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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. If this is your first visit, this series is a curated blend of things I think you’ll enjoy. It’s 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. Let’s dive in!
1.) A Simpler Way
This time of year, my Pinterest feed starts filling up with little DIY herb wreaths, many of them shaped using a bowl. I’ve always wanted to try making one myself, but like many ideas, it stayed on the “someday” list. That is, until now.
My thyme was looking especially unruly and needed a good thinning, so I gathered the long stems and gave it a try. This is a beautiful way to use fresh herbs. As with most simple crafts, it ended up being more fun and rewarding than I expected. And the best part? The fresh, earthy scent of thyme while I was working.
How To Make Mini Herb Wreaths
Supplies Needed:
Assembly:
- Choose a bowl to use as your mold. Any size will work. Make tiny wreaths or larger ones, depending on how many herb stems you have. My bowls measure about 6 inches in diameter.
- Start by placing the longest herb stems in the bowl, gently pressing them along the inside edge to form a circle.
- Fill in any gaps with shorter, fuller stems to complete the shape.
- Once your wreath base is formed, let the bowl sit uncovered for several hours or overnight. This allows the herbs to dry slightly and hold their shape.
- Carefully lift the herb ring from the bowl. Use soft twine to tie the wreath in several spots, securing it into a circle. Add as many ties as needed to hold the shape.
Tip: thyme worked beautifully for this project. Rosemary could also be used, as long as the stems are soft and flexible enough to bend. The wreaths dried completely in just a few days. Even though I thought I used enough thyme, once they dried, the wreaths looked smaller. So pile on the stems and make your wreaths nice and full!
Taking the time to slow down and create something simple like this is truly good for the soul. We aren’t going for perfection…these little wreaths should be slightly untamed, and they might not form perfect circles. What matters is the process. It’s a quiet, relaxing way to spend a bit of time, and the end result, no matter how rustic, feels meaningful. Whether you make one wreath or a few, I think you’ll find it’s time well spent. (Get the floral tea towels HERE.)
2.) Words Worth Sharing
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3.) Magazine-Worthy Made Simple
In this segment of The Curated Life, I link to a home tour, renovation, or makeover. After you click over and take a look, please come back and read my own take-aways…and get a few ideas for how to make them work in simple, practical ways.
First…
This home is full of cozy corners and inspiring design. Click through to explore, then return here for a few easy ways to recreate the feel in your own home without spending a fortune.
How To Get The Look
- You can never go wrong with the classic configuration in the sitting room: two matching chairs placed opposite a sofa. It’s a layout that almost always feels balanced and inviting. What really caught my eye in this space was the use of mismatched side tables. It may sound counterintuitive, but the subtle break in symmetry added charm and character without disrupting the flow. Such a smart, effortless touch.
- In the utility room, a simple painted shelf on basic wall brackets proves that function and beauty can go hand in hand. This is an easy weekend project that requires only minimal tools and know-how, but the impact is big…adding both storage and style in a single step.
- Do you ever struggle with what to hang over a bed? For some reason, this one always stumps me. That’s why I was so inspired by the twin beds in this home, each topped with a round mirror. It’s a simple choice, but so striking. The shape softens the space and adds a beautiful focal point without competing with other elements in the room.
- The symmetry in the foyer is lovely and completely achievable. You might even be able to recreate the look with pieces you already own. The formula is simple: an open console table, a pair of matching lamps, two square baskets, a round mirror, and a large bowl. Together, these five elements create a welcoming and polished entry that feels intentional but not overdone.
4.) Gather + Savor
I keep a dinner rotation note on my phone. Nothing fancy, just a list of go-to meals. I don’t always stick to it perfectly, but I try to glance at it when I’m planning dinners for the week. One of the options this time was baked spaghetti, a recipe I’ve been making for over 40 years. To switch things up (and skip a step), I tried baking the pasta without cooking it first. I added chicken broth to the sauce so the pasta could cook right in the oven. It took a bit longer to bake, so I’m not sure I saved any time, but I definitely saved effort, and that felt like a win. I’ve added an update to the recipe if you’d like to take a look. It turned out delicious!
5.) THINGS WORTH MENTIONING
- What’s ahead on A Sunday Well Spent: August arrives on Friday, and while I’m not ready to start decorating, I am beginning to shift my thoughts toward fall. With that in mind, I’ll be sharing a guide to decorating with neutral pillows…something I’m genuinely excited about. As you know, I’ve always believed that neutral doesn’t mean boring. This year, I’m keeping my fall decor simple and understated. I’m craving a sense of calm rather than a burst of color, and I suspect some of you might be feeling the same. I’ll also be sharing a few early autumn ideas to help spark your creativity as we ease into the new season.
- What you might have missed: I sent out the August digital calendars, and also a rundown of all my July content.
- What I’m Watching: Like many of you, I’m a longtime Billy Joel fan. His music has been part of the soundtrack of my life for as long as I can remember. Right now, there’s an incredible two-part special on HBO called And So It Goes, which happens to be my very favorite Billy Joel song. The five-hour documentary is filled with interviews, concert clips, and insight into his life and talent. If you’re a fan, it’s truly a must-see.
- Early Fall Finds:
- this cute layering rug for under your doormat – I got orange/tan but it’s more like a soft terra cotta.
- this generously sized stone distressed bowl
- this really cute embroidered maple leaf pillow cover
- this stunning large botanical wall hanging
- this neutral block print table runner
- this late bloomer faux draping vine
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Dearest Ann,
Love the new direction your life is taking. The content, as always, is perfect inspiration. And relaxing. With the constant pull for our attention, its refreshing to experience calm. Thank you. Now, I’m not sure how to say this without it sounding hateful – because its not – the picture I remember the most was in one of your first posts of the new format. It showed your kitchen island – which looked wonderful! It was a mess – just like mine! So many times, every single picture out there shows such absolute perfection, I cannot imagine that anyone actually lives in that space. Life happens and these homes do not reflect reality. Yours does. So now I know, that you live life and are willing to show that humanity to your online followers. Thank you for your transparency. Still praying for you and your family as you transition.
You Got That Right….I liked the quote, but a very interesting FB page.
Hi Carol…you are right! I had saved that quote a long time ago, and it appears that perhaps that page has gone a little dark. My apologies. I do love the quote though…
Great format Ann! Loving your new posts and all of your insights and suggestions. Your recipes are helpful as well!
I really enjoy this new format! It’s simple and packed full of lovely things and not overwhelming – perfect!
Love this! It’s refreshing and relaxing.
I like this new thing you’re doing!
Great house tour, simple but so classy.
Always wonderful start to my day when I see something new from you. The herb wreath is darling, and I’ve pinned it for the future.
Wow! I loved the home you featured. So many ideas there.
Thank you 💜
I like how you show us a beautiful home then make suggestions on how we can incorporate some of the ideas into our own home. You brought out things I hadn’t noticed when I looked through the photos. Thank you.
I always love your tv viewing suggestions. One of the best concerts I have ever attended was a Billy Joel one in the late 70s! I’ll be sure to watch this one.