The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

No.270: Five Lucy Favorites

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Lucy is four and a half months old and we’re finally starting to get the hang of this puppy ownership thing.  I’ve been reflecting on the things I’m glad we purchased (and mourning the wasted money we spent on things we shouldn’t) and here are my top five:

1 // KONG TREAT DISPENSER
Lucy loooooves this thing.  We portion out some of her daily kibble and she goes to town.  It keeps her busy for awhile, which is huge!  It’s also one of the only toys she hasn’t destroyed yet.  Five big stars.

2 // WUBBA
When we took her home from the breeder, she came with a baby Wubba that smelled like her littermates.  As she’s grown, she chewed it to pieces.  We replaced it with a bigger one and while I still don’t think it will last more than a few months, it’s one of her favorites.  (I like it too except for the incessant squeaking.)

3 // PEANUT BUTTER DOG TREATS
Her favorite treats and our go-to when we really want good behavior.

4 // FROZEN YOGURT IN A KONG
I’m starting to see a theme here that the biggest hits are the ones that deal with food, hah!  Another treat that keeps her busy for long stretches of time is filling a Kong with plain Greek yogurt.


5 // BREAKAWAY COLLAR
Since she’s still a puppy, she obviously is crated at night.  After reading some horror stories about dogs strangling themselves, we bought her a breakaway collar and now can sleep without worrying at night, even with her silly shenanigans.

Now for my SOS: I hope you fellow dog-owners will help a mama out!  What are your tricks for teething?  What toys are worth the money and hopefully won’t be destroyed within minutes? 

P.S. All of the links above will take you to Amazon, but I paid much less for almost everything over at Chewy.com.  Highly recommend. 

No.245: Five Favorites for May

This post contains affiliate links.

1 // PRODIGAL POTTERY
I stumbled on Prodigal Pottery on Etsy and immediately loved their mission.  From their About page:

Prodigal Pottery is handmade at King’s Home in Chelsea, Alabama by women fleeing domestic abuse.
Our ceramic art therapy program offers jobs to women in our homeless domestic abuse shelter and helps equip these women with skills in pottery and ceramics so they can take the steps necessary to start new lives for themselves and their children.
100% of the proceeds from Prodigal Pottery goes to support the women who hand make the pieces and the ministry itself. Thank you for your support of Prodigal Pottery. Because of your support, we are able to change the lives of abused women through the gift of art!

I bought this soap dish in white and it’s simple and beautiful.  Just what I was looking for to place next to my kitchen sink.


2 // “THIRSTY THURSDAY”
This sounds like a happy hour theme, hah!  In actuality, it’s just a handy reminder for me to water my plants every Thursday.  Simple and catchy enough for my scatterbrain.  My houseplants are thankful for it!

3 // NATURE’S MIRACLE SPRAY AND WIPES
We’ve had Lucy for almost eight weeks now and these are two items that have been worth their weight in gold!  You know that lovely wet dog smell?  We use the bath wipes after we have to take her out in the rain, which has been happening a lot this spring.  The hard floor cleaner has also been a life-saver after accidents.

4 // BOOKLY APP
Bookly is a free app that is great for readers like me who love numbers.  I used Bookly to help me track my reading time for #25in5 (which I totally failed, BTW) and it was interesting to see stats like how fast I read and how much time I read each day.

5 // ACURE HAIR AND SKINCARE
So I’m still on my shampoo bar kick, but I needed some help with the oil buildup it produced.  I found this clarifying shampoo which has no parabens, sulfates, or phthalates and is also made in the USA.  So far, so good!  I also bought my oldest their cleansing stick and acne spot.

P.S. Have you joined Poshmark yet?  For a limited time, Poshmark is doubling the credit to $10 for your first purchase if you sign up with my code BWFARMHOUSE.  I hope you love it as much as I do!

No.233: Five Favorites for March

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1 // HABITAT FOR HUMANITY’S RESTORE
We’re doing a little makeover in Sophie’s room and I’ve been on the lookout for a desk.  I really wanted one that was solid wood, but finding one in our budget was tricky.  On a whim, I popped into our local Restore and oh.my.goodness.  This place is like a home improvement lover’s dream!  They have everything: dressers, tables, lamps, kitchen cabinets, tile, even vintage windows.  The prices are so reasonable and sometimes better than prices I’ve seen at Goodwill!  Sophie picked out her favorite and I can’t wait to paint it white to match the rest of her furniture.  In the meantime, she got right to work with the decorating, hah!


