Weekly Wednesday Wish List #216

This week’s Wish List features a curated collection of summer ideas for your home, Christmas in July, delicious recipes, seasonal clothing, charming homes to visit, easy home DIYs, and lots more. Our lists have a little something for everyone.

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Welcome To Wednesday Wish List #216

Welcome to August! Even though the temperatures are soaring and the garden is full of tomatoes and zinnias, it’s also the time of year when I start thinking ahead to fall. After 17 years of blogging, I still get just as excited to bring the cozy feeling of the season into our home. While most of us are still enjoying the last stretch of summer, behind the scenes I’m already gathering inspiration and ideas to share for a beautiful autumn ahead. Enjoy our summer into fall ideas, today!

1. SIMPLE DECORATING IDEAS TO DO IN UNDER 30 MINUTES: Let’s make our decorating mantra decorate smarter, not harder! These posts, are full of quick, creative ideas you can try in your home—most in less than 30 minutes!

• 10 Quick Tips For Making A Room Look Prettier
• 8 Simple Kitchen Decorating Ideas For An Easy Updated Look
• 12 Easy Decorating Ideas You Can Do In Under 30 Minutes

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

3. ORGANIZE YOUR HOME: Get your 22-page e-magazine, The Simple Guide To An Organized Peaceful Home. Learn the 5 rules for keeping your home tidy, functional, and calm—without the overwhelm.

4. FABULOUS FIND FOR YOUR HOME: From furniture to fall.

• This is the most beautiful half-moon wall sconce. LOVE!
• This beautiful shoe cupboard.
• Set of 6 matted and framed botanicals. I have them and love them!
• This lucious pear picture. LOVE the colors.

• This gorgeous oak leaf printed bolster pillow. I just got 2 for fall.
• Did you get this darling cast metal acorn canister in the image above?
• This sheet set is so lovely!
• This beautiful set of yarn dyed pillows in natural. Other colors, too.

5. HOMES YOU WILL LOVE: We can learn so much about decorating just by stepping inside someone else’s home. Here are three women who graciously invite us in to take a look. You’ll find easy-to-do design inspiration in this dreamy New Jersey home, discover bold and beautiful ideas in a colorful Victorian townhome, and enjoy timeless elegance in a stunning NYC apartment.

6. CURATED CLOSET: FALL PREVIEW

• This no-iron crisp white shirt. The most versatile piece in your closet!
• This pretty 3/4 sleeve tee with lacy detail. 40% off when buying two.
• This waxed cotton barn jacket. Perfect for chilly mornings.
• This classic denim skirt.

• This classic lightweight crewneck sweater– 42% off. Comes in lots of colors.
• The best upscale jeans. I have them in ever color.
• This stylish knit blazer in various colors.
• LOVE this button-down cardigan sweater. Look at the price!

7. FUN AND INTERESTING FACTS: What is August’s birthstone and flower? What does the name August mean?

8. THIS AND THAT: We all make decorating mistakes. THIS will help you solve your 5 most common ones and fix them. THIS is such a fascinating book. Very fun, informative, and inspirational. Peaches are in season right now. THIS recipe, and THIS one too, are delicious ways to use them. If you are ready to think about fall, click THIS. That is it, friends!

9. CULINARY CORNER: Gooey Butter Cake From A Box Mix: Preheat oven to 325℉ and grease a 9×13″ pan. In a bowl, mix 1 (15.25-ounce) box Yellow Cake Mix, ½ cup softened butter, and 2 large eggs until thick and smooth. Press mixture evenly into the prepared pan. In another bowl, mix 8 ounces softened cream cheese, 4 cups powdered sugar (one 1-pound bag), and 1 large egg on low speed until smooth. Pour over the cake base and spread evenly. Bake for 45 minutes until the top forms a light crust and the center is slightly gooey. Cool completely, sprinkle with powdered sugar, slice, and serve.

10. THE LAST WORD: Do you know what word decorators use most of all? LOVE! What do you love about your home? Leave your answer in the comments.

