christmas is coming

October 23, 2020

If you have been to any stores or shopping online, you already know that holiday merchandise is out for sale extra early this year. I think this is a good thing.

Hopefully, it will eliminate crowds as people finish their shopping before the traditional rush.

I’ve always been an early shopper anyway and traditionally wrap holiday gifts on Thanksgiving weekend. So, even if it wasn’t a pandemic, I would be fine with early holiday displays.

On an ‘out and about’ trip this week, I saw plenty of holiday and that was kind of the intent of a friend and I – to check out some of the displays in our favorite stores.

But I couldn’t help appreciating some fall décor (even if the temps were 74 degrees!) as a farewell – and, to score a few good pumpkins stems (at 25% off!) to make a few more velvet pumpkins.

I hope you are inspired to appreciate fall one more time before the holiday takes over! Use the weekend to enjoy some cider donuts…go leaf peeping…visit a farm.

Have a fabulous weekend.

Thanks for stopping by, Jackie

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red, white & blueberry ice pops

June 30, 2020

Long before my son and I discovered the evils of corn syrup, the two of us would easily polish off a huge box of freeze pops over the July 4^th weekend at the beach!

Food safe plastic sleeves are easily available for purchase on the internet these days, so it is super easy to make a more modern version of freeze pops. These pops have no corn syrup and are made with healthful ingredients. The added bonus is that they are SO much tastier than the originals!

For July 4^th, I picked flavors that would reflect red and blue for the occasion! I decided on blueberry lavender and strawberry rosemary – a far cry from the corn syrup and water variety freeze pops sold at big box stores!

Strawberry Rosemary Ice Pops makes 5

In the summer, I keep a big pot of rosemary growing outside to have handy to use in cooking. It’s super easy to grow. Not only a good herb to have for savory dishes, but it tastes great with so many fruits and in pastry as well! If you aren’t a rosemary fan, just eliminate it from the recipe or switch it out for basil.

3 cups cleaned fresh strawberries
¼ cup water
3 sprigs fresh rosemary
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Dash of salt
3 Tablespoons honey

In a small pan on the stove, combine the strawberries, water, and rosemary. Cook over low heat about 10 minutes. The strawberries will get soft and you can mash them with a wooden spoon to release their juices.

Turn off the heat and cover the pan. Let cool for 10 minutes. Remove and discard the rosemary sprigs. Transfer the strawberry mixture to a blender and add the vanilla, salt, and honey. Blend until combined and smooth.

Pour the mixture into ice pop sleeves using a small funnel and freeze overnight.

Lavender Blueberry Ice Pops makes 5

I love this flavor combination. I know it is not for everyone, but I truly enjoy a subtle lavender flavor.

I always have culinary lavender on-hand. (Make sure if you are using lavender in cooking that you are using culinary grade!) My favorite ways to use it are in shortbread, ice cream or ice pops! If you are hesitant to try the lavender, you can always leave it out!

½ cup water
1 cup coconut sugar
1 Tablespoon dried culinary lavender
4 cups fresh blueberries

In a small saucepan, whisk together the water and coconut sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened – about 10 minutes. Add the lavender and simmer for 10 minutes more until the mixture has reduced by about half and looks thick and syrupy.

Remove the pan from the heat and strain mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a blender. Let syrup cool for about 15 minutes. Add blueberries and blend until very smooth.

Pour the mixture into ice pop sleeves and freeze overnight.

I hope you will consider making up some freeze pops for your holiday!

Click here for some additional patriotic ice pops.

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

These pops are inspired by recipes from the book Glow Pops by Liz Moody – the bible on healthful ice pops!

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polar bear ornament

April 21, 2020

I have been working on Christmas ornaments for a while now. Mostly because I had all the supplies to do so. With the recent snow in Connecticut, it actually seemed appropriate to be working on Christmas ornaments this past week!

But I think it is time I mixed things up! So, this will be the last post on ornaments until Christmas is actually approaching!

I worked on two more designs since my last post. First, I did a bunch of initial ornaments – they are always fun to attach to packages or stockings and second, I completed a celebration of polar bears!

Yes, a celebration is what you call a group of polar bears!

Since I was using black and white paint, I decided either a penguin or a polar bear would work best for a Christmas animal ornament. I like polar bears better than penguins! (You may remember I had crafted a polar bear Easter egg in a past post.) And, a polar bear provides a great graphic – using only a few simple shapes!

That’s it for ornaments for a while!

My next project will be a little more appropriate to the season!

Thanks for stopping by!

Take pleasure in simple things and stay healthy, Jackie

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diy couple ornament

April 17, 2020

The severity of the virus isn’t enough – we also have to endure all the residual disappointments – cancellations of 30^th birthday parties, bridal and baby showers, weddings, graduations. As ‘change the date’ cards start to flood mailboxes, I can’t help but feel sad for the many wonderful celebrations that were so lovingly planned only to be crushed by the virus.

With the months – often years – involved in planning, I really can’t imagine having to reschedule a full-blown wedding! Can you?

I’ve been thinking a lot about the people I know with upcoming weddings and that is what inspired the second ornament design in my current black and white collection. Why black and white? I grabbed the black and white paint for my first ornament designs (the Schitt’s Creek series in my last post) and just decided to keep those two colors in play.

