Wednesday Weekly Wish List #205

Your weekly dose of new ideas, helpful hints, favorite items, and tidbits of wisdom…from a trio of lifestyle bloggers who love to share! 

Today’s Features

Yvonne | StoneGable

1. SUMMER IDEAS FOR YOUR HOME AND GARDEN: Let’s get ready for summer! I’m sharing 10 Smart Ways to Get Ready for Summer and Fresh Summer Decorating Ideas to Use in Your Home. Make mornings easier by setting up a Summer Coffee Bar for early risers and overnight guests.

2. AMAZON FINDS: See all my favorite new picks in my Amazon Shop.

3. NEW 100 SUMMER IDEA BOOK: Get the new 2025 Summer Printable e-Magazine filled with 100 easy-to-do ideas to help you decorate your home for the season. Get your copy HERE.

4. FABULOUS DECORATING FINDS:

• This attractive terracotta indoor/outdoor planter.
• I LOVE these summer candleholders.
• This beautiful antique gold floor lamp.
• I LOVE this spindle 2-drawer accent chest in three finishes.
• This beautiful, detailed wood console table.
• This handsome poof – on sale.
• I love this reasonably priced rug.
• My favorite summer pillow.
• These gorgeous, scalloped-edge curtains.

5. BEAUTIFUL HOMES AND MORE: Visit this North Carolina Home with lots of color (LOVE the front door), and head over to Xandy Nickel’s home in Virginia as she prepares brunch for friends. I LOVE Xandy. You can follow her on Instagram here. Then hop across the pond to visit an English storybook cottage in the country.

6. CURATED CLOSET:

• This pretty, caned summer tote. Mom surprised me with one in black. Thanks, Mom!
• This summer gauze top in various colors.
• These gorgeous batik palazzo pants, this coordinating tank, and this lightweight washable linen jacket.
• This breezy linen top in lots of colors- look at the price!
• This no-iron boyfriend shirt in various colors- on sale.
• This beautiful, wear-everywhere summer dress.
• Last week’s biggest seller- this beautiful eyelet summer blouse.
• The perfect summer shorts.

7. FUN AND INTERESTING FACTS: What was Memorial Day originally called? What time on Memorial Day is there a national moment of remembrance?

8. THIS AND THAT: The dish I get most requests for is this Dill Pickle Potato Salad. It’s my grandmother’s recipe; our family has loved it for generations! This article made me smile because I so agree. I love these creative ideas for using tea towels around the house! This is a must-read. I just ordered this paint by number for my summer craft project. Here’s that one thing you will want to add to your home this summer.

9. CULINARY CORNER: French Strawberry Cake: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and lightly flour a 9-inch round cake pan. In a large mixing bowl, cream together 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted, softened butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add 2 large eggs. Stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla and 1/2 cup sour cream until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Gently fold in 1 1/2 cups fresh chopped strawberries. Pour the batter into the pan. Top with 1/2 cup halved strawberries, cut side down. Bake for 45–50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 10–15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar before serving. Enjoy!

10. THE LAST WORD: These 6 Showstopper Salads are summer favorites! They’re simple to make, look beautiful, and taste even better. They are our family’s favorites!

ANSWER TO #7: Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, because it was a day for decorating the graves of Civil War soldiers. There is a national moment of remembrance at 3:00 local time every Memorial Day.

Lory | Designthusiasm

1. READER FAVORITES THIS WEEK: Whether you have visitors coming during the summer months, or just want to create a luxe atmosphere in your own bedroom, check out: Preparing the Guest Bedroom for Summer Visitors. Looking for travel inspiration? This post is for you: Summer Travel: One of the Most Beautiful Places to Visit.

2. MORE TOP SEASONAL POSTS:

• For summer entertaining, here’s How to Host an Outdoor Summer Gathering Without a Formal Patio.
• Want to wake-up a tired patio. Try Updating The Patio With Summer Color!

3. AMAZON PICKS: here are this week’s favorites from Amazon.

4. THIS WEEK ON THE BLOG I also shared:

• These Updated Family Room Ideas for Style and Practicality.
• This Dining Table Setting to Reflect a European Country Style.

