pleasure in simple things

diy ornament from ikea heart

November 13, 2012

I found this three pack of glass heart ornaments at IKEA for $5.99. Boy, did that get my holiday spirit in full swing! It was tough to limit myself to one package…but, I did. My initial intent was to monogram an initial on the front…very simple, very elegant. But, I ended up changing my mind as I got going.

First off, I removed the ribbons – red and white gingham is just not my thing… I decided to use some scraps of paper I had with some (French?) writing…it seemed romantic and the perfect thing to combine with a heart. I cut the paper to the size of the heart. I then brushed Mod Podge on the right side of the paper and adhered it to the glass. When it dried, I wrote my (romantic) message on the back with a super fine permanent marker and brushed Mod Podge over it to protect it.

Next, I embellished the heart with a little key and some sparkle. There are many ways to go with decorative touches, but I thought the key went so well with the heart and the romantic theme. I used old twine to tie the key onto the ornament and used my glue gun to add a little piece of glittery twig.

A photo of my completed ornament crafted from an IKEA glass heart ornament.

Lastly, I tied on my own piece of ribbon to replace the gingham. I have plenty of various ribbons, but I really liked the look of the seam binding…it is actually white seam binding that I had coffee stained to look less white and more ‘antiquey’. That’s it!

For the second heart, I also decided to use paper with script writing. For the third, I used an old book page that I first rubber stamped with a crown.

There are so many ways to adorn these beautiful (and affordable!) glass hearts, and making ornaments is a great way to use scraps of paper and ribbon you may have left over from other projects. Nostalgic black and white photographs would also work really well. Wouldn’t these ornaments also make great shower or wedding favors? Or, to give as a great ‘first home’ or ‘first holiday together’ ornament?

This is just one of the many ways to use this item…and there are many more great items for holiday gift creations at IKEA. I have a few more IKEA projects in mind. If you live near an IKEA, I suggest a trip…it will definitely spark some creative ideas! I hope you enjoyed this ornament diy. This is my first official ornament creation for 2012!

Thanks so much for visiting! Take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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counting our blessings

November 9, 2012

Today’s Friday field trip is my first social gathering outside my house since Sandy hit. I was invited to have lunch at a friend’s house with a group of women. Of course, our conversation started by discussing the horific week we had been through…our coastal state being hit hard…many still suffering from loss of homes and; even life. So heartbreaking. We all felt truly lucky knowing that a loss of power and water and some fallen trees was a small inconvenience compared with what so many of our friends and family had endured. What we soon discovered, was that we were all able to tell of wonderful accounts of people we knew coming together to help each other since the storm hit…amazing accounts…everyone finding a way to help in their own way during a time of disaster.

It was hard to believe we were able to enjoy such a calm, relaxing afternoon after the week of turmoil caused by Hurricane Sandy. The afternoon turned into a time of reflection on how to help those we know…and a time to reflect on how thankful we all are for the blessings in our life. So, as we sat enjoying each other’s company and our surroundings, we also realized that this time of tragedy put a sharp focus on what is important in life. It gives us a strong reason to go forward in the best way we can. Being together on this afternoon was the perfect way to spend the day…

And, the perfect time to remember to take pleasure in simple things. Sincere prayers to all affected by Sandy.

If you would like to help with Sandy Relief and your way to help is through a monetary donation, consider texting a $10. donation to the Red Cross…it’s easy to do!

Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief, which helps people affected by disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires and tornadoes.

Thanks for visiting, Jackie

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3 quick tips for organizing holiday wrapping

November 6, 2012

Can you believe it is already November? November for me signals getting my holiday plans in order. I start making and buying holiday gifts as early as June, and when November approaches I like to think I am pretty well organized. One thing I take stock in as soon as November hits is my holiday wrapping. Traditionally, I like to wrap everything on Thanksgiving weekend – so that means when November rolls around I need to have all my wrapping necessities in order! Working full time makes being organized, particularly around the holidays, a must! While everyone else is shopping the day after Thanksgiving, I am enjoying my wrapping (I love wrapping gifts!)

Then I can spend the height of the holiday season soaking in the season and working on handcrafted items and decorations instead of stressing!

