2018 Colour of the Year, A Good Home, Myrtle The Purple Turtle, Purple

The Future is Purple

So says Pantone, the colour people. (But they call it ‘ultra violet’, mind you.)

And so declared Lauren, for whom Myrtle was originally written. She promptly created this image using a picture from Myrtle the Purple Turtle

Image may contain: text

I seem to be spying purple everywhere these days! Here’s Queen Elizabeth, looking very fashion-forward:

Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling, people standing

~~

And what’s better than a box-fort? I love this photo of Nadine Janetta’s two daughters Ella (4) and Leah (2). (Eldest daughter Brooklyn is only partly in the photo.)

Nadine, who lives southwest of Toronto, says, “It was the perfect cozy place to cuddle up with your book.”

Blog Photo - Myrtle being read by girls in box

“The girls have fallen in love with Myrtle and her friends in this well-told story of self acceptance – Myrtle the Purple Turtle has become the most read and asked-for book in our home.”

Ella, who is 4, says she likes the picture of me in the book. (Thanks, Ella!) She likes the book “because Myrtle falls asleep on her back” and  “because she wants to be the same as the other turtles because she is purple”.

Brooklyn, who is 8, says: “It shows me that everyone’s different and you can’t change that.”

Nadine is one of three winners in the Myrtle giveaway in October.   The others are bloggers Alethea Kehas (New Hampshire) and Brad Volz (Arkansas). 

Their responses to Myrtle are lovely.

Myrtle the Purple Turtle
Myrtle the Purple Turtle, by Cynthia Reyes, illustrated by Jo Robinson

Alethea says Myrtle is “a beautifully written and illustrated tale of friendship and acceptance. I’m pretty sure I enjoyed it as much as my niece!” 

Brad calls Myrtle “a timely and timeless story most needed in our troubled world. Myrtle the Purple Turtle is a delightful book to help teach children to embrace both their uniqueness and shared humanity.” 

Thank you all! And remember: #loveyourshell!

 

 

A Good Home

Valerie Theberge Gets the American Standard Speed Connect Faucet

Thank you to everyone who entered the Giveaway on my blog for the American Standard Speed Connect Faucet.

Valerie Theberge of Quebec, Canada, will receive a beautiful new faucet from American Standard.

Congratulations to Valerie and thanks again to American Standard and to everyone who took part!0000513_american-standard-times-square-monoblock-faucet_300

Giveaway

American Standard Speed Connect Faucet Giveaway

Over the holidays my family had a great opportunity to give our powder room a “mini makeover”, courtesy of  American Standard Canada.

0000513_american-standard-times-square-monoblock-faucet_300

I’m not sure if you’re aware, but in addition to being an award-winning writer-now-author, I have given myself the title of most inept handy (wo)man in all of Canada. So, imagine my excitement (and relief) when American Standard gifted me with their gorgeous Time Square Monoblock Faucet that comes with Speed Connect, a pre-assembled drain that makes installation quick and easy. Even luckier for me was when Hamlin, my wonderful husband, offered to assemble the new faucet.

american standard speed connect installation

Actually, he grabbed it, no doubt thinking: “A pretty, shiny thing for me to experiment with!” With the faucet in one hand and his iPad loaded with American Standard’s installation video in the other, within 90 minutes Hamlin had the faucet installed and ready to use.

american standard speed connect

He was so pleased with his achievement that he suddenly caught the decor bug and was styling the entire room with candles, artwork, towels and a new bath rug. We’ve received so many compliments from visiting friends and relatives over the holidays on our new powder room. The faucet really brings a modern look and feel which is exactly what it needed.

american standard speed connect 3

Better yet, it was easy to install.

What’s even better? I get to share. One of my blog readers residing in Canada can win their own beautiful Speed Connect faucet. Entry is easy – simply leave a comment below. For additional entries (and to increase your chances of winning), follow the instructions here. Contest ends January 31, 2016. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Post script: 

Congrats to Valerie Theberge of Quebec, Canada, who will receive a beautiful new faucet from American Standard.

Thanks again to American Standard Canada and to everyone who took part!

Blog post images c/o: Hamlin Grange