The Big White Farmhouse | intentional living, little by little

January 16, 2012

{chit chat} Miscellany Monday: A List

1. My geriatric tendencies are getting worse. If being sound asleep by 10:00 wasn’t bad enough, I now enjoy the fascinating pastime of puzzle making. 1000 pieces are no match for me!

2. M’s new line: “Hey Mamma, when I grow up, I’m gonna marry you.” Sweet boy knows how to wrap his Mamma right around his finger, the little stinker.

3. Pigs in a Blanket is on the menu for lunch today. I know, culinary greatness at its best. (Bonus tip: I’m not a fan of the term “wienies”, so I’m forever grateful to Trader Joe’s for their labeling as “Cocktail Pups”. )

4. The boys are just dying to play in the snow, but we’ve yet to see any real snow this year! Double bummer since we are in the middle of two weeks of winter “study” in school.

5. M and D got these awesome cars (they are called PlaSmart PlasmaCar) for Christmas and I think they have been the most used present so far.

6. I read Start Something That Matters in two days. I give it five stars and a bunch of exclamation points. My husband and I have had a couple of amazing conversations directly because of it..lots of “dreamstorming” going on over here!

January 13, 2012

{ramblings} What If…

Source: whispsofme.tumblr.com via icicle on Pinterest

What if… we did away with the anxiety-ridden expectations of what a good mother should be and lived our lives in the freedom that we’re doing the best we can?

What if… instead of saying no (largely because we’re inconvenienced or lazy), we said, “Why not?”

What if… we stopped obsessing about our “pre-pregnancy” weight and now embraced our new normal and the blessing(s) that got us this way?

What if… we fed our children the best we could afford, but didn’t stress about the occasional chocolate chip cookie or Happy Meal?

What if… we stopped worrying about what everyone else thought of us and instead focused on what we thought of us?

What if… we lived our lives with the joy of the front row instead of living in the third row?

Source: mighty2save.tumblr.com via Urban Farmgirl on Pinterest

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

January 12, 2012

{giving} “Clean-Out for Quilts” with Haiti by Hand

{via}

This week’s decluttering took me to my embarrassingly huge fabric stash. With my three little guys running around, I just don’t have the time to sew and quilt like I’d like. As time goes on, my tastes in fabric change and I’m left with things that cause me stress instead of pleasure. And that just won’t do, right?

A quick search through Pinterest led me to Haiti by Hand and their current project: “Clean Out for Quilts“. They are collecting fabric so women in their community can sew items for Haitian women and children. A perfect match and great motivation to really critique my stash. I went through every last piece of yardage I owned and worked quickly. If I couldn’t immediately see a quilt or clothing made from a fabric, it was gone. If it was beautiful, but likely I would never use it: gone.

The result was a filled-to-the-brim Flat Rate box full of fabric and a much more managable fabric stash. A win/win for everybody! If interested, you can find more information here.

January 11, 2012

{home} Home Goals 2012

Do you read the Nester? Today she’s talking about home goals for the new year and I thought I would play along. Here are a few of the things we hope to accomplish in 2012:

1. Finish up the living room.

Our living room is one of the first rooms you see when you walk in our home. My goal is for this room to yell, “Welcome! We’re so glad you’re here. Come sit and visit for awhile.” Does that make sense? I think I can accomplish that really inexpensively with a few fun accessories: pillows, a few frames with pictures of the boys, fresh flowers…that sort of thing. I also have an empty wall that needs a little something…I’ve had my eye on this sign.

Guess it’s time to check back in on my to-do list from last summer…gotta love blogging for keeping all of your ideas catalogued and ready to retreive!

2. Update a few things in the kitchen.
We have slowly been working on our kitchen. SLOWLY. So far, we’ve changed out the appliances and countertops and added a butcher block island. This year, I hope to paint the walls, replace the lighting (goodbye brass!), and decide whether or not I want to paint our cabinets white. An inspiration picture:

{via}

3. Plant a little container garden on the back deck.
Last year, we tried this and came up with black thumbs! Within weeks, our poor plants had fried in the hot sun! This year, we are determined to redeem ourselves.
An inspiration picture:

{source}

4. Declutter and organize.
I’ve got my action plan in place and have already filled two bags for Goodwill. Read this post if you’re feeling overwhelmed by all of the kids’ toys. I literally read her post, closed the laptop and spent the next hour working through the toys in our living room. A lot of work, but so worth it.

More importantly than the physical improvements, my biggest goal for 2012 is to create a fun and yet peaceful home for my husband and children. I want my home to feel warm and inviting for the guests that come through that front door. And if that’s all I accomplish, I’ll consider this year a success!

Check out the Nester’s link-up for more inspiring home goals!

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