Happy July! It is six months into the year and time for a mid-year review. This review is about how we are living our dreams and intentions that we’ve set for ourselves this year. What is the process of a mid-year review? We set aside time to look at our intentions and plans for our lives, check off what we have done, and then decide if our plan is still working or needs revision.

To begin, get comfortable, revisit, and envision these goals and intentions from the beginning of the year.  

At this point, plan 15-30 minutes to review the plan for your goals. Pull out your list in your Live Your Best Life Workbook from the year-end class, or grab your Curated Life Journal, CLJ. Also, look at the vision board you created. Then, I will ask a few unavoidable questions:

• Are you achieving some goals?
• Have you checked off a few boxes of adventures?
• Do your intentions support how you wish to live?
• Do you still want these things in your life?

Hence, here are the answers to my New Year’s plans:

• One with the rest in the works
• Yes
• Not comfortably yet
• Some of these things are not going to work in my future.

Next, check off all you’ve accomplished. Marking items off the list is an important step in getting clear on where you are along the process of what you dreamed about for this year. 

Checking off items on the list may seem redundant, but by looking at it, you may find something you achieved without recognizing it. Be proud of your accomplishments! You may want to create a Ta-Da list to celebrate. If you need one, you can get one here.

***Now, before we go any further down this path. Look at your list and see if some items need to be gone. Cross them off, delete them, or write in red, “This was not for me!” Sometimes, we add things we think we should be doing or pressured to do if that is the case. Or if it is something you thought you wanted and are unsure about. Take-It-Off-the-List!!! Taking it off the list is an action we need to do a little more of, I believe. If something does not call to us, serve us, light a fire in us, or give us butterflies (even the little scary ones), it should not stay on our list. It can come back on the list if it does one of those things. But we do not need them on our list if they only add stress or negative emotions. 

Consequently, it’s time for a mid-year review of your goals and intentions. Besides looking at the physical actions, feel what you want to achieve or “live into” for your life. 

Particularly, consider these questions.

• Can you still see yourself achieving them?
• What has gone sideways and needs to get back on track?
• Can you adjust the time frame?
• Can you ask for help? Or get instructions?
• Once again, go to the previous *** note and consider taking it off the list.

Lastly, after you’ve looked everything over, make adjustments so that you can still achieve your dreams. 

To make adjustments, go back to your Workbook or CLJ:

• Add in any new elements to help with your intentions
• Change a time frame to get back on track
• Ask for help or get an accountability partner
• Find a class or online course to help
• Specifically, cross it off; it doesn’t serve you

Here is a final friendly reminder – live into these intentions.

We have six more months to keep working on our dreams, goals, and adventures. You’ve got this. Just follow the steps above – revisit your plan, check off accomplishments, review what is left to accomplish, make adjustments, and then go live this dream. A mid-year review is part of living a curated life. Living a curated life means taking these steps: dreaming, exploring, selecting, planning, living into our vision, and then adjusting it to serve us better. We have spent months living into our intentions; now, we curate them. This review is how we do that.

And if you need help, I have an event to get realigned. Join me for a ‘Live Your Best Life’ Class in July. Sign up here for this seven-day event. Before you say, “I don’t have that much time,” know that it consists of short daily actions. If you can’t make this live class, please make time for a mid-year review; we offer a self-paced version. Above all, a mid-year review releases overwhelm and stress and, most importantly, gets us back to achieving our dreams. A Carefully Curated Life business of helping others find joy in our lives is one of my big goals if you want to know more about me. Here is my very first blog explaining my ‘Why?’.

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THE BEGINNING IDEA OF A CCL BOOK CLUB

What I said two years ago about a CCL Book Club, “Starting a Book Club has been calling to me for a few years. In 2021, I asked if anyone was interested, and a few of you said “Yes”. But I didn’t jump in – honestly, a bit of overwhelm jumped into my head. I couldn’t decide which books to read. So the idea has been swirling around for a year, yodeling at me. Therefore, to calm the yodeler and listen to my heart’s yearnings, I am starting A Carefully Curated Life (CCL) Book Club (in 2022).” The same idea holds for the 2024 CCL Book Club.

We’re still following this plan, “This CCL Book Club is a place to read about ideas in different aspects of life. Above all, not all Self-Help books. But books that circle our lives. Ideas that we can ponder with compassionate conversation. Not every idea will resonate with each of us. ‘I Dwell in Possibility,’ as Emily Dickinson wrote, leads the way; then we can decide whether it works for us. I want us to read various subjects – interior/home design, gardening/special interests, inspiration, lifestyles, and a bit of fiction.” 

This past year has been a lot of fun with “Books, ideas, and community. I love the thought of us chatting about which idea(s) from the book called to us – good, bad, and a great big ‘What?’. This book club isn’t to “Fix a life”; it is for us to mull over ideas. Finally, it is to get past “like” and “didn’t like” with thoughtful ponderings.” 

WHAT ARE THE 2024 CCL BOOK CLUB’S BOOKS?

“What is the lineup of 2024 CCL book club books?” I am smiling and laughing at myself again this year – I cannot narrow it down to a couple of books. So we chatted, and you all helped guide me. During one of our book club meetings this past year, it was requested that we include a couple of fiction books, so I paid attention to that request.

