Category: Homemaking

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

~ Rachel Jane ~ Leave a comment

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

~ Rachel Jane ~ Leave a comment

“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

~ Rachel Jane ~ Leave a comment

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” →

AUTUMN AT HOME

~ Rachel Jane ~ Leave a comment

The seasons are changing quickly here, and it causes a stirring in me. It’s always about this time of year where I find myself in eager anticipation of the holidays, yet I try my hand at steady patience - to have myself wait a little while longer, lest I overlook the joys possible during this particular stretch of autumn; The time where the days are still long enough, and warm enough, to enjoy an evening walk, breathing crisp air as the very last of the departed leaves flutter to nature’s floor. When the hours remain readily open, and we may savour the time given to us by filling them slowly and deliberately, prior to each moment brimming with activity and excitement by the very essence of the season. Where upon looking outside, we are greeted with a lovely burnt colour palette and the radiant glow of the sun, before the cold suppresses nature into latency and whiteness. It’s a time of looking ahead with elation, and a tangible lightness to my heart, before ultimately wishing time would just slow down and hold us longer in the holiday moments we cherish most. Ah yes, I think late autumn is truly full of all kinds of beauty. Continue reading “AUTUMN AT HOME” →

Spiced Apple Bundt Cake with Maple Glaze (Paleo, Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

~ Rachel Jane ~ Leave a comment

Hi there, friends. I hope you are having a lovely week! This coming weekend is Thanksgiving for us here in Canada, and I’m so looking forward to spending time with my husband and family. Though, the weather would denote that it’s actually closer to Christmas than anything else with the insane amounts of snow we have been getting. It seems autumn didn’t want to stick around for us in the North this year.
It’s funny how much the seasons and weather can really get into my brain, as I now find myself eagerly anticipating the holidays, complete with planning my decorating for it! I won’t spend too long discussing that though, lest it frustrate anyone who would rather think that reality is still much further away than it is, haha.
Anyways, with Thanksgiving upon us, I always start thinking about all of the amazing foods we get to eat this time of year! It’s so fun, and truly a privilege, to be able to gather around a table with loved ones and to enjoy one another, as well as wonderful food that always brings memories of each holiday that passed before it. Continue reading “Spiced Apple Bundt Cake with Maple Glaze (Paleo, Gluten Free, Dairy Free)” →

SIMPLE, SMALL ENTRYWAY DECOR

~ Rachel Jane ~ 2 Comments

Hi there, all! Well, we are officially into the autumn season by a couple of days, and I am finally able to embrace it fully. I personally do so as soon as August comes to a close, however it’s now more socially acceptable, haha.
This past Sunday afternoon, my husband and I went on a lovely drive together in the countryside near our home. Here, the third weekend of September is historically the weekend where many of the leaves have changed colour, but most of them are still fluttering brightly on the trees. We are also usually gifted with a spotlessly sunny and blue sky, and this combination creates a beautiful mosaic of autumn colours over the landscape. This is something I have taken note of over the past 6 or 7 years, so we always make a point to get out at least one of the afternoons that weekend to soak in the season. Troy and I have a specific spot we visit, where a grouping of immense trees have begun showering down their leaves, creating a vast area to enjoy the crunch beneath your feet as you walk along the path. Continue reading “SIMPLE, SMALL ENTRYWAY DECOR” →

Harvest Pumpkin Bread (Paleo, Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

~ Rachel Jane ~ Leave a comment

Ah, friends, it really does feel like autumn is upon us. The air is more crisp, the days are growing shorter, and as I drive through my city, the leaves have begun to turn their golden yellow and rich amber colours. That happens a bit earlier up north here where I live, and I don’t mind it one bit. You’ve probably read from me a couple times now that I will take all of the cooler, overcast weather I can get. Rather than feeling motivated when the weather becomes warmer and sunny in the spring, I find my boost of productivity when the opposite occurs. I’ve had home organization and cleaning projects on the go, and have found myself getting out and about much more now that the new season is imminent. However, my favourite time is still a cozy day at home, with my lamps and candles on, good music, and baking some sort of yummy goodies (and sneaking time here and there to do some reading, of course!). Continue reading “Harvest Pumpkin Bread (Paleo, Gluten Free, Dairy Free)” →