New York and Sunday Morning Coffee

This week I’m writing from New York City, where Dave and I are celebrating a family wedding weekend in Brooklyn with siblings, nieces, nephews, and family from near and far.

I’m also sharing what worked this week as I continue to get ahead on my blog and social media content, including finishing my editorial calendar through July and planning some fun Christmas-in-July projects. I also have a sneak peek at what’s happening in my craft room, where patriotic projects are taking over as I prepare Fourth of July crafts, recipes, and entertaining ideas to share with all of you. Grab a cup of coffee and join me as I share what’s been happening this week.

A city skyline with tall modern buildings, including the One World Trade Center, viewed from across a body of water under a partly cloudy sky. — Dave took this photo while we were on our boat cruise!

Season 6 Volume 23

Thanks for joining me for Sunday Morning Coffee. This is a place to share, learn, explain, dream, and have fun.

A collage with a house exterior, a kitchen, a door with a wreath, text "Sunday Morning Coffee," and a Christmas ornament labeled "The Santa Family.

About Me

Three adults stand together in a lobby with glass doors and trees outside. One man wears a white shirt and red pants; two women wear light-colored and black outfits, smiling at the camera. — My brother Gary and my sister-in-law Aileen.

A Weekend in Brooklyn

This week finds Dave and me in one of our favorite places, New York City. We are staying in Brooklyn for a family wedding celebration, and I couldn’t be happier to have so many family members gathered together in one place. It seems like every time we turn a corner, we run into another sibling, niece, nephew, in-law, or cousin.

Eight adults sit around a wooden table on a boat with large glass windows, smiling at the camera. Drinks and a small floral centerpiece are on the table. Trees are visible outside. — My siblings and most of their better halves!

These kinds of weekends don’t happen often enough, which makes them even more special.

One of the greatest gifts of getting older is realizing that time spent with family is what matters most. Life gets busy, everyone lives in different places, and schedules rarely seem to align. Yet somehow this weekend, all of the stars aligned, and we have been able to spend several days together celebrating, catching up, laughing, and creating new memories.

The Statue of Liberty stands silhouetted against a sunset sky, with water in the foreground and trees at the statue’s base.

Dave and I have always loved visiting New York. There is an energy here that is unlike anywhere else. Every neighborhood has its own personality, every restaurant feels like a hidden treasure, and there is always something new to discover. This trip has been no exception. We’ve enjoyed some fabulous dinners, spent an evening on a boat cruise taking in the incredible skyline, walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, and attended a wonderful celebration party that brought everyone together for wedding festivities.

Of course, as wonderful as travel can be, getting there isn’t always quite as glamorous. Airports seem busier than ever, flights are packed, and there are always a few surprises along the way. Over the years, though, I’ve learned that a little planning can make all the difference. In fact, I think one of the best travel tips I can share is to do as much preparation as possible before you ever leave home.

Whenever I travel, I lay out every outfit for every event before I pack a single thing. If we’re attending dinners, sightseeing, a wedding, or a special event, each outfit gets planned from head to toe. Shoes, jewelry, handbags, and even jackets are selected ahead of time. Not only does this prevent overpacking, but it also eliminates those moments when you’re standing in a hotel room wondering what to wear.

A rainbow arches over a city skyline with tall modern buildings next to a river under a partly cloudy sky. — The rainbows were breathtaking.

I also rely on packing cubes, which have completely changed the way I travel. I organize clothing by event or category, making it easy to find exactly what I need without unpacking my entire suitcase. A portable phone charger is another must-have, especially in a city like New York where you’re constantly using your phone for directions, reservations, photos, and restaurant recommendations.

A few other travel accessories I never leave home without include a lightweight crossbody bag, a refillable water bottle, comfortable walking shoes, and a small pouch filled with chargers and cords. It sounds simple, but having everything organized makes traveling so much more enjoyable.

A city skyline with tall modern buildings under a clear blue sky, seen from a bridge with metal beams in the foreground.

As much as I love decorating, crafting, and spending time at home, I also love these opportunities to step away from everyday routines and experience something different. This trip has been filled with wonderful food, beautiful views, lots of laughter, and most importantly, family. And honestly, that’s exactly the kind of week that fills my heart.

I can’t wait to share more photos from our New York adventure soon. But for now, I’m off to enjoy another day with family in one of my favorite cities in the world.

A beige suede sneaker, crafted in Portugal, features a black wavy stripe, white laces, and a light brown rubber sole, shown from a side angle.

