Burlap and Honey

30 Dr. Seuss Quotes

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 22:00:00 +0000

This week as been a bit rough, for a variety of reasons that I won't go into now. There has been a lot of 'bleh' going on in my head and I am very ready for the weekend.

However, I stumbled upon this image below, full of quotes by the ever-amazing Dr. Seuss. His stories were a big part of my childhood and his whimsical advice still has an impact. It helped me cheer up a bit, and hopefully it will put a smile on your face as well.

Cocoa Pear Crisps

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:18:00 +0000

Yesterday I found myself with time on my hands, the desire to bake something and these exquisite red pears.

If I were a painter I would paint still-life. Unfortunately, the best thing I ever drew was of a horse in my 5th grade art class. It took me forever and I was never able to replicate it. So, since I wasn't going to paint these pears, I did the next best thing - turned them into something yummy.

A few months back, I pinned a recipe for Cocoa Pear Crisps and decided to give it a go. They literally take no time to make and have a lovely sweet and satisfying crunch that I found really, well.... satisfying.

First, preheat your oven to 275ºF. Then start by slicing three pears into very thin slices, about 1/8 inch.

The original recipe called for a mandolin slicer to get perfectly uniform slices, but a mandolin slicer I own not. So, I just tried my best to get the slices as thin as I could. Some were a little thicker than others, but ah well - life is too short to worry about such things.

Now come the flavors. Mix together the following: 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon (I used Saigon Cinnamon, which I talked about in this post) and 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder.

The nutmeg was not in the original recipe, but it seemed like it would be a nice complement to the other spices, so I added it.

Also, uhm, can we just talk about nutmeg for a second? It is one of my favorite spices. Amazing in both sweet and savory recipes, I use it all of the time, especially in soups and meat dishes. And while you can buy it already ground in the spice aisle, I really prefer to grind my own using a microplane grater. Each little pod lasts forever and the flavor is fresher. Give it a try sometime!

Back to recipe: Place the pear slices on a cookie sheet lined with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper and sprinkle the spice/sugar mixture lightly over the pear slices.

Bake for 30 minutes, then flip the pear slices, and bake for another 30 minutes, until the pears are browned and slightly shriveled.

Remove them from the oven and allow to cool, which is when they will crisp up.

**Note - if your pear slices still don't seem crispy, put back in oven and bake as long as needed, in 5 minute intervals, until desired crispness is achieved, but not burned.**

Once they have cooled, you will have these delightful little pear crisps that are not too sweet and have the perfect amount of cocoa.

I think these are perfect healthy-ish snacks for kids and adults alike. I don't know about you, but after dinner I like to have a little something sweet, and these do just the trick.

I hope you enjoy!

Cutest Ever

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:20:00 +0000

** Today's post is sponsored by cute little things. **

The other day I was at work and wanted a little snack. My company stocks fresh fruit in the kitchen, so I decided to go see what was in there.

Approximately .0000531 seconds after I walked in there, I spotted the cutest piece of fruit I have ever seen in my life.

Friends - let me introduce you to a mini pear.

I took this picture with my iPhone, so it's not the best, but there is no denying the cuteness factor of this little guy. I put it next to chapstick for reference. I'm such a sucker for stuff like this - it gets me - hook, line and sinker.

And, I have to say, it was actually the perfect little snack that kept me going until lunch.

Yay for cute little things!

Happy Friday :)

The English Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:15:00 +0000

For those who don't know, my husband is from England. There are a million reasons why I love him, and the fact that he is English, but one of the big ones is the new, fresh perspective he has introduced into my life.

I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon and have been steeped in the local culture for most of my life. People here love micro-brews and enjoy arguing over whether Oregon State or University of Oregon has a better football team.  They like Indie music, appreciate rainy weather, wear fleece to the office and take coffee seriously. I grew up around men who LOVE football, women who love Nordstrom and kids who adore peanut butter.

[Enter my husband into my life.]

Suddenly I found myself with a man who thinks micro-brews are disgusting, could not care less about football and is quite confused about Americans and their love of peanut butter.  Collegiate sports, and how popular they are, is still a funny concept, and which of two schools win in any competition means nothing to him. When he goes out, he likes to be dressed up and would never be caught dead wearing khakis or fleece. He loves English rock bands, doesn’t drink coffee and swears that you can’t find “proper bacon” anywhere in this town.  His school trips growing up were to places like Paris and skiing in the Alps and he struggles with the lack of beautiful architecture here on the West Coast (which I have to say, is true – can we please rid of the ‘strip-mall’ concept before they completely take over??).

