pleasure in simple things

binge-worthy shows for quarantine

May 12, 2020

During this quarantine period, watching a television show with multiple seasons can be comforting in some obscure way – a show to count on each night as you return to it, on demand, to pick up a story where it left off.

I thought I’d compile and share a list of the shows I found during the quarantine in case you may also be looking for a good series!

In the past, I have watched Breaking Bad and Ozarks, but find I have a lot of trouble these days watching anything terribly graphic or violent. I mention this because the shows on this list do not have any graphic violence or horror.

In addition to this list, I’m always a fan of HGTV and all cooking shows. These shows are pretty safe from graphic violence – unless, of course, you count some killer knife skills! (By the way, the current season of Top Chef is fabulous! Not only is it set in Los Angeles, but it is a season of All-Star chefs!)

Better Things (4 seasons) This comedy-drama stars Pamela Adlon. I only became aware of Adlon when she happened to be a guest on a talk show in New York City that I went to see live. She was pitching her new show. Years later, I happened to see Better Things as a choice on an airplane TV during a flight home from a work trip. After watching a couple of the episodes on the plane, I couldn’t wait to see more!

This show was written by Louis C.K. and Pamela Adlon and when Louis C.K. confirmed the sexual misconduct allegations against him were true, I feared this show may be cancelled. But, lucky for us viewers, the show continued without his involvement.

Better Things is a semi-autobiographically show based on Adlon’s life and depicts a single mother raising daughters as a working actor in Los Angeles.

This thoughtful and entertaining depiction addresses so many raw and real moments between mother/daughter(s), divorced parents, interactions with friends, and adventures with an older parent.

Added bonuses – some great guest stars and well thought out music. (The show is named after the song Better Things by the Kinks). And, in season 4, a fabulous scene where the siblings, mom, and grandmother create an expressive dance as a graduation gift to one of the daughters.

Schitt’s Creek (6 seasons) When rich video-store magnate Johnny Rose and his family are suddenly penniless, they are forced to leave their pampered lives to regroup in Schitt’s Creek – the small town the Roses bought years earlier as a joke. In this sitcom, the Rose family is forced to face their newfound poverty head-on and come together as a family to survive.

Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara (both of SCTV fame) are cast as the parents. (You may remember Catherine best for her infamous lip-sync version of Day-O at the dinner table scene in the movie Beetlejuice.)

A real family affair, this show was created by Dan and Eugene Levy. Dan is Eugene’s son in real life as well as on the show. Dan’s real-life sister also plays a character on the show. The writing is fabulous and the show depicts the gay relationship of Dan’s character and his boyfriend in a way we rarely see on television.

After you watch a few episodes, your most burning question may be “How the heck does Catherine O’Hara stay in character?!”

Extra bonuses on this show include Catherine O’Hara’s flamboyant wardrobe and some great taglines!

Sex Education (2 seasons) I love a good coming-of-age story and this one adds a little different twist on the theme as the main character, socially awkward high school student Otis, has a mom (played by Gillian Anderson) who is a sex therapist. Being surrounded by manuals, videos and tediously open conversations about sex, Otis has become a reluctant expert on the subject. He teams up with the school’s bad girl to earn some money by providing a sex therapy clinic to deal with their classmates’ problems. Of course, through his analysis of teenage sexuality, we find Otis realizing that he may need some therapy of his own!

An added bonus is the gorgeous backdrop – Otis’s morning commute to school alone is a breathtakingly beautiful trip! You may find yourself adding a visit to South Wales to your bucket list after watching a few episodes of this show!

Blood Line (3 seasons) This dramatic thriller is a show I recently started on the recommendation of my son. The show portrays a contemporary American family, the Rayburns – hard-working pillars of their Florida Keys community. Their past contains dark secrets that they hope remain buried. Paranoia and mistrust build as lies pile up, alliances are shattered, and an unthinkable crime takes place. What happens when ‘good’ people are forced to consider doing very bad things?

My favorite character is the troubled brother and bad-boy Danny Rayburn played by the Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn who won an Emmy for his masterful performance.

Of course, the added bonus here is the Florida backdrop! The Rayburns own and run an Inn located right on the crystal blue waters of the Florida Keys.

Dead to Me (2 seasons) In this dark comedy, a hotheaded widow, played by Christina Applegate, is searching for the hit-and-run driver who mowed down her husband. In the process, she befriends an eccentric optimist (Linda Cardellini) who isn’t quite what she seems. The women quickly bond, but there are a lot of secrets that threaten their friendship.

With plenty of unexpected twists, I really enjoyed the first season and it was high on my recommendation list to friends. Now I am looking forward to watching the recently released second season!

Note: Linda Cardellini is best known for her role on the television show ER. She also plays the role of one of the Rayburn siblings in Bloodline (recommended above).

