Summer is Coming and Sunday Morning Coffee

Summer is coming, and this week’s Sunday Morning Coffee is all about getting ready for a very busy and exciting season ahead.

From preparing our Ventura beach house for months of family, friends, entertaining, and summer celebrations, to finally solving our home internet frustrations with an upgraded WiFi system, this week felt filled with projects that make everyday life better. I am also sharing highlights from our wonderful trip to Northern California, where we spent Mother’s Day with all of our kids, daughters-in-law, and grandkids.

A large window in a bright room offers a view of the ocean, a spiral staircase, and a building outside. Inside, there’s a white couch, lamp, and wooden console with decorative items.

Season 6 Volume 19

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

A bright living room with white furniture, a striped rug, a fireplace adorned with a gold-hued painting above it, and a large window showcasing an outdoor view—perfect for unwinding after scoring deals on Amazon Prime Day 2024.

Summer is coming, and honestly, I feel like I have been in full preparation mode for weeks.

One of the things I love most about summer is how much time we spend at our Ventura beach house with family and friends. Every year seems to fill up faster than the last, and this summer is no exception. My girlfriends arrive in late May, followed by friends from UCLA Business School, then Dave’s family.

Later this summer, we are lending the house to dear friends for a pre-wedding celebration. Of course, we will also have our family there for the Fourth of July, along with several more trips and weekends filled with guests.

The deck on our third floor with Arhaus furniture, a fire pit, and dinner decor items.

Needless to say, I have been very focused on getting the beach house ready.

I always forget how much preparation goes into the summer entertaining season, especially when a house is constantly filled with people.

There is something about getting a home ready for guests that motivates me to tackle projects I have been putting off for months.

A home office with a wooden desk and chair, a lamp, a sideboard, a beige sofa, and a large window with sheer curtains letting in natural light. — The office, soon to become a king bedroom, has an attached full bath.

Our biggest project right now is transforming the office into another bedroom. I thought it would be fairly simple, but as usual, projects always seem to grow once you get started. Still, I am very excited because the new California king bed arrives today, and I know this extra bedroom is going to completely change the way we host guests at the beach house. It already feels like such a worthwhile update.

The finished beach house kitchen with white cabinets, countertops, appliances, a wood table, and an island.

I have also been trying to stay ahead of all the less-glamorous summer-preparation projects. I just bought and will soon install a new garbage disposal, cleaned all of the deck cushions, and washed every slipcover in the house. Somehow, slipcovers always feel like a bigger project than I expect, but there is nothing better than putting fresh, clean covers back onto the furniture.

And next on my list?

Cleaning out two closets.

Not exactly exciting, but definitely necessary.

As much work as all this preparation is, I actually love this season before summer officially begins. There is something exciting about getting everything ready for long beach days, outdoor dinners, houseguests, family time, and all of the memories that summer always seems to bring.

A modern living room with two white armchairs, a glass coffee table, a woven rug, and large windows allowing natural light to fill the space.

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Khaki Striped Pillow Covers

Seagrass Storage Basket Boxes

Cabinet Pulls

Large Gold Cage Lantern Light Fixture

Loloi II Heidi Collection Sage/Multi 8′-6″ x 11′-6″ Area Rug

A woven laundry basket with handles sits next to a beige sofa, adding a touch of vintage decor. A piece of light-colored fabric drapes gracefully over the basket's edge, contrasting with the light blue wall behind.

Tall Woven Basket

My Latest Project

The Dream Box 2 which is the perfect storage solution for all of your craft supplies.

I never thought one of my latest projects would involve internet connectivity, but honestly, this may have been one of the most satisfying home upgrades we have made in a long time.

A few weeks ago, our home internet started acting up. Random disconnects, slow speeds, and all of the little issues that somehow become incredibly frustrating when you work from home as much as I do. AT&T sent us a new router, and thankfully, it was surprisingly easy to install. Everything seemed to work perfectly for a few days, and I thought the problem was solved.

Then we left town for a week to spend time up north with our kids and grandkids.

When we returned home, we had absolutely no internet.

Of course, we immediately started the usual routine. Unplugging. Resetting. Restarting. Waiting. Repeating all of it again. After several phone calls with AT&T and far too much time troubleshooting, they finally sent a repairman to the house.

It turns out one of our wires under our home had completely failed.

Thankfully, he fixed the issue quickly, and we were back online. But the whole experience made me realize something. Even when our internet was technically “working,” we still had terrible connectivity in certain areas of the house, especially the Carriage House and my third-floor craft room.

And since fiber internet is not available in our neighborhood yet, I decided it was finally time to upgrade our WiFi system.

After doing some research, I bought three EERO WiFi extenders, and honestly, I cannot believe the difference.

Box of eero 6 dual-band mesh Wi-Fi system with three devices, labeled for speeds up to 500 Mbps and coverage up to 5,000 sq. ft., on a light wood surface.