On the flip side, there are certain American things that amuse him, which I would never even consider.  Yellow school buses (“It’s just like the movies!!”), dishwasher disposals and automatic garage door openers were all exciting discoveries for him.  Portland’s brunch culture is one of his favorite things and he gets really happy when he sees huge pick-up trucks and old, classic American muscle cars.  It amazes him how strangers will just talk to you for no reason and loves how we take Halloween so seriously.  He thinks we have great steak, has just started to discover regional accents (many Brits think we all sound the same, as we tend to think about them) and finds it hilarious when Americans say things like, “God dang it” and “Awesome!”

It’s who he is, and I love it. I’ve discovered that having someone to challenge the way you think, the way you see the world and what you are used to is really satisfying and opens up your world in ways you never imagined. I look back now and past relationships feel so boring compared to the one I am in now. I’m constantly learning new things about his culture, and he with mine. Things I think are totally normal are weird and funny to him, which makes me stop for a moment and realize that MY normal is not everyone’s normal.

This is a life lesson that I will be forever grateful having learned. We all have a different ‘normal’, and that is a good thing. In fact, it is essential. Can you imagine if we all liked the same things? Boring schmoring.

So, to my husband - I say thank you. Thank you for opening up my world, introducing me to your incredible culture and for accepting mine.  Thank you for your hilarious commentary that makes me examine certain American customs with fresher eyes and a sense of humor. And mostly, thank you for being you. I hold dear the “English” things about you, and you always have my permission to be exactly as you are.

Happy Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:15:00 +0000

I hope everyone has a safe, fun and spooky Halloween!

Think candy!

Pumpkin Carving

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:15:00 +0000

Even though we don't have kids, my husband and I love going to the pumpkin patch, carefully picking out our pumpkins and carving them into jack-o-lanterns.

This year, my husband decided to up the ante by purchasing some professional grade, wood and metal carving tools (on the left), while I stuck with my faithful collection of plastic tools (right).

He wanted to try carving into the flesh of the pumpkin instead of just cutting out shapes. I initially made fun of him for this seemingly frivolous purchase, but I have to admit that after watching him, they worked pretty well.

We wrapped our dining table in plastic, set up shop and were ready to roll.

Very serious carving going on here people.

Although messiness drives me crazy, I quite enjoy the mess that pumpkin carving creates. I also love the feeling of sticking my hand in the cold, slimy pumpkin.

Is that weird?

I chose stars for my pumpkin this year and I was already done before Dan had finished the mouth.

After about 45 minutes, this is what he had done, and I totally loved it. Those are some serious chompers you've got there, Mr. Pumpkin.

Starry, Starry Night...

...and Mr. Scary Pumpkin. I love it.

And with that, we are ready for Halloween. Let's hope we get some trick-or-treaters this year!!

What about you? Are you ready for the night of fright?

Election Fatigue

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 14:20:00 +0000

Is anyone else out there feeling SO ready for this election to just be over?

I'm suffering from a major case of election fatigue.

The negativity between the candidates is palpable and it leaves a very bad taste in my mouth - from both sides. Anyone else out there feel the same?

Frankly, I am tired of hearing the same issues discussed time and time again. Maybe introducing some new topics into the mix would spice it up a bit.

If I had my way, here would be some things I would like the politicians to focus on:

1) Why we teach Algebra and Calculus in high school, but not personal finance? (I am serious about this one.)

2) The benefits of turning the standard 5-day work week into a 4-day week. (YES! YES! YES!)

3) The current price of admission to a movie. I mean, c'mon.

4) Supporting food science that will make butter and sugar alternatives that taste EXACTLY the same, but are healthy.

5) An imposed tax, that provides revenue for schools, on the purchases of:

- Jeggings

- Press-on nails

- Nestle Strawberry Milk

- Clothes for animals

- Anything made by Ed Hardy

6)Tax incentives for production companies to make sitcoms like they did in the 90s. Think Seinfeld, Friends and Cheers.

7) Training programs for police to not only pull over those driving too fast, but for people driving too slow.

8) Longer maternity leave for new Moms. (I am serious about this one too.)

9) Criminalizing mayonnaise.

It's my list. Mayo has got to go.

10) Mandates that regulate the amount of times any one person (my sister) can ask a woman (me) when they are going to have a baby.

What about you? Any issues you wish were a little higher up on the political discussion list?

Mr. Grasshopper

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 14:20:00 +0000

I hate bugs.

HATE bugs.

They scare the crap out of me and I will do anything to not be around them.

Spiders are the worst. (WORST WORST WORST.) Moths are not far behind spiders. (Erratic. Weird. Gross.) Butterflies are pretty, but please God don't land on me.

Ladybugs are slightly tolerable, but I would just rather not.

My entire family makes fun of me for this fear, but I can't help it. They make me feel all eebie-jeebie and itchy and gross and ivylidjhsvdvdfnebf;ks - bleh.

