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holiday reading

November 18, 2016

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It’s been a crazy week – next week will be even more hectic!  I barely had time to turn on the computer today, but you know I could never miss a Friday post!

So, for today, Friday field trip is a throwback from a couple of years ago.  I shared a DIY project that deserves repeating!  I thought I would remind you about the cool ‘book a day” idea so you can prepare to put one together for yourself before December starts!

Click here for the full DIY!

Have fun with it!

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

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holiday theme 2016

November 15, 2016

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For someone that normally has a holiday theme chosen well over 6 months before December, this year is very different for me.  I didn’t really have a clear idea of what I wanted for 2016’s holiday theme until recently.  Once the start of November happened, I decided I needed to choose a theme,  quick!  Every year, so much of my holiday planning is tied into my chosen theme and this year I started November with no plans!

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Initial mugs always make great gifts on their own or filled with sweets or a succulent. This one from Terrain is a beauty!

What did I decide?  A typography theme!  At first, I thought I might call my theme “to the letter,”, but I really didn’t want to leave out the numbers!  Then I thought maybe I should go with “by the numbers,“ but that would leave out the letters!  Typography might not sound as cute, but it includes both numbers and letters!

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The glasses I adore from Mark and Graham…perfect to use on my holiday table!

When I start thinking about all the possibilities using a typography theme, it really puts my creative spirit into overdrive!  Here is some of my initial brainstorming.  We shall see how it plays out!

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Williams-Sonoma’s initial doormat makes a great gift and is right on theme!

Wrapping Ideas

  • Initial key chain or luggage tag as package tag
  • Book pages as wrapping
  • Number gift tags using rubber stamps
  • House numbers tied to packages

See what I mean?  So much to work with!  Remember the DIY wire gift tags I made into words a couple years back?  Click here to see them.

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4lovecustomgifts on Etsy makes wonderful custom initial or name signs like this one!

Gift Ideas

    • Initial doormat
    • Initial necklace
    • House number or last name sign
    • Sign using coordinates of a place with special meaning
    • Personalized stationary
    • Monogrammed items
    • Initialed items
    • Initial wine bottle stopper with bottle and opener
    • Gifts with personalized zip codes

 

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Initial necklaces may have been around for a while, but there are always some different choices to give as gifts. I love this one made by nest on Etsy!

Gift ideas are super easy to come up with using a typography theme!  And I have made some gifts in the past that would work well…remember the zip code tray, the zip code pillows, or the embellished mason jar.  (Click on the names to see the tutorials.)

Tabletop

  • Number/letter sparklers
  • Number glasses for desserts
  • Initial cheese tray
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This William-Sonoma cheese tray is just perfect for a typography themed Christmas!

 

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These beautiful gold numbers and letters I found at Paper Source are sparklers, but I won’t actually be using them as sparklers in my holiday decor…I just love the way they look! Maybe I will spell out Joy and place them in a dessert or use them at individual place settings.

I also have tons of ideas for my holiday tabletop with my new theme!  I really want to serve dessert in these really cool glasses with numbers that I found.  My traditional holiday rosemary shortbreads can be cut with alphabet and/or number cookie cutters!

Home Décor/Tree

  • Initial ornaments
  • Ornaments made from book pages
  • An initial wreath
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If you would rather not make your own initial wreath, Ballard Designs has them ready made!

The tree and home décor is fun to think about.  I will definitely make an initial wreath for my  front door this year and ornaments will be fun to create…remember when I made the animals from book pages?   Or, the Ikea heart with script?  (Click on them to see the DIYs.)  I am sure I can come up with some new ones!  If you would rather purchase ornaments, there are always great initial ones at Anthropologie as well as some of the other stores during the holiday season.

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A great initial ornament from Pottery Barn if you would rather purchase an initial ornament over making one.

Well, that is the start of holiday theme 2016!  Do you use a theme for your holiday?  I hope I inspired you to start thinking about one…what will you come up with for this year?

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

Note:  The product photos shown here were taken from the respective websites.

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easy candied pumpkin seeds

November 10, 2016

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For Friday field trip today, I am taking you into my kitchen to share a simple recipe for a sweet and crunchy snack that is ready in 20 minutes!

steps-for-candied-pumpkin-seeds-pleasure-in-simple-things-blogThese candied pumpkin seeds are super satisfying.  I make them without sugar – using honey and maple syrup to sweeten.  With a little sweetness and a little spice, these crunchy pieces are the perfect little snack!  This recipe is super easy…I pick up pumpkin seeds at Trader Joe’s, but the rest of the ingredients are items I always have on hand.  You can experiment and switch out the spices to your own preference.

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It is too bad that most people only think of pumpkin seeds around Halloween, because they are delicious any time of the year!  At Halloween, these pumpkin seed snacks serve as a great substitute for the traditional Halloween candy, but they are also fun and easy snack to package up as a Thanksgiving hostess gift.

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In addition to serving as a great fix for a sweet craving, these pumpkin seed snacks are also a  great garnish for that homemade squash soup!

