The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

{a year of challenges} January is for Learning

Welcome to the first installment of A Year of Challenges!  

 I am so excited to share this project with you.  I often get asked how I “do it all” and while that is SO far from the truth, I am able to accomplish a lot because of the practice of setting attainable goals.  I want to help you get things done this year too!  My hope is that you’ll come along with me every month and make a few goals of your own.   

 So here is how A Year of Challenges will work:
Each month will be set around a different theme: home, food, hospitality, photography and more!  At the beginning of the month, I’ll announce the theme and post my personal goals.  Some months, my goals may be quite lofty, while others could be really simple.  I’ll also include lots of ideas for you, so you can join in too.  Around the 15th, I’ll post my reflections at the halfway point and check in on you.  And finally, at the end of the month, I’ll look back at what I’ve accomplished and the lessons I’ve learned.  

 So January.

 For me, January is the month where we’re coming off the high of holidays and festivities.  Life settles down and we spend a lot of time cozy inside.  If we’re being honest, I also tend to get a little lazy.  At night, I spend way too much time browsing the titles on Netflix instead of doing something productive.  With that in mind, I chose learning as the theme for January as a way to combat the sluggishness.  

My challenge:

  • Read 3 books, each a different genre
  • Listen to 5 podcasts
  • Watch 10 Ted talks
  • Find 3 new blogs that teach me something
How I plan to accomplish it:

  • I will choose to read a few chapters before turning on the TV at night.
  • I will listen to podcasts or Ted talks while I’m doing chores: folding laundry, loading the dishwasher, etc.
  • I will try to start a “Quiet Reading Time” with the bigger kids in the afternoon.

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

+ Read the headlines of the news everyday.
+ Choose to read 10 pages before turning on the TV, computer or phone.
+ Read a few books of different genres.
+ Listen to a book on tape or a podcast while you’re in the car, cleaning or working out.
+ Watch 5 documentaries.
+ Reread a classic novel from high school.
+ Find a blog you’ve never read and go through the archives.
+ Take a class on Skillshare.
+ Ask a professional the questions you may have.
+ Read a manual to something you own, like your digital camera.

Are you in?
Comment below with the learning goal of your choice.  I want to cheer you on!  

A Year of Challenges: January is for Learning

{thrive goals} My 3-Step Process for Setting Goals (& Free Printable!)

If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you know how much I love setting goals.  Today I thought I would describe the process I take when deciding what I want to tackle each month.  I hope it will be helpful, especially if you find goal setting totally overwhelming.  Here we go!

 Step 1: Make statements with a bigger vision in mind.
Goal-setting is only fruitful when it’s getting you closer to your ultimate objectives.  This is the time to start with the big and broad statements.  Here are a handful of mine:

  • I want to make my house feel more like home.
  • I want to be debt free.
  • I want to make memories with my husband and children.
  • I want to help others.
  • I want to know and live my faith.
  • I want to discover what I’m passionate about.
  • I want to give generously.
  • I want to re-visit activities/hobbies I used to enjoy.

Step 2: Ask questions relating to those statements.
Now that I’ve fleshed out my vision for the year, I start asking myself more specific questions related to the statements I made above:

  • What is a recipe I’ve wanted to make?
  • What home project do I want to tackle?
  • What is one activity I want to do with my kids?
  • What organization do I want to give money to/volunteer with?
  • What is one area I can save a little money to put toward our debt?  
  • How can I make time in my day to read the Bible? 

Step 3: Choose a handful of answers from the questions above to make your monthly goal list.
Here is where you finalize your goals for the month!  I like to write it out and put the list somewhere I see it often: in my planner, on the fridge, taped to the wall in my office…anywhere I will see it on a regular basis.  This helps me to stay on track.  I designed this simple worksheet and you are welcome to download it too.  

 For January, here are the five things I hope to accomplish:
1. Complete a 2014 Blurb book of my Instagram photos. 
2. Work on art for the dining room.  Maybe DIY a wooden frame?
3. Celebrate Big White Farmhouse’s first birthday!
4. Start to run regularly, 3-4 times a week.  Continue to strive for 10,000+ steps daily.
5. Return to regular meal planning and making healthy dinners.  No eating out!


