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5 ways to add design personality

September 18, 2012

The best part about home design is adding your own style to your decor.  I would like to share 5 simple tips that can add instant design personality to your home.

INCORPORATE FAMILY MEMORIES.  A great way to anchor your home decor is through pieces that have special family meaning.  How wonderful to see an old family item passed down through the generations, or something that has special meaning in your family, every time you walk into a room.  If you don’t have something like this already, it is easy to collect some items from other family members that you can incorporate into your decor.  I have done this a lot over the years in my home.  I even have one room in my home aptly named ‘the nostalgia room’ that is decorated entirely with old family items and photos.  An old black and white family photo framed in a spectacular or trendy way, or a piece that reminds you of a particular family member, can create instant personality.  An old sign from a family business, your grandfather’s favorite fishing pole hanging on a wall, your grandmother’s favorite lamp – anything that has some family significance can make a creative design piece with personality!

A great way to anchor your home decor is through pieces that have special family meaning.

ADD TEXTURES.  Varying the textures of the materials you use in your decor adds great visual interest.  Incorporating different textures into a room full of neutrals gives instant visual interest and is a design element all on its own.  A monochromatic color scheme is instantly transformed with the use of varying textures.  Think about mixing textures you love when you purchase items for your home.  Any color scheme is enhanced with a clever mix of textures.

Varying the textures of the materials you use in your decor adds visual interest.

CREATE ORGANIZATION.  The way you choose to organize not only makes you feel great by creating order, but also can serve as a design element.  If you look at organization in this way, it is a simple step to add style to your home.

One way I do this in my home is in the way I organize my books.  The way I incorporate them into my decor is the way I cover them.  This is the simplest, but most beautiful way to turn books into a design element.  Use your favorite wrapping paper, nautical or street maps, old sheet music, or even brown paper.  Think about your interests and the color schemes of the rooms where you shelf your books.

Closets can be organized in a visually pleasing way using baskets or attractive containers.  Keep your rings in a pretty dish that matches your decor when they aren’t being worn.  In the kitchen, utilize attractive jars to house those daily calcium tablets!

The way you choose to organize not only makes you feel great by creating order, but can also serve as a design element.

USE SOME PLAYFUL PIECES.  As in life, it is not a good idea to take your decorating too seriously – add some fun accessories to give your home decor personality and to make you smile.  This is an easy thing to accomplish with little expense and can be utilized anywhere in your home.  I like to find playful kitchen items that can make even the most mundane task seem fun.  There are plenty of ways to add whimsy to your decor, particularly in accessories.

As in life, it is not a good idea to take your decorating too seriously.

REMEMBER OUTDOORS.  Don’t miss the opportunity to utilize great decor outdoors.  Simple items can make a big difference and this is especially true outdoors.

One example at my home was my clothespin holder.  The holders traditionally sold for clothespins were visually annoying.  I bought a basket for much less than a traditional clothespin holder and stained it using leftover stain from my house…now I love the way it looks!

White plastic doorbells are another eyesore, but SO easy to change up.  House numbers are also an easy item to replace and can be a big visual element – a great way to showcase your personality by the style of numbers you choose.  Planting your seasonal flowers in colors to complement your front door is an easy way to make your plants a great design element.  Adding design features to your garden is also an instant way to add personality and can make your weeding session more fun!

Be sure, also, to use pieces you really love for outdoor dining or entertaining.  I love the acrylic water glasses I found for my outdoor entertaining.  Clearance racks are filled with outdoor dining accessories at this time of year and some smart purchases now are sure to put a smile on your face come Spring!

Don’t miss the opportunity to utilize great decor outdoors.

Hope you enjoyed these five simple tips to easily add your own design personality to your home.

Need some ideas for something in your home that you’d like to turn into a design element?  Send me an email, I would love to help!

Thanks for visiting, Jackie

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10 arts in philly

September 14, 2012

friday field trip

On one of the really hot weekends this summer, I had some time to kill wandering around Center City, Philadelphia waiting for my daughter to finish classes (yes, she attends class all through the summer)…I thought I would visit the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton so I could AGAIN check out 10 Arts (…how many visits would qualify as an obsession?). I always hope, somewhere in the back of my mind, that I will run into Chef Ripert on what, I assume, is his occasional visit to Philly.

