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a window view

July 17, 2015

a window view 1 pleasure in simple things blog

The last time I went into the city, I had a fascination with windows. Sounds crazy, right? I started looking out some old windows with chippy molding and was mesmerized! It seemed the older and dirtier the windows, the more beautiful they became in my eyes. And, if something interesting was near the window – all the better!

a window view 2 pleasure in simple things blog

You know I am all about a good theme and, apparently, my visit on that particular day was going to be windows!

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For Friday field trip today, I am sharing a few of my favorite photos from my ‘window day’ in New York City. I will post a few additional window photos on my Facebook page.

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In the words of Anne Spollen in The Shape of Water: “I discovered windows one afternoon and after that, nothing was ever the same.”

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window quote pleasure in simple things blog
Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at House of Hipsters,  Craftberry Bush, The Shabby Nest, and French Country Cottage.

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it’s a beach day shopping trip

July 14, 2015

This is the time of year when it is really great to shop all the stores and identify the fun summer items you like, because soon they will all go on sale!  Online shopping at the end of any season is fun, but I especially love it at the end of the summer because I use these sale items to decorate in a coastal style all year long!

This is the time of year when it is really great to shop all the stores and identify the fun summer items you like, because soon they will all go on sale! Online shopping at the end of any season is fun, but I especially love it at the end of the summer, because I use the clearance coastal items I buy in the summer to decorate all year long!  I am sharing a few of the items with a beach vibe that I am loving right now!

sea trays West Elm

West Elm has some really great ‘beachy’ items this summer.  I love the whimsical trays (in the photo above) – so practical!  And, isn’t the crab pillow (opening photo) adorable?

BBA

Arm candy in the summertime is a must!  The photo above shows some of the great creations from bba Bracelets (click here for info).  All the bracelets are handmade and can be made to order!  So fun to design an armful!  They are also great for wedding parties and other special events because you can design your own bracelets with coordinating colored beads, tassels, or charms.  My other love for arm candy is Kiel James Patrick!  What better way to show off a tanned arm than a white rope bracelet with an anchor closure?  Love it!

kjp bracelet

You may remember from my holiday shopping post that Grace in Niantic, CT is a favorite store of mine.  The epitome of coastal cool!  These are some of my favorite beachy pillows in the current collection of yummy summer items at the shop.

pillows at Grace in Niantic

We all know that sometimes disposable paper goods are a must in the summer!  These cuties from West Elm make disposable more than acceptable at any casual gathering!

west elm dinner ware

At $4.99 even the regular price of this Ikea straw bag makes it a crafters delight!  I have decorated it in so many different ways and it makes a great alternative to a gift bag for summer giving!

nipprigbeachbag IKEAFor my furniture projects, Anthropologie is always a go-to for cool hardware…this summer, I am loving the sea life on these knobs!

sealife knobs anthropologie

A cute tote is always in order in the summer, and a great way to help the kids get organized is to have them carrying their own stuff!  This adorable tote from Pottery Barn Kids fits the bill perfectly!  And, by the way, don’t think the items in PB Kids are just for kids!  I bought a great insulated lunch bag with old school stainless storage containers for myself from the catalog!

Pottery barn kids tote

For myself, in place of a tote bag, I prefer this Sailor stripe backpack by Baggu…cool, right?

Baggu sailor stripe backpackI hope I inspired you to do a little summer perusing of your own!  There are plenty of great items out there – like these awesome ice cube trays available at Nordstrom.  Cheers!

anchor ice cube tray nordstrom

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

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dusk in the garden

July 10, 2015

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At the beach or in the garden, the light at dusk is my favorite light of the day.

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I am enjoying the opportunity to explore a yard I haven’t seen before at this glorious time of day.

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And, today for Friday field trip, I am sharing my visit with you.

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Many would have found the challenge of creating a pleasing landscape in a sloping yard with plenty of trees and ledge as too much to handle.

