The Big White Farmhouse | intentional living, little by little

June 25, 2018

No.149: Five June Favorites (A Link-Up and A Giveaway!)

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Welcome to the Five Favorites linkup! Congratulations to Jen, with May’s winning post: Stuff I Love {five favorites}. Be sure to check below for this month’s prize pack!

1 // COLD BREW COFFEE
My favorite afternoon treat lately has been a big glass of iced coffee. Mark and I have tried a few brands, but I think Gevalia’s vanilla cold brew concentrate is my favorite. I mix it with cashew milk. So good!

2 // MID-RISE 6″ SHORTS
For most of my life, I’ve been self-conscious about my legs. But after sweating many a summer in jeans and maxi dresses, I’ve decided enough is enough! I’m embracing this 30-something body, for better or worse! It turns out, though, that shorts buying is as tricky for me as jeans. I have longer legs, so I’ve been searching for something in between booty shorts and bermudas. On a whim, I bought a pair of Old Navy shorts from ThredUp and they’re the perfect length for me.

3 // ARTISAN SOURDOUGH MADE SIMPLE
I love this cookbook! If you’ve ever been curious to try making sourdough bread, this is the book for you. The directions are clear and she walks you through the process step by step. So far, we’ve made the everyday loaf, a focaccia pizza and sourdough waffles. Everything has been delicious! I want to make every single recipe.

4 // THE EVERYDOLLAR BUDGETING WEBSITE AND APP

Mark and I are ramping up our debt reduction plans again and we just started using Dave Ramsey’s (free!) EveryDollar website and app. I still like working out our budget on paper, but the app really helps Mark and I stay on the same page. It’s especially nice to see how much we have in sinking funds, all in a quick glance.

5 // MY NEW PULLOVER
My latest thrift store find: a like new L.L.Bean rugby pullover for only $4.50! I got to wear it a few days before the heat became unbearable. It’s so comfortable.

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A Peek into June’s Prize Pack

The giveaway items I’ve chosen are a mix of some of my favorite things: etsy finds, vintage pieces and little bits picked up from various stores. All have been purchased by me and nothing has been sponsored. This incentive is to thank you for visiting here and linking up your posts. It’s my small way of showing you that your words are being heard! I read every single entry and try to comment on or share a few (I wish I could do this for every one – not enough hours in the day!) Here’s how it works: every time you link up a blog or Instagram post, you get an entry. The official closing date will be Sunday, July 1st and I’ll randomly pick a winner on July 2.

June’s prizes include:

1 // Tall strawberry glass

2 // Three reusable plastic straws

3 // Sun Porch goat milk soap from Clean Line Soap Company

4 // My Not So Perfect Life paperback

5 // Strawberry napkins

I can’t wait to hear about what you’re loving this month! Here’s what to do:

1. Write a blog post sharing about five of your favorite things. You could also share a photo on Instagram too! (hashtag is #bwffivefavorites) It can have a theme (ie: five of your favorite slow cooker recipes) or just a mishmash like I usually do.

2. Please link back to this post so your readers know where to find the Five Favorites hub (posts not mentioning “Five Favorites” or not linking back to this post will be subject to removal).

3. Not mandatory, but feel free to visit some of the other posts in the link-up! Sharing and/or leaving a comment is even better.

4. Make sure to add a link to your specific post or Instagram picture, not just your blog address.

Thanks for linking up!

An InLinkz Link-up

June 23, 2018

No.148: Tales of a Thrift Store Convert

I started and never finished this post in my draft folder months ago, so I’m finally hitting publish!

Dear Friend,

Can I tell you a secret? I used to be afraid of the thrift store. I used to think they were a little icky, a smelly building that certainly must be full of yellow armpit stained shirts and tacky tchotchkes.

But then came 2018 and my heart check on waste and cheap fashion. My mom is always finding treasures at the thrift store and curiosity finally got the best of me. I was ready for her to teach me her ways.

Just a few trips in and I’m a believer! I’m sure there are places out there that fit my naive description above, but I really think they must be the exception, not the rule. Anyway, I wish I could have you over for coffee so I could proudly share my latest finds, but maybe a little virtual sharing will do in the meantime? Check out what I found:

In my very new experience of thrift store shopping, the way clothing is handled makes or breaks a shopping trip. My mom and I visited one store that is amazing in its organization! I practically found an entire spring wardrobe for just a few dollars a piece! J.Crew, Gap, even a Merona sweater with tags.

