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Tag: sand & sea


change of scenery

19
March

flowers at Laguna Niguel

There is nothing better than a change of scenery once in a while.  A recent work trip took me to the opposite coast for a change of more than just environment. Visiting California was like living a different lifestyle for a short while.  It came at the perfect time.  I am going through so many changes at home and the trip to California helped ‘reset’ my perspective on life.

The best part of the trip was reconnecting with a childhood friend.  Though we hadn’t seen each other in many years, once we were reunited, it almost seemed like no time had gone by at all!

CA dreaming

My brief time in the OC (Orange Country, California) was jam-packed!  I came home so refreshed – satisfied from a job well done and grateful for the chance to get together with a long-time friend – as well as meeting some new ones!

CA scenery

Get ready for some glimpses of Cali in the posts ahead!

Hope your week is starting off great!  Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Comments Off on change of scenery | inspiration, sand & sea, travel

photo drink labels for the holiday

24
November

holiday drink labels pleasure in simple things blog

I love a good theme. Part of what makes a great entertaining theme successful is consistency in the details. It also makes it fun for guests – because they are finding cool ways the theme has been brought into every detail. When it is the holidays, I like to take the details to the highest level!

personalized drink labels pleasure in simple things blog

I  want to share one of these details with you today – and, that is bottle labels! I don’t know about you, but in my house there is a certain contingency that drink from bottles – beer to be exact! Because my guys are so particular about their beers – microbreweries and such, I am not able to choose a beer that sticks with my theme. The wine drinkers can be a little more flexible – and for this year’s sea glass theme, I may just be able to sneak in a Sea Glass wine to stay on theme!

sea glass themed holiday with drink labels pleasure in simple things blog

Instead of trying to fight the selections, I will just modify the look of the drinks that are chosen with my own personally designed labels! This can be accomplished easily with a home printer, some labels, and some favorite photos!

making photo drink labels pleasure in simple things blog

Today, for those of you who may have some ‘issues’ with setting up forms on your home computer, I am showing you some labels that can be easily created using a website that specializes in photo gifts. There are plenty of them out there. I happen to think Pinhole Press puts out an exceptional quality product and the labels here were ordered from their website.

themed holiday drink labels pleasure in simple things blog

Using photos from my time at the beach and my own wording, I created both a beer bottle sized label and a wine sized label that I will use for the holidays. Now, no matter what bottle comes into the house, it will be right on theme! Aah!

themed drink labels pleasure in simple things blog

I created one design for beer bottles and one for wine bottles.  If you are challenged in the computer design/printing department, you can check out how easily you can create labels using Pinhole Press by clicking here.

I hope I have inspired you to create your own special labels!

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

Comments Off on photo drink labels for the holiday | diy, food & festivities, holiday, inspiration

september book giveaway!

1
September

pleasure in simple things giveaway book for september

September always seems so far away when summer begins. Of course, before you know it, September creeps up and with it comes the threat of the end to the best season of the year!

I don’t know about you, but I am still cramming every last bit of summer into my days – and, that includes the monthly book giveaway!

Since it is technically still summer, I have chosen a book that makes me think of summer and all I love about it.  The book is called Sea Glass Treasures from the Tide.  As a sea glass collector for my entire life, I can appreciate the wonderfully photographed pieces Cindy has captured in her first book.  Even those of you who may not live near the water or, have the opportunity to hunt for sea glass will enjoy this beautiful selection!

giveaway book pleasure in simple things blog

Photographer Cindy Bilbao shares with us the vibrancy, magic, and beauty in sea glass that comes from the tides of her favorite beaches. Her book shares treasured trips and helps keep summer alive all year long!

Leave a comment on this post to let me know you’d like to win this book.  A winner will be chosen at random from the comments I receive.

Congratulations to Deborah, winner of last month’s giveaway selection Irresistible Ice Pops by Sunil Vijayakar.  I know you will enjoy this wonderful collection of recipes for many summers to come!

In attempt to celebrate the last days of my favorite season, this month’s Instagram Challenge is to share photos from the last days of summer. Use hashtag #pleasuregram to share your best shots!

September Instagram ChallengeThank you so much for stopping by! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

3 comments » | good reads, monthly book giveaway, sand & sea

it’s a beach day shopping trip

14
July

This is the time of year when it is really great to shop all the stores and identify the fun summer items you like, because soon they will all go on sale!  Online shopping at the end of any season is fun, but I especially love it at the end of the summer because I use these sale items to decorate in a coastal style all year long!

