boyhood home of a president

April 23, 2019

My recent trip to Southern California gave me the opportunity to check two Presidential Libraries off my list!

The second Presidential Library I visited was the Richard Nixon Library in Northern Orange County. Though I did not find it as impressive as the Ronald Reagan Library, I did find some great displays.

My favorite feature of this library was that it was built on the location of the Nixon family’s small citrus farm. The campus is also the site of Richard Nixon’s boyhood home. (It is the white house in the first photo above.) It was so very interesting to walk through the extremely modest home owned by the Nixon family – built from a kit bought from a department store!

The replica of the Oval Office included the insignia decorated carpet – the first. This became a tradition for every administration that followed.

As the only President to resign from office, there were certainly some interesting pieces of history to examine at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum. Although, based on crowd reaction, this artifact may have garnered just as much interest ;)

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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in plane view

April 16, 2019

One of my many varied interests is Presidential Libraries. It started with a trip to the LBJ Library in Texas and now I hope to visit every one! They are such an awesome tribute to our country’s history.

A trip to California gave me the opportunity to add two Presidential Libraries to my visited list!

Visiting the Ronald Reagan museum at the time I did was pretty amazing. In addition to the library itself, California was experiencing a period of ‘greenness’ that hadn’t been experienced in many years. Instead of the area landscape looking brown and dried out, the library, perched on a mountaintop, provided breath-taking lush, green overlooks of Simi Valley, California. I think the locals visiting the library took more photos of the outdoor views than the actual library itself!

You know I always seem to find a theme in all I do. The theme of this visit was transportation…I loved seeing the plane, helicopter, and car President Reagan used for travel. The star of the show is Air Force One. (Click here for a video of Air Force One at Reagan Library) It is displayed majestically with the beautiful landscape in full view.

Air Force One 27000 carried Ronald Reagan to 26 countries and 46 states covering more than 660,000 miles. It served as the “Flying White House” for President Reagan and six other presidents – Nixon, Ford, Carter, H.W. Bush, Clinton, and W. Bush.

Visitors are allowed to walk through both the plane and the helicopter on display, but are asked not to take photos inside the aircrafts. Bummer…I really did want to take a photo to show you the jar of jelly beans in Air Force One!

There was also a jar in the oval office!

I hope you enjoyed seeing a few photos from my visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S. It is interesting to note that the helicopter shown here was built in my home state of Connecticut!

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national library week with graves

April 12, 2019

I don’t think I am the only one to visit libraries when I travel, but I guess it may be considered kind of nerdy by some!

In honor of National Library Week, for this week’s Friday field trip, I’d like to share some photos from my visit to the library in San Juan Capistrano when I was in Southern California.

I was eager to fit in a quick stop to the library while in the town because it was designed by Michael Graves.

Pretty cool, don’t you think?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things…like visiting a new library! xo Jackie

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boston’s courtyard tea room

April 9, 2019

One of the great things about living in the Northeast is being able to visit some fabulous city libraries. Boston, New York, New Haven, Philadelphia…all locations of wonderfully historic libraries! Today it seems appropriate to have a library related post during National Library Week!

Established in 1848, the Boston Public Library (BPL) has the added distinction as the first large free municipal library in the United States. The present Central Library in Copley Square has been home to the library and has served as its headquarters since 1895, when Charles Follen McKim completed his “palace for the people.”

The champagne cocktails served in the Courtyard Tea Room are subtly infused with tea!

Though I have visited the BPL many times, until very recently, I had never attended an event held in the library. This changed when some special friends invited me to attend a baby shower in the library’s Courtyard Tea Room!

I was so excited, not only to attend an event in the Tea Room, but also to spend time with friends as well. A literary themed baby shower! How cool! My love for old books was set into overdrive!

I would need to wrap the gift I brought on theme, of course! I also ordered a book in the shape of the baby’s initial to include with my gift. I love that all the invited shower guests were asked to bring the baby a book in place of a card! (So hard to choose just one!)

Overlooking the beautiful Italianate Courtyard in the Boston Library’s historic McKim building, this stunning venue is the perfect location for a grand occasion!

The newly renovated Map Room adjoining the Tea Room is also a great spot to visit as well! The Map Room serves wonderful tea infused cocktails with a literary theme like ‘tequila mockingbird’ and ‘catcher in the rye.’ Look at the stunning overhead view in the Map Room!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you are inspired to celebrate National Library Week in a special way!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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cocktails in west hollywood

April 2, 2019

Work trips don’t provide much free time but during my last trip to California, I scheduled in a little time to see a friend and visit a couple night spots in West Hollywood.

Our first stop was for drinks and apps at Tom Tom – a newer spot and one that is featured on the TV show Vanderpump Rules. I was immediately enamored with the décor of the place. Wow! It is so cool! The theme of clocks and gears is implemented in a really interesting way behind the bar – with working gears!

Click here for a short video at Tom Tom!

And, the light fixtures are awesome – you know I can’t resist a great light fixture!