Years ago, I bought a set of dishes at Target. We’ve slowly lost pieces due to chips and falls and I was at a point where I was debating whether to buy more of the same or invest in something different. Lo and behold, I found my exact dishes at Goodwill. Seven dinner plates, six salad plates and a handful of bowls for just $2 a piece! In one swoop, my dishes were replenished for half the price. My best find to date.

Books! I could browse the books all day long. Most books are only $1, but my favorite is when you discover at the register that some are half off.

I try to keep focused, but some things are just too great to pass up! I loved these sweet vintage candle-holders and can’t wait to use them this Christmas.

Are you a seasoned thrifter? Tell me your best tips and tricks. Have you recently been to Goodwill? I’d love to hear all about your finds!

xo,
Ashley

A QUICK REVIEW OF THREDUP’S GOODY BOX PROGRAM

Okay, so maybe thrift stores aren’t your thing or the idea of browsing with little kids in tow gives you hives. (No judgement here!) Another option is ThredUp, a virtual consignment store with amazing secondhand deals. I recently tried out their new Goody Box program and while it wasn’t a perfect fit (too many pieces suitable for fall when I was looking for spring/summer), I really enjoyed trying out brands I’ve never worn before. This box had everything from Zara to J.Crew to Madewell to Old Navy. The price points ranged from $6 (for a Merona skirt) to upwards of $50 (for a Marc Jacobs skirt). I ended up keeping three out of the fifteen pieces and just shipped the rest back. A fun alternative to boxes like StitchFix. Use my referral link HERE to get $10 off your first order!

June 22, 2018

No.147: Farmhouse to Home // What I Bought (Vol.2)

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Do you ever read home decor blogs and wonder how they have the time/money/focus to do entire makeovers of certain rooms? Part of me wishes I could do the same, but another part thinks my slow-as-molasses approach to decorating is much more meaningful and fun. Slowly but surely, we’re making our house a home that (hopefully!) feels welcoming and warm.

Below are seven new additions to the farmhouse. (Check out the first installment of Farmhouse to Home here.) I search widely and go for a mix of more expensive, less expensive, vintage and handmade. You know how much I love the look of a collected home. Linking up with Kelly’s Quick Takes!

1 // WHITE BATHMAT
Do I dare admit how long we needed a new bathmat in our master bathroom? At one point, we were even using a beach towel! #classy I ordered this simple white bathmat during a sale and geez, what was I waiting for?! It works great, washes well and the price isn’t bad either.

2 // VINTAGE EXPANDABLE WALL RACK
The wall by our front door needed something, but since it isn’t a frequently used area (we use the side door and the mudroom 99% of the time), I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do. I stumbled upon this picture on Instagram and set out to find a vintage wall rack of my own. I ended up purchasing one from Lititz Carriage House on etsy. I love the well-worn look.

3 // STRING LIGHTS FOR THE BACK PORCH
This has been on the wishlist since the day we moved in! I decided to go with these black string lights and bonus! The company offered a discount if you purchased two sets, which we needed anyway. We hope to install them in the next few weeks, but so far, I’ve been impressed. Packaged securely and the customer service was great.

4 // BLUE STRIPED DUVET COVERS
The two little boys will eventually share a room and I spent entirely too much time researching matching quilts for their twin beds. I never really found exactly what I wanted, so decided to just buy my go-to duvet covers from Ikea. The three bigger boys have the same in their room and they’ve held up well.

5 // WHITE TERRACOTTA PLANTER
I bought myself a houseplant for Mother’s Day this year and this planter to keep it in. I think I may have already killed the plant (did I over-water? not enough light?) but the planter sure is cute.

6 // CARPENTER BEE TRAP
We had a big carpenter bee problem this spring, but learned about a trap you can install to catch them. (Thanks for the tip, Rosie!) We’re at the tail end of the season – apparently, they’re much less active when the weather heats up – but I’m grateful that we’re prepared for next year.

7 // USA PLEATED FAN BUNTINGS FOR THE FRONT PORCH
I’ve always wanted to hang flag buntings in July and this year, we’re finally going to make it happen! Can’t wait to put them up this weekend.

