The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

Archives for June 2011

{giving} Box Tops for Joplin


I’ve been collecting these Box Tops for Education off and on for a few months now.  Having no children in school yet, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to do with them, but at 10 cents a piece, I thought, “I have to clip them!  It’s like throwing away money!”

Then, this week, I found a Facebook page about helping Joplin, MO schools (remember that devastating tornado?).  And they are asking for… Box Tops!  So mine are in the mail!  If you are interested in donating as well, check out their page!

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On a similar note, I just pulled out my coupons that will be expiring at the end of the month.  Did you know that military families stationed overseas can use coupons up to 6 months past their expiration date?  This website has a list of bases to send them to! 

{family} Mexican Fiesta Night!

Every so often, I get tired of the same old, same old and declare to my fam, “Today we are going to __________!”  The boys are typically excited with my crazy antics and Mark just goes with the flow, bless his heart.  So, after a pretty uneventful couple of weeks, I knew we needed something to change things up a little. 

And after reading about the pinata that was made on Young House Love a little while ago, I knew we just had to make one of our own!  Thus, the theme for Mexican Fiesta Night was born! 

It was pretty cheap for a full day of fun…the only things we bought were balloons (for $1.50) and a couple bags of candy.  Everything else we already had at home.  But spending a day doing an exciting, new craft with the boys…priceless.  Definitely a family memory we will remember (and do again soon!).

{kids crafts} Recycled Crayons

A great craft to do with the kids on a day when it’s too hot to go outside: RECYCLED CRAYONS!  They are so easy and fun to do and the possibilities are endless! 

Here’s what you do:
Find a bunch of old or broken crayons.  Remove all of the wrappers.  Break the crayons into small pieces and place into a muffin tin or silicone pan (we used a mini brownie pan made of silicone that I had on hand).  Place in the oven at 275 degrees for 15 minutes, or until melted.  (If using silicone, I recommend placing it on a firm cookie sheet before putting into the oven.)  Remove from the oven and let your new crayons set completely, about 1 hour.  Then, pop them out and color away!  

The boys just loved this project and we came up with a lot of ideas for next time:

  • I would use an Xacto knife to cut slits down the paper before peeling the wrappers off of the crayons.  This step took the longest and we had some trouble with the older crayons (the paper tended to stick more). 
  • I want to try to make crayons in different shapes.  I know they have candy molds at Michaels for pretty cheap, which would work perfectly for this craft!  How adorable would they be as party favors?
  • I think it would be neat to combine two colors into one space.  Once you have them all melted, swirl the colors with a stick! 

{read along} Mitten Strings for God: Mornings

Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a HurrySee my thoughts on chapter 1 here.

Chapter 2: MORNINGS

There are certain perks to having only little ones in the house.  Our mornings tend to be much like the ones described in the book: early morning risers climbing into bed with me for a little extra snuggle time.  I have one sweet boy who likes to curve himself around the shape of my spine, the other who spreads out on the foot of my bed. 

The mornings are early, REALLY early… but they are sacred.  I am embracing this time for its simplicity and simple rhythm because I know this will all change soon.  School, extra-curriculars, sports, friends…the days are going to be filled to the brim before I know it.  Here are some of my thoughts to making our mornings a great beginning to our days:

  • Get up before the boys.  In an ideal world, I would be doing this now, but those boys just wake up so. darn. early!  Hopefully, in a few years, I’ll be able to wake up earlier than them and have some quiet time to myself before the business of the day begins. 
  • No rushing.  I don’t like chaos and my kids don’t work well with a stressed out Mamma.  When our day starts with rushing around, I feel like we all leave the house a little off.  A little frazzled.
  • Prepare beforehand for a peaceful routine.  I am practicing this skill right now, since I know I will need to have it perfected by the time the boys are a little older.  When we need to be out of the house at a certain time, I make a plan of what needs to be done and work backward.  I try to do as much as I can the night before: clothes laid out, diaper bag packed, papers signed, etc.  I think that really helps the flow of our mornings.

What do you do in your home in order to create a peaceful morning?        

{i want to remember} – 6/24/11

Sometimes life gets so busy that I forget to notice and appreciate the little things.  Here are some of the things I am loving this week:

I WANT TO REMEMBER… how D always, ALWAYS remembers to say thank you.  He will actually repeat it and repeat it until you acknowledge him. 

I WANT TO REMEMBER… how J has two teeth at 6 1/2 months old!  I just love his little toothy grin!

