march book giveaway!

March 1, 2016

Now that everyone, including me, is wishing and hoping for spring to arrive, it may seem odd to have a book about rich and indulgent winter drinks as the March giveaway.

But, you know what? A cold March day is when I most appreciate a good hot chocolate! Last year, here in the Northeast, one of the biggest snow and ice storms of the year occurred in March. It’s that shock of cold weather that really makes one appreciate a good cup of hot, rich chocolate!

The giveaway selection is Hot Chocolate by Hannah Miles. This book should be a standard in all cookbook collections. There are so many great recipes to use on cold days, including some seasonal recipes for the winter holidays. Whether you’re after a quick pick-me-up, a milky bedtime drink or a comforting cupful to warm you up from inside out, there is a recipe here to satisfy your sweet tooth.

For a chance to make this book a permanent part of your cookbook collection, just leave a comment on this post. The winner will be chosen at random from those who leave comments. Good luck!

Congratulations to Tracy, winner of the February giveaway! I know you will enjoy this wonderful first novel by Celeste Ng. (Click here to read more about it.)

Instagram users, read on! For this month’s Instagram challenge let’s share egg and/or nest photos. Since Easter is in March this year, it seems an appropriate month to share photos of these items! (Plus, I have a thing for them!) Use hashtag #pleasuregram on your photos of egg and/or nests during the month of March to share!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

7 comments

february book giveaway!

January 29, 2016

The months just seem to be going by so fast! It is time to announce the February book giveaway already!

This month, I chose a debut novel by Celeste Ng titled Everything I Never Told You. I hadn’t heard about the book – don’t know how I missed it – until a friend mentioned she had read a great book that she completed in one sitting. I was intrigued. Well, it took me two sittings – that pesky thing called work got in the way of one! But work didn’t stop me from staying up into the wee hours of the night to read this captivating story.

The story is different and thought provoking. We find out a young girl is found dead in a lake at the very start of the book. Doesn’t that make you think the rest of the book may not be that interesting? That is definitely not the case. The story is so much bigger than that of a dead girl. It shifts between the family’s theories and the young girl’s own story, and what led to her disappearance and death.

I was so moved by the book (particularly as a mom), I knew I needed to give one away as the February giveaway. Leave me a comment for a chance to win.

Thanks to everyone that left a comment and had a chance to win last month’s giveaway of journals and pencils! The winner, chosen at random, is Heather. Enjoy Heather!

If you are an Instagram user, please read on! This month, let’s share hearts found in unexpected places! Whether it is a rock on the beach, or a culinary treat, use the hashtag #pleasuregram to post heart photos all month long. Thanks for sharing!

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

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january book giveaway!

January 1, 2016

Happy New Year, my friends! Not only is it the end of 2015, but it is also the end of the month and time for a new giveaway. Since it is the start of a new year, I have something different planned for this month. Instead of a book title, I am gifting a set of journals and some pretty new pencils!

The idea is to start 2016 with plenty of new ideas and documented dreams right from the start! I am hoping to inspire your creative spirit and to encourage you to write about your dreams and goals instead of deciding to give up something or to come up with a resolution from the typical list of 10 or 12 everyone you know seems to also come up with.

Leave me a comment and you will be entered to win the journals and pencils. Good luck!

The winner of last month’s giveaway, Birds of a Feather coloring book by Vicki Sawyer, is Mari. Mari’s name was chosen randomly from the comments I received. Congratulations and thank you to everyone that left a comment to enter the giveaway! Send me an email Mari and let me know where to send the coloring book and coloring pencils! Enjoy!

For those with Instagram, this month’s challenge is to share a photo that gives a glimpse of your goals and dreams for 2016…use your imagination to share your dreams using hashtag #pleasuregram! Can’t wait to see what you share!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Wishing you many new dreams for 2016!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

4 comments

december book giveaway!

December 1, 2015

For the second month in a row, I have chosen an adult coloring book for the month’s book giveaway! There was a great response for last month’s giveaway selection Lost Ocean and, although Johanna Basford’s coloring books are great, there are some other great ones out there to choose from as well!

