inspiration — pleasure in simple things

Tag: inspiration

november book giveaway!

November

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

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lesson learned

August

There are some things that are just out of our control. I learned this the hard way recently. I also learned how very lucky I am. The support I have been receiving from my family and friends during this tough time is truly amazing! I am humbled by all the amazing people that surround me.

Thank you. I could never even begin to express the love and gratitude I feel.

As I continue to grow stronger each day and try to get back to my regular schedule, I am happy to welcome you all back into my life. I may be a little slow on the upswing, but I am back!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie xo

P.S. I will do the July giveaway I missed while on break next week.

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let’s not be so hard on ourselves!

May

I feel like the sun knew my work schedule this week and only made an appearance when I was required to be indoors!

Don’t worry, I’m not going take you to any of my places of work for today’s Friday field trip!

Actually, I am just leaving you with something to think about. I read an article a couple days ago in the New York Times titled: Why You Should Stop Being So Hard on Yourself by Charlotte Lieberman.

It talked about how self-criticism can take a toll on our minds and bodies and have measurably destructive effects. It struck a nerve with me as I bet it did with a lot of women. I think most of us are just so darn hard on ourselves!

Pull up the article if you’d like to read more about how we got that way, but I was more interested in what the article had to say about how we can correct it!

The answer is self-compassion – the practice of being kind and understanding to ourselves when confronted with a personal flaw or failure.

At the suggestion of the article, I am making a conscious effort to take a breath after making a mistake, rather than berating myself over it.

And, most importantly, trying really hard to practice what it feels like to treat myself as I would treat a friend.

Have a fabulous holiday weekend!

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

Lieberman, C. (2018, May 22). Why you should stop being so hard on yourself. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com

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garden mulch alternative

May

Usually my gardens are in order by Mother’s Day. And, Mother’s Day has always been my goal date to finish planting annuals and have all the mulch down. This year, the crazy weather caused me to be way behind on my garden schedule. My only little scraps of time to do yard work were during heavy rains or tornado conditions! (Yes, tornadoes! Area schools have been out for 4 days due to the damage caused by tornado touchdowns in Connecticut!) This year, I actually visited the nursery and purchased my annuals in the powering rain, holding an umbrella!

The smallest little garden in my yard is located by my back door. Because I see it every time I enter or leave the house, I have always tried to do something a little different in that one patch. In many past years, I have used cocoa hull mulch in that back door garden, because I loved the chocolate smell every time I passed! Now, it is impossible to find the cocoa mulch – garden centers tell me they stopped carrying it because it attracted animals. I thought about using beach stones as an alternate mulch. I am already using beach stones in other gardens and I thought it might add a nice continuity – maybe adding some beach grasses to that garden to give it an added coastal vibe.

So, when I saw oyster shells used as mulch at this year’s flower show in Philadelphia, I thought it might be just the interesting substitute for cocoa mulch that I was looking for! Besides the fact that people don’t collect oyster shells, we also have a city nearby that boasts 12,000 acres of oyster farms – getting the shells won’t be a problem!

What do you think? Good idea? I love the irregular shape and interesting texture!

Note: Because oyster shells break down faster than a sturdier shell, like a clam, they may need to be replaced frequently. So, if you are considering using oyster shells in your own garden, be sure to consider this.

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

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february book giveaway!

January

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 13^th 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!

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.

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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word for the year 2018

January

Do you have a word for the year? I don’t feel a need to have one every year, although I usually have a yearly focus. For 2018 I have a clear focus, but I find it impossible to find a single word to represent it!

I have some very major schedule changes I want to accomplish in 2018. I wondered how that could be represented in a single word. Maybe overhaul? Revamp? Redesign? Not very sexy! How about something a little more subtle…like shift, change, or redesign? My 2018 goals just don’t seem to fit into a single word!

I DO think I can represent an attitude for the year with a quote…one of my favorites from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”

I think I will leave you with this quote and forget about a single word for 2018.

I hope your 2018 fulfills all your dreams!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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living in the moment

June

As I reflect in the loss of a loved one, I challenge myself to live more in the moment going forward. My post today is simply a list of reminders I put together for myself…

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you are inspired in some way to live by your own reminders.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie xo

2 comments » | in memorium, inspiration

snow in april

April

The first day of spring has passed. Easter has come and gone. This morning it snowed!

For me, the snow seemed so poetic. April is National Poetry Month. All I could think about on my way to work, driving in the snow, were some of the great poems by Robert Frost, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Ogden Nash…

There are so many wonderful writings about snow…in poetry, as well as other readings. Thinking about this reminded me of a recent book group meeting. I was reminded of how often I come across beautiful phrases while reading contemporary fiction.

With all these thoughts of poems and beautiful writing, I thought I would try to inspire you during this month of April to take notice of a poem, or even a phrase, that really speaks to you.

I am including a few photos from this morning’s snow and a quote from a reading to help inspire you to also take note of some special words during April.

Thanks for stopping by.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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nests and eggs for spring

March

My last work assignment had me thinking about all things Western. Now that I am back from my trip to Texas, the only thing I can think about is spring in New England!

Spring really has a jump on me this year! Easter is only 2 weeks away and I have not dyed one egg! I usually have tons done by now! Not only that, last Sunday I was an hour late to work because I had forgotten about the clock change!

Today, I am grabbing all my found nests and eggs and plan to arrange them on my mantle as my tribute to the coming season. I love to decorate with natural materials and nests and eggs are definitely favorites of mine; right behind sea glass, shells, and driftwood!

A mantle full of nests and eggs is a great way to welcome spring into the house! If you don’t have a found collection, garden stores and craft stores have some great ones that look realistic that work just as well. Dyeing eggs (after removing the insides) in natural shades also look great in a natural looking arrangement. Remember to add some branches from the yard – unusual shapes look especially interesting!

I hope I have inspired you to create a tribute to spring in your home. Enjoy this special time of year!

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

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jonesing for spring

February

The below zero temperatures here in Connecticut have caused me to have many day dreams about spring!

I thought things might start looking a little like spring at Terrain (one of my fave stores) and, on a recent visit, I was not disappointed. The winter displays are starting to be replaced with some touches of the next season. Taking a little time to visit the store with a friend is not only inspiring, but a great way to forget about the winter blahs – if only for a short time!