This is the time of year when it is really great to shop all the stores and identify the fun summer items you like, because soon they will all go on sale! Online shopping at the end of any season is fun, but I especially love it at the end of the summer, because I use the clearance coastal items I buy in the summer to decorate all year long!  I am sharing a few of the items with a beach vibe that I am loving right now!

sea trays West Elm

West Elm has some really great ‘beachy’ items this summer.  I love the whimsical trays (in the photo above) – so practical!  And, isn’t the crab pillow (opening photo) adorable?

BBA

Arm candy in the summertime is a must!  The photo above shows some of the great creations from bba Bracelets (click here for info).  All the bracelets are handmade and can be made to order!  So fun to design an armful!  They are also great for wedding parties and other special events because you can design your own bracelets with coordinating colored beads, tassels, or charms.  My other love for arm candy is Kiel James Patrick!  What better way to show off a tanned arm than a white rope bracelet with an anchor closure?  Love it!

kjp bracelet

You may remember from my holiday shopping post that Grace in Niantic, CT is a favorite store of mine.  The epitome of coastal cool!  These are some of my favorite beachy pillows in the current collection of yummy summer items at the shop.

pillows at Grace in Niantic

We all know that sometimes disposable paper goods are a must in the summer!  These cuties from West Elm make disposable more than acceptable at any casual gathering!

west elm dinner ware

At $4.99 even the regular price of this Ikea straw bag makes it a crafters delight!  I have decorated it in so many different ways and it makes a great alternative to a gift bag for summer giving!

nipprigbeachbag IKEAFor my furniture projects, Anthropologie is always a go-to for cool hardware…this summer, I am loving the sea life on these knobs!

sealife knobs anthropologie

A cute tote is always in order in the summer, and a great way to help the kids get organized is to have them carrying their own stuff!  This adorable tote from Pottery Barn Kids fits the bill perfectly!  And, by the way, don’t think the items in PB Kids are just for kids!  I bought a great insulated lunch bag with old school stainless storage containers for myself from the catalog!

Pottery barn kids tote

For myself, in place of a tote bag, I prefer this Sailor stripe backpack by Baggu…cool, right?

Baggu sailor stripe backpackI hope I inspired you to do a little summer perusing of your own!  There are plenty of great items out there – like these awesome ice cube trays available at Nordstrom.  Cheers!

anchor ice cube tray nordstrom

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

Comments Off on it’s a beach day shopping trip | gift ideas, inspiration, sand & sea

ikea dresser redo with annie sloan

19
June

Finished Ikea dresser Annie Sloan redo pleasure in simple things blog

This Ikea dresser has really made the rounds! In its first life, it was a dresser in a young boy’s room. It performed that job marvelously, then made its way to a college apartment. Here too, it was a sturdy piece that provided plenty of storage.

But, when it crossed over into ‘adult’ life, it was time for a makeover! Join me in my painting studio (aka: my backyard) for Friday field trip today to check out how some Annie Sloan paint and a few new knobs have updated this Ikea piece.

Before dresser photo pleasure in simple things blog

The first thing it needed was a little cleaning and some wood fill in a few spots. And, because it was crafted of a knotty wood, I knew it needed to be sealed to prevent any knots from showing through the paint. So, I applied a coat of Zinsser primer sealer.

After that, I used two coats of Annie Sloan French Linen – one of my favorite colors for a beachy look!

after photo Ikea dresser Annie Sloan French Linen and Old White pleasure in simple things blog

From here, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to add an anchor…or, maybe some stripes?  I decided finding knobs would be my first order of business since purchasing twelve knobs at a decent price was not going to be easy. The dresser came with wooden knobs and I was hoping not to reuse them. Unfortunately, every knob I liked was $6 or $7 and purchasing twelve at this price was beyond my budget!

Dresser redo with Annie Sloan Old White and new knobs pleasure in simple things blog

I started contemplating making some knobs out of rope; thinking I may try to make some monkey’s fist knots and started researching how to tie them.

Then, I got a call from a friend who said she found some great rope knobs at Home Goods and they came in packages of 6. When I discovered the knobs were actually monkey’s fist knots and each package was $12.99, I knew these were my knobs!

starting grain sack stripes pleasure in simple things blog

After purchasing two packages of the knobs, I knew I wanted to do a grain sack style stripe to coordinate with them, so I masked off and painted the stripes using Annie Sloan Old White paint.   It is easy to mask stripes with blue painter’s tape, but it does take a little patience!  After the stripes were dry, I mixed a wash of Old White paint and water (approximately 70% water). I painted this over the piece, working a section at a time and wiping it off with a cloth after painting it on with a brush. I love the way the wash gives some depth to the piece and helps with the beachy vibe.

applying Old White white wash over French Linen Annie Sloan pleasure in simple things blog

rubbing old white wash over french linen Annie Sloan pleasure in simple things blog

Result of Old White and water over French Linen Annie Sloan pleasure in simple things blog
Next, I added a coat of Annie Sloan clear wax. After that, I did some distressing, concentrating on roughing up the white stripes. After the distressing, I added a second coat of clear wax.

