Come Sit By Me: Volume 41

Inside: Welcome to the weekend and our weekly catch-up, Come Sit By Me. I’m spilling the sweet tea on what’s happened this week, what’s inspiring me, and a few things that have caught my eye that I think you’ll love too!

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Welcome to “Come Sit By Me”! It’s our chance to catch up on the little things I’d share with you this week if we could chat on the porch over coffee (or wine depending on the time of day).

Life Lately in a Nutshell.

It’s been one of those ordinary weeks where nothing special went on, so here are just some random happenings from my last few days…

• I made a quick trip into Hobby Lobby, hoping for a little inspiration because I’ll have to start thinking about decorating for the fall season soon (of course I had to peruse the Christmas aisles too). But I kind of felt like it was the same old stuff from last year. Maybe the “new” comes out a little later, or maybe it all just looks the same to me after so many years? Honestly, I probably won’t start fall decorating until September because the remainder of August is busy with a couple of getaways and out of town guests. Which means this year I’ll be like the normal people who don’t put out pumpkins while we have triple digit heat. But whenever I do get it done, I promise to give you a little tour!

• I learned what a “mukbang” is thanks to one of the ladies in my exercise class—who I also found out happens to be a former blogger/influencer. Who knew? I talk to the same ladies every week and it made me realize it’s so strange as much as we chat we don’t know anything about each other outside of the gym. I got a chuckle because when I told her my website, she said “oh that’s you?!” And just in case you’re still wondering what a mukbang is, it’s a video of someone eating for the camera close enough that you can hear the crunching (they’re very popular on TikTok). I’m sorry, I can find better ways to waste my time than watching this…

• At church on Sunday, they passed out tiny backpacks with a student’s name tucked inside so we could pray for them as the new school year started this week. Mine belongs to an 11th grade girl. That’s a tough year for any kid, so I’ve been sending up a few extra positive prayers for her first week.

• And I’ll close the update with a helpful tip that you might be able to use. Because I love to be thrifty where I can (and because I ran out), I realized that I could make my own refills for Dawn Powerwash dish spray. I’ve been making my own and refilling the same bottle for about six months now and it works fine! I found this on WikiHow if you want to try it:
  • Pour 13 fluid ounces of water into the old bottle (or almost to the top).
  • Add in 4 tablespoons of blue Dawn Dish Soap.
  • Add 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol.
  • Put the sprayer top back on and gently swirl the bottle to mix the formula together.

Words to Get Through the Week.

Pretty Pictures, Yummy Recipes, and Things I Just Want to Spend Money On.

This living room just says “happy” with soft blue built-ins topped with brass picture lights, pops of fuchsia and turquoise, and playful patterns that make the whole space feel fresh and inviting.

I have my eye on this cream cast iron dutch oven to replace my current one, and I can’t believe this one is from Target! It’s not only functional going from cooktop to oven, but beautiful enough to leave out if I want.

This Crockpot Parmesan Garlic Chicken sounds like the kind of easy, comforting dinner that fills your home with the best tempting smells. Tender chicken slow-cooked in a creamy, cheesy garlic sauce that would be good over pasta, rice, or with a side of crusty bread.

This peaceful print by Dan Hobday captures the beauty of open landscapes in soft, earthy tones that feel both calming and timeless. Framed in warm maple, it’s a piece that would work in both modern and traditional homes.

This article has some good tips for making a small living room feel more spacious and inviting, which I’m always looking for!

What have you seen this week that you’re obsessed with? Let all of us in on it in the comments!

Live this weekend to the fullest,💗

Before you go:

As always, I appreciate your visit, comments, and shares here on the blog! I’d love it if you also follow along with me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube so you won’t miss any of my inspiration and ideas.