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Enjoy!

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

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6 paint tips & revere pewter

November 8, 2016

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I have always loved neutrals and my living room color scheme has been gray and beige long before greige was a word…it is an official word now, isn’t it?

greiges-pleasure-in-simple-things-blogWhat is interesting to me is the popularity of the Benjamin Moore color Revere Pewter.  I think it has a lot to do with the popularity of Pinterest.  Someone posts a gorgeous room on Pinterest that uses a specific paint color and everyone wants the color used in that gorgeous room!  Or, maybe the paint company posts a couple of great room photos and the mention of the paint color causes it to go ‘viral.’

Granted, I think Revere Pewter is a gorgeous neutral, but I think there are a lot of gorgeous neutrals.  And, even though Benjamin Moore may be the preferred paint of decorators, we don’t all have a decorator’s budget.

If you have respect for Consumer Reports, you know that Benjamin Moore paint is rated higher than Behr (available at Home Depot), but not by much!  The biggest difference is in the price.  Benjamin Moore is a much higher priced paint and if budget is a concern, this is something to think about.  Maybe buying the most expensive paint for one room isn’t a big deal, but it may be a concern when painting an entire house!  If you are a new home buyer and have to repaint an entire home….saving $10 to $20 on each gallon of paint is a huge savings!

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I guess my point is, you can easily get the same color you admire in a magazine without paying the price of the most expensive paint.  By taking a little time to compare paint swatches, you can save some money on your paint choice.

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I am using Revere Pewter as an example above since I am fascinated with its popularity.  Aged Beige by Behr, though a little lighter in shade, is very close to Revere Pewter and a great color. Glidden’s Fossil Grey is almost identical to the Revere Pewter.  If you need a less expensive paint choice to achieve the same look, this may be the way to go.

So, comparing paint samples would be my first tip when choosing paint – here are all 6 paint shopping tips!

Collect tons of paint samples (in all brands) and bring them home.

Remember you can use color matching to match a color in a less expensive paint.

The smaller the sample, the darker the color will appear.  For a truer color, grab a larger paint swatch.

Look at your samples in the light of the room you are painting and surrounded by the furniture/curtains, etc. you will be using.

If there is more than one color on the swatch, remove the ones you are not using…the way colors look are influenced by the surrounding colors.

Don’t pick the paint first!  Buy the most expensive item first!  This is so important.  There are a lot less color choices in furniture or curtains then there are in paint colors!

Happy painting!

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

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wild about harry

November 4, 2016

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If you know me at all, you know my favorite entertainer is Harry Connick, Jr.  I have watched him perform in person more than any other entertainer… in addition to seeing many, many of his concerts, I have watched him perform on Broadway  – from the front row…and,  I even sat in the audience for a taping of one of his holiday specials…and now, I can say I have seen a taping of his new daytime show, Harry!

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For today’s Friday field trip, I am sharing a few photos from my first visit to a Harry show taping!

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If you live somewhere commutable to New York City, I definitely recommend requesting tickets to see the Harry show for yourself!  Not only is Harry Connick, Jr. a great guy and a wonderful performer, but his show includes his full orchestra!  A visit to a taping is like attending a concert…Harry singing with a full band…incredible!  The band even performs during the breaks!  And then, a few celebrity guests are thrown in.

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Photos of Harry or the actual show to be aired are not allowed, so I can’t share that with you, but if you watch the show today, you may just catch a glimpse of me “backing it up” with Harry!

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Have a wonderful weekend!  Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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november book giveaway!

November 1, 2016

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When something sparks my interest, I get caught up in exploring it.  Most recently, this is happening with salt.  I started investigating different types of salts, created a DIY salt cellar, and I have plans to visit a salt-themed restaurant.

The November book giveaway highlights this current interest of mine.  More specifically, the book is about using salt in desserts.  Sea Salt Sweet:  The Art of Using Salts for the Ultimate Dessert Experience  by Heather Baird demonstrates the tasty relationship between sweets and salt.   With the holiday season almost upon us, this selection is perfect for creating a delicious and unique dessert for your celebrations!

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More than just a recipe book, master baker, Heather Baird teaches how to use fine artisan salt to make mouthwatering desserts for any occasion.  Leave a comment to be entered to win this wonderful book.  A winner will be chosen at random from the comments received.

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Congratulations to Deborah, winner of The 52 Lists Project by Moorea Seal, last month’s giveaway selection.  Enjoy!  (Click here to read more about the book.)

Instagram users, please read on!  In keeping with the salt theme, let’s share photos “all things salt.”  Your cool salt cellar, a photo of your latest artisan salt find, or a great culinary creation using salt are all great subjects!  Use hashtag #pleasuregram to share!

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

P.S.  Click here if you missed the salt cellar DIY.

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the woman behind the man

October 28, 2016

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A recent work trip to Texas gave me the opportunity to visit the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum in Austin.

