pleasure in simple things

holiday 2018 at terrain

November 27, 2018

This may be the first year since it opened that I did not attend the holiday open house at Terrain. I know I usually share some photos from the day since the store is so inspiring!

A few followers that live out of the area emailed and asked me about the open house – hoping to see some photos again this year. Since I don’t want to disappoint…I made a trip over last Sunday morning so I could take a few photos and share them with you! Walking around early on a Sunday morning with a cup of coffee proved to be a peaceful and beautiful way to start the day!

It is not exactly the same as the magnificent open house day, but for those of you who aren’t lucky enough to have a Terrain within visiting distance, the photos are fun to look at!

My favorite things are always the plants and I was not disappointed. The terrariums and the way they incorporate holiday elements are fabulous!

The miniature zinc village is one of the stars of the show…as it was last year. It looks like some new pieces were added this year. I am still totally in love with the zinc advent calendar!

Santa forgot to bring it to me last year…maybe I will have better luck this year!

Sorry I didn’t get open house photos posted this year. I hope you got a little bit of a Terrain holiday fix from these Sunday morning photos!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and a great start to this holiday season!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

no comments

fall on beacon street

November 23, 2018

There are certain things you can do more than once while visiting a favorite city. In Boston, one of these things is taking a walk up Acorn Street.

Acorn Street is said to be the most frequently photographed street in the United States. This narrow lane, paved with cobblestones, is located in the scenic and historic neighborhood of Beacon Hill. The beautiful Federal-style row houses of the area add a unique charm to this quaint New England neighborhood.

For today’s Friday field trip, since it is Thanksgiving week, I thought some fall shots of Beacon Hill and the infamous Acorn Street would be appropriate.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you are having a wonderful holiday weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

P.S. My favorite Beacon Hill reference is in the story of Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. Most of the story in the children’s picture book is set at the foot of Beacon Hill and it is commemorated every year in May by a parade through Beacon Hill to the Boston Public Garden, where the mallards nested.

no comments

easy sheet music christmas trees

November 20, 2018

When I wear my visual merchandiser hat, I am always trying to embrace new ways to find low cost décor. This is a challenge when a store has a small or nonexistent budget for display. In styling a store in a music theme this holiday season, I am enjoying creating some little ‘musical’ touches to add to the styling.

One really great, no cost supply for decorating in this theme is sheet music. Old, tossed out sheet music becomes a fabulous component for all kinds of DIY opportunities!

One very simple DIY – with no cost at all – is creating sheet music trees. Using some basic scraps from the craft room, it is super simple to create some fun ‘musical’ trees!

For supplies: cardboard (I used tossed out boxes – check your recycling bin), old sheet music, scraps of twine, scissors, glue, glitter.

Cut cardboard triangles for the trees. You can even create a whole forest of varying sized trees for your mantle! (Or, add numbers for a cool Advent calendar!) Glue sheet music on both sides of the cardboard. I overlapped the sheet music and ripped it to size, rather than cutting it, to create a ragged edge. Use twine to decorate the tree – adding some extra on top to create a bow tree topper. Spread some glue on the edges of the cardboard and sprinkle with glitter for a little holiday sparkle! Use additional cardboard in a folded triangle shape to glue to the back of the tree as a stand. (If you want to get fancy, you can use a wood slice and a dowel for standing the trees, but I didn’t have these supplies or a drill handy and I wanted to keep my trees at no cost.)

And, that is all it takes to create some cute ‘musical’ trees! I hope I have inspired you to create some of your own! I can’t wait to add these babies to a holiday jewelry display! I will be coming up with more DIY holiday décor from sheet music in the days ahead.

Thanks for stopping by! Fa- la-la!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

no comments

holiday at country living fair atlanta 2018

November 16, 2018

Last week on Friday field trip, I shared some photos of my trip to Atlanta to the Country Living Magazine Fair. As promised, I have a few more photos to share. Last week I shared autumn themed photos.

This week, just a few holiday themed photos from the fair, to give you a little seasonal inspiration!

Many of the vendors did create holiday displays. And, even in the rain, they were fun to enjoy!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Have a really fabulous weekend! Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?

Remember to take pleasure in simple things…especially during the holiday season, Jackie

no comments

diy tic-tac-toe

November 13, 2018

Now that we are well into November, are you starting to think of Christmas? I have tried to cut back on my holiday shopping and this seems a common way of thinking among my friends as well.

I think it is far better to give experiences rather than material presents and I am trying really hard to keep that guideline in my mind as the holidays approach!

That being said, there is nothing like a little homemade gift to surprise a little one come the holiday! And, a homemade gift can definitely help create an experience as well!

Today’s DIY project is the perfect example! It is super easy to make and it can be used to create a fun experience to give a child – how to play tic-tac-toe!

The only supplies you will need are: a small muslin bag (mine is being reused from a jewelry purchase), embroidery thread or baker’s twine, a sewing needle, and a handful of small items. I used sea glass for my small items but you can use pebbles, shells, buttons, or small candies like m&ms…be creative and use what you have! I made my DIY tic-tac-toe for no cost at all!

