How to Get Ready for Summer Days – Sunday Morning Coffee
Volume 14
Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee. This is a place to share, learn, explain, dream, and have fun. Today I am sharing my weekly thoughts about entertaining, decor, crafts, and recipes, and why I think we need to be thinking about to get ready for summer days!
Ok, I am just going to say it. Summer. Summer Days. Summer Drinks. Summer Fun.
Yikes!
It’s officially Spring and it’s practically May. So what comes next?
Um duh. Summer.
Now you know what I am talking about.
Today I am going to share what I am doing to get ready for summer days.
Now, I do own a calendar. And I know it’s really only mid-April.
But I really think it is time to be thinking about getting ready for summer. Do you have a plan?
I do!
A Little Bit About Me
My Plan to Get Ready for Summer Days (and Nights)
My plan this spring is to get our house 100% ready to enjoy summer days.
My plan is to bring the inside outdoors and bring the outside indoors. (Without the bugs of course.)
Even in Southern California, things get a little dirty and raggy and in need of some TLC. I have some work to do!
Plus, I am redoing the Carriage House and I am still in search of a place where we can store the “stuff” that was in there. Hmmm. Help!
I broke down my summer prep plans into the following categories:
- decor
- entertaining
- crafts
- recipes
So, here is my plan!
Summer Decor
I am lightening things up in our home to really bring in a fresh summer feel. I had thought I was going to lose the pink decor and go to green but I changed my mind. Pink and orange are my colors for summer!
The back porch and patio are getting cleaned, cushions and drapes are getting cleaned, and I am making decorative pots and decor items for my outdoor tables.
I am also looking at spaces in our home to see if we can convert them for more indoor/outdoor living. I know it sounds a bit crazy, but more on this later. (And yes, I am thinking about one particular area!)
I am also planning on redoing our Master Bedroom this summer. I am hoping to finally have a grown up bed which is what all of you know as a bed with a headboard and a footboard.
Summer Entertaining
I already have two small dinner parties planned and I cannot wait. And the first one is going to be in the Carriage House. Why?
I learned very early on that if you want to get something done then you need to have a deadline. For me that usually means scheduling a party.
It’s true! I scheduled a small dinner party with friends (we are all double vaccinated) and told them it would be in the Carriage House. I did that on purpose because then I knew I would have to finish it by then.
The first one is next weekend. Yikes!
(Of course, if that doesn’t happen then I can always just set a table in the backyard! But it will be done. I am sure.)
Summer Crafts
I making pillows that can be used indoors and out. I am also making some cloth gauge curtains to use outside in our yard to keep the mosquitos away. (Although in California we hardly have any bugs compared to Texas!)
And I have lots of plans for fun crafts to share with you, My editorial calendar is filling up!
Summer Recipes
I have selected five of my favorite recipes and I am lightening them up or “summarizing” them. (Sorry, I am not sure if that is a word.) I am making a few changes with sauces and ingredients to adopt some of my favorite fall and winter recipes for summer!
Have you ever thought about doing this?
Of course, I am also going to create some brand new recipes!
Summer Around the Home
My biggest goal for Summer Days is to enjoy our home and backyard. Our Ventura home will be under construction so we will be spending most of our time at home.
I am so excited because I think our home is going to be READY and very comfortable for our family to enjoy all summer long.
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Around Our Home
The Carriage House
The Carriage House is almost done and I am beyond thrilled about how it is going to look.
It has been painted white and it only took four coats of paint. Yikes!
The electrician comes this week and hopefully all of my chandeliers will be installed.
I picked up one table on Friday (in Northern California) and I am picking up my long table on Wednesday that I bought at Round Top. I am not driving to Texas to get it, I promise. I am only driving to Long Beach.
I don’t think I will get one of the cabinets painted in time for this weekend’s dinner party but that’s ok. Green is good.
Share Your May Day Baskets!
A few weeks ago I shared this photo and encourage you all to join me in making fun May Baskets.
If you can make your own style of a May Basket and send a photo to me by next Friday, I will share it on my blog post! Just email it to me at [email protected].
Let’s show everyone how fun it is to be creative thinkers and make May baskets.
And please remember one thing. This is not a contest. It is a chance to learn and have fun and find your creative inspiration.
