The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

{five favorites} Vol.04: Five New Blogs to Read & Follow

One thing I love about blogging is the diversity.  Need a few new dinner recipes?  There’s a blog for that.  Want to learn how to embroider?  There’s a blog for that.  Lately I’ve been branching out of my usual blogging “genres” and finding some great new content.  Here are five new blogs I discovered this fall: 

1. Wildflowers and Marbles // I found Jennifer’s blog as I was researching the idea of the Morning Basket.  She is one of those homeschooling mamas who is so inspiring and I have implemented a lot of her advice into our mornings already.  Definitely need to dig through her archives soon.
Current favorite posts: The Morning Basket and November Feast Table-Rebuilding Culture

2. Dawn Nicole Designs // I stumbled upon Dawn’s blog while on a search for a hand-lettering course.  She has one for free (in a Facebook group!) and I’m excited to jump in soon.  
Current favorite posts: 30 Day Challenge: December Prompts and How to Do Brush Lettering

3. The Nectar Collective // Melyssa’s blog is seriously a treasure-trove if you are involved in small business or blogging.  She shares a lot of helpful tips and while many don’t necessarily apply to my business or the way I blog, I always come away with some new ideas.
Current favorite posts: How to Build Community on Your Blog and How to Spread Positivity Through Social Media

4. Little Girl Designs // I found Jennie through the rabbit hole of Pinterest and her blog is full simple craft projects.  I love her passion for personal retreats and I’m anxious to get her workbook in 2016.   
Current favorite posts:  How to Give Generously When You Don’t Have a Dime and A Creative Idea for Snail Mail

 5. House Seven // I love the modern farmhouse style and am always looking for new ideas.  Anissa’s home design blog is absolutely gorgeous!  I’ve been pinning so many of her rooms to my “forever home” Pinterest board. 
Current favorite posts: Blogger Stylin Home Tour Christmas 2015 and Buffalo Check and Ikea

What new blogs have you found?  Which sites are your must-reads?  I’d love to hear about them!


Add your Five Favorites post below!


{BWF} Cyber Monday Sale at Big White Farmhouse & a Few Gift Ideas

Just popping in to share that today is Cyber Monday (yay!) and the last day of Big White Farmhouse‘s biggest sale of the year!  We hope you’ll consider us as you begin your Christmas shopping!


Here are a few items we carry that would make unique and thoughtful gifts:


For the Little Ones // We carry a line of plush animals that make darling baby and toddler gifts.  Lucy Owl is my favorite, but Lewis Toad is definitely a close second!  We also have wooden rattles created by a husband-and-wife team in Washington.  I love the bunny!


For the Tween Girl //  Our lip product gift sets are perfect for tweens and teens.  These beauty products are made by another talented husband-and-wife duo, this time in Colorado.  We carry three different themes: Fruit Salad, Flower Power and The Bakery.  


For your Grandmother // Bring over a gorgeous potted plant to your grandmother with one of our garden markers tucked in.  Our “Joy” garden marker is especially festive this time of year, but we also have “Thankful for You”, “You are My Sunshine”, and even “Water Me”.


For your Crafty Friend // Have a friend who loves to knit?  Our Hand-Dyed Rope Bowl is a beautiful and unique gift.  They are the perfect little size for holding the yarn as you work.  You could also fill it with small journaling cards for a scrapbooking pal!


For your Children’s Teacher // Our new candle line is a great choice for teachers.  Each of our scents smells great and I have been pleased with how evenly the candles burn.  


For your Neighbor // Wrap one of your favorite quick breads in one of our fun tea towels for an easy neighbor gift.  My go-to is banana bread, but the possibilities are endless.  This idea is also great for thanking your host during your holiday travels.


Be sure to also check out our Seasonal section, filled with pewter ornaments, Christmas cards, gift tags and more!  

RELATED: 2014 Holiday Gift Guide from Big White Farmhouse



{around here} Week 47/52: Week of 11.23.15

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:


laughing at TJ dressed in a much too small outfit.  D grabbed it for Mark out of the donation pile and I’m not quite sure how the heck it zipped!


reading All the Light We Cannot See (just a few pages left to go!) and The Fulfillment of All Desire.  I also listened to and finished The Total Money Makeover on Audible.


starting to work out again.  It’s humbling to start all over, but I’m determined.  I’m sore in places I forgot existed, hah!  I mainly used my T25 videos and will be adding in some running next week too.  


celebrating our ten year anniversary!  We went to mass and then renewed our vows afterward.  It was quite a bit different than the first time around – holding a whiny baby with a three-year-old clinging to our legs! – but still so special.  Ten years, five kids, four moves and too many memories to count.  We are so blessed.


being with family for Thanksgiving.  We shared a delicious meal (with my mom’s gorgeous tablescape) with most of my family (we missed you C&A!) and it’s always nice to be together.  


waking up early with my best girl to get Big White Farmhouse‘s Black Friday sale rolling.  In case you’re interested, the sale is 30% off sitewide (excluding sale items) with the coupon code MERRYMERRY.  We’d love to help you with your Christmas shopping!

{five favorites} Vol.03: Five Thanksgiving Traditions and Ideas

Happy (early) Thanksgiving to all of my friends here in the US!  We have felt the excitement in the air all week and can’t wait to celebrate with good food and family tomorrow.  Today I’m sharing five traditions that we’ve started as a family, plus a few I’d like to incorporate in the years to come.  

Thankful Leaves // Throughout the month, we have used this free printable to write down things we are thankful for.  To save ink, I printed on cardstock, cut out the leaves and used them to trace on different colored construction paper.  I also punched a hole on the top and strung them with twine across our chalkboard.  Another idea would be to have your family and/or guests jot something down on Thanksgiving day.  

Donate Food to the Local Food Pantry // Every year at our church, the Knights of Columbus hold a food drive collecting Thanksgiving items for our local food pantry.  I always want to help out, but never seemed to remember in time!  This year, I was determined (even adding it to my 100 Little Things list) and I’m hoping this is a tradition we can do every year with the kids.  I used this post from Meg Duerksen as a starting point for our grocery list.

Julia Child Inspired Invitations // I came across this print (the etsy seller has since closed her shop, but isn’t it great?) and thought it would be really cute used as a Thanksgiving invitation.  Definitely keeping this in mind next time we host.   

Thanksgiving Journal // This journal idea is one that I hope to adopt in the years to come.  Instead of going around the table sharing what they are thankful for, this family instead passes around the “Words of Thanksgiving” book.  Adding new entries year after year, I’m sure this would become a priceless treasure.

Hand Print Turkey Family // With Thanksgiving tomorrow, I don’t think I’ll be able to get to this craft in time, but I’m keeping the idea ready for next year.  I think once it is framed, it will be one of those sappy Mom things where I’ll pull it out every year and announce, “I can’t believe your hands were all so small!”  

Do you have any fun traditions in your family?  What are your favorite go-to recipes?  Are you a pumpkin pie fan or do you prefer apple or pecan?  Let’s talk Thanksgiving!

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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:
+ What are five things you are thankful for today?
+ What are five lessons you’ve learned this year?
+ List your five favorite places to shop for Christmas.


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