LET ME TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT THE 2024 CCL BOOK CLUB BOOKS.

I don’t want to influence you on the 2024 CCL Book Club books, so I will give the basic theme of these books. When you sign up, you’ll receive an email with the list. Similarly, members will receive the list with the monthly email.

Firstly, our members enjoyed an earlier non-fiction book we read, Friendships Don’t Just Happen. That led me to select Atomic Habits, which is on many book club lists. I decided to begin our year with January’s book being helpful for our new year.

There are a few non-fiction books, including Lessons in Chemistry. The other novels are Remarkable Creatures and Rules of Civility: A Novel.

In addition, House Beautiful’s Live Colorfully and Call it Home: The Details That Matter are interior design books with different interior design ideas. 

Meanwhile, we’ll be reading the garden books. Amazon states that Take It Outside is a book that is a ‘beautifully photographed guide to converting your outdoor space into an enviable oasis.’ The other book, Unearthing The Secret Garden, combines an informational garden, an author biography, and a horticulture book. It may be interesting after reading or rereading The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

In addition, for Inspiration, a book, The Great Book of Journaling, is added. This book was inspired by one of our conversations during our book club meeting. The authors “assembled forty of the top journal experts, such as SARK, Kathleen Adams, Judy Reeves, and Lucia Capacchione, to explain exactly what journal writing can do for you.”

I did include a Reader’s Choice of a Biography about someone you admire. Then, we’ll share the book’s details. In 2023, we did a reader’s choice of any Brene Brown book. After we all spoke about the one we read, we all felt like we had some good recommendations for further Brene Brown books.

Another book added was The Art of Picnics. My thoughts on this book are for inspiring picnic ideas year-round. View this book as inspiration for food, seasonal, and outdoor dining styles. These are elements we discuss often in A Carefully Curated Life.

Lastly, December’s book is to be determined. I am trying to decide between two books best described as chef’s essays with recipes. Similar to 2023’s Buttermilk Graffiti book we read in November. 

THE DETAILS ARE THE SAME AS BEFORE:

Specifically, there will be no charge. A Carefully Curated Life Book Club will meet via Zoom. I will keep this group via Zoom. In truth, I love our diverse group spread out across the country.

I do ask that you sign up to get the Zoom link. This way, you will be notified when we have decided on the TBD books. That is to say, please jump over to this landing page to sign up and for group details. Feel free to invite friends. Also, I am excited to tell you that my local independent bookstore, Carmichael’s Bookstore here in Louisville, Kentucky, will give a 20% discount on our books. They do ship; you just need to mention this book club, A Carefully Curated Life (or CCL), to get the discount. The bookstore is not an affiliate link. I enjoy supporting local places, and they offer to help us – a win both ways. Also, the Carmichael’s and Carmichael’s Kids Bookstores are on Rosie’s top 5 favorite places to go locally – they give her great treats and love when we stop in ~ wink.

Rosie, on our walk to Carmichael’s Bookstore.

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Thoughts on Furniture, Dishes, and Centerpieces when Setting the Holiday Table

A beautifully set table doesn’t have to be all matching dishes, a flower shop centerpiece, and pristine white linens. Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, and Christmas are our holidays for and with our family, friends, and style. Holidays are about enjoying life and being thankful for our time together. Let’s add those sentiments to setting a holiday table. So, let’s go into the components of Setting a Holiday Table.

Furniture – Table, Chairs, and Sideboards

• How many tables do you need? Memories of the children’s table just came flooding in for me. Or could they sit at the kitchen bar? 
• Chairs – if you need more, call to see if anyone has folding chairs. Or ask neighbors if they are going elsewhere to borrow theirs. Or does your church have some you can use? You may need to rent some from. It is better to think of this before that day, speaking from experience.
• A buffet, sideboard, or card table will help serve food. The kitchen counter works as a buffet. These pieces also allow us to set serving pieces to determine if we have enough. 
• We’ve quickly figured out tables, seating, and our buffet. If you need more help, see the Let’s Gather Together Dining Room blog. Now, let’s style the table settings. 

Components for Setting the Holiday Table

Tablecloth, table runner, napkins

Set your table with tablecloths, table runners, wooden placemats, and cloth napkins (or the beautifully heavy paper napkins) to fit your style and love – use whatever makes you feel good. Remember, this is your time to shine and show your personality.

• One idea is to put the tablecloth where the kiddos eat, then a coordinating table runner on the grown-ups’ table. 
• Burlap is beautiful for both a rustic tablecloth and a runner. I purchased it at the garden center (a very inexpensive roll) and ran it down my table. Depending on the width of the burlap roll width, you can run it down the table twice if needed.
• Table runners don’t only have to go down the middle of a long table. They can also cross the shorter side of the table under people’s dishes, with two or three runners on a table.
• A kid-friendly brown craft paper tablecloth allows the kids to draw on it before, during, or after dinner. Then, you can roll it up and recycle it. One friend had her children draw ‘hand’ turkeys on the craft paper. (Remember drawing around your hands in school and then coloring the fingers as if they were the turkey’s feather and your thumb was its head and neck?) Then, her guests wrote what they were grateful for on the paper. Afterward, she had the paper laminated to use in the coming years.
• Maybe you don’t have linens or a table runner – grab a fall scarf/shawl from your closet and use that.
• Or purchase a package of kitchen towels; these are generous in size, and use them as placemats. If they are extra long, place them so the long edge spills over the side of the table, almost like an extra napkin. 