I thought I would share with you the three organizing tips I find most important to prepare for holiday gift wrapping. They have worked so well for me.

The first thing I do is organize my ribbons. I like to use a hanger to keep all the ribbons in order and I organize by color families. I always use natural tones in my wrapping. It makes it much easier if you limit yourself to a color family…that way, you can buy pretty ribbons you may see any time during the year, knowing they will play into your theme. I have been collecting coastal themed ornaments my whole life and I always decorate with whites and natural tones. Each year I may pick an accent color – like turquoise, burgandy, or lime green – and add some accents, just to change things up a little. Brown kraft paper is always a staple for me as are brown kraft handled gift bags that may be painted or decorated in some way, and assorted shells and natural items.

The second thing I do is to put any package tie-ons, gift cards, shells, etc. into a hanging shoe holder with clear pockets. This makes it really easy to see what I have that I can use or what I may need to pick up. Having everything laid out in front of me makes it so much easier when I start my wrapping.

The third, and definitely the most important organizing tip for me for holiday wrapping, is to color-code the gifts for my family. I pick a color scheme for each person and wrap all their corresponding gifts appropriately. Even little items inside the Christmas stockings are wrapped in the appropriate color scheme. This makes things so easy. Items can be wrapped the second they are purchased (to prevent snooping!) and there is never any question as to who the package belongs to. When it comes time to put the gifts by our tree, I simply group them by the wrapping and add some last minute embellishments…each person has their own decor! You can choose a favorite color, school colors, etc. This system really works great. Because I have been using this system for so many years, I usually pick the color or theme for each family member the year before when I find an inspirational wrapping item I really love on an after-holiday sale rack.

I hope you enjoyed these three quick and easy ways to get your holiday gift wrapping items organized.

Let the wrapping begin!

Thanks for visiting, Jackie

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the magic gardens

November 2, 2012

“Art should not be segregated in museums; it needs to live free among us.”

– Isaiah Zagar (creator of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens)

This Friday field trip is a glimpse into a really unique mosiac environment. The Magic Gardens in Philadelphia’s South Street neighborhood includes a fully tiled indoor space and a massive outdoor mosiac sculpture garden that spans half a block. I would like to share my first trip to The Magic Gardens with you.

A photo from The Magic Gardens in Philadelphia.

The artist, Isaiah Zagar, spent fourteen years excavating tunnels and grottos, sculpting multi-layered walls, and mosaicking the 3,000-square-foot space.

The gardens are really one of those things that need to be experienced to be fully enjoyed. So, I urge you to check it out if you find yourself visiting Philadelphia. I hope some of the phtos here will give you a sense of what a unique spot Isaiah Zagar has provided for the South Street community as well as all who visit.

I plan on making repeated visits to the gardens – it is not even possible for one’s senses to absorb everything in one visit!

A photo from Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens.

Hope you enjoyed sharing some of my trip to Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens.

Thank you for visiting my blog. My prayers to those that suffered loss during the storm, Jackie

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tony danza giveaway & october winner

November 1, 2012

Congratulations to Tracy R., winner of the October book giveaway…a very special one! Tracy has won signed copies of Life Lessons From the Chocolate Factory…10 Rich, Satisfying Nuggets to Nibble On for her ENTIRE book group in addition to a conference call from author Christopher Holl!! Thank you so much, Christopher, for providing such a generous giveaway! Hopefully, Tracy will provide us with some photos and news from her book group session!!

For November, the giveaway is a book written by a celebrity…a multi-talented celebrity. His name is Tony Danza!

I got the chance to meet Tony recently when he appeared in Connecticut at an R.J. Julia’s bookstore event in Madison. (I enjoyed talking with him about two favorite cities – comparing NYC and Philly.) And, this month’s giveaway is a signed copy of his first book I’d Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had: My Year as a Rookie Teacher at Northeast High. If it sounds a little familiar, it may be because the subject was the topic of an A&E reality series called TEACH. Tony experienced the life of a first-year teacher – teaching tenth-grade English at Northeast High – Philadelphia’s largest high school. His students didn’t care about his celebrity…heck, they weren’t even born when Who’s the Boss aired; never mind Taxi! And, even though A&E cancelled the show after six episodes, Tony completed his year as teacher – a career he had aspired to long before he started acting.