My daughter attends school in Philly and one of my ‘Philly goals’ has always been to dine at 10 Arts Bistro & Lounge. This is Eric Ripert’s restaurant. You probably know of four star Chef Ripert because of his fame with Le Bernardin in New York City…how could you not? That, and the fact that he is, um…how should I say it…gorgeous! (Honestly, there is no way around it!)

10 Arts is in a magnificient location – in the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Center City. Because the building was a bank at one time, it

has some really cool features. The interior is mostly marble…I have heard the kitchen is too, although I haven’t seen it for myself.

Anytime I am in Center City, I stop in, look around (aka gawk) and talk to some of the staff.

Photo of lunch, 10 Arts style

 

A photo of dessert at 10 Arts Bistro & Lounge in Philadelphia…frozen snickers.

If you follow Food Network or the cooking shows (like you know I do if you have been reading my blog), you may know that my favorite former Top Chef competitor, Jennifer Carroll was selected by Chef Ripert to lead his kitchen at 10 Arts after she served as sous chef at Le Bernardin. It has been reported that Jen, a Philadelphia native is soon to open a restaurant of her own at 33 Greenwich Avenue in New York City…I bet the Philly fans are disappointed she didn’t stay local! I would be! But now I will be closer to where she will be creating her food and I plan to visit her restaurant, especially since I haven’t yet gotten the chance to meet her.

So enjoy the photos of 10 Arts and, if you are ever in the area, be sure to stop in. I plan on spending my daughter’s graduation dinner in those beautiful surroundings! And, I hope to visit Jen’s restaurant in NYC soon and I will share that with you when I do.

Thanks so much for visiting. Have a great weekend, Jackie

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diy paint can packaging

September 11, 2012

Candy in a can.

They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach…the reason food is always an accepted and appreciated gift for any guy. Most guys (or anyone, for that matter) have a special dessert or snack that they particularly enjoy and giving it for their special day can only bring heartwarming smiles . Whether it be pistachios, homemade brownies, popcorn…whatever. In the case of a young relative, it is candy…he apparently inherited a sweet tooth …couldn’t tell you from who ;)

His birthday is coming up and I want to collect some of his favorite confections and package them in a clever way as part of his gift. I am going to use a paint can…doesn’t seem appropriate to go to Home Depot to pick up birthday packaging? Actually, the small paint can is less than $3., so it costs less than some gift bags. Plus, I really enjoy repurposing items in an unconventional way. The bigger cans can be fun for gifts also. And, since they have handles, there are infinite possibilities for cool ‘tie-ons’. For food gifts, I prefer the smaller size especially since I don’t really want to encourage the consumption of the amount of sweets the large size can would accomodate! (The large cans are great for holiday gifts…keep this in mind come December.)

While I am at Home Depot, I also pick up some paint sample swatches…I use them for so many craft projects…they are like construction paper for the adult craft set. They make great gift tags, mats for small photos, etc. And, of course, they come in virtually any color. (I also keep a stack of sea-colored swatches on my desk that I use for note paper.) For this project, I grab some swatches in nautical looking colors since that is what I envision for this gift. I know I want to put some Swedish Fish in the can and the nautical theme will work well with that in mind.

A photo of my paint can packaging. This one is decorated with an anchor cut from chalkboard Contact paper.

A photo of a candy gift packaged in a decorated small paint can.

As it turns out, when I get home I decide to use some leftover chalkboard Contact paper to decorate the can. I cut a piece in the shape of an anchor. I also decorated a second, more ‘adult’ themed can to show you that it is possible to create a more sophisticated look using paint cans as packaging.

So, with a glue gun and some scrap materials, a couple of paint cans are transformed into some great gift packaging. The beauty of these cans is that they mail really well – great to send off to those college kids at Valentines Day, Halloween, or at finals time.

A photo of paint can packaging using more of a sophiscated style…I used scrap ribbon, squares cut from paint sample swatches, and a starfish – all attached using a glue gun.

I just

love the novelty of the recipient having to open them with a screwdriver ;) If you are sending them off to your college student and you don’t think they have a screwdriver, include one in the box – everyone should own a screwdriver.

Have fun creating some designs of your own. If you need some particular theme ideas, I would be happy to help.

