art to help hunger

March 24, 2017

A work colleague was recently made aware of a really cool community service project and I – with a group of friends – got involved to help the cause!

The charity we identified created an ‘empty bowls’ event. This entailed a modest soup meal donated by a restaurant with the charity offering the meal for sale to the public. Guests at the event also had the opportunity, while enjoying some soup, to purchase an ‘empty bowl.’ The proceeds from the bowls, in addition to the meal, were then used to feed the hungry. A great idea, right?

Are you wondering why someone would be motivated to buy an empty bowl? Well, the bowls were all hand decorated! “Who decorated the bowls,” you ask? Why, myself and my group of friends – in addition to many other volunteers – all in all there were over 1,000 decorated bowls for sale at the event!For today’s Friday field trip, I am sharing some photos of the bowls decorated by my inspired group!

Some simple pottery bowls were painted, and later fired, in preparation for the ‘empty bowls’ event. Every bowl we decorated (after it was fired) was sold at the event and the proceeds used to help feed the hungry. I love the whole concept of this event!

I hope today’s post has inspired you to participate in some community service – or, better yet, to create your own ‘empty bowls’ event in your area!

The bowls on the left are the ‘before’ and the bowls on the right are ‘after’ the firing process…ready to be sold at the event!

Thanks for stopping by!

Enjoy your weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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hanging plants in eggs diy

March 14, 2017

It does seem a little bit crazy to think that while the snow is piling up outside, I am posting an Easter project! But, hey – we have already changed the clocks and Target has more flavors of Peeps on display than I have ever seen in my entire life! There are even Peep Oreos on the shelves! So, I will not feel guilty about starting Easter DIYs!

And, if 2 feet of snow is happening while I post this, so be it! Today’s Easter DIY is a simple one – hanging plants…but, the plants are hanging in eggs! I guess I could have made the egg hangers myself. It would probably have been long and tedious work not to break any shells in the process. And, putting the holes in the eggs would be very delicate work!

Instead, I found the eggs at Terrain for $2.50 a piece…a price well worth the convenience! With hanging eggs at the ready, the project was super simple…I just planted – very carefully – in each of the eggs and hung them from branches. Don’t they look super festive!

If you want to do this project completely on your own, you can empty out the eggs, make 2 holes and add twine for hanging, but I recommend purchasing eggs ready to go from Terrain! Or, if you prefer, plant in eggs that don’t hang. (I like to plant shamrocks or pansies in eggshells.) For this project, I chose to plant in natural eggs, but you may decide to plant in eggs that you have dyed. Have fun with it!

I hope I have inspired you to plant in eggshells!

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

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soup for a cold day

February 14, 2017

I know today is Valentine’s Day, but I don’t have any cute or romantic photos or projects…my valentine to you is a recipe for lentil soup!

On a recent cold and wet evening, I attended a soup class at my local Whole Foods. Of course, the best part of the class was trying the soups we learned to make! We made three soups that evening – my favorite was the red lentil soup with lemon. It is a super simple recipe shared with us by “Mrs. Wilson.”

Since the class was held at Whole Foods, there is no styling for today’s post, just a few photos I snapped during class to include with the recipe. Enjoy!

Red Lentil Soup with Lemon

Yield: 4 servings

3 Tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon cumin
¼ teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Pinch of cayenne, more to taste
1 quart vegetable broth
2 cups water
1 cup red lentils
1 large carrot, peeled and diced
Juice of ½ lemon, more to taste

In a 6-quart sauce pot, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil until hot. Add garlic and onions, saute until golden.
Stir in cumin, salt, black pepper and cayenne, saute for 2 minutes.
Add broth, 2 cups water, lentils and carrot. Bring to a simmer, then partially cover pot and turn heat to medium-low. Simmer until lentils are soft. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Soup should be chunky for creamier consistency, puree half soup in blender, then add it back to pot.
Stir in lemon juice just before serving. Garnish with cilantro and a drizzle of olive oil.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things…like a good hot cup of soup on a cold day!

Happy Valentine’s Day, Jackie xo

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valentine coffee sleeve diy

February 7, 2017

Today, I am sharing a really easy Valentine DIY that is sure to make someone smile! For no cost at all, it is easy to upgrade those sleeves you get on your cup of morning Joe!

Why not make one to slip on your loved one’s coffee before delivering it on Valentine’s Day! Or, add a special message or photo to your child’s hot cocoa!

The supplies needed are easy: decorative paper, a knife or scissors, a used coffee sleeve (you don’t throw these out, do you?), spray adhesive, and a glue gun. Just cover a used coffee sleeve with a decorative paper!

If you want to get fancy, you can use fabric. Here I used some scrap felt. I cut a heart shape in the felt; adding a piece of decorative paper behind the opening before adhering the felt piece to the coffee sleeve.

For this one I used a birch bark looking paper. I drew on the heart and initials with a marker and rubbed it off some so the writing wouldn’t be as sharp.

