inspirational eatings for 2019

January 22, 2019

I recently read some inspiring words that I took to heart for 2019*. So, my next few posts will be a little different than usual. For three posts, I want to share some of my motivation for 2019. I have divided it into 3 categories. Today’s category is FOOD. Here are my top 5 food related changes for 2019.

Stop consuming caffeine. Being dependent on caffeine isn’t good. I gave up diet colas years ago, but seem to have a tough time with coffee and tea. My goal is to switch out the beverages with caffeine to herbal teas. They say it takes 2 weeks to create a habit so it may be a rough 2 weeks! But, I am looking forward to getting rid of the false energy source!

Consume 30 grams of protein within the first 30 minutes of walking up. This keeps you full longer and keeps blood-sugar levels steady as well as eliminates white carbohydrate cravings. It is hard to do because it takes some planning. Not a big eggs person, a planned-in-advance protein shake is my best bet!

Stop consuming refined sugar. I have done this successfully in the past with amazing results. EVERYTHING looks and feels better without sugar! Studies have proven that even our brains experience a radical change when sugar is eliminated! I usually slip back to eating it when something rough in my life is going on…not good! It does take some work to avoid this stuff that seems to be in everything, but it is SO worth it!

Eat at least one meal with family each day. This was something we took seriously in my family when my children were growing up. We always made sure we spent our dinners together each day. Now that that the children are grown, I can’t have us all together every day, but I want to create a time when all my family gets together for a meal as part of my routine. I know It can’t be every day, but it will be on a regular basis.

Buy a juicer and juice a few times per week. I know how healthy juicing is – a great way to get tons of vitamins and nutrients from fruits and vegetables. I have wanted to make juicing a part of my routine for some time now. I love the idea of adding lots of greens into my system with something I can drink and I love the idea of making green drinks myself rather than purchasing them. The parts I don’t like? 1. It seems pretty expensive to buy all the organic fruits and vegetables to put into the juicer. 2. Making space in my kitchen to house the juicer. But, these things aside, I am making a commitment to myself to do more research on juicers for 2019 in the hopes that I may convince myself to purchase one at some point during the year.

I hope you are inspired to consider some changes in your eating habits for the upcoming year!

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

*The article I read online that originally inspired me is titled 50 Ways Happier, Healthier, And More Successful People Live On Their Own Terms by Benjamin P. Hardy. I have recommended it to everyone close to me to read. I credit Mr. Hardy for providing a great outlook to live life’s best! I encourage you to read the article.

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diy sentiments jar

January 15, 2019

Do you keep a gratitude journal?

I am doing something a little different from a journal for 2019. I am keeping a jar of memories that document special feelings I have towards my children.

I am so appreciative of the two wonderful children I am blessed with and I created a way to collect all the special feelings I have toward them throughout the year.

The idea is simple. When I have one of those “aww” moments, I will write something down on a slip of paper to help me remember it and drop the slip of paper into my sentiments jar.

Those of you who have a vinyl cutting machine can easily use it to decorate a jar – maybe just simply the word “gratitude” affixed to the jar. Other ideas for jars are “laughable moments,” “2019,” “accomplishments,” “kids say the darndest things” …you get the idea!

In my case, I am very specifically documenting sentiments related to my children, so I created something appropriate to decorate my jar. And, since I don’t have a vinyl cutter, I designed and printed something on a color printer and glued it onto the front of a clear glass jar. Here is what I created, if you’d like to use it:

With Valentine’s Day coming up, a cool variation might be to create a “favorite romantic moments” jar for yourself or as a gift! If gifting, include pre-cut slips of paper and tie a pretty pen or pencil to the jar. For fun, add a few candy message hearts scattered on the bottom of the jar!

I hope I have inspired you to document some of your memorable moments in 2019!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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new skills for a new year

January 4, 2019

To say I will try new things in this new year doesn’t seem like anything new! I’m always trying new things and can never seem to find the time to try everything I’d like to!

One of these things is calligraphy. When I was in junior high school, I excelled at pen and ink lettering and was surprised when parents asked to purchase my watercolor and pen and ink posters at the school’s annual art fair. Back then, we wrote quotes in Old English in ink on large sheets of parchment paper.

For a long time, I have wanted to do some lettering in a more modern way than my days of penning in the Old English typestyle! Lettering has made a comeback big time, even though new computer programs and cutting machines have made it easier than ever to create lettering digitally.

Lettering is the type of skill that requires a lot of practice – since consistency is key – and it is hard to carve out enough time to do so! A few hours in an afternoon probably isn’t enough time to master any skill, but that is all I have been able to allocate to lettering thus far!

Since I am such an admirer of old books, I had a DIY idea that is very personal to me. I want to create some quotes I like on old books. Unfortunately, there is not much room for error – once the ink is down, that is it! I tried one as a test. After only a couple hours of practice – not too bad. That first letter didn’t really come out the way I wanted. Oh, well! I think I need a lot more practice before I put any more ink to book!

Do you have any plans to try a new skill in 2019? Why not? Choose one and run with it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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happy 2019!

January 1, 2019

A new year. New? That is a real understatement in my case. Trying to come up with a word for the year that could possibly apply to my 2019 seems impossible. Renew? Not dramatic enough. Strength or something related to being super strong – like, super-hero strong? Maybe. I just can’t come up with a single word that seems just right.

Instead of the perfect word, I thought I would share a few quotes for 2019…a few words that I find inspiring as I think of the year ahead.

Thank you so much for following. I have some exciting times ahead to share in 2019!

I wish you the very best in the year ahead! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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more holiday neutrals

December 28, 2018

As promised…

A continuation of Tuesday’s post with a little more from a favorite gift shop…

Holiday neutrals…

Enjoy!