2 // CHEWY.COM
T-12 days before the new puppy arrives!  I’ve been checking the last items off the list by ordering from Chewy and I’m their new biggest fan.  When I comparison shop, the prices seem to always be the same or better and the shipping is crazy fast.  You can also get 3% back through ebates!  Win/win/win.


3 // PARMESAN CRISPS
Spring is in the air and I’m trying to break my winter hibernation habits with some new ones.  Lately, I’ve been eating a big salad everyday for lunch.  Mark found these parmesan crisps for me at the store and I love them!  They give the crunch of croutons without the carbs, but full disclosure: I usually add in both.


4 // PERSON OF INTEREST
When Mark is away on business, I tend to stay up late watching Netflix shows until I can’t keep my eyes open.  #scaredycat  This month, I started watching Person of Interest because it was crime-related without being too too scary.  The first few episodes were decent (I could multi-task while watching it) but by the end of the first season, I was hooked!


5 // SOPHIE’S DETANGLER 
This detangler has been a life-saver this month.  Sophie’s hair tangles easily and there have more than a few tears.  Now she tolerates my brushing with a little less trepidation.  And bonus: there aren’t any weird ingredients.  (I bought mine on Grove Collaborative – that free starter set was just too good to pass up!  You can use my link to get it too!)

No.223: Five Favorites for February

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1 // BOOKTUBE
As you know, I’ve been spending a lot of time washing dishes by hand lately.  To pass the time, I usually prop my phone on the windowsill and listen to podcasts.  However, this month, I discovered “Booktube” (people who talk about books on YouTube) and I’ve been sucked down the rabbit hole!  I’ve just scratched the surface here, but these are my three favorites:

  1. Lucy the Reader: She first won me over with her British accent, but kept me listening due to her love of classic novels.  The way she describes these intimidating books is so inspiring!
  2. Helene Jeppesen: Helene has similar tastes to me in terms of genres, so I’ve enjoyed hearing her reviews.  Her Danish accent is so awesome too.
  3. Merphy Napier: Merphy reads differently than I do (more fantasy/science fiction) but I find her interesting and entertaining.  Her approach is very real and down-to-earth.

2 // ST. MICHAEL CARVING FROM UKRAINE
One of the cool gifts that I found for Mark’s birthday was a St. Michael carving made all the way in Ukraine!  The turnaround time was very reasonable, the workmanship is beautiful and Mark loved it.

3 // A NATURAL DEODORANT THAT WORKS
I’ve finally found a natural deo that works for me!  Lume deodorant was developed by a doctor and is aluminum and baking soda free.  It hasn’t stained my clothes.  The only “con” is that after years and years of wearing an antiperspirant, I’m not used to sweating and I definitely do when working hard.  But there’s no stink, so that’s good, right?  We’ll see what happens during a sticky Virginia summer.

 4 // PEACH PASSION TEA
I plan to talk about this more in a future post, but I somehow managed to reduce my coffee intake by about 75% this month.  (A huge change, since I was up to three or four cups a day!)  I still craved a warm beverage, though, so I started drinking tea!  My current favorite is country peach passion with just a tiny bit of honey.

 5 // HISTORY MADE INTERESTING FOR KIDS
For history, we read through The Year of the Horseless Carriage: 1801.  The cover looked underwhelming but boy, was I wrong!  So many great stories in this one little book as well as a great introduction to Napoleon.  My kids really enjoyed it.

No.213: Five Favorites for January

This post contains affiliate links. The Five Favorites linkup has been suspended indefinitely, but please feel free to comment your faves in the comments!


1 // BOOK OUTLET
I don’t remember how I stumbled upon Book Outlet, but I’m so glad I did!  They have a huge selection of books at really great prices and in a wide range of genres.  I’ve already made two orders (they have free shipping on $35 or more, which is way too easy to do…ahem) and am making myself wait on another until I read what I purchased.  Unfortunately, that hasn’t stopped me from window shopping and adding bunches to my cart, hah! #crazybooklady  If you go through my link, you’ll get a $10 off coupon towards your first order of $25 or more.  And one more bonus: you can get 5% back with ebates too!