Dishes, Silverware, Glasses

Our next component is the dishes, glassware, and silverware. Now, I will only say you must have delicate porcelain dishes if that is what you like. Use hand-thrown pottery if it calls to you.

• Mixing and matching dishes is the norm for significant holidays – pick a color theme and spread the color throughout each place setting.
• The other idea is to have your essential dishes white, cream, or solid color dishes. Then, you can borrow different sets in that color from others to set your table.
• The same goes for water/wine glasses, coffee cups, and silverware. If you don’t have enough wine glasses, reach out to borrow from others. Or purchase some now. Now, you will see sales on nice glassware through New Year’s Eve. I’ll say again: everything doesn’t need to match.
• The key is not to fret about dishes. Use heavy-duty paper plates and silver-colored plastic utensils. One year, we did this, and no one said a word about it. Now, they talk about how I couldn’t find serving pieces, and the meal was served in assorted mixing bowls. LOL!
• The key is you are getting together with friends and family.

Serving dishes

You may find you need more of them. Having a few bowls has happened to me a time or two, mostly during one of our moves (the last three relocations have happened around Thanksgiving, but I am still hosting) or when I was starting to set up my home. Also, Thanksgiving-specific ones are needed – large platters, gravy pitchers, olive trays, etc. So here are a few ideas on serving pieces.

• Purchase Thanksgiving serving pieces in your chosen dish color; then, you can pull them out and use them all year round for different things. I’m talking about the Turkey platter that also works as a charcuterie board for New Year’s and summer’s bar-be-que. 
• Borrow, if your mother is coming, ask if she can bring Grandma’s gravy pitcher. Or a friend who loves dishes may have a great dish to serve: canned cranberry jelly. These traditions bring memories to the table.
• If you have family silver, please pull it out and use it; your family will be smiling down from heaven, enjoying your table, too.
• *As a side note, these dishes do not need to be hidden away for the rest of the year. They can be in the dining room on top of the cabinet with other treasures as a vignette. The soup tureen can be a seasonal centerpiece on the buffet with colorful Easter eggs, blue hydrangeas, apples, or gourds.  

Centerpiece/decorations for setting a holiday table

Now, onto table decorations. Your table only needs a grand floral centerpiece if you enjoy it. I love to have flowers on my table at any time, especially from my garden. But a centerpiece isn’t just flowers; a bowl of pomegranates, gourds, or candles is always lovely. Other ideas include:

• If you have all the food going down the center of the table – make sure there are beautiful hot pads to protect your table and add interest. Use some cake plates to vary the height of the food on the table. Then, just set a few gourds among the dishes and pieces of wheat tucked into the napkins on the plates.
• The traditional Thanksgiving setting would be linen tablecloth, monogrammed runner and napkins, china & crystal dishes with silver or brass candlesticks. A cornucopia with fruit and nuts sits in the center of the table.
• Rustic or Farmhouse with cotton or lay down a burlap table runner, then place pumpkins, gourds, and candles on it. Then, add pinecones, nuts, and rosehips (berries). Then, use bone-colored or hand-thrown pottery dishes.

Putting it all together 

Your table should be a joy to set, not a nightmare. Setting a holiday table can be extravagant for one year, then playful the next, and the following year the food may be the star. Please remember to have some fun and enjoy the day. I have pinned a few ideas on my Pinterest board if you want to visit it here.

I want to add some vintage fun when setting my holiday table – turkey-shaped salt & pepper shakers. Yes, the kind of tacky, odd-colored ones you may find at a flea market. I am particular about their color – a tinted color-washed background, not full-on vivid colors. I haven’t found a set yet, so I may need to broaden my search to Pilgrims. These shakers would add a little humor or a smirk when people see them on my table with my passed-down silver and crystal dishes. I do need to say this ‘hunt’ for shakers has been fun. I share it with others as we shop at antique stores and flea markets. We get a chuckle at all the kinds of salt and pepper shakers. We have many other holidays – I may branch out, but for now, it is the excellent Turkey-Salt-and-Pepper-Shaker-Search – wink.

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The four essential elements needed for a multi-functional space

The Dining Room isn’t one of those rooms you always use. But venturing into the holiday season, it is a room I am always grateful I have in my house. Besides being a designated eating area, it can be a multi-functional room.

I have long admired formal dining rooms.  Undeniably, all the different styles and eras of the room have called to me.   To explain this idea, the dramatic dining rooms in historic homes had shining silver tea sets, moody lighting, and heavy drapes. In the same way, the 60’s modern dining room has a clean-lined buffet table (with great storage), unique lighting, and ceramic serving pieces. In addition, a big farm table with a bench for the kiddos to sit lined up on and a vintage game-board collection hung on the wall as part of an open great room.

