Seasonal Sentiments June 2026 Rewind

Well, my friends, it’s the last day of June!

Can you believe we’re already halfway through the year?

Here in Florida, we’ve officially reached the time of year when the heat and humidity send us indoors.

I always joke that summer is our version of winter—we plan outdoor adventures for the morning and spend the afternoons inside where the air conditioning is!

Anyway, I hope you’re enjoying summer, and I’m so glad you stopped by to catch up with us.

Let’s take a look back at everything that made June memorable.

WHAT WE DID BEHIND THE SCENES IN JUNE

Celebrated Our Son’s Birthday

Our middle son, Griffin, celebrated a birthday this month!

If you’re new here, Griffin lives with us and has allergies to dairy, tree nuts, and strawberries.

Since I also can’t eat gluten or dairy, I make birthday cakes myself so everyone can enjoy a slice.

I enjoy baking, but getting the icing to look pretty is always a challenge.

But it tasted great—and that’s what really matters!

Our Tiny Front Porch Visitors

One of the unexpected highlights of June has been watching two baby mourning doves grow up right outside our front porch.

We never actually saw the nest, but once they left it, they spent several weeks hanging out in the landscape bed beside our porch while they built up the strength to fly.

It has been so much fun watching them grow and become more independent each day.

I’ll admit, I was a little sad knowing they’d eventually fly away…

…until they discovered my front porch chair and started using the cushion as their personal bathroom!

Let’s just say after that, I started cheering them on to spread those wings.

Saturday was the last time we saw them, so I guess they’re out on their own now.

We’ll definitely miss seeing them every day—but maybe not that much!

Enjoyed Father’s Day Weekend

Since Rich had Juneteenth off from work this year, we turned Father’s Day into a long weekend of family fun.

Roller Coaster Fun

On Friday, we headed to Hollywood Studios to ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster with its new Muppets theme for the first time.

It’s always hard when Disney changes one of our favorite attractions, but we thought the retheme was super cute and a lot of fun.

We had read online that some people thought the ride track felt smoother, but I couldn’t tell much difference.

Every time we ride it, I tell Rich, “That might be my last time,” because it jars my neck.

But somehow I keep getting back on!

We spent the morning enjoying a few rides, grabbed lunch, and then called it a day before the Florida heat completely wore us out.

Summer Yard Sale

On Saturday morning, we made our way to the Summer Yard Sale at Renninger’s in Mount Dora.

We arrived early to beat the heat, and Rich had great luck finding a few items for a Mandalorian costume he’s working on.

If you’ve been around for a while, you know he loves Star Wars.

He has a 3-D printer and has been making helmets, and now he’s hunting for old military pieces he can incorporate into the costume.

My finds were a little less exciting—a plastic skeleton for $1 that may end up in this year’s Halloween decor, and some unique flower pot holders you’ll see in an upcoming DIY project.

After shopping, we stopped at our favorite gluten-free restaurant, The Salted Fry, for lunch.

Movie Time

That evening, Griffin joined us, and the three of us headed to the movie theater to see Toy Story 5.

We all loved it!

Father’s Day

On Father’s Day, we enjoyed brunch at The Boathouse and were lucky enough to get a beautiful outdoor table overlooking the water.

The food was delicious as always, and before heading home, we stopped by Erin McKenna’s Bakery to pick up dessert to enjoy later.

We had such a wonderful weekend celebrating Rich.

He’s an amazing husband and father, and we’re so grateful for all he does for our family.

Health Update

I wanted to share a quick health update.

Many of you have been so kind to ask how we’re doing, and we truly appreciate your prayers, encouragement, and thoughtful emails.

Rich had both an MRI and a CT scan earlier this month as part of the preparation process for his radiation treatments.

Then, he started the actual treatments on June 24th and will go back every weekday through August 12th.

So far, he’s doing great!

On my end, I’m finally starting to feel more like myself again.

My eye continues to improve after surgery, but I’m a bit concerned because I’m still seeing some shadowing when looking at letters at a distance, so I have a follow-up appointment on July 6.

The chronic cough I’ve been dealing with has improved, and the mucus and congestion have continued to lessen.

I have an appointment to see a pulmonologist, but can’t get in until August 11.

I’m just happy to be feeling better each day instead of worse.

We’re grateful for every bit of progress and your prayers as we continue to take things one day at a time.

WHAT WE DID ON THE BLOG IN JUNE

June was all about patriotic decorating and easy DIY projects!

If you missed any of the posts, here’s a quick look at what we shared.