To prove my point, I have chosen Birds of a Feather by Vicki Sawyer as this month’s giveaway selection. I just love the illustrations! The finished pages of this adult coloring book are definitely suitable to frame as nature prints. Just leave a comment on this post for a chance to win this book. I will also include some coloring pencils with the book for the winner of this selection.

I am pleased to announce TWO winners of Lost Ocean by Johanna Basford. That is right – I am sending two lucky people a copy of Lost Ocean with a box of colored pencils! Janet and Gabi S. were chosen randomly from the comments I received. Please email me gals and let me know where to send your gifts! A special thank you to everyone that entered by leaving a comment. Please try again this month for another beautiful coloring book!

For this month’s Instagram challenge, let’s share photos of our favorite holiday ornaments! They can be new ornaments, old favorites, or something you made yourself. I can’t wait to see your favorites for 2015!

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

8 comments

november book giveaway!

October 30, 2015

Yes, I have given away an adult coloring book in a previous giveaway. But, I can’t resist giving away Johanna Basford’s newest title, Lost Ocean for this month’s giveaway!

An ocean theme? Come on! I needed this to be the November giveaway selection! The Lost Ocean is sure to help ease some stress, as well as put a smile on your face, by providing some ocean themed coloring pages.

And, for this November giveaway, I am throwing in some colored pencils as well! Just leave a comment for a chance to win! Happy coloring! :)

Samantha is the winner of the September giveaway selection and winner of the book Desserts 4 Today by Abigail Johnson Dodge. Enjoy Samantha!

In this month leading up to Thanksgiving, the dessert focus is always on the pies. I’m not the biggest pie fan. So, for this month’s Instagram challenge, I say – let’s highlight desserts and show all the great alternatives to traditional pie! Use hashtag #pleasuregram for this month’s Instagram challenge to share photos of favorite desserts. Instayum!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

25 comments

october book giveaway!

September 29, 2015

This month’s giveaway book is a favorite of mine. When I need a quick dessert for guests and don’t want to spend a lot of time in the grocery store in preparation, this is the recipe book I grab! Every dessert in it uses just four ingredients!

Desserts 4 Today by Abigail Johnson Dodge is a wonderful collection of recipes for flavorful desserts with just four ingredients. It is from this book that I adapted a meringue recipe to create my rosewater meringues. I know you will enjoy this recipe book as much as I do. It makes a special dessert as easy as four ingredients!

To be entered to win a copy, simply add a comment to this post. The winner will be chosen at random from the comments received during the month – my way of saying thank you for sharing pleasure in simple things with me! Good luck!

The winner of last month’s selection is Heather. Congratulations to you! A lovely book Sea Glass Treasures from the Tide by Cindy Bilbao is on its way to you to remind you of summer all year long!

For Instagram followers, this month’s challenge is to post photos of white pumpkins! You know white pumpkins are one of my fall obsessions…let’s share! Post a photo of one you have decorated – like I did here – or, one you admire. Use hashtag #pleasuregram to share your favorite white pumpkin photos. Happy fall!

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

2 comments

september book giveaway!

September 1, 2015

September always seems so far away when summer begins. Of course, before you know it, September creeps up and with it comes the threat of the end to the best season of the year!

I don’t know about you, but I am still cramming every last bit of summer into my days – and, that includes the monthly book giveaway!

Since it is technically still summer, I have chosen a book that makes me think of summer and all I love about it. The book is called Sea Glass Treasures from the Tide. As a sea glass collector for my entire life, I can appreciate the wonderfully photographed pieces Cindy has captured in her first book. Even those of you who may not live near the water or, have the opportunity to hunt for sea glass will enjoy this beautiful selection!

Photographer Cindy Bilbao shares with us the vibrancy, magic, and beauty in sea glass that comes from the tides of her favorite beaches. Her book shares treasured trips and helps keep summer alive all year long!

Leave a comment on this post to let me know you’d like to win this book. A winner will be chosen at random from the comments I receive.

Congratulations to Deborah, winner of last month’s giveaway selection Irresistible Ice Pops by Sunil Vijayakar. I know you will enjoy this wonderful collection of recipes for many summers to come!