Thanks for visiting, Jackie

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make the most of grocery store flowers

September 7, 2012

friday field trip

Today’s field trip is to the local Stop ‘n Shop to visit the floral department.  I want to show you how easy it is to utilize the florist at your local grocery store.  Why spend a lot at a traditional florist when you can buy flowers for giving at the grocery store for a more reasonable price.  An added perk is that many grocery stores, like Stop ‘n Shop, are open 24 hours!  You can pretty much buy a gift at any time of the day or night that fits into your schedule.

Use these five tips to make grocery store flowers work for you.

1.  STICK WITH THE SAME COLOR OR VARIETY OF FLOWER.  Instead of buying a bouquet that contains a mixture of colors and varieties of flowers, pick one color or one type of flower and stick with it.  You will get much better visual impact for your budget.

2.  CONSIDER A POTTED PLANT.  Very often, potted plants in season are less expensive than cut flowers and look much better/healthier.  Plus, the recipient has the added benefit of enjoying a permanent plant rather than a fleeting bouquet.  Some grocery stores even sell potted herbs – a nice departure from a traditional flower if the recipient happens to be a foodie!  Containers sold in the floral section are very reasonably priced and can be a great alternative to wrapping.

A potted plant is paired with a cute container that was priced at onlyl $4 in the Stop ‘n Shop floral department.

3.  USE YOUR OWN FLOURISHES.  I always use my own ribbon and tissue when preparing grocery store flowers for giving, rather than relying on the limited selection available at the grocery store.  The gift not only looks prettier, but using your own touches helps give your gift a personal flair.

I used two potted plants and a basket from the floral department for a cost of less than $20 (and less than the price of a dozen roses). I added my own tissue paper and ribbon to complete the look and add my own personal touch.

4.  MAKE THE MOST OF SPECIALS.  If roses are $25 and  a special on tulips makes them a quarter of the price…how much nicer to make a combined bouquet of four bunches of tulips!  A potted orchid on sale may be less than a bouquet and more appropriate for the recipient.  Be sure to check all the specials.

Shopping for cut flowers, two bunches of sunflowers on special were less than an assorted bouquet and provide much better visual appeal.

5.  SHOP FOR ADD-ONS.  With all the items available at the grocery store, there are many options available to you to add a little something to your gift, should the occasion or budget warrant it. What a great added feature of doing your flower shopping at the grocery store!   A gift of engagement flowers can include a wedding magazine or some chocolates…flowers to welcome a new baby can include a bib or pacifier…just hop over to the appropriate aisle.  At this time of year, a trip to the produce aisle can mean the purchase of a pumpkin to serve as a great seasonal container for your flowers.  Perfect to house Halloween or Thanksgiving flowers for giving. (I love the white ones!)  Grocery stores also sell gift certificates, so you can also easily tuck in a certificate for a cup of coffee or the latest music.

Whether you are shopping for yourself, or for a gift, remember these five tips when shopping for flowers in the grocery store.

Hope you enjoyed these tips for making the grocery store florist work for you.  Why not pick out some flowers for your own home?

All the photos in this post were taken in the floral department at Stop ‘n Shop.  Thanks for visiting, Jackie

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fresh tomatoes with penne, feta & dill

September 4, 2012

Best of the season.

You already know I am a feta fan from my watermelon post   https://pleasureinsimplethings.com/3-best-ways-to-serve-watermelon/.  This time I am adding it to pasta and boy, it is fabulous.  This is my all-time favorite pasta recipe for the summer.  Not only is it wonderfully fresh and delicious just made, but leftovers can be eaten as a cold salad.

This pasta is served with an uncooked sauce made with fresh garden ingredients.  This is the best when tomatoes are at their ripest..use some from your garden or purchase some at a farmers market.  I only make this at the end of the summer when I can get the best tomatoes…usually from a friend’s garden.

I make the sauce in the afternoon and keep in the fridge until ready to use so that all my chopping is done and everything is cleaned up…I just need to cook the pasta to have dinner ready.  (Bring the sauce to room temperature before mixing with the pasta.)

Summertime Pasta with Tomatoes, Feta & Dill

  • 2 pounds tomatoes, halved, seeded, chopped
  • 1 cup chopped green onions (white and green parts only) approx. 2 bunches
  • 7 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (if they have the tomato and basil flavored feta, I buy that – adds that much more flavor)
  • 6 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh dill
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 16 ounces penne pasta

Mix first 6 ingredients in a bowl.  Set tomato mixture aside.