ANSWER TO #7: Peridot is August’s beautiful green gemstone, and its flowers are gladiolus and poppies. The name August has Anglo-Saxon roots and means “weed month.” So true! Now you know.

1. EASY DECORATING TIP OF THE WEEK: Want a room that’s more appealing? Banish the matchy-matchy look. Mixing pieces with different finishes, textures, or styles will add depth and personality and creates a balance that feels collected—not coordinated.

2. DID YOU KNOW? Did you know that I once completely changed the look of my living room just because I found a pair of chairs in the window at a consignment store that I couldn’t pass up? Those chairs ended up sparking a complete overhaul of the room!

3. FAVORITE RECENT PURCHASE: My most favorite recent cost less than $25, but it seems like a bit of a luxury item. It might even make you laugh. It’s a lowly recessed toilet paper holder. You can’t believe what a difference it makes in a small bathroom to have it recessed instead of hanging off of the side of the vanity or off of the wall.

4. LOVELY LIVING AND BEYOND:

• According to Veranda magazine, a dash of chinoiserie is the order of the day when it comes to gracious living—and I couldn’t agree more. It’s a classic look that brings personality and sophistication to any room. If you’re ready to add this timeless style to your home, this post breaks down everything you need to know to get started.

5. READER QUESTION OF THE WEEK: How do I style the sideboard in my dining room so that doesn’t look cluttered, but is stylish? Find the answer below!

6. WEEKLY AWESOME FINDS: I’m always on the hunt – here’s what I ran across this week that you may love.

• The varying shades of blue in this area rug make it so, so versatile. It’s one of the prettiest I’ve ever seen. 25% off!
• This is gorgeous for fall on a front door. A simple bow made with brown or rust colored satin ribbon would be just right.
• These were just added to the clearance section and would be perfect for fall.Here’s another item just added to clearance that I’m going to order for my front door. Love!
• Electric cords are a necessity, but I sure to do despise seeing them. These little gizmos are perfect in so many locations – the back of furniture, on appliances, walls – you name it.
• Such a pretty take on a scalloped tray. I love that the sides are not excessively tall.
• We are so close to having the new laundry area finished in our house. Now I’m on the hunt for a collapsible wall-mounted drying rack. This one looks great and does triple duty.
• These would be in my cart if I didn’t already own two sets of them. They’re hard to come by at a price as good as this one!

7. WEARABLE STYLE: End of season sales are the best and I adore this pretty shirt. I can easily see it paired with a pair of classic trouser jeans and cute flats.

8. HOME HACK: Is my furniture ruined? Water rings on wood furniture are scary. Try these hacks to get rid of them and save your furniture.

9. FAVORITE STYLING MOMENT: One of my favorite areas to style in my house is my plate rack. I can’t begin to tell you how excited I was to finally get it hung up in the new house this week – just in time for fall decorating!

10. ANSWER TO #5, THE READER QUESTION: For an uncluttered, stylish display on a sideboard/buffet table in your dining room, start by anchoring the space with one large item, like a mirror or piece of art. Then layer in a carefully curated mix of items. The simplest display of all would be a pair of buffet lamps flanking a floral arrangement in a beautiful container. If you’d like to add a little more interest, try displaying a large platter on a plate stand behind the arrangement. If you prefer even more, flank the platter with a pair of your favorite candlesticks. Be sure to leave some breathing room between everything so that it doesn’t feel crowded. You’re aiming for a look that is balanced and feels intentional, not busy.

1. HYDRANGEA OVERLOAD: Our limelight hydrangeas are bursting with big, beautiful blooms right now, and I LOVE it! If you’re swimming in a sea of hydrangeas too, here are some simple and creative ways to enjoy them around your home.

• Fill a pitcher or vase with a bunch of blooms for an easy arrangement.
• Let them dry naturally in a vase with just a little water.
• Create a wreath using dried hydrangea heads.

• Make a hydrangea topiary by securing blooms to a foam ball on a stick.
• Add them to a tablescape with candles.
• Mod Podge petals onto a glass jar or vase to create a customized container for tea lights or flowers.

