S'mores on the Front Porch

<script src="http://static.fmpub.net/zone/5708" type="text/javascript"></script><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Brought to you by Energizer®. Click <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fbs.serving-sys.com%2FBurstingPipe%2FadServer.bs%3Fcn%3Dtf%26c%3D20%26mc%3Dclick%26pli%3D7404867%26PluID%3D0%26ord%3D%5Btimestamp%5D&k4=6622&k5={banner_id}" target="_blank">here</a></span> to learn more about Energizer® Portable Lights with Light Fusion Technology.</i></span><br /><br />When we first moved into the Valley house, I was frustrated by the number of exterior doors and mini-porches here. It seemed silly and inefficient. I still wish our exits were consolidated, but I have a new appreciation for our side porch, which is in front of <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2013/08/diy-plank-walls-and-painted-mudroom.html" target="_blank">the mudroom</a> and next to the garage. We've been using this space so much lately and I think it's starting to look pretty cute:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo XADSC_0449.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/XADSC_0449.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo aaaDSC_0422.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/aaaDSC_0422.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Here's the full rundown on our little porch makeover...<br /><a name="more"></a>Remember what this spaced looked like before?<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6556.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6556.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6555.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6555.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Pretty sad. It looks so much more lived in now! Adding just a little bit of furniture and some pots with pretty plants made a huge difference.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DDSC_0434.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/DDSC_0434.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo XDSC_0456.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/XDSC_0456.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0508.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0508.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />My favorite is our new blue porch swing.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo XDSC_0444.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/XDSC_0444.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>We live close to a lot of family members now, so we find ourselves having impromptu gatherings a few times a week.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo sDSC_0566.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/sDSC_0566.jpg" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0504.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0504.jpg" /></div><br />My mom was in town a couple days ago and we were having unseasonably cool weather, so Heather picked up Grimaldi's pizzas and we made s'mores on the newly furnished front porch.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0516.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0516.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cDSC_0538.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/cDSC_0538.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><br />Energizer had recently invited me to try out their new outdoor lanterns, so I pulled them out for our little s'mores party. We live in a really quiet private neighborhood where there aren't a ton of street lights. We love how dark it gets here (hello, star gazing!), except for when we want to have friends over for s'mores and scooter-riding. :) <a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fbs.serving-sys.com%2FBurstingPipe%2FadServer.bs%3Fcn%3Dtf%26c%3D20%26mc%3Dclick%26pli%3D7404867%26PluID%3D0%26ord%3D%5Btimestamp%5D&k4=6622&k5={banner_id}" target="_blank">Their newly designed lights</a> were super helpful for task and general lighting, and I like that they run on LED technology. I'm sure we'll be taking these lights on our next camping trip.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cDSC_0620.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/cDSC_0620.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The pop-up lantern ended up being our favorite to use. The kids took turns hanging it from their scooters while they zipped around the culdesac. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0417.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/DSC_0417.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We needed some extra seating on the porch for the s'mores party, so I pulled out the <a href="http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2012/10/vintage-lounge-chairs.html" target="_blank">Kagan style wire chairs</a> that I bought in Williamsburg. It's pretty low on the priority list at this point, but I'd really love to strip these and paint them a dark peacock blue to play off the porch swing color.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo XDSC_0454.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/XDSC_0454.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo XDSC_0442.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/XDSC_0442.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also, I randomly found a pair of vintage wire chairs on Craigslist that look a lot like my wire chairs, except with much lower backs. I think the two pairs look great sitting together. The new pair is a bright white, which I like and will keep.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo XDSC_0459.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/XDSC_0459.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Won't those taller chairs look great in a glossy peacock blue? The trio of colors with the neon yellow stools from Target will be fun.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cDSC_0572.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/cDSC_0572.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The new swing was also a Craigslist find. A couple in Mesa builds these swings together <a href="http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/fuo/3964308165.html" target="_blank">and sells them</a> (painted and with hardware) for about $100. All I had to do was hang ours! It's really cute and fits perfectly in front of the mudroom window on our porch.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0467.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/DSC_0467.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Another lucky Craigslist find was this chiminea for $40. My mom and Gracie helped me paint it white, which I liked better than the terracotta finish. I think it makes it look a little more California-Spanish style in the white.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo IMG_6609.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/IMG_6609.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0430.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/DSC_0430.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm completely in love with the chiminea. I really like that the access to the fire is smaller than a traditional open fire pit. It feels a little safer with all these kids running around (though we always have at least one adult on fire-watching duty to keep the situation as safe as possible)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0550.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/DSC_0550.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo zDSC_0486.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/zDSC_0486.jpg" style="text-align: left;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The chiminea fire makes the yummiest, chewiest toasted marshmallows. Throw a little dove chocolate or Nutella in the mix and I'm in heaven.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo cDSC_0596.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/cDSC_0596.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo fDSC_0582.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/fDSC_0582.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo bDSC_0555.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/bDSC_0555.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's been a busy month since moving to Arizona, but I keep telling Michael that it feels like the day is 32 hours long here. In New York it felt like there were only about 12 hours to have. Now there's more than enough time to get all the work done, and plenty left over for the fun stuff. Suddenly nights and weekends are ours again - and it feels so good.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0600.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/DSC_0600.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo vDSC_0549.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/vDSC_0549.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt=" photo DSC_0629.jpg" border="0" src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd246/jkomenda/Album%2010/DSC_0629.jpg" style="text-align: start;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Thanks to Energizer® for sponsoring this post. And thank you for supporting the companies that help me run LGN. Click <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://r1.fmpub.net/?r=http%3A%2F%2Fbs.serving-sys.com%2FBurstingPipe%2FadServer.bs%3Fcn%3Dtf%26c%3D20%26mc%3Dclick%26pli%3D7404867%26PluID%3D0%26ord%3D%5Btimestamp%5D&k4=6622&k5={banner_id}" target="_blank">here</a></span> to learn more about Energizer® Portable Lights with Light Fusion Technology.</i></span></div>

S'mores on the Front Porch

Brought to you by Energizer®. Click  here  to learn more about Energizer® Portable Lights with Light Fusion Technology. When we first moved ...

Read more »