From the Front Porch
Happy Friday from the front porch sweet friends, it’s great to be here with you today!
If you’ve watched or read the news lately, you likely already know the Swifties (Taylor Swift fans) caused a “Swift Quake” during a recent Seattle concert.
The minute I heard the report, I thought about how amazing it must have felt to sing and dance with fellow Swifties so hard it registered seismic activity.
Talk about carefree!
Beyond the singing, songwriting, storytelling, genius branding, connected fan base, and philanthropy there’s no denying Taylor Swift is a force to be reckoned with.
And I love how the Eras Tour is a celebration of all the phases her life has encompassed so far.
While you might not have all the glittery costumes, backup singers and dancers, a road crew, or a large, well-organized staff at your disposal, there are life lessons and things that are “uniquely you” worth celebrating this very minute.
So, as we transition into August, I want you to think about what kind of “era” you want to kick off in your own life.
It doesn’t have to be anything fancy unless you want it to be.
You can start a “simple pleasures era,” an “organized era” or a “joy-filled era.
Maybe you need a “forgiveness era,” a “low contact era,” a “little tweaks era” or a “mindset era.”
Perhaps you need a “self-care era,” a “healthy boundaries era,” a “fully present era,” or a “nourishing era.”
Maybe you need a “rich aunt era,” an “abundance era,” a “confidence era” or a “quiet luxury era.”
Whatever this month holds for you, I hope it’s spending time doing something that fills your cup, creates beautiful memories, and pushes you out of your comfort zone and into an extraordinary life.
As always, I’ll be cheering you on.
PS: If T Swift isn’t your thing, feel free to channel your inner Beyonce and fully embrace your own renaissance.
PPS: If you haven’t made a morning playlist for the drive to school, or your work, or to play in your home office yet, I highly recommend it.
Music is such an easy way to help get you started off on the right foot, especially if you’re running short on time!
Here are a few of my old-school favorites…
- I Go to The Rock (Whitney Houston)
- Good Day (Greg Street featuring Nappy Roots)
- Shake It Off (Taylor Swift)
- Happy (Pharrell Williams)
- This Will Be (Natalie Cole)
- Ain’t Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell)
- Fine (Mary J Blige)
- Roar (Katy Perry)
- We Are the Champions (Queen)
and the song my Mom played on cassette tape EVERY morning she drove us to school…What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong) AND the cookies she left on the car seat in a little berry basket every time she picked us up.
Happy Chocolate Chip Cookie Day.
A Few of Our Favorite Things From Around the Web This Week…
This grand Georgian mansion has a fabulous mix of elegant and modern touches.
Bookmarking this gorgeous rental in France for a future visit.
Speaking of rentals, Sarah Richardson’s cozy cottage looks like such a fun way to celebrate the end of the summer season.
This breakfast nook makeover is one you have to see to believe. It doesn’t even look like the same space!
There are so many beautiful things to love about this designer’s cottage
Have you seen Project Alton House by Tiffany Leigh Design yet? Here are Part One, Part Two, Part 3, and Part 4. They’re all amazing!
Everything in this outdoor collection is so pretty.
LOVED this post from Camile Styles, How to Do an August Reset: 5 Affirmations to Help You Move Forward.
This post, 6 Things Minimalists Do to Maintain a Tidy Home (via The Spruce) is totally doable.
7 Easy Non-Corny Ways to Practice Gratitude (via Self)
On redefining success (via Intelligent Change)
I love the scalloped edges of this duvet set.
It’s way too early to think about sweatshirts in Florida but gah this one is calling my name 🥰
Words to Live By…
On My Nightstand…
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Just started Worthy: Boost Your Self-Worth to Grow Your Net Worth by Nancy Levin so nothing to report yet but I’m excited to dive in!
As always, you can find a complete list of the self-discovery books we’ve read here, 64 of the best books to read this summer here, and a list of our favorite podcasts here.