Annie Sloan French Linen and Old White Dresser pleasure in simple things blog

Doesn’t it look great? I am finishing it off by using some old nautical maps for drawer liners. :)

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend and remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing with Finding Silver Pennies, Nancherrow,  Craftberry Bush, The Shabby Nest, and French Country Cottage.

2 comments » | diy, inspiration

a wordless year

22
May

shell at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

I didn’t choose a ‘word of the year’ for 2015.  I was thinking about that on my walk by the water today.  I wondered why I wasn’t inspired to come up with one this year.

Lunch at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

I thought if I had, it would have been something that expressed a need to keep things fresh…to constantly learn new things…to go on new adventures.

a piece of driftwood at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

I don’t have the ability to travel to foreign lands or visit exotic cultures.  But, I am still able to find new adventures every day.

crab at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

Not a day goes by when I don’t learn something new that creates a special interest or the need to explore.

sea wall at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

But, I certainly wouldn’t want to confine that need to discover to a single year…maybe that is why no word for the year?

walking the beach pleasure in simple things blog
I hope you enjoy joining me on my walk today for Friday field trip…

a shell at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

bird at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

driftwood  at the beach pleasure in simple things blog

Have a wonderful weekend.  Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Comments Off on a wordless year | field trips, inspiration, sand & sea

driftwood trinket dish diy

24
February

diy trinket dish for $3.99 pleasure in simple things blog

I will let you in on a little secret. Well, I don’t know if it is actually a secret since I am sure many others have discovered this wonderful little tidbit. Are you ready?

IKEA sells a 6” x 6” candle tray for $3.99. It is a beautifully simple, white ceramic square tray and has four protective rubber feet on the bottom. Why is this a wonderful tidbit?

easy to make trinket dish pleasure in simple things blogThis candle tray makes the best trinket dish ever! At only $3.99, it is perfect to create a beautiful – yet quick, easy and inexpensive – trinket dish!

ikea candle tray to trinket dish pleasure in simple things blog

As a decorative addition to my dish, I chose an interesting piece of driftwood, approximately 4” long, from my collection of driftwood pieces. Because of the porous nature of the driftwood, I chose to use caulk as an adhesive to mount the driftwood to the tray. If you use a decorative addition made of a different material, be sure to consider the item you are adding when choosing a glue. For the most part, E6000 glue or Gorilla glue is probably the best choice of adhesive. (Be sure to follow directions carefully.)

driftwood trinket tray diy from pleasure in simple things blog

Why driftwood? I have something of a collection of trinket dishes with a nautical theme and a piece of driftwood coordinates great with my bedroom décor. I love the simple white dish with an interesting (aren’t they all?) piece of driftwood from my favorite beach!

driftwood diy trinket dish pleasure in simple things blog
The driftwood can easily be substituted for something that coordinates with your décor or the décor of the recipient – if the dish is a gift. You can pretty much add any embellishment that hits your fancy…just glue it down with good, strong glue and you are good to go!

diy trinket dish from ikea candle tray pleasure in simple things blog

I have made so many different variations of this trinket dish! Ideas include spray painted animals or figures, cars (think Father’s Day), or natural elements. If you are stumped, shoot me an email and I will help with ideas! Have fun with it!

diy trinket dish from IKEA tray pleasure in simple things blog

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at Sand & Sisal, Shabby Nest, House of Hipsters, Nancherrow, and Thoughts from Alice.

1 comment » | diy, gift ideas, sand & sea

ice, ice baby!

17
February

too cold for seagulls pleasure in simple things blog

With temperatures below freezing and blizzard conditions, here in Connecticut we are experiencing a crazy winter.

the dock at blizzard in ct pleasure in simple things blog

And, like all of New England, we have had plenty of snow this year.

sunny and below freezing pleasure in simple things blog

But, this winter, it is not the snow that has taken center stage…

one dock at blizzard pleasure in simple things blog

connecticut coast pleasure in simple things blog

This year, the star of the show is the ice!

sunny and negative temps pleasure in simple things blog

And with temperatures below zero (without the wind chill), there is plenty of it – even in places it is not usually seen!

docks during blizzard pleasure in simple things blog

blizzard conditions pleasure in simple things blog

So today, I am sharing some of the beauty I am seeing in all this ice…

blizzard on ct coast 2015 pleasure in simple things

A beauty only Mother Nature can provide.

snowy beach pleasure in simple things blog

Thanks so much for stopping by.

quote bench in winter pleasure in simple things blog

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing with Finding Silver Pennies, Coastal CharmSand & Sisal, Homework, and Elizabeth & Co.

