Discover simple home decor ideas, style tips, and seasonal inspiration through The Curated Life…your guide to living beautifully every day.
Even though February is a short month, it can feel surprisingly long. My hope is that this space offers a calm midweek pause. A place to slow down, reset your thoughts, and find a bit of comfort in simple ideas and seasonal touches. If the days feel heavy or the winter stretch feels endless, I hope coming here lifts your spirits and gives you a soft place to land for a few quiet moments.
This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure statement.
1.) WORDS WORTH SHARING
“Health does not always come from medicine. Most of the time it comes from peace of mind, peace in heart, peace in the soul. It comes from laughter and love.” ~Found HERE.
2.) Finding Steady Ground
Life has a way of throwing curveballs, and they can affect both our physical and mental health. When that happens, the most important thing we can do is care for ourselves and step back just enough to find some breathing room. Peace rarely shows up when our minds are crowded with noise and worry. Our health often depends on slowing down, creating space for quiet, and allowing ourselves the time we need to feel steady again. I’m reminding myself of this lately, and taking it one day at a time.
3.) One Look, Two Choices: An Update
Last week I shared a forsythia wreath I made, along with a similar one that can be purchased on Amazon. This week I wanted to show you the ready-made wreath in person, because it really is very pretty and a great value. When I first opened the box, I’ll admit I was disappointed. The wreath looked small and flat, and it wasn’t very impressive. But after about five minutes of fluffing, it completely changed. Once the branches were gently pulled out and lifted, the wreath became full and nicely shaped…and it’s such a cheerful shade of yellow. A few blooms did come loose while I was fluffing, but they were easy to reattach. Below is a photo showing how the wreath should look once it’s fluffed. And if you’re wondering why it’s hanging on my indoor hooks, it was just too cold to take photos outside!
4.) Gather & Savor
These are soup recipes I make again and again, especially when the days feel long and a warm meal sounds comforting. There’s a simple chicken and rice soup, a one-pot vegetable beef soup, and a hearty beef barley soup. All three use everyday ingredients, come together without much fuss, and are the kind of meals that quietly take care of you.
5.) THINGS WORTH MENTIONING
- What you might have missed: last weekend, on Saturday, my email subscribers received my just-updated collection of strawberry dessert recipes. On Sunday, I shared tips for creating a well kept home…and they may not be what you expect.
- Coming This Weekend: I’ll be sharing a few simple ways to create an indoor herb garden that feel just right for this time of year. On Sunday, I have easy brunch ideas that show how simple food and a casual setup can mean less time in the kitchen and more time spent with family and friends.
- What a difference a day can make. The past few weeks have been bitterly cold, and honestly, it was becoming harder to stay positive. But as I’m writing this, the temperature has reached 49, and when I turned my face toward the sun, I could actually feel its warmth. It may be fleeting, but for today, it feels like a small sign of hope. Wishing you all a lovely week. XO
JOIN THE OSP COMMUNITY
Sign up to get uncomplicated recipes, unlimited seasonal decor, and
understated ways to refresh your home sent straight to your email inbox!
amazon storefront
Discover simple and affordable
ways to refresh your home.
Follow my Amazon Storefront
for all my favorite finds!
I’d love to try my hand at turning pictures into watercolors. I know you touched on it in a recent post but would love to know what programs you’re using.
Hi Bobbi…thank you so much! I use a mix of digital tools and editing techniques, but I’m not offering tutorials right now. I’ve really been enjoying the creative process, and I love sharing the finished pieces. ~Ann
Love your positive vibes….When the sun finally comes out in the morning I throw up the shades and let the sunshine in even if it’s for a short while. On days when it shines longer I’ll open the front door and because it’s nice and toasty I’ll put my back to it like it’s a huge heading pad. So soothing. P.S. love the forsythia wreath.
Hello! I’ve been trying to find your recipe for the cranberry cleanse drink you posted a few years ago. The link I have is broken. I’ve asked here and also sent an email to the contact me email, but no response. Can you please help me?
Hi Peg…I’m sorry I missed your messages. I had actually deleted that post, but was able to find the recipe card in my archives. I just put together a new post with even more information than the original one. Here is the link: https://www.onsuttonplace.com/simple-cranberry-detox-cleanse-drink-recipe/ Enjoy!
Thank you so much! I always looked forward to making this a couple times a year because it used easy to find ingredients and didn’t break the bank
Ann sometimes I feel like you’re speaking for me! I had a health setback starting on Christmas day and between that and this winter I constantly need reinforcement to stay positive. Your place is always a good place to head. :}
Love the photos turned into art. What program do you use to accomplish that?
I was wondering the same thing…they are lovely and would I want to learn how to do that too!
Hi Diana…I explained about the watercolors here: https://www.onsuttonplace.com/the-curated-life-26/ Thank you!
Hi Angie…I explained a little bit about the watercolors here: https://www.onsuttonplace.com/the-curated-life-26/ Thanks!
Greetings from the rural area of Ferndale, just five miles west of the hustle and bustle of Little Rock, Arkansas. I love reading every word of your posts and seeing the beautiful pictures that accompany your thoughts. If we were closer, I think we would be friends. Thank you for all of the heartfelt time and attention that you pour into this site.
Your blog is consistently a “soft place to land” and enjoy pleasant words or lovely pictures
Thank you
Yes…we too had 44 degrees yesterday and sunny! Renews the soul. It has been a severely cold winter in MI this year with super cold temps and a lot of snow. I have great winter gear as does my dog, but nothing is better than a well placed warm sunny day in the midst of winter! Spring is coming I keep telling myself, and I have planned all of my gardens in my head and on paper for the coming season.