It’s hard to believe it’s been more than seven years since we packed up our farmhouse by the sea and moved into our current townhouse. That summer we lived in a charming rental while we searched for a new home, and I wrote a recap post sharing the highlights — from easy summer recipes and simple home decor ideas to small DIY projects and family moments.
Below are some of the most popular summer recipes, home tours, and craft projects featured that season. These posts are full of practical tips for summer cooking, decorating on a budget, small-space inspiration, and beginner-friendly DIYs. If you’re looking for summer recipe ideas, rental-friendly decor, or quick craft projects, you’ll find plenty here.
We cooked up a storm that summer—experimenting with fresh, seasonal ingredients and bringing back a few family favorites. For easy summer meals and desserts that travel well to picnics or potlucks, follow the recipe links below (all recipes are listed under the image).
- Black Bean Salad
- Texas Brownies
- Homemade Apple Juice that is clear
- Grandma Bernice’s amazing strawberry pie
- The best meatloaf recipe!
- Summer Greek Salad
- Cold pasta salad with ketchup dressing
- Grasshopper pie recipe
- Our family favorite oatmeal chocolate chip cookies soft and chewy!
These recipes are designed to be approachable and family-friendly—many can be prepared ahead, scaled for a crowd, or adapted for picky eaters. The Black Bean Salad and Summer Greek Salad are great for light lunches or side dishes, while Texas Brownies and Grasshopper Pie make sweet finishes to any warm-weather meal.
While living in our rental, I shared several home tours and small-space decorating ideas that worked well for temporary homes and tight budgets. These posts focus on practical styling, clever storage, and ways to make a rental feel cozy without permanent changes—perfect for anyone decorating a short-term living space or refreshing a room on a budget.
- Boys’ Basement Bathroom
- My neice’s modern home tour
- Small kitcheninspiration ideas
- Rental house laundry room tour
- Small entrywaysolutions
- Basement family room tour
Each tour includes practical tips for organizing, selecting affordable decor, and making the most of square footage. Whether you need entryway solutions, a functional laundry space, or ideas to refresh a basement family room, these posts show realistic options that are renter-friendly and stylish.
That summer I also started filming some real-life DIY projects—simple, step-by-step tutorials meant for beginners. There was lots of laughing, a bit of trial and error, and some light editing along the way. These crafts and quick furniture updates are ideal for anyone wanting a fresh look without expensive or time-consuming renovations.
- DIY dining chair seat covers
- Chalk paint bookcase
- anchor decoration craft
- How to use cottage paint wax
- How to hang pictures – an easy hack!
These DIYs are meant to be approachable: covering a chair cushion can refresh a dining set, a painted bookcase brightens a room, and learning a few simple hacks—like the best way to hang pictures—makes decorating easier and less stressful.
On a personal note, that summer was packed with family milestones and busy days: bridal showers, celebrations, house hunting, learning more about Instagram basics, and eventually signing the papers to buy our first house. Those moments made the season especially memorable and motivated many of the posts you see here.
I’m grateful to you, my readers, for stopping by—whether you leave a comment, share an idea, or try a recipe or project from the blog. Your encouragement and shared experiences make this community a place where simple steps can help us live more beautifully, one small project at a time.
If you’d like to revisit any of these posts—recipes, rental tours, or step-by-step crafts—follow the links above. They’re organized to help you find seasonal recipes, budget-friendly decor ideas, and easy DIYs all in one place.
