pleasure in simple things

patriotic marshmallows

May 21, 2013

The patriotic holidays always motivate people to create red, white, and blue food creations. Who hasn’t made a flag atop a cake using strawberries and blueberries? Watermelon, strawberries, and blueberries can all become elements of the creative process come Memorial Day or the 4th of July.

Me? Although I have been know to make a red, white, and blue fruit skewer, I am more apt to cut food into star shapes (like in this watermelon salad) or use linens to create the patriotic spirit.

But, with Memorial Day so close, I used some red, white, and blue sprinkles as an easy way to add a little patriotic flair to these simple-to-make marshmallow sweets. Perfect for a post-parade picnic and sure to be a hit with kids of all ages!

This marshmallow creation came about after receiving a gift of the extra large marshmallows from my mom last year…seems like a strange gift? Not really. It was motivated by my love of gourmet s’mores. I found the marshmallows were too big to create the correct proportions for my ideal s’more.

So, in experimenting with how to use the extra large variety marshmallow in the best way, I came up with marshmallows on a pretzel stick dipped in white chocolate…the white chocolate and extra large marshmallow are the perfect combination! The extra large marshmallow makes for the perfect proportion of marshmallow to chocolate ratio. For Memorial Day, I just added a few sprinkles.

Do you have a favorite way to make a picnic food patriotic for Memorial Day?

Thanks for visiting.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at A Pinch of Joy and Coastal Charm.

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a hip brunch in philly

May 17, 2013

peanut butter chocolate dessert tapas at Continental Mid-town in Philly

Enjoying the tapas-style desserts at The Continental Mid-town in Philadelphia.

When you say the name Stephen Starr in Philly, it means two things: good food and long lines. Starr is the restaurateur who owns over a dozen restaurants in the city – all hot spots. For this week’s Friday field trip, we are visiting one of Starr’s restaurants.

On my last trip to Philadelphia, we were looking for a different place to go to brunch and decided on The Continental Mid-town. We knew it was a Stephen Starr restaurant and that was enough of a recommendation.

Trendy, fun, and looking like a perfect set for a Mad Men episode, Continental is easy to spot by the big martini olive adorning the outside corner of the restaurant.

We were in a breakfast mood, and ordered some ‘brunchy’ type food, but with all the creative tapas-style desserts on the menu, we couldn’t resist trying some out after our meal – which ended up being our favorite part since we felt justified in ordering several ‘tastes’!

s'more dessert tapas at The Continental Mid-town in Philly

A S’more tapas-style dessert at The Continental Mid-town in Philadelphia.

lime cotton candy at The Continental Mid-town in Philly

The cotton candy chef’s selection (lime) of the day on our trip to Continental Mid-town in Philadelphia.

After finishing our food, we investigated the three floors of the restaurant before we left and decided it must be a popular Rittenhouse Square nightspot since it has a really cool rooftop dining and lounge area on the third floor.

A fun spot to visit on your next Philly trip!

The remains of a flavorful salad during brunch at The Continental Mid-town in Philadelphia.

Thanks for visiting today’s Friday field trip to The Continental Mid-Town in Philadelphia.

Have a fabulous weekend, Jackie

Sharing at The Tablescaper.

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displaying a special treasure

May 14, 2013

The most valuable piece of jewelry I own is probably made out of stainless steel. It is my grandmother’s wedding ring.

Most valuable because it is a symbol of the generations…because of my grandmother’s wedding came my mom, because of my mom came me, because of me came my children….how can you measure the value of a symbol like that?

This symbol was the one piece of jewelry I never took off…until recently…when I was getting a medical exam and I was asked to remove it. Well, you know what? I could not get it back on! It seems my finger had miraculously grown in an extremely short period of time! I certainly was not cutting the ring. So, with Mother’s Day still fresh on my mind, and memories of generations of moms filling my thoughts, I decided to create a way to display my prized possession.

I had a beautiful Pottery Barn frame in my closet for a long (too long) time, waiting to be used. I had ordered a bunch of frames for a series of photographs and one had arrived to me broken. The nice people at Pottery Barn quickly replaced it and told me not to go to the trouble of returning the broken one…So I was saving it for a future project. Displaying my grandmother’s ring was the perfect use for it!

To make it look a little more modern, I decided to cover the mat and headed out to the Paper Source that just opened in our area to select a suitable paper. They have such a large selection of archival quality papers in an amazing array of patterns and colors. Rather than choosing something nostalgic looking, I decided to go with something more modern and chose a paper that had a brown matte background with a silver metallic nature design.

