The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

{100 beautiful things} No.002 & 003: Instagram Yearbooks

There are very few material things that I would grab if my house was on fire, but I would make a bee-line to save these books!  My entire family adores them and we all gather around to reminisce and laugh about past adventures.  The memories are priceless.
So here are the details about our yearbooks:  I have them printed through Blurb.  They are the 12″x12″ size with a photo printed right on the cover.  (I figure a dust jacket is only going to get ripped with all of these little hands!)  All of my Instagram photos from the year are inside and since that’s my favorite place to be on social media, I feel like they are a great representation of our everyday.  

A few tips that have worked for me:
+ I downloaded the book software from Blurb onto my computer, so I could work on it throughout the year.  About once a month, I take the photos from my phone onto my computer and then quickly pop them into place.
+ I figured out an easy pattern with the templates provided, making it even easier to pop in the photos (this will make more sense with the pictures below):
Pages 1&2: One big picture on the left, nine small pictures on the right
Pages 3&4: Nine small pictures on the left, one big picture on the right
Pages 5&6: 18 small pictures…and repeat

+ The photos are mostly in chronological order, but I moved things around if I thought it looked better (like no two black and white photos touching, etc).
+ The books only contain photos, no writing.  If I’m feeling brave, I may hand-write captions with a fine point Sharpie.  (But probably not, because what if I mess up? #perfectionistproblems)
+ There is a way to upload your Instagram pictures directly into a Blurb book, but since I wanted a bigger book, I haven’t tried it.

Below are a few of my favorite pages, although it’s hard to choose!  From 2013:

And from our 2014 book:

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{a year of challenges} February is for Organization

It’s February and that means it’s time for a new challenge!

 Are you and your kids going stir crazy yet?  The weather here is still pretty frigid, so we’ve been spending most days inside.  As I type this, the boys are wrestling in the living room, while Sophie dumps out her blocks for the tenth time today.  And me?  I’m looking around at all.the.stuff.  The clutter, the toys, the laundry…I’m craving simplicity and order in a big way.

 With that in mind, I’ve decided that February is the month for organization.  I’m hoping to work past the “I’m so overwhelmed, I don’t know where to start” feelings and dive in somewhere.  Because some beats none, right?    

 My challenge:
I’m going to follow the prompts from Money Saving Mom’s 4 Weeks to a More Organized Home series.  The plan is a mix of decluttering, deep cleaning and organizing and I think it’s just what I need to start getting the house how I’d like it.  I’ll be checking in on the blog every Thursday with my progress.

Join me?
Set a goal for February, simple or ambitious.  Here are ten ideas to get you started:

+ Tackle a project you continually put off.  Maybe the basement or attic?
+ Follow the House Organization Diet: The 31 Day Detox.
+ Take out all of your children’s clothing and organize by size.
+ Complete the Throw Out 100 Things Challenge.
+ Head to the store and buy those baskets/plastic bins that you’ve been “meaning to buy” for months.
+ Take out every piece of clothing in your closet and only put back the ones you love.
+ Start 2015 right by creating a system for all of your paperwork.
+ Follow Clean Mama’s #clutterfree30 Challenge and post your work on Instagram.
+ Read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing and then implement some of the advice.
+ Get started on The 40 Weeks Whole House Challenge.
Are you in?
Comment below with the learning goal of your choice.  I want to cheer you on!  

{A Year of Challenges Archives: January is for Learning}

{thrive goals} January Review, February Goals & a Free Printable!



1. Complete a 2014 Blurb book of my Instagram photos.
Done.  We just got the finished product in the mail last week and the kids have already looked through it countless times.  I love hearing all of the memories they have associated with the photos.  A blog post with more info coming soon! 

2. Work on art for the dining room.  
Didn’t get this one finished, but I’ve finally decided what I want to do.  It will be my first wood-working project and I’m both excited and nervous.  Hoping to knock it out in February.     

3. Celebrate Big White Farmhouse‘s first birthday!
Done.  We had two really successful giveaways and some new interest brought to the store.  So excited to get working on new things for year two.

4. Start to run regularly, 3-4 times a week.  Continue to strive for 10,000+ steps daily.
I consider this one mostly a success.  I have been running pretty regularly, but with the introduction of Insanity workouts, I’ve only been on the treadmill twice, maybe three times a week.  Monthly total mileage: 22 miles.  As far as my step count goes, I hit my goal 25 out of 31 days.  Pretty good!  


5. Return to regular meal planning and making healthy dinners.  No eating out!
Done.  We did eat out twice, but they were treats instead of the typical “I’m too tired/lazy to make dinner, so let’s buy something” mentality.  And honestly, after cooking some delicious meals, the takeout just didn’t taste as good as I remembered it.

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1. Try something new creatively. // I’m thinking arm knitting?
2. Drink 6+ glasses of water daily.  // I have been making an effort to drink more water, but I can’t seem to get over four glasses a day!  I’m hoping to change my habits a little to see if I can increase my intake.
3. Floss every day.  Or every other day.  //  This is a lesson on practicing what you preach.  I’m on my kids about oral health, while I let mine slide.  
4. Read two books, one fiction and one non.  // I have so many great choices on my nightstand!
5. Make a Valentine’s memory with the kids.  // I want to make the day special, but in a simple way.  Right now, I’m thinking about doing a craft and maybe surprising them with ice cream…they have been asking to go to Sweet Frog for awhile now.   



What five things do you want to accomplish this month?  Share in the comments!

{around here} 04/52: Week of 1.26.15



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:


watching the kids play.  M got a marble from his CCD teacher this week and the amount of time all of the kids have played with that one marble blows my mind.  Why do we have all of these toys again?

doing Sophie’s hair exactly how she requests.  She always wants three, not two but THREE, hair ties, so I’ve been fixing a lovely ‘do of pig tails connected into a pony.  She loves it.  

reading all about dyslexia in an attempt to help my second oldest.  It’s not official, but as the school year progresses, I’m more and more convinced.  I’ve mostly scrapped our original curriculum and am starting back at square one.  (We are still doing the letter of the week for now.)  After the recommendations of a few homeschooling moms, I just ordered All about Reading and I’m hopeful it will help.    

trying to get out of my cereal rut and make hearty breakfasts, much like this time last year.  This week, I made homemade granola, a Denver baked omelet and crepes.


purchasing new product for Big White Farmhouse.  I’m excited!

letting go of counting calories.  It has become a frustrating behavior that can border on obsessive and life is just so much bigger than that.  Instead, I’m focusing on more: more water, more veggies, more good stuff.  And a small sweet treat is okay sometimes too.  


homeschool notes:

  • It was L week in Kindergarten.  We painted lions.
  • The big boys found our old Monopoly game and have caught on quickly.  I love the extra math practice it gives both of them…and it’s fun!

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