Menu Ideas…
Simple Organization Tweaks We Spotted Online at Amazon 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 to you. You can read our full disclosure policy here)
Cube Organizer * Chore Chart * Sock Drawer Organizer * Food Storage Containers
Non-Slip Hangers * Cube Storage Bins * Can Organizer * Fridge Calendar
Day of the Week Organizer * Clear Drawer Organizers * Label Maker * Sink Basket
Closet Dividers * Pan Organizer * Battery Organizer * Storage Rack
If You’ve Missed Anything from the Blog Recently or the Archives, Here’s a Peek At What We’ve Been Up To…
10 Things That Made the Biggest Difference This Year
How to Create a Nightly Routine in 4 Easy Steps
(the not-so-secret secret to calm and drama-free mornings)
How to Repurpose a Picture Into a Chalkboard
If you missed last week’s peach-inspired edition of From the Front Porch, you can find it here…
August Bucket List…
- Celebrate August Birthdays
- Pick up Fresh Office Supplies
- Find Easy Breakfast Recipes
- Celebrate Living at Journeys End 14 years
- Finish Loblolly
- Design 2024 Planner and Blog Notebook
- Organize the Wrapping Station and Bathroom Drawers
- 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
- 08/06 – Medicine Cabinet & First Aid Supplies/Emergency Contact List
- 08/13 – Garage, Attic, or Basement
- 08/20 – Garden Supplies/Potting Shed
- 08/27 – Seasonal Decorative Items-Fall
TCG Housekeeping Notes, Dates to Remember, and Upcoming Posts…
- 08/04 – National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day
- 08/07 – National Sisters Day
- 08/07 – National Friendship Day
- 08/09 – National Book Lovers Day
- 08/10 – National Spoil Your Dog Day
- 08/12 – National Middle Child Day
- 08/13 – International Lefthanders Day
- 08/15 – Check the Chip Day
- 08/17 – National Thrift Store Day
- 08/19 – World Humanitarian Day
- 08/24 – National Waffle Day
- 08/25 – National Burger Day
- 08/25 – National Banana Split Day
- 08/26 – Women’s Equality Day
- 08/26 – National Dog Day
- 08/27 – Just Because Day
- 08/28 – Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day
- 08/30 – National Beach Day
- 08/31 – Eat Outside 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
I love music and the way you put the message together, but I knew something was coming about the cookies. Oh my goodness – what a sweet memory and great way to tie everything together! I love this!!
What a lovely saying today, CoCo!! Thanks so much for your encouraging positivity each and every week. Wishing you a happy weekend ahead!
Well, happy national chocolate chip day! I plan to fully celebrate today. 🙂 As I was clicking and pinning like crazy, I loved that even on Sarah Richardson’s rental there were smudged finger prints on the cabinet doors. Makes me feel better when I take photos and later see an entire dust bunny family under the chair.
And I have officially become a lover of wallpaper. I saw the hand painted cabinets in the Cotswold’s cottage and immediately thought as much as it is beautiful I could never do it. I like change way to much which is why I’m so cheap. I try and live a guilt-free/no regret life and paying for them would make me lose sleep. But the wallpapers – my oh my. So fantastic! Thank you for always encouraging me.
I had to chuckle CoCo, you took me back a ways… I thought about when I was in high school, and I played The Steve Miller Band every morning as I got ready for school. I haven’t played music as I get ready for the day probably since then. Louis Armstrong is one of my favorites, Frank SInatra, The Brat Pack, and then I still can find some time for good old Steve… all these years later. Funny you mentioned Sarah Richardson, my mother and I followed her when she completed her own cottage. I have been tapping into some of her inspiration recently for a bathroom remodel here. Hope you have a lovely Saturday.
Last week I was on vacation while my besties were visiting us! Didn’t watch regular tv so had no idea about the seismic activity! That’s amazing! Here’s to a fabulous August! Blessings, Donna
Listening to Louis Armstrong on the way to school and enjoying a basket of cookies on the way home… that is one truly amazing childhood memory! I hope you have an amazing week!!
Wow. There are so many great links and shares in this post. I love the Georgian Mansion meets modern makeover. Also the cottage in the Cotswolds has me longing for floral upholstery . . . some day it will come back in style here in the USA. It’s so inspiring the way the designer mixed high and low for a great effect. Oh and of course – I adore Katy Perry’s ROAR.