2 // CREAMY CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP
Creamy chicken tortilla soup was one of our favorite meals this month.  We’ve made it a few times and in different ways: I’ve followed the directions exactly as written and I’ve also made it using chicken we cooked the day before.  I bet you could even just shred a rotisserie chicken too.  Perfect for freezing winter nights.

3 // ONE LINE A DAY – A FIVE YEAR MEMORY BOOK
I mentioned this little book last January and it’s worth mentioning again as I start Year Two.  I love it so much!  It’s been so fun to read what we were up to each day last year – so many little memories in one book.  If my house was on fire, this would definitely be something I would grab.

 4 // MEXICAN TRAIN DOMINOES
The kids and I bought this game for Mark’s birthday next month, but decided to give it to him early during our big snow weekend!  It’s a huge hit with the entire family – even my six-year-old can play easily.  I also bought this score pad which has been helpful when we only have time to play a round or two.  

5 // WEIGHT TRAINING BOOK FOR RUNNERS
Do you follow Theresa on IG?  She is a running superstar, so when she recommended this book, I snatched it right up.  She’s right – it’s awesome.  I’ve only done a few workouts so far, but they kicked my bum.  I’m anxious to finally get rid of this cold and get back to work.


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A few other favorite lists from the archives:

No.191: Five October Favorites

This post contains affiliate links.
The Five Favorites linkup has been suspended indefinitely due to lack of interest, but please feel free to comment your faves in the comments!



1 // UP AND VANISHED PODCAST
Sometimes I get a notification on my phone from the Stitcher app that recommends a podcast I may enjoy.  Up and Vanished was a recommendation and thanks Stitcher, you were right!  I started with Season One, about a 30-something single high school teacher who disappears in a small southern town.  I was hooked and blazed through the episodes.  Currently on Season Two and enjoying this one too.  The woo-woo aspect definitely is creepy though.

2 // HONEYCRISP APPLE BUTTER

Talk about fall in a jar!  We were gifted a jar of honeycrisp apple butter and it was so delicious.


3 // “I LOVE LUCY” RERUNS
When we chose “I Love Lucy” as a family night show, the kids were skeptical, but quickly became fans.  Most of the jokes are just as funny and it’s 95% clean, which is rare these days.  The kids have become so into it that Sophie and TJ now frequently play “Lucy and Ricky,” complete with dress and tuxedo jacket.  Hysterical.  



4 // LEATHER BOOTIES FOR FALL
As usual, I’m super late to the trends!  I used some of my Poshmark earnings to finally buy myself a pair of Toms booties.  They are SO comfortable and cute too.  I love them. 

5 // PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are one of our fall staples.  We’ve made them four times so far and they’re gone in minutes!  #bigfamilyproblems  They taste best the day you make them, so I don’t feel too too bad.

No.181: Five September Favorites (A Link-Up!)

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Welcome to the Five Favorites linkup!  Here are five of my favorite things this month:

1 // MY WEEKLY NOTEPAD FOR SELF-CARE
My life feels ca-razy right now.  Since I’m prone to overwhelm and anxiety, I’ve started focusing on little ways to fill my tank and avoid all of that mess.  Self-care is different for everyone, but for me, I really enjoy blogging and working on my new business.  Both require surges of creativity and I think that’s the key!  I keep my gingham weekly notepad in a visible spot on the counter and it’s really helping me stay accountable to myself.  Mama can’t pour from an empty cup.

2 // BEEF STEW IN THE SLOW COOKER
The weather is finally starting to cool off and I’m so excited to start a weekly soup/stew night.  (One of my 100 Little Things goals!)  This week, we’re starting off with our go-to beef stew recipe:

