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.
1.) A Simpler Way
I ordered a new doormat for the porch that says Hello Fall, and after waiting almost a week for it to arrive, I realized I had ordered the wrong size. It was much larger than I expected, which meant the layering rug I had planned to slip underneath was not going to work. For a minute I thought about packing it back up and hauling the big box to UPS, but in the end I decided to keep it and make do. A few days later, I realized I liked it better on its own. The porch looks simpler than I had planned, and that turned out to be the best part. Not every mistake needs to be undone, and this one only needed a little time and a willingness to let things be different from what I first pictured. (If you are curious, here is the layering rug I ended up sending back. It is a lovely fall color.)
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2.) Words Worth Sharing
“The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.” ~Thomas Moore
3.) In From The Garden
My Limelight hydrangeas are beginning to dry right on the stem, which is my favorite time to cut them. I have been bringing blooms indoors all week and arranging them in whatever I have on hand, and they hold their shape as they finish drying. There is something quietly satisfying about an arrangement that only improves with time, and asks nothing of you once it finds its place.
My rosemary completely took over the planter this summer, so I cut the longest branches and stood them in a pitcher by the stove. It smells wonderful every time I walk past, green and a little sharp, and it has quickly become my favorite thing in the kitchen. Best of all, it reminds me that even as summer ends, a new season is already waiting, and there is plenty worth gathering in before it arrives.
4.) Gather & Savor
This week I am sharing a salad that tastes like fall to me, romaine with roasted sweet potatoes, red grapes, feta, and a scatter of pepitas for a little crunch. What pulls it all together is a homemade maple vinaigrette, mild and fresh, with just enough sweetness to meet the savory side of the bowl. It is the kind of thing I can put together ahead and toss right before dinner, which makes it as welcome on a quiet weeknight as it is beside something special when company comes. If a sweet and savory salad sounds good to you, the full recipe, with all the amounts and the simple steps, is waiting for you right here.
5.) THINGS WORTH MENTIONING
- What you might have missed: last weekend I let fall in, with my eyes open. On Saturday I shared a collection of easy fall craft ideas made with grown-ups in mind, and on Sunday my subscribers received a few gentle ways to welcome the season slowly and simply.
- Coming this weekend: on Saturday I will send out the September digital calendars, along with a short list of everything I shared in August. Then on Sunday I am welcoming you onto our front porch, dressed for early fall. There are no pumpkins this time, just some faux plants and a touch of color, and it may be one of my favorite porches yet. I hope you will come along.
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Love your blog! Thank you for the peaceful ideas.
Please post a photo of your porch with your rug you decided to keep! Thank you!