The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

{30 days of pinspiration} A Recap and Reflection

Whew!  I made it. In six weeks, I accomplished thirty items on my Pinterest boards!  It was quite the experience and I learned a lot.  Here are a few notes I’ve taken along the way:

  • I have so much respect for the big-time bloggers.  I greatly underestimated the time it takes to not only complete a project on a timeline, but photograph and blog about it!  So much of the blogging business is behind the scenes.      
  • Blogging about projects takes money.  I know…I guess that’s a no brainer.  But for a Mamma on a budget, I definitely did not plan correctly.  A lot of using what I had and letting go of my desire to buy lots of new and pretty things occurred.  A good lesson in itself, I guess.    
  • I had more than one Pinterest fail.  I debated blogging about it, but felt bad talking negatively about another blogger.  Unfortunately, that plan often left me scrambling for another project!    
  • Towards the end, I started having major comparison issues.  My photographs weren’t good enough, my posts weren’t interesting enough, etc etc.  I hate that way of thinking, so I quickly pulled myself out of the slump.  
  • Now for the positives!  In six weeks, I got a LOT done.  My word for 2013 is intention and while exhausting, this challenge was a great way to start the year.  I hope I can keep it up, just at a slower pace šŸ™‚ 

In case you missed a post or two, here is the list of all I accomplished, categorized by theme:

 HOME PROJECTS
Baby Clothes Organization
The Beginning of my Home Office
Laundry Room Inspiration Board
Laundry Room Roman Shades
A Chalkboard Wall
Tissue Paper Pom Poms for the Nursery
40 Bags in 40 Days: A Lenten Decluttering Challenge
Linen Closet Updates

IN THE KITCHEN
Home Cold Remedies
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Menu Monday: A Week of Pinterest Recipes
Heart Rice Krispie Treats
Flourless Chocolate Brownie Cookies
Green Smoothies

CRAFTS FOR ME AND THE KIDDOS
Additions to my Project Life album
Lego Quest
Scripture Handprints
Snowman Craft on a Snowy Day
Superhero Cross-Stitch
Contact Paper Hearts

GIFTS AND GIVING
12 Months of Kindness and a Care Package for the Troops
Birthday Balloon Box
Foodie Penpals
A Gift to a Special Cousin

MISC.
Embracing an Active Lifestyle: Exercise in 2013
A Book Review: Quiet Strength
A Book Review: Young House Love
Lenten Reading: Bringing Lent Home with Mother Teresa
Kindergarten Measurement Activity
Food for Thought with Mother Teresa

Can’t wait to see what March has in store!

{30 days of pinspiration} Day 30: Weekend Food for Thought

I thought I would round out my 30 Days of Pinspiration Challenge with something a little different.  Jules from Pancakes and French Fries recently pinned this image:

Isn’t it beautiful?  I love her smile.  I love her joy.  Attached to the picture were these words: 

  ā€œStay where you are. Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering and the lonely right there where you are ā€” in your own homes and in your own families, in your workplaces and in your schools. ā€¦ You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have the eyes to see. Everywhere, wherever you go, you find people who are unwanted, unloved, uncared for, just rejected by society ā€” completely forgotten, completely left alone.ā€ – Blessed Mother Teresa ā€ 

I have kept these words with me all week.  Have you ever read something and felt like it was written especially for you?  This simple little quote has spoken volumes to some stirrings in my heart.  I am inspired and ready for action.  Your prayers would be greatly appreciated.  I’ll be sharing more in the coming weeks!

{30 days of pinspiration} Day 29: Gettin’ Healthy with Green Smoothies

My sweet husband got me a Nutri Bullet Hi-Speed Blender for Valentine’s Day.  Maybe it’s just me, but I think it’s so much better than chocolates or roses.  I couldn’t get it out of the box fast enough.  


I’ve been intrigued by the whole juicing phenomenon, and after watching a few interesting documentaries, I knew it was something I needed to try.  This little appliance is awesome so far.  (I sound like an infomercial, but I promise they have no idea who I am!)  We started out with pure fruit smoothies and everyday I have increased the amount of greens.  I think I’m probably up to 1/2 cup of spinach now?  The boys gobble it up.  