And, that’s a wrap on this year’s holiday inspiration! I am already thinking of colors and themes for holiday 2019! Am I the only one?

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

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holiday seaside neutrals

December 25, 2018

Did I mention this year has been a little crazy? Many of my holiday traditions did not happen this year. One of these traditions was going on my annual ‘shop hop’ with the gals! We always have such a fabulous time! We plan it out so we can visit our favorite shops close to the official holiday reveal date.

I did make a quick stop to one my favorites, as you saw it a previous post. But I didn’t go close to the reveal date this year so the merchandise and décor was not at its true magnificence!

Nonetheless, in honor of the holiday week, I am sharing some photos from my quick holiday trip this year to Taken for Granite on this week’s posts. No matter what day the visit – it is always a pleasure and an inspiration to visit the store.

I hope you are having a fabulous day with the special people in your life. Enjoy the photos.

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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pick a wish

December 18, 2018

With all the craziness going on in my life during 2018, I didn’t design an Advent calendar as I usually do each year to kick off the holiday season.

So, this year, rather than inspire you with one of my creations, I want to show you something wonderfully inspiring I saw at one of my favorite gift shops.

It is not exactly an Advent calendar, but I am inspired to create an Advent calendar using the idea from this beautiful ‘grab a wish’ display at Taken for Granite in Stonycreek, Connecticut. What a beautifully executed way for the shop to give each of their customers an individual holiday wish!

Each pocket contains a written sentiment with a clear star ornament attached. The wish I chose was absolutely perfect for me! It read: Have the courage to step off the ledge so you may realize you’ve had wings all along.

I hope this inspires you, as it does me, to create something similar.

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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a life-size gingerbread house

December 14, 2018

Yes, I am a Food Network junkie. And, since I love to bake, I particularly enjoy any show that includes baking! Currently, that show is The Holiday Baking Championship on Monday nights!

I was recently lucky enough to meet a current contestant, 35 year old Lerome Campbell, one of 3 bakers at the Ritz-Carlton beach resort in Naples, Florida.

At this time of year, Lerome is something of a local celebrity because of his part in creating a gingerbread house in the lobby of the Ritz hotel. Each year, pastry chefs at the Ritz-Carlton beach resort plan, bake and construct a life-sized gingerbread house. This year’s creation used 60,000 pieces of candy, 1,200 gingerbread bricks, 464 eggs, and is held together with 400 lbs. of icing! No small feat, the house required 1,000 hours to put together!

The first challenge on last Monday’s episode of The Holiday Baking Championship was for contestants to prepare a classic chocolate holiday dessert with the addition of two common pantry items. Lerome chose to create a chocolate trifle that incorporated potato chips and red wine…interesting combo! Coating the potato chips in melted chocolate and then sprinkling them with peppermint insured a crunchy, flavorful chip. He simmered the red wine into a thick reduction and layered it into the dessert.

Even with the twist of having to incorporate the secret ingredient of fruit cake into his second dessert creation of a pecan financier on the episode, Lerome was able to avoid elimination and is advancing to the finale.

I’m rooting for my new friend Lerome next Monday (December 17^th) when he competes on the finale episode!

I should mention, since the gingerbread house at the hotel is not available for tasting (it is lacquered after constructed – so it is totally inedible), I made sure to taste every one of Lerome’s creations while visiting his hotel! I probably tasted at least a dozen desserts and they were all beautiful and delicious! One of my favorites was the yuzu crème brulee.

Hope you enjoyed today’s Friday field trip and a glimpse of the 2018 gingerbread house created by Lerome Campbell and the bakers at the Ritz-Carlton beach resort in Naples, Florida.

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

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christmas in a teacup

December 11, 2018

Would you like to try a Christmas craft that is a little different from creating a gingerbread house? Maybe even a little less intimidating? How about crafting a holiday scene in a teacup?

I recently met a good friend at a tea house for breakfast and came upon these lovely centerpieces on the tables…instant smile makers!

Of course this one is my favorite…it most closely matches my decorating style!

Isn’t this a great DIY craft idea? Even for inexperienced crafters, creating a little holiday teacup scene is not intimidating at all! A few little decorative items and some artificial snow are all that is needed to transform a teacup and saucer into an enchanting holiday scene!

I love this idea! I have plenty of vintage teacups since I sometimes use them to serve crème brulees or to plant moss or small plants. If you don’t own any, pick one, or several, up at any Goodwill or tag sale. Better yet, use a family heirloom to build your miniature scene!

I can’t wait to take out my box of miniature white bottle brush trees to get started! You know I don’t decorate in red and green for the holidays, so I can’t wait to create some scenes in neutrals! I think shells and sea glass are also in order! I see coastal holiday scene teacups in my future!

I hope I have inspired you to create some Christmas scene teacups of your own this holiday! Use your imagination and have fun with it!

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

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holiday 2018 at terrain

November 27, 2018

This may be the first year since it opened that I did not attend the holiday open house at Terrain. I know I usually share some photos from the day since the store is so inspiring!

A few followers that live out of the area emailed and asked me about the open house – hoping to see some photos again this year. Since I don’t want to disappoint…I made a trip over last Sunday morning so I could take a few photos and share them with you! Walking around early on a Sunday morning with a cup of coffee proved to be a peaceful and beautiful way to start the day!

It is not exactly the same as the magnificent open house day, but for those of you who aren’t lucky enough to have a Terrain within visiting distance, the photos are fun to look at!

My favorite things are always the plants and I was not disappointed. The terrariums and the way they incorporate holiday elements are fabulous!

The miniature zinc village is one of the stars of the show…as it was last year. It looks like some new pieces were added this year. I am still totally in love with the zinc advent calendar!