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling, salted water until just tender but still firm to bite (al dente).  Add hot pasta to tomato mixture and toss to coat.  Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve at once.

A photo of fresh tomatoes served with penne, feta, and dill…the perfect way to showcase end-of-the-summer garden ripe tomatoes.

Hope you will give this recipe a try…remember to use the ripest, freshest garden tomatoes you can find!

Thanks for visiting, Jackie

 

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squash blossoms…farm to table

September 2, 2012

An easy do-it-yourself pictorial.

For the first time this year, I picked my own squash blossoms when I visited Lyman Orchards in Middlefield, CT.  I happened to overhear someone asking directions to the appropriate field to pick them.  I immediately got excited about the prospect of picking some myself.  I have had fried squash blossoms in restaurants and really enjoyed them – even though I am not a big fried food lover.  I decided to take the opportunity to try and cook some up myself.

I originally posted these photos on my facebook page, but have had many requests to put them on a blog post for those that don’t use facebook.  So, here is how I prepared the squash blossoms…it was very easy and they were very delicious!

 

 

 

 

 

Easy!  Hope you enjoyed these photos on preparing squash blossoms…farm to table!

Thanks for visiting!  Enjoy your holiday weekend, Jackie

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book giveaway winner for august!

September 1, 2012

Yes, Chef  by Marcus Samuelsson

Congratulations to Deedee P. from ?, August’s book giveaway winner of the author autographed copy of Yes, Chef.  https://pleasureinsimplethings.com/yes-chef-by-marcus-samuelsson/

Qualify, starting today, for September’s giveaway selection, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die signed by author Patricia Schultz. https://pleasureinsimplethings.com/1000-places-to-see-before-you-die/

A really inspiring book.  Guidelines to win: https://pleasureinsimplethings.com/book-giveaway/

Monthly winners are welcome and encouraged to write a review of the book they received to be included on a future book giveaway post.

Hope you can enjoy a ‘No Labor’ Day weekend.  Thanks for visiting, Jackie

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discovering a sunflower maze

August 31, 2012

Navigating through 350,000 sunflowers.

I have been to many corn mazes in my lifetime, but had never heard of a sunflower maze until last week. I certainly was intrigued by the idea of it. Imagine a field full of sunflowers…it just sounded so Provence. Not caring so much about the maze, but more about the sunflowers, I decided to make the trip to Middlefield, CT to check it out. It was my first trip to the 1,100 acre Lyman Orchards farm.

A photo of a sunflower at the Lyman Orchards sunflower maze in Middlefield, CT.

I had imagined a field of yellow. But, as I approached the field, I discovered that there were many varieties and colors of sunflowers that made up the maze. My favorites were not the yellows at all, but some of the varieties in the darker hues. They were all beautiful. It didn’t even bother me when I got so terribly lost in the maze… I was too busy taking in all the varieties of sunflowers and trying my darndest to avoid all the bees. (I felt lucky to only sustain one bite.)

A photo from the sunflower maze. The flowers are ‘sterile’ meaning there is no pollen…this discourages the bees from hanging around for very long.

I have included a very short piece of video at the end of the post that I took with my son’s GoPro camera, hoping to capture a little of the experience for you…needless to say, a very rookie job…what can

I say…it was my first attempt! It is very tough to take video without a viewfinder!

A photo of one of my favorite sunflowers at the sunflower maze. Lyman Orchards is the 12th oldest family-owned business in the U.S., operating since 1741 and currently run by the eighth generation!


My first visit to a sunflower maze was a wonderful experience. Please enjoy the photos of this truly lovely place.

Thanks for visiting, Jackie

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blueberry sauce & trifle

August 28, 2012

Enjoy the last of the season.

At a recent visit to a farmer’s market in Westport, CT, one of the booths passed out a blueberry ginger sauce recipe.  I had a sample and thought it was great.  As I was speaking to the woman at the booth, we were both speculating on what a great trifle it would make.  Sure enough, I went home and gave it a try!

Blueberry ginger sauce

  • 4 cups blueberries
  • 1 cup agave
  • ½ tsp. peeled, finely grated fresh ginger
  • Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

Place ingredients over high heat to bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low.  Simmer until thick and shiny, about 30 minutes.  Let  cool.