BONUS // OUR NEW FRONT FLOWER BEDS AND WALKWAY!
This was our biggest house purchase so far! We saved a chunk of our tax return to have a landscaper come and install a brick walkway and flower beds. We were so impressed with the work! Well worth the investment. Now to save up for beautiful shrubbery in the flower beds and lots of terra cotta potted plants on the steps.

What about you? What great finds have you added to your home lately?

P.S. Etsy is having a big sales event and I’ve been sharing great deals over on my Facebook page.
Come on over and check it out!

June 21, 2018

No.146: Read With Me // How to Raise a Wild Child (Part 3)

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Quick recap: I assigned myself a summer reading book, How To Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature, to help me have a better relationship with nature and encourage that relationship in my children. I’m jotting down some notes and thoughts as I read through it this month and sharing them here. Maybe it will inspire you in a new way too!

The book is divided into four sections. (Find my notes on Part One here and Part Two here.) Part Three contains Chapters 6, 7 and 8 and is called “Life Stages.”

Chapter 6: The Playful Scientist

Young children are like wolf pups. They long to venture outside, but not too far from Mom and Dad. They’re all about exploring and pushing edges close to home, yet run back regularly for a dose of security. As a nature mentor, the key is to give young kids plenty of time in natural places – backyards, beaches, forests, deserts, creeks, parks – where they can play with all those loose parts until exhaustion sets in. Show interest when they bring you some random object for inspection, but otherwise feel free to let kids hang out and explore with all their senses. The end result for the child will be an amazing experience in which she deepens her bond with you and with nature. (p.169)

Notes and takeaways from this chapter:

This chapter focuses on children ages 2 to 6, where the goal is just to play. Play with rocks and sticks, play in dirt…it’s all healthy and good.
This was fascinating to me: “Ilkka Hanski and colleagues at the University of Helsinki conducted an intriguing investigation of allergies, comparing adolescents living in neighborhoods surrounded by natural areas with those in neighborhoods landscaped in concrete and neatly trimmed lawns. They found that people immersed in more natural settings, places home to greater varieties of native plants, were themselves covered with a wider range of microbes and were far less likely to exhibit allergies than folks in the more sanitized settings.” (p.164)
To read: Rachel Carson’s 1956 essay, “Help Your Child to Wonder”
To try: seek out opportunities to take children on nighttime adventures

Chapter 7: The Age of Competence

…an important element of nature-mentoring children of this age is to loosen the reins enough that they have the freedom and access to find their own place and visit it often. (p.180)

Notes and takeaways from this chapter:

This chapter moves up to middle childhood, focusing on ages 6 to 12.
Sampson shares stories of two adults who brought their kids along as they fished, camped and hunted. This paragraph really stood out to me: “The key here is that both men took their kids with them while they pursued their own outdoor passions. The children, feeling that longing for competence, picked up on these passions and unknowingly used them to deepen their own nature connection. The lesson is that while it’s important to observe children closely and support their individual interests, as a nature mentor you need to be authentic in your own interests as well.” (p.182) I may not fish or hunt, but I can see how even gardening with the kids can be beneficial to all of us.
How can we reduce risk and manage our fears while still getting our kids outdoors and giving them some meaningful autonomy? Two strategies:

Go with them
Put outdoor time on the calendar and make it a priority

“hummingbird parent” = giving kids space and autonomy to take risks, staying on the periphery and only zooming in when necessary
This chapter really inspired me to research what’s available around us. A simple search of our county on Facebook was all it took to find what’s happening with Parks & Rec and a handful of new trails to hike. Why didn’t I do this sooner?!

Chapter 8: The Social Animal

If beauty is symbolized by the heart, and truth by the brain, goodness might be considered the domain of the gut – a moral compass guiding our decision-making. It is during the teen years that we begin to fine-tune our moral compass. (p.211)

Notes and takeaways from this chapter:

The teenage years are just around the corner for us, so I was very interested in this chapter!
A handful of tips:

Make time for nature: limit screen time and encourage teens to get outside, bonus points if you can get peers involved too
Make nature the place for adventure: pick an activity that they’re passionate about and get out there regularly (examples: biking, hiking, snowboarding, camping, etc.). I really liked the idea of picking a specific activity for each season. Such a great way to make memories, build traditions, and get into nature all at the same time.
Nature-related service is really powerful among adolescents: I need to see what’s available locally!
Rites of passage mark the transition from child to adult: I love this idea so much! Need to brainstorm with Mark exactly how we’d like to do this with our boys. And something special for Sophie too.