INGREDIENTS // 2lb stew beef, onions chopped, celery chopped, carrots peeled and chopped, mini red potatoes, 28oz. can whole tomatoes, 1.5tsp. Italian seasoning, 3 cups beef broth, 2 bay leaves, frozen peas, salt and pepper, and 0.5 cup flour
DIRECTIONS // Lightly brown the stew meat in batches in a large skillet on medium-high heat.  Transfer to a plate and set aside.  Dump tomatoes and their juices into the slow cooker and mash them a little.  Add onions, celery, carrots and potatoes.  (The amounts of these depends on who I’m feeding and how much I have in my refrigerator.  In my house, it’s generally the more, the merrier!)  Sprinkle Italian seasoning over the vegetables and then add beef and drippings.  Pour 2.5 cups beef broth over all, stir quickly, add bay leaves and cover.  Cook on low for 8 hours.  20 minutes before serving, add the frozen peas (about 1 cup) and salt and pepper to taste. In a small bowl, whisk the last 0.5 cup of broth with the flour to make a smooth paste.  Stir into stew and cook until thickened, about 15-20 minutes.  Remove bay leaves and enjoy!

The recipe calls for the slow cooker, but I’ve also modified it to work in the dutch oven too.

3 // TJ’S NEW FISHING GAME
When we went on a field trip to the Marine Corps Museum a few weeks ago, TJ was obsessed with a fishing exhibit for kids.  It was the highlight of his day!  So for his birthday, I bought him this sweet little fishing game.  It’s been a big hit with all three little ones and I love the handy box to keep all of the pieces.
4 // TEACHING TEXTBOOKS
Teaching Textbooks is a homeschooling lifesaver at our house.  Originally, I had planned for just the two oldest boys to use the program, but J (2nd grade) begged and begged and I finally gave in.  He started Teaching Textbooks 3 last week and I’ve had to cut him off on lessons…I think he’d do them all in a matter of days if I let him!  TT makes a difficult subject just a little more enjoyable.

5 // NEW BOOT SOCKS FOR FALL
Socks are one of those essentials that I never seem to buy for myself.  Fun (and embarrassing) fact: some of my current pairs have been around for almost a decade!  Needless to say, threadbare and holes isn’t exactly a good look, so I invested in a few new ones.  I got this pair and this one and these too and am so excited to wear them soon.  Why did I wait so long?!  It’s the little things.
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I can’t wait to hear about what you’re loving this month!  Here’s what to do:

1. Write a blog post sharing about five of your favorite things.  You could also share a photo on Instagram too! (hashtag is #bwffivefavorites)  It can have a theme (ie: five of your favorite slow cooker recipes) or just a mishmash like I usually do.
2. Please link back to this post so your readers know where to find the Five Favorites hub (posts not mentioning “Five Favorites” or not linking back to this post will be subject to removal).
3. Not mandatory, but feel free to visit some of the other posts in the link-up!  Sharing and/or leaving a comment is even better.
4. Make sure to add a link to your specific post or Instagram picture, not just your blog address.
Thanks for linking up!

No.172: Five August Favorites (A Link-Up!)

This post contains affiliate links.

Welcome to the Five Favorites linkup!  Here are five of my favorite things this month:

1 // AN EASY MIDWEEK DINNER
Our favorite weekday meal this summer has been garlic-parmesan veggies and sausage.  The majority of the work is just chopping, which I find strangely calming.  Generally inexpensive and a great way to use up vegetables that are going bad.  I usually make two sheet pans full and a big pot of rice and it feeds my crew with a tiny bit leftover for Mark’s lunch.

2 // PRIME WARDROBE
My oldest started serving at Mass and needed black pants, black socks and black shoes.  He is growing like crazy, so instead of searching multiple stores, we decided to try out Prime Wardrobe.  I chose three pairs of pants (in different brands because I wasn’t sure what would fit him well), a package of socks and black dress shoes.  When the box came, he tried everything on, picked his favorites and we sent the rest back to Amazon.  So easy and a lifesaver for this busy mama. 

3 // MY SMALL PACKAGE SCALE 
Since I’m back to selling things online, I pulled out my trusty postage scale this month.  I’ve had the same one for years and years and it is so handy.  You can purchase shipping from home through USPS and even have them pick up your packages too.  No need to drag six kids to the post office!
4 // ASK FATHER JOSH PODCAST
Mark just recommended this podcast to me, so I’ve been catching up during my runs.  Each episode is a handful of Q&As sent in by listeners and it’s another interesting and entertaining way to learn about the faith.  I’m really enjoying it and the way Fr. Josh randomly breaks into song like he lives in a musical?  So funny and awesome.