Here I used a paper with some script writing…you may want to use some sheet music of a special song or an old book page with a special poem.

Think of the possibilities! The paper I used in the second photo was actually a recycled Terrain bag! (Click here for more Terrain bag uses!)

I hope I have inspired you to create a coffee sleeve for a special Valentine!

Thank you so much for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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my ‘punny’ valentine diy

February 3, 2017

The valentine season is not complete for me without at least one ‘punny’ candy gift!

I am sharing one from this year on today’s Friday field trip!

Here is my package candy topper for some gummy eggs! The candy came from Ikea’s candy bins…they have some cute, pun-worthy selections!

I created my topper, sizing the image 1200 x 1800 pixels. Then, I printed it four times on a sheet of 8 ½” x 11” card stock. Next, I attached the topper to a plastic bag of candy. For fun, I packaged some up in a mini frying pan…so cute, right?

I hope I have inspired you to create a ‘punny’ candy topper or tag of your own!

If you’d like my egg topper image, just shoot me an email and I will email it to you. This candy also works well with ‘don’t yolk with me’ or anything about being ‘egg-static!’

For more detailed assembly instructions for toppers or some additional ideas for puns, you may like:

To use with candy chalk, click here (printable included).
To use with candy lips, click here (printable included).
To use with candy olives, click here.
To use with candy sharks, click here (printable included).

Have a wonderful weekend! Remember to take pleasure in simple things…like a good pun! xo Jackie

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valentines at terrain

January 27, 2017

Today’s Friday field trip is to a familiar location if you frequent my blog. I made a quick trip to Terrain this week between some work meetings, and I wanted to share some Valentine’s Day inspiration! I always feel sorry for those of you that aren’t close enough to a Terrain to frequent it, but by sharing I hope I can inspire you just the same!

There are some signs of transitioning into spring with some new displays in the store…

But looking around at inspiration for Valentine’s Day, there is plenty! From the heart shaped planters…

…to creative sweets!

Terrain Valentine heart candy pleasure in simple things blog

Chocolate valentine hearts at Terrain in Westport, Connecticut.

Terrain Valentine marshmallows pleasure in simple things blog

Some adorable heart shaped marshmallows at Terrain in Westport, Connecticut.

If you would rather buy a plant already potted, there are some cuties!

I was inspired to create some plantings of my own when I saw these pretty drinking glasses in the sale section! I bought a couple of these beauties as well as some ferns to create my own plantings! Won’t these be adorable as planters?

I found one other item I want to use for a DIY. Can you guess what I will use these for? Hint…it is not for Valentine’s Day!

Thank you for joining me today for Friday field trip! I hope I have given you a little Valentine’s Day inspiration – botanical style!

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

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trendy turmeric

January 24, 2017

Turmeric milk (also referred to as turmeric tea or golden milk) seems to be ‘a thing’ right now. It is a hot drink patterned after something called haldi doodh in India. Used as an immunity booster – along the lines of how chicken soup is used here in the states – Indian mothers used warm milk and turmeric as a cure-all for what ailed their young ones.

Drinks reminiscent of haldi doodh are making a big appearance of late – so much so, I am surprised a turmeric latte has not shown up on the current Starbucks menu! Maybe it has! Though many combinations of ingredients have shown up and claimed themselves golden milk, I am assured by Indian friends that the inspiration drink contained only 2 ingredients – milk and turmeric. So, like others before me, I am modifying the two basic ingredients to best fit my taste!

I am not sure everyone will enjoy the taste of turmeric. Mixed with the ingredients here, it reminds me of something along the lines of a Chai tea. Give it a try and see what you think! Here is my version of warm turmeric or ‘golden’ milk:

Garnish with a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg or a cinnamon stick.

Since the original intent of haldi doodh was to create a drink with health benefits, I tried to make my version as health conscious as possible. For this reason, I used organic turmeric and ginger, raw honey, and unsweetened almond milk.

I find this drink is a nice alternative to coffee, tea, or hot cocoa, and since I normally drink a few glasses of almond milk during the day anyway, I am not adding to my daily calorie count by turning one of those glasses into a warm ‘golden milk.’ And, the anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric can’t hurt!

I hope I have inspired you to try turmeric in your milk – possibly to create your own version! Enjoy!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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word for the year 2017

January 13, 2017

I don’t typically choose a word for the year – I’ve only done so once before. But, since this year is a very special year, I felt compelled to choose one.

What is so special about 2017? We are adding a member to our family! My daughter is marrying the love of her life; expanding our family by one.

Of course, the feeling is bittersweet…my baby is moving on and I will not be with her every day. But, it is comforting to know she will be taken care of by a wonderful guy and, I am extremely lucky she has chosen to live nearby.

At first I thought I might use the word family for my word of the year. But, after spending some time thinking about it, I decided the perfect word to be treasure. As a verb, treasure is “to regard or treat as precious; cherish.” That’s my word. And, with synonyms like value and esteem…this word is perfect!