Generally, people say that a designated dining room is a waste. I disagree. A dining room is a gathering place where we enjoy our family, friends, and life. It is a great multi-functional space.

Multi-Functionality of Dining Rooms

But if you feel that a dining room is a waste of space you only use at Thanksgiving, let me give you an argument. Here are all the possibilities of a dining room

• Dining, of course, Sunday Dinners, Friends Potlucks, Holiday Happenings, Taco Tuesdays
• Study Hall Homeschool Classroom (see photo below), Homework, Study Space, Science Projects
• Home Office Work table, File Storage, Printers
• Craft Room, Art Studio, Furniture DIY (Drop cloth covered, of course)
• Art Gallery, Music Room, Game Room

Above all, these ‘rooms’ can make a Dining Room multifunctional; all have the same essential elements: table, chairs, storage, and multipurpose lighting.  

Essential Dining Room Elements

Table: A critical first or second piece to decide on.  Above all, it is one of the most significant pieces in the room. Some considerations:

• How many do you need to seat daily? Holidays (leaves available to extend the table)?
• Style of room? The type shows through with the legs on the table, the wood, or a painted finish. 
• Size is determined partly by the room dimension – see room planner for table options.
• Hint – have a protective cover for other uses. Could it be a piece of glass cut to the size of the table? Tablecloth – plastic and cloth? Large drop cloths

The photo below is a table that goes from the work desk to the dining table. Dinner, for one, is still a memorable evening; please remember that. 

Chairs: Undoubtedly, an important aspect is how the chairs flow with the table and unquestionably their seating comfort. Some considerations:

• Match table or unmatched? Are the chairs matching or unmatched (unified by wood or paint color)?
• Upholstery end chairs? Slipcovered for easy clean up? 
• Bench, Banquette or Loveseat? (like the photo below)

Storage Unit: Likewise, the other large piece and focal point with many uses to serve your multi-functional needs. Some considerations:

• Decorative storage? Armoire? Open top hutch? Bookshelves?
• Need table height for serving food? Buffet storage chest? Drop leaf Table (for extra seating) Small side/sofa table (great for open concept rooms)

Lighting: Generally what are all the functional uses for your dining room? Some considerations:

• Overhead with dimmer – significant for both dining and homework
• Task lighting – lighting for projects and serving food
• Accent lighting – on walls for paintings, inside storage for collections, way-finding/night-light (particularly a great way to use an heirloom lamp)

So, where do you start? Start dreaming of what you want and need—the room’s function besides dining. Next, you look for pieces that can work double-duty. There’s a worksheet in the monthly room focus section of A Carefully Curated Life November’s Giving Thanks eBook. If you’re looking for further inspiration, here is the Pinterest board I am working on to get a feel for my new dining room. Furthermore, if you need help choosing a color for your dining room, there’s a download available and a blog. Lastly, if you would enjoy talking about dining rooms and the life that evolves within them, join our private Facebook group,

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I’d like to introduce you to their beautiful, functional importance.

Create an entrance. Make a warm welcome. Inject beautiful function. The entry is an underappreciated space that sets the tone, the vibe, and the feeling you want to evoke throughout your home. Let’s put some thought into the design of a beautiful entryway. One that functions well while celebrating its occupant’s personality and welcomes everyone. 

A hall may be just a path from one room to another, but it is waiting for some love. Again, the hallway is an underappreciated space. The hall is a place to have fun, be bold, and show your stuff. I mean that quite literally. Showcase your treasures and love of color, and work some function into it. 

Both of these spaces are noticed and underrated as design spaces. Let’s turn that around and let them both shine. If you need more help before starting these spaces, check out this blog on Dreaming of Home: Beginning Thoughts. If you don’t, let’s begin. 

How to create a beautiful function

Follow these steps for creating your space: 

• First, clear out unwanted items, clean the space, and understand the needed organization.
• Second, figure out what functional furniture pieces you need in the entry. Remember, the entrance is a launching pad to get out the door in the morning, a place to keep outdoor gear and take care of items when you get home. Do you need a place to sit down to put your shoes on? A storage piece to catch laundry for a hall laundry closet? Can either space serve another purpose?
• Lastly, add decorative items that make it personal, welcoming, and beautiful. Show off your interests and collections. Remember, this is where a person first steps into your home to set the vibe.

Keep an open mind to new beautiful ideas of functional needs

Both the entry and the hallway are left alone for their functionality. It doesn’t need to be so. It does take a bit of thinking and dreaming about these rooms. Review the steps above, then explore solutions to your functional needs. 

• Could you repurpose an item you already have? 
• Is there an organizational problem you could search for on Pinterest to see how someone else solved the problem? 
• Do you have a collection you’d love to display? Does it have a specific display you’d like planned into the design?

Make a plan to execute and curate your ideas

Now is the time to work on your ideas; set time aside to create. Clean, paint if necessary, then pull the pieces you’ve gathered for the entry and hall. If you need help choosing color, I have a free download to help you coordinate color in your home. Put on some great music to work by and execute your ideas. Start placing furniture, set up the necessary organizational pieces, and add your items of interest.