It was an easy project. I just glued the paper onto the mat board and sewed the ring onto a piece of linen after adding a piece of ribbon. I love this project…so fitting for a nostalgic Mother’s Day activity.

I hope my next nostalgic project will be one of wedding songs…The songs from my mom’s and my grandmother’s wedding….I asked my grandmother when she was still alive and 92 years old, the title of her wedding song…I wrote it on a piece of paper. I asked my mom the same and added it to the list. My intention was to create something special using the two song titles and the title of my own wedding song.

When I recently went to look for the song titles in the ‘safe place’ I had left them, I discovered I couldn’t remember where that ‘safe place’ actually was! I hope to run across that slip of paper one of these days…I can no longer replicate it since my mom no longer remembers what her song was and my grandmother is no longer with us…maybe I will find that slip of paper before next Mother’s Day. Hope so :)

Thanks for stopping by and sharing some memories with me.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing with Coastal Charm, Craftberry Bush, and Shabby Nest.

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personal reflections at longwood gardens

May 10, 2013

Friday field trip this week is to Longwood Gardens. With over 1,000 acres of garden, woodland, and meadows, it almost doesn’t seem correct to refer to it as ‘gardens’ since it is so much more like a museum than a garden. And, like a museum, a visit to Longwood is a very personal experience. Today, you are seeing Longwood through my personal reflection.

My visit was in late April and most visitors were preoccupied with the tulips in bloom – certainly the sheer number of blooms was awesome…no question about that. The Flower Garden Walk display boasted over 100,000 bulbs in bloom! So, I am sure many left Longwood the same day as I, with cameras filled with photos predominately of tulip masses. Not the case for me. In fact, the rose arches I was so obsessed with were not even in bloom!

This trip, my personal favorites…in order of fascination were – the copper beech trees, the whimsical topiary garden, and the rose arches. And, I should mention (in case you don’t already know), that I have a special affinity for all flowers white! (If you need some proof, you can check out the white flowers in my garden last spring.)

Recently named #2 on the national list of top public gardens, Longwood Gardens, in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania is a truly amazing place to visit. Each visit is a unique and visually exciting experience.

Every day this living museum provides something different bursting into bloom – cycles differ year to year. Even the weather changes the way things look each visit. On one trip you may observe a hummingbird that changes your whole perspective of a flower… or a sunny spot one visit may be in the shade the next visit and change the experience…Longwood showcases nature at its most inspiring.

We took full advantage of the beautiful day by enjoying a picnic lunch in the space provided by Longwood. I am so glad we did since I enjoyed the beauty of this tree while we ate…

Less than an hour outside Philly, Longwood is an easy place for me to visit while staying with my daughter in the city and I continue to visit…each time a new adventure :)

Thank you for visiting and sharing my visit to Longwood Gardens. I will leave you with a very amateurish video of the beautiful Italian Water Garden…sorry, I have only used the camera a couple of times and I am still trying to learn how to use it…but, you can get some idea of how beautiful the water garden is! Couldn’t resist adding the song!

Have a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend! I love celebrating the results of my motherhood – my two greatest accomplishments in life :)

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing with: Tablescaper, Craftionary, Mona’s Picturesque, Craftberry Bush, Nuture Photography Spring Challenge, and Common Ground.

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may is national bicycle month

May 7, 2013

credit: Vitis Vinifera

May is National Bicycle Month. Because bicycles hold a very special place in the hearts of my family, I wanted to recognize them in a special way.

So, to pay homage to the bicycle, I would like to share a few of my favorite bicycle images from Pinterest.

credit: temp files

You are welcome to also share my favorite bicycle quotes…I will post them throughout the month on my facebook page. If you want to check out some more great bicycle images, check my pinterest board a love for bicycles.

credit: Images by Claire

credit: Anders Schennemann Photography

credit: unknown

I hope you enjoyed these beautiful cycling images in celebration of National Bicycle Month…

If you need more to satisfy your cycling self, maybe you would like to

listen to the best bicycle song ever

or, share some of my favorite bicycle items from around the web:

pick one of these cool bike bells or handle bar airplanes to add to your ride

get a book with a magnificent collection of cycling images

read the story of a very talented cyclist I know and like, or

a great book to learn about the Tour de France past doping culture first hand

hold your book collection with these cool bookends

watch a great film

find a special spot for this beautiful pillow with a vintage bicycle image

enjoy a post-ride beverage from these beautiful bicycle printed glasses

write a special note on extraordinary personalized stationery sporting a red bicycle….