I know 2017 will be a fabulously fun, exciting, and emotion-filled year! xo I look forward to sharing it with you! :)

Did you pick a word for the year? I hope today’s Friday field trip has inspired you to think about your year ahead and, if it feels right, to choose a word for the year.

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

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snow much fun!

January 10, 2017

With this past weekend’s first big snow, I was taken back to thoughts of my childhood snow treats! Growing up in the Northeast, snow has always been plentiful in the winters and, aside from using it for throwing, riding on, and building with, we also used it as an edible treat!

Eating snow off a mitten was a childhood rite of passage, but as you got a little older and a little more sophisticated, maple syrup or Zarex (a sweetened liquid fruit syrup that was added to water to make a flavored drink) was poured onto a fluffy mound of the white stuff in a bowl to create a sweet treat!

These memories prompted me to go outside and create some sweet treats using snow! Of course, make these treats only on the coldest of days!

Now that I am doing my best to avoid white sugar completely, my sweeteners of choice are honey and maple syrup. So, I used these two sweeteners to create my treats!

First, a maple ‘taffy.’ I think in the U.S. this practice was adopted from a common one in Canada. You simply boil up some maple syrup (boil it until it gets to the soft ball stage), pour it into a line in the snow, and collect it by rolling it onto a stick for a sweet pop-type maple treat!

I should mention that I only use 100% maple syrup in my house and that is the only thing I recommend you use with snow. The corn syrup variety of ‘syrup’ sold in the grocery store for pancakes definitely does not qualify as maple syrup!

The second treat uses honey as a sweetener. After mixing some vanilla extract into honey and pouring it into the snow, form little frozen balls with a spoon. Yum! You can vary the extract or flavor of honey to change up the flavor profile.

I hope these two sweet treats have inspired you to create your own ‘snow much fun’ treats! If you want to be ambitious, any homemade simple syrup can be used to create snow cones using snow…the flavor possibilities are endless! I am thinking of trying a honey lavender! Or, with Valentine’s Day approaching, maybe something using rosewater would be intriguing!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things…like eating some freshly fallen snow! xo Jackie

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caring for a fiddle-leaf fig

January 6, 2017

This week I welcomed a new addition to my household – though not actually a person, this new addition IS a living thing. I got a new Ficus Lyrata. Or, as it is commonly referred to, a fiddle-leaf fig.

For quite some time I have wanted to replace a plant that, until recently (RIP), had resided in a corner of my dining room for decades. I used a Christmas gift certificate to my favorite home and garden store to acquire a replacement plant. Because of the popularity of fiddle-leaf figs, particularly with decorators, shipments don’t last long at Terrain. But because I visit the store often, I was able to catch a new shipment arriving.

I spent a bit of time sizing up the contenders at Terrain. After looking through them all, I found one I connected with…does that sound crazy? So, with the help of one of my favorite (as well as lovely, knowledgeable and helpful) Terrain associates, I reviewed the care required for my new household addition. Knowing that too much love (aka over watering) was the number one reason for fatalities in this variety of plant, I took the suggestion to purchase a water meter. It is a handy item to own and I do have the tendency to over love my houseplants!

Getting some help picking out a fiddle-leaf fig from one of my favorite Terrain associates in the Westport, CT store.

So, I brought my new addition home and, with his (I have no idea why I immediately decided its gender) large beautiful leaves, this bold plant is the perfect one for the bright corner in my dining room!

my new fiddle-leaf fig pleasure in simple things blog

My new fiddle-leaf fig in his new home!

I know many of you own one of these plants or would like to own one, so I am sharing tips for success, courtesy of Terrain, on today’s Friday field trip.

Light: Fiddle-leaf figs prefer abundant, indirect light. Too little light will cause the plant to lose leaves and thin out. They also tend to grow towards the light, which can create a leaning shape. Rotate the plant regularly to keep it growing straight and full.

Temperature: Grow best in humid conditions with temperature consistently above 65 degrees. It is best to place your fig outdoors in summer when the weather is hot and humid. When the plant is indoors, place in an area with a consistent temperature and free from drafts.

Watering: The fiddle-leaf fig thrives with short, dry periods between waterings. Generally, water every 14 days – adjust depending on the amount of light your plant receives. Water thoroughly, but be sure that the soil and pot can drain completely. Do not allow the plant to sit in water, or it may suffer from leaf drop and root rot.

Tips: Dust the leaves periodically to assure that the plant can absorb as much light as possible. Use a soft, dry cloth to gently remove any dust buildup. Do not dust with your hands, as rubbing the leaves can damage them and cause drops of white, milky sap to appear.

Hope this is helpful to fiddle-leaf fig owners or future owners!

my dining room fern pleasure in simple things blog

The only other houseplant in my dining room – this cute little fern.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend, Jackie

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art to help hunger

hanging plants in eggs diy

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my ‘punny’ valentine diy

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word for the year 2017

snow much fun!

caring for a fiddle-leaf fig