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Tag: book giveaway


november book giveaway!

6
November

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!

24
August

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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may book giveaway!

1
May

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!

30
March

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

1 comment » | good reads, monthly book giveaway

march book giveaway!

27
February

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 » | inspiration, monthly book giveaway

february book giveaway!

30
January

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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october book giveaway!

29
September

october book giveaway

The October book giveaway is The Misfortune of Marion Palm by Emily Culliton.

This book was one of my summer read recommendations.  A debut novel that tells the story of Marion, a Brooklyn Heights woman who has embezzled from her children’s private school and makes a run for it when she is close to becoming discovered. Told from the points of view of Marion’s husband, her two children, and Marion herself, this witty and engaging story makes for a quick read.

giveaway pleasure in simple things blog

For a chance to win this advance copy of the book, just leave a comment and you will be entered! Good luck!

Congratulations to Angie, winner of September’s giveaway selection The Woman in the Window  by A.J. Finn. (click here for more on this book.) Enjoy this read, Angie!  Thank you to everyone who entered to win.

If you use Instagram, please read on! For October, let’s share photos of pumpkins…real or faux, orange or white, velvet or cashmere…all kinds! Share your favorites using hashtag #pleasuregram.

Instagramoctober

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

2 comments » | good reads, monthly book giveaway

july book giveaway!

30
June

The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin

This month’s giveaway is an advance copy of a wonderful new novel  The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin.  This is a super summer read – a ‘can’t put it down’ beach day read!

“If you were told the date of your death, how would it shape your present?  It’s 1969, and holed up in a grimy tenement building in New York’s Lower East Side is a traveling psychic who claims to be able to tell anyone the date they will die. Four siblings, too young for what they are about to hear, sneak out to hear their fortunes.

july book giveaway pleasure in simple things blog

We then follow the intertwined paths the siblings take over the course of five decades and, in particular, how they choose to live with the supposed knowledge the fortune-teller gave them that day.

This is a story about life, mortality and the choices we make: is it better to live a long and cautious life, or to burn brightly, but for the shortest time?”

This book makes for a great book club selection!  Read it first, then do your friends a favor and lend it out, because once it is released, there will be a long list of holds at the local library for The Immortalists!

sprinkles please

Leave a comment on this post (or a social media post for the giveaway) and you will be entered into the random drawing to win the July giveaway book!

Thank you to everyone who entered to win the June book selection Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker.  Congratulations to Lisa in Pennsylvania, the winner of the giveaway.  I am so excited about the book’s upcoming release and I know you will enjoy being one of the first to read this new novel!  Click here to read more about the book.

exploring

For those of you who use Instagram, read on!  This month, let’s share photos of the summer!  Anything that says summer to you is fair game!  I am starting us off with one of my favorite signs of summer – eating a soft serve overlooking the water!  Use hashtag #pleasuregram to share the things that say summer to you!

july instagram challenge pleasure in simple things blog

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things – like reading a great new book!  xo Jackie

4 comments » | good reads, monthly book giveaway

june book giveaway!

30
May

wendy walker emma in the night

Wow!  This week June begins!  That means for today’s post I will announce the giveaway for June.

What I love about June and the beautiful weather days it brings with it, is the ability to spend more time outdoors.  Eating a meal, reading or book, or just plain sitting, is so much more enjoyable when enjoyed outdoors on a beautiful day!

So, for the June giveaway I am giving away a great read that would be perfect to read outdoors.  It is the new Wendy Walker book Emma In The Night.  Wendy’s first thriller, All Is Not Forgotten, has become an international bestseller with movie rights sold to Reese Witherspoon and Warner Brothers.  Another smart, psychological thriller, Emma in The Night delves into the mind of a true pathological narcissist through the eyes other daughter, who has just returned after a three-year disappearance.  The older sister, Emma, is still missing and the search to find her uncovers a dark family history that only forensic psychologist, Dr. Abby Winter, is able to see.  Of course – there is a huge twist at the end!

Wendy Walker collage

Be one of the first to read this new novel by an author from my home state of Connecticut.  This book is an advance readers edition – the book will not be released until August.  Just leave a comment and you will be entered to win.  I will pick a name randomly at the end of the month from the comments received and send the book right out to the winner!  This is a great read to share with your book group!

Congratulations to Marsha, the winner of the May giveaway – a Palm Beach inspired prize basket.  Marsha – even though you asked me not to share your comments, I did include your name in the random drawing and it came out the winner!  Enjoy!

Instagram users, read on!  In the spirit of spending time outdoors, let’s share flowers for this month’s Instagram challenge.  It can be a photo of flowers from your garden, flowers from an event you are attending, or something great you found at a nursery…all flowers are fair game!  Just use hashtag #pleasuregram to share your flower photo with others!

june instagram challenge

Thank you so much for stopping by!  Remember to take pleasure in simple things…like admiring some flowers on a beautiful day!  xo Jackie

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april book giveaway!

31
March

fire pit cooking give away

Spring has sprung!  And, even though here in Connecticut we still have plenty of snow on the ground, everyone is starting to think about spending more time outdoors.

This month’s giveaway book, Fire Pit Cooking by Vanessa Bante, embraces this outdoor time by providing plenty of family-fun recipes to make over an outdoor fire pit or campground fire.

Bante demonstrates that cooking over a fire is not just for s’mores!  With one or a few fun-to-use tools―pie irons, foil, or simply a dowel―you can make family-friendly dishes over your backyard fire pit. With 75 scrumptious recipes like Apple & Cheese Quesadillas, Spaghetti Pie Iron Sandwiches, Maple Chicken with Sweet Potatoes in foil, Pretzel Sticks with Beer Cheese Sauce, Blueberry and Chocolate Iron Sandwich, and Lemon Mousse in Phyllo Cups, every appetite can by satisfied!

giveaway book april 2017

Just leave a comment on this post to be entered to win Fire Pit Cooking!  Congrats go out to Donna, winner of last month’s giveaway Jar Salads by Alexander Hart.  Click here to read more about the selection.  Donna, enjoy this great recipe book!  Thank you to everyone who participated.

Instagram users, please read on for the April challenge!  In keeping with the theme of our giveaway book, let’s share all food cooked outdoors!  Did you create a cool meal on your fire pit?  A new variety of s’more?  Please share photos on Instagram this month using hashtag #pleasuregram.  (If you need some s’more ideas, click here.)

april 2017 instagram challenge

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

4 comments » | food & festivities, good reads

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