From the Front Porch: The Tidy Kitchen Edition

Hello, sweet friends, welcome to the tidy kitchen edition of this weekly series.

Thanks so much for spending time with us today!

Recently, my family and I celebrated a milestone birthday for one of my favorite uncles.

Celebrating him was a delight because he’s been such a big part of our lives.

As I’ve previously shared, my Dad was in the military and was gone a lot.

So, my uncle would come home from college and show up at our door on a random Friday night with pizza and movies and keep us busy so my Mom could get a break.

He took my cousins and I camping every year, taught us about trees and nature, how to paddle a canoe and swim in the springs.

When I was struggling in math he set the skills to music and dance moves so I could understand them better.

He gave us wealth management books as teenagers, moved us to Texas so we could be closer to my Dad, and let us ride down the road with the windows rolled down singing as loud as we wanted.

Truly, he’s salt of the earth, and we adore him to pieces.

So, when we got the invitation to his birthday party it was an immediate yes.

As we got out of the car and walked up to the farm, my aunt (his wife) started walking our way and held her arms out, “Thank you so much for coming. I know it’s a long drive. We really appreciate you making the time.”

Seconds later my uncle was behind her with his arms out too, “Thank you for being here, niece, it means a lot to me.”

It was such a sweet welcome.

We spent the rest of the day sharing a good meal, visiting with family at tables decorated with classic cars, and listening to the littles laugh and play as they took pictures of the cows and chased each other around the farm.

We lingered for hours soaking each other in while my aunt’s camellia bushes scattered so many pink petals on the ground it genuinely looked like pink snow.

And even though the skies were overcast and cloudy it still felt like there was magic in the air.

As we headed home, my first thought was, “What a peaceful way to spend the day.”

My second was how good it feels when someone leads with gratitude and love.

And my third thought was challenging myself to live that way too.

Just imagine if we hugged our girlfriends when they got to brunch and said, “Thank you for meeting me,” before we asked how they were doing.

Or greeted the host of a party with, “Thank you for inviting me.”

Or as we took our seat at the table, we led with, “Thank you for including me,” before decisions are being made.

Or said to a loved one, “Thank you for being here,” in good times and difficult ones too.

Truly, it would change everything.

So, as we prepare to wrap up this month, I encourage you to think about how you can lead with so much gratitude it makes the person you’re with feel loved, seen, appreciated or validated.

It might literally chase the clouds away.

A Few of Our Favorite Posts from Around the Web this Week…

Seasonal Inspiration and Home Tours:

• Wait until you see this South Carolina Retreat House from designer Elly Poston. It’s gorgeous!
• Speaking of gorgeous, Meg McSherry is a new to me designer and I can’t get enough of the way she pairs traditional style with cottage inspired prints in this Chatham home tour. It’s such a beautiful mix!
• I could get lost in the Beige and Bleu’s design portfolio. The reading nook alone in the West Island Bungalow looks like the perfect place to snuggle up right now.

Seasonal Project Ideas:

• Breakfast is my favorite meal so I can’t wait to try this recipe from MaryJo of Masterpieces of My Life.
• Have you seen these decorative cabbages Rachel of The Ponds Farmhouse recently made from coffee filters? They are amazing!
• Speaking of amazing, a big thank you to Kim of Cottage in the Mitten for including my wreath in her Spring Wreath Inspiration post. Her post is filled with so many festive ideas!
• This post, Tops Tips For Frugal Living from Rachel of the Antiqued Journey was a good one. I love the idea of making a “not buying list.” It’s such a simple way to stay on track with financial and decluttering goals.
• Finally, I definitely needed this gentle reminder from Elizabeth of Pinecones and Acorns. Her Silent Sunday series is fantastic.

Health and Wellness Inspiration:

• 21 Ways to Eat a Little Healthier in 2025 (via Self)
• 13 Anti-inflammatory Vegetables You’re Not Eating Enough Of, According to Dieticians (via Real Simple)
• 60 Healthy Snack Ideas (via Eat This, Not That)

Makeup, Style and Travel Inspiration:

• The 43 Best Beauty Products Under $30, According to Bazaar
• According to Town & Country Magazine one of the biggest trends of the year will be dressing like a fisherman and I’m here for it.
• Detour Destinations Are the Affordable Travel Trend You Need to Try in 2025 (via The Everygirl)

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

Quick and Easy Snack Box

The Easiest Way to Organize Your Pantry

How to Make Pantry Storage Drawers

How to Organize Your Refrigerator

Organizing the Kitchen Into Work Friendly Zones

Kitchen Organization and Decorating Ideas

Shopping Notes…

**(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)

***Remember to consult your doctor and/or dermatologist before adding these items to your routine

• Blurring Powder (curious to see if this actually takes away the shine while leaving the glow)
• Immune Support Capsules (it seems like everyone at the office has been sick so I’m curious if these work too)
• Refrigerator Storage Bins (currently researching to see if these will work for us)
• Rower (trying to convince my Mom to get this rower too) Budget Friendly Rower (here’s a budget friendly option)
• Trash Bag Dispenser (this doesn’t fit our cabinet but wanted to pass along in case you might need one)
• Nail Polish (excited to try this polish, the color is so pretty. Love the brown/pink one too!)
• Skin Hair Nail Vitamins (has anyone tried these yet?)
• Fruit Snackle Box (this seems like it would be such a space saver, I love that they have multiple size options too)
• Eyebrow Trimmer (have and love, the light isn’t super bright but it helps)
• Door Organizer (sharing in case you also have a loved one that seems to lose their keys and wallet every morning too)
• Scalp Massager (a budget friendly way to up your shampoo experience)
• Shower Steamer (will be gifting these, there is also a variety pack that looks fun to try)
• Stove Gap Covers (recently dripped chili down the side of the stove and these could have saved me so much time)
• Appliance Cleaning Tabs (these also come in a variety pack)
• Drink Caddy (a fun way to bring coffee to the office or if you’re dropping off a small care package)
• Shampoo and Conditioner Set (have noticed a lot more shedding lately, has anyone tried this one or this one? Just curious if it works)

As always, we appreciate you more than you 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