intentional living, little by little
One of my favorite things about having a family is creating traditions that we all look forward to each year. My kids are still quite young, so we’re still in the stage of trying new things and seeing what sticks. Baking pumpkin chocolate chip cookies has become one of those traditions.
This year seemed particularly special. With Pandora playing in the background, the kids danced while Mark and I chatted as I whipped up a batch of these cookies. They all watched eagerly (my husband included!) through the oven window as the cookies baked. We even had running commentary as they counted down the minutes. And then, when they heard the beep of the timer, there were cheers all around and I couldn’t get the cookies off the tray fast enough! The kids all managed to burn their fingers or mouths, but to them, it was totally worth it. Life is rarely picture perfect, but it felt pretty close that night.
If you like pumpkin, these cookies are definitely worth a try. They are fluffy, a little bit cakey and perfect with a cup of coffee, if you can keep them long enough to brew some! I hope you enjoy.
Oh Daylight Savings Time. You mess us up every time. I’ve spent the week chugging cups of coffee to compensate for my early risers and I’ve been ready for bed by 8pm! Hopefully, we’ll get back on track this weekend.
On Monday, I was nursing the baby and looked around at all.the.stuff. With Christmas right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to do a sweep and declutter before all of the new stuff enters the house. I managed to label a few boxes (similar to this) and make a to-do list (you know me!) and I hope to really get started tomorrow.
Favorite homeschooling activities this week:
I got the green light from my OB last week, so I am full speed ahead on exercise. This week was a mix of Couch25K runs and the last section of my postpartum exercise DVD:
I’m still reading Let’s All Be Brave but hope to finish up this weekend. This quote stuck with me: “The longer I live, the more I think I’m figuring out that courage often looks like sacrifice and service. In the places where you find the most comfort, you have to have a little extra something to give there. Home is where we rest. Home is where we find peace, so to give from there, to sacrifice in that place, is to sacrifice deeply, I think. It’s brave.”
Have a wonderful weekend.
It will be ten months next week that we launched Big White Farmhouse, our online home decor and gift shop. As I type this, I really can’t believe how fast the year has gone! With 2015 just weeks away, I’ve been reflecting on life as new business owners and looking back on all we’ve accomplished. Take a peek into my journal:
+ We are proud to be a debt-free company. Andrea (my cousin and co-owner) and I have each invested money into our store and we are determined to use our money wisely. The decision against borrowing money has caused slower growth for us, but it’s been good growth. Each purchase from customers gets us closer to new products and an expanded line.
+ My favorite part of owning a business is packaging up orders. A close second would be wholesale purchasing; I love searching for the best new products!
+ My weakest part of owning a business: marketing. For example, I rarely post news about our shop on my Instagram feed, but each time I do, without fail, I always lose a few followers. For a long time, I really struggled with that. In 2015, I hope to brainstorm creative ways to market our sales/new products, but I’m not longer going to feel guilty for promoting a company that I’m so proud of! + Facebook is complicated for businesses. We have over 300 “fans” and yet our posts only reach a handful of them! Frustrating, for sure.
+ We were surprised to realize that it’s really hard to sell candles online! Trying to describe scents is tricky and I’m still trying to figure it out.
+ The Vintage Finds section of the store has been a big hit, but I struggle to find the time to check thrift shops and antique stores on a regular basis. This is one area I hope to improve on in 2015.
+ Big White Farmhouse stands on the belief of quality vs. quantity and because of this, I’ve really changed how I look at my own purchases. I find myself venturing away from buying as much as I can for the lowest price and instead embracing the idea of saving my pennies to purchase that one special piece. My love for Target still stands, but I think there can be a balance.
+ I can’t wait to see where Year Two takes us!