So, when I discovered a grasshopper lounging around on my front door flowers, like he bloody owned the place, I wasn't too pleased. But, my dear sister, who has loved bugs since I can remember, and was visiting at the time, started taking photos of him. He seemed pretty chill with the the whole photography thing, so I decided to get out my camera and have a play. I took dozens of photos, but this one was my favorite:

Looking at him in the photo, he isn't so bad. In fact, I would maybe go so far as to say he is kind of pretty. I like how his legs bend backwards and the yellow/green of his eye. Perhaps when there is a lens between the bug and me, it helps me tolerate the situation of even looking at a bug.

Okay, Mr. Grasshopper, you can stay and enjoy my flowers. Just please don't jump on me, or we might have some beef.

What about you? Do you hate bugs? If not, what is it that makes you cringe?

Homemade Cinnamon Walnut Butter

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 14:25:00 +0000

I am a total peanut butter nut (pun intended). It is one of my favorite foods in the entire world and I could literally eat it every day. However, lately I have been into the idea of trying my hand at making some homemade nut butters, with a nut other than the peanut.

(How many times can you get the word 'nut' in a sentence?)

Since I love walnuts, and they are delightfully healthy, I decided to give walnut butter a try, and I am so glad I did. The result was a delicious treat with wonderful texture, just the right amount of salty and sweet and a nice alternative to my beloved peanut butter. Do give this recipe a try - you will not be disappointed.

Two notes before you read the recipe:

1) You can use normal cinnamon, but if you feel like splurging a little, try McCormick's Roasted Saigon Cinnamon. It is a little spicier, with a bolder cinnamon flavor. Also great on oatmeal and in cookies, this is just a great spice to have in your pantry.

2) It is recommended that you use walnut oil, but if you don't have it, canola oil will do. However, walnut oil is full of the rockstar omega-3 fatty acids and is great for cooking at a high heat, so it is a good all-around oil to have around.

Homemade Cinnamon Walnut Butter
(original recipe by Gluten Free Girl and The Chef)

Makes 1 cup

2 cups walnuts, shelled
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp honey
1 tsp Roasted Saigon Cinnamon
2 tsp walnut oil

1) Soak the walnuts overnight in a large bowl of water. This will help remove the bitter taste that walnuts tend to have.

2) Once the walnuts have been soaked, drain and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350˚F. Spread the walnuts out onto a cookie sheet and roast in the oven until the walnuts are dry and slightly golden, about 10 - 15 minutes. Make sure not to let them burn, as that will change the taste of the butter. Once toasted, remove from oven and let them cool entirely.

3) Put the cooled, toasted walnuts in the food processor and pulse until they are broken down, crumbly and slightly sticky. Add the salt, honey and cinnamon and pulse until combined. Taste the walnut paste and adjust seasonings as needed. When I was making it, at this point I added a little more honey and a little more cinnamon, but it's totally a matter of taste.

4) When happy with the seasonings, slowly drizzle in the oil while the food processor is running. The walnut paste will turn into walnut butter after a few seconds and you will be one happy camper. (Feel free to add a little more oil if you feel the texture is too dry.)

I stored my walnut butter in a mason jar (I will never tire of storing things in mason jars) and am really happy with how it turned out. It is great paired with apples, on bread with apple butter (heeellloooo amazing) and would taste delicious with a mild, soft cheese and crackers.

I am now totally inspired to try other combinations of nuts and seasonings. Next time I think I will go savory...maybe pecans and curry? Walnuts and roasted garlic? Almonds and paprika? I really think the possibilities are endless.

I hope you enjoy!

Can you think of any other combinations that might work?

Boden

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:25:00 +0000

A few years ago I was turned on to the English clothing company, Boden. Their clothes are classic, beautiful and seem to really flatter the feminine form. The items do tend to be a little on the expensive side, but since they are so timeless, I like to think of them as investment pieces.

Another thing I love about the company is the styling of their photographs. Whenever the catalog comes in the mail, I take time to sit and look at each page because it feels like art.

Broderie Top Dress

This photo in particular really caught my eye. I'm actually kind of obsessed with it. I love everything from the dress to the furniture to the flooring to the shoes to the makeup to the hair. Oh the hair...LOVE. Wouldn't this look be perfect for a holiday party or a winter wedding?

Birthday Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 14:25:00 +0000

Make a wish! Birthday cake complete with trucker hat party favors.

We recently celebrated the 33rd birthday of my friend Ryan, with his wife Ari and their beautiful daughter Adi. Ryan and Ari are high school sweethearts and I met them back in college when I was 19. My boyfriend at the time was in the same fraternity as Ryan and, while that relationship is long since over, I always thought one of the perks from it was getting to know these two.

As always, Ari put together a lovely little spread (complete with large tissue paper pom-poms). She is a trained chef and always makes the most delicious food.

It was somewhat of an Octoberfest theme, with Bratwurst and all the fixings. But, the difference between Ari's fixings and mine is hers are ridiculously awesome and look like they come from a magazine.

