The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

{book report} My Latest Reads // March



The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
How do I describe this book without giving too much away?  It is about a teenage girl who witnesses a shocking event and then lives with the secret until adulthood.  Fast forward to present day and with her mother close to death, she is determined to figure out the reasons behind that day.  There were lots of twists and turns to keep the 480 page book moving.  And the ENDING!  I never saw it coming.  So good.

The Boxcar Children #1 by Gertrude Chandler Warner
I recently found my old set from childhood and thought M would enjoy them like I had.  I was right, he loves them!  He begged me to read them again too so obviously, I started with number one.  Let’s just say, reading these as an adult is way different than reading as a kid.  Back then, I thought these books were awesome…now?  Meh.  

Everyday Sacrament by Laura Kelly Fanucci
I won this book in a giveaway.  It’s filled with small stories that connect parenting to the seven sacraments.  Laura’s message is that God is always present, even in the messiness of motherhood.  The book is a short read, but I found the content thought-provoking and wise.  It’s a great choice if you’re feeling burnt out as a mother and need a reminder that you are doing great work! 

It Was Me All Along by Andie Mitchell
I received this book from Blogging for Books to review, which was timely since I had recently come across Mitchell’s TED talk in January.  She lost incredible amounts of weight and this book follows the process, as well as how she established a healthy relationship with food.  While I felt like some parts were a bit wordy and a few others totally off-topic, the message of the book still resonated with me.  I am six months postpartum, dealing with my own weight loss issues (albeit minor in comparison), and this book really made me look at my own relationship with food.  Do I see food as fuel for my body?  Do I use food as stress-relief or to self-soothe when I’ve had a hard day with the kids?  Thought provoking.        

What have you been reading lately?  Any good ones I should I to the list?

{gift guide} Five Easter Basket Ideas for Kids

Easter is just around the corner, so I’ve started thinking about what to put in those five little baskets.  


Quick side note: I have been on a search for nice baskets for all five kids that we could use year after year, but didn’t cost a small fortune.  Guys, I found them at World Market!  They are plenty big, come in fun colors (we got blue, green and pink) and were only $10 each with free shipping!  I love them.
    
Anyway, my motto with most gift giving is no junk.  I try to purchase things that will can be enjoyed for awhile, as well as fun things that also fill a need.  Of course a bit of chocolate too!  Linking up with Melody (who’s taking over for Jenna!) today to share five of my favorite ideas:


Bunny Wooden Teether Toy // How adorable is this teether?  I’m trying to convince myself that TJ doesn’t need it – poor 5th child!  I’ve ordered baby gifts from Little Sapling before and the quality is so great.  This is a nice choice for the under 1 crowd.      


Eco-Dough // Made in Maine, this molding dough is made from all natural ingredients and is dyed with fruit and vegetable extracts.  I also love that you can extend the life with a few drops of olive oil.  Kids left it out all night?  No problem!  One box contains five containers, making it really easy to separate into multiple Easter baskets.


Bathing Suits/Swim Trunks // This year, I’m trying something new and putting swimwear in the kids’ baskets.  This is technically a “need” and something I’d get for them anyway, but I think it becomes extra special if they find it in their baskets on Easter morning.


Classic Card Games // My kids are really into card games.  We have this set, which comes with Crazy Eight, Go Fish, Old Maid and Alphabet Memory (along with two card holders – perfect for little hands) and we love them all.  This is also a great idea for splitting into multiple baskets. 


Color by Number Activity Book // Usborne makes lots of well made, really fun activity books.  We don’t have this color by number one yet and it looks like something the boys would love…and maybe me too!

{BWF} Spring 2015 Product Update

 It’s been awhile since I’ve talked about Big White Farmhouse, my little online boutique, here on the blog.  After the excitement of our first birthday festivities, we’ve been slowly adding new product and I’m excited to show you some of the new items.  So imagine you’ve entered into my little shop filled with treasures and let me show you around!  

Fun tea towels are a must-have at Big White Farmhouse because they are an easy way to spruce up your kitchen and they make a great gift too.  The set of four beer towels come in a gift box and scream BBQ to me.  We restocked the love towels and while they are the obvious choice for Valentine’s Day, I think they also make a great bridal shower gift or maybe you could have it out for your anniversary month?  Finally, we just got in these bunny towels and they are precious – perfect for this spring weather!  

I’ve been slowly working on a new “room” for Big White Farmhouse: the bath.  We now carry five soap scents: Tea Tree Lime Almond, Rosemary Lemon Mint, Lavender Lemongrass, Pink Grapefruit, and Tangerine Basil (which I just realized I haven’t added yet!  On my to-do list!).  We also have two types of bath salts, Grapefruit and Lavender, which come in the cutest little bottles.  The little gift bag is my current favorite and the perfect present for your girlfriends.  Each contains a muscle balm and a peppermint lip balm.

 I am so excited about these shave bags!  Simple enough for both men and women, they make great cosmetic bags too.  They are made out of canvas and colored denim, and lined in a great blue ticking fabric.  We have them in three colors: yellow, blue and red.  I think they’d make great bags for corralling miscellaneous items in your diaper bag too!

P.S.  Easter is just a few weeks away and if you’re like me, you’ve started thinking about what to put in those Easter baskets!  From now until Sunday, March 29, our Eco-Dough and Eco-Crayons are 25% off!  My kids have tried both and are big fans.

{a year of challenges} March is for Health & Fitness: The Halfway Point

We are halfway through the March Health & Fitness Challenge!  For those of you who are participating, how are you doing?  What small changes have you been incorporating into your day?  And if you’re new here, welcome!  There is still time to jump in!

This challenge has been really motivating for me so far and I’m learning a lot about myself.    

As a reminder, this was my challenge:

+ Walk 10,000+ steps daily
+ Continue to work on drinking at least 5 glasses of water everyday
+ Eat at least one salad/green vegetable a day
+ Try one new type of exercise 


I’m following a half marathon training plan, so most of my workouts have been runs.  I do try to fit in one cross-training or weight session a week.  Still need to decide what new exercise I want to try too.


I’ve been doing most of my runs on the treadmill, mid-morning during a school break.  With warmer weather coming, though, I’m dying to get outside.  Last Saturday was raining, but I still couldn’t wait to get out there.  To be alone (no kids who just have to tell me something!) and in my own head for five miles was awesome.


As for my diet, it’s a work in progress, but I’m taking steps in the right direction.  I’ve given up almost all sugar and after the initial detox, I don’t even really miss it.  I treated myself to a cookie (made for for Sunday dinner) yesterday and felt sick afterward.  I think I’ll be sticking to my dried fruit “dessert” for now.  


A salad has become my lunchtime staple.  I make it with lots of romaine lettuce, whatever veggies we have on hand, ham, a bit of cheese and a little yogurt-based dressing.  Sometimes a handful of croutons too.  It is delicious and keeps me full for awhile.   

One thing that I love about health and fitness is the wealth of information.  While it can be overwhelming, I like to see what’s out there, experiment a little, and see what works for me.  I’ll post a record of the workouts I’ve tried and the books/articles I’ve read at the end of the month.  There is so much to learn!  


Let’s finish out the month strong, friends!



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