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easy sheet music christmas trees

November 20, 2018

music theme trees

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!

diy music trees

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.

sheet music trees

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.)

diy xmas music trees

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

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holiday at country living fair atlanta 2018

November 16, 2018

pine forests of stone mountain

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.

holiday drawers

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

holiday tablesetting

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

christmas greens

Thanks so much for stopping by!

small elf

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

angel vine plants

xmas trees in white planters

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

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diy tic-tac-toe

November 13, 2018

sand and sea diy

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!

tic-tac-toe on the beach

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!

supplies for homemade game

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!

travel tic-tac-toe diy

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.

collecting sea glass for diy

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!

diy tic tac toe on the beach

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

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country living fair atlanta 2018

November 9, 2018

hydrangeas for days

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

country living sign

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!

neutral tablesetting

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!

fall planters

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.

bed of hydrangeas

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.

white pumpkin pots

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!

pomegrante table settings

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

at CLF

 

vw with hygandreas

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!

nest tablesetting

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! :)

gather here

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

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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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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atlanta pumpkin tower

November 2, 2018

country living fair pumpkin tower

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!

pumpkins in tower clf

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.

pumpkin tower in atlanta

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!

closeup of pumpkins

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

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squash whisperer

October 30, 2018

carving large squash

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.

barn detail pumpkin

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.

gus master pumpkin carver

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!

Gus in squash process

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.

final pumpkin

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

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

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new read by terrain

October 26, 2018

book bag on bench

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!

New Terrain book

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!

fall page in book on table

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.)

terrain book open on table

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!

Love quote

Thanks for stopping by!

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

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sea glass green and white pumpkins

October 23, 2018

white pumpkins and hydrangea

One of my favorite color pairings with white pumpkins is the color of green sea glass.  I am talking about the color green that is also the color of Jadeite.  And, also the color you can find in hydrangea when they  turn color in the fall.

A far cry from the traditional orange and black colors of the season!

pleasure in simple things blog white pumpkins

My love for the green/white combo is how I originally got started planting inside white pumpkins.  These images are from something I posted on planting succulents in a white pumpkin back in 2012.  To see the original post, click here.

hydrangea and white mini boos

I hope you are inspired to try a new color combination with white pumpkins this Halloween season!

succulents and Jadeite

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

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autumn porch goals

October 19, 2018

front porch goals

I think most of us like to create a little sense of the season on our porches.  It may be a simple seasonal wreath on the door, or something more elaborate; like assembling a pumpkin topiary.

gather here pillow

One of the best examples of a seasonal porch is at my friend Phyllis’s home!  Each season she does a wonderful job of creating a sense of welcome at the back entrance of her home – the entrance that all the true friends use to enter!  (How cool is that kale?!)

fall porch goals

For Friday field trip, you can experience this sense of welcome as well!

autumn decor

Thanks for stopping by!

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

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