pleasure in simple things

pumpkin tower urn diy

October 17, 2017

Today I am sharing a simple DIY. Remember my ‘ferns in urns’ project? I bought some inexpensive urns at HomeGoods and planted them with ferns for a wedding? You may remember one of those urns was transformed into a fall planter.

You may wonder what happened to the second urn. Well, it got transformed into a pumpkin tower for my mom’s house! I just love stacking pumpkins, don’t you? Pumpkins can get pretty pricy at garden stores when they are classified as ‘specialty’ pumpkins. Not true when you purchase them from Trader Joes!

I found a big selection of what would be called ‘specialty’ pumpkins at Trader Joes for just $6.99 each!

To convert the urn I used for the ferns, I purchased 3 carefully selected pumpkins from Trader Joes and a can of flat black spray paint from Home Depot.

After the sprayed urn dried, I added an old grapevine wreath and some faux greens to the rim before stacking my 3 purchased pumpkins…perfect! An easy DIY to convert one of your planters for some fall décor! Just spend a little time picking out the stackable pumpkins so they work together. Before you go to the store, measure the diameter of your container so you know what size will work for the bottom pumpkin. Either bring a ruler or measure out a strip of paper to the size you need and tuck it into your purse. For the best-looking tower, make sure your smallest pumpkin choice (top spot) has a pretty stem!

Other things you may want to add to your tower are hay, straw, Spanish moss, or green moss. Add your own personal style with the container and accessories you add! To give you some pumpkin tower inspiration, I have included in this post some photos of pumpkin towers created by Terrain in Westport, Connecticut.

If you don’t have a yard for a tower outside, it is easy to create a ‘mini’ pumpkin tower for your inside décor. Buy a pretty container, flower pot, or pedestal at HomeGoods or local garden store and create a smaller version of a pumpkin tower!

I hope I have inspired you to create a pumpkin tower of your own!

Thanks for stopping by!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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german village, columbus

October 13, 2017

The most picturesque place we found during my recent visit to Columbus with a friend was just south of the downtown – the quaint, historic neighborhood of German Village.

Settled back in the 19th century by German immigrants, the neighborhood is now a hip location to shop, dine, or just walk around. With many alley-like streets made of brick and pristine landscaping, German Village oozes with character.

We visited a few unique shops – like the 32-room bookstore called The Book Loft and the gift shop at the top of all the local’s list – Helen Winnemore’s.

We also stopped at a candy shop for award-winning fudge and some ‘buckeyes’ to take home. In case you didn’t already know, Ohio is the ‘buckeye state’ and Brutus Buckeye is the mascot of Ohio State University – and, believe me, Columbus certainly has buckeye fever! The candy version of a buckeye is a peanut butter flavored ball dipped in chocolate!

Another noteworthy visit while in German Village was to Jeni’s scoop shop – with shops located throughout the city, this mouth-watering ice-cream brand originated in Columbus. (I will share more about Jeni’s in its own upcoming post!)

For dining, tourists can find a classic German meal at Schmidt’s, but the hip locals favor Lindey’s. And, because Lindey’s has the best outdoor dining in the Village, that was our restaurant choice for dinner while in German Village.

Outdoor dining at Lindey’s in German Village, Columbus, Ohio

You can probably tell by my photos, that for us, the best part about visiting German Village in Columbus, Ohio was admiring the buildings and the landscaping! Walking around the neighborhood was like attending a garden tour!

I hope you have enjoyed my little piece of German Village on today’s Friday field trip!

Thanks for stopping by!

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

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free pink pumpkin printable

October 10, 2017

What better way to support breast cancer awareness than to display a pink pumpkin for the month of October?!

Paint a huge pumpkin with pink chalk paint (ordinary house paint will do as well) and place it on your front steps…if one person driving by thinks “look at that…must be for breast cancer awareness,” it has done its job!

A little pink pumpkin on a desk at work can serve the same purpose. I like to display a handmade pink velvet pumpkin during October. It reminds me, as well as others, that breast health is important.

The pink velvet pumpkins pictured here are new ones I made up this year for a breast cancer awareness GO PINK! event benefit at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, New York. Thank you Kim – I am honored to have my pink pumpkins represented at your event!

As a gift to you, my friends, I am including a pink pumpkin bookmark printable that you can download by clicking here. It includes my favorite ‘pink’ quote! Use landscape and print it in color on a piece of white card stock – save one for yourself and give the others to friends! Enjoy!

Thank you for stopping by!

I hope I have inspired you to display some pink pumpkins this month for breast cancer awareness! It is a wonderful way to honor breast cancer survivors and, also, those who are currently battling breast cancer.

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

Sharing at the Inspiration Gallery at Craftberry Bush.

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velvet and cashmere pumpkins

October 6, 2017

Making velvet pumpkins is an annual activity for me. Each year, I save pumpkin stems (the stems are everything!) and use them the following year on my newest pumpkin creations.

Finding new fabrics keeps my pumpkin making interesting each year.

This year, I added some gray cashmeres to the mix!

If you follow the blog, you may remember I shared instructions to make these pumpkins some years back. If you want to try your hand at making some, click here for the post with the tutorial on how to create them.

Thank you for sharing my newest pumpkin creations on this week’s Friday field trip. My first few are as a gift to celebrate a friend’s new home. I hope I have inspired you to try making some yourself!

