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december book giveaway!

December 4, 2018

giveaway calendar for dec

The December giveaway is not exactly a book…it is a calendar for 2019.  I am giving away a Felix Doolittle calendar!  I am obsessed with Felix Doolittle illustrations and thought I would share my obsession with you!  Once you take a look, you too will be in love with Felix Doolittle! (Check out the website for some great holiday gift ideas!!)calendar giveawayThe 2019 desk calendar is a wonderful way to honor a true calendar.  And, I do not consider a digital calendar on a cell phone a true calendar!  This calendar is a work of art – each month a beautiful illustration!  To win this giveaway, just leave me a message on this post or on my Instagram and you will be entered in a random drawing.  The winner will be chosen at the end of the month.

felix doolittle calendar

Congratulations to Beth, the winner of last month’s giveaway.  I hope you enjoy the book, Beth!  To see more on the November giveaway, click here.

For those of you who use Instagram, please join the challenge to post a favorite tree ornament(s) for the month of December.  It could be one you crafted, one you purchased, or a family heirloom!  I LOVE Christmas tree ornaments and can’t wait to see what you may post!  Use #pleasuregram to tag your photos.

ornament favorite

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Please note:  I did not take the photos of the Felix Doolittle calendar – they were taken from the website.

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november book giveaway!

November 6, 2018

inside of calm book

Preparing for the holidays is usually the opposite of calm, right?  This whole time of year causes so many people stress.  So, I thought the perfect book to give away for November is one called Calm:  Calm the Mind, Change the World by Michael Acton Smith.

calm your mind journal

Using a combination of creative prompts, activities, and motivations, Calm will open your eyes to the pleasure and richness of everyday life.  Discover how to take back a little bit of peace, space, and all-important time for yourself.

You can pick up Calm whenever you need it during the holidays…an inspirational and practical book with a wonderful Origami surprise at the end!

inside the calm book

Leave a comment to let me know you’d like to win.  The winner will be chosen at random at the end of November from the comments left during the month.

The pink velvet pumpkins for the October giveaway are going out to Lisette.  Click here for more information on that giveaway.  Congrats Lisette…I know you really wanted those pink pumpkins!  Please email me the address where you’d like me to send them. Enjoy!

Instagram users, please read on!  This month, the Instagram challenge is to post photos showing how you achieve your calm.  It can be a place…a person…whatever creates your calm.  Use the hashtag #pleasuregram to share.

calm instagram challenge nov 2018

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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september book giveaway!

August 24, 2018

book and pencil giveaway pleasure in simple things

Because of my unplanned summer hiatus, I am changing up the timing of my monthly giveaway a little bit.  Today I am announcing the July winner and at the same time, I am putting up the September giveaway.  This gives you a little extra time – from now until the end of September – to leave a comment for a chance to win this September giveaway.

I don’t know about you, but I constantly seem to be bombarded with creative ideas just when it is time to drift off to sleep!  (Either then, or in the middle of washing my hair in the shower!)  In an effort not to lose my marvelous thought, I have to quickly locate a pencil and paper to jot down my thoughts or I can not get to sleep!  So, when I saw this book, I had to pick it up to use as a monthly giveaway!  The title:  Can’t Sleep Write Now…a nocturnal journal for tireless thinkers.  The perfect journal to keep bedside!

giveaway pencils with reading sayings

In addition to the journal, I am including in the giveaway, some custom pencils I had imprinted with ‘bookish’ phrases and a custom designed bookmark.  Just leave a comment and you will have a chance to win this giveaway!

September giveaway

Congratulations to Diane, winner of the July giveaway – the Kate Spade notebook.  To see more, click here.

Thanks for the lovely email message Diane!  Enjoy the notebook, I know you will put this win to good use!

Instagram users, please read on!  From now until the end of September, please share your favorite reads from this summer.  Just share a photo with hashtag #pleasuregram.  I will be sharing some on my Instagram stories.  I was able to get some great advance copies and I have some recommendations to share!  (How many of you have read Educated this summer?  Amazing, right?)

september 2018 instagram challenge

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

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july book giveaway!

June 29, 2018

Kate Spade notebook giveaway

July is almost upon us.  It is time to announce the July giveaway.  This month, as a homage to the designer, I am giving away a Kate Spade notebook.  To enter to win, simply leave a comment here, on Instagram or in an email.

