From the Front Porch: Embracing August

Hello from the front porch, sweet friends, and welcome to the Embracing August edition of this weekly series.

I hope the first week has been good to you. 

I read the other day, “August is like the Sunday of summer,” and it’s so true! 

I simultaneously feel like I need to tackle all the projects on my to-do list, like refreshing The Crowned Goat Cottage while savoring the last days of summer all at the same time. 

While this time of year is usually dedicated to students and teachers returning to the classroom, you don’t have to be going back to school to create an annual reset ritual or to channel the energy and excitement of a fresh start.

Here are a few ways you can use this month to transition into a new season…

• Have an end-of-summer or Back to School celebration.
• Pick up fresh supplies for your home office or capsule wardrobe.
• Deep clean your house and declutter your most commonly used spaces.
• Clean out your closet, shoes, and accessories.
• Treat your morning routine, daily power hour or evening routine like homeroom. It will help ease you in and out of the day.
• Craft a schedule that works with your energy.
• Prioritize sleep.
• Buy a new journal, calendar, or planner.
• Find a workout routine and workout gear you love.
• Schedule your doctor’s appointments, wellness exams, and beauty treatments.
• Have a money date and spend time getting your finances in order.
• Take an online class, dive into a new hobby, take a power nap, or schedule a daily recess so you can spend time playing.
• Invite someone new to lunch.
• Transition your home from summer to fall.
• Shop for fall decor items.
• Plan fall retreats, trips, and holiday vacations.
• Set goals for the rest of the year and create a plan of action.

As always, I’ll be cheering you on.

 A Few of Our Favorite Posts from Around the Web this Week…

Beautiful Home and Garden Tours:

• Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles shared this home on Alabama’s Lake Martin, and it’s beautiful inside and out.
• Speaking of beautiful, Bria Hammel Interiors does it again with this gorgeous home tour, St. Croix Coastal Reveal, and it’s a showstopper.
• Wait until you see all the layers of wood and stone in this elegant home by Kate Marker Interiors.
• Have you seen this Oxford Road Estate Project by Studio McGee yet? It’s swoon-worthy!
• If you dream of gardens with pea gravel, you’ll love this post via The Fat Hydrangea.
• Bookmarking this post, The 17 Best Hydrangeas Based on Your Climate and Garden via Country Living for next year.

Seasonal Inspiration and Design Ideas:

• How cute is this back-to-school party from Jenny’s Cookies?
• Dying over the cake made from pencils and filled with rubber bands featured in Laura’s post Back to School Tablescapes.
• Cindy of Reinvented Delaware has such a knack for upcycling furniture, and this vintage school cart is no exception.
• I used to do this craft with my Granny, so it made me teary in the best possible way to see Kim of Cottage in the Mitten doing it with her grands as well.
• Anna from Sky Lark House is my go-to for information on collectibles, so it was fun to learn more about these throwback pieces.
• Rachel of The Ponds Farmhouse makes the most amazing projects with old book pages, and this garland is one of my favorites.
• Donna from An Organized Season has such a great list of Back to School Organization Tips.
• This podcast, The Best Ideas to End the Summer, from Kendra Adachi was filled with fabulous ideas. Loved this post via Cup of Jo about creating family rituals too.

Health and Wellness Inspiration:

• Princess Diana Ate This For Breakfast Every Morning (I can’t wait to try this recipe from her former chef via Yahoo Creators)
• 50+ Healthy Breakfast Recipes (via A Beautiful Mess)
• This post, How I Finally Healed My Gut Health via The Everygirl, was relatable, and the tips were totally doable.
•  20 Short Rules for Better Days at Work (via Bree Groff Substack)
• 6 Things Organized People Do Every Weekend for a Smoother Week Ahead (via Real Simple)
• 99 Effective Ways to Say No (via Andrea Dekker)
• This video, How to Reinvent Yourself When Everyone Doubts You, from Amy Landino, was filled with fabulous little nuggets.

Style and Travel Inspiration:

• 9 Casual Travel Outfits for Women Over 50 (via My Chic Obsession for that effortlessly chic look)
• 11 Makeup Tips for Women Over 40 (via Byrdie-I had no idea about some of these)
• This property looks like the perfect place for an end-of-summer retreat.

Encouraging Words…

If You’ve Missed Anything from the Archives or the Blog, Here’s a Peek at What We’ve Been Up To…

The Un-Do List: 10 Things You Can Stop Doing Right Now

5 Minute Moments: Tiny Daily Practices to Bring You Back to Yourself

How to Make Book Pages Look Aged

French Country Inspired Bookmarks

The Best Self-Discovery Books to Read This Year

How to Host a Restorative Retreat at Home

From the Front Porch: Back to School Edition

Shopping Notes:

**(Amazon affiliate links have been provided for your convenience. As an Amazon and Impact Media Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Any sales made through such links will support us with a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read our full disclosure policy here)

• Watch (budget-friendly, also comes in a silver and gold tone)
• Button Down (20 colors available depending on size)
• Bucket Bag (3 colors to choose from)
• Setting Spray (a great way to help your makeup last all day)
• Striped Cardigan (8 colors to choose from; these are great for layering)
• Cardigan (8 classic colors available depending on size)
• Bangle Set (a great set to wear together or individually)
• Jeans (21 colors to choose from depending on size)
• Weekender (3 colors to choose from)
• Glotion (a best seller that comes in several different shades)
• Sandals (an easy way to feel pulled together on busy morning school drop-offs or pick-ups)
• Skirt (recently ordered in navy, will report back)
• Necklace (so excited statement necklaces are making a comeback, 12 colors to choose from)
• Pullover (8 colors available depending on size, love the button detail on the sleeves)
• Belt (15 colors available depending on size, have and love in brown-stretchy in the back)
• Hair Spray (hoping this will help combat the heat and humidity frizz)
• Loafers (19 colors available depending on size, recently ordered; will report back)
• Shirt (have and love, wish they made this in a navy blue check too)
• Earrings (a classic style that will take you from day to night)
• Work Pants (7 colors available depending on size)
• Sweater (17 colors available depending on size and an easy way to transition into Fall)
• Eye Shadow Palette (great for a 5-minute makeup routine or a midday touch-up; Country Woods is pretty too)
• Sneakers (5 colors to choose from depending on your size)
• Dress (11 colors available depending on size)
• Scarf (40 colors and designs to choose from, would be pretty framed too)

As always, we appreciate you so much, and we hope your weekend is peace-filled and relaxing. 

We 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