Stand back and analyze if it is a beautiful function

Then, stand back and analyze if all is working. Are you still trying to figure it out? Take a photo and look at it. Often, when you do that, something will jump out that needs attention – take out or add another piece. Remember, your plan isn’t permanent. If something feels off, you’ll figure it out in a few days or maybe a week. Or ask the private Facebook group we love to discuss home design. The September eBook has a Checklist Schedule for working through this plan if you need further help. Also, remember the season you are in when you’re setting these spaces up. Things will change as fall turns to winter; our beautiful entry and hall will also change their function. So create an entrance, a warm welcome, and show your stuff.

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Spending time reveling in magic, whimsy, and play

Let’s dive in and enjoy the magic and whimsy this October and Halloween. The wonderful playful moments that are in our lives this month. Above all, let’s celebrate in big and little ways. Specifically, October and Halloween give us a reason to play with magic, whimsy, and play. Our imaginations come alive. After that, we decorate our homes with whimsy, magic, or fright. Halloween costumes are planned for young and old alike. Tricks and treats are created to delight.

What is not whimsical and magical as an adult donning a Halloween costume to go out and play? 

I’m inviting you to revel in magic, whimsy, and play. Next, take a moment to brainstorm ways to add magic, whimsy, and play into your life. You may need to start thinking about Halloween, but once the thoughts flow, you’ll find ways to add it daily. Our October Reveling in Magic eBook has many journal prompts, lists, and activities if you want to explore this idea. I wish that by enjoying October and Halloween, you start injecting more magic, whimsy and play into your life. Then, you can take those elements and add them to every day of the year. The list below has ideas for this month, but I encourage you to take out the word October or Halloween, so you have ideas for every day. 

Ideas for October and Halloween

1. Enjoy and record all the whimsical October moments you see throughout the month. 
2. Make a festive witch’s hat 
3. Add dry ice to a pitcher of Halloween tea or fruit punch
4. Find the magic in your life; occasionally, we call these coincidences. 
5. Together with play, experiment with the Halloween decorating styles. 
6. Explore October through all the senses – see, smell, touch, taste, and hear. 
7. Offer a connection to others by giving out tricks and treats – enjoy a visit from the little & giant monsters in your life.
8. Host a Halloween photo scavenger hunt.
9. Wear orange in any of its beautiful shades – carrot, rust, amber, ginger, fire, clay. Or add one of the colors to your home decor.
10. Plan Halloween Costumes or Halloween day outfits. Visit a thrift or vintage store for inspiration. 
11. Create a Halloween Playlist, Movie Marathon, and/or Menu 
12. Go to a pumpkin patch, then pick your favorite ones for the front porch, tablescape, and desk. 
13. Carve a few pumpkins for Halloween. Afterward, toast the pumpkin seeds 
14. Have a spooky storytelling night – complete with candles, flashlights, and treats 
15. Bake an Autumn treat, eventually one that could be your signature annual. Ideas are an apple donut, maple muffin, or pumpkin spice cake recipe 
16. Go to a local Oktoberfest, enjoy all the festivities and community
17. Visit a local orchard while you’re there; go through an October corn maze. 
18. Read a seasonal book – for example, a thriller novel, murder mystery, ghost story, or gothic tragedy
19. Place a pot of simmering water with whole spices on the stove to create October’s seasonal scent, or create one using essential oils and a diffuser 
20. Go on a spooky Halloween cemetery or haunted house tour; with this in mind, be a hometown tourist and search these out in your city.  
21. Take a drive, bike ride, or walk to view the Halloween decorations. 
22. Treat yourself to a caramel apple or make one yourself 

Go out and enjoy magic, whimsy, and play

Again, I will state, “ I wish that by enjoying October and Halloween, you start injecting more magic, whimsy, and play into your life. Then, you can take those elements and add them to every day of the year. The list has ideas for this month, but I encourage you to take out the word October or Halloween, so you have ideas for every day.” If you want more ideas, visit the blog for 31 Ways of Loving the Ordinary in October or sign up for our weekly newsletter. October and Halloween are great times to dive in and enjoy the magic and whimsy. Be playful this month, then every day of the year. Lastly, it’s time to revel in magic, whimsy, and play – have fun.

Revel in the Magic, see it around You,

Scatter whimsy throughout your life 

Enjoy Loving the Ordinary,  

Each and every extra-ordinary day      

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31 Ways for Loving the Ordinary each and every day

There is a saying about October by Heather A. Stillufsen, “Autumn the season that teaches us that change can be beautiful.”

It is time to slow down, live in the moment, and love the ordinary days.

It’s time to do a few more items from your Fall Fun Checklist. Don’t have a list? October’s Loving the Ordinary List is full of things to do – Ideas for every day of the month to enjoy loving every day that autumn has to offer.

I create a list of ways to Loving the Ordinary daily every month. It is a list to help enjoy life by Carefully Curating the days with home, garden, and life. Taking time to enjoy the moment alone or with someone special. I’ve expanded on some of these ideas to inspire you further. As a result, here is October’s Loving the Ordinary List of ideas to add everyday joy to life. In addition, curate or fine-tune what you’ve already created. 

With all that said, please find one or two ideas to love and enjoy in October. Here’s October’s Loving the Ordinary List.

