The Curated Life No. 34

Discover simple home decor ideas, style tips, and seasonal inspiration through The Curated Life…your guide to living beautifully every day.

April brings with it a quiet sense of possibility. It’s the time to tend to the things that have been waiting all winter. Hydrangeas need feeding, porches are ready for a simple refresh, and container gardens can finally be planned with intention. Walks that felt rushed in the cold can stretch a little longer now, with more light at the end of the day. The air feels softer, the trees are beginning to bud, and even the sunsets seem clearer. There is a natural shift this month, a gentle reminder that starting fresh doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s as simple as stepping outside, making a small plan, and beginning again.

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1.) Small Moments At Home

I’ve been working on a few simple touches to refresh my decor for spring. I did a little shopping on Amazon, and I’m happy with how everything is coming together. I brought out my vintage silver urns, and it took an hour to get them cleaned, but it was time well spent. This in-between season always leaves the house feeling a bit unsettled. There are bins sitting out and small piles of faux flowers on the dining table, but after a little trial and error, I would still call the past few days productive. Everthing is undone and messy, but I’m reminding myself to be patient and trust the process.

2.) Words Worth Sharing

“Sometimes nothing feels right, and the next right thing is to let it be. Not forever. Just long enough to steady yourself in the center of the storm so it doesn’t sweep you away. Breathe. Surrender. Be with what is. In that calm acceptance, you’ll start to find your way.”
~Lori Deschene

3.) Garden Notes

If you haven’t already, this is a good time to fertilize flowering perennials. I like to use Osmocote because it’s a slow release fertilizer and very easy to apply. In my experience, it truly makes a difference. Plants are healthier, and the blooms are noticeably better. It’s still a bit early to plant in the Midwest, but there is plenty you can do if you’re ready to get outside. A simple clean up goes a long way. Rake up any leftover leaves and gently turn the mulch if needed. It doesn’t take much to get things back in shape, and planting time will be here before we know it.

4.) Gather & Savor

If you’re starting to think about your Easter menu, I gathered a few simple and reliable recipes in one place. Nothing complicated. Just ideas you can use if you need them. There are two recipes that have broken all the records when it comes to my side dish recipes. The first is my recipe for Classic Delmonico Potatoes. These are make-ahead cheesy potatoes, but there is no “cream of” soup in the ingredients. The other one is Jiffy Cornbread Casserole. Both are easy to make, and they have been on repeat in my kitchen for years. (Pictured above: Lemon Bundt Cake.)

5.) THINGS WORTH MENTIONING

• What You Might Have Missed: If you missed it over the weekend, I shared a fresh smoothie roundup that’s perfect for this time of year. On Sunday, I sent out the April calendars along with a look back at everything from March. It’s all there in the email if you want to revisit anything or print what you need for the new month. (If you aren’t on my email list, click HERE to join us.)
• Coming This Weekend: this will be a quiet weekend on the blog. I’ll be sharing details about my favorite kitchen drawer in Saturday’s email, and I’ll be taking Easter Sunday off. We are spending the holiday with our daughter, and I’m looking forward to it very much. I hope you have something to look forward to as well. XO