Happy cycling! Cyclisme heureux! :)

Thanks for stopping by, Jackie

If you have any great cycling images, please feel welcome to share on my facebook page.

I am sharing at Coastal Charm and A Pinch of Joy.

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handcrafted fabric tableware

May 3, 2013

I recently fell in love with the handcrafted fabric placemats, coasters, and table runners created by artisan Eileen Duffy. For Friday field trip this week, we are taking a trip to Eileen’s studio.

Now living in Connecticut and commuting into New York City, Eileen can be found selling her wares at upscale farmer’s markets in Connecticut on the weekends.

A former Ralph Lauren designer, and more recently the designer of her own handbag collection, Eileen has decided to focus on creating her table accessories while she continues her fashion and prop styling work in the city.

Can you guess which ones are my favorite?

Eileen seeks out really cool textiles from a variety of sources to create her beautiful, and surprisingly affordable, handcrafted table accessories.

Some of her fabrics feature some really great flower photography.

In the photo below, you can see one of Eileen’s inspirational ‘mood boards’ hanging in the studio.

If you live in Connecticut, or are close enough to visit on a weekend, Eileen can be found at The Dudley Farm Farmers’ Market in Guilford. It is a great place to purchase local and organic seasonal produce and handmade crafts. The market sits on ten acres of sheep pasture and gardens filled with flowers and heirloom vegetables. Check the Dudley Farm website for the current time schedule and directions.

I hope you enjoyed today’s Friday field trip to Eileen Duffy’s studio to see some of her handcrafted fabric coaster, placemat, and table runner creations. Thanks for letting us take a peek Eileen!

Have a wonderful weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

I am sharing at The Tablescaper, The Shabby Nest, Craftionary, Little Red House, and Craftberry Bush.

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monthly book giveaway for may!

April 30, 2013

Congratulations to Nancy from New Jersey for winning the April book giveaway! Nancy has won a copy of Jodi Picoult’s newest novel The Storyteller. With the weather getting nice and warm, be sure to do some outdoor reading Nanc ;) Now, on to the May selection…

Since May is the month we traditionally recognize mothers, this month’s giveaway book is written by one of the most amazing moms I know. It is the newly published memoir My Intense and Meaningful Life with Cancer, A Diary of Healing written by Mary Ann Wasil. It is the touching, and humorous account of this mother’s battle with breast cancer.

The author of this book is the mother of three. Many are impressed by her beauty (both inside & out)…by her wonderful relationship with her children…by her courage…by her amazing attitude…these things are impressive to me too, but the thing that impresses me most about Mary Ann is her dedication to giving back. She is not content focusing on her own recovery. She has established a nonprofit called The Get in Touch Foundation to help others and to affect change. This foundation helps girls of all ages (starting in grade 5) to ‘get in touch’ with their bodies, information, and each other to help in the crusade against cancer. Mary Ann has made an amazing commitment with her life and I would like to share her story with you…I hope you win one of the three signed giveaway books!

Because this book is so special, I have decided to give away three signed copies! This month, I am asking you to say you are a cancer survivor, know a cancer survivor, or want to help eliminate cancer…just write this in a blog comment, in a tweet, in an email, or on my Facebook page and you will be entered to win one of the three copies I will give away at the end of the month!

Good luck! In the meantime, you can meet Mary Ann here.

Thanks so much for visiting! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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random acts of flowers

April 26, 2013

Today’s Friday field trip is a step back in time…back to the late 20th century…to celebrate the May Day (May 1st) tradition of leaving flowers anonymously on neighbor’s doorsteps as a signal to the start of spring.

For my May Day ‘baskets’ I used discarded cigar containers…apparently, some cigars are sold in glass tubes similar to a test tube…who knew? So, I took some discarded containers and repurposed them as May Day flower containers to leave as surprises :) Who wouldn’t enjoy finding some fresh flowers on their doorknob? Using fresh flowers, some scraps of ribbon, twine, sea glass, shells, and driftwood I created some pretty May Day surprises to hang on unsuspecting…insert suspicious laugh here…doorknobs.

I hope this inspires you to come up with your own variation of this May Day tradition. A fun way to celebrate spring and put a smile on someone’s face :) Thank you for sharing this week’s Friday field trip…a trip back in history to celebrate May Day with flower surprises!

Giving flowers is a simple pleasure that can surely make a difference in someone’s day.

You only need a stem or two to let someone know they are thought of in a special way.

