!

That’s it!  Pretty simple!

white berry ornament
One thing I did in advance was to spray the top of the ornament.  I didn’t like the look of the original silver top so I removed the top and sprayed it a champagne gold and let it dry before replacing it.

I hope you were inspired by ornament number one!  Check back tomorrow for ornament DIY number two!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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christmas oyster shell dishes

December 18, 2020

red toile oyster dish

You have seen decoupaged oyster shells on my blog before, but today I am including a few honoring the Christmas holiday.

oyster shell with topiary tree

I decided to make some as gifts and thought I’d share the pretty holiday patterns with you on today’s post.

oyster shell with tree pattern

tree oyster gift

Shown here are a few of my favorite decoupaged Christmas patterns.

oyster shell with holly pattern

If you are inspired, you still have time to craft a few of your own!  You can get to the link with my original DIY instructions by clicking here. 

oyster shell with palm tree design

Living on the coast, I salvage shells from the beach, but if you need them, most craft stores have some in stock.

oyster shell with lobster pattern

Remember that other types of shells will work also, but a heavy, hard-to-break shell is best – I like oyster, clam, and scallop for good- sized, smooth surfaces.

oyster shell gift

Seas and greetings!

oyster shell xmas gift

Thanks for stopping by!

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

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diy holiday cloche

December 11, 2020

holiday cloche with lights

There are so many simple ways to change up your décor for the holidays without buying anything new!

One great way to change up some existing items is with a paint pen.  Using a white, silver, or gold paint pen on anything glass creates an instant holiday boost!  This means any glass container, mirror, or window is fair game!

empty cloche

You can use a holiday word (joy), saying (let it snow), or drawing (stars) to make a glass item more seasonal.

If you don’t want to permanently change an item, don’t worry – you can take anything you create right off again!  Just use a cloth with nail polish remover (acetone) and you can create a clean slate instantly!  So, if you’d like a redo – just wipe!  When the holidays are over, you can remove anything you’ve added to any glass pieces with a simple wipe-off.

cloche decorated

paint pen

As an example, I have written peace on earth on a cloche.  I love cloches.  They make any single item instantly seem special so they are especially fun to use at the holidays!  I could have displayed it simply with the writing but chose to add greens inside the cloche to make my paint pen message stand out.  There is plenty of greenery to cut outdoors, but pinecones or any type of vase filler would also work inside the cloche.  Small twinkling lights are also a nice embellishment.

holiday decorated cloche
For my cloche, I just handwrote the message – nothing fussy – I like the organic look.  If you don’t like your own handwriting, a message can be printed out from your computer and placed under the glass to easily trace.  Of course, if a mistake is made, it can be wiped off with nail polish remover and rewritten!

cloche in neutrals

I hope you are inspired to create a holiday message on a piece of your glass or on a mirror or window this holiday season!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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easy holiday tree diy

December 4, 2020

diy in bathroom

It is funny how sometimes the very simplest DIY can have the most satisfying result!

Such is the case with this simple bottle brush tree décor made from a few simple materials!

I just assembled a few things from my craft supplies – 3 bottle brush trees in varying sizes, a slice of wood, a bit of moss, some glitter (glass glitter to make a sparkle in the night time), and my trusty glue gun!

diy supplies for trees

And, because of my preference for neutral holiday décor, the supplies I assembled were all in neutral colors.

diy on top of books

All I needed to do was use the glue gun to secure the moss and trees and then add a little glitter!

added diy to dining room

And just like that, a DIY that cost only pennies to make becomes a favorite!

diy decor

Amazing how this little piece of décor can make a little random spot smile provoking!  Such a simple, yet perfect, piece of holiday!

adding a DIY

I hope you are enjoying filling your home with some holiday fun!  This year it is especially great to have well-loved décor since we are all spending so much time in our homes!  Excess isn’t needed – most times a single highlighted piece is the best!

diy with merry xmas

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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diy holiday paperwhites

November 20, 2020

bulbs in pretty jars

Paperwhites are great for the holidays!  All that white flower goodness and it just requires a simple procedure of putting the bulbs in some water and waiting for them to bloom!  It takes 4-6 weeks for them to burst into flower, so planting some now will probably provide a Christmas week bloom!

A few stones in the bottom of a container help keep the bulb from laying directly on the water and rotting.

bulbs in jars with ribbons

Here, I have included some of the bulb plantings created by Terrain in Westport.  I hope it serves as some inspiration for you to design some plantings of your own!  Choosing a pretty container for the holidays is certainly half the fun!  With the cost of a paperwhite bulb under $2. a piece, you can have plenty of creative fun for very little cost.

The one annoyance of paperwhites is that they grow quite tall and all their weight is on the top.  To avoid this, you can stunt the growth of the paperwhites height by using alcohol!

paperwhite bulbs

By using this method, the bulb will only grow 1/3 to 1/2 its normal height, but the flowers remain normal size!

dishes of bulbs

After planting your paperwhites, the same as you usually would, you make a watering switch after the roots begin growing and the green shoot is 1-2 inches tall.  At this time, pour off the existing water and replace it with a solution of water and alcohol.  You can either use vodka and water (7 parts water to one-part vodka) or rubbing alcohol and water (13 parts water to one-part 70% rubbing alcohol).  Then, just use whichever solution you have made to water the bulb for the remaining time.

pots of bulbs

I hope you are inspired to plant some paperwhites this week!  Check your local garden store for some individual bulbs for sale.

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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terrain holiday 2020

November 13, 2020

outdoor at Terrain holiday

The holiday decor is out early this year and I think it is a great idea!  I would hope the early start would help eliminate crowds that could contribute to unhealthy shopping experiences.  In the interest of safety, I am sure many people are limiting their shopping to online.  I need to see things up close – I want to use all my senses when I experience holiday shopping!

white holiday at terrain

white bottle brush at Terrain

I have friends in different parts of the country who can not experience one of my favorite stores to visit at the holidays – Terrain.  And, Terrain really needs to be experienced in person to fully appreciate it!  So whether you would rather not visit a store right now, or you just don’t live near a Terrain to visit in person – enjoy today’s photos.  These are some favorite glimpses of holiday from my last Terrain visit.

terrain holiday entrance

wreath towel at Terrain

star spheres Terrain

terrain trees holiday

12 days towels Terrain

bubbly at Terrain Westport

green trees in pots at Terrain

holiday xmas terrain

tree trimming at Terrain

metal trees at Terrain Westport

I hope you are inspired to start on some of your holiday decorating!

Thanks for stopping by!

icy trees at Terrain Westport

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

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