I used brown and white baker’s twine to sew a tic-tac-toe board onto the muslin bag. Then, I just collected a handful of sea glass in two different colors to use as the playing pieces. The pieces are handily stored inside the bag when not in use.

How easy is that! I hope I inspired you to create a DIY tic-tac-toe game to gift to that perfect little someone this Christmas – personal instruction included!

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

no comments

country living fair atlanta 2018

November 9, 2018

If you follow this blog, you know I am a big fan of the Country Living Magazine Fairs.

The fair takes place in four different U.S. locations each year. Rhinebeck, New York is the closest location to my home and I have been to that fair every year since it started. It is a fabulous venue – with great food, real bathrooms, and plenty of green! The Dutchess County Fairground is just lovely!

You may remember my friend Wendy and I embarked on a road trip last year so we could experience a second fair location. (I shared plenty of the trip on the blog.) We drove out to Columbus, Ohio. It was a great trip. I think we caught the travel bug after that trip because we thought it would be great to check out a third Country Living Fair location this year!

So, I asked everyone in my family to gift me some travel points for my birthday this past year, and we made a trip happen! Where did Wendy and I decide to travel to for our third Country Living Fair destination? Atlanta, Georgia.

Do they not have hydrangeas in the South? I thought it was funny that several booths were selling hydrangeas…they grow like weeds in Connecticut!

I had not ever been to Atlanta (or Georgia, for that matter). The venue was Stone Mountain. It was a cool location, with paths through forests, that was contained inside a huge park.

The only thing that wasn’t so cool was the weather! Thinking Georgia was all hot sunshine, it was a little disappointing to have two days of rain. We didn’t let the rain slow us down though!

We were happy to have light rain the second day after experiencing torrential rain the first day!

We discovered that the beauty of the Atlanta venue was the open space. The crafters and artisans were able spread out and display their wares in fabulous ways…there was even enough room to fit a Volkswagen in a display space!

I hope you enjoy sharing some of my favorite fall images from the Country Living Fair in Atlanta on today’s Friday field trip! Next week I will share some of the holiday inspiration I found at the fair. I also have some other fun Atlanta stops to share! :)

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

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

no comments

november book giveaway!

November 6, 2018

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.

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!

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.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

no comments

atlanta pumpkin tower

November 2, 2018

I know this is the time of the month when I usually post the monthly giveaway. I’m changing it up a little this month. Since it is Halloween week, I thought I’d post a pumpkin tower for today’s Friday field trip! Time to say farewell to all things Halloween!

A cool pumpkin tower has become the icon of the Country Living Magazine fairs. The one pictured here was at the fair in Atlanta, Georgia.

A rainy fair, but a great one nonetheless. I will post the giveaway as well as the winner of the pink velvet pumpkins in next Tuesday’s post. I also have more to share on the Country Living Fair – so stay tuned for that!

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

no comments

squash whisperer

October 30, 2018

I am a little bit of a Food Network junkie. There, I said it! I admit it…when my TV is on for background noise, I have it tuned in to either HGTV or Food Network.

So, squash carver Gus Smithhisler is someone I have admired in the past. His squash creations are pretty amazing and I love watching him carve.

The process of creating a design in squash is really fun to watch and I was thrilled to get a chance to watch Gus in action!

Since it is Halloween week, in the spirit of the holiday, I’d like to share photos of the pumpkin I watched Gus create. He carved this design into a 600+ lb. pumpkin, not on “Halloween Wars,” but at this year’s Country Living Fair in Atlanta, Georgia.

I hope Gus inspires you to step up your pumpkin carving game!

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

no comments

new read by terrain

October 26, 2018

Who knows us better than our good friends? It always amazes me when my friends think of me in a special way…like shipping me my favorite ice-cream from Ohio when I’m bedridden!

The latest act of kindness from a friend was a gift in a nonedible variety. If you follow this blog, you know one of my very favorite stores is Terrain. Well, Terrain came out with a much anticipated book titled Terrain: Ideas and Inspiration for Decorating the Home and Garden. Of course, any Terrain lover should own a copy – don’t you think? But, I hadn’t preordered one because my budget has been very tight lately.

I stopped at a friend’s house to find she had pre-ordered me a copy (which means a free Terrain tote bag was included!) of the book! OMG!

The book contains 400 pages of Terrain inspiration – spanning every season. Greg Lehmkuhl, Terrain’s creative director, and all the wonderful gardeners of Terrain edited this beautiful book.

I am SO happy to add it to my collection! I think I need to display it in a special spot in my home the way my friend Phyllis did in her home. (The photos today on Friday field trip were all taken at her house.)

If you want to bring a really fabulous hostess gift this Thanksgiving, consider ordering a copy! And, for all my followers who don’t live near a Terrain, you may enjoy this book even more than those of us who do!

Thanks for stopping by!

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

no comments

↑ Back to top

search

categories

recent posts

archives

my friends & favs

holiday 2018 at terrain

fall on beacon street

easy sheet music christmas trees

holiday at country living fair atlanta 2018

diy tic-tac-toe

country living fair atlanta 2018

november book giveaway!

atlanta pumpkin tower

squash whisperer

new read by terrain