pleasure in simple things

no-bake healthful peanut butter cup

May 20, 2022

These refrigerator peanut butter cups are a great, clean replacement for the candy ones. I make up a batch to keep in the fridge for emergency cravings!

A mini muffin tin can be used to make these, but I prefer the paper baking cups I find in Home Goods for a couple dollars a package. I make sure the label says they are food and freezer safe.

I make 12 per batch (242 calories each), but they can be made a little larger (10 per batch) if you prefer them bigger. I use all organic ingredients from Trader Joe’s.

Mix together:

1 cup rolled oats
¼ cup almond flour
1 cup peanut butter (peanuts as only ingredient)
½ cup maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
Dash of sea salt

Dividing the mixture evenly among the cups, press into 10 baking cups. Put the cups into the freezer for an hour to set.

Melt ½ cup unsweetened completely cacao chips and 2 Tbsp almond (or peanut) butter just until smooth. Spoon the mixture evenly over the 12 cups. Pop back into the freezer until set. Store in the fridge or freezer.

Tear off the paper cup to eat. Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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early gardening

May 13, 2022

May is the time for gardening…and, it is the time when my creative spirit moves from the indoors to the outdoors. Typically, in this part of Connecticut, Mother’s Day is the ‘all clear’ for frost scares and it is on for planting annuals!

This time of year is so fun – using free time to visit nurseries to hunt for the perfect garden additions, adding plants to the garden, and planting annuals in containers. For me, this includes searching for the new and unusual in white plants/flowers. (If you follow this blog, you know I have what I call a ‘virgin’ garden – all the flowers bloom in whites!)

My garden is off to a great start! It looks as though all my plants are doing well – the established and the new!

I am starting off the season with just a couple of planted containers. I redesigned the basket by my front door with some spring annuals and planted in my grandma’s watering can.

A small start, but one that brings me great joy!

I hope you find happiness in a pretty plant that you walk by each day or a visit to a local garden store!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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‘beeing’ creative with clam shells

April 29, 2022

I have a love/hate relationship with bees. I am a gardener, so I love bees from a nature perspective. And, honey happens to be my sweetener of choice. But for all the good bees may do, some of them are extremely annoying! I have a major issue with carpenter bees at my house – they drive me crazy this time of year! And, a bee almost killed my favorite little puppy when he got stung in the throat by one! So, there is that!

Putting all the bad feelings aside, I know many people who keep bees and, who doesn’t love a good bee motif?

After I created some of the double clam shell decoupaged pieces from the last post, I started playing around with some of the single ones and created a set of shells as a gift for a bee lover.

I made a couple shells with bee designs and created a hanging shell as well to create a nice trio of ‘bee’ shells! (FYI: clam shells are much tougher to drill through than oyster shells! I forgot just how tough!)

I am happy with how these clam shells turned out and I am looking forward to creating some cute packaging for the set!

I think I may continue with my shell creations for a time – especially now that beach walks are more frequent with the milder weather!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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decoupaged double clam shells

April 15, 2022

You’ve seen me decoupage many a shell! Oyster shells are definitely my favorite to make, but scallop and clam are fun to do as well! And, since it is Easter week, I do have a bunny in the mix!

The procedure is the same as the one I gave you for the oyster shells. (Click here if you need the instructions.)

The only difference here is that I used clam shells and I used those that still had the two sides attached. I decoupaged both sides, being extra careful so as not to break them apart.

If you haven’t yet tried to decoupage a shell, I hope I have inspired you to try!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a fabulous Easter weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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spring at taken for granite

April 2, 2022

Here in Connecticut, it is still pretty chilly!

As we start to prepare for all things spring, I enjoy checking out the new spring goodies at all my favorite Connecticut gift shops! My most recent excursion was to Taken for Granite in Branford. I am sharing a little bit of my trip with you today!

Of course, I found a cute bunny or two!

And, there is always an amazing selection of jewelry:

As well as home decor:

Don’t these photos just make you want to check out all the spring selections out there?!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you are inspired to check out this shop or one of your favorites!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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park hyatt aviara

March 25, 2022

It’s no secret that I am enamored with the state of California and It is always exciting for me to get the opportunity to stay in a hotel in there – especially when it is one that I have never experienced.

Recently, I had this opportunity during a work trip. The hotel I visited rivaled any hotel located right on the coast (my usually faves).

The hotel was the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad (about 30 miles outside San Diego). Even though I was busy working while there, the aesthetics of this hotel were hard to miss!

It is magical – from it’s foggy early mornings…

…to it’s late night “campfires.”

The food at the hotel is fabulous – with many healthful choices. I so enjoyed the assorted varieties of chia seed puddings at breakfast as well as the ‘chef’s choice’ of fresh juice each day. One morning this was a mix of orange, mango and banana. So yummy!

And, for cocktails, there are some fun choices from the “Mixologist’s Lab” – like my favorite: a Yuzu Jalapeno Popsicle – a cocktail containing a popsicle with a jalapeno frozen inside!

Unfortunately, because I was working, I did not have the opportunity to enjoy all the hotel has to offer. This includes a golf course, spa, and a Richard Blais restaurant called Ember & Rye (check my Instagram stories for some photos of this fabulous restaurant – overlooking a golf course and owned by one of my culinary heros).

I hope you enjoyed a little peek at this great resort in California!

Thanks for stopping by!

