From the Front Porch
Happy Thursday from the front porch, you guys! How has your week been? We hope it’s been exactly what you’ve needed it to be.
Can you believe we’re almost to the end of January? Oh, my word, it totally blows our minds too!
This week has been so much fun we’re still on a sugar high. As some of you guys know my Mom and I share a birthday several days apart and every year we celebrate from her birthday to mine. It winds up to be almost 5 days of treasure hunting, shopping, traveling to different cities, dinner with our family every night and a generous helping of sweet treats.
Renningers was packed this year! I don’t think I’ve ever seen as many people there on opening day as was there this year. I managed to get a few pictures from some of my favorite spaces, but I didn’t get as many as I had hoped because I was so caught up in the moment!
Scenes from our week…
My Mom really wanted to find some vintage monogrammed linens and napkins again this year after having found so many beautiful pieces last year at great prices. But you guys, they were like unicorns!
I swear we must have visited nearly 30 booths with linens and maybe 3 of them had monogrammed linens. We were almost to the end of the day when she found these vintage pillowcases with her monogram which hardly ever happens. Of course, we scooped them up immediately!
If you had a chance to read last week’s From the Front Porch post, you know I had ZERO plans to buy any ironstone because I have plenty. I was looking for the elusive ironstone cake stand though.
As fate would have it, I did find a beautiful ironstone cake stand for $695 which is actually a fair market price these days. While I left the cake stand at Renningers (the dining room makeover takes priority, right?), my sweet Mom did surprise me with a new soup tureen.
I still need to unpack the goodies we brought home but this kind of gives you an idea of the types of booths that are out in the fields at Renningers.
Speaking of soup tureens, it took almost 2 and a half hours to unload all the pieces of ironstone and creamware from the dining room. My brothers in laws helped me move some of the furniture so I could start painting this week. The room looks huge now!
One of my goals for the extra long weekend was to be fully present at every event and I can honestly say, I accomplished that goal.
Quote of the week & Free Printable…
Watching this week…
Season 3 of Victoria has begun on PBS. We’re only into Episode 2 but so far, it’s good.
If you’re wondering what’s going on with Season 3 of The Crown, it seems we’re going to have to wait just a bit longer as they are filming Seasons 3 & 4 back to back. You can check out all the details and new photos in this post.
A few of our favorite posts from around the web this week…
* Don’t you guys just love Julie Blanner? She was invited to Patina Farm and took the most gorgeous photographs. Pour yourself a cup of coffee, grab a scone and slow down so you can savor each image from this home tour.
* If you’re planning a trip to Paris this year, be sure to check out this apartment 25 Place Dauphine by Paris Perfect. The views are absolutely stunning, and it’s centrally located to beautiful cafes, shops and museums.
*While you’re there, make sure to stop by Rebecca Plotnick’s online photography shop. You won’t be disappointed!
* I sent this post, 9 French Inspired Resolutions to Adopt in 2019 to so many of my friends and family.
*How to Dress for Winter Like a French Girl
*Are you guys getting ready for Valentine’s Day in a few weeks? These 5-Minute Dollar Store Hand Painted Wooden Spoons are adorable and would be so cute to include in a gift basket!
*The 10 Best Things that Will Dramatically Change Your Sleep Habits in 2019
*Speaking of which, can we just talk about linen for a hot minute? This post has some fabulous examples of how you can use linen in your home.
On the Menu this Week… (just as a sweet reminder the person that makes the menu doesn’t eat beef or pork so keep that in mind when you see this feature each week, wink wink)
*January 28- February 3
Monday:Quick & Easy 20 Minute Fish Stew
Tuesday: Burrito Bowl
Wednesday: Apple Cranberry Pecan Salad with Honey Cider Vinaigrette
Thursday: Baked Spaghetti with side salad
Friday: Baked Ranch Chicken with green beans and sweet potato
Saturday: Creamy Potato Soup
Sunday:Super Bowl Sunday– This post The 50 Best Snacks to Serve on Game Day – will help you plan a fun menu!
Sweet Treat to Try this Week…
Crepe Cake with Strawberries and Cream
Here are a few winter decorating finds from Amazon…(Affiliate links have been provided for your convenience. You can read our full disclosure policy here)
Wall Clock (comes in multiple sizes)
Carolyn Westbrook Vintage French Style
If you’ve missed anything on the blog lately, here’s a peek at what we’ve been up to…
Loblolly Manor: Guest Room Nightstand Makeover
Loblolly Manor: Guest Room Dresser Makeover
Loblolly Manor: Guest Room Headboard Makeover
The Busy Girl’s Guide to an Easy Valentine’s Day Snack Box (from the archives)
If you’re part of our 52 Weeks to a Simplified and Organized Home Challenge, we’re completing Week 4 Refrigerator & Freezer Organization and looking forward to Week 5 Meal Planning, Grocery Shopping & Food Storage Organization!
