pleasure in simple things

take a breath

October 20, 2015

I recently joined some friends for some afternoon tea. Friends I don’t see often enough. As busy as I was, I stopped for a short while to take a breather. A change of scenery…a change in conversation…a change in perspective. How refreshing!

So, I guess today’s post is just a reminder to take a break once in a while. Have dinner with a couple special friends, spend time with your mom and her friends, or steal a little time to have afternoon tea.

Even if it is only an hour or two, and even if it means staying up till 2 am to make up for it! Because maybe when life is the busiest is the time to take a breath. Because, in the words of a very wise man (aka Ferris Bueller), “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

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

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in the pink

October 16, 2015

For Friday field trip today, I am sharing a sweet little pink pumpkin arrangement. You know I love putting flowers or plants in pumpkins! Aren’t these cute for each place setting at a breast cancer charity event?

I used little baby boo pumpkins – you know, the little white ones? I started by painting each pink. I just used regular flat, latex house paint. After they were dry, I cut the tops off and cleaned the inside. I used a little soaked floral foam inside each pumpkin and stuck my pink zinnas in it.

Simple and adorable!

Try other colors based on the theme of your event or the decor in your home. Or, maybe make some in fall colors for your Thanksgiving table!

I hope I have inspired you to create a little pumpkin arrangement of your own!

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

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cake name bunting & candy corn bar

October 13, 2015

These days, writing a name in icing on the top of a birthday cake just seems so old fashioned! I don’t see many cakes with names piped on the top with icing these days. So, when I set out to make a birthday cake for some co-workers, I decided to make some buntings for the top and thought I would share the quick, easy way I did so.

My supplies were old book pages, alphabet rubber stamps, bakery twine, and some skewers.

I started out by folding some of the book pages. Then, I stamped each letter of the names I was creating onto the page, keeping the top of the letter close to the fold. I cut triangle shapes around each letter, keeping the fold intact. I arranged each triangle shape onto a piece of bakery twine and used a bead of glue to hold each one in place.

The final step was to tie each end of the twine to a skewer adding a dot of glue to secure in place. Lastly, I will add each of the skewers to the cake!

Wouldn’t the cake have looked so dated with the names piped on top compared to a cute name bunting?

Hope I inspired you to create a simple name bunting next time you bake a birthday cake! Play around with some materials and colors based on the tastes of your recipient. (My recipients were book lovers!) Or, you may want to add a little glitter for some sparkle! Have fun with it!

Where is the cake? Actually, still in the oven! And, why the candy corn bar? Well, can you really have a birthday celebration without candy?! ;)

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

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pink for breast cancer awareness

October 9, 2015

A quick post for Friday field trip today…I have been busy painting and I thought you might like to see what 50 pink pumpkins look like!

Remember October is breast cancer awareness month! Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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50 shades of pink pumpkins

October 6, 2015

Usually, at this time of year, I am creating some pumpkins. It may be pumpkins made of velvet. It may be real pumpkins carved with sea-themed designs. Or, it may be my favorite white pumpkins enhanced with paint or decoupage.

Usually, though, at this time of year; I have given in to the idea of fall and have started creating some fun pumpkin crafts. This year, my time is particularly limited. Working three jobs and seven days a week leaves me little free time for fun projects.

So, in the interest of using my time effectively, I decided to use my pumpkin creativeness in a way that will serve as more than just fall décor. I am using my limited free time to paint pumpkins pink as a way to celebrate breast cancer awareness month. My goal is to paint 50 pumpkins in different shades of pink!

Armed with Antoinette, Old White, and Primer Red Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and some large drop cloths, I started my project – now just 6 pumpkins in! In this way, 50 homes will display a pumpkin that celebrates more than a decorative item. It serves as a way to remind our neighbors to practice good breast health. If one person sees a pink pumpkin and takes a moment to consider what it means, I think the painting was well worth my time!

So, instead of decorating pumpkins for fall décor this year, I am painting them to decorate a celebration of good breast health! Please consider displaying a pink pumpkin in front of your home this year to show that pumpkins can remind us of more than just Halloween!

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

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gluten & dairy free pumpkin dessert

October 2, 2015

It is important to have a recipe or two in the repertoire that can accommodate dietary restrictions. Having a couple of recipes for gluten-free desserts that taste good is important to me. I came across a recipe over Labor Day weekend, while flipping through some magazines, that used bananas as a base for a frozen pumpkin dessert. I was intrigued. My favorite gluten-free dessert thus far is an amazing chocolate pudding made from an avocado base. (If you want to look back on it, click here.)

Having a frozen selection – particularly a seasonal one – seemed ideal! So, I gave it a try. I was not disappointed. I just wish I could remember from which magazine I discovered it! Part of the attraction was the few simple ingredients and easy instructions.

So, for today’s Friday field trip; a quick and easy gluten-free pumpkin ice cream recipe.

