The Curated Life No. 51

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

August is still very much a summer month, even as thoughts begin to turn toward the season ahead. The heat may feel tiring, and the watering may seem endless, but cooler days will arrive soon enough. For now, enjoy the long evenings, fresh garden flowers, seasonal recipes, and every simple pleasure this last full month of summer has to offer.

blue and white pitcher of fall flowers on kitchen counter with stove and microwave

1.) A Simpler Way

Fall decorating seems to begin earlier every year, and sometimes it feels almost as big as Christmas. I have decorated for fall since I was first married, nearly 45 years ago, but I have never done it to keep up with others or make an impression. I do it because I enjoy marking the change of seasons in my home. There is no right time to begin, and there is no amount of decorating that needs to be done.

Your plans should fit your life as it is right now. Maybe you will be traveling this fall, or you simply do not have the time or energy for much decorating. Maybe you add a few pumpkins to the porch, change one tabletop, or choose one space and call it finished. The stores may be full of fall decor in July, and social media may make it seem as though everyone has already moved on to the next season, but none of that has to set your pace. Add fall to your home when you are ready, in whatever way feels manageable and right for you.

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“Know your own happiness.” ~Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility

3.) 50 Editions Giveaway Winner

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the 50th edition giveaway. There were around 400 entries, which made this little celebration feel especially meaningful. The two winners have been chosen and notified, and their names are Melanie and Joanne. I’m very grateful to everyone who took the time to enter, and even more grateful that you continue to spend a little part of your week here with me.

pumpkin chocolate chip muffins close up in tulip paper liners

4.) Gather & Savor

I’m turning toward pumpkin this week with two fall favorites that are always worth bringing back. My pumpkin chocolate chip muffins are soft, simple, and so good that I lost track of how many times I made them. The pumpkin crisp is just as easy, and it’s one of those desserts that feels perfect for this time of year. I’m also working on a new Fall Dessert Collection, so when you’re ready to bake, all my favorite seasonal sweets will be gathered together in one easy place.

pumpkin crisp recipe 8x8 dish with one serving in bowl

5.) THINGS WORTH MENTIONING

What You Might Have Missed: Saturday’s post was a look back at last year’s fall front porch, with simple ideas you can use as a starting point for your own seasonal decorating. Then on Sunday, I sent a revised and much smaller collection of fall ideas. That post has been around for years, and over time it had grown so large that it was no longer easy to use. The new version is much more manageable, better organized, and filled with only my very best fall inspiration.
Coming this weekend: on Saturday my emails subscribers will receive a brand new collection of fall craft ideas for adults. I was honestly surprised at how many I had, so I thought it might be helpful to gather them together. On Sunday, I’m sharing my thoughts on living simply in autumn. I hope you join me.