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That is not the case with the owners of this yard!  If the abundance of shade presented a challenge, it is not evident to anyone who visits this beautiful and imaginative space.

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The details are lovely and there are plenty of unique features.

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I think one of my favorite aspects of the garden spaces is that where many may have used white, (on a pair of Adirondack chairs, planters, garden shelves, fence) this couple chose to use black as a ‘go-to’ color.  The use of the darker color brings a sense of richness to the design.

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I hope you have enjoyed a few glimpses of this lovely space today on Friday field trip.  Thanks for stopping by.

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

Sharing with Nancherrow,  The Shabby Nest, French Country Cottage, and Craftberry Bush.

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homemade ice cream on the beach

July 7, 2015

eating homemade ice cream on the sand pleasure in simple things blog

Did you enjoy your weekend? Mine was the best! So many of my family members were together and the fireworks were the best I’ve seen…all in all; a great holiday!

Today, I am trying to catch up with work and with household chores, but I am taking some time to share a recipe for the ice cream I made over the weekend.

Going into the weekend, I was having some trouble deciding what flavor ice cream to make. I thought I would try making s’mores flavor. It seemed like a challenge. Maybe roast some marshmallows first and add marshmallow, graham crackers, and chocolate chips. I still need to give that a try at some point!

cranking homemade ice cream pleasure in simple things blog

What I decided on for the Fourth of July was a ‘Ferris Acres inspired’ coconut chocolate chunk. You may remember Ferris Acres from this post (click here). I am not sure if it was the flavor or the work that went into the cranking that made it so good, but I thought it came out perfect! (I do need to give some credit to my daughter’s boyfriend – I had some helpers, but he did the lion’s share of the cranking!)

homemade coconut chocolate chunk pleasure in simple things blog

Coconut Chocolate Chunk Ice Cream Recipe (makes 5 quarts)
5 cups of milk (*see note below)
1 14 oz. can coconut milk, unsweetened
4 eggs
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 ½ cups sugar
4 cups whipping cream
¼ teaspoon salt
1 14 oz. bag sweetened, flaked coconut, roughly chopped
3 1.5 ounce bars Ghirardelli Intense Dark Evening Dream 60% cacao bars, roughly chopped

*I substituted some of the 5 cups of milk with the coconut milk. I used the can of coconut milk first and then added enough milk to make 5 cups of liquid.

Beat eggs until foamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until thickened. Add cream, vanilla, and salt and mix thoroughly. Pour into ice cream maker canister. Add milk and stir well. (If your maker has a fill line, do not go over it.)

Put covered canister into fridge, as well as the prepared coconut and chocolate, until really cold.

pleasure in simple things ice cream makingPrepare in your ice cream maker. I use a hand crank using ice and pour salt over the ice. I used two bags of ice for this batch.

After the ice cream is done, stir in the cold chocolate and coconut and set the canister in the freezer overnight to set.

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Eat plenty and often. ;)

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

Sharing with Sand & Sisal, Elizabeth & Co., and Coastal Charm.

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american waters: a marine exhibition

July 3, 2015

pleasure in simple things Lyme Art Association

For today’s Friday field trip, I am very excited to take you to American Waters: A Marine Art Exhibition in Old Lyme, Connecticut.  This summer exhibition of work by the country’s premier maritime artists is on view in the Lyme Art Association’s beautiful sky-lit galleries.  American Waters represents a showing of the very best of fine contemporary American marine paintings. A jury exhibition of marine art by the Association’s member artists are on view alongside art by invited artists from the American Society of Marine Artists.

One of my very favorite pieces from the collection is View from the Top by James Magner.

View from the Top James Magner pleasure in simple things

Here is a detail photo from the piece.  I wish I had the budget to purchase the entire collection of over 120 works (which I don’t), but if I had the budget to purchase just one for myself, this may very well be my choice!

