The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

{around here} Week of 1.6.14

When he heard me complain that the kids rarely all liked my dinners, M said: “You always cook with love and I can taste it when I put my chompers in it.”

 Tuesday was bitterly cold for us in Virginia, so much so, that school was cancelled!  Temperatures reached as low as 5 degrees with the wind chill into negative digits.  

 I’m on track for my #40milesinjanuary with a current total of about 12 miles.  Exclusively walking is an adjustment for me and a bit more of a time commitment, but I’m enjoying it.  I walked on the treadmill and found it the perfect opportunity to read!  I’m flying through Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption.  Excellent so far.
 
I loved the imagery from this verse in this week’s Bible readings: “The valiant one whose steps are guided by the Lord, who will delight in his way, May stumble, but he will never fall, for the Lord holds his hand.” -Psalm 37:23-24 (emphasis mine)

 Plans for the weekend: a trip to Target for frames, prepping for a visit from the in-laws next weekend, and preparing for the Big White Farmhouse shop launch on Monday!  

 See you next week, friends!

{in the kitchen} A Month of Warm Breakfasts: Cheesy Hashbrown Crusted Quiche

Winter has hit us in Virginia in a big way.  Is it the same where you live?  We’ve had frigid temperatures and even snow!  It’s the perfect time of year for warm, hearty breakfasts before heading out the door in the morning.  But if I’m being honest, lazy Mamma tends to show her face these days.  Too often, I just pour a bowl of cereal and call it done.  It’s a habit I want to change.


This January, I’m committing to making a warm breakfast for my family at least three times a week.  Today I thought I would share a recipe we made last weekend, a Cheesy Hashbrown Crusted Quiche.  


2 cups frozen hash browns, thawed
12 oz package cubed ham (I used about 3/4 of the package)
½ cup chopped green bell pepper (you could also do a cup of thinly sliced zucchini)
4 large eggs
1 cup milk
salt and pepper
3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
————————————————-
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 9-inch pie plate with cooking spray. Press hash browns into bottom and up sides of pie plate. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Layer ham and bell pepper over hash brown crust. Whisk together eggs, milk, and seasoon with salt and pepper; pour over all in pie plate. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until center is set. Sprinkle with cheese; bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.  Enjoy!


{brave} January’s Goals

January’s goals are exciting and scary, but I suppose that’s the point when you are trying to be brave, right?  The first three are specific to the areas I want to work on this year (creativity, food and giving), but I hope to complete all twelve.  Here’s January’s list:    

1. Being brave creatively: cross-stitch something difficult and turn it into a wall hanging.
2. Being brave in the kitchen: make a warm breakfast at least three times a week.
3. Being brave in my giving: donate items to our church’s Refugee Services.
4. Read two books.  Let me know if you have any favorites!  I’m always open to recommendations.
5. Launch the Big White Farmhouse shop!  I am so excited (and nervous!) about this one.  Stay tuned for lots of exciting announcements!
6. Stay up to date in my Bible reading.  Back in November, I decided that I wanted to tackle an item on my life list: reading the Bible in one year.  This month, I am in Leviticus, Numbers and Psalms!
7. Walk #40milesinjanuary.  Due to an ankle injury, I haven’t run in a little over a month.  I’m still not fully healed, so I am easing back into exercise by walking and following along with my fellow running ladies on Instagram. 
8. Make my handwriting a font.  One of my penpals introduced this idea and I’m excited to try it out.
9. Finally install the art wall in the master bedroom.  Those frames have been sitting on the floor for way too long.
10. Embrace the camera and get at least one picture with the entire family in it.
11. Catch up on all correspondence.  I’m looking at you, penpal letters, thank you notes and letters to my Compassion kids.
12. No sugar all month.  By far the hardest goal, but I need this detox ASAP.  Wish me luck.


What are your goals for January?  Share in the comments or leave a link to your post. I’d love to hear them!

{brave} 100 Little Things in 2014

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen the photo where I shared about the fun worksheets I found on Pinterest the other day.  Michelle created them as a less intimidating way to accomplish your goals.  I love how she says, “It’s the little things in life that end up becoming the big things when you look back on your memories.”


Goal-setting is one of my favorite activities and I really enjoyed the brainstorm process with these worksheets.  My list is a jumble of different things: paying off specific debt, craft projects to try, small home improvements, races to run, places nearby to see, activities and memories to make with the kids. I may not cross off every item this year, but it’s always fun to dream and plan.


