The Curated Life No. 58

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

October is here, and I’m very happy to see it. Here in Ohio, the air is cooler, the trees are beginning to change, and the garden is winding down for the year. I always enjoy this slower shift into colder weather, when outdoor jobs begin to taper off and home starts to take center stage again. I’ve also been able to share quite a bit of new content lately, which has been both enjoyable and rewarding. This month will bring a mix of simple seasonal ideas, easy recipes, and a few things I’ve been looking forward to sharing. As always, I hope you find something here that fits your home, your schedule, and this time of year.

simple fall porch decor with white rockers

1.) A Little October Housekeeping

I went out to the porch this week intending to make a few small changes, but the first thing it needed was some basic housekeeping. I wiped off the rockers and little table, and then blew the leaves from the floor. Once that was done, I changed the pillow covers and made a very small update to the crock between the chairs.

simple fall porch decor with crock of greenery and mini pumpkins

The finishing touch came from two tiny pumpkins I picked up at the grocery store. I set them beside the crock, stepped back, and decided they looked right at home. Nothing about the porch is dramatically different, and almost everything was already there. It simply feels tended to again, and sometimes that is enough.

simple fall porch decor crock of greenery and mums with mini pumpkins

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“The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things.”
~Henry Ward Beecher

3.) A Simpler Way

I’ve been drinking a new-to-me herbal cinnamon apple spice tea, and it has become a favorite afternoon habit. There is something about making a cup of tea and sitting down for a few minutes that helps mark a little break in the day. It doesn’t have to be anything more than that. Ten quiet minutes, a warm mug, and a chance to stop thinking about what still needs to be done. I’ve found that taking a short pause in the afternoon often makes the rest of the day feel easier. Sometimes the simplest things really are enough.

4.) Gather & Savor

Apple pie spice is one of those things that is so easy to make, there really isn’t much reason to buy it. If you have cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice in the cupboard, you already have everything you need.

Homemade Apple Pie Spice

4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground allspice

Stir everything together and store it in a small jar. Use it anywhere you would normally add cinnamon to an apple recipe, oatmeal, muffins, pancakes, or French toast.

5.) THINGS WORTH MENTIONING

What You Might Have Missed: On Saturday I shared my Minimalist Kitchen Essentials, a simple look at the kitchen tools I actually use and would happily recommend. If you have ever wondered which things are truly worth keeping close at hand, this post may give you a few ideas. Then on Sunday I shared my new Pumpkin Spice Muffins Recipe. They are quick, easy, and made with just a few ingredients, which makes them just right for a fall afternoon when you want something homemade without spending much time in the kitchen.
Closing Thoughts: This edition came together more easily than most, and I truly enjoyed putting it together. In the end, it wasn’t really about the porch or even the new tea. It was about being at home, paying attention to the simple parts of the day, and taking care of what matters most. I hope you are finding a little time during these October days to slow down, tend to your home, and enjoy whatever brings you a sense of peace.