This spinach artichoke dip was out. of. control.

If you ever see this wine, buy it and drink it. It was one of the smoothest red wines I have ever had.

German Chocolate Cake. Uhm...OKAY.

And peanut butter sandwiches for "the kiddos."

Speaking of kiddos, I give you a little photo montage that I call:

ADI EATS A BITE OF CAKE

Yay! She did it!

(oh how I wish this photo was in focus!!!)

Happy Birthday Ryan! May this 33rd year of your life be the best one yet! And thank you, Ari, for the lovely party.

My Little Puppy Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 15:30:00 +0000

I recently had the pleasure of dog-sitting this little sweetheart. Her name is Maddie and she is half Border Collie and half something else (we think maybe German Pointer). She is my Dad's dog, but I consider her my dog as well since I was still living at home when they got her back in 2001, right before I left for college.

My love for this dog knows no bounds and sometimes it's hard for me to admit she has white hair around her nose and is a little slower going up the stairs. This dog will forever be our little puppy.

Those eyes speak a thousand words to me. Maddie is a very intelligent dog, with a myriad of emotions, and her constant need to express herself entertains the entire family.

She made herself right at home and I didn't want her to leave.

Oh Maddie-moo, do you even know how cute you are?

My little puppy girl.

Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies with...Egg Beaters

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Sunday nights on NPR, they air "America's Test Kitchen" where people can call in and ask their cooking questions and the experts from America's Test Kitchen answer. I find the show super interesting and have been making an effort to listen more regularly.

A few weeks ago, they were talking about eggs in baking recipes and how Egg Beaters (which is mostly made from egg whites) can actually be used as a substitute in most recipes, and with good results, while drastically reducing the cholesterol. As one who loves to bake but hates the unhealthy aspect of it, any little thing I can do to make things healthier catches my attention and I decided to give it a try.

Using my favorite Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe (below), I omitted the eggs and rocked the Egg Beaters.

1/4 cup of Egg Beaters equals 1 egg. My recipe called for 2 eggs, so I used 1/2 cup of Egg Beaters. Easy peasy.

I like moist and chewy chocolate chip cookies, which the egg yolk helps to create, so I was really curious to see how these would turn out.

And to my delight, they were great. They still had that lovely chewy and cakey texture that I wanted, which was of the utmost importance, and I used dark chocolate chips, which was...uhm...a very good decision.

I will say, though, that I think using Egg Beaters did shorten their shelf-life a bit and I felt that they didn't stay as soft for as long as when I have used eggs. They still tasted good, but this was one little difference I noticed. Not a huge biggy, but worth noting.

I am thinking that Egg Beaters might also be a great substitute when making French Toast or your favorite quick bread.

If you would like the recipe that I used, here it is:

Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies w/Egg Beaters

Makes 24 cookies

(Recipe Adapted from here)

3 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups brown sugar

6 Tbsp white sugar

1/2 cup Egg Beaters (or 2 eggs, if not using egg substitute)

4 tsp vanilla extract

1 (12 oz) bag chocolate chips (the darker, the better)

Various pinches of sea salt (for sprinkling on cookies)

- Preheat an oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C)

- Mix  together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.  Beat the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar with an electric mixer in a  large bowl until smooth. Add the Egg Beaters, 1/4 cup at a time, allowing it  to blend into the butter mixture before adding the next. Beat in the  vanilla with the last 1/4 cup of Egg Beaters.  Mix in the flour mixture until just  incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips, mixing until combined.

- Divide the dough into 24 3-tablespoon-sized balls. Flatten the balls to about 1/4-inch thick onto a baking sheet. Then sprinkle the top of each flattened dough ball with a pinch of sea salt.

- Bake in the  preheated oven until the edges are golden, 15 to 17 minutes. Allow the  cookies to cool on the baking sheet until the centers begin to set,  about 20 minutes.

And, please, whatever you do, don't forget the milk! These are PERFECT dunking cookies - nice and dense with a lot of room to soak up milk! Be it regular milk, soy milk, rice milk, almond milk or whatever you drink...you best be dunking this cookie!

Enjoy!

The New Voice of Bond

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 15:45:00 +0000

I am a huge fan of Adele and I was very excited when I found out she would be singing the theme song for the new James Bond movie.

The song has now hit the airwaves and I love it. It sounds very Bond-esque and I think she was a perfect choice.

What do you think?

Happy Friday! May your weekend be full of jolly good things.

My Birthday China

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:30:00 +0000

This past August I hit a big milestone: I turned 30, and I had mixed emotions about entering this new decade. In some ways I was fine with it and in other ways I felt sad that my 20s had come and gone so fast.