I WANT TO REMEMBER… how M colors everything in rainbows!  He will take each little space in a picture and color it a different color.  Sometimes it takes him 15-20 minutes to finish one page, but what an eye for detail and precision.  I can only imagine what his future holds with those qualities!

I WANT TO REMEMBER… how both of the big boys’ have taken to wearing baseball caps around the house.  They never liked hats when they were babies and have always fussed when forced to wear winter caps.  So it’s a big surprise now that they just LOVE their Cowboys & Boston caps! 

I WANT TO REMEMBER… how great it felt to sew a little this week.  I pulled out my hand sewing and for the first time since J was born, I was able to get a little done!  The ideas are flowing and I can’t wait to get a project started!  Perhaps a baby quilt?

{in the kitchen} Strawberry Cobbler Cake

Oh, how I love strawberry season!  We bought a 2lb. container this weekend for $4!  $4.00!!  That’s a super great price around these parts.

After a quick search on the interwebs, I decided to try this yummy seasonal recipe: Strawberry Cobbler Cake!  It’s got all the makings of a cobbler, but just a tad more cakey.  How’s that for a description?!  It was yummy and the boys gobbled it right up.  In fact, M declared it was the best thing he’d ever eaten, which is HUGE, since he is my straight shooter and frequently likes to tell me when things are “disgusting” or “so gross”. 

STRAWBERRY COBBLER CAKE
1. Preheat oven to 350.  Soften 3/4 cup butter and beat on medium.  Add 3/4 cup sugar and continue to mix well.  Add 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla, mixing well.  
2.Combine 1 1/4 cups flour with 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt.  Add to butter mixture, alternately with 1/2 cup milk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.   
3. Pour into greased 8″ pan.  Pour in batter and top with 2-3 cups of strawberries (which have been hulled and sliced in half), cut side down.
4. Make topping: Mix 1/4 cup flour and 1/4 cup sugar in a small bowl.  Cut in 1/4 cup chilled butter.  Sprinkle over cobbler.  Bake at 350 for 45 minutes!  Enjoy!

{home} Boys’ Room Inspiration Board

Being a homeowner for the past 5 years, I have found that I go into decorating (or re-decorating) mode in seasons.  Sometimes I am full force ahead, while other times I am happy to just enjoy the spaces I’ve created.  After the birth of our sweet baby J, I definitely was in the latter season for awhile.  Soaking in this new little guy was our first priority and I shifted all those projects to the back burner for awhile. 

But now….well now I’ve got the itch again!  And first stop on the redecorating train is the big boy’s room.  It has always been a work in progress, but I really want to make it much more organized and have a quiet, cozy place for reading.

Here are some of the images that are inspiring me lately:

   1.  I like the idea of having buckets or some sort of cool storage next to each bunk for books or “guys”.  Something each boy can put their treasures in.
2. I’m leaning toward the blue/red/green color scheme.  Masculine, but still child-like!
3.  I think the boys would LOVE a chalkboard wall.  Put from the baseboard to about their full height would be perfect (and trimmed out to look like it was framed!).
4. I love those red READ letters!
5.  Framing covers of favorite children’s books is so sweet.
6. I’m thinking of doing plaid quilts for both beds.  Purchasing them new would be quite expensive…maybe I should think about making them?
7. I just love this idea of turning a closet into a little reading nook.  So cool!  I would have loved that growing up!
The challenge for me is: I don’t want to spend a lot of money!  With a little creativity, I think I can pull it off!  Stay tuned!

{giving} Stephanie’s Get Well Box

My sweet cousin Stephanie had surgery a few weeks ago and will be recovering for the next 4-6 weeks.  I wanted to send her a little something to lift her spirits and let her know we were thinking of her! 

I purchased a few little things for her on etsy and had such a great experience with each of these sellers!  I’m recording them here, so I can be sure to return again soon.

25 Rainbow Stripe Straws from HeyYoYo

A little bit about the seller (I love to know the stories of the people I purchase from!): “Hey Yo Yo is Amanda Graff, cupcake baker and glitter duster. My diploma is from The Culinary Institute of America in pastry, but I developed my love of all things crafty while working for Martha Stewart Television as a recipe developer. I’ve currently traded my whisk in for a glue gun and have never been happier.”