I made it a couple of times. The first time I mixed all the ingredients together, froze them, and then thawed the mixture slightly and whipped in the blender when ready to serve. The second time, I added all the ingredients to the blender, expect the bananas, and then tossed in some frozen bananas I had in the freezer. This worked also – although I think the ingredients mixed more thoroughly using the first method.

A nice surprise dessert for those who can’t have gluten or dairy…and, a healthy dessert for anyone!

Thanks for visiting! Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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october book giveaway!

September 29, 2015

This month’s giveaway book is a favorite of mine. When I need a quick dessert for guests and don’t want to spend a lot of time in the grocery store in preparation, this is the recipe book I grab! Every dessert in it uses just four ingredients!

Desserts 4 Today by Abigail Johnson Dodge is a wonderful collection of recipes for flavorful desserts with just four ingredients. It is from this book that I adapted a meringue recipe to create my rosewater meringues. I know you will enjoy this recipe book as much as I do. It makes a special dessert as easy as four ingredients!

To be entered to win a copy, simply add a comment to this post. The winner will be chosen at random from the comments received during the month – my way of saying thank you for sharing pleasure in simple things with me! Good luck!

The winner of last month’s selection is Heather. Congratulations to you! A lovely book Sea Glass Treasures from the Tide by Cindy Bilbao is on its way to you to remind you of summer all year long!

For Instagram followers, this month’s challenge is to post photos of white pumpkins! You know white pumpkins are one of my fall obsessions…let’s share! Post a photo of one you have decorated – like I did here – or, one you admire. Use hashtag #pleasuregram to share your favorite white pumpkin photos. Happy fall!

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

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celebrate fall with flowers in a pumpkin

September 25, 2015

It has been somewhat of a tradition for me to use the end of the season flowers from my garden for a flower display in a pumpkin. Each year, once fall arrives, I use the few flowers left in my garden to create an arrangement in a white pumpkin.

I guess it is my way of admitting it is, in fact, fall! Usually, the only blooms left in my garden are a few burgundy mums – planted to match the color of my front door – in the front yard and a few small white accent flowers in a couple of my potted arrangements.

This year I used a mini pumpkin for my arrangement since there are so few flowers left! I just hollowed out a mini boo and added an old flower frog for the flowers. If you create one, just remember that pumpkins are not always water tight. It is a good idea to trim a disposable plastic cup to line the inside of the pumpkin as a safe guard, before adding any water. The flowers can be added directly in the plastic cup or, some flower foam can be added and saturated inside the cup first.

An easy and fun way to celebrate the start of the new season!

Thanks for stopping by for Friday field trip!

Have a fabulous weekend! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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diy mini mummy pumpkins

September 22, 2015

I was inspired by a Pottery Barn pillow to create some pumpkin mummies for a child’s Halloween display.

They are super simple to create and so darn cute! All you need are a few baby boos (mini white pumpkins), cheesecloth, a glue gun, and a black permanent marker.

Start by using the permanent marker to draw two eyes on the pumpkin – reference the photos here to guide your placement.

Next, cut a long strip from the cheesecloth, approximately 1” – 2” wide. This can be adjusted based on the size of the pumpkin.

Wrap the cheesecloth around the pumpkin, keeping it in place by attaching it with beads of glue from the glue gun as you wrap. Be careful not to burn yourself – don’t push down the cheesecloth with a bare finger – because the cheesecloth is so porous, the hot glue will go right through to your fingers!

Also, be sure not to cover the drawn eyes completely! They need to peer through the cheesecloth!

There you have a pumpkin mummy! It is sure to add some whimsy to a Halloween table! Make one or a whole bunch! Wouldn’t they make adorable favors for a Halloween party? Or, a great gift for a favorite teacher?

Have fun with it!

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

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painting acorns

September 18, 2015

For Friday field trip today, I am painting some acorns! This is my last ‘neutralizing fall’ element. After completing some pine cones and some leaves, the acorns are my final painting project.

These little fall icons are very easy to paint and they can be painted to match any décor. I don’t use paint brushes any more when painting these small pieces; I much prefer paint pens.

For this year’s fall display, I first painted the bottoms of all the acorns with white paint pens. After the paint was good and dry, I used a little piece of a clean rag to rub the white paint with gold metallic paint.

For the tops of the acorns, I used a cotton swab to add some clear paint glitter to give them a little bling!

That’s it! Now the acorns have been painted to match the rest of my ‘neutralized’ elements! I will team these elements up with some of my hand crafted velvet pumpkins and will add some white pumpkins of varying sizes throughout my home.

Thanks for stopping by for Friday field trip! Have a fabulous weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S. If you prefer velvet acorns, click here for a tutorial from my archives…enjoy!

Sharing at French Country Cottage.

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take a breath

in the pink

cake name bunting & candy corn bar

pink for breast cancer awareness

50 shades of pink pumpkins

gluten & dairy free pumpkin dessert

october book giveaway!

celebrate fall with flowers in a pumpkin

diy mini mummy pumpkins

painting acorns