Madden Girl Women’s Giia Sneaker

A woven straw half-moon crossbody bag with a brown leather strap and zipper pull, displayed on a white background. — The Sak Womens Tess Gen Sling

Two white portable power banks with built-in cables, one showing a digital display and the other showing charging specifications on the back. — VRURC Portable Charger Power Bank

A beige Owala travel tumbler with a pink and purple lid and a purple carrying handle, standing upright against a white background. — Owala Water Bottle

A set of empty travel-size toiletry containers in various shapes, including bottles, jars, pouches, and tools with black, white, and clear designs—perfect for stocking up during the Amazon Big Spring Sale.

Kitsch 11 PCS Travel Containers for Toiletries

Set of six green and white checkered packing cubes and pouches with mesh panels and zipper closures, perfect for organizing during your next trip. Shop now during the Amazon Big Spring Sale for exclusive deals!.

Narwey 6 Set/5 Set Compression Packing Cubes

My Latest Project

A collection of clay crafting supplies including clay, textured rolling pins, paint, glaze, Mod Podge, and star-shaped cookie cutters arranged on a flat surface.

The Fourth of July will be here before we know it, and apparently, I have decided that red, white, and blue should completely take over my craft room. I have been working on so many patriotic projects lately that every table seems to be covered with stars, paint, ribbon, and all things summer. Honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

A child is pressing a blue paint-covered hand onto a white T-shirt with the help of an adult; several blank T-shirts and supplies are on the table.

One of the projects I am most excited to share is an adorable Fourth of July T-shirt that every single one of you can make. It is simple, inexpensive, and one of those crafts that become keepsakes. The finished shirts turned out so cute that I immediately started making more for the rest of the family.

A table setting with red and white plates, blue and white floral-patterned bowls, and a centerpiece of red and white flowers, arranged for four people.

I am also sharing one of my favorite patriotic air-dry clay projects this week. If you’ve been following my A Handmade Summer series, then you already know how much I love working with air-dry clay. This project is perfect for decorating a summer table, adding to a centerpiece, tying onto gifts, or even hanging as ornaments. They have that handmade charm that I love, and they are surprisingly easy to make.

A layered dessert in a large and small glass dish with blueberries and strawberry slices on top, cream, and cake pieces in between, designed to resemble a trifle. — 4th of July Berry Fruit Trifle Dessert

Of course, no Fourth of July celebration is complete without great food and entertaining ideas, so I’ve been working on both. I have several recipes coming your way, along with some fun and easy ideas for celebrating with family and friends. Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, heading to a beach picnic, or gathering for fireworks, I have lots of inspiration to share over the next few weeks.

One thing I love about the Fourth of July is that it feels like the heart of summer. The days are long, families are together, and everyone seems ready to celebrate. It is one of those holidays that doesn’t need to be complicated to be memorable. Good food, a few decorations, time spent with people you love, and maybe a few sparklers are often all you need.

Outdoor table set with plates, glasses, and a white vase containing purple and white flowers. The scene is in a garden with greenery in the background.

So get ready. There is a lot of red, white, and blue headed your way very soon. Between patriotic crafts, summer recipes, entertaining ideas, and a few surprises along the way, I think the next few weeks are going to be a lot of fun.

I may sometimes use affiliate links on this blog, which means I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through one of them. The price will be the same whether you use the affiliate link or go directly to the vendor’s website using a non-affiliate link.

A box of 10 wooden texture rollers with unique patterns; a circle inset shows hands using one roller on clay.

Clay Texture Rollers

Mod Podge
Waterbase Sealer

18 Assorted Acrylic Paint Colors, 2oz each

A stack of sixteen folded cloth napkins with a red, white, and blue checkered pattern—perfect for your Memorial Day gathering.

Red White and Blue Cloth Napkins – Reusable Patriotic Cloth Napkins – 100% Cotton

Star Shaped Cookie Cutter

A woven basket features a design resembling the American flag, with red, white, and blue sections and white stars on a blue background—perfect for Memorial Day celebrations.

Mud Pie American Flag USA Water Hyacinth Woven Tray

What Worked This Week

A well-organized sewing room with folding tables, sewing machines, fabric stacks, ribbons, and neatly arranged supplies on shelves and racks.

One of the things I have been focusing on lately is getting ahead. If you are a content creator, blogger, or anyone who works for themselves, you know exactly how challenging that can be. There is always another blog post to write, another social media post to create, another newsletter to send, and another project waiting in the wings. Add summer travel to the mix, and suddenly staying on schedule becomes a lot more complicated.

A weekly planner for Week 2 displays daily categories such as Crafts, Recipes, Entertaining, Decor, and At Home, each with an image and blog post topics listed below.