For trifle

  • Combine 2 cups of ricotta cheese and ½ cup powdered sugar
  • Roughly chop ½ cup gingersnaps
  • Make or purchase a pound cake

Cut pound cake into small cubes and line the bottom of a trifle dish.  Cover the cubes with half of the ricotta mixture.  Next, add a layer of the cooled blueberry sauce.  Repeat once more, then top with the chopped gingersnaps.  I made mine in a 6” trifle dish (filled to the top – it really should have been made in a larger dish) and also made an individual serving in a mason jar as a taste for a special friend.

A photo of an individual sized serving of trifle packaged in a mason jar…perfect as a gift or a party favor.

Making an individual serving in a mason jar is also a great idea for a picnic, outdoor party, or as a favor…just make a mini version of your original dessert.

A photo of an individually packaged trifle in a mason jar…cut a small square of scrap fabric to place on top before screwing down the outer lid and add scraps of ribbon. Here I added a sand dollar as a symbol of summer :)

After making the trifle,  I had plenty of sauce leftover – a great topping for pancakes, waffles or a good vanilla or ginger ice cream :)

Enjoy!  Thanks for visiting, Jackie

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1,000 places to see before you die

August 24, 2012

field trip friday

This week’s field trip is to the bookstore.  Have you heard about the book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die?

In my very wildest dreams I could not visit the 1,000 places listed.  Who could?!   Who has the time, or more importantly, the resources to accomplish it?  Flipping through the book certainly makes me feel inadequate – I have seen very few of the places even listed in the U.S….heck, I haven’t even seen one of the four places listed in my state!

We live in a global society and I have seen very little of the globe.  I am lucky to live in a time when technology affords me the opportunity to discover many places I can’t visit.  I know watching television documentaries or reading a book is not the same as actually experiencing a destination with all five senses.  This was very obvious listening to Patricia Schultz talk about her travels at RJ Julias in Madison, CT where I saw her promoting the second edition of her New York Times bestseller, 1,000 Places to See Before You Die.  Admittedly, she hasn’t seen all 1,000.  Although, I really started to believe she may have while listening to her, almost breathless, excitedly sharing all her knowledge of faraway places. It definitely seems like she has been everywhere!

As I sat waiting for the evening to start, I was sure I would be depressed knowing how many of these marvelous places I haven’t been.  But, it did not take long listening to Ms. Schultz to realize her presentation was more a reason to develop a love for travel, rather than a motivation to create a checklist of places visited.  Instead, she provides a list of opportunities…hoping to whet the reader’s appetite to discover someplace new.  Her enthusiasm is contagious.  And, although I don’t have much of a budget for travel, I came home inspired to try and visit more places.

A photo of Patricia Schultz discussing her book “1,000 Places to See Before You Die”…a signed copy will be Septembers giveaway selection.

Ms. Schultz decided to pick 30 of the 1,000 places from around the globe listed in the book and present them in the form of a slide show.  Yes, the photos were incredible….but, equally incredible was the knowledge and love Ms. Schultz has for travel..and her thirst for learning about other lands and cultures.  She tours the world extensively. ..a  far cry from the first journey she credits with the start of her love to travel…instilling a desire  for adventure – Atlantic City!  As a child, from her home in New York state,  she couldn’t wait for the annual family journey to the shores of New Jersey.

So, I didn’t come home depressed at all….I came home exhilarated.  Ms. Schultz was enchanting.  And her presentation left me with a feeling of wanting to experience so much more.  So, even if many of my ‘visits’ are merely reading from her book, I feel motivated to experience more of the world.

Like I did, I want you to share some of Ms. Schultz’s enthusiasm for world travel.  If she is in your area, be sure to see her.  A signed copy of her book will be the giveaway book for September…so you too can catch some of her love for travel.  It may just give you the inspiration to visit a place nearby that you were always meaning to visit….or you may just book that faraway place you always wanted to see – it will open your mind to 1,000 possibilities.

‘Like’ my facebook page, follow me on twitter, or leave a comment on a post anytime during the month of September for a chance to win a copy of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, signed by Patricia Schultz.  (During August is a chance to win Yes, Chef signed by Marcus Samuelsson)

Happy trails!

Thanks for visiting, Jackie

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