DIY

• Fabric Orbs From Upcycled Shorts – For the June Handcrafted Society challenge, I decided to upcycle a pair of Rich’s well-loved plaid shorts into decorative fabric orbs. They were easy to make, budget-friendly, and a fun way to give new life to fabric that otherwise would have ended up in the trash.
• DIY Frame Wreath – Have you ever thought about using a picture frame instead of a traditional wreath form? In this tutorial, I show how I transformed a vintage oval frame into a unique seasonal wreath. While I decorated mine for the 4th of July, the same technique can be used for any holiday or season.
• DIY Patriotic Garland – This simple garland was easy to make and provides a great way to add a patriotic touch to a mantel, shelf, or vignette.
• DIY Patriotic Ribbon Flag – If you’re looking for a unique patriotic craft, this ribbon flag is a great option. It was inspired by a project from one of my friends, and I love how it added a handmade touch to our summer decor.

Decor

• 4th of July Front Door Decor – If you enjoy decorating for the 4th of July without spending a lot of money, see how I used Dollar Tree supplies to spruce up our front porch for our country’s 250th birthday!

Organization

• We didn’t publish any new organization posts this month, but we’ve definitely been busy behind the scenes! We’ve been working our way through closets and filling the back of our SUV with donations. It always feels good to clear out items we no longer use and make room for the things we truly love and need.

INSPIRATION FROM AROUND THE WEB

I always love sharing a few of my favorite finds from around the internet each month!

This collection includes a little bit of everything—from holiday entertaining and home organization to decorating inspiration, travel tips, and a clever DIY technique that I can’t wait to try.

I hope you discover something that inspires you, too!

• Red, White, and Blue Grazing Board for the Fourth- If you’re planning some upcoming festivities for the holiday, learn to make this easy-to-pull-together 4th of July charcuterie board.
• The 1 Minute Clutter Routine That Makes Your Home Feel Better Fast – Incorporate this simple home habit to change your life for the better. 
• I want to add wallpaper to our home, but our walls are textured, so I’ve been too afraid to try! So I was excited to see that someone tested 12 Peel-and-Stick Wallpapers on textured walls. You can see the results here!
• Going on vacation this summer? You need to know the 10 Biggest Luggage Mistakes Travelers Should Never Make, as revealed by flight attendants.
• You have to see the “trick” my friend Kim used to hand-paint an image on a piece of furniture! I think anyone could use this technique and get fabulous results!

FAVORITE SEASONAL FINDS

Can you believe it’s already time to start thinking about back-to-school shopping?

It feels like summer just began, yet college students will be moving into dorms before we know it!

This month, I rounded up some of my favorite dorm decor finds from Target, and I have to admit…many of these pieces don’t look like dorm decor at all.

From pretty bedding, cozy throw pillows, to decorative accessories, these affordable finds would look just as beautiful in your own home.

Whether you’re helping a student decorate a new space or you’re simply looking for budget-friendly home decor inspiration, I think you’ll find plenty of ideas to love in this month’s collection.

Click the blue links below the picture to get more info on each item.

Floral Grid Rug | Antique Brass Bow Vessel | Floral Border Scallop Rug

Floral Scallop Bedding Set | Rattan Scallop Frame | Beaded Ceramic Vessel

Bow Vanity Tray | Floral Grid Pillow | Lumbar Botanical Pillow

Mini Rattan Lamp | Scallop Sheet Set | Embroidery & Scallop Pillow

HOME ORGANIZATION WEEKLY TASK

July’s organizing tasks continue to focus on our Personal Living Spaces, and we’ll finish the month by building healthy routines!

• Week 27- Secondary Bedrooms. Take time to declutter guest rooms, children’s bedrooms, or any spare sleeping spaces in your home. Remove anything that doesn’t belong and create a calm, comfortable space for family or visitors.
• Week 28 – Secondary Clothes Closets. Now it’s time to tackle the closets in those secondary bedrooms. Donate clothing that no longer fits or isn’t being worn, and organize what’s left so it’s easy to find and put away.
• Week 29 – Secondary Bathrooms. Give guest and family bathrooms a quick refresh by clearing out expired products, wiping down cabinets and drawers, and restocking essentials.
• Week 30 – Morning Routine. A simple morning routine can help set the tone for the entire day. This week, focus on creating habits that help you start your mornings feeling calm, productive, and prepared.
• Week 31 – Evening Routine. We’ll finish the month by developing an evening routine that helps you wind down, prepare for the next day, and set a more peaceful tone for tomorrow.

POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE FROM OUR ARCHIVES

DIY

DIY Tray With Handles – Want to learn how to turn a cheap thrift store frame into a beautiful tray? This is one of my favorite thrift store flips!

Decor

Living Room Makeover – Last summer, we were so excited to reveal our living room makeover post, and we have enjoyed every minute we’ve spent there since! If you haven’t seen the before picture, be sure to check it out!

Organize

Organize Cleaning Supplies to Make Housework Easier – We’re sharing our best tips on how to organize a cleaning closet! If you don’t have a closet, you can still incorporate these tips in different spaces.

Closing Thoughts

Thank you so much for spending part of your day with us.

Whether you’ve been following along for years or you’re a newer reader, we’re grateful you’re here and appreciate your support more than you know.

Until next time, stay cool, make time for the people you love, and enjoy all the simple joys this season brings.

Blessings, Donna and Rich