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Remember that these paintings are far more magnificent in person than a photo could ever convey.  Also, in the gallery the pieces are all displayed in frames.  Here, I chose to show them to you without the frames since I thought the frames were distracting in a photograph.  With that being said, here are some of my other favorite works.

pleasure in simple things marine art 86Discovery by Shauna Shane

pleasure in simple things marine art 32Beached by Joan Poarch

pleasure in simple things marine art 114Meandering by Kim Muller-Thym

pleasure in simple things marine art 24Dog Days by Catherine Puccio

pleasure in simple things marine art 17Solitude by Faripour Forouhar

pleasure in simple things marine art  98Morning Light by Kent Winchell

pleasure in simple things marine art 49Slack Time by Deborah Kotchen

I hope you enjoyed sharing some of the wonderful works on display at The Lyme Art Association.  If you live in Connecticut or are passing through, be sure to stop by the exhibit – it is easily accessible off I95 and well worth a visit.

Lyme Art Association in Lyme CT pleasure in simple things

I am very much looking forward to the Art Association’s upcoming exhibition Summer Days, Starry Nights & Connecticut Pastel Society opening on August 14th. If you want more details about upcoming exhibits, check the website by clicking here for more information.

American Waters Exhibit pleasure in simple things blog
Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing with Thoughts From Alice, Finding Silver Pennies, and House of Hipsters.

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july book giveaway!

June 30, 2015

july book giveaway pleasure in simple things

Talk about pleasure in simple things – what could be better than a juicy, vine-ripened heirloom tomato?   Colorful, tangy, juicy, and sweet, heirloom tomatoes are the essence of summer! This month’s giveaway book selection pays tribute to this wonderful summer staple!  The title of the selection is The Heirloom Tomato Cookbook by Mimi Luebbermann with luscious photographs by Dan Mills and Robert Holmes.

July giveaway heirloom tomatoes pleasure in simple things blog

From soups and salads to main courses and desserts, heirloom tomatoes are as versatile as they are colorful, with dozens of different flavors, sizes, and colors to explore. This wonderful book includes recipes, gardening tips, wine pairings, and tomato lore.

Cooking and gardening expert Mimi Luebbermann has created a wonderful resource for cooks and gardeners alike! Leave a comment on this month’s giveaway post to be entered to win this marvelous book! Good luck!

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Thanks to everyone for your interest in the June giveaway Vibrant Food by Kimberley Hasselbrink. Click here to see more about this book. The winner of this June giveaway is Kara from Arizona!  Congrats!

Instagram lovers, read on!  In keeping with this month’s giveaway title, our Instagram challenge for July is to tag tomato photos this month!  Use #pleasuregram to share the best captures of this wonderful summer food!   july instagram challenge 2015Thanks so much for stopping by!  Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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patriotic driftwood bubble wands

June 26, 2015

patriotic bubble wand pleasure in simple things blog

The Fourth of July at the beach is great! And, just like in the rest of the nation, some serious red, white, and blue action is going down! It starts early in the day with the kick-off red, white, and blue parade. The kiddies dress themselves, their bikes, their dogs – and just about anything else you can think of – in the colors of the day!  Once the evening arrives, a magnificent display of fireworks is the crowning glory of these patriotic hues.

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The relaxed vibe at the beach makes it easy to create – most times using items found on the beach. A classic example is the crab catcher. This handy item is crafted from an old wooden clothespin and some string. When baited with whatever scrap of meat or meat related product can be salvaged, it works its magic!

making bubbles with homemade wands pleasure in simple things blog

Another handy item for the beach is a bubble maker aka bubble wand.  For the holiday, this can be a fun patriotic craft!  Using some dish detergent (1 patriotic driftwood bubble wands pleasure in simple things blogtablespoon dish liquid per 1 cup water) and some homemade bubble wands, it is super simple to create some fun in the sand. Running along the beach after bubbles can keep the young (or young at heart) occupied for hours!

