From the Front Porch
Happy Friday from the front porch!
I can hardly believe we’re getting ready to say goodbye to April and welcome all the good things May has to offer.
It’s been a great week here and I hope you’ve had a good one too.
A Quick and Easy Cookie Basket …
In last week’s, From the Front Porch post, I mentioned my parents were hosting my Dad’s family for lunch and an afternoon of old-school games.
It’s been a long time since I’ve laughed that hard and we had tons of fun!
Both of my parents come from large families and it’s not uncommon for all of us to pitch in to make things easier for everyone.
When my parents asked me to bring the dessert, I was a little hesitant at first. I come from a family of picky eaters (7 with allergies) which definitely adds a bit of pressure.
After thinking about it for a few days though, I finally decided to bring a cookie basket.
Truthfully, it wound up better than I expected and was a big hit with all the adults and the littles too.
I baked a variety of cookies (3 dozen total) then supplemented with store-bought favorites.
I also cut brown lunch bags down to cookie sleeve size so they could take some home since most everyone had a long drive back at the end of the day.
Anyway, I just wanted to share in case you needed a quick and easy make and take too!
A Few of Our Favorite Posts from Around the Web this Week…
Cece Barfield Thompson’s Gramercy Park Apartment is the perfect mix of tradition and modern styles.
This house flip is such a testament to the power of paint.
Can you even with this stunning outdoor garden area?
If you’re planning a getaway any time soon, this looks like a fun place to stay in Charleston.
This post, How to Spruce Up Your Vintage Finds for Spring, would actually work for the summer months too.
These spring to summer wreaths here and here are so creative!
7 Things to Give Mom That Don’t Cost a Thing
16 Things to Do When You Feel Stuck in a Rut
25 Things You Need to Stop Wasting Time On
32 Can’t-Miss Beach Reads This Summer
Words to Live By…
Watching This Month…
To gear up for our May Book of the Month, I watched The Reason You’re Always Tired and it has me all kinds of excited to start the book now!
May Book of the Month…
*(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)
Our May Book of the Month is called Sacred Rest and honestly, it couldn’t be timelier.
Nearly every day I hear, read, or personally see the effects of burnout and languishing. They are more prevalent now than they have ever been thanks to dealing with so much uncertainty and two years of the pandemic.
I’m starting my own Back to Basics campaign for the summer because I desperately want to stop the cycle in my own life. So, I’m excited to put these techniques into practice.
On the Menu this Week…
Week of May 2 – May 9
05/02 – Sunday –Sheet Pan Chipotle Lime Shrimp Bake
05/03 – Monday – 20-Minute Chow Mein (skip the chicken and add extra veggies or tofu if you want to make it a Meatless Monday)
05/04 – Tuesday – Nectarine and Summer Fruit Salad (we’ll probably add a side of grilled fish)
05/05 – Wednesday – Cinco de Mayo – 42 Recipes to Spice Up Your Cinco de Mayo Party
05/06 – Thursday – Italian Bean Soup
05/07 – Friday – Family-Friendly Charcuterie Board
05/08 – Saturday – Tuscan Chicken and roasted veggies
05/09 – Sunday – Mother’s Day – 100 Mother’s Day Recipe Ideas and my sweet friend Christine also put together this fabulous list 25 Make Ahead Recipes for Mother’s Day that is so good you’ll want to keep it on hand for the rest of the spring and summer season!
Sweet Treat to Try this Week…
A Few Fun Finds We Spotted Online at Amazon and Target This Week…
* (Amazon and Target 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)
** Indicates additional colors available
**Luminoso Blush * Bottle Dispensers * Book * **Earrings
**Dress * Paint by Numbers Kit * **Pillows * **Shoes
Shine Free Roller * **Pink Shirtdress * **Bow Flip Flops * Purse Pouches
**Makeup Remover Pads * Straw Bag * **Shift Dress * **Post Box
If You’ve Missed Anything From the Archives or on the Blog, Here’s a Peek at What We’ve Been Up To…
How to Make a Lavender Gardner’s Scrub & Mother’s Day Garden Blog Hop
Mother’s Day Gift Guide from Amazon and Target
17 Simple Gifts to Make Before Mother’s Day (here’s a DIY gift guide if you need it too)
The 15 Minute Task We Use to Cut Clutter
Encouragement of the Month: Cultivating Courage
May Bucket List…
- Celebrate the Kentucky Derby, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day
- Finish Writing Class
- Follow the arrows – Look for Clues – Take Action
- Sunset Picnic
- Look for fireflies
- Buy Piper a swimming pool
- Begin Back to Basics campaign
- Power wash exterior of The Crowned Goat Cottage
- Read the Book of the Month
- Keep Sundays Sacred
Simplified and Organized Home Focus This Month…
Living Room/Guest Bedroom or Home Office/Summer Bucket List
- 05/01 – Declutter and Organize Living Room
- 05/08 – Household Books & Magazines
- 05/15 – Home Office or Guest Room
- 05/22 – Home Office or Guest Room Closet & Drawers
- 05/29 – Summer Bucket List
TCG Housekeeping Notes, Dates to Remember, and Upcoming Posts…
- 05/01 – Buy May Birthday and Special Occasion Cards and Gifts
- 05/01 – Kentucky Derby
- 05/04 – Spring into Summer Blog Hop
- 05/05 – Cinco de Mayo
- 05/06 – Spring/Summer One Room Challenge Begins
- 05/08 – Lifestyle of Love Blog Hop
- 05/09 – Mother’s Day
- 05/17 – Tax Day (US)
That’s all for now!