5 // NEW SHOES FOR P
Ever since he could walk, we’ve always put P in soft moccassins.  I recently pulled out some of the big boys’ outgrown sneakers for him to wear and oh man, you’d think he was wearing platform shoes!  He wouldn’t walk naturally and it was hilariously pathetic.  I finally caved and bought him a pair of barefoot-like sneakers and all is well in the world again.
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I can’t wait to hear about what you’re loving this month!  Here’s what to do:

1. Write a blog post sharing about five of your favorite things.  You could also share a photo on Instagram too! (hashtag is #bwffivefavorites)  It can have a theme (ie: five of your favorite slow cooker recipes) or just a mishmash like I usually do.
2. Please link back to this post so your readers know where to find the Five Favorites hub (posts not mentioning “Five Favorites” or not linking back to this post will be subject to removal).
3. Not mandatory, but feel free to visit some of the other posts in the link-up!  Sharing and/or leaving a comment is even better.
4. Make sure to add a link to your specific post or Instagram picture, not just your blog address.
Thanks for linking up!

No.159: Five July Favorites (A Link-Up!)

This post contains affiliate links.
Welcome to the Five Favorites linkup!  Congratulations to Shelly, with June’s winning post: Five Favorites.  There’s no Prize Pack this month, but will hopefully return in August!

1 // STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE BISCUITS
Nothing says summer like strawberry shortcake!  This recipe is delicious and so easy – maybe too easy, hah!  We’ve made it a handful of times this summer and it’s always a hit.

2 // THE LIBRARY EXTENSION PLUG-IN FOR CHROME
I just discovered this little plug-in and it’s been so helpful already!  You can install it on Chrome in a matter of minutes.  Then, if you go on a website like Goodreads or Amazon, it will automatically search your local library to see if they have a copy, both in physical form or ebook.  I can already tell it will help reduce my impulse book shopping.

3 // ITALIAN SANDWICHES FROM ANANIA’S

If you ever find yourself in Portland, Maine, be sure to stop into Anania’s and get an Italian sandwich.  Ham, American cheese, diced onions, green peppers, pickles, black olives, salt, pepper and oil on a hero roll.  It’s so simple, but hands down one of my favorite foods on Earth!  I had one on my trip a few weeks ago and it hit the spot.  Be sure to get a whoopie pie while you’re there too.  
4 // HASHING OUT MY MOM STYLE BLOG
Lisa started a new blog called Hashing Out My Mom Style and I love it!  Her thoughts on outfits have helped me look critically at my own wardrobe, while also inspiring me to start a list of pieces I’d like to find. 

5 // A NEW POPCORN MAKER
After four years and hundreds of uses, our old popcorn maker was starting to be a hazard.  The top piece was cracked in about six places and hot oil shot out from a chip in the bottom.  Nothing like a little first degree burn before snack time!  We finally replaced it with this one and what an improvement.  Definitely a worthwhile investment for our family.
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I can’t wait to hear about what you’re loving this month!  Here’s what to do:

1. Write a blog post sharing about five of your favorite things.  You could also share a photo on Instagram too! (hashtag is #bwffivefavorites)  It can have a theme (ie: five of your favorite slow cooker recipes) or just a mishmash like I usually do.
2. Please link back to this post so your readers know where to find the Five Favorites hub (posts not mentioning “Five Favorites” or not linking back to this post will be subject to removal).
3. Not mandatory, but feel free to visit some of the other posts in the link-up!  Sharing and/or leaving a comment is even better.
4. Make sure to add a link to your specific post or Instagram picture, not just your blog address.
Thanks for linking up!

No.149: Five June Favorites (A Link-Up and A Giveaway!)

This post contains affiliate links.

Welcome to the Five Favorites linkup!  Congratulations to Jen, with May’s winning post: Stuff I Love {five favorites}.  Be sure to check below for this month’s prize pack!  
1 // COLD BREW COFFEE
My favorite afternoon treat lately has been a big glass of iced coffee.  Mark and I have tried a few brands, but I think Gevalia’s vanilla cold brew concentrate is my favorite. I mix it with cashew milk.  So good!

