Welcome to Patty’s Porch!

Hey there, friend! Come on up and have a seat. I’ve got sweet tea in the pitcher and a story to tell you.

I’m Patty—born and raised in Augusta, Georgia, married to my high school sweetheart for 28 years, and still figuring out life one day at a time. If you’re looking for a perfectly polished lifestyle guru with a spotless house and a curated Instagram feed, you’ve come to the wrong porch. But if you want honest recommendations from a real person who’s been in the trenches of homemaking, raising kids, stretching budgets, and trying to make life a little more comfortable and joyful? Well then, pull up a chair. I think we’re going to be friends.

How This Little Corner of the Internet Was Born

Let me tell you how this whole thing started.

I’ve spent most of my adult life as a homemaker—and I don’t say that with any regret or apology. My kitchen has been the heart of our home, where I’ve made everything from Wednesday night spaghetti to Christmas feasts. My garden? That’s where I talk to the Lord and work out life’s troubles with my hands in the dirt. And my front porch—well, that’s where neighbors become friends and friends become family.

Over the years, I developed a bit of a reputation. Women at church would ask, “Patty, where’d you get that?” or “Patty, what do you use for…?” I’d be at the grocery store and run into someone who’d heard from someone else about some gadget I’d mentioned that changed my life. My daughter Sarah jokes that I could sell ice to Eskimos, but that’s not it at all. I just get genuinely excited when I find something that actually works—something that makes the daily grind a little easier or brings a little more comfort to everyday living.

A few months back, I was sitting on this very porch with my friend Linda, and she said, “Patty, you need to write this stuff down. More people need to hear from someone who’ll tell them the truth about what’s worth buying and what’s just marketing hype.”

So here we are.

Who I Am (The Real Version)

I’m 52 years old, and I’m in this funny season of life where the nest is emptying and I’m rediscovering who I am beyond “Mom.” My oldest, Sarah, is 26 and married, teaching elementary school. Jake is 23, working construction, and making me proud every day with his work ethic. Emma is 19 and in nursing school—which means I still get panicked text messages about laundry disasters and “Mom, how do you make your pot roast?”

My husband Dale still makes my heart skip a beat, even after all these years. He’s patient with my tendencies to rearrange furniture at 9 PM and fill the house with more throw pillows than any human needs. He works hard, loves the Lord, and doesn’t complain when I test new recipes that don’t always turn out.

I grew up watching my mama stretch a dollar like nobody’s business. She taught me that “good enough” doesn’t mean “cheap”—it means finding quality you can afford and making it work for your family. That lesson has stuck with me through three kids, tight budgets, unexpected expenses, and every season of life in between.

What This Blog Is Actually About

Here’s the honest truth: Patty’s Porch Picks isn’t about making you want a different life. It’s about making the life you already have a little bit better.

I’m not going to show you a perfect home—because mine isn’t perfect. There are dust bunnies under my couch and dishes in my sink more often than I’d like to admit. But I have spent 30 years figuring out what works in a real home, with a real budget, for real people.

This blog is about:

Honest recommendations – If I tell you something is worth buying, it’s because I genuinely believe it will make your life easier or more comfortable. I’ll tell you the pros and the cons. I’ll tell you when something is worth splurging on and when the budget option is just as good.

Real-life solutions – I test things in my actual kitchen, in my actual garden, in my actual daily routine. Not for a photo shoot. For real life.

Budget-conscious choices – I know what it’s like to have to choose between wants and needs. I’ll never make you feel bad about your budget, and I’ll always try to give you options at different price points.

Comfort and joy – Life is hard enough. I want to help you create a home that feels like a sanctuary—a place where you can breathe, rest, and find a little peace.

Faith-centered living – My relationship with Jesus is the foundation of everything I do. But I’m not here to preach at you or make you feel like you’re not measuring up. I’ll share what brings me peace and comfort, and you take what resonates with your own journey.

What You WON’T Find Here

Let me be real with you about what this blog is not:

❌ Perfection pressure – Your house doesn’t have to look like a magazine. Neither does mine. We’re going for comfortable and functional, not Pinterest-perfect.

❌ Pushy sales tactics – Yes, I use affiliate links (that’s how I keep this blog running), and I’ll always be upfront about it. But I will never recommend something just to make a commission. Your trust is worth way more to me than a few dollars.

