How has your week been?

We kicked things off with some heavy-duty heat (for us), with temperatures in the high 80s and even reaching 94° one day. However, by Friday, we got a lovely break with a 20°F swing, making it much easier to get outside and check a few things off my gardening list.

I’ve been preparing for an upcoming garden tour (next week already!), which means this coming week is all about deadheading and weeding to get everything looking its best. The cooler air has been such a gift!

We’ll also be in full “get ready for vacation” mode this coming week, packing up our boat, Wildflower, for a long summer trip. The plan is to head north to the San Juan Islands and Canada’s Gulf Islands.

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🎄 Christmas in July Reminder

Don’t forget! Christmas in July kicks off Monday right in your inbox.

I’ve teamed up with some of my favorite blogging friends to bring you a full week of festive fun. From planning tips to DIYs and recipes, each day has a different theme to help you get a head start on the holiday season (even if you’ve still got sand between your toes and a BBQ on the grill!).

Vintage Shopping at Josephine’s

One of my favorite vintage shops is Josephine’s Mercantile in Port Orchard. A friend and I stopped by this week for a little treasure hunting.

I took plenty of pictures to share.

There’s just something about wandering through vintage shops that makes me so happy.

From old garden tools to beautiful glassware and linens, it’s always fun to see what I’ll stumble across.

I’m loving this camp theme.

Our Cottage Kitchen and Colorful Hydrangeas

I’ve been bringing in fresh-cut hydrangeas from the garden, and they’ve added the prettiest pops of purple and pink to our cottage-style kitchen.

One of my favorite things about summer is walking outside, clipping a few blooms, and watching them brighten up a space indoors.

Here are a few photos of the kitchen this week—just simple touches that bring a bit of the outdoors in.

And before you know it, we’ll be looking at dried hydrangeas in the kitchen.

A Walk in the Garden

The garden is bursting with mid-summer magic right now.

I’m still loving those happy daisies! And now the black-eyed Susans are starting to bloom right along with them. What a pair those two make in the summer cottage garden.

Coneflowers are not only gorgeous, but they’re a huge magnet for the sweet little bumblebees.

One of my favorite spots at the moment is the raised bed area in front of the greenhouse. The second round of sunflowers is blooming. I thought I’d keep the spent flower heads for the birds to enjoy.

The purple statice is always my favorite for a dried flower bouquet.

This is the first time I’ve grown asters as cut flowers. They just opened up this past week.

I’m loving the pale purple gladiolus!

It was so nice spending the last couple of days in the garden with overcast skies and cooler weather.

The Sedum Autumn Joy always reminds me of a head of broccoli this time of year.

Gardening Question of the Week

How Can I Keep My Garden Healthy While I’m on Vacation?

“A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.” — Koshin Ogui

On the Blog

Guide to Must-Have Blooms for Your Mid-Summer Flower Garden

The mid-summer garden grows the most vibrant flowers. Are you wondering which summer blooms will grow the best this time of year and into the fall season?…CONTINUE READING.

Fall in Love with the Magic of the Butchart Gardens

Do you love looking at other gardens for inspiration? The Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia, is the perfect place to explore the most incredible flowers and plants at any time of year…CONTINUE READING.

Discover Why Boaters Can’t Resist These Roche Harbor Hidden Gems

If you’ve ever cruised the waters of the San Juan Islands in Washington State, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Roche Harbor Resort—and if you haven’t, let me introduce you to one of our absolute favorite stops while boating through Puget Sound…CONTINUE READING.

My Favorite Inspiration Around the Web This Week

These antipasto tortellini skewers with lemon basil vinaigrette are perfect for your next summer party.

This seaside renovation has an antique touch.

This recipe for BBQ chicken sandwiches is an easy slow cooker meal the whole family will love!

Or how about putting a spin on barbecue chicken with these quesadillas?

Upcycle your old lampshade with this easy DIY fabric refresh.

Designer Thomas O’Brien has created his dream house and garden; you won’t want to miss it.

This frozen watermelon spritz looks like the perfect refreshing summer drink.

This pantry area is both organized AND beautiful.

Here are three refreshing Tiger Melon Cocktail versions to try making.

These are the cutest DIY succulent vases.

You’ll love this Santa Barbara home from the JDP Interiors portfolio.

Looking Ahead

Next week’s a big one with the garden tour coming up, so I’ll be knee-deep in garden gloves and pruners. I’ll also be sharing more about my Christmas in July series, which kicks off this week, so stay tuned if you’re looking to get a head start on the holidays.

Until next time,

Wishing a wonderful week ahead,

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