The book is an insightful account you will truly enjoy. Be sure to enter to win often – before the end of November. Details for entering are here.

Thanks for visiting, Jackie

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easy caramel corn

October 30, 2012

This time of year is a natural for popcorn. Caramel corn? Even better! Very seasonal and very yummy. For a long time I was intimidated just thinking of trying to make it. Plus, all the recipes always called for popping popcorn the old fashioned way – on the stove. These days, I would never think of doing that – it creates such a mess! Microwave popcorn is so much easier and neater! So, I would like to share the instructions for making this delicious treat using the ‘conventional’ bag of microwave popcorn!

I love it because I always have the few ingredients needed to make it in my house, so if I decide to turn the usual popcorn up a notch…I am ready! Of course, you wouldn’t want to buy a butter flavored popcorn…pick something unflavored or, a natural flavor. I buy the grocery store brand organic ‘natural’ flavor. It has a little salt in it, but that’s it. I don’t add any salt of my own since I don’t normally use much salt. You may decide you want to add some.

One batch (or 3 oz. microwave bag) fits great on a cookie sheet, so if you decide to make more than one batch, just plan for one cookie sheet per bag. You might fit two bags on one sheet if you have a really large baking sheet.

This is a great snack for the sports fans in the house…a sweet departure from the usual nachos while watching the big game. If you are making this for the kids, you can toss in peanuts (aka Cracker Jacks) and/or candy corn as fun additions.

Because I planned on serving this batch of the caramel corn I made to ‘the guys’, I got a little ‘corny’ (pun intended) with the presentation and served it in a tin that announced it as “the best ever caramel corn.”

A photo of caramel corn made using microwave popcorn and served in a chalkboard tin.

Tins are a great way to store and present the caramel corn. This tin was spray painted completely with chalkboard spray paint – making it easy to change up the message, depending on its use. An easy way to repurpose an ugly tin! This one has been used many times over and will later serve as storage for holiday treats and be adorned with some fun red and green chalk.

Easy Caramel Corn Recipe

3 oz. bag of microwave popcorn, popped (I use the natural flavor – it just has a little bit of salt)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Heat oven to 300 degrees.

In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, sugar, and corn syrup. Cooking over medium heat, stir constantly until the mixture bubbles and lightens in color, 4 or 5 minutes.

Remove from heat. Stir in the vanilla.

Pour over the cooked, cooled popcorn in a large bowl and toss to coat with a rubber spatula.

Spread the popcorn mixture on a lipped baking sheet and bake 30 to 35 minutes, when the color will deepen, tossing once halfway through cooking time.

Remove from oven and toss before letting cool on the baking sheet. Wait until completely cool to serve.

Store in a tin or other airtight container at room temperature. You can keep it for up to a week…if it lasts that long!

Hope you enjoy this easy caramel corn recipe. You might want to spray paint a tin of your own to store it in…you can later use it for holiday cookies!

Thanks for visiting, Jackie

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coastal jack-o-lanterns

October 28, 2012

pumpkin carving 2012

Well, Halloween is not that far away so I thought I would share some of this year’s pumpkin creations. I say ‘some’ because I have not yet finished carving…I have my largest pumpkin and a couple small ones left to carve before Wednesday. As you can see, I have a coastal theme going. I never was one for ghosts or goblins…

I can’t even watch a scary movie!

A photo of some of this year’s coastal theme jack-o-lanterns.

With the kids grown, I am no longer carving pumpkins to cater to their tastes. (Although I have to admit, last year I carved a pumpkin with “T-Shirt Time” for my daughter to display in her college apartment.)

Carving pumpkins is almost therapeutic…don’t you think?

I will be collecting some seeds too…the good friend that gave me my favorite white pumpkin is planning on using the seeds to grow some white pumpkins of her own for next year. And, my daughter requested some roasted pumpkin seeds for her visit home on Thanksgiving.

A photo of some of this year’s coastal jack-o-lanterns.

So, these are my jack-o-lanterns so far…(haven’t even taken the drill out yet!)

Enjoy your Halloween! Have a safe one!