2 // MID-RISE 6″ SHORTS
For most of my life, I’ve been self-conscious about my legs.  But after sweating many a summer in jeans and maxi dresses, I’ve decided enough is enough!  I’m embracing this 30-something body, for better or worse!  It turns out, though, that shorts buying is as tricky for me as jeans.  I have longer legs, so I’ve been searching for something in between booty shorts and bermudas.  On a whim, I bought a pair of Old Navy shorts from ThredUp and they’re the perfect length for me. 

3 // ARTISAN SOURDOUGH MADE SIMPLE
I love this cookbook!  If you’ve ever been curious to try making sourdough bread, this is the book for you.  The directions are clear and she walks you through the process step by step.  So far, we’ve made the everyday loaf, a focaccia pizza and sourdough waffles.  Everything has been delicious!  I want to make every single recipe.

4 // THE EVERYDOLLAR BUDGETING WEBSITE AND APP
Mark and I are ramping up our debt reduction plans again and we just started using Dave Ramsey’s (free!) EveryDollar website and app.  I still like working out our budget on paper, but the app really helps Mark and I stay on the same page.  It’s especially nice to see how much we have in sinking funds, all in a quick glance. 
5 // MY NEW PULLOVER
My latest thrift store find: a like new L.L.Bean rugby pullover for only $4.50!  I got to wear it a few days before the heat became unbearable.  It’s so comfortable.

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A Peek into June’s Prize Pack

The giveaway items I’ve chosen are a mix of some of my favorite things: etsy finds, vintage pieces and little bits picked up from various stores.  All have been purchased by me and nothing has been sponsored.  This incentive is to thank you for visiting here and linking up your posts.  It’s my small way of showing you that your words are being heard!  I read every single entry and try to comment on or share a few (I wish I could do this for every one – not enough hours in the day!)  Here’s how it works: every time you link up a blog or Instagram post, you get an entry.  The official closing date will be Sunday, July 1st and I’ll randomly pick a winner on July 2.
June’s prizes include:
1 // Tall strawberry glass

2 // Three reusable plastic straws

3 // Sun Porch goat milk soap from Clean Line Soap Company
4 // My Not So Perfect Life paperback

5 // Strawberry napkins
I can’t wait to hear about what you’re loving this month!  Here’s what to do:
1. Write a blog post sharing about five of your favorite things.  You could also share a photo on Instagram too! (hashtag is #bwffivefavorites)  It can have a theme (ie: five of your favorite slow cooker recipes) or just a mishmash like I usually do.
2. Please link back to this post so your readers know where to find the Five Favorites hub (posts not mentioning “Five Favorites” or not linking back to this post will be subject to removal).
3. Not mandatory, but feel free to visit some of the other posts in the link-up!  Sharing and/or leaving a comment is even better.
4. Make sure to add a link to your specific post or Instagram picture, not just your blog address.
Thanks for linking up!

No.123: Five May Favorites (A Link-Up & A Giveaway!)

This post contains affiliate links.
Welcome to the Five Favorites linkup!  Congratulations to Mary, with April’s winning post: five favorites / amazon music.  Be sure to check below for this month’s prize pack!  
1 // ALL THE PASTA SALADS
What is summer without pasta salad?  They are perfect for my big crew because I can make a lot inexpensively and you can add a ton of vegetables too.  My favorite is the classic Italian version, but we recently tried one with tortellini which was good too.  Next on the list: this Greek-inspired one!

2 // P’S SWING
P got this swing for Christmas and it has gotten a ton of use this spring.  Not only can he swing like the big kids, it also keeps him contained and out of trouble for 10 minutes.  One of the only ways I can read outside right now, hah! 

3 // THE 2017 CROSSFIT DOCUMENTARY, THE REDEEMED AND THE DOMINANT 
This one is silly because I don’t even do Crossfit, but these yearly documentaries are so inspiring to me and this year is no exception.  Mark and I like to watch these when we’re wavering a bit health-wise and need a boost.

4 // PRE-CUT PARCHMENT PAPER
I recently splurged and bought a pack of pre-cut parchment paper for bread making and they are so great!  With the roll version, I always cut pieces that were too small or way too big (eye-balling measurements is obviously not my strong suit) so the pre-cut version helps avoid my inevitable waste.  Definitely not a baking “need”, but so nice to have.
5 // TWEEZER GURU
I was organizing my bathroom cabinet and came across a pair of tweezers I must have purchased and totally forgotten about when we moved last year.  I really like them!  The edges are slanted and sharp.  The handle is a little bulkier than I’m used to, but still manageable.   