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

Sharing at Craftberry Bush.

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more 2017 country living fair

October 3, 2017

As promised, today I am sharing a few more glimpses of the 2017 Country Living Fair in Columbus, Ohio! (Part 2 from September 26th!)

Enjoy!

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

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october book giveaway!

September 29, 2017

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.

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.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fabulous weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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2017 country living fair columbus

September 26, 2017

If you read this blog regularly, you know I am a big fan of The Country Living Fair. I have been attending the fair in Rhinebeck, NY, only a short distance from Connecticut, annually.

The Dutchess Country Fairgrounds are picturesque and provide a beautiful venue for the fair.

Put on by Country Living Magazine, the fair is a big show and sale of antiques, vintage, handcrafted goods, art, furniture, home decor, handcrafted clothing, jewelry and more. It also includes scheduled seminars and artisan demonstrations.

Each year, The Country Living Fair provides a fabulous weekend of shopping and inspiration.

I started thinking last year, why limit this fun time to a weekend? With three other Country Living Fair locations at different times of the year, why not visit one of the others? Atlanta, Columbus, or Nashville were my choices.

After some consideration, Columbus won as a second destination choice when I discovered Ballard Designs, Frontgate, and Grandin Road all have outlet stores near Columbus!

So, many months ago, a good friend and I put together plans to brave the 10 hour car trip to Ohio!

The photos here are from the 2017 Country Living Fair in Columbus, Ohio! I will share some additional photos from the fair next Tuesday. I hope you enjoy them and are inspired to attend one of the Country Living Fairs yourself!

It is so fun to visit a new locale! Which location do you think I will visit next? ;) Nashville? Atlanta?

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

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pumpkin tower in columbus

September 22, 2017

Even though the temperatures here in Connecticut this weekend will feel more like summer, it is now officially fall!

Because it seems so appropriate, for today’s Friday field trip, I am sharing some photos of the pumpkin ‘tower’ at this year’s Country Living Fair in Columbus.

Don’t worry…that’s not it on the fair…I will be sharing some fun finds from the Country Living Fair next week!

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy your first weekend of fall! I have already bought plenty of white pumpkins and I am working on some neutral velvet and cashmere handmade pumpkins!

I hope you are inspired to put out some fall décor! Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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katalina’s in columbus

September 19, 2017

I have some fun things to share with you from a recent trip to Ohio…my first ever!

Part of visiting someplace new is checking out the food scene and my visit to Columbus was nothing unusual in this respect! My first Ohio share is one of my eating adventures.

The best way to find the best eating in town? Talk to a local, of course! After receiving a glowing endorsement from an Ohio State student, my friend and I decided Katalina’s was a must-see and we headed over to try it out on a bright Sunday morning.

Located in an adorable Columbus neighborhood, this fun and colorful, tiny café is located in a renovated 100-year-old gas station and on this particular morning (like every morning?) had a line of regulars out the door! Not to be discouraged by the line, we reviewed the menu to make the tough decision of what to order. The choices were very innovative and seemed to have a Latin flavor – all made from scratch.

Since Katalina’s boasts of creating pancake balls, I was intrigued and ordered them. But then, I saw their version of avocado toast with toasted pepitas listed as a special. I just had to have some! So, I added that as well as a cup of bottomless coffee to finished out my order.

We were able to snag an outdoor table when our food was ready. The pancake balls – over a million have already been made – were very yummy! Made with stone ground flour, they were filled with organic pumpkin apple butter and served with bourbon barrel aged maple syrup.

Of course, I ordered way too much food by getting both the pancake balls and the toast, but I was glad I tried both…they were each super tasty!

I am so happy we listened to the recommendation of our new friend from OSU and I would do the same for anyone visiting Columbus!

I hope my brunch adventure has inspired you to try a new eating spot! :)

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

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picking asian pears

September 15, 2017

What is better than getting fresh fruit at a Farmer’s Market? Getting fresh fruit from a farm, of course! Today, for Friday field trip you are joining me as I pick some Asian pears!

Have you tasted an Asian pear? They are delicious! With a texture similar to apples, the light sweetness and crispy texture (maintained long after they are picked) of this pear make it a really great addition to salads.

Asian pears are native to Japan and China where they have been grown for over 3000 years. The most common grown in the U.S. are Japanese varieties which have a shape similar to an apple.

The first documented appearance of an Asian pear in the United States was recorded in 1820 when a Chinese sand pear was imported to Flushing, New York.

Today Asian pears are grown not only throughout Asia but in Italy, Spain, Australia, France, Chile and New Zealand as well. In the United States, the bulk of commercial production comes from California and Oregon with a smaller supply coming out of Washington State, Kentucky and Alabama.

We are so lucky to have some Asian pears growing here in Connecticut and people come from far away to pick them!

If you haven’t ever tried an Asian pear, I hope I have inspired you to do so! Sliced on a green salad and garnished with a fig vinaigrette…yum!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend!

Remember to take pleasure in simple things, Jackie

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pumpkin tower urn diy

german village, columbus

free pink pumpkin printable

velvet and cashmere pumpkins

more 2017 country living fair

october book giveaway!

2017 country living fair columbus

pumpkin tower in columbus

katalina’s in columbus

picking asian pears