From the Front Porch

Happy Friday from the front porch sweet friends! We hope your week has been all that you’ve needed it to be as we begin slowly easing into the holiday season. Thanks so much for making us a part of your day!

Every year about this time my breakfast nook table is filled with Halloween goodies, I probably sip on one too many pumpkin spice lattes and I ask Alexa to “play holiday favorites” nearly every day.

Taking time to celebrate Halloween always feels like the unofficial kick-off to the holidays and it’s one of my favorite weeks of the entire Fall season.

It’s also the week, I notice our calendars start filling up.

Sunday afternoon I penciled in our last remaining free weekend for my sweet niece’s dance recital which we’re really looking forward to.

Writing those three little words into our calendar though marks 12 weeks in a row we’ll have plans, events, or obligations scheduled from Halloween until the end of January.

Last year, having to go 12 weeks without a break would have stressed me out to the point of tears, to be perfectly honest.

The part of me who treasures the festive-filled moments that come with the season wants to enjoy every ounce of holiday cheer I possibly can for as long as I can.

But the introvert part of me knows those expectations will be impossible to fulfill without a chance to rest and restore my Christmas spirit.

While I’d never intentionally hurt anyone’s feelings, I know in advance I’m going to disappoint some people and that’s ok.

Because this year more than any other year, I’ve come to truly appreciate the value of my time.

I hope you have too.

As we walk toward what promises to be a magical season filled with wonder, I hope you’ll take some time to genuinely decide how you want to spend the holidays this year,

Not out of guilt or obligation.

But because living a life on purpose might be the scariest thing you ever do.

And at the same time, it will also be one of the most rewarding decisions you’ll ever make.

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

The gorgeous portfolio of Anne Pearson Design

A luxury home tour from Nicole Davis.

Did you know you could rent the iconic “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” brownstone? It’s so pretty!

This historic estate is filled with blush tones, roses, and chandeliers so you know it stole my heart immediately!

You’ll probably have to use Google Translate on this new to me blog, but it’s definitely worth the extra step.

Michelle from Thistle Key Lane is always coming up with the most beautiful ideas that are simple yet elegant at the same time. Love the wreath she made this week.

All the autumn layers on this wedding tablescape are stunning! How amazing would it be to incorporate something similar for Thanksgiving?

Speaking of Thanksgiving, have you seen these pretty place card holders yet? I love these too!

Cassie Hi Sugarplum just launched her Season of Cheer Holiday Collection, and every piece is fantastic. It’s also size-inclusive too!

If you need a pick me up this week, you’ll love 12 Readers Comments on Kindness.

6 Better Ways to Wake Up

4 Benefits to Walking a Mile Every Day

Grab your bowl of popcorn and M&Ms! These are the 41 movies coming to Hallmark this holiday season.

Words to Live By…

Q&A Friday…

Do you have any advice on how to stay in touch with your family without being around them all the time? I’m just reconnecting with mine.

There are definitely creative ways to stay in touch that don’t require you to be there in person.  

I know birthdays are usually only celebrated once a year but if you’re easing into things you might want to consider doing something once a month or every quarter around their birthdate.

For example, one of my cousins was born on the 16^th. So, on the 16^th of each month, I make it a point to pray an extra blessing over her day, schedule a Zoom meeting, send a text, a funny video, Facetime, a card or call her on the phone.

Then on her actual birthday, I send her a gift or flowers.

If you don’t keep a paper calendar, you can add the date to your Google calendar or ask Alexa to set up a recurring reminder, so you don’t forget.

To stay in touch with littles, tweens, or teens, find out what they’re excited about.

Two of the littles are crazy for Halloween and every time I see something spooky, I text them a picture.  

My niece runs cross country, so I send her a text each week to see if she needs anything from Band-Aids to Gatorade.  I’ve watched another nephew play soccer since he was 3.

It doesn’t take a lot of time, but it does take effort. One of the best things you can do is decide how involved you want to be, make a plan, then follow through.

I’ll be cheering you on!