I’ve had a few requests to share the specifics, so here is my list.  I’ll be back throughout the year to cross things off as I complete them. I hope it will inspire you to write out your own!


1. Pay off credit card
2. Pay off student loan
3. Pay off minivan
4. Save $1400 using the 52 week plan
5. Hire someone to paint the foyer and kitchen -August 2014
6. Read the entire Bible
7. Run a half marathon

8. Run 3 races

9. Simplify in a big way!

10. No Sugar January -January 2014

11. Whole30

12. Read 15 books – (14/15)

13. Install art wall in the master bedroom –January 2014

14. Make silhouettes of the kids

15. Launch Big White Farmhouse, the Boutique –January 13, 2014!

16. Visit Chicago -April 2014

17. Get carpets cleaned
18. Blog consistently (at least once a week)
19. See a movie in theaters
20. Reduce body fat to 19%
21. Potty train J -April 2014
22. Picnic lunch as a family -July 2014
23. Beat Mark at Words with Friends –January 2014
24. Make my handwriting a font
25. Make jam
26. Join the library
27. Learn to knit or crochet
28. Sew a dress for Sophie
29. Grow succulents
30. Start the Cookie Project -March 2014
31. Give a big tip at a restaurant -February 2014
32. Do a blog post about Stitchfix and model the clothes
33. Wear red lipstick
34. Learn how to curl my hair
35. Make a quilt
36. Cook fish
37. Try a new vegetable
38. Make a gluten-free dessert -March 2014
39. Make a Blurb book for IG 2013 pictures -February 2014
40. Go antiquing -May 2014
41. Run/Walk at least a mile a day for 30 days -July & August 2014
42. Find and hang curtains in guest room
43. Spend a week in Maine
44. Write down all the kids’ birth stories
45. Purchase a lamp for the living room –January 2014
46. Open a second part/room to the BWF Boutique –The Garden in May 2014
47. Help D prepare for Kindergarten -May & June 2014
48. Self portrait challenge for 30 days
49. Give away 30 things on my birthday
50. Repaint kitchen table
51. Get to the dentist -July 2014
52. Buy new oven mitts -October 2014
53. Hold second Pajama Drive -October 2014
54. Deep clean bathrooms –January 2014
55. Hang up bathroom art and jewelry rack –January 2014
56. Send 3 “just because” gifts -finished August 2014
57. Organize kitchen utensil drawer –February 2014
58. Make my own salsa
59. Go to the American History Museum
60. Put wreaths on Arlington Cemetery
61. Go apple picking
62. Begin learning about photography and shooting in manual –December 2014
63. Donate 100 things challenge -April & May 2014
64. Go to the Air and Space Museum
65. Make pasta from scratch
66. Plant a mini herb garden
67. Watch 10 documentaries –May 2014
68. Have a picture printed on canvas -July 2014
69. Pray a novena -May 2014
70. Find a way to organize all the Legos -summer 2014
71. Hang curtains in the kitchen -May 2014
72. Send a care package to a college student
73. “Real” date night 4x (out of the house, dressed up)
74. Write Mark love letters at least once a month
75. Find a vintage globe to start a collection
76. Host another Penpal Circle signup
77. Hang curtains in Sophie’s room –December 2014
78. Buy a new dress -March 2014
79. Practice stretching on a regular basis
80. Make an office inside the guest room closet -February 2014
81. Bake a cake
82. Donate hair for Locks of Love
83. Take the boys to the movies –February 2014, the Lego Movie!
84. Paint the boys’ room
85. Finish my first gratitude journal
86. Work on gallery wall in Sophie’s room
87. Do a Bible study -June 2014
88. Invite someone over for dinner -Fr. V in January, “I” Family in May
89. Make a pie
90. Plant something in my hanging baskets
91. Attend a wedding -December 2014
92. Write a letter everyday for 30 days
93. Read a book about Mother Teresa -July 2014
94. Buy big girl pajamas
95. Make felt ornaments for the tree
96. Host a game night
97. Grow tomatoes
98. Use up a lot of my scrapbook stash
99. Make sorbet
100. Make a list for 2015!

Amazon Disclosure Policy

The Big White Farmhouse is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Less Materialism, More Intentional Living

Archives

Copyright © 2025 The Big White Farmhouse · Theme by 17th Avenue