Grace and Frankie (6 seasons) Grace and Frankie (played by Jane Fonda and Lilly Tomlin) learn that their husbands have fallen in love with each other and want to get married. As everything around the ladies is coming apart, the only thing they can really rely on is each other. This Netflix original provides some fabulous laugh-out-loud moments – particularly in regard to Jane Fonda’s reactions to the challenges of growing older.

Considering the way mature women are treated in our society, this show is refreshing in its depiction of Grace (80 years old) and Frankie (70 something years old) – both developing successful businesses and new relationships in a later stage of life.

Three additional bonuses: Jane Fonda’s wardrobe, the California beach house the gals live in, and Martin Sheen.

The Big Flower Fight (releasing May 18^th) It is hard to include this on the list, since it hasn’t released yet, but I am hopeful it will be fabulous! I am eagerly anticipating this show on Netflix. Ten teams of amateur garden sculptors are to make huge flower installations based on weekly themes. The teams of two have assembled from all over the world to take part in the competition in the British countryside. I hope it is as great as it sounds!!

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you try watching one of the shows on my list! If you do, let me know how you liked it!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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savor

May 8, 2020

Is savor a verb you normally associate with eating or drinking? It is so much more than that!

Experiences contribute so much more to our happiness than material items and by savoring, or enjoying something completely, we are creating happy moments!

One of the great gifts to come out of the quarantine experience for me is to be given more opportunities to savor things that surround me.

So, today I am suggesting you savor completely – like I did recently when appreciating these gorgeous trees on my daily walk. I focused on them longer by telling someone else (you!) about them, stopping to smell them, taking photos of them, and sharing their beauty.

It is a great gift to have the opportunity to stay in the present and appreciate something fully.

I hope I have inspired you to take the opportunity to savor something today and contribute to your happiness!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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full instructions for decoupaged oyster shell trinket dishes

April 28, 2020

I usually don’t have a lot of patience for decoupaging, especially on a small surface like a shell since I could just as easily paint a pattern with a brush! But, the challenge of finding an interesting pattern/color to use on the shell makes it a fun project for me – similar to picking out yarn combinations for knitted scarves! Although, the current quarantine situation has strictly limited my choice of materials since I have to make do with what I currently have on hand.

Decoupaging is pretty easy. A decoupage material is used to attach paper to a surface and is brushed on top of the paper as well to provide a protective surface. Decoupaging shells is a little trickier because the surface you are applying the paper to is irregular. This is the reason why using tissue paper or a napkin is a much better choice for this application over a heavier paper – it won’t show wrinkles as much when applied. To get the best possible result when decoupaging a shell, use a paper napkin – removing the back layer and just using the top, thin layer with the imprinted design.

Decoupage material is widely available at a craft store or Target – it is basically just a white glue mixed with enough water to make a thick, spreadable consistency. When I was a kid, I would make it myself using the large container of white glue my dad kept in the garage.

To make decoupaged oyster shell trinket dishes you will need:

decoupage material (Mod Podge is a popular one)
2 paint brushes – one with soft bristles (1/2” wide) and a smaller, detail brush
paper cocktail napkins in designs of your choice (separating them so you are only using the top layer of designed paper)
white acrylic paint
gold metallic acrylic paint (or gold leaf – but acrylic paint is less expensive) I prefer a more subtle gold color like antique gold or champagne gold rather than a bright gold.
oyster shells (or shells of your choosing) – any size but in general, the larger the pattern on the paper used, the larger the shell

The decoupage process can get a little messy, so be sure to cover your work area. The shells should be clean. If you plan on using light colored napkins, be sure to use some white acrylic paint as your first step – to cover the dark spots on the inside of the shells so they will not show through the napkin material after decoupaged. It is probably easiest just to paint the inside of all the shells white to start with nice, clean canvases.

After the white paint is dry, use the soft bristled paint brush to cover the entire inside surface of the shell with the decoupage material. Then, take the desired napkin (top layer only) that has been cut to a manageable size and press it onto the inside of the shell (pattern side up), being careful not to move it (to prevent tearing). Once it is in place, you can use your finger or the end of the paintbrush to gently push out any obvious wrinkles in the paper. Next, use the paint brush to very gently brush a thick coat of the decoupage material onto the entire surface of the napkin you have just attached to the inside of the shell.

Once it is completely covered, you are going to carefully tear the excess paper away from the shell. This is accomplished by gently using a pulling down motion while tearing. The sharp edge of the shell makes it pretty easy to tear the thin paper. The surface will look very milky – that is how it should look. At this point, let your shell(s) sit overnight. You will be pleasantly surprised to see how great the dry shell looks when you return the next day!

Clean your brush using very hot water – remember the decoupage material is basically glue! (For the same reason, you may have to put the top of the decoupage material container under hot running water to loosen the glue when you next reopen it.)

For the finishing touch, when your shells are completely dry, you can add a thin gold edge by brushing the gold paint along the edges of the shell with the detail brush. A thin border of gold accentuates the beautiful organic shape of the shell – each one unique!