Congratulations to Emily from Arizona, winner of the organizer and pencils from last month’s giveaway.  (Click here to read more about it.)  And, thanks for your sweet note Emily!  I am sure you will put the organizer to good use.  Enjoy!

Instagram users, please read on for this month’s challenge!

Since the tragic passing of Kate Spade, I find many of my friends have taken out Kate Spade pieces from their closets that they may not have used in a while – almost as a way to honor Kate after her passing. With this in mind, July’s Instagram Challenge is to share photos of your favorite Kate Spade piece(s).

Instagram challenge july 2018 kate spade fave

I have many – from office supplies to handbags, but one of my very favorites is a pencil case designed with a book motif.  I often use it as a wallet.  What’s your favorite?  Use hashtag #pleasuregram to share during the month of July.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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june book giveaway!

June 1, 2018

on the beach with the june giveaway

June is already here!  So, it is time for the June book giveaway!

This month, the giveaway is not exactly a book.  Instead, it is a memo pad organizer with some coordinating pencils!

I really love notepads – especially ones that detail a week or a month at a time, and this one is so cute!  The longer days of summer leave more time for fun activities.  And, this is the perfect pad to best maximize scheduling the expanded daylight hours!

photo of june giveaway

Just leave a comment to be entered to win this giveaway.  The winner will be chosen at random at the end of the month from those commenting.

Congratulations to Carolina.  She is the winner of the May giveaway, the inspirational read Pretty Happy by Kate Hudson!  (Click here to read more about this book.)  I know you will enjoy this book, Carolina!

seaglass found

For those who use Instagram, read on for this month’s challenge!

June Instagram challenge

For the month of June, let’s share our beach finds!  Use hashtag #pleasuregram to share.  I can’t wait to see what you discover on your next beach trip! :)

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

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may book giveaway!

May 1, 2018

pretty happy book by kate hudson

It’s May!  I hope the weather gods got the memo on this because, here in Connecticut, we are in desperate need of some spring-like days!  A new month means a new giveaway!

For May, the giveaway book is Pretty Happy:  Healthy Ways to Love Your Body by Kate Hudson.

I am not a big fan of celebrity books, but this book just spoke to me!  I think Kate has an amazing energy and self-confidence and these attributes are reflected in the pages of her book.  A great mantra for health and happiness, Pretty Happy outlines the four pillars of health Kate has created to help guide her through an authentic life.

page from pretty happy

Reading about the way Kate honors her relationship with herself is sure to inspire and provide you with a few takeaways on how you can create your own authentic self.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of this book!  The winner will be chosen at random at the end of the month.  Good luck! :)

Congratulations to Ginny.  She is the winner of the April giveaway, Honey by Angelo Proseperi-Porta.  Thanks for the email Ginny!  (Click here to read more on this title.)

Instagram users, please read on!  For May, let’s share photos of flowers!  I am so jazzed about starting flower garden preparation and I can’t wait for new blooms this month!  Use hashtag #pleasuregram to share some favorite flower photos!

instagram challenge may 2018

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

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april book giveaway!

March 30, 2018

honey book giveaway

I have been learning quite a bit about honey and bees lately and I find them fascinating!  The result of this fascination is that I find myself seeking out local honeys at farmer’s markets and specialty stores. My current interest led me to choose a book about honey for this month’s giveaway.  I am also adding a honey dipper to the gift because a true honey connoisseur would never serve or eat their honey from a metal utensil!

While trying to eliminate processed foods, I have been using maple syrup and honey as substitutes for sugar.  A local beekeeper recently pointed out to me – honey is technically the only unprocessed of the two since maple syrup goes through a long boiling process.  Interesting!

So, the giveaway for this month is Honey by Angelo Proseperi-Porta.  Sometimes trying to substitute honey in recipes can be tricking.  This book makes it easy with everyday recipes for cooking and baking, and a section of information that includes tips on substituting honey in recipes.  This book is a great help in making a transition from sugar to honey and contains more than 85 sweet and savory recipes!

Honey recipe book

For a chance to own this wonderful book, just leave a comment and you will be entered to win!  The winner will be chosen at random at the end of April.  Good luck!

The March giveaway book seemed to speak to many people.  The interest in the book really makes me wish I had more than one copy to gift!  But, sadly, I needed to choose only one person to receive the one copy.  I did so totally at random and that person is Mary P.  Congrats to Mary and thank you to everyone who entered to win!  To read more about One Good Deed a Day:  a Journal, click here.