Books of the Month…

(Amazon and Target 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 for you. You can read our full disclosure policy here)

• October: On Purpose by Tanya Dalton and Feels Like Home by Marian Parsons
• November: Cozy White Cottage Seasons: 100 Ways to Be Cozy All Year Long by Liz Marie Galvan
• December: Dream Big by Bob Goff

On the Menu this Week…

Week of October 31^st – November 7^th

• 10/31 Sunday: 35 Halloween Dinner Ideas and Frightfully Fun Halloween Desserts
• 11/01 Monday: Vegetarian Black Bean Tacos
• 11/02 Tuesday: 19 All American Recipes for Election Night
• 11/03 Wednesday: Bacon Pear Gorgonzola Salad
• 11/04 Thursday: Insta Pot French Onion Soup
• 11/05 Friday: Everything Cheddar Tomato Bacon Grilled Cheese
• 11/06 Saturday: Maple Mustard Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner
• 11/07 Sunday: One Pan Cheese Spaghetti Pie

Sweet Treat to Try This Week…

Pumpkin Spice Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

A Few Fun Finds We Spotted Online at Amazon and Target This Week…

(Amazon and Target 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 for you. You can read our full disclosure policy here)

**Dress * Dinner Plate * **Earrings * Plaid Blanket

**Plaid Dinner Napkins * Sweater * **Gray Charger Plates * **Ballet Flats

**Salad Plate Set * **Pillow Cover * **Hooded Pullover * Wreath

Road Trip Tote * Garland * Cloche Set * **Gray Dress

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

Christmas Inspiration Design Boards

2021 Holiday Gift Guide (Our biggest to date with 160 Ideas!)

12 Ways to Ease Into the Holidays

Vintage Inspired Air Dry Clay Ornaments

November Bucket List…

• Support Indigenous People and Organizations
• Celebrate Thanksgiving
• Make a Blessings Leaf Garland
• Fly the Flag and Take Dad to Lunch for Veteran’s Day
• Go to the Extravaganza
• Decorate the House for the Holidays
• Craft Christmas Ornaments
• Bake a Pecan Pie with Pecans from the Pecan Grove
• Sip on Hot Apple Cider
• Buy a Cozy Lounge Set
• Finalize Holiday Plans
• Set Up Gift Wrapping Station
• Attend Family Chili Night, S’mores Party, and Lighting of the Star at the Farm
• Read the Book of the Month
• Keep Sundays Sacred

November Simplified and Organized Home Challenge…

Focus of the Month: Holiday Planning & Prep

• 11/06 Organize Christmas Card Contact List
• 11/13 Finalize Thanksgiving Menu/Grocery Shopping
• 11/20 Organize Christmas Paper & Gift Wrap Supplies
• 11/27 Finish Christmas Shopping and Check Naughty or Nice List

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

• 11/01 Buy Birthday and Special Occasion Gifts and Cards
• 11/02 Election Day (US)
• 11/06 Fall Tray Blog Hop
• 11/07 Daylight Savings Time Ends
• 11/11 Veterans Day
• 11/13 Lifestyle of Love Blog Hop
• 11/17 Homemade Bread Day
• 11/19 Equal Opportunity Day
• 11/25 Thanksgiving Day
• 11/26 Black Friday
• 11/27 Shop Small Saturday
• 11/28 First Day of Advent, Hanukkah Begins
• 11/29 Cyber Monday
• 11/30 Giving Tuesday
• 11/30 Christmas Inspiration Blog Hop

Over the next few weeks, our content will be a mix of Thanksgiving and Christmas. My Mom and her sisters LOVE Christmas so we’re the family that has a turkey on the dining room table and a tree up in the living room on Thanksgiving Day.

I want to encourage you to celebrate the way that feels the most festive to you though.

I know it can be really easy to get caught up in the busyness of the season where expectations run so high it can be overwhelming at times.

You know your needs and the needs of your family best.

So, don’t be afraid to honor those feelings.

While we have lots of holiday ideas and blog hops coming your way, I wanted to give you a heads up our email and posting schedule might not fit our usual Monday, Wednesday, and Friday timetable. Nevertheless, we’ll still respect your inbox by only sending 3 emails each week.

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