• Wear orange in any of its beautiful shades – carrot, rust, amber, ginger, fire, clay.
• Plan Halloween Costumes or the day’s outfit. Visit a thrift or vintage store for inspiration.
• Create a Halloween Playlist, Movie Marathon, and/or Menu
• Decorate your home for fall; add a shade of orange to your living room, dining room, or kitchen
• Visit a pumpkin patch, then pick out your favorite for the front porch, tablescape, or your desk
• National Do Something Nice Day, visit the site for some great ideas.
• Make an Autumn Floral Arrangement using small gourds, mums and dahlias
• Have a spooky storytelling night – complete with candles, flashlights and treats
• Bake an Autumn treat, one that could be your signature annual one
• Plan any redecorating of inside rooms before the holidays
• Cook a new fall squash recipe: salad, soup, or casserole
• Find a local Oktoberfest to celebrate the season.
• Read a seasonal book, for example, a thriller novel, murder mystery, ghost story or gothic tragedy.
• Master an apple donut, muffin, or cake recipe
• Enjoy a corn maze
• Decorate your front door for Halloween
• Host an annual fall soup potluck with the neighbors and friends.
• Place a pot of simmering water on the stove, then add spices to create a seasonal scent
• Go on a spooky cemetery or house tour
• Open the windows so the crisp fall air can come inside
• Go on a hayride
• Get the garden and your tools ready for winter
• Tackle one large fall cleaning project like washing windows inside & out or cleaning all the light fixtures.
• Take a drive, bike ride, or walk to view the season or Halloween decorations.
• Bring out the crockpot and instant pot. Grab your favorite recipes and ingredients to prepare for busy nights during the upcoming holidays.
• Treat yourself to a caramel apple or make one yourself
• Get out your warm boots. Do they need replacing?
• Outfit the living room with cozy blankets, candles (new-style battery-operated ones are lovely), and dimmable lights (three-way light bulbs are another alternative).
• Carve pumpkins afterward, and toast the pumpkin seeds.
• Have a photoshoot in a leaf pile, corn maze, pumpkin patch, or hayride.
• Go to a restaurant you haven’t been to and eat on its patio before it closes.

I hope this list sparked some inspiration for October with loving the ordinary each and every day.

As I said in September, that is my wish for you this fall. ‘I hope October finds you enjoying a moment seasonally, enjoying your home, your garden, and your community**. In addition, may this list of 31 ways for Loving the Ordinary each and every day help you enjoy the month.’ October Blessings to You, Bobbi

** “Community” I use that word to reference all those people in our lives. That is to say a word for our family, those we consider family, friends, neighbors, and those we nod and say ‘hello’ to as we take our morning walks.

Please comment below if you like or try any of October’s Loving the Ordinary List. There are five more ways to explore the idea of Loving the Ordinary daily. First, you can sign up below to be notified when a new blog has been posted. Secondly, if you want more videos, fun sheets, and classes, please sign up for my weekly newsletter as we continue our Carefully Curated Life adventure. Thirdly, if you want to know more about that, here is the blog explaining it. Plus, fourthly, visit other seasonal blogs on the website. Lastly, we offer a monthly eBook exploring loving the ordinary with journal prompts, activities, and curating your home.

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Create a list, Make a plan, Visit, and Enjoy being a Hometown Tourist

Every town is abundant in unique places. Have you visited the ones in your town? Do you know what they are? After all, life doesn’t have to be about visiting far-off places to find beautiful, engaging sites. Be a hometown tourist and enjoy all the places that make your area unique.

Here’s how to create a hometown tourist list.

To begin with, ask yourself a few questions as if you were a tourist in your hometown. 

• Where do the tourists go? What makes these places unique? 
• Is your town known for its festivals, local businesses, or museums? 
• Or are there ‘tours’ to take – garden shops, bourbon trail (Yes, I live in Kentucky), quilt shops, etc.?
• Have you ever visited them?
• What places have been in magazines or travel lists? 

With this intention, do some research to find these special places – Google, visit tourist centers, ask friends. Local colleges, businesses, community centers, or schools offer free or low-cost classes. More to research places such as the local art galleries, science centers, planetariums, botanical gardens, local landmarks, and small specialty businesses.

Another option is to pick one of your interests and create your hometown tour. Ideas include:

• Going to every free jazz concert within 20 miles.
• Take a picture with your feet on every local walking trail in the city.
• Make it your mission to find the best coffee shop in town.
• Eat a caramel apple at every orchard nearby.

In other words, what do you love to do and want to explore more? Where do you go for retreats? Or group gatherings?

Make a plan and visit as a hometown tourist.   

Here’s how to create your list in a planner or journal. I use my Curated Life Journal to keep these lists by the season. It started during our 100 Days of Summer series. I explain using the journal in this blog, ‘How will you keep a record of your summer?’. Create three to five columns to make your list.