Instagram users, read on!  This month, the challenge is to share photos of things with a bee motif.  I love the little hobnail votive with a bee that I have in my office – isn’t it adorable?  And, it smells heavenly!  Since the giveaway this month is a book about honey, sharing photos of bees is right on theme! Use the hashtag #pleasuregram to share your photos.

Insta all about bees

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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

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march book giveaway!

February 27, 2018

One Good Deed giveaway book

Do you know what I really love about the month of March?  The start of spring!  The thought of milder days and the start of things starting to grow just makes me smile!  With that in mind, I picked a journal as the giveaway for March…it kind of plays into the whole idea of a sense of renewal.  The title is One Good Deed a Day:  a Journal.  I figure what better way to renew than to start journaling good deeds!

Just leave a comment to be entered to win this journal.

Many thanks to everyone who entered to win the February giveaway!  Congratulations to Michelle, the winner of the giveaway. (Click here to read more about it.)

One Good Deed a Day giveaway

Instagram users, please read on!  For the month of March, let’s share the spirit of the new season!  Use the hashtag #pleasuregram to share photos that hint at the start of spring!  What signals spring to you?

March 2018 Instagram Challenge

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

18 comments

february book giveaway!

January 30, 2018

2 giveaway books for Feburary

Since tomorrow is the end of January, it is time for the February giveaway!  We all know February is a big month for love – Valentine’s Day certainly helps put a focus on all things romantic.  And, I have to say, I am thrilled with the growing popularity of Galentine’s Day because I think love in all forms should be celebrated!  Believe me, I know the motivation of the retail industry for jumping on the Galentine’s Day bandwagon was probably for profit (not necessarily to use February 13th to celebrate female friendships), but regardless of the motivation, the acknowledgement of Galentine’s Day is a positive one!  (Thanks Parks & Rec!)

I remember one Valentine’s Day when I was young, my dad gave his three daughter’s iced sugar cookies with a romantic message – I think they said ‘sweetheart’ or ‘lover’ or something similar, spelled out in candy icing.  My mom got angry, telling my dad it was inappropriate for a father to give a romantic gift meant for a sweetheart to his daughters.  But, hey…why not?  We were way too young at the time for boyfriends and we were tickled to be acknowledged on Valentine’s Day by our dad!

Maybe remembering that incident is why I always enjoyed showing my children a little extra love on Valentine’s Day when they were young – I always included a note in a lunch box or surprised them with a favorite sweet to celebrate how very much I loved them.

So, in the spirit of celebrating all kinds of love, I thought the February giveaway would celebrate the most important love of all – love of self!  After all, if we don’t love ourselves, how can we expect to share love with others!

giveaway books on bookshelf

With that in mind, the giveaway includes two books to promote self awareness.  They are 1,001 Ways to Live in the Moment by Barbara Ann Kipfer and Whatever You Are, Be a Good One by Lisa Congdon.  The winner of the February giveaway, chosen at random, will win both books!  Be sure to leave a comment to be entered to win.

Congratulations to Tracy, winner of the January giveaway.  Tracy, your name was chosen at random as winner of the giveaway – I hope you enjoy your win!  (To see more, click here.)  Thank you to everyone who entered to win.

Instagram users, please read on!  In the spirit of love, for our monthly challenge, let’s share sightings of hearts in nature…it is amazing how many are out there!  Use hashtag #pleasuregram on every photo you post of a heart you see in nature during the month of February.

February 2018 Instagram Challenge

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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january book giveaway!

December 29, 2017

giveaway planner

Today, for the January giveaway, I decided to continue one more month with an organization theme!  Since we all think about getting organized at this time of year, I am giving away a planner and some cute notes!  I am hoping to inspire some organization with style!

Just leave a comment to earn a chance to win!  I will pick the winner at random from the comments at the end of the month.

organizing with a snack

Congrats to Berna, the winner of the December giveaway.  (Click here to see last month’s giveaway).  I know you will put the cute planner and Lilly Pulitzer notebook to good use.  Enjoy!  Thanks to everyone who entered to win!

If you are an Instagram user, please read on!  This month we are sharing our organization photos!  Are you revamping your closet?  Organizing the spice rack?  Whatever your project may be, please share with hashtag #pleasuregram.

organization

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

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