From the Front Porch
Happy Friday from the front porch, you guys!
I can hardly believe Christmas is next week, can you?
Do you have everything finished so you can relax next week or do you still have a few things left on your holiday to-do list?
The past few weeks for us have been wild, to say the least. Shortly after the roofers left to fix a leak around our chimney (again), I took my car in to be serviced and wound up needing 4 new tires and brakes.
Not even 2 days after that visit we had a slow drain in several of our sinks so we called the plumber which led us down a rabbit hole that wound up having nothing to do with our sinks. I’ll spare you the details but there was a dig crew involved. All I can say at this point is goodness gracious, life on an island is definitely an adventure.
Thankfully, it was all fixed and we are back on track and looking forward to a much needed holiday break.
After all that excitement, I’m beyond grateful to be celebrating my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary this weekend and spending some extra time with my pod this Christmas at Bliss Barracks.
You can check out our family traditions and Blue and White Christmas Holiday Home Tour here.
A Few of Our Favorite Posts from Around the Web this Week…
This post, A French Style Home Tour Inspired by Provence is filled with festive spaces and fabulous transformations.
I have NO idea how she got it into the container but this tree is giving me all the cozy feels.
Every time I swear I’m totally over pink, I see a holiday house tour like this one and I fall in love all over again.
A warm welcome home tour in Atlanta
Home for the Holidays Showhouse Tour
A Colorful Madcap Christmas Tour
It’s been so much fun to follow Kelly Nan’s Snack Board of the Month posts this year. The Night Before Christmas Charcuterie Board for Santa and the Reindeer is super cute.
Here’s a Google Santa Tracker if you need it!
Speaking of cute, how much fun is this Christmas light scavenger hunt idea.
The Best Gift-Giving Strategy for Tween Gifts was so relatable, and honestly, it’s something that could just as easily apply to adults.
This post is filled with present wrapping ideas and free gift tag printables too.
An end of the year pep talk we could all use.
A great roundup of wellness and mindset planners.
Quote of the Week and Free Printable…
Self-Discovery Journey: Books We’re Reading…
**(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)
The number one thing I keep hearing about our December book of the month, Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun, and Be Your Own Person is how funny and relatable it is which seems like the perfect way to end the year.
January Book of the Month:
The Home Edit Life: The No-Guilt Guide to Owning What You Want and Organizing Everything
On the Menu this Week…
Week of December 19 – December 27
- 12/19 Saturday – Pan-Seared Cod in White Wine Tomato Basil Sauce
- 12/20 Sunday – Family Friendly Taco Bar or Walking Tacos if you’re walking around the neighborhood to check out the lights
- 12/21 Monday – White Bean Chicken Chili
- 12/22 Tuesday – Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad
- 12/23 Wednesday – Christmas Charcuterie Board or Christmas Brunch Board
- 12/24 Thursday –Christmas Fettuccine
- 12/25 Friday – 25 Make-Ahead Christmas Breakfast Ideas and
- Christmas Menu Ideas and Recipes (including apps and desserts)
- 12/26 Saturday – Christmas Leftover Ideas
- 12/27 Sunday – Maple Mustard Salmon Sheet Pan
Planning for New Years:
Sweet Treat to Try This Week…
White Chocolate Cranberry Tart or 42 Christmas Cookie Recipes to try this holiday season.
Kitchen Organization Finds We Spotted Online at 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)
Sink Caddy * Dishwasher Magnet * Food Storage Bags
Clear Food Storage Bins * Washable Produce Bags * Scrubbin Stone
Cleaning Brushes * Cleaning Caddy * No-Odor Dish Cloth
Extra Large Grocery Tote * Shelf Liner Roll (additional colors available)
Expandable Utensil Tray * Bakeware Organizer *
Refrigerator Shelf Liners * Under the Sink Mat *
Spice Jars * Striped Dish Towels (additional colors available)
2020 Holiday Gift Guides – 9 in All
If You’ve Missed Anything from the Archives or the Blog, Here’s a Peek at What We’ve Been Up To…
Creating an Outdoor Drink Station
Last-Minute New Years Eve Tablescape
17 Simple Ways to Ease Into the New Year
Our Favorite Home Organizing Essentials
52 Weeks to a Simplified & Organized Home Challenge …
Here’s a look at what we’ll be working on in the month of December as part of the 52 Weeks to a Simplified & Organized Home Challenge …
- 12/05 – Mail Christmas Packages
- 12/12 – Finalize Christmas Menu & Grocery List
- 12/19 – Purchase New Planner & Set Goals for the New Year
- 12/26 – Holiday Storage Items
Dates to Remember and Upcoming Posts…
- 12/18 – 01/03 TCG Holiday Break
- 12/19 National Wreaths Across America Day
- 12/24 Christmas Eve
- 12/25 Christmas Day
- 12/26 Boxing Day
- 12/26 Kwanzaa Begins
- 12/31 New Year’s Eve
- 01/01 New Year’s Day
- 01/02 Buy January Cards, Birthday and Special Occasion Gifts
Signing Off Until January…
We’ll be off for the next few weeks celebrating the holidays and finishing up several projects but we wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all the love, support, kindness, and encouragement you’ve given us this year.
We truly consider it an honor to spend time with you whether it be here on the blog or on one of our social media channels.
As always, we appreciate you so much and we hope your holiday season is peace-filled and relaxing. We can’t wait to share even more with you in 2021!
Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.Many blessings,
CoCo
I am new to your blog and must say I’m loving it! Hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas. Looking forward to 2021!
That’s so exciting to hear, AJ, thank you so much. I hope you and your family had a happy holiday season and this year will be full of adventure and all good things. Happy New Year, CoCo
Hi Coco,
Happy 50th anniversary to your parents !
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
❤??
Enjoy and see you in January!
Cindy
CoCo,
Enjoy your Christmas and family time! It’s precious and needs to be kept special… Thank you for all your inspirational ideas!
Joyeau Noel,
Barb ?
Yikes, why is it that everything seems to wear out or break at the same time!?! Hang in there and I hope the rest of your holiday break is much more relaxing!!
I know it, Heidi! I’m just thankful it can all be fixed because it was bananas there for a hot minute 🙂 It’s been a fun and much needed holiday break spent with my family. I hope you and your family had a blessed time together too. Big hugs, CoCo