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Discover simple home decor ideas, style tips, and seasonal inspiration through The Curated Life…your guide to living beautifully every day.
Welcome to The Curated Life…your occasional mid-week dose of style, home, and inspiration. While this series may not appear every week, each edition will land on a Wednesday, offering a curated blend of things I think you’ll enjoy. This series is a place for all the ideas that don’t quite fit into a full blog post, but that I still feel are worth sharing. You’ll see everything from lovely home tours and fashion picks to seasonal decorating ideas, recipes, and little ways to enjoy everyday life. My goal is to offer inspiration that helps you create a home and life you truly love, one thoughtful moment at a time. It’s meant to be a simple, uplifting pause in the middle of your week…something to enjoy with your morning coffee or during a quiet afternoon moment.
I’m still figuring out the best format, so things might feel a bit random at first. I’m keeping it simple by starting with five sections, and as time goes on, I’ll adjust based on what feels right. I’m truly excited about this and want it to be something you look forward to…something that’s helpful, inspiring, and easy to enjoy. Let’s dive in.
1.) A Simpler Way
How To Quickly Clean Cluttered Countertops: when the mess feels overwhelming, the best way to get started is with quick wins and a clear plan. These are the exact steps I followed to tackle my very messy kitchen island…pictured above in all its glory.
- Start with the biggest items. Begin by removing anything large that’s taking up space. I started with plastic bins, food containers, cardboard, and kitchen towels. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just focus on clearing out the obvious things first.
- Gather the dishes. Don’t worry about loading the dishwasher just yet. Simply move all dirty dishes into the sink so the countertop is less cluttered and you can see what’s left to do.
- Empty the trash and recycling. Overflowing counters often mean an overflowing trash can. Toss anything from the counters that needs to go, and then take out the trash and recycling.
- Tackle the small things. Start at one end of the counter and work your way across. Handle each small item one at a time until everything has a home.
- Load the dishwasher and tidy the sink. Now that the surfaces are clear, go ahead and load, then run, the dishwasher. Bonus points for cleaning the sink!
- Wipe the counters. Use your favorite kitchen spray and a clean cloth to finish the job. If you have a bouquet of garden flowers, place it by the sink as a little reward for your effort.
2.) Words Worth Sharing
“Turn off the news. Go outside. Breathe. We were not meant to carry the burden of the entire world.” ~Florence Williams
3.) Magazine-Worthy Made Simple
One of the things I want to do with this series is show how inspiration can come from just about anywhere, even the most grand and expensive homes. While I don’t necessarily want to live in a place like that, I do love seeing the ideas that can be pulled from those spaces, and used in more modest homes like mine. So each edition of The Curated Life will feature a segment called “Magazine-Worthy Made Simple.” I will link to a home tour, renovation, or makeover. After you take a look, come back and read my own take-aways…and get a few ideas for how to make them work in simple, practical ways.
First…
Click over and explore the featured home. It’s full of inspiration! Then come back, and I’ll walk you through a few simple ways to bring the look into your own space using budget-friendly pieces and everyday charm.
How To Get The Look
- If you have open shelving, consider adding a scalloped edge along the bottom. It’s a simple detail that softens straight lines and adds instant charm.
- I was pleasantly surprised to spot an IKEA chair in one of the sitting rooms. It’s proof that style doesn’t have to be expensive! The neutral chair was brought to life with a colorful pillow and a cozy throw. Both are easy ways to add personality and warmth.
- Bedroom with gold and brown accents: the mix of color, pattern, and texture in this space is just beautiful, and very doable. To recreate a similar look in your own favorite color scheme, start with a floral comforter or duvet. Layer on a solid blanket and add plaid sheets for contrast. Finish with pillow shams that match your comforter or duvet for a cohesive feel.
- At the foot of the bed is the sweetest little slipper chair. This style is widely available and often budget-friendly. While the floral slipcover was likely custom, you can achieve a similar effect by simply placing a large floral pillow on a plain chair.
Super Cute Slipper Chairs
4.) Gather + Savor
My children and grandchildren were home last week, and I focused on keeping meals simple and manageable. For dinner on the 4th, I picked up pulled pork from a local meat market and made sandwiches. I added roasted potatoes, and watermelon mint salad. We also made chocolate chip cookies!
5.) THINGS WORTH MENTIONING
- What’s ahead on Sunday: I’m featuring a yummy and so simple recipe for Summer Spaghetti Salad, along with my best ideas for using lavender in your everyday life.
- What you might have missed: I featured our little dining nook and its brand new board and batten walls! (Pictured above.)
- I’m also working on updating my peach muffins recipe, so stay tuned for that.
- Talbot’s semi-annual red door sale is going on right now! I looked around a little bit and there is still a decent selection of sizes. Now is the time to get a few nice pieces for your summer capsule wardrobe.
- these white straight crops
- this neutral linen blouse
- this crewneck jumpsuit
- this sleeveless jersey maxi dress
- this black short sleeved jacket
- This video is just a minute-and-a-half long and it gave me chills. Make sure to watch until the end.
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Ann, I love this Curated Life. I appreciate that it is just you. I’m a big fan. Other commenters put it more eloquently. Thanks for always giving me inspiration.