I know a lot of you guys did the pantry, refrigerator and freezer all in the same week. So, if you’re working ahead Week 5 is dedicated to getting a solid game plan for how you’re going to meal plan and grocery shop this year.
It’s also a great time to look at your food storage system. Are all those plastic or glass containers working for you? Do they all have lids? Are they spilling out of the cabinets?
As a matter of habit, we review our schedules and meal plan each Sunday afternoon. I can’t even tell you what a huge difference it helps to make our week run more efficiently.
We also try our very best to grocery shop on the same day each week and while we’re in town, we clean out our cars and gas up as well. This helps to set us up for success all week.
I hope you all have a peace filled and happy weekend! As I shared above my super sweet brothers in laws were able to help move a few pieces of furniture in the dining room out of the way last Sunday so I could start paint the walls which is such a gift.
The one caveat was they were only available to help back to back weekends! Needless to say, I’ve been painting up a storm in between birthday celebrations this week. I have the dining room finished but I have to have the buffet and hutch painted before they come back this Sunday.
I’ll be honest, it’s going to be kind of bananas trying to get next week’s posts and all the painting done by this weekend but we’re up for the challenge.
Whatever you have planned I hope it’s something you’re excited about too. I can’t wait to see you back here on Monday. Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
Many blessings,
CoCo
CoCo – We are so excited and happy that you and your mom had a fabulous birthday week! You deserve it! Again, you know how much we ❤️Renninger’s! Such a wonderful tradition and it looks like y’all found some great treasures. Your dining room does look huge LOL. And – now we want to go to France after reading your inspiration pieces! Have a wonderful weekend. Much love!
Aww you guys are so sweet, thank you. Given we’ve celebrated our birthdays at Renningers for so long now, I have to say, it would be super weird to celebrate it any where else. You would not believe all the construction that is taking place down there. It blew our minds. Thanks so much for the birthday wishes! Sending you both huge hugs, CoCo
Thank you for your kindness and sharing! I hope you have a beautiful weekend!
Thanks for inspiring us every day, Julie! We appreciate you so much. Hugs, CoCo
So much juicy info in this post, CoCo!! I would love to go to a large venue like the one you and your mom went to. I would need a large truck! How nice that she surprised you with the soup tureen. I find excuses to use mine all the time. When I invite friends for dinner, they are often surprised that I have soup and salad for starters.
I recently cleaned and organized my fridge. It’s just the two of us but since I love to cook I’m usually overstocked. I find that I like the clear acrylic bins that I can stack and easily wash. I need to see what I have. But I’m looking at your condiments and I think I really need to toss some! lol!!
Thanks for the tips!
Jane
Your comments are the best, Jane! Thank you so much for all the support and encouragement you give us. They have the Extravaganza only three times a year so it’s something we always look forward to. I’ve never seen it as packed as it was this time though. Gosh, it was like Disney ha ha. I love that you use the clear bins. It makes it so much easier when you can see what you have! Your comment about the condiments gives me the giggles because I am constantly cleaning and checking the labels on everything ha ha. Hugs, CoCo
CoCo, it sounds like you and your Mom have had a beautiful birthday week! Happy Birthday to you!! 🙂 As usual, you amaze me in all that you accomplish. Can hardly wait to see the latest!
On a sad note we lost our sweet little cat, Max, today. He had 14 very healthy and happy years, but the last two have been really hard for him and us. He wanted to live and worked hard at it until the very last moment. He turned 16 in Oct – has made us laugh for the last 14 years. Our hearts are totally broken – but we sent him over the Rainbow Bridge to meet up with the four dogs that he outlived – Cody, Sam, Gracie, and Madden. He loved those dogs – in fact, he was part of their pack! He grieved the most for Madden – we all did. Somehow, we survive our broken hearts, but I honestly don’t know how – loving and missing each one forever! Hugs to you and your sweet pups – Patty
Oh Patty, I am so sorry to just now read this about Max. My heart breaks for you guys because I understand how hard it is and how much you guys love and treat each pet in your care as true family members. I remember your sharing how Max grieved for Madden helped us so much because we didn’t know if Jelly Bean’s grieving for Tally was normal or not but you assured us it was. Please know we’re thinking of you and praying for you guys during this time. We’re sending you big hugs and lifting you up, CoCo
As a fellow treasure hunter I always love seeing what you and your Mom bring home from Renningers. We need to rent a party bus and shop with you two.
Oh my word, Bonnie, that would be so much fun! We would all have the best time! Hugs, CoCo