From the Front Porch

Popping in a bit earlier than anticipated this week as we travel to take care of some unexpected family matters.

This is the first time we’ve ever taken our sweet rescue Piper on a really long road trip and to a house/situation she is not familiar with and I’m getting nervous about it.

While her behavior has drastically improved since we got her in March, she’s still a lot to handle and therefore, needs next-level love and patience which can be tough for some.

I’ve got my snacks and good attitude packed – say a little prayer for us!

Morning Routine Questions…

On a side note, I got several questions about morning routines this week so I thought I would share two of them in case they might help you too.

I saw your bathroom organization post with all the drawers under your bathroom cabinet. I don’t wear a lot of makeup either. Do you have a quicker solution to streamline my morning makeup routine that doesn’t involve drawers, baskets, or bins?

If you don’t have a lot of makeup or skincare extras, you might want to consider these jute cosmetic bags from Ballard Designs.

They hold a lot, have a wax-like coating inside which makes them easy to wipe down and they can be monogrammed.

If you got one set monogrammed with AM and one set monogrammed with PM it would definitely cut down on the amount of time you’re looking through drawers or bins for products.

Bonus, it would help organize your morning and night routine and you’ll already be ahead of the game when it comes to packing for your next trip!

You mentioned your Mom was a teacher and your family seems close. Did you do anything special to make back-to-school mornings easier or fun?

As a military family, we moved around a lot. It was very lonely and really hard at times because we never knew if we were going to have the same friends or live in the same town from one year to the next.

At the beginning of each school year, my Mom would play Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World every morning on our way to school. Literally. every. single. morning.

It seems like such a small thing but it didn’t matter if we woke up scared about a test, running late because we couldn’t find parts to our cheerleading uniform, or were mad at each other for teenage sister stuff by the time we got to school we were ready to face the day.

Even now, we all have a playlist that helps kickstart our morning routine!

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

5 Take Away Tips From a Charming Cape Cod Home

A Light and Bright Coastal Farmhouse Tour

This home tour is proof black and white will always be a classic combination.

There’s not a stitch of pink in this home but it’s so beautiful I could move right in!

The Best Way to Do Renter Friendly Wall Molding

30 Cottage Bedrooms with Breezy Charm

It’s been so much fun to follow along on this fabulous garden!

A great roundup of workwear essentials if you’re going back into the office or just need a refresh.

I’ve never seen shoe organizers like these before but they seem like such a space saver!

11 Skincare Products a Dermatologist Would Pick Up at CVS

15 Adult Lunchable Ideas That Are Totally Doable

20 Simple Daily Habits That Will Make You Happier and Healthier

99 Positive Morning Affirmations

Words to Live By…

August Book of the Month…

**(Amazon 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)

I just finished our August Book of the Month The Joy of Missing Out: Live More by Doing Less by Tanya Dalton and it was such a good one.

Most of the techniques in the book I already use but it’s always nice to get a fresh perspective on what it truly takes to live a fulfilling life. There were a lot of applicable takeaways which is always a great bonus too!

Learning how to simplify routines, cut decision fatigue, get systems in place to help you reach your goals while trying to harmonize whitespace and family life is not always easy but it’s always worth the effort.

August Book of the Month-The Joy of Missing Out-The Crowned Goat

My accountability partner has been reading Living the Simply Luxurious Life by Shannon Ables and every time we talk about the book she lights up.

I know Shannon covers a lot in the book and several of you want to go back and put what you’ve read into practice which is super smart.

I think sometimes we dive into the next book before we allow the previous one to really sink in so I am totally on board.

To help alleviate any extra pressure, we chose a faith-filled morning devotional New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp for our September book of the month.

On the Menu this Week…

Week of August 22 – August 28

08/22 Sunday – Stuffed Peppers Casserole

08/23 Monday Cabbage Stir Fry

08/24 TuesdaySpicy Shrimp Tacos with Creamy Sriracha Sauce & Cilantro Lime Slaw

08/25 WednesdaySummer Grilled Chicken Power Salad

08/26 ThursdaySwiss Chard Bean Soup

08/27 Friday – Baked Potato Dinner Board

08/28 Saturday – Jerk Salmon with Pineapple Salsa

08/29 Sunday – Chicken Pot Pie with Bacon and Cheddar Biscuits

Sweet Treat to Try this Week…

Gluten-Free Cherry Oat Bars

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 or options available when this post was originally published

Navy and Neutral Finds on Amazon and Target-The Crowned Goat

**Navy Dress * **Sunglasses * Bread Box * **Dining Chairs

Block Print Pillow * **PJ Set * **Tote * Branch Arrangement

**Pumps * **Necklace * **Blazer * Tissue Box Holder

Dish Soap * **Scalloped Sweater Shirt * **Door Mat * **Blouse

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

9 Quick and Easy Ways to Find Fall Inspiration

Finding Fall Inspiration by Decorating the Dining Room-The Crowned Goat

How to Create the Look of a Vintage Trophy

How to Create the Look of a Vintage Trophy-The Crowned Goat

Budget-Friendly Bathroom Organization Ideas

Tips and Tricks for a Small Bathroom Linen Closet Organization Makeover-The Crowned Goat