And that, my friends, is how to make a decoupaged oyster shell trinket dish! As you can see, I did my best to explore different colors – using most all the cocktails napkins I happened to have on hand! (I think most of the napkins I used came from Home Goods or Christmas Tree Shops. I know the one with the rope motif came from Ikea.)

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

P.S. Please note that a Dremel can be used to add holes to the shells if you would rather use them as ornaments and/or hang them. I plan on using some to make necklaces. If you are interested in other shell DIYs: for another oyster shell project, click here. For shell candles, click here. For a monogrammed shell tie-on, click here.

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beach walk

April 24, 2020

With the virus causing so many places to be shut down here in Fairfield County, I feel lucky that our town beaches have remained open for residents. A walk on the beach can sure make a bad day seem a whole lot better!

My beach walk today is to do a little scavenging for my next craft project. Can you guess what it is?

Did you guess what it was I was collecting? If you guessed shells, you were correct! The type of shell, specifically? Oyster! Although I did find some small ones, I didn’t find any of the really large ones I had hoped for!

Luckily, one of my friends is very close with a family in Connecticut who have been oystermen since the 1940s (fourth generation) and operate one of the last standing traditional oyster farms in the United States. Because of this, I was able to score some really choice, large oyster shells that are perfect for my project!

Maybe you didn’t realize Connecticut was a big oyster state? The Connecticut shoreline actually has more tributary rivers per linear mile of coastline than any other region in the country and this unique geographical characteristic creates the most ideal environment for oysters to thrive.

I haven’t made anything from oyster shells for a while. You may remember the oyster shell place cards I posted a while back? Click here to see.

There is a current craze to decoupage oyster shells in blue and white chinoiserie. Everything I’ve seen has been blue and white. So, I am totally motivated to create some decoupaged oyster shells in some different color palettes. So, since I have had enough of making Christmas ornaments in April, I am moving on to decoupaged oyster shells! Of course, I could easily convert these oyster shell pieces into Christmas ornaments! ;)

Stop back next week to see my creations and get full instructions to make your own!

I hope these photos may have inspired you to take a walk somewhere picturesque near you!

Thanks for stopping by!

Take pleasure in simple things and stay healthy, Jackie

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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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welcome sign redo

April 7, 2020

On my first project list of things to accomplish during extra time at home, I included ‘painting a sign for a friend.’ That was a great project because my friend really wanted it done and I loved helping her out. Plus, I love painting!

The sign was a wooden one that spelled out the word ‘Welcome.’

Welcome sign ‘before’ photo.

Looking through my Annie Sloan paint collection, I decided on the color graphite to use for the project. I love this color – a deep gray. I thought the dark color would be a nice contrast against the wall where my friend planned on hanging the completed sign in her home.

Because the paint color was so dark, no base or primer was needed. I just painted two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in graphite directly onto the wood. Next, I added a thin coat of dark wax. I did this just to keep the paint in place for the next step – distressing. I used a very fine sandpaper and sandpaper block to distress the sign. Obviously, the distressing is a matter of personal taste and I went heavy to accommodate my friend’s taste. After the distressing was accomplished to my satisfaction, I completed the project by adding a coat of dark wax. I used the dark rather than the clear wax so that the wood showing through the paint would look aged and not bright white. In addition, the dark wax deepens the gray color of the graphite paint very nicely.

Welcome sign ‘after’ photo.

So, that was the only project left to check off on my first project list. That list is completed…as well as several more!

The completed sign in its home!

I hope I inspired you to update something in your home with paint! Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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starbucks reserve

March 31, 2020

Have you been to a Starbucks Reserve?

I recently visited (seems so long ago now ☹ that walking around NYC was okay) the one in the meatpacking district in New York City that opened a little over a year ago.

Though not a big Starbucks fan myself (I get my joe at Dunkin’ thank you very much!), I found my visit to Starbucks Reserve fascinating! It brings something surprising and multi-sensory to the coffeehouse experience.

On my visit, I ordered breakfast and coffee. Although I usually drink my coffee black, I could not resist trying something different at this exciting location and decided on a cardamom latte. It was a great choice! Enjoying my coffee and breakfast so thoroughly, I even ordered an additional coffee – iced (with lavender) as take-out!

It is an amazing space! Covering 23,000 square feet, it brews coffee in seven different ways, has an expanded range of Reserve-exclusive coffee drinks, elevates the coffee aroma through in-house roasting, and serves artisanal food baked on premise. In addition, on its second floor, is a full-service bar – a fun way to extend the Starbucks’ experience into the evening!

There are several Starbucks Reserve locations globally; one of the largest bars, Starbucks Reserve SODO, is located on the ground floor of the Starbucks global headquarters in Seattle. Check and see if there is a location near you or in a country you may vacationing in – it is worth a visit!

Thanks for stopping by! Please stay well and safe.

Remember, now more than ever, to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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full instructions for decoupaged oyster shell trinket dishes

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in family we trust

welcome sign redo

starbucks reserve