My 20s were great. I went to college, partied, met boys, developed friendships, started my career, traveled, learned how to do "grown up" things like write a resume and buy a car, got married, bought a house and enjoyed life. Now I'm 30 and, with the initial shock having worn off by now, am excited and looking forward to all of the amazing experiences I will have in my 30s.

Anyway, back in August when I was still feeling a little woe-is-me, I was greatly cheered up by the gift that I received from my amazing husband.

Yes...sometimes material things cheer me up. I will admit.

While in England back in June, we took a day trip up to Stoke-on-Trent where the famous "Potteries" are located. This is where many of the best china brands in the world are headquartered and it was a lot of fun to check them out. I even splurged and bought myself a set of 4 dessert plates that I loved, loved, loved. Loved. They were a design by Donna Hay for Royal Doulton. But, due to the price and needing to get them back in hand luggage, I only bought 4 of them, yet pined for more.

To my delight, on my birthday, my husband got me an entire set of this beautiful china. I was blown away.

Often I find china to be too intricate and fussy, but I have fallen in love with the simple, subdued pattern that runs along the edge of each dish. It is full of sweetness and kind of symbolizes so many things I love about being a girl, if that makes sense.

And just look at these bowls. I mean, c'mon. Dreamy, right? I went back and forth for awhile about if I should just use these on special occasions or as our everyday plates and in the end I decided to use them everyday. It seemed silly to have these beautiful dishes only out a few times a year. Now they make me happy each time I open the cupboard.

Here is the bottom marking, in case any of you are interested in checking these out for yourself.

Also, while I'm at it, I thought I would show you the other dishes I gifted myself while we were visiting The Potteries. I just got a set of 6 dessert dishes, but I absolutely love these as well.

Aren't these fun? They are called 'Nectar' by Spode. It makes serving things to guests so much more fun when you can use pretty dishes.

And here are is the marking on that one, if you are interested.

All in all, it was a great birthday that I am now comfortable with. And thanks, to my husband, for this beautiful gift. You know how much your thoughtfulness means to me :)

What about you? Any birthdays that were more difficult than others?

Fall Front Door

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:30:00 +0000

In keeping with showing you the Fall touches I have added around my house (here and here), I thought I would show you my front door. I wanted to keep it simple, adding just a few little touches.

I found this metal tub at a garage sale last weekend for $15 and I am totally in love with it. I have so many ideas as to what I can use this for, but it's first order of business was housing some beautiful, Fall Mums.

I just love the colors of this season. I know every blog in the world right now is talking about Fall, but it really is my favorite time of year. (Especially this year where, here in Portland, we still have sun and temps in the 70s. Amazing.)

About 2 years ago I bought this old, banged-up milk can at an auction for $10. My husband has made fun of me since then because I have not known what to do with it and it has just sort of sat in our backyard, unused and unloved. BUT - when I was decorating the front porch, I knew I needed something on that side of the door to balance out the metal-tub-'o-Mums and it just hit me: THE MILK CAN! Finally, that rusted little beauty has a rightful place in this world. I really love how it looks with the pumpkins and I think it feels happy there too.

As for the wreath, I made that myself about 4 years ago. To be honest, it's no longer my favorite and I want to make another one, but it will totally do for now.

All in all, I am happy with how these little touches brightened up our front door. It makes me happy to come home each day and really, isn't that what seasonal decorating is all about?

Back To Reality

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 14:30:00 +0000

(This photo has nothing to do with anything, but I took it the other day and I think it's really pretty)

Today is my first day back at work in 5 months. Ahhhhh!!!!

I almost feel like I forget how to work. Not really...but kind of.

Back in May, my husband and I finished our work on the film ParaNorman and had an incredible 3 months off together, visiting his family in England, taking a road trip around France and Italy, flying to Cyprus for a week, then NYC, then seeing my family in Pennsylvania and then home. It was a trip of a lifetime, though I plan on having another few of those in my life...one was not enough to satisfy my waderlust. (You can see more about that trip here.)

My husband returned back to work in August to get started on the next film, while I was not needed back yet and stayed at home. I made myself a list of projects that I wanted to get accomplish and tried my best to cross-off as many as I could. While I didn't get to everything, here is what my list looks like now:

- Put together a photo album from trip
- ~~Work on blog~~
- Sell stuff on Ebay
- ~~Paint picture frames and hang above bed~~
- ~~Clean and seal new tile in kitchen~~
- Work on Wedding Album
- ~~Organize closet~~
- ~~Deep clean upstairs and downstairs windows and sills~~
- ~~Finish editing trip photos~~
- Dye old jeans and black dress to restore color
- ~~Register new health insurance~~
- ~~Clean/Organize garage~~
- ~~Read photography book~~
- Paint guest bathroom cabinet
- ~~Sew pillows and work through "SEW ME!" pile of repairs~~
- Hang framed photos along stairwell
- Develop old box of film I found
- ~~Catch up on filing~~
- ~~Hang large mirror in foyer~~
- ~~Read at least 2-3 books~~

I guess all in all, I did okay. I'm embarrassed to admit that, even 2 years after our wedding, I have yet to do anything with the photos. Ugh! I really need to focus on that.