How to Create an Easy At Home Lunch Packing Station

How to Create a Simple Lunch Packing Station at Home-The Crowned Goat

August Bucket List…

  • Host Back to School Event for the Littles
  • Pick up Fresh Office Supplies
  • Find Easy Breakfast Recipes
  • Celebrate Living at Journeys End 12 years
  • Design 2022 Planner and Blog Notebook
  • Finish Guest Bathroom Makeover (find art)
  • Organize the Refrigerator and Desk Drawers
  • Begin Planning Mom’s Milestone Birthday Party
  • Grill Outside One More Time
  • Find Rocking Chairs for the Front Porch
  • Check Hurricane Kits
  • Try New IG Strategy 
  • Read the Book of the Month
  • Keep Sundays Sacred

August Simplified and Organized Home Challenge…

Focus of the Month: Car, Garden, & Garage

  • 08/07 – Medicine Cabinet & First Aid Supplies/Emergency Contact List
  • 08/14 – Garage, Attic or Basement
  • 08/21 – Garden Supplies/Potting Shed
  • 08/28 – Seasonal Decorative Items-Fall

TCG Housekeeping Notes, Dates to Remember, and Upcoming Posts…

  • 08/20 – National Lemonade Day 
  • 08/24 – National Waffle Day
  • 08/25 – National Banana Split Day
  • 08/26 – National Dog Day
  • 08/26 – Women’s Equality Day

As always, we appreciate you more than you could ever know, 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

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10 Comments

  1. I hope your baby travels well and that you have a safe trip. That gluten-free dessert looks delicious. xo Laura

    1. Thank you, Laura! She’s definitely turned our lives inside out and upside down but in the best possible way. I’m so excited to try the dessert too. It looks amazing! Hugs for a happy week, CoCo

  2. I love your From The Front Porch posts! And good luck with Piper. She sure is adorable. Have you tried those Composure treats you can order? I used that with my Charlie, who I lost June 28. Now I’m down to the rescue cat, Ivy.
    Brenda

    1. I really appreciate that Brenda, thank you! They’re always so much fun to put together. Piper is so sweet and she’s made a TON of progress in the love, trust, and behavior department since we brought her home. She’s very loyal but is extremely independent and likes lots of extra space 😉 I will definitely check out the Composure treats you mentioned. She doesn’t need to be medicated per se just something that can help take the edge off when she gets wound up (which is a lot when you are a terrier he he). Thank you so much for the help and I’m so sorry for the loss of your Charlie. There is nothing like the unconditional love of a dog. I’ll definitely be praying for you and your family. It’s such a hard thing to go through. Big hugs, CoCo

  3. So many great things in this post! Let me say, your dog is soooo adorable and I feel your pain with having a rescue. Our little Barkly is very busy and very stressed. He is getting better but it is taking time and patience. That makeup bag needs to be in my possession! The one I use was a freebie from a promotional offer at a makeup counter in a department store about 20+ years ago!! I read the New Morning Mercies devotional a couple of years ago – it’s a good one!! Blessings to you! I love your writing style – it’s just so ….. easy 🙂 My kinda reading!

    1. Such sweet and kind words, Cindy, thank you so much! These posts are always a lot of fun to put together. I swear we are so blessed to be able to find so much inspiration in our pockets nowadays thanks to cell phones and the internet. Piper has turned our lives inside out and upside down in the best possible way and it sounds like your Barkly has too. We love her to pieces and even though she’s a little wild thing we’re honored to have saved her and to be a part of her life. I love those little makeup bags from Ballard. I give them out as gifts all the time. If you need an easy travel bag to carry books, snacks, or magazines they have a matching tote with leather handles that can be monogrammed as well. Hope your week has been a fun, CoCo

  4. Thanks so much for stopping by!! I appreciate you taking the time to leave such a kind comment too!! Your fur baby is so sweet but I know they can be a lot to handle when they are young….I hope your trip goes well!!
    Hugs,
    Deb

    1. Thank you so much, Deb! She is such a sweetie pie but she is still learning a lot so I’m never sure how her behavior will be around new people or in new homes. I’m excited to say she did far better than I could have imagined even with the 8-hour drive. Fingers crossed she’ll be able to keep it up because we’ll have a lot of wellness checks coming up in the next few months as our loved one continues to recover. Hugs and thank you for all your kinds thoughts and prayers, CoCo

    1. Thank you, Sydney! She’s a ton of work but is such a cutie pie she’s definitely worth all the effort. We’ve had her for about 6 months now and she’s definitely making progress every day. Hope your week is a happy one, CoCo

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