From the Front Porch
Happy Friday, you guys! How has your week been? Good, I hope. Are you ready for summer? Me too! Not the heat, of course, because my curly hair does not appreciate the Florida humidity ha ha but that’s what top knots are for anyway, right? We’re definitely excited about the slower pace of summer, good beach reads, homemade ice cream and lots of fresh squeezed lemonade.
I’ve spent most of this week getting all of our plans organized for the next few months and deep cleaning the house. This weekend is the first weekend in 20 weeks we don’t have any obligations or events. I know! I’m going to feel like a new woman on Monday with all the extra time.
Scenes from my week:
*Taking flowers to the sweetest ballerina ever
*The first bit of sugar I’ve eaten post detox (every bite was dreamy)
*Making progress on the last 5% in the master bedroom
*One of my first Instagram friends was recently published in American Farmhouse magazine. Kirsten blogs at Bright Yellow Door and is super sweet. I couldn’t be more excited for her!
Here’s a peek at a few of our favorite things from around the web this week… (Affiliate links have been provided for your convenience. You can read our full disclosure policy here)
This gorgeous home could easily be straight out of a Nora Ephron movie or on the cover of Coastal Living. It’s stunning!
Tips for styling a beautiful table. Hello, luxurious.
Proof beauty is everywhere if we choose to see it…I know…I can’t believe they’re trash cans either.
These art lessons for kids are sure to keep your littles busy all summer.
I’m excited to take a few of these on a summer picnic to the beach (on gluten free bread of course).
We watch very little TV but we do have a few guilty pleasures, do you guys watch Southern Charm on Bravo? You may have to watch it from the beginning (Season 1, it’s currently Season 4) to get all the twists and turns of these seven friends living in Charleston.
Also, Turn: Washington’s Spies will return for its final season on June 17. It’s another one you’ll want to watch from the beginning. The show is a period drama about America’s first spy ring and takes place in 1776. There are some violent scenes as war is gruesome so you’ll probably want to watch this one without the littles.
Currently obsessed with this skirt.
The most comfortable flip flops for being about town.
A copper upgrade for the red party cups that have been a summer staple for years.
If blue and white is your jam, you need this on your summer tablescape.
Speaking of blue, these are perfect for you Lili
If you missed anything on the blog lately, here’s a peek at what we’ve been up to…
Simple Tips for Hosting Summer Houseguests
A Fresh Reason to Keep Your Old Watering Can
A Lavender Gardener’s Scrub You Can Make at Home
Summer Decorating Goals and The Last 5 %
How to Hang Large Pictures Without Nails
I hope you all have a peace filled and relaxing weekend. We have a great week coming up next week.
Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.Many blessings,
CoCo
Hey CoCo – We are super excited for you! 20 weeks is a loooong time to go without having something scheduled in your calendar. Soak up every minute of downtime that you can! BTW when we saw those trashcans we couldn’t believe it either! Gorgeous! Hugs to you for a fabulous weekend!
Aww thanks ladies, we are beyond elated to be having a full weekend off. I see lots of movies, lattes and naps in our future. Hugs for the happiest weekend, CoCo
Hi CoCo, I discovered your blog when you were about 1/2 way through your one room make over (I LOVED IT!!!). Since then I have looked at your older post and have so enjoyed everything! I have a specific question about a product. Have you ever used Rust-Oleum Chalked Matte top coat? I saw it featured on another blog some months ago but I have read some reviews that complain of it yellowing the pieces making people upset to start all over sanding, stripping and overall unhappy. If you have any wisdom on this product and have time to share I would appreciate it. Love your blog and your honesty.
Thanks,
Sylvia
Such sweet words, Sylvia! Thanks so much I really appreciate it. I don’t think I’ve ever used Rust-Oleum Chalked Matte Paint or Top Coat before but I do use their spray paint a lot. Most of the time when I paint something with chalk paint I use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint or sometimes I’ll even make my own chalk like paint. While the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint can be a bit expensive (it’s around $35 in our area) it goes a long way and has always been dependable for me. I also usually use furniture paste wax to seal my pieces because I like a matte finish or if I’m going for a satin finish I’ll use General Finishes High Performance Top Coat. General Finishes also has a High Performance Top Coat in Flat but I haven’t had a chance to try it yet. Keep us posted on your progress and tell us which ones you like best, ok? Hugs, CoCo
I’ve missed these Friday posts, CoCo, it was so much easier to catch up on the whole week. I don’t know how long you’re bringing them back for but I like them hint hint. Just thought you should know, Bonnie
ha ha I definitely appreciate your hints, Bonnie, thank you for letting me know. You’re not the first person to say that you miss those posts which I take very seriously. My plan is to do them every other week during the summer months and resume each week once we’re back to our regular blogging schedule and back off of summer break. I’m open to changing it back though just so you know 🙂 Hugs, CoCo