The Big White Farmhouse | intentional living, little by little

March 21, 2018

No.97: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Life // March 2018 Edition

A monthly project featuring ten photos throughout the day that show a peek into our extraordinarily ordinary life.

The First Day of Spring – Tuesday, March 20, 2018

I was awake way too early, my braining firing at all cylinders at 4:30AM. Mark was already up and working from home (a rare treat these days!), so I decided to get up with him so we could drink our coffee together by the fire. It lasted a whole five minutes before the baby woke up, hah! Oh well.

The day was dark and dreary, with rain all morning and hail in the early afternoon. For the first day of spring, it sure didn’t feel like it. I think the high was 37 degrees?! We got our school done before noon and made pepperoni pizza bombs for lunch. I even managed to take a power nap during quiet hour! The kids spent the rest of the afternoon drawing, reading and block-building and I caught up on chores. There really is nothing like slipping into clean sheets at the end of a long day.

My ten photos this month are dark and grainy, but a decent representation. It was definitely one of those days where you’re thankful for a warm house, cozy blankets and a good book.

March 19, 2018

No.96: Intentions for the End of March

March has been one crazy month so far. Spring, we’re so ready for you!

INTENTIONS FOR THE END OF MARCH

Habit of the Month: Gentleness
speak kindly about myself to myself
send out the first batch of cards for the Springtime Postcard Project
take photos for March’s “Our Extraordinary Ordinary Life”
buy candy and fill eggs
make sure the kids have something appropriate to wear for Easter (and me too!)
find a type of sushi that I like (100LT #45)
drink more water
make dentist appointments
plan out flower beds for the front of the house (100LT #60) and research local landscape architects
find coordinating outdoor pillows for the front rocking chairs and back bench that don’t cost a small fortune
start the weaning process with P (I’m so excited while simultaneously dreading this)

PREVIOUS INTENTIONS

If you’re reading on your phone or in a reader, be sure to click over to see what I checked off the list!

on stressful days, stop and breathe before responding (not perfect, but getting better at remembering to do this)
~~be intentional about having some sort of physical contact with each child daily~~
~~start buying items for a house emergency kit~~ (post coming soon)
try overnight oatmeal
~~research intermittent fasting~~
~~start taking my vitamins regularly again~~
make dentist appointments
finish Easter basket shopping (SO close)
~~plan a day with my mom~~ (this Saturday – I can’t wait)
~~buy stamps~~
~~try ThredUp’s new Goodybox program~~ (on the way – I have high hopes for this!)

What about you? What do you hope to accomplish in the next two weeks?

March 16, 2018

No.95: Seven Changes // An Introduction

This post contains affiliate links.

Every so often, I get this nagging feeling in my gut that a change is needed: a change in behavior, a change in opinion, a change in action. I like to think of it as the Holy Spirit tapping me on the shoulder saying, “Hey, you may want to think about this a little deeper.” At different points in my life, I push the nagging to the side (I’m looking at you, first year postpartum tunnel!) but the most important ones seem to always return.

So this is a look into my brain right now. I’ll warn you ahead of time – it’s messy in there, hah! I’m still very much in “input” mode, reading various sources of information and learning all I can. Looking down the list, these things feel incredibly overwhelming, but my motto should come in handy here: an intentional life happens little by little. Baby steps is better than no forward progress at all, right?

1 // TIME

For the past few weeks, I’ve been lamenting to Mark that I just don’t have enough time in the day for one.more.thing. Between the house and homeschooling and kids and meals and.and.and… when do I have time to work out? to pray? to do something for myself? The more I think about this, though, it’s not really an issue of time, but of priorities, procrastination and perfectionism.

Other articles and books:

Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done – I just checked this book out at the library. While it probably only peripherally relates to this topic, I think getting my perfectionism in check will be helpful.
six 10 minute habits to a better you

2 // WASTE

I blame unpopped kernels for this one. You know how you always find a handful of kernels at the bottom of the popcorn bowl? Curious, I picked them out and threw them back into the popper….and they popped! We had at least half a cup of extra popcorn that I normally would have tossed without a second glance. It gave me a lot of pause…what else am I carelessly throwing away without a second thought?