1. Firstly, write a title block above the first column, “Places I Wish to Visit.”
2. In that column, create a list of local places to visit – research as if you are planning a trip to your town, visit the tourist center, see the ideas above, and ask friends.
3. Then, in the next column. Create a title block, “Date of Visit,” and set the date.
4. Write “My Review” as the next column’s title block. So you can be sure to write a review.
5. Take pictures, sketch things that catch your eye, or purchase a sticker to go in or on your Journal. You can leave this column out or leave a place to make a checkmark.
6. Another optional column, but I love doing this one – purchase the place’s postcards to send to friends. Please note who is receiving the postcards so you can circle through your friends and family sending them. While you’re out sightseeing, pick up postcard stamps.
7. Other ideas discussed in our private Facebook group were to pick up memorable Christmas ornaments for your tree and as gifts. Or get cute magnets for your fridge and memo board.

Another way to make a plan and visit.  

The ‘A Carefully Curated Life’ eBook September issue also has a PDF for creating your list. You can pick it up here. It has three columns: 

1. Places to go, Things to do
2. Ideas for my spirit
3. Notes on My Adventures

Without a doubt, in either system you use, the mission is the same. You are creating a list, making a date to visit these places, and enjoying your city as a Hometown Tourist. You may not travel far, but you’ll have adventures. 

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September has always been a month that means new beginnings. It is the month school begins, routines change, and different activities begin. The time the colors begin to change, and evenings start to have a crisp air. Autumn’s change has a vibrant essence. Especially as the weather and leaves turn beautiful colors, it reminds me that I, too, can change the things I wish and become a more lovely color. To begin with, start turning more into yourself, your activities, and your home, feeling a change to reflect on the essence of these ideas:

• “Seeds” planted that have grown, ripened, and are now abundant in my life
• Crisp Air calls us to explore Fall’s harvest and celebrations.
• Heading back indoors, is my home welcoming? 

Note – First, the autumn season unfolds through three months. September starts the change in the air with abundant harvest activities. Then October develops into the beginning of magical merriment. Lastly, November lets us take moments to give thanks for our life in all of its aspects.

Let’s explore Autumn’s essence in the change of season.

Reflecting on the essence of autumn

Start this change of season with a moment to reflect, specifically a check-in with its essence:

• Am I feeling and seeing the abundance in my life?
• Do I see the everyday magic and colorful splendor around me?
• Have I given thanks for what I have in my life?

Do not tackle these questions all at once; just one question a month. Doing this allows more time to sit with the question and feel into it. How do I do this? I write the question as a banner on a page in my journal (I call this my Curated Life Journal – an exploration into my life). Then, as the month unfolds, I write down inspiration, thoughts, and activities on the question. Additionally, shared downloads with these journal prompts are in seasonal eBooks; a few are in our Facebook group.

Autumn’s Change of Activities

When dreaming and reflecting, consider how to enjoy the season’s essence. In particular, what activity means Autumn to you that you need to explore and enjoy it? Often, we rush through a day promising ourselves that “I will get outside this weekend. I’ll enjoy the leaves Saturday afternoon.” When these thoughts begin, pause and change your thinking to enjoying the essence of autumn:

• What could I do that would only take a few minutes?
• How could I add an hour or evening of magic during this week?
• Where could I go this season that only occurs in the fall?
• Is there a way to show the people I care about what they mean to me? Especially how grateful I am that they are in my life.

These questions may start a brain dump of activity ideas. Again, I use a banner title in my journal to capture them as they appear. Afterward, I circle the ones that excite me and one or two that make me nervous. You know, the idea that makes butterflies in your stomach. That idea is one to explore. Also, my blog on monthly Loving the Ordinary lists is a place to start if you’re overwhelmed by this brain-dumped idea. Or go to the blogs on our website to check out the monthly list; here is a link to September’s 30 Ways for Loving the Ordinary List. I’d like you to please find the essence of the activity, the first step toward it. Then, could you plan time for a couple of your circled activities?

The Essence of Our Homes

As we sit into Autumn’s essence in our thoughts and activities, let us bring it into our homes. We’re coming back inside from our beautiful outdoor spaces and gardens. Are the inside areas just as welcoming? The entries and hall need to change with the season for new sports and outerwear. We’ll hang out in our living and family rooms as the air turns chillier. The dining room gathers us to enjoy meals, games, and community. Additionally, these areas must embody our essence, our flair for life. A few questions to ask ourselves:

• Do I see the abundance in our lives through displaying our talents, adventures, and interests?
• Is there an essence of magic and whimsy? 
• Am I thankful for what I have in this room? Not in the ‘I have a couch, I hate this thing, but I have a place to sit’ way. But in the ‘I love the people in the photos on the wall, we have great adventures’ kind of way. 

These rooms all have functions, but they are so much more. We focus on these rooms as we change our living habits from outside to inside. Make the changes to one room a month by bringing in abundance, magic, and gratitude. We do this through organizing, showcasing interests and talents, and curating the space’s items. There are three ways we can help if you need more direction on curating these spaces. Firstly, you can join our Facebook group. Next, if you’d like a room-of-the-month-focused Checklist, you can find it in our monthly eBook. Lastly, if you’d like to join our design group course, we have a Zoom chat discussion on how to achieve this, plus another Q&A session to help with anything that pops up, along with videos and one-on-one consultations.