I love white birch trees and have used them in a lot of different ways in décor – both in store displays and at home. Maybe it is a tribute to my many years of tent camping! Using a white birch design on a wood slice seems a natural fit – don’t you think? It is an easy, graphic design. Thinking of all the brides I know to be married this year, I made up a bunch of these ornaments, just adding the appropriate initials to each. They can be boxed up as a gift or tied onto an engagement gift package!

I hope this inspires you to honor the upcoming brides you know who may be affected by the virus.

Thanks for stopping by!

Take pleasure in simple things and stay healthy, Jackie

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diy schitt’s creek ornaments

April 14, 2020

We are all changing the way we live in light of this crazy virus. For me, many of my holiday traditions were bypassed this year as I tried to be safe and ‘flatten the curve’ best I could. Because of it, I haven’t been to a grocery store in over a month and many of my pre-Easter traditions that revolved around food were eliminated for 2020.

Some for the better…I really never needed to eat my body weight in Cadbury eggs – let’s be real! But, I definitely missed my egg dyeing! If you follow the blog, you know I come up with a theme each year for my Easter eggs. You may remember the constellation theme, succulent theme, or picnic theme…to name a few. If I had the opportunity to purchase some eggs this year, I know I would have done a Schitt’s Creek theme for my decorated eggs, especially since the show just aired its finale episode. I could have made an egg for each of the characters on this fabulous television show – with their name on it. I could have decorated one with crows…made one with the motel sign…one with a rose…etc., etc.

The other day, feeling down about missing a year of egg decorating, I ended up finding something else to decorate. I started in on Christmas tree ornaments! I know, I know…April is kind of early for Christmas thoughts! But, crazier things are happening all around me!

I started my ornament creations with a Schitt’s Creek theme – using three of my favorite quotes from the show. This is a super easy DIY project! For my ornaments, I used wood slices. I simply sanded them smooth and painted one side black. I lettered a phrase on each ornament with a permanent oil-based gold paint pen and added a coordinating ribbon.

My Schitt’s Creek ornament collection is complete! A tribute to a wonderful show! I plan on continuing with a black and white theme and create a few more collections of ornaments!

Thanks for stopping by! Stop back and see what the next collection of ornaments may be!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S. If you haven’t yet had a chance to check out this show, now may be the perfect opportunity! Enjoy!

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in family we trust

April 10, 2020

It is strange to be isolated on Easter. It certainly is disappointing not to get together with family I don’t often see – especially the newest members of the family. But it is a time to reflect on the many blessings I have in my family.

When times are tough, people show their character. The virus isolation has taught me a lot about people – some surprising revelations about the true character of people I thought I knew. But through distancing and some other recent challenges, I’ve found comfort in knowing my family is a constant – something to count on in times of extreme distress.

So, although my family may not all be sitting around the same table on Sunday as we usually do – we are all truly together.

Wishing you and your family a blessed Easter!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S. The photos included here represent the limited Easter décor I put out this year. If you follow my blog, you probably find it hard to believe I didn’t dye any eggs this year since I normally come up with a new theme each year! Fairfield Country, where I live in CT, has been hard hit by the virus and I have been doing my part by not going out. So, I haven’t been to a grocery store to purchase eggs!

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the breakers, palm beach at holiday

December 17, 2019

I know I have posted quite a bit about The Breakers in Palm Beach in the past, but today, I am sharing photos of this beautiful, historic hotel decked out for the holidays! Enjoy!

How lucky was I to get the chance to stay at The Breakers at this time of year!

Thanks for stopping by, Jackie

P.S. If you would like to see more on The Breakers, visit some past posts by clicking below:

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diamonds & furs christmas tree

December 3, 2019

In this part of the country, snow and Christmas just go together! As we prepare for our first significant snow storm of this winter, it is hard not to think of the holidays!

The short 3-week time period between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year has put everyone in a shopping frenzy! I did most of my holiday décor and shopping extra early this year so I could give my full attention to the holiday displays I needed to prepare at work.

One thing I did fit in was to create a themed tree for a local nonprofit. You know how much I love a good theme! I came up with a fun one for a tree to be raffled off by a private local high school.

My ‘luxury’ theme was inspired by Tiffany. Tiny mink coats, strings of pearls, diamonds, and Tiffany boxes came together in a really fun way on a lighted table top Christmas tree! I wanted to come up with a tree no one else would think to do – what better way to create some interest!

I plan to make my decorated tree donation an annual tradition and I am looking forward to coming up with a new theme each year as a way to inspire others to donate to the school!

I hope I have inspired you to combine fun and giving into your holiday routine!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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the perfect white santa mug

November 26, 2019

You take your life – or at the very least, the well-being of your car – in your hands when parking at our local Walmart. I never go to the store for that reason! I am way too particular about my car to chance a nick or ding in it by parking in the Walmart lot!

Well, recently I was driving through another town and happened to see a Walmart ahead – noticing the parking lot was roomy and well-marked – so very different from the one at my local store! As I got close, I remembered hearing someone tell me I was crazy not to buy cereal at Walmart because it was a full dollar less than the grocery store. Remembering this, as I got closer to the store, I pulled in! I thought I would pick up some of that bargain cereal and maybe some bulk paper goods.

Well, I was so glad I stopped! As I walked down the main aisle headed for the cereal, I saw all-white Santa mugs! Perfect for my neutral holiday palette! In addition, they were less than $3. a piece! Wow!

I had to let you know about this fabulous find!