I still remember the first summer night we ate dinner outside as a family, my two kids chasing fireflies while the neighborhood buzzed softly around us. As a mom in my forties juggling carpools, homework, and the little everyday triumphs and spills of parenting, those warm evenings felt like tiny, perfect retreats. My neighbor waved over the fence and complimented how the yard felt welcoming after dusk, and I realized how much lighting changed everything. Between school projects and weekend soccer games, I started collecting quick, budget-friendly tricks that made our porch and patio feel like an extension of our…