This bar is definitely worth a visit for the décor alone. The drinks are really interesting (and really strong)!

A quick stop two doors down proved to provide an awesome look at décor as well. PUMP, in its pink haze and displaying an indoor garden, is beautiful!

As coincidence would have it, as I walked into PUMP so did Ken with Gigi under his arm! (If you watch Vanderpump Rules or Beverly Hills Housewives, you know this duo!)

A couple of fun places to stop in West Hollywood!

Thanks for stopping by and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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change of scenery

March 19, 2019

There is nothing better than a change of scenery once in a while. A recent work trip took me to the opposite coast for a change of more than just environment. Visiting California was like living a different lifestyle for a short while. It came at the perfect time. I am going through so many changes at home and the trip to California helped ‘reset’ my perspective on life.

The best part of the trip was reconnecting with a childhood friend. Though we hadn’t seen each other in many years, once we were reunited, it almost seemed like no time had gone by at all!

My brief time in the OC (Orange Country, California) was jam-packed! I came home so refreshed – satisfied from a job well done and grateful for the chance to get together with a long-time friend – as well as meeting some new ones!

Get ready for some glimpses of Cali in the posts ahead!

Hope your week is starting off great! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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oasis in the desert

February 8, 2019

I shared photos of the white sandy beach I visited in Arizona in my last post. For today’s Friday field trip, I am sharing some additional glimpses from my stay at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. This hotel is currently celebrating its 28 consecutive year as a five Diamond resort. It boasts 6 pools and 2 18-hole championship golf courses.

The most impressive part of the resort for me was the spa. Even though I did not utilize the services the spa had to offer, I did take a quick tour. From the rooftop pool with mountain views to all the thoughtfully landscaped courtyards, the way the facility is integrated with nature is truly beautiful.

The 5 restaurants on property also utilize the outdoors. My favorite outdoor seating is at the restaurant Toro. So comfy looking, don’t you think? And, some great views as well.

It was also a restaurant – La Hacienda – that housed my favorite lighting fixture. (You probably know by now that I have a thing for lighting!)

The Fairmont strives to provide harmony with nature through vast open spaces, lushly landscaped grounds, and plenty of Saguaro cacti.

A fun spot for visitors to party is in the faux Western town created on the resort property. There is plenty of ambience to add Western vibes to any gathering!

If you know me, you know I never visit a hotel without checking out the desserts! My goal is usually to do the best I can to meet the pastry chefs when I am on property – they are my rock stars! My favorites at The Fairmont were this chocolate raspberry torte and a deconstructed Boston Cream Pie. I plan on recreating the later!

I hope you enjoyed this little visit to The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess! Thanks for stopping by!

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

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white sandy beach

February 5, 2019

On a recent work trip, I was shocked to discover a white sandy beach at my hotel. Why? I was in Arizona!

The sandy beach located at the sixth and largest pool at The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is Arizona’s only white sand beach. A 7,000-square-foot pool and 830 tons of white sand beach allow plenty of room for kicking up your heels (or, in my case, boots – I was in the west after all!) on the shore or enjoying a cocktail at the swim-up bar at Sunset Beach.

The resort hauled in 830 tons of white sand from Florida for the 9,000-square-foot beach surrounding the pool. It’s the same pricey sand that’s used in the bunkers at the resort’s golf course – home to the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

The Fairmont has fabulous drink menus. How about trying a Scottsdale Buck (gin, lemon, prickly pear, and ginger beer) or a Salted Cucumber Gimlet (gin, lime, cucumber and salt)? On weekends, Sunset Beach serves drinks in coconuts…so fun!

I didn’t so much regret not getting the chance to try some of the interesting cocktails served at the Fairmont – I was there on a work assignment after all! But, as a coffee drinker, I very much regretted not getting the chance to try one of the 6 varieties of flaming coffees served at the Fairmont’s restaurant La Hacienda! Has anyone ever tried one?

I guess I have to be content in knowing I drank an herbal iced tea sitting on the white sand at Sunset Beach!

I hope you enjoyed today’s post. I thought it was appropriate for today’s heat wave – it’s in the 30’s instead of single digit temperatures here in Connecticut!

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

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for the love of cactus

February 1, 2019

A recent trip to Arizona rekindled an old love for all things cactus! My succulent passion began when I was in junior high school and my grandparents invited me to join them on a trip to Phoenix.

From the moment I arrived in Arizona, I was totally intrigued by all the cacti adorning the landscape. I even tried (unsuccessfully) to smuggle some specimens back to Connecticut. (At the time, this was forbidden by the Department of Agriculture.)

I think it is pretty safe to say I was the only 8^th grader in Connecticut back then who subscribed to Arizona Highways magazine! Every month I eagerly awaited the newest edition – each one filled with photos of cacti – many of the photos including gorgeous, colorful sunsets!

So, maybe you can understand why my recent trip to Arizona had to include observations ‘in the wild’ of any cacti I was able to find!

For today’s Friday field trip, I hope you have enjoyed some of my findings!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!

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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