There’s something about this time of year that feels like a deep exhale. The light starts to linger ’til almost 8 p.m. And the house starts slowly shifting, not in a dramatic way, but in those small, meaningful ways that quietly whisper…..summer is coming.
The Littlest Tweaks Can Really Make a Huge Impact
Just a few easy-breeze-y changes can bring in that relaxed, lived-in, sun-soaked summer vibe I love so much. Emphasis on easy….
- Like my simple hack for keeping gorgeous hydrangea blooms on my kitchen island all summer. (And no, these aren’t artificial!)
- Bringing in more woven textures, like rattan or simply swapping out heavy pillow covers for lighter cotton-linen blends can make a space feel and even breathe lighter.
- And adding in a few pieces of blue & white always feels like summer to me. Timeless, a little nostalgic, and never trying too hard.
Which is why I recently created this little gallery wall moment on our screen porch. Would you believe me if I told you I “made” these plates with home decor tattoos?! You have to try them!
As for these beautiful hand-painted ceramic fish, I couldn’t resist when I ran across them at a local boutique. And the heart-shaped shell mirror is a vintage treasure I scored a few years ago.
This little gallery wall has brought in so much personality! And while it definitely feels like summer….I think this moment is here to stay!
Sidenote ~ If you’re not on the H&M pillow cover train, jump on it! They have the best quality for the price and have been a go-to for me for years. These stripes are just too good.
Dreaming Up Outdoor Projects
This is also the time of year when my brain starts spinning with outdoor ideas! Some realistic……some aspirational or more accurately, delusional. 😉
Ever since I saw Gwen create this blue and white mosaic masterpiece, I’ve wanted to create some DIY mosaic magic myself.
And I recently scored what might be my best Facebook Marketplace find ever, so……you see that white pedestal coffee table pictured above on my screen porch? Well, I’m currently giving it a mosaic makeover….stay tuned!
Now for the delulu….
My jasmine is thriving!
And ChatGPt has me out here thinking I could build a pergola. Haha! This might be above my pay grade. 😉 I should probably hire someone.
But I’m also thinking of building a fence of sorts around my limelight hydrangeas to keep the deer from eating them. What can I say, there’s just something about the last few weeks of spring that fills me with excitement (and a little audacity). Just me?
My Summer TBR Is Taking Shape
Alongside all the decorating tweaks and outdoor project planning, I’ve been building my summer reading list. And I even got a jump start as I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of The Summer I Found You by Jennifer O’Brien!
Trust me when I say you’re going to want to add this to your beach bag! I’m always a fan of stories that make the setting feel like a character, and The Summer I Found You does this so brilliantly! Aunt Lil’s beach house truly comes to life….you can feel the sun, hear the ocean waves, and smell the aroma of the garden through the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed this second chance (slightly spicy) romance and the mystery twist that kept me feverishly turning the pages! – 5 stars!
(links to everything here)
The rest of my list looks like:
- Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monoghan
- Heart The Lover by Lily King
- Flashlight by Susan Choi
- Life: A Love Story by Elizabeth Berg
What should I add? What’s on your summer reading list?
A Season for Stories
Whether it’s the stories we’re telling through our homes, layer by layer, *thrifted* piece by piece, or the ones we’re getting lost in on the page…
what I love most about this time of year, this spring to summer transition season, is that it feels like an invitation.
To slow down.
To simplify.
To savor.
To make space for the kind of moments that turn into memories.
After all, a house holds things, but a home…..holds stories.
And summer is always one of my favorite chapters!
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