Bubble wands are easy to make using pipe cleaners and driftwood.  They can be decorated with shells, scraps of ribbon, or any other number of items washed up on shore.  Some crafters take time for elaborate decorations. while others work fast; anxious to get to the bubble part!  (Yes, the star shapes do work to make bubbles, but are much more complicated for young fingers to create.)

For today’s Friday field trip, I wanted to show you some of the wands I made at the beach. You can use wire or stiff ribbon – anything that will hold its shape. I used items I already had. The smaller ones here are made with a sparkly wired ribbon and the others are made with metallic pipe cleaners.

patriotic beach day pleasure in simple things

I like to make the bubbles by dipping the wands into a shallow container of the bubble liquid; especially for the larger bubble wands. This makes it easy to dip the wand and the shallow container helps avoid knocking over the solution.  Remember, the larger the wand, the larger the bubble!

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And, for some extra night time fun, break open a glow stick to add to your bubble solution for some glow-in-the-dark bubbles!

I hope I have inspired you to create some bubble wands of your own!

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

Sharing with House of Hipsters, Thoughts From Alice,  Craftberry Bush, Nancherrow, and The Shabby Nest.

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baby robins are born

June 23, 2015

Robins nest for baby birds pleasure in simple things blog

How was your Father’s Day weekend? As I suspect it is for most gals that have lost their dads, Father’s Day is kind of sad for me. When my children were small, I was wonderfully distracted by helping them with festivities to celebrate their dad. As they get older; not so much.

This year, I had a wonderful distraction. Over the past weekend, I was able to watch a new dad take care of his two babies! The dad I am referring to is a father robin and he has been caring for his two little newborn birds in a nearby primrose bush!

robins coming out of egg pleasure in simple things blog

The little newborns are so cute – in an ugly sort of way, of course. I will have another 10 days or so before they leave the nest and I am enjoying the show! Both parents are frantically back and forth to the nest, feeding the little tikes.

When the parents are away from the nest, the babies stay very still and look like they are hiding. Instinctively, I think they must stay still for protection. As soon as the parents come close, the little ones have their mouths wide open and are ready to accept the next morsel!

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You may have seen the Instagram video (click here and click follow to see Instagram postings)  I posted a couple of days ago with the actual birth – it took the little babies a good part of the day to peck through the shells. When they were done, the father cleared the broken shell pieces out of the nest. (Dad on clean up? Doesn’t really translate to most human families lol!)

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Because of the position of the nest, I have had a really easy time viewing the process…the best of any other year. I sneak peeks occasionally, when the parents are off on their food quests. The next milestone for me will be to see the babies open their eyes – this should happen in a day or two!

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I hope you enjoyed seeing this year’s Father’s Day tribute. ;)

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

Sharing with Sand & Sisal, Coastal Charm, and Elizabeth & Co.

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ikea dresser redo with annie sloan

June 19, 2015

Finished Ikea dresser Annie Sloan redo pleasure in simple things blog

This Ikea dresser has really made the rounds! In its first life, it was a dresser in a young boy’s room. It performed that job marvelously, then made its way to a college apartment. Here too, it was a sturdy piece that provided plenty of storage.

But, when it crossed over into ‘adult’ life, it was time for a makeover! Join me in my painting studio (aka: my backyard) for Friday field trip today to check out how some Annie Sloan paint and a few new knobs have updated this Ikea piece.

Before dresser photo pleasure in simple things blog

The first thing it needed was a little cleaning and some wood fill in a few spots. And, because it was crafted of a knotty wood, I knew it needed to be sealed to prevent any knots from showing through the paint. So, I applied a coat of Zinsser primer sealer.

