The Curated Life No. 48

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

July arrived while I wasn’t looking. It began with a trip away from home, and somehow more than half the month is already behind me. The days are long, and most have been very hot, but July still feels like the heart of summer, settled right in the middle of the season. I plan to enjoy every day that remains, and I hope you do as well.

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1.) A Simpler Way

My family is coming to stay this week, and the old urge to make everything perfect showed up right on schedule. I have learned, slowly, that no one remembers whether the baseboards were dusted, and what they remember is how it felt to sit at the table together.

There is a certain kind of tired that comes from getting ready for company, and most of it we bring on ourselves. With family on the way, I am trying something gentler this year. Tidying only the rooms we will actually use, and setting out what we already have. You do not have to reinvent the wheel to make people feel welcome, and I remind myself of that every time company is coming. This week it matters a little more, because the house will be full and my time will be short. I want to enjoy every minute.

2.) Words Worth Sharing

“Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it well and serenely, and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

3.) The Follow-Up File

A reader wrote after noticing plain books in a few of my photos. She asked how I did it, or where the books came from, so here is the whole answer in one place. There are really two kinds. The neutral linen books are similar to ones I gathered into a small Amazon shop section. I chose beige on purpose, because it is quiet enough to move from room to room and settle in almost anywhere. There were not as many to choose from as I would have liked, so I am still looking and will add more as I find them. Some are real books, and some are book boxes. The blue books are not store-bought at all. I covered those myself with plain paper, the same way I used to cover my kids’ school books years ago, folding the ends in and creasing the edges to fit. The one thing I have not solved is where to find plain, heavy paper large enough to wrap a book cleanly, so for now I make do with what I can find. If you know a good source, I would love for you to send it my way.

4.) Gather & Savor

Hot summer days call for something cold and refreshing, and these two recipes are just right. The lemon ice cream is creamy with a bright citrus flavor, while the homemade popsicles are fruity, simple to make, and perfect to keep in the freezer for warm afternoons.

5.) THINGS WORTH MENTIONING

• What You Might Have Missed: Last weekend, I featured two summer recipes: a beautiful tomato galette and an easy skillet zucchini lasagna. On Sunday, as I do on the last Sunday of each month, I sent the August digital calendars along with a look back at July. As the month comes to a close, I’m grateful for all the simple seasonal moments it brought.
• What’s Ahead: August will arrive gently, with late-summer recipes, including a roundup of favorite zucchini dishes. I’ll also begin thinking about how to welcome the coming season and share ideas for arranging late summer blooms.
• Summer is not over, and the entire month of August is still waiting to be enjoyed. I am in no hurry, but my thoughts are beginning to turn toward autumn. I have a few small updates in mind, along with a simple refresh for the front porch. I would like to welcome the coming season quietly, so I’ll spend plenty of time thinking before I make any changes. For anyone who feels ready, this is a lovely time to begin planning. That part can be just as pleasant as bringing the ideas to life.