From the Front Porch
Happy Sunday from the front porch, sweet friends!
As I write this the entire house is silent save for the portable heater keeping my feet warm. There is a steaming cup of half instant coffee and half real coffee beside me which I’m especially thankful to have given the way our week has been.
Scenes From Our Week…
We usually shop for groceries on Thursday but our sweet boy Filbie unexpectedly had surgery on Thursday. So, we had to put both the coffee and the groceries on hold until he was back on his feet a bit.
Unfortunately, not even seven hours after Filbie’s surgery took place, both cars were broken into.
I’ve lived in this island cottage for over 10 years now and not once has anything like this ever happened.
Our entire property is gated.
And yet…my car doors are currently covered in the dust of black powder from an evidence kit.
I knew when I woke up this morning, I was going to have to make a choice.
To either let this unsettling event ruin my weekend (and worse, my Christmas spirit) or I was going to take my power back and find a way to press on.
So, like any good General’s daughter, I chose the latter.
Onward and upward my Dad always says.
I spent the weekend back home at Bliss Barracks cheering on my niece and nephew. Saturday, my niece had her first basketball tournament and later today she’ll have her winter dance recital.
Across town, we made it in time to celebrate my sweet nephew’s first flag football game.
Wreath Cake…
Despite all the driving around town and to multiple cities, I was able to carve out a few minutes to bake a wreath cake for our Christmas front porch tour coming up later this week.
I wanted to make something that had the vintage look of gingerbread but was less time consuming.
We used cream cheese icing and a #67 tip to make the ruffles.
Then added stems of fresh rosemary around the base of the cake to make it look like a wreath.
Just a heads up though, I wouldn’t leave the rosemary on the cake plate if you plan to use a cake dome. You don’t want the icing or the cake to take on the essence of the rosemary. It would probably taste super weird.
My best tip for flipping the bundt cake pan is to let the cake rest for about 10 minutes after you take it of the oven, then flip it onto a cake plate or cake stand. You’ll still need to use caution and care as cake may be hot.
A Few of Our Favorite Posts from Around the Web this Week…
While the demand for these sweaters is so high they no longer guarantee delivery by Christmas, they would still make a super cute gift in 2020 so bookmark this site!
This holiday dream home is the perfect mix of old and new.
If you’ve ever been drawn to gorgeous garland draped doorways and arches, don’t miss this post . I’m STILL thinking about them ?
8 Christmas Markets in Europe to Get You in the Holiday Spirit
The cottage that inspired the movie The Holiday is for sale!
Home for the Holidays with Monika Hibbs has me all kinds of ready to run to the store for flocked Christmas trees.
Jennifer Rizzo’s 10th Annual Holiday Housewalk started this week and there are some really fun spaces and lots of Christmas inspiration to check out!
The Most Enchanting Holiday Window Displays in NYC
15 Charities to Give Back To This Holiday Season
5 Megan Markle Approved Holiday Looks
Speaking of Royals, it was so fun to see several of the items on this gift guide on my personal wish list this year too.
Ok, so this post is not really related to Christmas or the holidays at all but there are so many beautiful things to pin, I thought I would share.
Now is a great time to start practicing the daily habits you plan to cultivate in 2020. This post, 15 Daily Rituals of Highly Successful People, will help get you started.
Quote of the Week and Free Printable…
On the Menu this Week…
**(Just as a sweet reminder the person that makes the menu doesn’t eat beef or pork so keep that in mind when you see this feature each week, wink wink)**
Week of December 9 – December 15
Monday – Crab Canapes with Broccoli Rabe & Kale Salad and Orange Cranberry Dressing
Tuesday – Vegetarian Mexican Lasagna
Wednesday – Rosemary Chicken Bacon and Avocado Salad
Thursday – Kale Quinoa and White Bean Soup
Friday – Turkey Cranberry and Pesto Pizza
Saturday – 20 Minute Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies
Sunday – Chicken Pesto Ravioli
Sweet Treat to Try This Week…
Christmas Cookies! I’m so excited to try this recipe, Tante Betty’s Pfeffernusse German Iced Spice Christmas Cookies along with these 42 new cookie recipes this holiday season.
Here’s Are a Few Fun Pet Ideas We Spotted on Amazon This Week…
**(Affiliate links have been provided for your convenience. Any sales made through such links will support us with a small commission at no extra cost for you. You can read our full disclosure policy here)
Outward Hound Interactive Puzzle Toy
If You’ve Missed Anything from the Archives or the Blog, Here’s a Peek At What We’ve Been Up To…
Soft & Romantic Farmhouse Christmas Entry
Soft & Romantic Farmhouse Christmas Dining Room
Orange Pomegranate Cider Simmer Pot
Our Biggest Christmas Gift Guide Ever
52 Weeks to a Simplified & Organized Home Challenge…
If you’re part of our 52 Weeks to a Simplified and Organized Home Challenge, we’re completing Week 49 Mailing Christmas Cards and Packages and looking forward to completing Week 50 Creating a Christmas Menu as well as Grocery Shopping and Party Prep.
*** Keep in mind, if you’re new to this challenge or have gotten behind for whatever reason, simply pick up on the current week and start again. You don’t have to be perfect, just don’t stay stuck! This challenge is all about making progress no matter how big or small. ***
TCG Housekeeping Notes, Dates to Remember & Upcoming Posts…
- 12/ 8 – Second Sunday of Advent (Listen)
- 12/9 – Christmas Tree Blog Hop
- 12/10 – Easy Marshmallow Bar
- 12/11 – Festive Christmas Tablescape Ideas
- 12/12 – Soft & Romantic Christmas Front Porch
- 12/13 – Last Day to Ship Standard Ground Packages for Christmas with USPS
- 12/15 – Third Sunday of Advent (Stir)
- 12/22 – Fourth Sunday of Advent (Receive)
- 12/24 – Christmas Eve
- 12/25 – Christmas Day
- 12/31 – New Years Eve
That’s all for now!
As always, we appreciate you so much and we hope your Sunday is peace filled and relaxing. We’ll can’t wait to share even more with you this week!
Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.Many blessings,
CoCo
So sorry to hear of your troubles this week, CoCo! Hope Filbie is doing well! That cake looks beautiful!
You’re sweet Linda, thank you! There were definitely some frustrating parts of the week. But in the big scheme of things I just keep reminding myself they could have been much worse and we’re all ok which is most important. Filbie is on the mend as much as he can be considering. We were struggling to get him to take his meds but it seems like mini blueberry muffins are doing the trick 🙂 Hopefully, this round of meds 4 x a day for 3 weeks will help him get back on track. Sending you lots of hugs for the happiest week, CoCo