pleasure in simple things

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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cali beach dreams

April 5, 2019

With temperatures reaching in the 60’s this past weekend in Connecticut, thinking ahead to beach days is definitely in order!

For today’s Friday field trip, in honor of warmer weather glimpses, some of my favorite outdoor photos from my last trip to the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel!

Have a wonderful weekend!

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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just desserts

March 29, 2019

For me, the rock star of any good hotel is the pastry chef!

I have a passion for baking and baking shows and I love to see every variety of dessert provided at a hotel. I always check out every dessert possible in every hotel I happen to visit!

And, of course, I need to taste every one as well!

At the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, I discovered a new dessert this trip that ended up my favorite – a baklava cookie! It tasted much like baklava but more in a cookie format. It had a shortbread crust and all the flavors of a traditional baklava. Heavenly!

I hope today’s Friday field trip inspires you to try making a new dessert…or maybe just tasting one!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things- like trying a new dessert! Jackie

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flowers with an ocean view

March 26, 2019

Visiting the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel is such a fabulous experience. I love the California lifestyle anyway, but staying in this particular Ritz in Southern California is the best way to live it!

I always appreciate the changing floral arrangements in the lobby and my last visit did not disappoint!

I was treated to an even more impressive flower display during this last stay when an ocean view wedding was scheduled at the same time!

Beautiful flowers, ocean views, amazing sunsets…I had to share this amazing wedding venue!

Hope your week is off to a great start! Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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living like a local

March 22, 2019

I did want to live like a local on my recent excursion to Orange County, California. I was told one thing I had to experience, if I was indeed living like a local, was a burger from In-N-Out. I guess the equivalent of a McDonalds or Burger King on the East Coast is In-N-Out on the West Coast.

I was game. So, my friends took me for a late dinner one night to give it a try. I admit – the burger was good. But, more interesting by far was the menu. Or, I should say, lack of menu.

There was a whole ‘secret’ menu going on! To simply order something from the menu meant missing out on a bunch of interesting choices from the ‘secret’ menu – all the choices that were not written down anywhere, but could be ordered if you happened to know the ‘secret’ names!

As an East Coaster, of course I knew none of the ‘secret’ names, but my friends did. That is how I happened to order a burger ‘Protein Style.’ Instead of placing my burger in a bun, the meat was simply wrapped up in fresh lettuce. Perfect for me! It tasted even better knowing it was a ‘secret’ menu item!

Some of the other ‘secret’ items the locals can order? ‘Animal Style Fries’. This seems to be a must-have for Californians. The famous hand cut fries from In-N-Out are smothered in cheese, grilled onions, and then topped with a glob of their secret spread. It seemed everyone around me was enjoying these babies!

Next time I happen to be in the vicinity of an In-N-Out, I think I would try ‘The Flying Dutchman’ – this is two perfectly cooked meat patties held together with a few slices of melted cheese in the middle…I do like some cheese with my burger!

All and all- a really fun trip with my friends to my first In-N-Out tasting! In addition to ordering from the ‘secret’ menu, I think the food tasted that much better because we stopped for dinner after being stuck in SoCal traffic for hours! Living like a local!

Thanks for stopping by Friday field trip!

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

Thanks D & R for a fabulous time!

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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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more frank lloyd wright

March 15, 2019

For today’s Friday field trip, I am continuing the photo essay of my visit to Taliesin West, the architectural school and winter residence of famed Frank Lloyd Wright, designer of iconic buildings, including the Guggenheim Museum.

This National Historical Landmark is located in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Wright’s intent was to use the facility to train architects.

Regardless of what your personal opinion may be about Wright’s style, the way he embraced nature with his design of Taliesin West can definitely be appreciated by all who visit.