MASTER BEDROOM REFRESH

~ Rachel Jane ~ 2 Comments

On a day around the last week of August when I step outside, I can feel it – a nearly imperceptible shift in the air. Something known by heart; The transition coming. Standing on the precipice of a season holding shadowy depths veiled just behind sunshine, of which my soul longs to drink. The autumnal breeze catching me, and then surrounding me. My mood settling into the richness the season will offer, a tune which buoys my creative heart. Welcome, September.

At the start of this year, I had set out with the intention of embarking on a couple of projects in our home that we have been wanting to work on for some time. One of which was a master bedroom update. While we still have a bit of a ways to go, I thought I would share with you what it is looking like today, and the updates we have made thus far. Continue reading “MASTER BEDROOM REFRESH” →

BACKYARD GARDEN & LIVING SPACE

~ Rachel Jane ~ 1 Comment
In partnership with Blue Grass Nursery, Sod & Garden Centre

Hello, friends! With springtime here, it has been lovely to resume some of the things I enjoy doing, like taking evening walks with my husband, and spending some time sitting on my porch if the day is nice enough. And with summer right around the corner, I am now excited to live it up in our backyard.

For the first two summers in our little home, we didn’t have any type of outdoor living space. Because I am very much a homebody and prefer being close to my daily comforts, as well as being someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy the heat, this meant I did not spend much time outdoors at all. With this being the case, I had a vision in my mind that one day we could make our outdoor area feel like an extension of our home, and with the help of Blue Grass Garden Centre, I was able to have this come to fruition!

Not long after moving into this home of ours, Troy and I would sit at our table and draw up little plans together of how we could make our new backyard both look nice, and feel like a functional space where we could enjoy the fresh air. Continue reading “BACKYARD GARDEN & LIVING SPACE” →

SPRING HOME REFRESH

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Hi there, everyone, and happy Spring! The sun outside my home has been shining for over a week, the weather is getting warmer – bringing with it the thawing of a hard, icy ground, and when I open my windows to breathe in the fresh air, I can hear birds chirping and singing away.

With all of the extra time at home right now, along with being able to tangibly see a turning of the seasons, I couldn’t help but have my thoughts and heart stirring towards change. Part of that for me, always, is freshening up my home. Though I do so quite simply, and largely with what I already have, I find moving items around the home can make an impact, and feel as though you have redecorated with just a few adjustments here and there.

I always desire for The Porch Light Cottage to be a place of peace, inspiration, and encouragement. Though I want to stay positive, I would feel remiss if I were not to acknowledge that there is a lot of uncertainty and concern in our society right now amidst the current outbreak. Continue reading “SPRING HOME REFRESH” →

A HYGGE HOME

~ Rachel Jane ~ 4 Comments

During the winter months of January and February, things can sometimes feel a little dreary. The holidays are over, and where I live we still have to endure a few bitterly cold, dark, and often gloomy months. Though it’s a new year, which can be an exciting time for fresh starts and resolutions, it’s also been coined as the most “depressing” time of the year. Understanding this, I believe that practicing mindfulness in our daily lives is of the utmost importance. I have wanted to write a post on this for quite awhile, and what better time than when people are lamenting the cold weather, and noticing those holiday feelings from the previous month fading further from their minds. Continue reading “A HYGGE HOME” →

SIMPLE WINTER TABLE STYLING

~ Rachel Jane ~ Leave a comment

Happy 2020, everyone! I hope you had an absolutely wonderful holiday season; that you were able to slow down an enjoy some moments, and that you made many memories with your loved ones. We are just over a week into a brand new decade – how wild! As we all know, a new year is a time where people across the board do some reflection on their life. Whether that is looking at the past year and taking note of what they enjoyed most and felt good about, or looking ahead to the coming one and determining new goals they want to set, experiences they want to have, or general themes to cultivate, the vast majority of people tend to search themselves for these things and get excited about the promise of a fresh start. I love the idea of being very mindful in our day-to-day, so I think it’s wonderful that the concepts of self-improvement and awareness, as well as gratefulness, are acknowledged on such a grand scale during this time of year. Continue reading “SIMPLE WINTER TABLE STYLING” →

CHRISTMAS GIFT TAGS

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“Some gifts are big, others are small, but the ones that come from the heart are the best gifts of all.”
— Tinku Razoria