So far, we’ve been spontaneous in our fruit/veggie selections, but I’m also curious to see what combinations other people find delicious.  This list of recipes all come from my Pinterest boards:

What’s your favorite smoothie?  What’s your favorite veggie to juice?  I’m all ears!

{30 days of pinspiration} Day 28: Linen Closet Update

As part of the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge, I decided today was the day I would tackle the linen closet.  We’ve never had one before this house and do I dare admit that it was a selling point for me?  I was just a little excited about it!  But in that whirlwind last September known as the two weeks between move-in day and our Little Miss’s birth, I unpacked boxes, shoved linens wherever they fit, and called it a day.  


Five months later (FIVE!!), I’m finally putting some order into the chaos.  I was a horrible blogger and forgot to take before pictures, but I’m sure you can make a mental picture.  It was bad.     


Inspired by this pin:

Upstairs Linen Closet Makeover by Shari at Turnstyle Vogue

I purged, decluttered and organized, and ended up with this:



It’s not finished, but it’s a big improvement.  I still need a couple of baskets to hold the sheets and something on the floor to corral extra toilet paper.  I want to make an upstairs cleaning kit too.  Looking at these pictures, the OCD part of me wishes the baskets were all the same color.  I may change them down the road, but for now, a free upgrade sounds good enough for me.

{30 days of pinspiration} Day 27: Kindergarten Measurement

Let’s put this activity in the “I hope it will happen today” category.  My boys are oh so very crabby today and I’m close to pulling my hair out.  So maybe this will be a welcome distraction?  We’ll see.


Anyway, part of our kindergarten curriculum focuses on measurement.  I found the free “Measure the House” Printables over at Let’s Explore.  They are obsessed with tape measures, so I think this should be a hit!    

For more learning activities for kids, check out my Pinterest boards: Learning and Math.

{30 days of pinspiration} Day 26: 40 Bags in 40 Days Declutter Challenge

Truth time: we have way too much stuff.  I’m tired of the clutter and the piles and the basement of who-the-heck-knows.  Four kids have made me crave simplicity.  But they’ve also made me, well, tired.  I know the purging process takes work and as much as I’ve desired it, I’ve been too lazy to start.


I’ve heard about bloggers who work on a 40 bags in 40 days Lenten Challenge before, but have never participated.  Until now!  


For whatever reason, her post was just the motivation I needed.  Don’t you love how someone’s words can light a fire in you?  The past five days have been extremely successful.  I’ve worked on our couch tables, the living room toys, a part of my office, and started in on the basement.  Lots and lots of things are headed to Goodwill, I have a pile to sell on eBay, and a couple of items to try on Craigslist.  Simplicity feels so good.  

I’ll be sharing more pictures on Instagram as I go (using Ann Marie’s #40days40bags hashtag). Let me know if you are too, so I can follow!  Simplifying is more fun with support šŸ™‚

{30 days of pinspiration} Day 25: Tissue Paper Pom-Poms

Today’s craft was a spontaneous one.  After perusing my Pinterest boards for ideas to finish out the challenge (1 week to go!), I came across the tissue paper pom-pom.  I’m sure I originally pinned them for a party idea, but what the heck!  I made one just because.


Since it was my first time, and I only had one pack of tissue paper on hand, I looked at a few different sources.  This tutorial from Martha and this Youtube video were particularly helpful.  I didn’t have pipe cleaners or floral wire on hand, so I stole the twisty tie off of the bread and it worked just fine.  


The finished product is so cute!  I hung it up in Baby Girl’s nursery, but I think it would definitely look better in a cluster.  A trip to Target for more tissue paper is in order this weekend!  šŸ™‚
    

{30 days of pinspiration} Day 24: Our Chalkboard Wall

We made a chalkboard wall.  I know, I know…this project is so 2012.  I’m always late to the party.  But they’re fun for kids and adults alike and we had the perfect spot, so we painted one anyway.  

The inspiration pictures from my Pinterest boards:  
1.  2.  3.