Love the new format,while i enjoyed the past posts it was sometimes a little too much & I didn’t read all of them. You are on the right track now. Love your decorating ideas & recipes. The batten walls in your dining area look GREAT. I’m an Ohio resident too. Keep up the great work.
I love your new format.
The Star Spangled Banner gave me chills too. Thanks for sharing.
I love your picture. Was it AI generated or artist done? It’s wonderful. Love your recipes Ann.!
The watercolor was done by an artist on Etsy, but it was quite a process! I do like the end result, so thank you for your kind words. ~Ann
I love your new series! Look forward to reading it whenever you post it. Thank you for all the included links.
This is so perfect Ann!
Lovely content, relatable, perfect length and down to earth.
Refreshment for the heart and soul.
Thank you. Please keep doing what you do for us. Your new format is just so very well done and I look forward to your next post.
I really enjoyed this post. Thank you so much!
This is great!!! Love the new Curated Life 💜.
Also…we have all seen that same island at our own homes. Reality…thank you for showing what life looks like sometimes 😊
This is just terrific….looking forward to each new edition!
Love The Curated Life. Thank you for sharing your “messy” island. It’s nice to know that even bloggers have a mess sometimes. I also loved the view from your kitchen to the living area. I never really knew that’s how that was set up.
Anne,
I enjoyed reading The Curated Life. It’s a good format. Thank you for sharing.
I am loving this new format. Simplified and great content- everything in 1 email
Ann,
I was overjoyed to see The Curated Life pop up today. I LOVE the easy to read and personalization you presented everything with. You found your niche… I am so excited for you. I am looking forward to many more relaxed and enjoyable reads❤️
I really liked this blog post! So much to savor!
This was a nice start to ‘The Curated Life.’ Thank you for sharing!
I love this new format and the information is useful and easily applied. I’m glad to have another chance to tell you how much I love the dining nook transformation. Thank you for the lead to the very cute blue sconces; they are in my cart as we speak. The ending video was truly inspirational and will be shared with my friends. Keep up the good work, and so glad you are making your contributions feel more like yourself. Bravo.
Love your new format. Enjoyed reading this post. When you were with the other bloggers I rarely read the whole post. Keep up the good work!
Hi Ann,
Were you in my house today?!! Your “before” picture of your island looks just like the current state of mine, lol! I loved your new series today, and it has definitely motivated me to clear the always accumulating clutter from my island. Thank you for such practical tips!
I love everything about this post. You do a top-notch job, and I enjoy reading your posts.
Ann I love your new format. I’ve been going through some health issues and I haven’t looked at many web sites lately. I really enjoyed yours this morning. I look forward to next week.
Ann, I love the new format! Thank you for your continued insight and encouragement to us all.
Love this! Thank you for continuing this new segment.
Sandy
Ann,
I enjoyed this post so much and your new format is wonderful! Your ideas for replicating some of the ideas in the featured home are spot on. Of course, your recipes are also amazing!
Thanks for a fabulous post packed with great info and inspiration!
Best,
Sherri
What a breath of fresh air your post is! Please keep it up. I believe your choice to go it alone was perfect. I’ve followed you since I lived in Dayton…2 homes later I’m in my forever home in the mountains of WV.
Hi Ann, just wanted to say I love everything about your new series! Looking forward to the next episode! Have a great day, I’ll go declutter my counters now with your suggestions and my coffee cup in hand!
Niki😊
Thanks for a great first ed roll out. I’m going to make those potatoes tonight. You were right, that video gave me chills too and had tears rolling down my face by the end. So beautiful!
What a lovely post. I know I’m going to enjoy this new format. Thank you, Ann.
The video gave me the chills also,beautiful.
Hi Ann, Love all your flower arrangements and how you use Hosta’s as a filler flower in your arrangements as I do also. They add color as well as a “base flower”. I prefer the white and green variety. Take Good Care and stay cool !
Nicely put together! Such a “feels good” post! I will look forward to every future post. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.
Good post! Nice change.
Looking forward to the next visit with you.
You hit all the goals.
Love it! Perfect with my morning coffee.
Congratulations on your 1st new post, looking forward to future posts
You’ve got this!
Oh, I just loved this first edition of The Curated Life! This format was presented calm, and like a conversation. That house? It was like being in Europe. And of course, your recipes. My computer has a file of OSP recipes, so thank you for that. And I will be stealing your board and batten ideas for my entryway.
Best of luck, Ann! And have a wonderful Wednesday.
The Curated Life is perfect. I love that you’re simplifying your life while teaching us to do the same. And arriving on the “occasional” Wednesday, it will be a pleasant surprise when I find it in my inbox!
Oh, Ann, you have hit the ball out of the park with this change! I loved every word. One thing you are tacitly teaching is that, as we move along in life, we have to be willing to make changes that fit better. Congratulations
I love the new format. The National Anthem at the end was perfect, sung with respect, We don’t need superstars to provide their own take on it, just singers who give it the respect due. Thank you for sharing that.
I LOVE your new format and the ease of of your readings Thank you for this welcoming and needed change
I really enjoyed reading your Curated Life post. It was relaxing to read. Thank you for your time in putting it together for us.
I love your new format, Ann! Perfect for relaxing with a cup of coffee or tea! Thank you so much!