From the Front Porch
Happy Friday from the Front Porch, sweet friends and welcome to 2024!
How was your holiday season?
We’re finally home from the cabin after a much needed break and I’m so thankful to be back.
How are you feeling about the new year?
Some years, I’m able to hit the ground running the second we get home.
And other years, it takes me a hot minute to ease into the month.
This year we were out of town 28 out of the last 45 days of the year and while it was tons of fun, it was also complete chaos at times.
I’ve tried to give myself lots of grace this week as we’ve tackled a mountain of laundry, stocked the fridge and pantry, tied up loose ends from 2023, prepped for 2024, and celebrated my sister and brother in law birthdays with a fabulous pajama party.
On the days I start to feel slightly panicked or feel completely behind, I give myself a visual reminder of how many amazing memories we made this season.
If you’re feeling behind or overwhelmed this week, I want to gently remind you to take it one day at a time.
You don’t have to have it all figured out.
There is still plenty of time to accomplish your goals and dreams.
It’s ok to grow slow.
It’s ok to go at your own pace.
It’s ok to give yourself what you need most right now.
As always, I’ll be cheering you on and I’m so excited to kick off a fresh new year with you.
A Few of Our Favorite Things from Around the Web This Week…
Beautiful Home and Garden Tours:
- I basically pinned this entire home tour from AKB Design, it’s that gorgeous.
- This home tour in Vancouver via AD is one of my favorite home tours of all time.
- I revisit this one, Magnolia Lane, from Jenny Martin Designs a lot too.
- Wait until you see how this old post office was transformed by Osborn Interiors. It’s amazing!
- A Rundown School House Becomes a Swedish Family Home (via My Scandinavian Home)
- 6 Decisions That Took This Once White Kitchen From Unremarkable to Full of Warmth (via Domino)
Seasonal Inspiration:
- Have you seen Jen’s Winter Hurricane Candle Holders yet? They’re fabulous!
- This DIY Snowflake Pillow from Kim of Today’s Creative Life feels like the perfect way to celebrate the season.
- About halfway through this post, you’ll find beautiful winter porch ideas from the always amazing Monika Hibbs. On a sidenote, how pretty was all the greenery in her holiday home tour?
- This “after Christmas wreath” from Rocky Hedge Farm is gorgeous!
- 24 Winter Flower Arrangement Ideas to Cheer Up Your Home This Season (via Southern Living)
Health and Wellness Inspiration:
- 7 Steps to Reaching Your Goals in 2024 (via Melissa Ambrosini-this was a great post if you still need help figuring out your goals for the year)
- 4 Types of Exercise That Helps Reduce Inflammation (via Real Simple-so excited to see rebounding make the list)
- The 20 Greatest Decluttering Tips of All Time (via No Sidebar-helpful tips you can implement this week)
- How to Stop Avoiding Your Problems (via The New Happy-a gentle reminder if you’re a procrastinator)
Style Inspiration:
- 7 Foolproof Ways on How to Look Elegant (via My Chic Obsession-my Mom recently introduced me to this blog and it’s so good)
- 10 French Fashion Essentials You Need in Your Wardrobe (via Instyle)
- The Blow Dry Mistakes You Might Be Making and How to Fix Them (via The Small Things Blog)
Simple Pleasures and Little Luxuries:
- These would make a beautiful gift idea.
- These are almost too pretty to wear.
- How much fun is this dinnerware set?
If You’ve Missed Anything from the Blog or the Archives Recently, Here’s a Peek At What We’ve Been Up To…
52 Weeks to a Simplified and Organized Home Challenge
Our Favorite Home Organizing Essentials
27 Simple Ways to Hygge at Home and Winter Decorating Blog Hop Ideas
Cinnamon and Vanilla Latte Brown Sugar Scrub
You can find last week’s From the Front Porch post here, if you missed it…
Organizing the Week Ahead…
Words to Live By:
Dates to Celebrate and Commemorate:
- 01/08 National Bubble Bath Day
- 01/14 Buy Valentines Cards, Gifts & Countdown Calendar Supplies
- 01/15 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (US)
Weekly Simplified and Organized Home Challenge Task:
- Week 1: Establish Morning Routine & Workout Routine
- Week 2: Establish Nightly Routine with 15 Minute Clutter Catcher
3 Simple Ways to Celebrate the Season:
- Set Goals and Intentions
- Craft a Vision/Motivation Board
- Start Using Your New Planner
Health and Wellness Finds We Spotted Online at Amazon This Week…
(Amazon 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)
- Rowing Machine (so curious about this)
- AirPods Pro (S wears these daily)
- Fridge Magnet Calendar Set (make planning healthy meals easy, we use ours daily)
- Deodorant (currently in my cart after seeing it everywhere)
- XL Heating Pad (have, love and frequently use)
- Sneakers (on my birthday wishlist)
- Blender (we have the black version of this and use it all the time)
- Cookbook (lots of great reviews)
- Steamer (my parents have this and love it, definitely a time saver on busy mornings)
- Liquid IV (frequently reorder, the watermelon is my favorite)
- Protein Powder (frequently reorder and use in smoothies)
- Cosmetic Bag Set (I have a brown version similar to these, and it makes finding things in my purse/bag so much easier)
- Rebounder (the rebounder I wish I had purchased, mine doesn’t have the bar)
- Water Bottle (have in the mauve color, love and use every day)
- Weighted Bangles (my sister loves hers)
- Apple Watch (I have the older version but it helps me stay on top of my sleep and fitness goals)
- Facial Pads (I bought these for my sister and she raves about them)
- Habit Calendar (a simple way to track your habits and goals)
- Yoga Pants (these have great reviews)
- Sore Muscles Soak (available in refreshing scents)
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’m so glad you and your family had such a good time together! The memories will last longer than our To Do lists 😊. I love the posts you shared and would love to share them this week. Very inspirational! Enjoy the new year and your precious Piper!
Hi CoCo and Happy New Year! I still can’t believe 2024 is here! We had a wonderful holiday spending quality time with our family! Looks like you had a great one too! I’m having a hard time getting back into the swing of working but that will come with time! Here’s wishing you the best year ever! Blessings, Donna
Happy New Year CoCo. The pajama party looks and sounds like a fun time. Piper is adorable in her bed.
Happy New Year! Hope you had a super fun and relaxing time at the cabin!
I do the same. Some years I have the Christmas decor all put away by Jan 1 and others it could be well into the month before I touch it. It’s looking like the latter this year. Oh well! 😉 It’s nice to hear y’all had a good time even though some days were hectic. Cheers to starting anew and growing in all the good ways. That doesn’t include the hips. Prayers for you and many blessings hoped for.
I’m so glad that you had a wonderful holiday season. It’s nice to have you back. I always enjoy your blog. Hugs and blessings to you, my friend.
28 days away is a long time to be gone but I’m sure lots of happy memories were made along the way. Loved the link to the lovely flower arrangements. Once the Christmas decorations come down we need a little something extra to cheer us.
Happy New Year CoCo! I can very much relate to feeling behind. We spent much of the holiday break traveling as well and are gearing up for a busy club volleyball season. Giving grace is the name of the game around here for the first few months of 2024!
Thank you for sharing my DIY hurricane candle holders. I so appreciate it. Cheers to a wonderful new year filled with lots of memories and laughter!