Thanks for visiting, Jackie

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philadelphia shell show & festival

October 26, 2012

Wow! What a field trip I have for you this week. I attended the 2012 Philadelphia Shell Show & Festival at The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia and as a fanatic of anything ‘beachy’ and a definite shell lover, I was in heaven!

I planned my trip in advance. I knew when the shell show was scheduled and I went to the museum expecting to see many shells…but I found it was so much more than that…I saw so much more than just individual shells. There were many competitions for shell creations in many varieties – in addition to straight shell displays and collections. The exhibitors were not just from across the country, but from other countries as well.

I took SO many photos and fell in love with SO many shells and shell creations that I could not possibly share them all here. What I have decided to do is to share with you my very favorite creation from the show called “A Summer Place” created by Donna Klees from Ardmore, PA. It received first place in the artistic division – hobbyist category.

A photo of one of the amazing creations from the 2012 Philadelphia Shell Show & Festival. This shell house crafted by Donna Klees from Ardmore, PA won a first place prize.

Donna created this sweet little house of shells…

Isn’t the trellis amazing?

And, the scallop shell roof!

Gotta love the details in the windows…

A photo from the 2012 Philadelphia Shell Show & Festival.

If you would like to see more shells from the show, I will be sharing some additional photos on my facebook page – I was very impressed with the collection of sailor’s valentines that were presented and you can see some of those samples on my page. Click here to see my facebook page.

As an ending photo, I would like to leave you with this whimsical creation by Bill Jordan from Fort Myers, FL. He is a great guy and an amazing craftsman that I met at the show…love ya Bill! According to Bill, Sanibel Island’s beaches are so covered with shells that you will regularly see people bending over in search of them. The locals have dubbed this sight the “Sanibel Stoop”…the inspiration for Bill’s creation:

A creation by Bill Jordan at the 2012 Philadelphia Shell Show & Festival

Thank you so much for visiting. Hope you enjoyed sharing some photos from the 2012 Philadelphia Shell Show & Festival.

Have a great weekend, Jackie

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planting succulents in a pumpkin

October 23, 2012

seasonal succulents

I have taken a real interest in succulents recently. There are probably two big reasons for this. One is that I saw a photo of a succulent garden in a huge conch shell. I love shells, so the photo immediately caught my interest and got me excited to try and plant some succulents in shells. Second, a new Home Depot nearby carries a huge selection of succulents.

I actually had a really early love for succulents. The first plant I ever personally owned as a kid was a cactus plant I bought in Arizona when I visited Phoenix with my grandparents. My first magazine subscription wasn’t Teen Beat, but rather Arizona Highways because I adored the pages filled with photos of various desert plants across the backdrop of gorgeous sunsets! Although the varieties of succulents available here in New England aren’t the same as out West, Home Depot does have quite a large selection.

I read as much as I could find on the subject of succulent container gardens and also watched some videos on the subject. The cool thing about succulents is that they can be planted in virtually any type of container. I decided since it is October, I would try a pumpkin as my first container garden. Also, because I love the way white pumpkins mix with succulents.

Planting is pretty simple. The big difference from planting any other type of plant is that succulents require a fast draining soil. Instructions on creating an appropriate soil are easy to find, but it is actually more cost effective to just buy a prepared soil at Home Depot.

Most succulent container gardens use a top dressing – most often rocks. I would love to use sea glass in a future garden, but for the pumpkin I decide to use some reindeer moss and also decorate with some Spanish moss. I will probably use the sea glass idea for a terrarium when the pumpkin starts breaking down and I need to move the plants to a new container.

A photo of succulents planted in a white pumpkin.

Don’t they look great in the white pumpkin? Small white pumpkins planted with succulents would look great at individual place settings at the Thanksgiving table!

I hope you enjoyed succulent gardening in a white pumpkin!

Thanks so much for visiting, Jackie

7 comments

reflecting by steam train

October 19, 2012

Riding the Essex steam train through the Connecticut River Valley was a very exciting trip when my children were young…there was much commotion and anticipation as our family would prepare for one of our MANY trips to Essex to ride the magical train. The kids were always SO animated and seeing the trip through their eyes was always such a thrill. Riding the train for the very first time without them was a much different experience. It was a time of quiet…a time of reflection…and, a time of enjoying nature.