Thank you for visiting! I will be busy the next couple days….you can follow my adventures on Instagram :)

Have a really wonderful weekend, Jackie

Sharing with Common Ground, Craftionary, Roses & Stuff, Shabby Nest, Coastal Charm, Little Red House, A Pinch of Joy, Mona’s Picturesque, and Nurture Photography Spring 2013.

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the best of jelly shots

April 23, 2013

As soon as the weather gets nice and picnics come to mind, so do jelly shots. My sister always makes Jell-O eggs (yes, Jell-O in the shape of eggs) for Easter …I always wonder what it would be like to create a jelly shot egg! I have never tried it since I have a niece and some nephews well below the legal drinking age, but Easter always seems to start me thinking about making jelly shots.

Back in my college years, I discovered Jell-O shots and started making and bringing them to parties. I would prepare Jell-O, substituting most of the water in the recipe to some type of alcohol and pour it into small paper cups. I loved experimenting with flavors of Jell-O and liquors to come up with some cool combinations.

Over the years, I discovered that using Knox gelatin opened up a whole creative avenue…no longer were my creations limited by the flavors of Jell-O…Knox could make any liquid become a gelatin! Flavor combinations became much more sophisticated. And, small paper cups were replaced…shapes were cut or fancy molds were used.

A fun way to serve a school of fish shaped jelly shots is on skewers. These are vodka pink lemonade jelly shots.

If you are less adventurous and would like some recipes already proven to be winners, check out the recipes of Michelle Palm. Her blog, with tons of recipes for jelly shots, is amazing and contains more recipes than you could ever think of…for any occasion! Today, I adapted one of her recipes for my ‘fish’ shots. I chose the vodka pink lemonade for this post because it is pretty basic – a real crowd pleaser – everyone seems to like pink lemonade!

Vodka Pink Lemonade Jelly Shots Recipe (makes a school of fish)

2/3 cup frozen canned pink lemonade, thawed
2/3 cup water
2 envelopes + 1 tsp. Knox gelatin
2/3 cup vodka

Pour the lemonade mix and water through a strainer into a medium size sauce pan. Sprinkle the gelatin over the surface, letting it saturate for about 2 minutes. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly to dissolve – about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vodka. Spoon into molds and refrigerate until set.

I used fish shaped ice cube trays that I purchased at IKEA. There are 12 fish in each tray and this recipe filled 4 trays.

Please remember that this recipe contains alcohol. It should not be used or consumed by anyone except a responsible adult that is of the legal drinking age.

If you want to make some shots for the under 21 set, you can also use Jell-O brand gelatin to make Jell-O jigglers which only require adding water, or you can use your own fruit juice to make Knox Blox… these can be made from any fruit juice and the instructions to make them is right on the Knox gelatin envelope. Another really fun idea for the kids is to make glow–in-the-dark gelatin by using tonic water.

Hope this inspired you to create your own ‘school’ of jelly shots… (with or without alcohol), they are a fun warm weather treat!

Thanks so much for visiting!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at Coastal Charm, Little Red House, The Inspiration Gallery at Craftberry Bush, and A Pinch of Joy.

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‘spruced up’ in westport

April 19, 2013

It is that time of year in Connecticut…the time when ones thoughts are consumed with warm weather and gardening (as you can tell, I am still in a gardening state of mind)…And, for Friday field trip this week, I am going to take you on a visit to a new home and garden store in Westport center called Spruce.

The store has been opened almost a year, but quite honestly, I only recently became aware of it because I usually tend to concentrate my store perusal to Main Street when I am in that part of Westport. Spruce is definitely worth the short walk from Main…it is located at 90 Post Road East. A Paper Source has recently opened right next door which gives me two great reasons to walk over to the Post Road when I am in the downtown area.

In 2010, Spruce started with one store in Connecticut…there are now 7 Spruce stores in 3 states.

As you can see, they carry a lovely selection of home and garden items, gifts, jewelry and clothing, and other accessories.

I hope these few photos gave you a little bit of an idea of what Spruce has to offer…I had a great time visiting!

and Chad at Spruce in Westport, CT help to make your shopping experience a fun time!

Patty and Chad at Spruce in Westport, CT help to make your shopping experience at this home and garden decor store a fun time!

Hope you enjoyed our Friday field trip to Spruce in Westport, Connecticut. You can learn more about the store by visiting the Spruce website. Be sure to visit the store if you find yourself in the Westport area.

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patriotic marshmallows

a hip brunch in philly

displaying a special treasure

personal reflections at longwood gardens

may is national bicycle month

handcrafted fabric tableware

monthly book giveaway for may!

random acts of flowers

the best of jelly shots

‘spruced up’ in westport