a valentine delivery

February 14, 2014

This year is my favorite Valentine’s Day.

For Friday field trip today I am sharing the reason why.

I don’t have any big dinner plans…I didn’t receive a romantic gift…

I was given the opportunity to create and deliver fresh flower arrangements to residents of senior living facilities in my hometown.

The arrangements were created by some of the members of my garden club. With some basic flower choices from a local wholesaler and some miscellaneous containers collected by members, arrangements were lovingly put together one night this week.

The gals got together – clippers and gloves in hand – enjoying conversation and indulging in refreshments homemade by some of the members.

There is such a joy in giving Valentines to people that may not otherwise receive them, and although I did not personally know any of the residents receiving the gifts of flowers, strong connections to all the nursing facilities visited made the impact of the gesture very real to me.

If you belong to a garden club, consider adding this activity to your calendar for next year :)…if you don’t belong to a garden club, think about inviting a group of friends over next February for a special Valentine activity. Cute containers can be collected all year at yard sales or from flower arrangements you receive. (Just remember to keep the arrangements small since there is usually limited space in resident rooms. Also, call the residence in advance to find out about any special needs.)

Thank you for stopping by. Have a wonderful evening. Here is my Valentine gift to you…the best ‘set the mood’ songs of all time! Enjoy!

Here in the Northeast we are again getting blanketed with snow. Luckily, the Valentine’s Day arrangements have all been safely delivered. :)

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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diy dishtowel pillow

February 11, 2014

I am not much of a seamstress. My only formal training was in 8^th grade home economics class where I attempted to make a purple skirt. The school colors were purple and gold and I wanted to make something worthy I could wear on purple and gold day…Go Hawks!…Sadly, I don’t think it was ever even worn.

I do know the basics of using a sewing machine and I can sew a (pretty close to) straight line. As far as following a pattern – that is not something I picked up in 8^th grade. But, when I am determined to make something, it does get made.

So when I saw the cutest bicycle dishtowel in Anthropologie and decided it needed to be a pillow, I knew it would become a pillow…

I was determined to keep the integrity of the towel – without cutting or damaging it in any way. By simply using folds and straight sewing, I was able to create the pillow I wanted. Admittedly, the hardest part was pinning the trim into place!

1. “Pedal power” dishtowel from Anthropologie 2. I added material to the length of the towel to use as part of the back when it was folded (I used four of the bicycle photos on the front of my pillow and two on the back). 3.& 4. I positioned and pinned trim on the left and right sides of the pillow between the front and back. 5. View of the back. 6. After the sides were sewed with the trim, I turned the pillow inside out. Then, I sewed the bottom edge, leaving some room to add polyfill. (I added almost an entire 12 oz. bag.) I completed the pillow by turning it right side out and stitching the opening closed by hand.

I am enjoying it so much more as a pillow than I ever would as a dishtowel! A fun addition to a spare bedroom!

Wouldn’t this pillow make a great Valentine gift? If you don’t want to take the time to make a pillow, just wrap up the towel with a homemade card that reads: my heart races for you! :)

Thanks for stopping by.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S. If you are a bicycle lover, you may also enjoy this bicycle post. :)

Sharing at Shabby Nest, Craftberry Bush, and Coastal Charm.

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2014 word for the year

January 10, 2014

food for the soul

I hadn’t planned on assigning a word of the year for 2014. I had seen many others choose one and I wasn’t particularly motivated to choose one for myself. I toyed with the idea of using the word renewal …but, I decided against it; thinking it sounded like such a cliche…and how could I possibly use a word like that for the entire year…the idea made me think of the movie Groundhog Day.

Okay, I thought…no word for the year.

Then I met a friend for lunch that I hadn’t seen for a while. One of those friends that you can just jump right into a conversation the second you get together…start right where you left off with no hesitation.

So today’s Friday field trip ends up being the short journey I took to discover my word for the year.