As for everything else, it will get done in due time. Now I am back in the fast-paced, and often crazy, world of film making. Time to get my head back in the game of reality!!!

With that said, I am so thankful for the summer I just had. It was such a gift and I feel so, so lucky to have had it. It makes all those long hours at work worth it, in the end.

Wish us luck on the next project!!

When Do You Feel Most Alive?

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 14:20:00 +0000

I was recently listening to a radio program that was discussing moments in which people feel the most alive, referencing things like riding a roller coaster or climbing a mountain. This is, of course, different for everyone but it really got me thinking about what it means to feel alive, and when do I feel the most alive?

So much of life is about routine. I think most of us create and thrive on the structure that have in our every day lives, but when does this translate into really feeling alive?

In looking back over the course of my life, I think I have felt most alive when I was learning and/or experiencing something new. A few moments that come to mind are:

* Swinging at recess in elementary school

My little brother Conor, back in 1991

* When my little brother was born (I was 9 years old)

* My first kiss with the boy I had a crush on for months

* Being on stage in my first high school play

A much younger (and skinnier) me during one of many nights where I secretly went out with my friends in high school

* Sneaking out of my parents house in the middle of the night to meet up with friends

Sophomore year at University, in the crappy apartment we thought was amazing - 2002

* My first two years of college, making friends and realizing I could do whatever I wanted

* Falling in love for the first time, and the subsequent heartbreak that followed years later

Working on a student film project - Summer 2005

* Attending classes at film school and knowing it was exactly what I was supposed to be doing at the time

* Starting work on my first, real film job

* Falling in love for the second time, and knowing it was more right than ever

My wedding day - April 2010

* Marrying my husband

Haystack Rock - Cannon Beach, OR - May 2011

* Visiting the Oregon Coast. It's magical there.

* Going to the pumpkin patch. I can't explain why, but I always feel alive at the pumpkin patch.

Paris 2009 - The day we got engaged

* Traveling. I think I feel more alive when I am traveling than I do during any other time. It is so important to me and has shaped who I am in so many ways. When Dan and I have children, we have both made the commitment that our children will see the world.

I think that I am going to let this thought mull around in my mind for awhile since it has really intrigued me. I mean, the whole point of living is to feel alive, right? So, how can I/we create more moments of feeling alive and less of following the routine?

What about you? When do you feel most alive?

Happy Friday!

Decorated Fall Mantel

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:20:00 +0000

As I mentioned in this post, I wanted this year's Fall decor to feel simple and home-made, incorporating natural materials and items that I already had in my home. I tried to employ this theme as I decorated our fireplace mantel.

Using an old enamel bowl to house a bunch of candles, I tried to work off of a very limited and neutral palate using glassware and grapevine pumpkins that I already owned. I also incorporated my home-made, yarn-wrapped pumpkins. (You can see how to make them here.)

I love these white pedestals. I made them for a baby shower back in the Spring and I have used them for a million things. To see how to make them (it's SO easy), click here.

I know this post isn't about tiles, but I just have to say that replacing those tiles around our fireplace is HIGH up on my list of 'MUST D.I.Y. STAT' projects. They came with the house and I cannot stand them. Anyway...

I think Fall decor is some of my favorite. Ushering in the cooler months is something I am always ready for. One of the things I really struggled with while living in Southern California was the lack of seasons. I crave the quarterly changes.

I also added a few items to the table in our foyer, trying to keep with the 'natural' theme.

Perhaps, except for the green, glittery pumpkin. I always need a little glitter around during any holiday season.

What are you most excited about this Autumn?

Happy Wednesday!

Adorable Yarn-Wrapped Pumpkins

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:20:00 +0000

I wanted to do something different this year with my Fall decor. The past month has been all about trying to simplify in my life, which included going through a lot of old boxes, clearing out clutter and organizing. I felt like carrying that theme into Fall and keeping the decor simple. For me, this meant using natural materials, items I already had and a neutral palate.

I've always been drawn to the home-spun look, so I decided to try wrapping yarn around foam pumpkins, which I bought at a craft store. I used a glue gun to attach the yarn and just went for it, with no specific plan in mind.

This pumpkin had a plastic "stem", which I pulled out and set aside, before doing anything else. I started with one of the smaller pumpkins, almost as practice, and wrapped the yarn around, gluing as I went along. Sometimes the yarn wasn't as close together as I wanted, so I used a toothpick to push the rows together. This also helped cut down on glue gun burns. (Ouch!)