5. CURRENT FURNITURE DEALS from Wayfair’s sale:

• this super popular wood bench
• this washed wood desk
• this well-priced swivel chair
• this elegant chesterfield sofa
• this charming side table
• this lovely trestle dining table
• and these beautiful dining chairs

6. CURRENT DECOR CRUSHES:

• this charming English floral pillow
• this handmade summer throw blanket
• this decorative flower coral sculpture on acrylic base
• this elegant chinoiserie porcelain flower vase
• these beautiful lily-of-the-valley tumblers

7. TOP FASHION PICKS | Summer Dresses:

• This charming Quatrefoil Maxi Dress
• This crisp and classic Square Neck Dress
• This delightful Smocked Cotton Dobby Midi Puff Sleeve Dress
• This ever-so-simple wear everywhere Midi Tank Dress
• This gorgeous Linen Embroidered Maxi Dress

8. FAVORITES in SKIN CARE and MAKEUP: By far, my top selling cosmetics are also my favorites, including this amazing moisturizer (I’ve been using it for 35 years!), my favorite foundation, this top-selling blush in the best all-around color and this terrific serum (pricey but lasts forever). Also partial to this neutral eye shadow (I wear the ‘Charcoal Brown’) and this perfect gel eye liner.

9. WHAT’S INSPIRING ME AROUND THE WEB: This lovely modern vintage bath, this delightfully pretty transitional kitchen, and this gorgeous rustic modern home.

10. UP NEXT: Summer decorating ideas for the living room.

Ann | On Sutton Place

1.) For the past few years, my garden category has taken a bit of a backseat…but that’s about to change. I’ve recently spent time reorganizing, updating older posts, and adding fresh content that I hope will inspire both new and seasoned gardeners. From simple tips to help you get started, to ideas for adding charm and color to your outdoor spaces, there’s something for everyone. Here is a good start:

• Charming Elements Of A Cottage Garden
• How To Arrange Garden Flowers + Herbs
• Gardening Tips To Finally Start The Garden Of Your Dreams

2.) CURATED SUMMER AMAZON COLLECTION: I just put together a large and very special collection of my favorite Amazon items that are perfect for summer. There is home decor, wardrobe finds, kitchen must-haves, and more. Please take a look!

3.) FAVORITE QUOTE: “Health does not always come from medicine. Most of the time if comes from peace of mind, peace in the heart, peace in the soul. It comes from laughter and love.” ~Found HERE.

4.) TALBOTS SALE: 40% off one item, 30% off everything else. Use the code AWARDS. Here are my favorite recent purchases:

• this short sleeved white jean jacket
• this cute and comfy black tee
• the perfect shorts
• these flowy pants with the matching top
• this go-with-anything short sleeved cardigan

5.) This time of year always brings this post to mind…a tried-and-true favorite featuring a lovely flower arrangement that readers return to again and again.

6.) KITCHEN FAVORITES:

• These little canisters that are perfect for Millie’s treats!
• This darling tea kettle. (Pictured above.)
• My favorite chef’s knife.
• The light-weight dutch oven in gorgeous colors.
• Or this cast iron beauty in black or classic ivory.
• This adorable little colander that looks like a coffee cup!

7.) LOVELY HOMES THAT INSPIRE: this Queen Anne remodel that combines the best of old and new, and this beach home in Michigan that has blue sprinkled about in every room.

8.) YOUR FAVORITE RECIPES

• Melt In Your Mouth Blueberry Cookies – If you like blueberries, these simple and sweet blueberry cookies are sure to become a favorite. The dough is flavored with brown sugar and cinnamon, and these little round nuggets are filled with blueberry goodness.
• Easy Ham + Swiss Sliders For Two – A small batch recipe that’s perfect for just a few people.

9.) WHAT I’M WATCHING: I just finished the PBS Masterpiece show about Jane and Cassandra Austen. It’s called Miss Austen. I loved every single minute, and I didn’t want it to end. Definitely a must-see.

10.) Wishing you all a wonderful week. XO