It didn’t happen right when we devoured the artisan cheese plate…

Or even as I ate my local greens salad….

It wasn’t until sometime during my banana cream pie with sweet potato sorbet and pecans as I reached over to try my friend’s chocolate hazelnut budino, and spooned into the caramel at the bottom of the glass, that it really hit me…

My word for the year… Friendship.

It had to be Friendship.

Because the true nourishment that afternoon did not come from the food…the true nourishment came from a friendship…two friends connecting in a special way that only friends can.

In the words of Marcel Proust “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”

Even when I think of my wonderful family relationships, it is the friendships that make them special.

So for 2014, I want to acknowledge all the friendships that make my soul blossom…reconnect with some old friends… get together with some I don’t see as often as I would like…schedule regular family get-togethers…let those that I do see know how much they mean to me…

For it is truly the people in my life that give it meaning.

In the words of Henry David Thoreau “The language of friendship is not words but meanings.”

I value and acknowledge my friendships with a special focus this year and I look forward to creating some new friendships. :)

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Have a wonderful weekend, Jackie

P.S. The photos in this post were taken at the wonderful restaurant Le Farm in Westport, Connecticut…a “must try” if you live in the area or plan on visiting.

Sharing at Craftberry Bush and Finding Silver Pennies.

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a time for renewal

January 3, 2014

It is sad when Christmas is over…it comes and goes so quickly!

Taking all the ornaments off the tree is a sign of another Christmas come and gone…

Today’s Friday field trip signals the end of Christmas with the last signs of the season leaving my home…

I pause to admire the tree one last time before I remove all the lights…

And put all the ornaments back into the storage boxes to be packed away until next year…

Clear the mantel of the last of the holiday decor…

And start contemplating the new year…

The start of 2014 signals an excitement of starting something new…possibilities…a renewal…

I love to learn new things and to be open to new experiences…I look forward to new challenges in the coming year, and

I wish you all the best of possibilities as you start 2014…

Thank you so much for stopping by. I look forward to sharing 2014 with you. Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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monthly book giveaway for december!

December 1, 2013

Well, it is December and it is hard for me to believe that a month has already gone by since the last book giveaway! Things have been extremely hectic for me, but I can’t let today go by without announcing the November book giveaway winner and announcing next month’s book selection. First, I want to congratulate Nancy from New Jersey for winning a copy of Penguin and Pinecone by Salina Yoon for the November giveaway…it is a beautiful story…especially for the holiday season!

At the end of the year, we all think about fresh starts and resolutions…

So, I thought One Thousand Gifts by New York Times Bestseller Ann Voskamp would make a good book choice for December!

A beautifully practical guide to living a life of joy, One Thousand Gifts invites you to wake up to everyday blessings. As Voskamp discovered, in giving thanks for the life she already had, she found the life she’d always wanted. Just leave a comment here, or Facebook, or Twitter, or Instagram to have a chance to win this inspirational read.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

For Instagram users, please take the pleasure in simple things December Instagram challenge…use hashtag #pleasuregram to share a favorite holiday ornament…it can be one you own or one you see in your holiday travels. I will be on the lookout for woodland themed ornaments!

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shopping frenzy?

November 29, 2013

I hate the term ‘Black Friday.’ To me, the day after Thanksgiving signals the start of all that is good about the holiday season. I would prefer the term for the day signify the start of the holiday spirit and not the start of retail frenzy. How about ‘Magical Friday,’ or ‘Enchanted Friday,’ or even ‘Family Friday.’ How would you sum up the seasonal spirit in one word?

I am not saying I don’t enjoy visiting the stores. I do. But, not the ones that have long lines at midnight or that spotlight the latest ‘must have’ toy. I prefer the stores that showcase the magic…the sparkle…the beauty of the season…the kind of store that contributes to the spirit of the season – not the spirit of commercialism.

Taken for Granite in Stony Creek, Connecticut embraces the holiday spirit by providing homemade holiday treats for visiting shoppers.