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

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diy aussiedoodle canvas bag

March 11, 2022

I recently spied a canvas bag with a puppy pattern on a holiday clearance table in a gift shop. I thought it was adorable and wished it was an Aussiedoodle instead of the breed pictured on the canvas since my fave puppy in life happens to be an Aussiedoodle!

Then I started thinking – even if I found a bag with an Aussiedoodle pictured, it probably wouldn’t be a blue merle (his coloring) with one blue eye like my buddy Goose!

So, I decided to buy the bag I saw on sale and modify it to resemble my friend Goose!

I just used some acrylic paint and revised the image on the canvas. Now the bag reminds me of my buddy!

Just goes to show that inspiration is everywhere!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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diy bunny topped jars

March 4, 2022

Today I have another easy DIY Target bargain bin Easter project!

You may remember this squirrel topped jar project (click here). Well, today I have an Easter version using bunnies! The bunnies are ceramic and I found them in the Target bargain bin. When I saw them, I knew instantly I wanted to use them on jar tops so I went straight to the Easter candy section to decide what I would use to fill the jars.

Inspired by walking through all the seasonal aisles, I thought a ‘funfetti’ theme would be cool! Target had some ‘funfetti’ jellybeans. I picked those up and then I went over to the cookie aisle and found some iced circus cookies that would also be great with my theme!

I would get the jars I needed for my project from my recycling bin.

The first step of the project is to prepare the jars. Usually, labels come off easily after being soaked in hot water. Any stubborn adhesive usually comes off with acetone (or nail polish remover). After the jars are delabeled and washed, I prepare the bunnies. This just requires a little sand paper (or emery board) to roughen up the bottom surface of each bunny. This makes for a better adhesion to the jar tops.

I use a really strong adhesive called E6000 because I happen to have it on hand, but I am sure a glue gun would work as well. I am very careful to follow the directions on the E6000 label because there are a lot of warnings associated with this product!

After the adhesive is totally dry, the bunny-clad jar tops can be spray painted the color of choice. I chose my favorite off-white color since I think it goes best with the theme I chose. And, even though the original bunnies have a shiny surface, I prefer a matte finish.

An easy project, right? And there are so many variations possible based on favorite candy, color, theme, etc.! I made a couple variations to show you some possibilities – but, they really are endless!

Isn’t there always one that loves black jelly beans? I used leftover chalkboard paint for this one.

Use spray paint left from other projects like I did or purchase some from a building supply or craft store.

Certainly, the jars don’t need to be filled with sugary snacks – these contain carrot and celery sticks! (These bunnies are painted in a glossy finish.) Or, how about using raisins as ‘bunny poop’?

In my family on Easter, we always have a guess at how many candies are in a candy-filled jar and the winner gets the jar of candy! You may want to incorporate the same idea into your holiday traditions and make a cute jar to go with it!

I hope you are inspired to create your own bunny jars!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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wooden eggs from target

February 25, 2022

I love to shop at Target. Like many of us, I always have to stop and browse the bargain bins at the store’s entrance. It is so fun to find a life-changing item that costs a mere $1. or $3!

All the Easter items are starting to emerge and I was excited, on my last Target excursion, to find a box of 6 wooden Easter eggs in the front bins.

I knew it would be fun to decorate these plain wooden eggs. I recently acquired a really cool vintage Easter basket at a thrift shop and I knew one of the wooden eggs would fit nicely inside it.

I took out some Easter décor a few days ago and I had put the vintage basket in my bathroom because I thought it looked great against the backdrop of Anna Rifle wallpaper I had in that room.

Now that I brought the wooden eggs home, I knew I would paint one of them for the now empty basket sitting next to the bathroom sink on my vanity. I would just paint a loose interpretation of what was on the wallpaper. Perfect! And then I would still have 5 eggs left to decorate! Maybe I will decoupage a couple of them or maybe add a little gold leaf bunny on one!

That bargain bin inspires so many great ideas!

Pick up a pack of wooden eggs, or one of the many other decor items, and have some fun!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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chihuly in the desert

February 11, 2022

Chihuly in the Desert showcases Dale Chihuly’s stunning, large scale glass installations. The pieces created by this amazing glass artist are currently nestled among the collection of desert plants at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona (see more on the Botanical Garden here).

Chihuly’s work features installations throughout the garden’s trails in addition to pieces displayed in an indoor gallery exhibit.

Yes – cleaning is required! Pieces are cleaned by garden staff regularly to ensure the brilliance of the glass.

If you follow this blog, you have probably seen photos of the artist’s 2017 collection (click to see) displayed at the New York Botanical Garden.

I was so lucky to have the opportunity to view Chihuly’s work again – in 2022. And, it was so wonderful to do so in the beautiful February climate of Arizona when, back home in Connecticut, snow was covering the ground!

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of Chihuly in the Desert. I recommend never passing up an opportunity to see Dale Chihuly’s work! (Tip: If you visit the Desert Botanical Garden, try to see the exhibit at the end of the day when the bright sun is not as distracting to the works. Chihuly in the Desert continues through June.)

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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no-bake healthful peanut butter cup

early gardening

‘beeing’ creative with clam shells

decoupaged double clam shells

spring at taken for granite

park hyatt aviara

diy aussiedoodle canvas bag

diy bunny topped jars

wooden eggs from target

chihuly in the desert