From the Front Porch
Happy New Year and welcome to our first From the Front Porch post of January! Thanks so much for spending time with us today.
We hope your New Year’s celebrations were filled with lots of love, laughter, and adventure. It’s our sincerest prayer you will be abundantly blessed in 2020.
New Year’s Eve Recap…
On New Year’s Eve, we celebrated “life’s little luxuries” by going to our favorite places to eat and doing random acts of kindness all around town. It was so much fun to tuck lottery tickets into books at the bookstore and buy lattes for unsuspecting customers.
Just to see their surprised faces was totally worth it. I think it’s going to become a yearly tradition.
We rang in the New Year with sparklers, pink champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, and a midnight drop gift exchange which was fantastic too if you’ve never tried it.
The gift doesn’t have to be anything expensive at all. The only rule is that it has to be sentimental, inspirational, or something that will keep giving throughout the year.
New Year’s Day Recap…
On New Year’s Day, we hung out with my family. My parents are BIG believers that whatever you’re doing on New Year’s Day you’re going to be doing all year. So, being together on January 1 is another tradition we celebrate.
My middle sister has been hosting all of us for the past few years and we always have a good time. Everyone brings a dish to keep lunch super easy. We eat a traditional Southern meal of black eye peas, greens, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, and some sort of meat like chicken, ham, or fish.
My brother-in-law’s birthday is on NYE so we had chocolate cake for dessert which was amazing. He is constantly making us laugh because he loves puns and one-liners.
As soon as we saw this pun game (affiliate link) we knew it would make a great present for him. We played it over dessert, and it was so much fun.
While we were there, we also got to meet the newest member of their family and he’s such a cutie pie!
Catching Up This Week…
I spent the rest of the week just trying to catch up on everything, taking down the last of the Christmas decorations, putting away the Christmas tree, sending out thank you notes, meal planning, and confirming things in my calendar.
It feels like such a slow process!
I LOVE a clean space though so I know it’s worth it. I’m definitely going to miss the twinkling lights of the tree each morning when I’m having quiet time.
A Few of Our Favorite Posts from Around the Web this Week…
I’m hoping to use the kitchen island/table found in this cozy cottage as inspiration for my workshop. I’m telling ya, that chippy goodness gets me every time.
Speaking of inspiration, I’m also hoping there’s a way to install some white shiplap out there. The shiplap in this kitchen reveal is giving me all the farmhouse feels.
Wait until you see this gorgeous home complete with a boathouse built to look like a garden shed. It’s fabulous!
You can check out more of C. Brandon Ingram’s project portfolio here. The attention to detail is mind-blowing!
If you’ve been dreaming of an island getaway but it’s currently snowing outside your door right now, you’ll appreciate the home tour in this post.
Speaking of blue, Is French Blue the New Millennial Pink?
2019 Home Décor Trends That Are Here to Stay
20 Genius Cleaning Hacks for a Tidier Home in No Time . Have you ever tried #4? I’m so curious now.
9 Reasons Your Grocery Bill is High & How to Lower It
The Best Winter Moisturizers for Dry Sensitive Skin
Have you heard CoverGirl launched a new clean, fresh, affordable, vegan beauty line? Find out all the details here.
5 Things to Let Go Of Before You Enter the New Year
I did this last year and loved it so much, I plan to do it again this year too!
Quote of the Week and Free Printable…
Book We’re Reading in January…
You Are the Girl for the Job: Daring to Believe the God Who Calls You by Jess Connolly (affiliate link)
On the Menu this Week…
*We mostly eat lean poultry, fish and plant-based meat alternatives which you’ll see reflected in our menu plan each week.
That said, there are some recipes you might be able to substitute turkey or chicken with beef or pork so be sure to check the recipe!
Week of January 4 – January 11
01/04 – Saturday – Cuban Fish Tacos with Citrus Mango Slaw
01/05 – Sunday – One Pot Healthy Zoodles Pasta
01/06 – Monday – Healthy Easy Turkey Pot Pie
01/07 – Tuesday – Chicken Fajita Bowls
01/08 – Wednesday – New Year’s Detox Salad
01/09 – Thursday – Turkey Sausage, Spinach and White Bean Soup
01/10 – Friday – Spinach Artichoke French Bread Pizza
01/11 – Saturday – Bourbon Glazed Salmon with Super Food Detox Salad
Looking Ahead…
01/12 – Sunday – Baked Chicken with Unstuffed Mushroom Casserole and green beans
01/13 – Monday – National Championship Menu Ideas
Sweet Treat to Try This Week…
Luscious Lemon Cream Tart (Low Carb, Keto)
A Few Amazon Finds Making Our Daily Routines A Lot Easier Right Now…
**(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)
Beholding and Becoming: The Art of Everyday Worship by Ruth Cho Simmons
You Are the Girl for the Job: Daring to Believe the God Who Calls You by Jess Connolly
Prayer Journal by Mary Square (additional color options available)
Tea Mug (additional colors available)
Silk Sleep Mask (multiple colors available)
Electric Tea Kettle (a total game-changer according to S)
She Reads Truth Bible in Rose Gold (additional color options available)
Not pictured also part of our daily routine…
Vanilla Syrup (S makes a London Fog for us almost every day at 3pm)
Collagen Peptide Powder (the reason we have 2 different milk frothers)
If You’ve Missed Anything from the Archives or the Blog, here’s a Peek at What We’ve Been Up To…
17 Simple Ways to Ease into the New Year
Last Minute New Year’s Eve Tablescape Ideas
52 Weeks to a Simplified & Organized Home Challenge…
Here’s a look at what we’ll be working on in the month of January…
- Declutter Kitchen Counters/Coffee Bar (Week of Jan 4)
- Organize Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers (Week of Jan 11)
- Clean Out/Organize Pantry & Spices (Week of Jan 18)
- Clean Out/Organize Refrigerator & Freezer (Week of Jan 25)
TCG Housekeeping Notes, Dates to Remember & Upcoming Posts…
- 01/06 – Buy Birthday Cards and Gifts for January Birthdays
- 01/08 – National Bubble Bath Day
- 01/12 – National Sunday Supper Day
- 01/13 – National Championship Game
- 01/14 – National Dress Up Your Pet Day
- 01/15 – Buy Valentines Cards, Gifts and Countdown Calendar Supplies
- 01/18 – National Use Your Gift Card Day
- 01/20 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- 01/23 – National Pie Day
- 01/24 – National Compliment Day
- 01/25 – Chinese New Year, The Year of the Rat Begins
- 01/26 – National Green Juice Day
- 01/27 – National Chocolate Cake Day
- 01/28 – Plan for Vacation Day
- 01/31 – National Hot Chocolate Day
Posting Schedule Changes…
If you missed last week’s From the Front Porch post, just a sweet reminder we’ve decided to change our posting schedule from Tuesday, Thursdays and Sundays to Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays to make things easier for Team Crowned Goat this year.
That said, there will be times when we post on additional days to make room for sponsored posts and seasonal blog hops.
That’s all for now!
As always, we appreciate you so much and we hope your weekend is peace filled and relaxing. We’ll can’t wait to share even more with you next week!
Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.Many blessings,
CoCo
CoCo – you are always so inspirational by showing and sharing sites and folks with us that we never knew about. Love that Georgia lake house! Cheers to an amazing 2020. Much love.
Thanks so much ladies! We swear Georgia has it all – there are so many beautiful things that come out of that state including the two of you 🙂 Hugs, CoCo