One of my favorites is Taken for Granite. So, today’s Friday field trip on ‘Black Friday’ is a trip to Taken for Granite in Stony Creek, Connecticut to a store that helps kick off this magical time of year in a way no other store can.

And, of course, I had to include some woodland inspirations to go with my theme this year! Enjoy!

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed Friday field trip.

Have a wonderful weekend! Remember to enjoy pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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happy thanksgiving :)

November 26, 2013

This Thanksgiving week, as I pause to give thanks – I want to give a special thanks to you – for sharing pleasure in simple things with me.

Click here for a special gift from me to you...and…

Please enjoy all that is dear to you this Thanksgiving…

Peace & Love, Jackie

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holiday shopping trip

November 15, 2013

Today’s Friday field trip is a shopping trip! My woodland holiday theme has been so much fun, I thought I would share some of the great items I have come across in my travels. When I decided to put a few photos up for you to see, I never realized how much trouble I would have editing all the great things I have found!

A woodland feeling would not be complete without a cozy blanket or scarf…this one is from L.L. Bean and in a favorite color palette. And, I love the way this set of three tree candles from Crate and Barrel mixes with neutrals. The serving tray from Ballard Designs is perfect to serve ‘fruits, nuts & berries’ at your holiday gathering…make up some candied or spiced nuts to include on your cheese tray!

Doesn’t this bring back memories? Burning Christmas tree smelling incense from a log cabin incense burner is an old time favorite…and it helps bring the Christmas tree smell to every room in your home! This beauty can be purchased at Terrain.

In recent years, straws have been available in so many different varieties…this holiday season you can even find straws that look like birch trees! At Anthropologie, I found these lovely simulated birch bark paper straws…perfect for sipping an icy holiday beverage. No outdoor themed party would be complete without maple leaf shaped maple sugar candies…the Vermont County Store is a wonderful source to find varieties of maple candy. I had to throw in the classic plaid traveling companion! This plaid number is not just for woodland picnics…it can be used to plant small holiday trees or mosses on an entryway table or for planting some succulents or paperwhites indoors. You can purchase this classic at Orvis.

What to wear? Of course you need to coordinate what you wear with the theme! For the little one, how about this adorable handmade creation? SO CUTE! It is available on Etsy from Crochele. Not really my style though…I am planning on wearing this long forest green dress from Anthropologie. To give others to wear, I found some great handmade jewelry pieces for gifts…the bird nest necklace is available on Etsy from Alwaysabridesmade and the silver band squirrel ring is by Elizabeth Ryan and available on her website LookaJewelry.com.

These containers by Carla Peters are available at West Elm and are perfect for a single holiday bloom or…are beautiful all on their own!

Even though I plan on making my woodland themed ornaments (like my acorn ornaments :) for starters), I managed to find something available for the tree that got me excited….the perfect treetopper (at Terrain) for a woodland Christmas…isn’t he great?

I hope you enjoyed our little woodland holiday shopping trip today for Friday field trip. Here in Connecticut it has turned very cold and definitely brings with it thoughts of the holidays (of course Christmas songs playing in all the stores certainly helps this along lol!) Thanks so much for stopping by…

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

Please note: The photos in today’s post were not taken by me. They are photos from the respective websites where the products are sold.

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the season to count blessings

November 12, 2013

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I find myself reflecting on all the blessings in my life.

Especially when things get difficult, I try to pause and remember that I have so much to appreciate.

Today, I share with you some sentiments I find relevant as I reflect on giving thanks.

I have paired some favorite quotes with photos I have taken that help capture the beauty of fall in Connecticut.

Thanks for being one of my blessings…

I am thankful you have chosen to stop by today. :)

Enjoy. Feel free to share… and,

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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to each his house

November 8, 2013

I recently happened upon a really great project called “It Takes a Village” inspired by artist and illustrator Denise Benett Minnerly and I want to share it with you for today’s Friday field trip…