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
I found so much for me in this post? First, thanks for the reminder of the cookie basket. My Grandmother ALWAYS brought a cookie basket with her when we had family get togethers and I think it is time I do that same!!!
And, I am trying to get back to basics myself….and I will continue to try. Same to you:)
Thanks for sharing!!
That is so exciting to hear you Grandmother brought a cookie basket! I was on the fence at first but it worked out better than I could have imagined. So thankful you found things you love in this post and you’ll be getting back to basics this summer too. I’ll definitely be cheering you on. Keep me posted! Big hugs, CoCo
SO many wonderful things this week (each week actually)! First, oh my golly, I can hardly wait for the Downton Abby sequel. Second, the cookie basket was a fantastic idea. I think I saw some thin mints in the mix. We could eat several packages of those and be happy. Also loved both of those stunning wreaths. I’ve never thought to use an oval frame and want to find one something awful. And don’t get me started on the outdoor patio with walls of greenery! Jaw dropper! Thanks so much for putting this together. It must take you a really long time. Last thing, I was going to mention, something I’d like to add to the list of stop wasting my time on… google analytics. UGH
So glad you like these post, Cindy! They’re always so much fun to put together and being surrounded by all this creativity is really inspiring. I wish you lived closer we could totally go to the Downton Abbey movie together and bring boxes of thin mints ? Sending you lots of hugs, CoCo PS: I’ll have to send you a private message about the current analytics situation because we try to keep it family friendly up in here ?
You have no doubt I enjoy serving sweets. You set beautiful cookie baskets.
You always inspire me my friend.
Have a great weekend! Can’t believe April is over. Time flies.
Thank you so much for your sweet and kinds words, Cindy, I really appreciate it! I can’t believe April is other either. It’s like where has the time gone ?♀️ Excited to see all the good things May has in store for us both. Sending you hugs, CoCo
Oh my goodness, CoCo! Today’s post is filled with so much inspiration! I LOVE the idea of bringing a cookie basket to a family gathering! What fun and putting them in those sweet bags to send home with folks is genius! That post about wasting time really hit me good. WOW! I need to read it over a few more times! Thank you so much for sharing my Mother’s Day recipes! You are the sweetest! I hope you have a fabulous weekend! Hugs!
You are so welcome, Christine! Thank you for putting all the Mother’s Day recipes together. We’ve used several ideas of yours at family gatherings and they’re always such a hit. That wasting time one totally got me in the gut too. I’m definitely going to have to bookmark it. So excited you like the cookie basket. It was too easy not to share! Hope your week is a special one, CoCo
First of all, you are making me very hungry with all those amazing goodies! I always love your features but was so pleasantly surprised to see that you shared one of my posts. Thank you so much CoCo. I loved the feature about how not to waste your time. I am sharing the link in my wrap-up tomorrow but did credit you with how I found it. Always love your blog. It makes me smile so much. Happy weekend.
I’m so glad you like these links and thank you so much for sharing too! I’m definitely an “a rising tide lifts all boats” kind of girl so I’m excited other people will be able to read some of these same articles too. They really do help. Especially, when you put them into practice. Sending you hugs and thank yous, CoCo
I love this post soooo much! You had me at the cookie basket! I have family gatherings in my future and need to take your lead for this. I would love to share this post in a post of my favorites! and Thank you for sharing my post! So exciting for me to be included! Have a great weekend!! I am a now subscriber to your blog. 🙂
The minute I saw your wreath I was in love, Leslie! It’s totally fantastic and could literally take any front porch from spring to summer. It’s super creative! So excited you like the cookie basket too. It was crazy easy to make and honestly, you could customize it with all sorts of bakery and homemade goodies. Big hugs and thanks so much for your sweet words, CoCo
What a great idea to create a cookie basket, CoCo! I love how you mixed homemade treats with store-bought favorites, and those take home bags you cut down are the best idea ever!! It sounds like it was the perfect day of fun with family! 🙂
Thank you so much, Heidi! It was super easy to pull the cookie basket together so I’m excited to pass the idea along in case someone else might need it. I know we’re excited to be with our family and friends again and after last year, simple is totally up our alley ? Big hugs, CoCo