Some of the pumpkins had foam stems, which I simply sliced off with a razor knife. Don't worry if it's not a clean cut. It's okay. I promise.

For this larger pumpkin, I measured how long each piece of yarn needed to be to go all the way around and then cut a pile to length. (I actually found this way to be easier than the wrapping method.) Then, piece by piece, I glued on the yarn and used my toothpick to keep the rows close.

To cover the rough edges around the top, I glued a few pieces in a circular pattern, which I thought looked cute. Make sure you leave space to glue your stem back on!

And I did something similar to the bottom of the pumpkin as well.

For the stems, I glued on some old twine in a circular pattern, starting in the middle of the small tip of the stem, and worked down to the wider part.

I then took my glue gun and generously applied glue to the top of the pumpkin, in the well created by the yarn. Working quickly, I pressed the twine-wrapped stem onto the top and held for a few seconds until the glue dried enough to hold the stem firm.

For the gourd, due to it's odd (and lovely) shape, I wrapped the yarn around it in one continuous string, gluing as I went along. While the picture shows that I started at the thin tip, I would recommend starting at the base instead. It will be easier for you to keep the yarn in a more fluid pattern around the neck.

Also, you might find that there will be times when you have to cut little pieces of yarn here and there, to fill in gaps. That is totally fine. I did a lot of that, and in the end, you really cannot tell. This was a totally free-form project where I really had no expectations, so I just made it work.

Here is my messy little workspace. I did everything on the flattened lid of a cardboard box.

Overall, I am really happy with how these turned out.

They completely embody that home-made, simple look that I was going for and I find them to be really sweet.

I will be honest, however, that this is not the fastest project in the world. It took me a few nights to get them done, while I watched ~~highly civilized television~~ MasterChef and Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.(Yes...I know...oh the shame.)

These pumpkins are going to take center stage on my mantel above our fireplace. Don't you love when a project you conceptualize actually works out? It is so gratifying.

What about you? Any fun Fall decor ideas to share?

Friday Fab Finds

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 14:30:00 +0000

I like to judge stores on how good their sales are.

This isn't because I'm cheap, (I will splurge when necessary), but I love nothing better than finding a really great item during a really great sale, and if a store offers really crappy sales, then I'm just not interested, frankly.

So, really what I'm trying to say is this: I love J.CREW. I've had my fair share of their clothing over the years and they have truly held up over time. And, I am happy to report that basically everything I have purchased from J.CREW over the last 5 years has been on sale.

I decided to check out their sale a few days ago and in usual J.CREW fashion (tee hee), there are some beautiful items on sale right now that are hard to pass up.

This cashmere sweater, in the color 'Turquoise Pool' was originally $79.50 and is now on sale for $39.99


I think this yellow shift dress is delightful. It was originally $148.00 and is now on sale for $69.99. Not bad!

I like this top so much that I picked one up for myself! I think it would be super sure tucked into an A-line skirt. Originally $45.00 and marked down to $29.99.

This is truly a fraction of the items they have on there. I highly suggest checking it out, if you are so inclined.

What about you? What stores do you count on for sales? Do tell...

Get. This. Cleaner.

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:30:00 +0000

I love me a good cleaning product.

I'm like Target's dream customer because when I breeze through those automatic sliding doors, I am on the prowl for products that will make my life just a little bit easier.

CUT TO:

INT. BATHROOM - MORNING

Jocelyn leans over the side of her bathtub, wearing faded blue sweatpants and an old 'University of Oregon' tank top. Her auburn hair is pulled back in a sloppy bun and sweat glistens on her forehead as she furiously scrubs the tub's basin. After a final, enthusiastic scour, she pulls away to examine her progress only to find the tub is still not clean. She let's out an exasperated sigh.

FADE OUT

In case you were wondering, that was a little scene for you that closely resembles my general experience cleaning bathtubs.

I hate it. It's annoying and too much work.

It is the worst chore. Of all the chores. The worst.

BUT...I have found a little glimmer of hope that I want to share with you. Here it is:

This is a good, good product. I've never cleaned a tub/shower so quickly in my life. You spray this blue foam all over and then it starts working magic. Somehow it lifts all of the shower/tub griminess and slowly turns white. Once the foam is white, simply wipe with a cloth or scrub gently and then rinse away. Honestly...it does what it says it will.

And that, my friends, is a little gift from me to you on this fine Tuesday morning. Take care now!

And I'm Feeling Good...

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Because it's one of the best auditions I've ever seen...

Because she's only 13...

Because it's a great song...

Because Simon Cowell gives a standing ovation...

...you should watch this clip from the latest X-Factor

I. Love. Her.

I think you will too. Enjoy!