❌ Trendy nonsense – I’m not chasing every fad that comes along. If I recommend something trendy, it’s because I’ve tested it and it actually works—not just because everyone else is talking about it.

❌ Judgmental vibes – We’re all doing our best. If you love something I don’t like, that’s okay! If your priorities are different from mine, that’s okay too! This is a friendly space, not a competition.

❌ Corporate speak – I’m going to talk to you like we’re sitting on this porch together, because that’s exactly how I want this to feel. Expect “y’all” and contractions and sentences that start with “And” or “But.” My high school English teacher might cringe, but this is how real people talk.

What You Can Expect From Me

When you come back to visit Patty’s Porch (and I hope you do), here’s what you’ll find:

🏡 Seasonal content – I’ll help you prep for spring cleaning, plan your summer garden, get cozy in the fall, and navigate the holiday season without losing your mind.

🍽️ Kitchen wisdom – Product recommendations, time-saving tips, and the occasional recipe when something is just too good not to share.

🌻 Home and garden – From organizing tips to gardening guides (I’ve learned a lot about what grows well in Georgia heat!), I’ll share what works in my home and yard.

💝 Gift guides – Finding thoughtful gifts on a budget is kind of my specialty. I’ll help you show love without breaking the bank.

✨ Comfort picks – Products and practices that make life cozier, whether that’s the perfect throw blanket or a good devotional journal.

🙏 Real faith – Not preachy, not perfect, just honest reflections on how I try to live out my faith in everyday moments.

A Little Story About Why Honesty Matters

Last spring, I spent three weeks researching the “perfect” garden hose. I read reviews, watched videos, compared prices. I finally splurged on one that promised to never kink, never leak, and probably make my tomatoes grow themselves.

Y’all. That hose kinked on day three.

I could have just eaten the cost and moved on. But instead, I returned it, bought a different one for half the price that actually worked, and learned something: expensive doesn’t always mean better, and reviews aren’t always honest.

That’s when I decided that if I was going to recommend products to people, I was going to be the friend who tells you the truth—even when the truth is “I wasted money so you don’t have to.”

An Invitation

So here’s my invitation to you: come back and visit. Subscribe to my newsletter when I get it up and running. Follow along on Facebook. Send me your questions. Tell me what you’re struggling with in your home or your daily routine.

Let’s figure this out together.

I’m not an expert with fancy credentials. I’m just Patty from Augusta, Georgia, who’s spent a lot of years learning what works and what doesn’t. I’ve made plenty of mistakes (ask me about the time I killed every single tomato plant by “helping” them with the wrong fertilizer), and I’ll probably make plenty more.

But I’ll always shoot straight with you. I’ll always tell you what I genuinely think. And I’ll always treat your hard-earned money with the respect it deserves—because I know what it’s like to work for every dollar and need it to count.

The porch is always open. The tea is always cold. And there’s always room for one more friend.

What’s Coming Next

In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing:

My tried-and-true kitchen essentials (the stuff I actually use every single week)
Spring garden planning tips (it’s never too early!)
How to make your home cozier without spending a fortune
Gift ideas for the people in your life who are “impossible to shop for”
And whatever else the Lord lays on my heart to share

I’m so glad you’re here. I mean that sincerely. In a world that often feels rushed and impersonal and full of people trying to sell you something, I hope this little corner of the internet feels different. I hope it feels like home.

Now, before you go—tell me in the comments: what’s the one thing in your home that genuinely makes your life better? The thing you’d grab if you had to replace it tomorrow? I’m always looking for good recommendations, and I learn just as much from y’all as you might learn from me.

Welcome to Patty’s Porch Picks, friend. Stay awhile.

With love from my porch to yours,

Patty 🌻

P.S. – If you’re wondering about the faith thing: yes, Jesus is the center of my life, but this isn’t going to be a preachy space. I’ll share verses that comfort me, mention prayers that helped me through, and talk about how my faith shapes my daily choices. But I’m not here to beat anyone over the head with a Bible. I’m here to be a friend. And friends share what matters to them without making it weird. Sound good? Good.

A Note About Affiliate Links: Just so we’re clear from the start—when I recommend products, I’ll often include affiliate links. That means if you buy something through my link, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is how I keep this blog running. But here’s my promise: I will NEVER recommend something just to make money. If I wouldn’t buy it for my own home or recommend it to my daughter, I won’t recommend it to you. Your trust matters more than any commission check. Period.