After that, I used two coats of Annie Sloan French Linen – one of my favorite colors for a beachy look!

after photo Ikea dresser Annie Sloan French Linen and Old White pleasure in simple things blog

From here, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to add an anchor…or, maybe some stripes?  I decided finding knobs would be my first order of business since purchasing twelve knobs at a decent price was not going to be easy. The dresser came with wooden knobs and I was hoping not to reuse them. Unfortunately, every knob I liked was $6 or $7 and purchasing twelve at this price was beyond my budget!

Dresser redo with Annie Sloan Old White and new knobs pleasure in simple things blog

I started contemplating making some knobs out of rope; thinking I may try to make some monkey’s fist knots and started researching how to tie them.

Then, I got a call from a friend who said she found some great rope knobs at Home Goods and they came in packages of 6. When I discovered the knobs were actually monkey’s fist knots and each package was $12.99, I knew these were my knobs!

starting grain sack stripes pleasure in simple things blog

After purchasing two packages of the knobs, I knew I wanted to do a grain sack style stripe to coordinate with them, so I masked off and painted the stripes using Annie Sloan Old White paint.   It is easy to mask stripes with blue painter’s tape, but it does take a little patience!  After the stripes were dry, I mixed a wash of Old White paint and water (approximately 70% water). I painted this over the piece, working a section at a time and wiping it off with a cloth after painting it on with a brush. I love the way the wash gives some depth to the piece and helps with the beachy vibe.

applying Old White white wash over French Linen Annie Sloan pleasure in simple things blog

rubbing old white wash over french linen Annie Sloan pleasure in simple things blog

Result of Old White and water over French Linen Annie Sloan pleasure in simple things blog
Next, I added a coat of Annie Sloan clear wax. After that, I did some distressing, concentrating on roughing up the white stripes. After the distressing, I added a second coat of clear wax.

Annie Sloan French Linen and Old White Dresser pleasure in simple things blog

Doesn’t it look great? I am finishing it off by using some old nautical maps for drawer liners. :)

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

Sharing with Finding Silver Pennies, Nancherrow,  Craftberry Bush, The Shabby Nest, and French Country Cottage.

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9 special diy ideas for father’s day

June 16, 2015

seafood forks pleasure in simple things blog

It’s a cold, miserable day today.  After arriving home from work, I should really be outside painting furniture or finishing my current read.  Instead, the weather has kept me inside.  Yes, I could be binge watching the third season of Orange is the New Black, but instead I am looking through some old posts to find some fun things to make for Father’s Day.

I put together nine favorites from my archives to help inspire you to make something special for Dad this year on his day!

beverage gifts for Fathers Day pleasure in simple things blog

Edible gifts are popular with any Dad.  Here are a couple ‘over 21’ beverages that are sure to be a hit.  Click here for a recipe to make homemade Bailey’s Irish Cream and click here to learn how to make some great jelly shots shaped like fish!

zip code tray pleasure in simple things blog

This zip code tray is a stylish and super practical place for Dad to leave his keys.  It also is a great way for Dad to remember where he left his keys!  Click here for instructions.

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A tie dye shirt is as much fun to make as it is to give!  The whole family can enjoy making Dad a piece of clothing dyed personally for him!  Click here for easy instructions!

nautical coasters pleasure in simple things blog

Making coasters for Dad is easy and fun. Click here for several great ideas.  Old cardboard, jar tops, and discarded six-pack packaging are a few of the items that make creative coasters!

gift wrap ideas for Fathers Day pleasure in simple things blog

Any gift is more special when it is presented in a special way!  Click here to learn how to make your own gift wrap and click here to see how easily you can create a unique paint can gift package!

entertaining gifts for Fathers Day pleasure in simple things blog

If your Dad is more the entertaining type, here are two great gift ideas.  Click here for ideas for creating your own napkin designs.  Another great idea is to make a set of forks for seafood dinners…the fun part about this gift is that it is created using something from Dad’s garage!  Click here to find out more!

I hope you enjoyed these few DIY ideas from the archives to help make Father’s Day a little more special!

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

Sharing with Coastal Charm and Elizabeth & Co.

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