What five things do you want to accomplish this month?  Let me know in the comments!

Why I Blog & What to Expect in 2015

It’s hard to believe that I have been blogging here at The Big White Farmhouse for almost four years now.  At the time, I just had three little boys at home and it was the perfect time to jump right in.  I loved it!  The blog became a way to record sweet memories about my kids, but it also played a big role in discovering more about myself.  

In 2013, the blog took a back burner as I adjusted to being a mother to four and having a very needy, colicky baby.  I popped in occasionally, but my priorities were definitely elsewhere.  Despite the peace that comes with knowing I couldn’t add more to my full plate, I missed writing and hoped to return.  Last year, I had huge gaps between posts, but I realized that I still love blogging for the same reason I started back in 2011: to create a virtual scrapbook about my family and my desire to learn new things.  I also love sharing those things with you!

I am so honored that anyone would read this little area of the web.  Here’s a little bit about what to expect here on the blog in 2015:
Goal setting and list making are two of my favorite things and how I stay intentional in my day-to-day life.  I share my goals at the beginning of every month and often have a review of how I did at the end.
New for 2015: a challenge for every month of the year.  Whether it be spending more quality time with my family, learning manual photography, or making things I’ve saved on Pinterest, I hope to stretch myself in lots of new ways.  I hope you’ll play along too! 
(More info on this coming next week!)

In January 2014, I launched Big White Farmhouse, an online home decor and gift shop. The past year has been filled with lots of learning experiences and I’m excited to share more about what we’re figuring out along the way.  I’ll also be sharing some of our promotions and new product launches.

My home is a constant work in progress.  I don’t have a single room that feels “finished” and I hope to work on that more this year.  I’ll be resurrecting my very neglected William Morris Project and popping in with updates.

Health and fitness have become big interests in my life.  I want to write more about my fitness goals as well as my favorite exercise: running!  I plan to run some great races this year!

We are a homeschooling family, so I sometimes share what school looks like at our house.  I also love to share our favorite books and the activities that we do.

Another new project for the new year: cookies!  I love baking for my family and trying new recipes, and this project is a great way to combine both.  Check out my Cookie Project Pinterest board for some of the yummy treats I’ve found.  I plan to share twice a month.

One of the items on my Life List is to create 100 beautiful things with my own hands.  Throughout the year, I hope to make a small dent in this lofty goal.  Whether it be sewing, flower arrangements or calligraphy, I want to try new mediums and hopefully create unique pieces to have in my home. 


Finally, I try to write “Around Here” posts every Friday.  They are a glimpse into our ordinary days, a peek at what we accomplished that week, and little memories about the kids.  These posts are probably only interesting to me, but at the end of the year, I hope to compile all of the photos and notes and have them printed into a book.

 Thank you so much for being here and reading along!  

My Word for 2015: Thrive

{via}

Happy New Year!  I may be a little crazy, but January 1st is one of my favorite times of the year.  I always start a new year incredibly inspired and while life never fails to surprise me with its twists and turns, I still think it’s worthwhile to acknowledge and write down the things I’d like to do in 2015.  

For the past three years, I have also chosen one little word to guide and inspire me.  Do you do this too?  It has been a very eye-opening experience and I’m still amazed at the significance each word holds to this day.  For 2015, I thought I would do things a little differently: I chose a word that was less about a goal to be met and more of a mindset to embrace.  For 2015, I’ve chosen the word thrive.  

 For me, thriving means living at my very best.  It’s about saying that I’m all in to this vocation I’ve chosen.  It’s not about striving for perfection, but an invitation to embrace every part of my full and messy life.  


I want to live in the moment.  
I want to enjoy the season I am in as a wife and mother.  
I want to learn new things.  
I want to grow my business.
I want to build up the relationships in my life and create new ones. 
I want to be present, encourage others and radiate joy.   

You know that quote from Diane Ackerman?  The one that says, “I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find that I have just lived the length of it.  I want to have lived the width of it as well”?  That’s what thriving means to me.  I’m excited to see where the next year takes me.

 Do you choose a word for the year?  Share in the comments!  I’d love to know what you’ve picked for 2015.

My Previous Words

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