The Big White Farmhouse | intentional living, little by little

December 16, 2015

{five favorites} Vol.06: Flannel Pajamas, Recipe Videos & Reading Before Bed

{1}

Pima Cotton Flannel Pajamas from L.L.Bean
I received these pajamas (in a similar print) as a bridesmaid gift last year and they have quickly become my favorite winter pajamas. So warm and comfortable! These would be a great gift idea for a nursing mother.
(P.S. Don’t forget to get 4% back by shopping through Ebates!)

{2}
The Surprising Benefits of Reading Before Bed
“A 2009 study from researchers at University of Sussex showed that six minutes of reading reduces stress by 68% (more relaxing than either music or a cup of tea), thus clearing the mind and readying the body for sleep.”

{3}

If you’re on Facebook at all, I’m sure you’ve seen a bunch of these Tasty recipe videos going around. They are quick, informative and everything looks delicious! This one about Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake would be an easy (and sweet!) choice for Christmas morning.

{4}
Looping: Task Management for the (Recovering) Type A Mom
“Looping is my antidote to steamrolling over everybody in my zeal to check everything off my list. That’s something I really struggle with. The concept is simply this: instead of assigning tasks to certain days of the week, list tasks and then tackle them in order, regardless of what day it is.”

{5}

The Best Sugar Cookie Recipe Ever by Katrina’s Kitchen

I made these cookies with the kids last weekend and they are delicious! Easy recipe and no chilling required.

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I’d love to hear about five of your favorite things too! Need some ideas? Here are a few to get you started:
+ Tell us about five of your favorite family recipes.
+ Share five of your favorite blog posts from 2015.
+ What are five things on your Christmas wishlist?

I’ll be taking the next two weeks off for Christmas, but will be back with more #5Faves in January. See you on January 6!

An InLinkz Link-up

December 14, 2015

{book report} My Latest Reads // December

It’s been awhile since we’ve talked books! Here are a handful of my latest reads:

ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE // We read this huge historical novel for our Inspired Readers Book Club and I’m so glad we did. While I found the story haunting and sad (what WWII story isn’t?), there’s a reason why it’s a Pulitzer Prize winner: the writing is amazing.

JOHN PAUL THE GREAT: REMEMBERING A SPIRITUAL FATHER // I have a special love for JPII and was anxious to read another perspective on his life. I appreciated the balanced commentary of both his strengths and weaknesses, as well as the author’s personal reflections. Lots to think and ponder. I underlined quite a bit.

SECOND STREET STATION // I had high hopes for this Victorian mystery, but finished feeling disappointed. The protagonist is a strong, no-nonsense young woman who dreams of becoming a detective and gets an opportunity to solve a crime. The book felt a bit “girl power!” to me, which is fine, but I had more of an issue with the unnecessary sex scenes. The author is a television writer and that’s exactly what the book felt like to me: a TV show or movie. I’d pass on this one. (I received this book free from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review, but obviously all opinions are mine.)

THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER // We are big fans of Dave Ramsey around here, but I had never actually read his book! I listened to it on Audible last month and I definitely recommend it if you need the boost to continue working toward a debt-free life. We’re more inspired than ever!

THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS // I just finished this page-turner last weekend. From the cover: “Doctors took her cells without asking. Those cells never died. They launched a medical revolution and a multimillion-dollar industry. More than twenty years later, her children found out. Their lives would never be the same.” One part memoir and one part science book, I found this book so thought-provoking on many different levels.

My current rotation: THE HARDEST PEACE, BEYOND THE BIRDS AND THE BEES and COME, LORD JESUS.

What are the best books you read this year? I’m making my list for 2016 and am always looking for recommendations!

December 11, 2015

{around here} Week 49/52: Week of 12.7.15

A collection of our ordinary days, recorded every week. At the end of the year, I’ll publish them into a keepsake to treasure.

Around here, I have been:

celebrating St. Nicholas’ day on Sunday with chocolate coins and yo-yos.

surviving one of Mark’s busiest work weeks of the season. Parenting solo makes me so grateful for all the help he gives on the normal weeks! We filled the time with Christmas activities, movies and pizza delivery.

mailing Christmas cards, decorating a gingerbread house, and listening to the Michael Buble station on Pandora. We put the tree up, but are waiting until Sunday after Mass to pull out the ornaments and decorate. The house feels so warm and cozy.

contemplating this passage from Wednesday’s meditation in Come, Lord Jesus: Meditations in the Art of Waiting:

We know that when a receptacle for any liquid is filled to the brim, you cannot expect to move it without spilling some. And that is a wonderful thing spiritually. Because if we are really overflowing with love for one another, we cannot move without its splashing over…Come now, let us begin. And let us keep that measure so full of love, because this is not beyond us. We cannot all of us perform Herculean works of penance. We cannot and need not produce brilliant works of mind or artistry. But we can all be overflowing with love, every one of us, so that we just can’t move without splashing it over the house, over our sisters, over the Church. (page 97)

thinking about 2016 and what I hope to work on in the new year. Lots of thoughts to come, but the short story is: more peace, more creativity, more community and more learning to let go.

reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

laughing at Sophia’s sudden love for chapstick. She calls it her “lip glops” and applies it quite generously. She’s definitely got the most moisturized lips in the family.

working a little bit on this blog. I simplified my sidebar a bit, taking down many ads and unnecessary items. I also switched over to Mailchimp in case you prefer reading blog posts in your inbox. I set it to send emails Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I’m still working out the kinks, but hopefully all should be working smoothly soon.

P.S. Today is the last day of Big White Farmhouse‘s last promo of the year. Ending at midnight tonight, we’re covering the shipping costs on every order as our gift to everyone who has been so supportive of our little shop. The coupon code is DECKTHEHALLS.

December 9, 2015

{five favorites} Vol.05: What’s Going in Our Stockings this Year

Christmas shopping update: I’m about 75% finished. How ’bout you? I know there are about a million gift guides going around the Internet these days, but I’m adding one more to the mix. Here are five things that are going in my kids’ stockings this year:

Mod Stix // Going in D’s stocking are these awesome Medieval Mod Stix. They are reusable decals that fit right on his Lego bricks and figures and I know he’s going to love them! I’m also thinking that they will be a fun addition to our history lessons.

Little People Aladdin and Jasmine // This summer, Mark introduced Sophia to Aladdin, his favorite Disney movie as a kid, and she loved it. We’re tucking the Little People version into her stocking and I know she’s going to add them right to her playhouse (and maybe Noah’s ark too, hah!).

Ninja Mad Libs // M is at a really fun age to shop for. I found these Ninja Mad Libs to put in his stocking and I know he’s going to have fun asking his brothers for noun/verb/adjective ideas and then reading their hilarious stories aloud. Bonus: this could also be considered sneaky grammar practice!

Mini Soccer Ball // TJ’s stocking is pretty bare (perks of being one and having lots of big siblings) but we did add a soft soccer ball. He’s always trying to be like the big kids and he’ll be adorable kicking this one around the house.

Lego Mixels Monster // J is very much into imaginative play and seems to always have his guys fighting some sort of “monster”. Even though this is from a Cartoon Network show (which we’ve never seen), I think he’ll enjoy building and then setting him up for battle.