I had never before been to a presidential library and always thought of them as archives and not necessarily something I wanted to visit.  I found out in Texas that I was wrong on that thought.  The LBJ library was not just archives – though there was plenty of that, all stored neatly and expansively in red covered boxes.

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In addition to the traditional archives, the building is a storehouse of memorabilia and artifacts, interactive displays, replicas, and presidential telephone recordings – all exquisitely displayed.  Quite honestly, regardless of party affiliation or political beliefs, this historical record of Lyndon Baines Johnson, our 36th president, is fascinating!

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The Oval Office from 1963 to 1969, when LBJ served as president.

I enjoyed my entire visit, but my favorite part of my tour was the top floor where all the former first lady’s artifacts were on display.  Mrs. Johnson – Lady Bird – was an amazing woman.

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A portrait of Lady Bird Johnson at the LBJ Library and Museum in Austin, Texas

On Friday field trip today, I am sharing a couple of my favorite photos from my visit to the museum.  The trip created a new motivation to try and visit all of the presidential libraries!  I even picked up a ‘passport’ that I can use to document my visits to each of the 13 libraries!

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Lady Bird’s office during the time she worked on the LBJ Library & Museum.

If you want to learn more about Lady Bird, I highly recommend a great recent nonfiction book (that reads very much like a fiction) titled Lady Bird and Lyndon:  The Hidden Story of a Marriage That Made a President by Betty Boyd Caroli.

Another recent title you might also enjoy if former first ladies are of interest to you is  First Women:  The Grace and Power of America’s Modern First Ladies by Kate Andersen Brower.

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The outside of the LBJ Library and Museum on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a marvelous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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a vermont country home

October 25, 2016

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I must admit, I have never really considered a move further north than my home state of Connecticut.  I have tent camped in every state in New England and I certainly appreciate the beauty of them all…but, to live?

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Why would I never move to Vermont myself?  That infamous four letter word…s-n-o-w.  But that is exactly one of the reason’s my childhood friend Donna loves living in Vermont.  Although skiing every day in the winter is not a motivator for me, it is part of the appeal of living in snow country for Donna and her husband!

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Ready for winter! Donna’s son and the rest of the University of Vermont lacrosse team made short work of stacking up this stockpile of firewood!

 

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Today, I am sharing a little bit of the home that could actually make me consider a move!  With a wonderful sense of style, great resourcefulness and vision, and unique collaborations, my friend and her husband have created an amazing home inside and out!

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Though frost was called for during the week, a couple garden plants were still hanging on!

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Starting with a wonderful respect for the view and using many reclaimed materials from the area, this couple has spent the last five years creating a home that is uniquely their own.

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I hope you have enjoyed the photos of this home and its amazing views.  If you want to see a few sneak peeks of the inside, I have shared a few photos on Facebook and Instagram…you will have to wait till spring for a full inside tour! :)

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Thanks for stopping by!  Remember to take pleasure in simple things…like visiting childhood friends,  Jackie

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new england autumn splendor

October 21, 2016

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Vermont is certainly the quintessential place to observe the beauty of autumn.  I was lucky enough to visit during the peak of leaf peeping.

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Even though the weather was cloudy during my visit, the beauty of the season was inspiring.

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For Friday field trip today, I am sharing some of the beauty of Stowe, Vermont.

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Enjoy!

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Thanks for stopping by!  Have a really wonderful weekend!

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Remember to take pleasure in simple things…like enjoying the beauty of the season, Jackie

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a vermont wedding

October 18, 2016

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This was the year of special weddings for me. You may remember I shared a spring spectacular overlooking the ocean at Castle Hill in Newport, Rhode Island and a summer mansion wedding in a garden in Fairfield County, Connecticut.  Today, I am sharing with you the finale of my magnificent weddings this year – a fall foliage stunner at Top Notch Resort in Stowe, Vermont.

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The wedding day was a little overcast and there were a few raindrops.  But, this wedding needed a little rain and a few clouds – the brilliance of the couple, in addition to the brilliance of the surroundings, was almost too much to take – I don’t think we could have handled full sun!

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No matter how full the fall foliage was on display this special October afternoon, nothing could have outshone the beauty of the bride as she made the life-long commitment to marry her best friend.

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With this wedding, I celebrated not only the special wedding of my godson, but I also celebrated a special part of my life…a celebration of friendships that made up a big part of my childhood.   I am certain the person I have become was strongly influenced by these friendships and the many experiences I shared with these friends as we grew up together.

wedding-cuisine-top-notch-pleasure-in-simple-things-blogYou know those special lifelong bonds?

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With these friends I can pick up just like we left off – literally, without missing a beat!  This was demonstrated brilliantly when the groom’s uncle and myself danced the 13 step at the reception – the same dance we had practiced together in his parent’s basement so many, many years ago!

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Thank you so much for including me in your special day K & J! Love you D & J!

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Thank you for stopping by!  Be sure to follow my posts next week for more Vermont fun!

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Remember to take pleasure in simple things…like hugging a special friend,  Jackie

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