If you are familiar with the 5 love languages, you know that one of them is gifts. For me personally, this one is second only to quality time, therefore right at the top of my list. When reading about this topic years ago, I discovered that the importance of a gift is less to do with the material item itself, and more to do with the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. A great gift shows that one is known, and cared for – it’s a visual representation of love shared. This is something that resonates with me greatly. When I reflect, my favourite gifts from my husband have always been ones that he has put thought into, or has went to a lot of effort to make happen, in order to show me that he knows my heart. And for myself, though of course it’s not possible all of the time, I always feel good about giving someone a gift that I have really thought about for them – that perhaps I have remembered something about them and what they enjoy, and have tried to be mindful about who they are as a person when finding them a gift. There is excitement in the anticipation of a loved one’s joy in receiving something you have thoughtfully chosen for them. Continue reading “CHRISTMAS GIFT TAGS” →

JOYFUL CHRISTMAS KITCHEN

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Welcome back again, friends. We are officially in the first week of December, journeying through the season of advent, and that definitely makes the countdown to celebration feel very real.
Every year during the holiday season, I love to crank up the Christmas music and enjoy spending some time in the kitchen baking seasonal treats for my family. There is almost nothing like it to get you in the holiday spirit. For so many people, the kitchen really is the heart of the home. We spend so much time in here making meals, baking, washing dishes, and sitting on a stool and chatting at the end of the day while doing all of these things. Being a homemaker, I find that I spend a lot of my day in here, and for us, our kitchen literally is in the centre of our home. We see it from the dining room while sharing meals, the living room while sitting and relaxing, when walking down the hallway, and when coming down the stairs in the morning to start the day. Because of all of these reasons, I always want to bring Christmas decor into the kitchen, as well each area in my home, for the holidays so that it exhibits a hint of Christmas, and feels festive. Today, I invite you into my kitchen to see how it has been adorned this season. Continue reading “JOYFUL CHRISTMAS KITCHEN” →

MERRY & BRIGHT CHRISTMAS HOME – PT. 2

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It’s so nice to be sharing with you again so soon, friends. I find my creativity and motivation to do more writing, photography, and blog posts really comes alive leading up to the Christmas season. So, hello! As my American friends are celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend, it’s an indicator that December is right around the corner. I can’t believe beginning next week we are only a mere 25 days away. For me, it does kind of become “Christmas month”, as I am decorating, baking, listening to beloved holiday songs, and making plans for the latter part of the month in advance. My husband usually takes some extra time off work starting the week before Christmas too, so that we can soak up the season together. I am so looking forward to all of these things. We also just arrived home yesterday from a snowy mountain getaway, which definitely brings on the holiday feels.

Continue reading “MERRY & BRIGHT CHRISTMAS HOME – PT. 2” →

MERRY & BRIGHT CHRISTMAS HOME – PT. 1

~ Rachel Jane ~ 1 Comment

It’s that time of year once again – the season that so many of us look forward to all year long. I know I say it every year, but Christmas truly is my absolute favourite time. Strolling through Christmas markets hand in hand with your love, sipping a hot chocolate, observing all the hustle and bustle while bundled up to keep warm. Enjoying plentiful time with family and friends at holiday gatherings and family dinners. Watching from your windowsill as snow falls gently down, illuminated by the twinkling lights on houses up and down the street. Seasonal baking in the kitchen with a glass of mulled wine, and your favourite Christmas songs playing in the background. Watching Christmas movies while snuggled up under a cozy blanket. Giving gifts, thoughtfully wrapped up in pretty packaging. Sharing in meaningful family traditions that bring a lightness to your heart. This season is filled with an abundance of joy, and time to create memories you’ll cherish for years to come. Continue reading “MERRY & BRIGHT CHRISTMAS HOME – PT. 1” →

Holiday Shop 2019

~ Rachel Jane ~ 2 Comments

Hi friends, and welcome to my Holiday Shop for 2019!

This type of post is a first for me. I generally share items that you’re able to see in my photos through my home tours and other blog posts, however as I mentioned in my Instagram Story today, the weather has been very overcast – not great for photographing. I am working on getting my Christmas Home Tour posts out to you beginning next week, but for now I thought it would be a great idea to share with you some items I will be using in my home this season, as well as items that convey the general look and theme I am going for. This way, you have all of the links in one post here ahead of time, and it will be like a one-stop online shop. Continue reading “Holiday Shop 2019” →