Other articles and books:

An Everlasting Meal – I’m only about a third of the way through this book, but after each chapter, I have this intense desire to get into the kitchen and make something from nothing. The way she describes using every part of the vegetable, the way you can transform one thing into another, the way nothing is wasted…so inspiring.
How Much Food Do We Waste? Probably More Than You Think
How to Start Composting: For Beginners

3 // SLOW FASHION

I follow a girl on Instagram named Elise who decided that for 2018, she would not purchase any new clothing. Instead, she decided to make her own. Watching her process as she knit a sweater – the time and precision needed – had me wondering how clothing could ever be sold so inexpensively!

Other articles and books:

Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion – on my to-read list
Why I Chose Slow Fashion
40 Day Fashion Fast | Introducing a Lenten Challenge

4 // EDUCATION

With many school-aged children in my home, topped with the responsibility of educating them, this topic is naturally on my mind a lot. I’m fascinated with learning as a whole, not necessarily just as it applies to homeschooling. How do we learn? How can I help my children remember what they learn? How do I guide them as they grow closer and closer to the teenage years and adulthood?

Other articles and books:

A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science – on my to-read list
Know and Tell: The Art of Narration – another one on the to-read list
Why we forget most of the books we read
After decade of pushing bachelor’s degrees, US needs more tradespeople

5 // NATURE & BEING OUTDOORS

I am not what you’d call an “outdoorsy” person. But I want to be. Moving to our new home in the country was the first step and with spring just around the corner, I’m pumping myself up to get outside with the kids. We all need that time out there.

Other articles and books:

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder – on my to-read list
How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature – another one with great reviews
Why 1000 hours outside?

6 // LESS SCREENS

I was recently having a conversation with someone when, as I talked, I watched their eyes flick to their phone (on the table in front of them, naturally) and start scrolling. It was awkward and embarrassing for me. In that instant, I thought about the times I have done the same thing, especially with my husband or my children. I don’t want to be that way.

Other articles and books:

The Winter of Our Disconnect: How Three Totally Wired Teenagers (and a Mother Who Slept with Her iPhone) Pulled the Plug on Their Technology and Lived to Tell the Tale – we read this in our book club a few years ago and it was really eye-opening for me
Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp What Really Matters – on my to-read list…it’s been recommended a lot!
Can you raise a teen without a smartphone?
Steve Jobs Was a Low-Tech Parent

7 // PARENTING

Ahh, parenting. It’s an area of my life where, just when I think I’m getting the hang of this gig, there’s a life twist and I realize – yet again – that I have no idea what I’m doing.

Other articles and books:

The 5 Love Languages (and the one for kids too) – I read the original book years ago but I think I’m due for a re-read, especially when it comes to figuring out my children
Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too – on my to-read list
The importance of printing photographs – childhood, identity and a history made in pictures

Linking up with Kelly’s Quick Takes!
P.S. There are still spots open for my Springtime Postcard Project. Find all the details here.

March 12, 2018

No.94: My Springtime Postcard Project

I am so excited about today’s post! Inspired by Naomi, one of the tasks on my 100 Little Things list this year is to mail fifty postcards. The original plan was to copy her directly and send vintage ones…but then I found this set from David Allen Sibley.

Oh.my.goodness. These postcards are absolutely gorgeous. Sibley’s watercolor artwork is so colorful and detailed! I really love that there are a wide variety of birds represented, everything from woodpeckers to songbirds to owls. I was tempted to keep the set intact and add the box to our nature basket, but ultimately decided that I couldn’t keep them just for myself.

So here we go!

Today I’m launching the Springtime Postcard Project, in which I hope to send these fifty postcards out into the world. Each one will include a unique message: I’m thinking a short story from my life, a recipe, a poem or maybe even an inspirational quote. Can I add you to the list? It would be so fun to “meet” my readers in a new and different way. Fill out the form here, then sit back and watch your mailbox for a springtime surprise.