I Love Me Some Famouses

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:30:00 +0000

**Warning - this is maybe the most worthless post ever, but I am writing it anyway**

I have a secret talent. Some might even go so far as to call it a gift, but who am I to say, really. Whatever it is, it follows me wherever I go and never ceases to amaze me. Since I know you are likely dying with anticipation, I will divulge.

I spot famous people.

I spot them everywhere. In cities all around the place. If they are around, living their lives, I will see them. It's just the way it is. I don't even try to find them - they come to me.

Okay, that isn't totally true. When I was going to film school in Southern California, I will admit that my senses were particularly heightened whenever a car with blacked-out windows drove by or there were paparazzi lingering, but the majority of my sightings have been completely by chance. As pointless as this "gift" is, it has become something that is a real kick-in-the-pants for me and I enjoy bragging about it. I mean, why not brag about it? If I could sing or tap dance or stick my fist in my mouth, I would brag about that. It just so happens celebrity sightings are my thang.

So, without further ado (because I know you want to know) here is my list of sightings, in no particular order:

- Ben Affleck
- Justin Timberlake
- Jennifer Aniston (Spotted her 2x, met her 1x. That's a story for another day)
- Gnarls Barkley
- Dakota Fanning
- Matthew Perry (I've spotted him twice)
- Meridith Vieira
- Mariel Hemingway
- Ricky Martin
- Hoda Kotb
- Carson Daly
- Rob Lowe
- Don Johnson
- Jack Osbourne
- Daryl Hannah
- Rosie O'Donnell
- Tommy Lee
- Frances McDormand
- John Malkovich
- John C Reilly
- Shannon Elizabeth
- Terry Hatcher
- Henry Winkler
- Terrence Howard
- Bai Ling
- Catherine Keener
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- All three Lawrence Brothers (y'know..."Whoa!" and Mrs. Doubtfire)
- Jonathan Ross
- Jeff Bridges
- Art Alexakis
- Rob Thomas
- Joan Cusack
- Jason Isaacs
- Lucy Liu
- Lili Taylor
- Trista Sutter
- John Travolta
- Edward Burns
- Lisa Kudrow
- Michael Patrick King
- Tom Hanks

Aaaand...that is about all I can think of now. I know I am missing a few, but oh well. Isn't that kind of a crazy list?? I think so...

To round off the absolute worthlessness of this post, I will say that there are a few people not on my list that I would die to see. I know that, no matter what, I would have a hard time keeping my composure around them. The top three are:

- Leonardo Dicaprio (The LOOOOVE of my life in my teen years)
- Oprah (The Queen of all that is good in the world)
- The Queen of England (Some say she's stuffy. I think she's cool)

So there you have it...my little gift. It might not be prolific. It might not be for the common good. It might not have a single purpose in the entire world, but, it does make me smile.

Happy Thursday!!

How to Make Lavender Honey

noreply@blogger.com (Jocelyn Pascall) — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:25:00 +0000

I was recently at the house of one of my dear friends, Karla, when she served some delicious cheese and crackers with lavender honey to drizzle on top. It was exquisite.

Karla is one of the few people I know who loves cheese as much as I do. We are cheese kindred spirits. But this isn't about cheese. It's about honey. Sorry. I'm easily distracted when it comes to fromage.

I loved the lavender honey so much that I decided to try and make some myself. It turns out that it is very simple to make, and with really great results.

In order to get started you will need to make sure you have culinary quality lavender, which means it's been cultivated for human consumption. I bought mine at a local health food store, but you can also find it at many farms, specialty stores or even amazon.com!

Start by heating the honey, on low in a small saucepan until it starts to simmer. Then add the lavender, stir and remove from heat.

Now, you want to add 1/2 tablespoon of lavender for every 1/2 cup of honey. So, if you use a cup of honey, you would use 1 tablespoon of lavender, and so on.

Pour the warm honey and lavender into a bowl, cover, and allow to just sit, at room temperature, for 24 hours. Aren't you loving how easy this is?

After 24 hours of the honey and lavender infusing, return to the saucepan and bring to a simmer once again. As soon as it is simmering, remove from heat and pour the honey and lavender through a mesh strainer into a jar.

Allow the jar to cool to room temperature and store the honey in the fridge for 6 - 8 months.

My first order of business was getting my fresh lavender honey atop some deliciously stinky blue cheese, served on a rosemary and onion cracker. Uhm...yum. I mean, like, seriously yum. Seriously.

A few other ideas I have stored up for this honey:

- Drizzle on top of homemade pizza with salami and Italian sausage.

- Use to sweeten all kinds of tea, including Chai. I think it would be divine with Chai.

- Add a little to oatmeal, or any other hot cereal.

- Continue to eat with all kinds of cheese. Duh.

- Use in a chicken marinade along with some soy sauce, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper.

- Would also make great gifts for friends and co-workers around Christmas time.

I really hope that you give this a try. It is so easy and sooo tasty. Enjoy!