2. COZY TIP OF THE WEEK: Not all lightbulbs are created equal. Yes, the bulbs you’re using in your lighting could be making your home feel too bright, cold, or just not quite as cozy as you’d like. So, swap out harsh, cool-toned bulbs for ones that offer pure, clean warm light. These are the ONLY lightbulbs we use in our home. It’s one of the easiest ways to make your home feel more inviting without changing a single piece of decor.

3. BOOK CLUB: I love reading and that includes flipping through home decor books for inspiration just as much as getting lost in a good novel. This week, “Making Your Home Meaningful” by Bre Doucette is the one on my nightstand. This book is full of beautiful photos, seasonal inspiration, and heartfelt advice for creating a home that reflects you and tells your story.

4. LITTLE THINGS I LOVE: A few things that caught my eye this week, that I think you’ll love too.

• Is there such a thing as having too many baskets? Asking for a friend.
• Warning: Using this may cause spontaneous baking (and excessive carb happiness).
• And if you’re going to be baking, you might as well look cute while doing it.
• Proof that even the smallest details, like this dish, can add charm to your kitchen.

• Are you ready for some football?
• Drape this over a chair or the end of your bed for instant texture and warmth.
• Magnolia dropped their new fall collection, and I’m already rearranging shelves in my head.
• I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to sweater weather!

5. FROM MY KITCHEN TO YOURS: If you’ve got an abundance of garden tomatoes right now, my angel hair pesto pasta with roasted tomatoes and parmesan cheese recipe is a delicious way to put them to good use. This pasta dish is light, refreshing, and incredibly easy to make which is just perfect for those late summer dinners when you want something flavorful and satisfying but without a lot of fuss.

6. THE MISCONCEPTION & THE TRUTH: There’s a common misconception that you need a big budget to have a beautiful, cozy home. I actually fell into that mindset when I first started sharing our home on social media a few years ago. But over time, I’ve realized that coziness has far more to do with how a space feels than how much money you spend. Some of the most inviting and meaningful spaces aren’t filled with brand-new pieces. They’re filled with thrifted finds, handmade pieces, and sentimental items that tell a story. A cozy home is collected over time, not created in a weekend shopping spree. It’s the little details, the layers, and the feeling of being surrounded by things you love that make a house feel like home.

7. THE WEEKLY SWEEP: A few simple housekeeping tasks I’m tackling this week to keep things feeling cozy, clean, and cared for around here…

• Wiping down baseboards. I’m always amazed at how much dust they collect!
• Checking the fridge. Mr. ERH and I are leaving for vacation next week, so I like to make sure we come home to a clean fridge. Actually who knows how clean it’ll be when we come home since the kids will be here! But any-who, I’m tossing expired condiments and giving the shelves a quick wipe. Nothing fancy, just a quick tidy-up.
• Replacing the shower curtain and replacing the old liner in our upstairs bathroom. I don’t know why but it feels so good to check that off my to-do list.

8. HOT OUTSIDE, HANDMADE INSIDE: Last week, I started a new Instagram series, “Hot Outside, Handmade Inside” for those sticky summer days when you’d rather stay cool indoors with the a/c on full blast and a little DIY to keep your hands busy. The first craft I shared was these stamped kitchen towels. They’re made with plain cotton kitchen towels, waterproof ink, and a few seasonal stamps. That’s it! You can customize them for fall (or any season/holiday) and you’ve got beautiful, budget-friendly decor for your kitchen.

9. WEEKLY MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE: “The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life.” ~William Morris

10. MAGAZINE WORTHY MOMENT: A fall simmer pot is one of my favorite ways to make the whole house smell like pumpkin spice, and one of my recipes was recently featured in Willow and Sage magazine! A simmering pot is super simple to make, uses ingredients you might already have on hand (even overripe fruit), and brings all the nostalgic fall feels. You can find the full fall simmer pot recipe here on the blog, and see it in print in the latest Willow and Sage Autumn 2025 issue.

Happy Wednesday, friends…