And here is our version, tucked away in a narrow hallway (hence the weird angle of the photographs):

{30 days of pinspiration} Day 23: Bringing Lent Home with Mother Teresa


Can you believe it’s Ash Wednesday already?  Lent definitely snuck up on me this year.  So let’s compare notes. Growing up, this was always an interesting topic of conversation with friends and classmates: “What are you giving up this year?”  


This year, my husband and I have decided to give up watching television.  It’s become a mind-numbing routine and we hope to change that.  Instead, we’re going to exercise, play old fashioned board games, and read.  Sounds like we’re 80 years old, but I think it will be a much needed change from the constant technology we surround ourselves with everyday.


As a family, we’re going to read Bringing Lent Home with Mother Teresa: Prayers, Reflections, and Activities for Families.  I’ve had this book on my Pinterest board for months now and my mom found it in her library for me to borrow.  I’ve only flipped through it, but it seems great.  I’m sure I’ll be back with a full review soon.  

{30 days of pinspiration} Day 22: Flourless Chocolate Brownie Cookies

We’re jumping on the gluten-free train today.  My husband has almost entirely cut out grains from his diet, which has done wonders for his overall health.  His influence is causing me to try to reduce my intake as well, but I’m not nearly as disciplined as he is!  


Today’s recipe was my attempt at meeting him halfway.  I wanted to bake him something sweet, but with ingredients I knew he’d eat.  So while these are no where near “healthy” (I mean, 3 cups of confectioner’s sugar?  Come on!), they are delicious.  I find them on the rich side, so you may only need a piece to satisfy your sweet tooth!


Flourless Chocolate Brownie Cookies
recipe pinned from Mother Thyme

Ingredients:
3 cups confectioners sugar
2/3 cups unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large egg whites, room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix together confectioners sugar, cocoa powder and salt.  Add in vanilla extract and egg whites just until combined.  Stir in chocolate chips.
3. Spoon small dollops of batter on baking sheet.  Set in refrigerator for about 5 minutes for batter to set.  
4. Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until tops are lightly cracked.  Cool on wire rack. 


{30 days of pinspiration} Day 21: Contact Paper Hearts

Did you hear about Ana’s Valentine’s Day Cabin Fever Creativity Link-up?  Such a great idea.  I have zero talent in the clothes alterations department like she does, but her link-up instructions were just vague enough that I’m going to consider a kids craft “creative”.  


So with Valentine’s Day approaching, I thought I’d try a quick craft with the boys.  They were really excited because unfortunately, craft time has become scarce around here.  I just can’t seem to keep it together with a fussy baby and three boys going to town with paint and markers…and mess.  I think I’m a little more Type-A than I’d like to admit!


This craft was a good way to ease back into the groove.  No paint or markers (hurray!) and I did all the prepwork for minimal sibling bickering.  Here is the inspiration photo I had pinned: 

And here is our finished project!  The other hearts are love notes from the kids for their Daddy’s birthday.  I think this is just enough decorating for me.  

Be sure to link up with Ana, so we can see what crafty things you’re up to!  
P.S. There’s a giveaway involved too!

{30 days of pinspiration} Day 20: Super Hero Cross-Stitch

When we moved into this house in September, we were surprised to see that every single  room was painted a different color…except for the two boys’ rooms.  These rooms were white – total blank slates.  I had a chat with the boys about what “theme” they would like and they answered with the obvious: Super Heroes!  

Now I know in the design world, a themed room is like the tackiest thing you can do.  And to some degree, I think they are right.  However, I feel like this is one area I have to let go.  When I was growing up, I had so much pride in how I decorated my room.  I picked out the comforter, hung up my bulletin board, and styled my bookshelf just to my liking.  I want that for my boys too.  

But enough of my tangent!  My vision for the room is to be quite classic (so it grows with them), while still embracing the super hero theme.  I also wanted to include something “Mamma-made” for each of them.  Hence these pins:

Justice League of America Pattern 

Batman & Friends Pattern
     
My plan is to pick a pattern for each of the boys, cross-stitch them on linen and then make throw pillows for their beds.  I’ll be sure to share when I’m finished!

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