“Make Your Own Happy” Print from DUDADAZE

A little about the seller: “Mom of three boys who enjoys creating charming little pieces of art. I am a rubber stamp artist for Sugar Nellie, have various other online shops, and a line of figures, shadow boxes and wall art through Demdaco.”

DIY Mini Altered Notebook Journal Inspiration Kit from PrettyGirl Supplies

A little about the seller: “We work as a team of aunt and niece. We have always been into crafts and are anxious for new found projects and ideas.”

 

The Packaging: I ran out of tissue paper so I decided I would use a little fabric to wrap up the items instead!  Even the fabric has a story: it is from my grandmother’s collection that she has recently passed on to me!  I finished it off with some floral ribbon and a note and off it went to Steph! 

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A quick recipe that I included in Stephanie’s package: PEACH TEA!  This drink is delicious and so refreshing for summer!  I like it on its own, but a yummy alternative is to fill your glass with half tea/half lemonade!  You can also add a frozen peach to your glass…that’s a fun touch when you’re entertaining!

Pour 4 cups boiling water over 8 teabags.  Steep for 4-6 minutes.  Remove tea bags.  Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup of sugar and then add 4 cups cold water.  Stir and chill. 

{family} Father’s Day Recap

We had family over to our house Sunday to celebrate Father’s Day.  It was really special to be able to honor both my dad and Mark.  The kitchen was just the hubb of activity and in all my preparations, I didn’t take a single picture!  Next year I will definitely enlist of the help of someone to take pictures of my table and spread!  🙂   

Since I love the details of a good party, here is what we served for Dad and Mark’s special day:

The Menu
Kabobs with Peppers
“Man Steaks”
Bacon & Ranch Potato Salad
Crunchy Coleslaw
Fruit Salad
Chips
Soda
Pink Lemonade
Peach Tea
Blueberry Cheesecake
Chocolate Chip Cookies

{i want to remember} – 6/17/11

Sometimes life gets so busy that I forget to notice and appreciate the little things.  Here are some of the things I am loving this week:

I WANT TO REMEMBER… how easy it was for D to warm up to Nana.  Since he hasn’t seen her since last summer, I assumed he would be hesitant and a little nervous.  But he went right up to her and started feeding her play food.  What a sweet memory.

I WANT TO REMEMBER… how the boys yelled “Come on Nana!  Let’s kick the ball!” when they were playing soccer in the front yard.  M specifically picked her for his team.

I WANT TO REMEMBER… how sweet it was to hear Nana talking to J.  He loved being with her and gave her many smiles and giggles.  I think she just melted.  

I WANT TO REMEMBER… all the stories that watching my three boys brought back for Nana.  It was so neat to hear her memories, like how Grandpa thought it was silly when she said, “Nakie babies”.  Such amazing (and so personal now, for me as a mother) family history. 

I WANT TO REMEMBER… how nice it feels to be with family, how special our relationships are.  How much we are loved.  We are so, so blessed.

{family} Our Mini-Vacation to the Beach!

Last week started poorly.  We had just made the decision not to travel to Maine for vacation this year.  Financially, it just didn’t make sense, not to mention the 14 hour car ride with three little boys!  So, although I knew it was the right choice, I was pretty sad.  It’s hard being a grown up.  
Add to that an air conditioning unit that stopped working AGAIN!  And during a heat wave with temps in the high 90’s all week!  We were all a cranky, unhappy mess.  So Mark totally won the husband of the year award when he declared on Thursday: “Pack your bags!  We’re headed for an over-nighter at the Beach!”  
We drove down Thursday afternoon and checked into the hotel by dinnertime.  He had just enough points saved up from staying in a hotel during a business trip, making our stay free!  We got dinner, bought a new $5 movie at Target, and settled in for the night.  The boys love staying in a hotel, so it was quite the treat.  
Bright and early the next morning, we were up and ready to embrace the day.  Perks of having early risers: we got to the beach around 8:30 and were the only ones there!  It was utterly amazing.  I think we all just stood in awe at how beautiful it was.  M, as usual, was in his element, going back and forth between sand castles and “fighting” the waves.  D was more hesitant and a little freaked out by all the sand but he quickly warmed up and was soon way out in the water with Daddy!  J was his little happy self (as usual) and even took a nap on our beach blanket.  
Needless to say, it was such a wonderful day and exactly what we needed to get away from the monotony.  We left around lunchtime, just as the beach started to fill up.  I left feeling so much love for my little family.  And so much love and appreciation for my wonderful husband!  I am blessed. 

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