They are amazing.

The setup was incredibly easy, which I deeply appreciated after everything we had already dealt with. Within minutes, the system was running and immediately improving our signal throughout the house.

The app made everything so easy!

Illustration of a modern two-story house with large windows, overlaid with circular patterns; text indicates user Leslie B. Saeta is signed in. “Start setup” button is visible at the bottom.

Now we have strong, reliable internet in the Carriage House, on the third floor, and finally in my craft room.

And honestly, I did not realize how much the weak internet had been affecting my workflow until it was fixed. Uploading videos, downloading embroidery files, streaming tutorials, and working on blog content is suddenly so much easier.

Sometimes, the projects that improve daily life the most are not the glamorous ones.

Three white Eero Wi-Fi mesh router units are arranged in a row on a white background, ready to keep you connected as summer is coming. — Amazon eero 6 mesh wifi system

Sleek Socket Original & Patented Flat Ultra-Thin Outlet Concealer

Summer is coming—keep your space tidy with this Cord Hider Kit. It includes eight white cord cover channels, connectors, and corner pieces for organizing wires on walls; total length is 113.4 inches. — Cord Hider Kit

What Worked This Week

Young child standing on a patio, smiling and holding the brim of a cap, wearing a dog-patterned shirt and striped shorts, with outdoor furniture and green lawn in the background.

Without question, what worked best this week was our trip to Northern California to spend time with our kids and grandkids.

A while back, I promised the kids that I would come up north once a month to help however I could, especially now with new babies and growing families. And honestly, this trip reminded me exactly why I made that promise.

It was such a perfect week.

Smiling baby wearing a yellow dress and large yellow bow headband, sitting on a floral-patterned blanket outdoors.

There is something very special about stepping into your children’s everyday lives and simply being available. Not for anything dramatic or formal, but for the little things. Feeding babies, helping with naps, tidying kitchens, running errands, holding a baby so someone can shower or rest for twenty minutes. Those small moments may not seem important, but they truly are.

I was able to spend meaningful time with all of our boys and daughters-in-law, which always fills my heart in the best possible way. Life gets busy so quickly, and having uninterrupted family time feels more precious than ever these days.

And then there was Mother’s Day.

Three women are sitting on a couch in front of a kitchen, smiling at the camera. They are wearing spring dresses and the kitchen has flowers and bags on the counter.

Honestly, I cannot imagine a better way to spend it than being surrounded by the people I love most. Watching my sons as husbands and fathers, spending time with the grandchildren, and simply being together made the entire weekend feel incredibly meaningful.

One of the things I have learned over the years is that family time does not need elaborate plans to feel special. Some of the best moments from the trip were the simplest ones. Morning coffee together, baby snuggles, family dinners, laughter in the kitchen, and everyone gathered under one roof.

I came home tired but very grateful.

And already looking forward to next month’s trip north.

Finish all of the preparation for our Book Club this week. I am hosting, and the book is Theo of Golden! It is going to be amazing, and I will share everything, I promise.
Finish making the gifts for my girlfriends for the Ventura weekend. My embroidery machine will definitely be busy!
Speaking of embroidery, I have the coolest A Handmade Summer craft to share next week. I am so excited and just need to finish it!

A large white two-story house with dark shutters and steep gabled roof sits on a tree-lined street at sunset; text reads, “I found the Amazon Version of Serena & Lily (and It’s SO Good). Swipe >>>”.

Did you know this IG Reel of mine sold over 1500 items in three days?

A clear glass vase filled with various hydrangea flowers in pink, white, green, and purple sits on a round outdoor table with a blurred green background.

Country Living shared, How to Preserve Your Hydrangeas: The UltimateDrying Technique You Need to Try

Three cocktails with ice, cucumber, mint, and lemon slices sit on a sunlit table as a beverage is poured from a bottle; a bowl of orange slices is nearby.

Can you guess BH&G’s Most Saved Cocktail for 2026? It’s not what you think!

Outdoor wedding reception setup by a rectangular pool with round and long banquet tables, white linens, and floral centerpieces, adjacent to a historic building with striped awnings.

Here are The Most Influential Wedding Trends Inspiring 2026 Celebrations.

A white oval bowl filled with shredded chicken salad with lettuce, carrots, cilantro, and chopped nuts, with lime wedges and a set of silverware nearby.

I can’t wait to make this Ginger Chicken Slaw.

Vintage Straight Line Cocktail Glasses, Set of 2

Rattan Round Serving Tray, Set of 2

A neatly made bed with white bedding and two pillows, a wooden headboard, and a bedside table with a lamp and a book in a minimal bedroom—perfect for relaxing as summer is coming. — Lush Decor Coastal Chic Scalloped Edge Comforter Set

And what a week it was!

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