A Healthy Tip
Why Eating Seasonal Food is Important
A while back I wrote a blog post about why eating seasonal food is important for good health. Now that we are planting vegetables and the Farmer’s Markets are opening back up, you might want to read this article.
Reflections on the Week
We had such a fun week. I loved sharing our porch in Waco and my recipe for Meyer Lemon Raspberry Olive Oil Cake. My tomato cages were so popular with so many of you and your reaction to my Mothers Day Gift Guides was amazing! The roses from Grace Rose Farm do make a fabulous gift (even for yourself) and the pancakes with my sister’s names were so much fun!
My Favorite Things
In the Kitchen
Janine at Happy Happy Nester made the amazing Easy Layer Cakes. Wait until you see what she did!
Ashley at Modern Glam made these individual Charcuterie Jars. Isn’t that so smart?
Blogs I Love to Follow
Here are some blogs that I love to read every day of the week!
Things I Love For Mother’s Day
You all loved all of my Mother’s Day Gift Guides so much I decided to share them again here. Just click on each one to go to the storefront to find links to all of the items!
Good Things From Martha
Martha Stewart explains How to Set a Formal Dinner Table with diagrams and everything you will ever need to know!
What’s Ahead
I promise every week there is never a dull week at My 100 Year Old Home. That’s because it is so true! Next week you will see how to add color to your tablescape, some milk paint magic, everything you always wanted to know about artichokes, a fun porch dinner, how to make a mercury glass mirror, and a stunning new surprise in the Carriage House.
Catch up on Sunday Morning Coffee
- Sunday Morning Coffee Volume 13 – The Best DIY Projects
- Sunday Morning Coffee Volume 12 – Just Do It Yourself
- Sunday Morning Coffee Volume 11 – Creative Inspiration
- Sunday Morning Coffee Volume 10 – Inside the Life of a Blogger
- Sunday Morning Coffee Volume 9 – Live Your Best Life
- Sunday Morning Coffee Volume 8 – Living Green
- Sunday Morning Coffee Volume 7 – Why I Love to Entertain
- Sunday Morning Coffee Volume 6 – February is All About Living Beautifully
- Sunday Morning Coffee Volume 5 – Our Beach House in Ventura, CA
- Sunday Morning Coffee Volume 4 – The Story of My 100 Year Old Home
- Sunday Morning Coffee Volume 3 – I Think I Might Be Martha’s Biggest Fan
- Sunday Morning Coffee Volume 2 – A Tribute to My Mom
- Sunday Morning Coffee Volume 1 – How Chip and Joanna Influenced My Life
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Very excited to see the carriage house completed !! And of course the dinner you are planning there . I imagine it will be enchanting. What a treat to have such a space !!
I am so excited to share the finished Carriage House Annmarie. It is such a unique space and I love the history behind it. Have a great week!
Still love the pink decor you use in your house. It’s the light we all need in our lives. Your blog posts hit the nail on the head with so many families wishing to upgrade their homes to use the same way as you say….bring the indoors outside and vice versa. I will enjoy master bedroom blog posts as we want to upgrade our headboard since ours is a very heavy real wood one over 42 years old. And lighting too. If we get rid of ours with shelves and lights in it, we will go to nightstands with lamps so a big switch for us.
Thank you Kathy for reaching out. I do still love the pink! 😉 It is exciting to switch things up a bit. You don’t have to make big changes for them to make a big impact, especially if something has been the same for 42 years!
Summer, always beautiful. In Boulder, Hell’s front porch during August, September and, sadly, often October these days. I dread it all year. Thus my favorite idea would be your beach house then, if it’s cooler there. 😁 I can’t wait to see the carriage house, I know it is going to be fabulous. I am always pining away for a little greenhouse/dining space. We have lots of yard, but we don’t really entertain as much as we get older… will be enjoying your parties vicariously.
Hell’s front porch, I love that term! It gets really hot in Southern California, triple digits, so the beach is a wonderful refuge! I am so excited to share the finished Carriage House, it is going to be amazing! As we exit lockdown mid-June, we will ease into some small entertaining. I am so happy that you will be living vicariously through my entertaining Jillian, I hope you enjoy!