The Big White Farmhouse | intentional living, little by little

June 25, 2012

{dreams} Following a Dream: Big White Farmhouse, the Boutique!

It all started in December: a crazy idea that just wouldn’t let go. It came almost like a whisper or a quiet prompting, and I just couldn’t shake it! I toyed with the idea and prayed, prayed and prayed some more. And despite the risks and a lot of self-doubt, I felt God’s hand pushing me ahead. Fast forward to a very honest conversation with my cousin and the dream started taking a real tangible shape. Before we knew it, two cousins became business partners and the dream became real for the both of us.

To be honest, I’ve been sitting here at the computer, unsure of just where to begin. I desperately want to share with you everything! So I guess I’ll just jump in…without further ado, I want to introduce you to the beginnings of our dream: Big White Farmhouse, the online boutique!

Big White Farmhouse stems from the same roots as this blog: a way to honor our great-grandmother and to share the splendor of our family memories at her farm. Our store will carry home decor items, as well as accessories and gifts. We are really passionate about supporting the small American artisan, so all of our items will be proudly made in the USA! We also love decorating with both new items and antiques, so there will also be some one-of-a-kind vintage finds available as well.

We are hoping to officially open the store in September, so I look forward to sharing with you our journey as we venture into the world of small business ownership!

June 21, 2012

{deals} How to Create an Adorable Baby Wardrobe on the Cheap: ebay Tips & Tricks

If you haven’t noticed my near constant reminders, we’re having a baby girl in October! We absolutely cannot wait to meet her, but I’m not in too much of a hurry because we have so much to do! I’ll be honest and say that after the ultrasound, I did have a moment of being totally overwhelmed with the thought that we have nothing for her…no girlie clothing, no girlie toys, nothing! Another baby boy we were ready for, but a girl? We’re starting at square one 🙂

With so many other things going on in our lives right now, it’s really important for my family to be as frugal as possible. Our solution to be creative with our funds and get this little one a whole new wardrobe? Enter ebay! Now I’m no expert, but I’ve learned a few tricks along the way and thought I’d share with you!

Search two ways: either by typing in exactly what you’re looking for (ie. “girls 3 months sleeper” or by filtering through using the categories provided by ebay. I like to look at both versions…sometimes you can find a treasure that may have been overlooked.
One trick is to search for off-season clothing. I have been searching for fall/winter outfits and since most buyers are looking for summerwear right now, I’ve been able to score a few great deals!
When you find something you like, be sure to read the entire description. I like to look for words like “EUC – excellent used condition”, “like new”, or even “new with/without tags”.
Be sure to check out the pictures and double-check the descriptions for stains, holes, etc. I’m hesitant to purchase anything with spit-up stains, but if you’re an amazing stain-getter-outer, you may be more adventurous!
Check the seller’s feedback. I always check the latest feedback to see what the previous buyers’ experience has been like. Very important!
Now you’re ready to bid. My tip: decide what you want to pay for the item and make one bid. It is so tempting to get in a bidding war on ebay, but you may end up paying much more than you had hoped. Not good when you’re on a budget! (Trust me!)
Be sure to check the shipping costs. Most are reasonable, but a few sellers have crazy prices. $6 shipping for a onesie weighing 3 ounces? No way. For most children’s clothing, I think $3.50 and lower is an acceptable amount. But be sure to check for those free shipping auctions, those are my favorite!
Last tip: say you find an auction for an adorable outfit. Be sure to check out the other auctions from the same seller! Oftentimes, they are selling a bunch of the same type (ie. baby girl clothing) and most will combine shipping if you win more than one auction…huge savings for you!

Hope this is helpful! All of the clothing pictured above was purchased on ebay. My personal goal is to find like new items and spend $5 or less (including the shipping!) on every outfit. So far so good…I love the search.

Do you have any tips for saving money on kids’ clothes? Any ebay tips I forgot? Please share!

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P.S. If you don’t have the time or energy to search through ebay or prefer just to purchase new, be sure to check out Ebates! They have so many children’s stores listed: Children’s Place, Old Navy, Baby Gap, Carters, and more…all giving 2% or more cash back! I used Ebates last year for Christmas purchases and was pleased to see a little money headed back my way 🙂 You can sign up here!

**referral link**

June 20, 2012

{link list} 6.20.12 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. Have you seen these YouTube videos from Everyday Food? Sarah Carey is adorable and I love all of the dinner ideas…I’m thinking my husband would love to come home to a Southwest Steak Salad! I just signed up for the daily video recipe too.

2. DIY to do for my Little Miss, in all my spare time (hah!): Quilted Patchwork Bibs…so cute!

3. Do you read Laura’s blog at Show Me a Day? I just recently found her and have been catching up through the archives. This post was so good and applicable to a lot of the blogworld. Definitely a must read.

4. Another new-to-me blog: Amy at Maker Mama! Her post, Five Things You Should Always Buy at the Thrift Store, is really intriguing. I rarely get to the thrift store these days, but I didn’t realize how much I was missing!

5. So I’m more than halfway through my pregnancy and I decided I probably should focus a little more on health and fitness and a little less on chocolate. I’ve been working out using the Complete Pregnancy Fitness with Erin O’Brien DVD and for me, it’s great. Everybody has an opinion about workout DVDs, but I like that this one uses “equipment” in the living room (aka the sofa, coffee table and a chair) and she’s not too annoying. Frankly, I’ll do anything to make delivery better and postpartum weight-loss faster!

6. Found this recipe for Cream Cheese Pancakes on Pinterest…has anyone tried this? I’m thinking it may be a good alternative to the low-carb breakfast staple of…eggs. This girl needs a little variety in her life!

7. Etsy find of the week: Chirp & Bloom! This onesie and the matching bloomers are on my wishlist, for sure! And the coin purses would make great gifts too.

8. For anyone who dabbles in quilting: check out a great way to practice your skills and help a wonderful organization here.

June 18, 2012

{read along} Mitten Strings for God: Nature

“We parents…have an important role to play. We can take our children with us and head out the door. We can go along as they clamber over rocks, splash through streams, dig in the dirt. We can hunt for hermit crabs, follow caterpillars, count stars. We can take them out of doors and turn them loose, and allow them to find sanctuary in their own special places. We can muse and wonder with them, gather stones and shells and seed pods, celebrate the seasons, and embrace all kinds of weather.
And here is the wonderful secret: Our children offer us an opportunity to rediscover the marvels of nature for ourselves. You don’t need any special knowledge, any equipment, or even much of a plan. You don’t need to identify a single bird or flower or constellation. All you need is a willingness to go, to look, and to drink in the mystery and beauty of the world before your eyes.” -page 114-115

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not exactly an outdoorsy girl. But I want to be, both for myself and for my kids. Since I’m pretty clueless in the nature exploration department, I searched the web and found a few books and blogs to help me get started. I figure the boys can help teach me the rest 🙂

Blogs:

Books:

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