1 comment » | sand & sea

diy mirror to chalkboard

19
August

before and after mirror to chalkboard pleasure in simple things

It has been a while since my last large chalkboard project when I used an old skim board to create a nautical themed chalkboard. I have wanted to make another large chalkboard for quite some time and when I saw this mirror, I knew it would be perfect to repurpose!

Mirror before renovation pleasure in simple thingsThe frame had such great detail at the top and it was in wonderful shape.

Today I am sharing the easy steps I used to create a chalkboard.

I took apart the mirror – separating it from the frame. I put a coat of shellac on the frame using a soft, clean cloth.

Then, I used Annie Sloan Chalkboard paint in French Linen with a Pure White wash (the same process I used for this Newport table). French Linen is one of my favorite Annie Sloan colors and I really love the way it looks with black… perfect for a chalkboard frame!

After using clear wax on the completed finish, I did a little distressing and then added a second coat of wax to the frame.

Mirror turned chalkboard detail pleasure in simple things

To create the chalkboard, I used chalkboard spray paint in very light coats (probably 5 or 6) right over the back side of the mirror. Why the back? I just figured it could always be used again as a mirror if I kept the mirror side intact.

Chalkboard spray paint works so well on smooth surfaces – the smoother, the better. For this reason, any picture frame or mirror repurposes really well as a chalkboard. These items are pretty easy to come by at yard sales or thrift shops. Or, maybe you are holding onto a frame you really like, but aren’t too crazy about the print in it…perfect to refinish as a chalkboard!

Mirror detail pleasure in simple things makeover

After the chalkboard paint was good and dry, I ‘seasoned’ the board by using a piece of chalk on its side to color in the entire surface and then wiped it off with a soft, clean rag.

Mirror turned chalkboard pleasure in simple things

After putting the mirror back into the frame, my project was complete! And, the mirror already had a hanger on the back so I didn’t need to add one. I love this kind of project – when I use all materials I have on hand…I didn’t need to purchase one supply to complete it!

completed chalkboard from a Mirror pleasure in simple things

I added a favorite ‘beachy’ quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson and my project is complete! Can’t you just see this elegant chalkboard in the entry way of a coastal home?

I hope this has inspired you to repurpose an old picture frame or mirror into a beautiful ‘new’ chalkboard!

Thank you for stopping by.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing with Finding Silver PenniesElizabeth and Co.Sand & Sisal and Coastal Charm.

4 comments » | diy, inspiration, sand & sea

visiting the st. augustine lighthouse

27
June

visiting the St. Augustine lighthouse pleasure in simple things

The latest issue of Coastal Living Magazine named St. Augustine, Florida in the top 5 for happiest seaside towns in America.

For today’s Friday field trip, I am taking you on a lighthouse visit – one of my happy places during a recent weekend visit to the “Nation’s Oldest City” in the Northeast part of Florida.

St. Augustine Lighthouse in Florida pleasure in simple things

Completed in 1874, after taking three years to build, the lighthouse is St. Augustine’s first and oldest surviving brick structure and rises 165 feet above sea level.

Staircase in St. Augustine lighthouse pleasure in simple things

Walking past the nine windows in the lighthouse provided beautiful panoramic views as I ascended the 8 flights of cast iron spiral stairs – a total of 219 steps.

St. Augustine lighthouse pleasure in simple things

This is what one of the windows looks like from the inside…now, check out some of the views to the outside!

view from lighthouse pleasure in simple things

A view of the keeper’s house from one of the St. Augustine lighthouse windows.

view from lighthouse window pleasure in simple things

view from St. Augustine lighthouse window pleasure in simple things

I was able to make it to the observation deck at the top of the lighthouse just before an impending lightning storm cut my visit short.

top of the St. Augustine lighthouse pleasure in simple things

Jackie at the top of the ST. Augustine lighthouse pleasure in simple things

The lightning storm was probably a good thing – no telling how many photos I would have taken if I was given the opportunity!

top of the St Augustine lighthouse pleasure in simple things

I hope you enjoyed sharing my visit to the St. Augustine lighthouse on today’s Friday field trip.  Thank you so much for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

4 comments » | field trips, sand & sea, travel

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