From the Front Porch: The Birthday Edition

Hello from the front porch sweet friends and welcome to The Birthday Edition of this weekly series.

Thanks so much for spending time with us today.

How has your week been?

Like much of the country, it’s been remarkably cold in north Florida.

We’ve been waking up with temps in the 20s with feels like temperatures in the teens.

For us, it finally feels like what winter should feel like.

But for a lot of you this winter storm has brought about significant disruptions and distractions.

And this week, I’ve realized just how impactful the gift of focus can be.

I’ll freely admit, focus, like motivation, can sometimes be fickle.

It has its own ebb and flow even when we’re in “the zone.”

That said, focus is also one of the most important skills we can master in order to live our best and most empowered lives.

After all, distractions can be disguised as many, many things.

For example, resistance, doubt, procrastination, wandering thoughts, stress, anxiety, negativity, multitasking, lack of clear goals, the expectations of others, the busyness of life, and sometimes even opportunities.

For me, distraction shows up as fear.

For you, it might show up as holding onto things you can’t control, the disease to please, perfectionism or an addiction to your phone.

As we ease into a fresh month, I encourage you to focus on the things that matter most, are aligned with your highest self and ultimately help make your biggest goals and dreams come true.

For it’s the small daily distractions we allow into our lives that delay our progress, leave us feeling drained, and ultimately block us from our blessings and the ability to bless others.

Giving yourself the gift of focus isn’t always easy, but the effort is always worth it.

Cheering you on as you actively create the life you’ve envisioned.

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

Beautiful Home and Garden Tours:

• There are so many things to love about this Brooklyn home tour via AD including the most fabulous bed nook.
• Andrea from Pine and Prospect always has such a gorgeous home. I love all the English Cottage inspired projects she’s completed so far.
• This 1830s cottage via Country Style is the perfect mix of country and coastal.
• I was shocked when I read Cynthia of Darling Down South had created these gorgeous spaces using AI. She has such a beautiful eye for design!
• How amazing are these flowers arranging room ideas? (via Flower Magazine)

Seasonal Inspiration:

• A big thank you to Kim of Cottage in the Mitten for including me in her post on Unique Valentine’s Day Craft Ideas filled with so many fun and festive ideas!
• Completely obsessed in the best possible with this Valentine’s Day project from Anna of Sky Lark House.
• This Valentine heart garland Cindy from Cloches and Lavender is so pretty.
• Have you seen this post from Rachel of The Ponds Farmhouse yet? It has 12 Creative DIY Valentines Gift Ideas for Under $5
• Leave it to Jen from Midwest Life and Style to come up with this fabulous Galentine’s Day tablecape.
• Loved so many of these Valentine’s Day centerpeice and food ideas from Mary at Life at Bella Terra. She is wildly talented!

Health and Wellness Inspiration:

• Expert Advice: How to Reach Your Financial Goals This Year (via The Everygirl – these are totally doable no matter what your financial goals are this year)
• 5 Ways to Make Time for a Friend When You’re Really Tired (via Self – I feel like these ideas could work with extended family members too)
• A One-Weekend Reset to Refresh Your Whole House (via Real Simple)
• 99 Ways to Creatively Recharge (via The Good Trade)

Makeup, Style and Travel Inspiration:

• 30 Must Have Pieces for a Capsule Wardrobe (via My Chic Obsession)
• 12 “Old Money” Nail Ideas That Are the Epitome of Quiet Luxury (via The Everygirl) 
• 23 of The Best Winter Vacations (via US News Travel)

Encouraging Words…

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

Making Space for a Birthday Retreat

Vintage Holiday Birthday Party

DIY Celebration Memory Board

A Birthday Celebration in Savannah

15 Things You Don’t Know About CoCo

Countdown to Valentine’s Day Calendar (we use countdown calendars like these throughout the year for birthdays and special occasions and they’re always so much fun)

Dear Future Self… (One of our most popular Encouragement of the Month posts)

You can find From the Front Porch: The Kindness Edition here if you missed it…

Shopping Notes: Budget Friendly Beauty Finds

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• Cleanser (light and refreshing, I use this as part of my morning routine and to double cleanse at night as needed)
• Foundation in 20 Light Cool (ran out of tinted moisturizer and couldn’t get over how beautiful this was to use)
• Powder Highlighter (ordered after a cashier with gorgeous skin recommended it, soft pearl is pretty too)
• Lip Plumping Pen (recently ordered, you had me a plumping)
• Rosy Lip Balm (have, love and stash everywhere so I don’t run out)
• Eyeshadow Pencil in Yogurt (have and love, it lasts a lot longer than I expected for the price)
• Makeup Melting Balm (have and love, it takes off everything really well save for tubing mascara IMO)
• Concealer in 20 Light Cool (recently ordered because I loved the foundation so much)
• Finishing Powder in Fair Neutral Cool (comes in a compact style finish for midday touch ups)
• Lip Liner in Truth or Bare (I cannot get over the price of these liners)
• C-Glow Serum (have and love and use as part of my morning routine, watery texture, not sticky, slight smell)
• Eyeshadow Pencil in Iced Latte (a beautiful shade of mauve brown)
• Face Cream without Sunscreen (very hydrating, light scent and as a whipped buttery texture that sinks into skin)
• Saie Glow Serum (I mix one pump of this with my foundation for an all over glow)
• Blurring Powder in Soft Luminance (another recommedation from the cashier, “You will love this!” she said)
• PDRN Night Mask (I use this with other PDRN products 3 nights a week to give my face a break from Trent gel)
• Thirst Burst Drops (great for dull skin that neds a little extra glow, I use this as part of my morning routine)
• Mascara in Deep Brown (have and love, it takes a bit to wash this mascara off IMO)
• Face Cream with Sunscreen (have and love, no white cast and blends well with makeup)
• Blush in Petal Primavera (have and love, it’s easy to apply too)
• PDRN Peptide Serum (have and love and use as part of my nightly skincare routine 3 times a week)
• Eye Serum (recently started using at night and so far so good)
• Collagen Night Mask (have and love and use on Self Care Sundays, a bit easier to use than the sheet masks)
• Brow Gel in Neutral Brown (recently ordered, will report back)
• Eye Cream (recently ordered for my morning skincare routine, hoping it layers well with concealer)

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