Saturdays on the Porch #64

Thanks for sharing!

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Check out the most recent Saturdays on the Porch.

Saturdays on the Porch

What a beautiful Saturday we have in store today! I plan to spend much of the day outside working on our patio area.

The painter finished painting the two upstairs bedrooms. I can't get over how fast he completed the job. It looks fabulous. We ordered the new carpet for the rooms last week. I have yet to make a plan for decorating the bedrooms. That is something that I need to work on soon. It will be a year in September that they were emptied.

I've finished planting all of my pots for the front and back of the house. This year I purchased 2 potted tomato plants for the patio. Fingers crossed that they do well. Last year, our tomatoes didn't do well.

Last week was a pretty good week. We went out 3 times last week! That is unheard of with us. One thing that we really enjoy doing these days is going out to eat early for a date night. We are usually home by 6:30 or 7 pm and settle in for the evening and stream some shows.

Last Saturday, we went to the 2 pm showing of To Kill a Mocking Bird at The Peace Center. Richard Thomas (John Boy from The Waltons) was the lead. It's been a while since we've seen a play. The production was absolutely amazing.

It's hard to believe that another month is almost behind us! The weather this month has been quite the roller coaster. One day you are in short sleeves and the next day it's a sweatshirt. Easter this year was a bit chilly. I wore the above dress. This is the 3rd season that I have worn this dress. I have gotten so much wear out of it. The sandals are from the Gentle Souls brand and are very comfortable. I've had them for at least 6 years. Below you will find some pretty blue floral dresses. I never get tired of blue and white in fashion. It's such a pretty combo for spring and summer.

Patio Plans

Today I plan to work on cleaning the patio area a bit and getting ready for outdoor living!

I'll be sharing more on our patio soon, but here is a sneak peek of what I have planned for this year. Much of the above look, we already own. I've added a few pillows from TJ Maxx to complete the look.

Recent Outfits

This was a look this week for errands. I've really enjoyed the sleeve length lately. I'm usually cold indoors even if it's warmer outside. This is the perfect compromise. Grocery stores are so cold. I bought these sandals end of the season last summer. I'm excited to be enjoying them. Belk always has great buys on shoes end of the season. I order online.

FIT TIP: These have been my favorite jeans for several years now. I wear a size 8 in them. They have stretch to them and are extrelemy comfortable.

I bought this shirt when Chico's started sharing spring clothes. Sadly, it sold out quickly. I've linked a few similar tops in terms of the sleeves. I have worn it so many times already.

The shoes are from the White Mountain brand. They are so comfortable. I have them in this creamy white color and pink. They were marked down to under $20 last winter. I find this style of shoe so very comfortable.

FIT TIP: I typically prefer a size 1 in Chico's shirts, and I wear a .5 in their bottoms. These capri jeans are so soft in the girlfriend fit.

First of all, I know this is wrinkled, but I really don't care. LOL! I have had this caftan for several years now. I wear it and another one that is no longer available. It's one size. This is my go-to look for the warmer months at home. It's my favorite thing to throw on after working in the yard and showering. I guess you'd call it my house dress.

Latest Reels

In the Kitchen

If on Woodruff Road in Greenville, I always try to stop in Trader Joe's. I picked up a couple of these single-serve cans of salmon. It was so good on a salad for lunch. I drained as much of the oil off of it as I could before topping my salad with it.

We ate out at Tupelo Honey in Downtown Greenville last weekend. I had the fried chicken on top of macaroni and cheese waffles. It was quite the treat. Next time, we will share an entree because neither of us finished our meal and it wasn't great to heat up the next day for lunch.

After the Peace Center show, we ate at 5 pm at The Lazy Goat. It's one of our favorites. It was fun watching all the prom kids out and about along the river as we dined. We split a fried goat cheese appetizer and an entree. We plan to do this more often.

I've linked my above recipe which is similar to what we had. I do this with chicken as well and whatever veggies I have in the fridge. It's a favorite meal. I cook it on parchment paper which makes cleanup a breeze.

What I'm Reading

• I have a list of 12 books to read physically this year (1 per month) in addition to my audiobooks. You can find the complete list here.
• I've gotten a bit behind on my reading. I added a Kindle book that was not on my list. I just finished Someone Else's Life. It was a special purchase through Amazon. I would say that the second half of the book was better than the first half. It's a bit of a suspense thriller. It's got some twists toward the end. It isn't a favorite, but it was an enjoyable read.
• Over the next 30 days, I will be reading Vacationland and The Last Restaurant in Paris.
• I finished Hotel Nantucket. Elin Hilderbrand is one of my favorite authors and this book does not disappoint. It's a little mystery and a lot of love stories, but not in a cheesy way. I got behind on my physical book reading because I read my autographed copy as opposed to my Kindle. I like to read a while before going to bed and use my Kindle to not wake my husband.
• My January read was Lessons in Chemistry and absolutely loved it! The setting is the early 1960s and centers around a female chemist and her navigating a man's world. It's fun with a bit of romance and heartache. It is so worth a read!
• My February read was Not a Happy Family. This is a murder mystery. Parents are murdered, and we will try to solve who did it……their kids are suspects!

What I'm Listening to on Audio Books

• I am all caught up on listening to the Peachtree Bluff Series and really enjoyed it! Here is the list in order of the series. This is the perfect summer beach read!
  • Book 1: Simply South of Simple
  • Book 2: The Secret of Southern Charm
  • Book 3: The Southern Side of Paradise
  • Book 4: Christmas in Peachtree Bluff
• Currently listening to Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone. Yes, it's as quirky as the title. I'm enjoying this one!
• I just finished Girl Forgotten by Karin Slaughter.
•  The House Guest.
• People We Meet on Vacation
• The Blue Bistro
• Wrong Place Wrong Time

What Caught My Eye

I've got outdoor living on my mind. I can't wait for porch life and outdoor entertaining. I'd love to put this outdoor console table on the patio behind the outdoor couch. It would be in the dining area. Nice spot to put drink stations, appetizers, or side dishes.

Amy from 11 Magnolia Lane is sharing an update on 1 year in their country home. It is so beautiful! The back patio and kitchen are a must-see. 

One of my favorite blogs is Cindy Hattersley Design. If you are looking for a casual, classic style in home and fashion….she's the one! I love the above post on achieving timeless, collected interiors. 

Thank you so much for being here today with me! I hope your weekend is joyful.

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Thanks for sharing!