The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

{wishlist} Summertime Maternity Wear for the Budget-Conscious Mamma

It’s that time of year again!  This past weekend, I worked on getting everyone’s winter clothes packed away and our summer gear organized.  I tackled my closet last and as I brought all of my pregnancy clothes to the front, I realized…I have very little to wear!  After three previous pregnancies, most of my clothing has had it.  Stretched out, peeling and um…too small (where did the time go when I was 22-years-old and in a size 0/2??). 
After a quick second of feeling sorry for myself that I’m only halfway through my pregnancy and already feeling like a house, I pulled myself together and off to the web I went.  And as much as I wish I could drop money on clothing from HATCH or Loft Maternity or a great pair of designer jeans, my frugal self (not to mention my budget!) just won’t allow for it.  Here are a few budget-friendly options that caught my eye:   

1. Braided-Yoke Jersey Tank from Old Navy
3. Liz Lange for Target Sleeveless Knit Dress
5. Smocked Mexicali Skirt from Old Navy 

Any other affordable maternity clothes out there?  I know different stores are creating their own lines all the time, so if you have a favorite, please share!

{link list} 6.13.12 Edition

I love link lists.
There’s nothing better than word of mouth, so when a blogger recommends a
recipe, a new shop or a great read, I am all about it! Here are a few things
I’ve come across this week…

1. Since becoming a mom, I’ve become a big fan of the tote bag.  Loved this round-up on 6th Street Design School…the shape of #8 is perfect for the car and #16 makes an awesome beach bag.  Be sure to check out all of the options!

2.  Do you have a problem with soap scum like me?  I’m getting desperate for a good solution, so I’m anxious to try this recipe.

3. One of my 2012 goals was to become less dependent on the Internet and make the time to connect with family and friends through good ol’ snail mail.  Needless to say, we’re halfway through the year and I’m failing miserably!  This party confetti mix is so fun, it may be just what I need to get started! 

4.  Craft idea for the boys: Tissue Box Dinosaur Feet! 

5. My family went to Disneyland when I was a kid.  And while it was loads of fun, one of my fondest memories had nothing to do with the rides and everything to do with CHURROS!  These Baked Cheater Churros are definitely on my “must make soon” list!

6. Window shopping for our Little Miss has been so fun!  My latest find are these adorable BabyLit board books – on my wishlist are Pride & Prejudice and Alice in Wonderland.

7. Came across this list of money-saving tips via the wonder that is Pinterest.  Lots of ideas and more good ones in the comments.  If you’re looking to save a few bucks this summer, be sure to take a look.

8. Are you on Goodreads?  I love how easy it is to keep my “to-read” lists organized.  If you’re on, be sure to find me here so we can be friends! 

{in the kitchen} Easy Peach Cobbler

Apparently, I’m a sucker for any dessert that fits in a 8″ square pan and includes fruit (exhibits A and B).  But nothing says summer like a cobbler, right? After a crazy, pregnant “I need peach cobbler right now!” moment, I scoured the web for an easy recipe, but nothing seemed easy enough.  Until this one!  One warning, in case you are particular about cobblers: this recipe makes a more cakey version.  I happen to love it that way, but you may have a different opinion. 

Ingredients:
8 fresh peaches, peeled, pitted and sliced into thin wedges (I used six, didn’t peel and cut into small chunks instead.  I’m a rebel.) 
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons cornstarch (I didn’t have any, so omitted.  Still tasted great)
————
Topping: 1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
1/4 cup boiling water


————
Mix together: 3 tablespoons sugar & 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon


1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, combine peaches, 1/4 cup  sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Toss to coat evenly, and pour into a 2 quart baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.               
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Blend in butter with a pastry blender (or just your fingers), until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in water until just combined.

4. Remove peaches from oven, and drop spoonfuls of topping over them. Sprinkle entire cobbler with the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake until topping is golden, about 30 minutes. (It may just be my oven, but my cobbler was golden brown in half the time, about 13-15 minutes.) 

Enjoy warm with a scoop of vanilla icecream! 

Original recipe found here. 

{home} Getting Ready to Sell: How to Survive a Hardwood Floor Installation

I have had “hardwood floors” on my home improvement list practically since the day we moved in.  But like most of you, money doesn’t grow on trees here…bummer.  So we started a meager home improvement fund and put a little money aside when we could.  Five years and a lot of patience later, the day has come! 

BEFORE THE INSTALLATION
The weekend before the installers were to arrive, we moved all of our furniture and toys out of the living and dining rooms.  Stupidly, I thought this would be a simple, maybe even quick process. Um…WRONG!  It quickly turned into a real life version of Tetris.  But we prevailed and the rooms were cleared:

Side story on the unsightly blue stain on the carpet: Way back in December, my cousin was visiting and we updated my bedroom.  After a late night paint party, we left the can, which was 3/4 full, downstairs in the dining room.  Fast forward to the next morning: one of my sweet cherubs tipped the can over (with a lid not on as tightly as we thought!) and dumped paint in a lovely circular pattern onto the carpet!  After a lengthy interrogation with the big boys, we determined a sweet 12-month-old did the crime.  At that point, you just had to laugh.  Needless to say, that lovely stain has been “hidden” under a towel for the past six months.  Keepin’ it real! 🙂

So back to the pre-installation prepwork.  With two empty rooms, you may wonder where all of that furniture was stored.  Exhibit A:

    
Fortunately, we had an amazing company work for us.  The…hmm, what do you call him?  A carpenter? Floor guy?  Anyway, Cesar (that was his name) was super fast, but thorough and detail-oriented.  He had the carpet ripped out and the new floor down in a day and a half, for which I was forever grateful.  Having my three kids stuck in two bedrooms for eight hours was tough!

This is the flooring we picked: Bruce Engineered Hardwood in Gunstock Oak. 

AFTER INSTALLATION
And now the after pictures.  I still need to work on the mantle and find a suitable coffee table, but for now, we’ll call it done!

Less Materialism, More Intentional Living

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