From the Front Porch: Morning Brew Edition

Happy Friday from the front porch sweet friends and thanks so much for making us a part of your day. Welcome to the Morning Brew Edition!

I’m keeping it short and sweet as I’ve been working from bed all week thanks to pulled neck and back muscles.

Sunday night we got home from my parent’s Super Bowl bash, and as I was getting ready for bed, my adorable and very mischievous rescue Piper was playing with one of her favorite rubber balls.

Well, somehow the ball wound up underneath one of the nightstands. 

So, instead of asking for help and moving the nightstand, I bent down and extended my arm (and neck) as far as I could to save a step.

The minute I pulled the ball out and handed it to Piper though, I felt a burning sensation in my neck.

It was pretty late, so I chalked it up to being out of shape and simply went to bed.

But the pain worsened overnight, and I woke up on Monday morning unable to move my neck, back, or arms without intense pain and charley horse-like muscle spasms.

Thankfully, things are on the mend now and I keep reminding myself they will get better but gah so much drama for a $2 rubber ball!

In the past, I would have 100% done everything I could possibly do to push through for the sake of getting things done.

But the older I get the more I realize, I’m the only person who can prioritize my health and well-being.

So, as we hit the halfway mark of February, I encourage you to think about where you need to take a step back and reassess what you need most.

Giving ourselves grace and time to heal is not always easy, but it’s a necessary step in helping to build a strong foundation that will ultimately help carry us through the rest of the year.

Cheering you on as you prioritize your needs and build a life you love.  

A Few of Our Favorite Things from Around the Web This Week…

Beautiful Home and Garden Tours:

• Inside a Dreamy White Weatherboard Cottage Filled with Antiques (via Homes to Love)
• There are so many things to love about Sweet Oaks Farm (via LDa Architecture and Interiors)
• Have you seen this Southern Colonial from Tim Barber Architects yet?

Seasonal Inspiration:

• Rachel always comes up with the best craft ideas and these Pottery Barn Inspired Easter Egg Bowls are no exception!
• I love Emily’s Dreaming of Spring Tablescape Centerpiece. It’s really beautiful.
• How adorable is this hot cocoa Bunny Bar from Clean and Scentsible?
• How to Get Your House Ready for Spring (via Real Simple)

Health and Wellness Inspiration:

• 8 Ways to Ease into a Minimalist Lifestyle (via Julie Blanner)
• Cure Procrastination with This One Mental Shift (via Camille Styles)
• 50 Ways to Make Any Day Better (via Cupcakes and Cashmere)

Style and Travel Inspiration:

• How to Transform Wardrobe Essentials Into 20 Classic French Outfits (via My Chic Obsession and they’re all fabulous)
• 7 Ways to Use Fashion Tape (via Caralyn Mirand-talk about a wardrobe staple)
• This was such a helpful post from Food and Wine about the difference between High Tea and Afternoon Tea.

Simple Pleasures and Little Luxuries:

• This budget-friendly dress would be an elegant way to transition to spring.
• Of course, you’ll need this.
• And these.
• And these to go with it.

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

Indoor Coffee Station Upates

DIY Bee Stencil Tray and Handcrafted Society Blog Hop

Raspberry Iced Coffee

Cinnamon Coffee Hazelnut Simmer Pot

Simple Ways to Elevate Your Mornings

The Valentine’s Day That Changed Everything

You Can Find Last Week’s From the Front Porch here, if you missed it…

Organizing the Week Ahead…

Words to Live By:

Dates to Celebrate and Commemorate:

• 02/17 National Random Acts of Kindness Day
• 02/19 President’s Day (US)
• 02/20 Love Your Pet Day
• 02/29 Celebrate Leap Year

Weekly Simplified and Organized Home Challenge Task:

• Declutter Kitchen Counters/Coffee Bar Area

3 Simple Ways to Celebrate the Season:

• Begin or Discover a New Self-Love Practice
• Reclaim Afternoon Tea Time
• Take Advantage of President’s Day Sales Events

Morning Brew: Coffee and Tea Bar Inspiration 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 to you. You can read our full disclosure policy here)

• Book (excited to try some of these recipes, we’re always looking for breakfast ideas, especially on the weekends)
• French Press (have, love, and use all the time)
• Ninja Dual Brew Pro (we have the 305 with the stainless carafe which was about $60 more than this model but this one is similar. It takes some getting used to but it’s been fun to try out new specialty coffee recipes)
• Keurig Elite (my parents have and love)
• Tea Kettle (not on the grid but we’ve used ours for years and love it)
• Tea Mug (have, love, and use all the time)
• Chai Tea (currently in my cart) Earl Grey Tea (not in the grid but wanted to mention because it makes the best London Fog)
• Mugs (I couldn’t find the exact link to our mugs but these are similar and the size is generous)
• Iced Coffee Glasses (we need to replace our current glasses and these look like a convenient option)
• Mug Tree (have, love, and use in our coffee station)
• Spoon Rests (have, love, and use every day)
• Spoons  (have, love, and use every day)
• Honey Pot (this has been on my wishlist forever and would make using honey so much easier)
• Syrup Dispensers (has anyone tried this style? We’ve always used the pumps but I’m curious about these)
• Tea Canister Set (have, love, and wish they made a bigger size)
• Tea Organizer (this is a good option if you only need to organize tea)
• Clear Organizer Set (have, love, and use in almost every drawer in the house)
• K Cup Organizers (this is the one I got for my parents which they love but this one might be more budget-friendly if you use K Cups for coffee and tea) 

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!

Many blessings,

CoCo