Lovely Changes  Bring in Autumn’s Essence

Bringing in the essence of autumn does require moments of reflection and dreaming. Afterward, it requires exploring and planning how to bring these elements into our lives and homes. Lastly, we curate these into our lives. We allow items and thoughts into our lives. We also remove those that are not abundant, magical, or grateful. As we change from summertime to fall, we can also bring a change of color and beauty into our lives and homes. If you’d like to be in community and receive weekly newsletters to help you curate your fall and like, you can sign up here.

The post Autumn’s Essence of Lovely Change appeared first on A Carefully Curated Life.

Why Curate Life?

I founded A Carefully Curated Life, CCL because I want to share a life philosophy with living every day in the ordinary, extra-ordinary way. That is to say, by curating (dreaming, exploring, planning, and intentionally selecting) your home and life as you wish to live your life, our lives become extraordinary. 

But how do you do that? Like many women, I was looking for more. Yet I knew what I didn’t want in my life.

• Above all I do not want to surf the web looking at happy people trying to figure out why my life isn’t as exciting.
• Taking a job just to work until I retire.
• Meanwhile living in a house that doesn’t fit us anymore.

Additionally, I kept asking myself these questions:

• Do I know who I am? 
• Know what I like?
• I asked myself, “Is there more to life?”

Where curating life begins – dreaming, exploring, planning and intentionally selecting

Dreaming

What do you dream about? Everyone has dreams. At first, we put them aside for various reasons, yet only sometimes revisit them. Other times, we feel that our life will not allow us to live these dreams. I have been in both of these situations. Then I realized I didn’t have to let my dreams go away. I could create and curate a life of these dreams; I just needed to stop thinking it was an all-or-nothing proposition. Stay with me as I explain.

I dream about:

• Living in a beautiful and inspiring home and garden
• Artistic endeavors
• Being centered, loving, healthy, and full of grace
• Creating memories, enjoying the seasons, and exploring life
• Being in a community with meaningful relationships

I took these dreams and started diving into them while journaling to help me further see what I wanted. Journal prompts and dreaming-on-paper tips are shared in our private Facebook group, the weekly newsletter, the Carefully Curated Life monthly eBook, and through our Membership. What do you dream about? Specifically, what are your thoughts about how you wish you were living? These can lead you to dreams that need exploring. If you need help to start this process, join our private Facebook group to meet others curating their lives.

Exploring

How do we begin exploring when we have commitments? By asking questions and then exploring ideas that follow while living our lives. We start taking daily action to uncover our heart’s desires. Slowly, the knowledge of what we love and enjoy grows into love for this one life. We move into curating life. It was going down a path to create my home and garden, enjoy the seasons, cultivate friends/family, and find myself again. I know all that sounds good, but how? By leaning into these ideas:

• Loving the ordinary every day – meaning enjoying big and little moments daily. I created my monthly Loving the Ordinary Lists to help me explore seasonal inspiration.
• Exploring interests, location (I call this being a Tourist in my Hometown), and meeting people with common interests.
• Feeling into what home and life mean personally, not what the current trend dictates. I used my journal to help capture all these thoughts.

Planning

Finding the ordinary joys in life and building on them is done through planning. Creating rich routines, memorable traditions, places of comfort, and a place to “BE” does not happen by coincidence but with planning. We want a life that is individualized to ourselves, and yet we fear it may not be welcoming to the world. Remember, the ‘world’ is also trying to live their lives as fully as they wish. Living our dream life will require taking what we find when exploring and planning how to bring it into our lives.

I am passionate about taking control of one’s life, creating a home, eating healthy seasonal foods, moving the body, expressing one’s style through home, garden, fashion, and trying to take care of oneself. By using our talents and interests to create, gather together, and help others. We can build our days and weeks into the life we’ve dreamed of. This is why I am passionate about everyday life being quality – elevating everyday enjoyment. And you can be, too. Start curating your one life, and plan how you wish to live in the small moments. These small moments built on each other become our lives. When planning, break down your explored dreams into easy, doable steps by lifting the ordinary to extraordinary daily. If you need help or want to work in a community, join our Carefully Curated Life Seasonal Membership.

Intentionally selecting

When curating life, we take the plans from our explored dreams and live them out. Create an environment that empowers you to be your strongest, Beautiful Self by celebrating every day by loving the ordinary daily. Then, as you’re living your life, decide, intentionally select, what is working and what is not working for you, your family, and your home. Once you add something, test it to see if it fits how you want to live. You can take something away that is not working. Or add to what is already working. Remember you are creating your Carefully Curated Life; select what comes in and what goes out.

Where to start curating life?

• Start by dreaming about the life you want and what you don’t want, and live with some questions about living your best life.
• Explore the ideas and interests that come from your dreams.
• Make a plan to add some of your explorations into your life. Add some of the exciting ideas that make you smile inside and out.
• Intentionally select every aspect of your life to be sure it fits how you wish to live. Selecting includes taking out what no longer serves you.

This life philosophy of living every day in the ordinary, extra-ordinary way leads us to a life we love. By curating (dreaming, exploring, planning, and intentionally selecting) your thoughts, interests, home, and community, you live your one life, an extraordinary life. By curating our days and houses, we can achieve our dreams.  In short, our everyday life shapes our future. And as life evolves, so does our curating. We allow ourselves to become the Curator of our own lives.

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