This week, I finally reached a milestone that feels really good. I completed my editorial calendar for the rest of June and the entire month of July. That means I know exactly what I am writing about, creating, filming, photographing, and sharing for the next seven weeks. Honestly, there is something incredibly satisfying about seeing all of those ideas mapped out and organized in one place.

A white farmhouse kitchen with white shaker cabinets. honed marble countertops, an island with a butcher block top, and lots of farmhouse kitchen decor items.

Even better, I already have about two-thirds of the content completed. There is still plenty of work ahead, but having a plan gives me so much peace of mind. When we are traveling, spending time with family, or enjoying weekends at the beach house, I don’t want to be sitting in a hotel room worrying about what blog post needs to go live the next morning. Planning ahead allows me to be present and enjoy those moments without constantly feeling behind.

Three cone-shaped felt Christmas trees in varying shades of green are displayed in front of a woven basket with festive decorations and greenery in the background.

One of the things I finalized this week was all of my Christmas in July content. And yes, I know some people think crafting for Christmas in July is absolutely crazy. But honestly, I love it. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday of the year, and there is something about pulling out holiday craft ideas in the middle of summer that makes me happy. While everyone else is thinking about beach towels and lemonade, I’m over here planning Christmas ornaments, handmade gifts, and festive projects for later this year.

The funny thing is that Christmas in July is actually the perfect time to create holiday content. It gives me plenty of time to test projects, photograph everything, write the tutorials, and make sure the ideas are actually doable before the busy holiday season arrives. Plus, I know many of you love getting a head start on your own holiday crafting and decorating.

A festive dining table set with Christmas-themed plates, glassware, silverware, crystal candle holders, and decorative mini trees, with natural light coming through a window.

And as if planning seven weeks of content wasn’t enough, we are also gearing up for Amazon Prime Days. How is that possible already? It feels like we just finished Memorial Day, and suddenly, Prime Days are only a little more than a week away. Every year, I tell myself I will start preparing earlier, and every year it seems to sneak up on me anyway.

So while New York has been filled with family celebrations and wonderful memories, I’m also feeling incredibly grateful for the work I accomplished before we left. There is something very rewarding about knowing exactly what’s ahead and feeling prepared for it. It’s not glamorous, and it certainly isn’t exciting, but getting organized this week definitely worked.

A decorative plate featuring a Christmas tree with ornaments at the center, surrounded by ribbon and bell designs, on a white background with a dark green rim.

Johnson Brothers”Victorian Christmas” Dinner Plate

A rectangular white marble cheese board with a leather strap, featuring a small wooden-handled spreader tied with twine and a decorative inlay in one corner.

Marble CheeseBoard w/Mother of Pearl Snowflake

Cloth Embroidered Cocktail Napkins

Finish bridal shower gifts.
Get the beach house ready for more summer guests.
Finish embroidery projects.

Cherry tomatoes filled with a creamy white mixture, each topped with a fresh basil leaf, arranged on a white surface.

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A hand places a pink and blue plaid shirt into the open door of a front-loading washing machine.

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A long dining table set with white napkins, clear glassware, and vibrant floral centerpieces in shades of pink, red, orange, and purple.

If you have a wedding in the works, you might want to know What Wedding Florists Wish Every Couple Knew Before Booking.

Two-story white house with a covered front porch, two side wings, potted plants, outdoor seating, and a well-kept lawn.

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An open dishwasher with clean dishes, including plates, cups, glasses, and cutlery, organized in the racks.

Hmmm. I failed this list! 12 Items You Should Never Put in the Dishwasher

Portmeirion Sophie Conran White Large Salad Bowl

A stack of six round, light gray ceramic plates with a subtle brown rim, displayed with one plate standing upright in front—perfect for showcasing your favorite salad bar ideas.

famiware Star Salad Plates for 6, 8 inches Plate Set

Creative Co-Op Minimalist Round Marble Charcuterie Board

And what a week it was!

New York and Sunday Morning Coffee
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Acacia Wave Serving Bowl

A glass of white wine with a clear stem and base at an outdoor party.

Wine Glasses, Set of 4

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OXO Good Grips Large Salad Spinner

A set of five round woven placemats, one adorned like a flower crown with a plate of food, fork, and knife neatly arranged on top.

6 Pack, Round Woven Placemats

A Cricut cutting machine with assorted vinyl sheets, transfer sheets, a blue cutting mat, crafting tools, and a tablet displaying design software—perfect for crafting custom decor when you host a dinner party.

Cricut Explore 4 – Smart Cutting Machine (Seashell)

A bowl of cucumber salad with sliced red onions, fresh herbs, chopped peanuts, and red chili on a striped tablecloth.

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