In attempt to celebrate the last days of my favorite season, this month’s Instagram Challenge is to share photos from the last days of summer. Use hashtag #pleasuregram to share your best shots!

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

3 comments

august book giveaway!

July 31, 2015

I remember, as a kid, the first time I had the bright idea to make my own ice pop. I poured some juice into a paper cup and put it in the freezer overnight. The next day, I rushed to the freezer, peeled off some of the paper cup, and attempted to eat my creation.

To my total disappointment, my ‘ice pop’ was rock solid, like an ice cube. Yes, I could lick it, but it didn’t have that great texture of a store bought ice pop. Little did I know then; what was missing to accomplish the texture I craved, was the right balance of sugar.

This and other important ice pop facts are explained in the book Irresistible Ice Pops by Sunil Vijayakar – the reason the book is a must have for all ice pop lovers! And, the reason it is the giveaway book for August! Irresistible Ice Pops. includes all the basics to ice pop creation as well as a collection of some wonderful ice pop recipes. Leave me a comment and I will pick one lucky winner at random at the end of the month, from those that comment, to receive this great book. Good luck!

Congratulations to Emily for winning last month’s selection The Heirloom Tomato Cookbook. Thank you also, Emily, for the heartfelt email. A big thank you to everyone that entered to win!

Instagram lovers, please read on! What’s your pleasure on a scorching hot summer day to help cool off? Is it a frozen drink? An ice pop? A slushie? Use hashtag #pleasuregram during the month of August to share photos of your favorite icy summer ice treat!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend, Jackie

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july book giveaway!

June 30, 2015

Talk about pleasure in simple things – what could be better than a juicy, vine-ripened heirloom tomato? Colorful, tangy, juicy, and sweet, heirloom tomatoes are the essence of summer! This month’s giveaway book selection pays tribute to this wonderful summer staple! The title of the selection is The Heirloom Tomato Cookbook by Mimi Luebbermann with luscious photographs by Dan Mills and Robert Holmes.

From soups and salads to main courses and desserts, heirloom tomatoes are as versatile as they are colorful, with dozens of different flavors, sizes, and colors to explore. This wonderful book includes recipes, gardening tips, wine pairings, and tomato lore.

Cooking and gardening expert Mimi Luebbermann has created a wonderful resource for cooks and gardeners alike! Leave a comment on this month’s giveaway post to be entered to win this marvelous book! Good luck!

Thanks to everyone for your interest in the June giveaway Vibrant Food by Kimberley Hasselbrink. Click here to see more about this book. The winner of this June giveaway is Kara from Arizona! Congrats!

Instagram lovers, read on! In keeping with this month’s giveaway title, our Instagram challenge for July is to tag tomato photos this month! Use #pleasuregram to share the best captures of this wonderful summer food! Thanks so much for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

5 comments

june book giveaway!

May 29, 2015

For June, the giveaway book selection is Vibrant Food by Kimberley Hasselbrink. This book celebrates the ingredients, recipes, and colors of each season. I really love when recipe books are organized by season, because it encourages healthful eating and is so compatible with healthy shopping! What better way is there to shop at this time of year than to visit farmer’s markets for in season ingredients that are fresh and grown local?

The author invites you to look at ingredients differently – to let the colors inspire! This book can help you think about produce in terms of color and can reinvigorate your relationship with food. In this collection of recipes, Hasselbrink employs aesthetics, flavor, and texture to build gorgeous yet unfussy dishes for every season.

Leave a comment for a chance to win this wonderful selection! I know the winner of this book will enjoy jumping right into ‘the bold colors of summer’ section to create some wonderful summer dishes!

Now, to announce the winner of last month’s giveaway selection. Daria was chosen at random from the comments left during May and will receive a copy of the book Secret Garden by Johanna Basford. And, I have added a box of brightly colored pencils to the giveaway! Congratulations Daria and happy doodling! Thanks to everyone that left a comment. :)

In honor of the June book selection, the Instagram challenge for June is to share photos of your own vibrant food! Use hashtag #pleasuregram to post photos of brightly colored in season ingredients throughout the month of June.

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

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