The Curated Life No. 42

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

June has a way of arriving quietly, and somehow, all at once. It’s not quite the start of the season, and we haven’t yet reached the middle. It’s that lovely in-between month when the days stretch a little longer, the pace begins to soften, and there’s finally time to enjoy the simple things that make summer feel special. A walk in the evening, flowers on the table, a porch chair at the end of the day, or a few minutes spent doing nothing at all. June may not ask much of us, and that might be exactly what makes it so nice.

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1.) Simple Living At Home

I recently created a printable that feels a bit like a quiet companion piece to my emails and posts. It’s an easy-to-download PDF that shares ideas for simply welcoming the seasons into your home. If you enjoy printing things to read later, or keeping something nearby to look through at your own pace, you might like it. You can sign up to receive it here.

2.) Words Worth Sharing

“The key is this: Meet today’s problems with today’s strength. Don’t start tackling tomorrow’s problems until tomorrow. You do not have tomorrow’s strength yet. You simply have enough for today.” ~Max Lucado

3.) Summer Comforts

One of my favorite ways to use fresh rosemary is to make rosemary salt. It takes just two ingredients: coarse salt and dried rosemary leaves. A ratio of 1 part dried rosemary to 4 parts salt works well. For this batch, I had just under 1/4 cup of dried rosemary, so I used 1 cup of kosher salt. Crush or finely chop the dried rosemary, then stir it into the salt. You can also pulse the mixture a few times in a small food processor if you want a finer texture. Store the rosemary salt in a small jar with a tight-fitting lid. It keeps well and makes a thoughtful homemade gift for anyone who enjoys cooking.

Rosemary salt adds wonderful flavor to roasted potatoes, chicken, pork, vegetables, and homemade bread. I also like to sprinkle a little over focaccia, dinner rolls, or sliced tomatoes. It’s one of those simple pantry staples that feels special, and it’s a lovely way to enjoy fresh rosemary long after it has been harvested.

4.) Gather & Savor

Strawberry season has arrived in the Midwest, and it’s one of those simple pleasures that never gets old. Whether you buy them at the grocery store, stop at a farm stand, or pick them yourself, fresh strawberries make everything feel a little more special. I gathered all of my favorite strawberry recipes in one place, including easy desserts, quick breads, and simple treats that are perfect for this time of year. If you have a box of berries on your counter, this is a good place to start.

5.) THINGS WORTH MENTIONING

• What You Might Have Missed: Over the weekend, my email subscribers received two lovely recipes that are just right for summer: homemade lavender syrup and lavender lemonade. They are simple, refreshing, and such a pretty way to use lavender this time of year. Then on Sunday, I sent my monthly wrap-up email with everything shared in May, along with the digital calendars for June. If you aren’t on my email list yet, I would love to have you join me. It’s the best way to make sure you don’t miss new recipes, seasonal ideas, free printables, and little extras I share with subscribers.

• A quick note about the watercolor images:
  I’ve received a few kind notes asking if the watercolors I share here can be made into printables. I’m so glad you like them enough to ask. Right now, they are meant to be viewed on a screen, and they don’t print as well as I would want them to. So for now, I won’t be offering them as printables, but I’ll keep sharing them here in my emails and blog posts.
• What’s Ahead: June is going to be full, in the very best way. As the month moves along, I’ll be sharing patriotic ideas as America’s 250th Anniversary gets closer, along with a special post all about rosemary. There will also be thick and crumbly cookie bars that melt in your mouth, simple ways to enjoy summer at home, a so-simple BLT pasta salad, and a few other things I think you will love. Thank you, as always, for spending a little part of your week with me. XO