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A Peek into May’s Prize Pack

The giveaway items I’ve chosen are a mix of some of my favorite things: etsy finds, vintage pieces and little bits picked up from various stores.  All have been purchased by me and nothing has been sponsored.  This incentive is to thank you for visiting here and linking up your posts.  It’s my small way of showing you that your words are being heard!  I read every single entry and try to comment on or share a few (I wish I could do this for every one – not enough hours in the day!)  Here’s how it works: every time you link up a blog or Instagram post, you get an entry.  The official closing date will be Sunday, June 3rd and I’ll randomly pick a winner on June 4.
May’s prizes include:
1 // Our Lady of the Ordinary greeting card from A Creative Almanac

2 // Garden Candle 
3 // Heart Pot from Freckled Hen Farmhouse
4 // Garden letterpress notebook
5 // Two packs of seed bombs from Department of Everyday
I can’t wait to hear about what you’re loving this month!  Here’s what to do:
1. Write a blog post sharing about five of your favorite things.  You could also share a photo on Instagram too! (hashtag is #bwffivefavorites)  It can have a theme (ie: five of your favorite slow cooker recipes) or just a mishmash like I usually do.
2. Please link back to this post so your readers know where to find the Five Favorites hub (posts not mentioning “Five Favorites” or not linking back to this post will be subject to removal).
3. Not mandatory, but feel free to visit some of the other posts in the link-up!  Sharing and/or leaving a comment is even better.
4. Make sure to add a link to your specific post or Instagram picture, not just your blog address.
Thanks for linking up!

No.115: Five April Favorites (A Link-Up & a Giveaway!)

This post contains affiliate links.

Welcome to the Five Favorites linkup!  Congratulations to Rita, with March’s winning post: Five Inspiring Quotes from Sister Helen Prejean.  Be sure to check below for this month’s prize pack!  
1 //  FORSYTHIA
One of the fun things about the first spring at a new house is discovering all of the flowering shrubs and plants!  We have a forsythia shrub in our front yard and I am in love with its tiny little yellow flowers.  Spring is coming – slowly, but it’s coming! 

2 // TRADER JOE’S CHEDDAR CHEESE WITH CARAMELIZED ONION
Mark heard about this cheese at work and bought some for us to try.  According to the package: “English Farmhouse cheddar blended with sweet caramelized onions creates a nice sweet and savory balance.”  It was SO good!

3 // STORAGE BUNKS FOR THE BOYS
The three biggest boys share a bedroom and it quickly becomes a pit of destruction when their things are out and everywhere.  To combat the clutter, we bought these navy storage trunks to put at the end of their beds.  They love that they can keep their important Legos and books away from nosy baby brothers and I love that their room generally feels clean 90% of the time.  Win/win! 
4 // COLOR-CODED CUPS FOR THE KIDS
The dirty cups situation in the kitchen was getting out of control, so I went back to my color-coded system from a few years ago.  I ordered cups from Re-Play and they are awesome!  The price is right, they’re sturdy, and they come in a ton of different colors.  Bonus: they’re made in the US and are dishwasher safe.
5 // #THE100DAYPROJECT 
Have you heard of #the100dayproject?  Creatives are dedicating 100 days to a specific theme and sharing their work on Instagram.  The timing didn’t work for me this year, but I love watching and cheering them on!  Three of my favorites:

  • Elise (@elisejoy) is using the theme of #100craftadventures and is taking 15 minutes (or more) out of her day to make something with her hands.  So inspiring!
  • Brooke (@brooke_petermann) has been exploring rainbows with her hashtag #100daysofrainbowfun.  I love how inventive her posts have been.  Her project is a beautiful example of seek and you will find.  Turns out rainbows can be everywhere!
  • Christy (@a_creative_almanac) has been illustrating #100daysofourlady and they are incredible!  She recently ran into technical difficulties when her computer died and is hoping to raise enough money through her shops to buy new equipment.  (I purchased a little something for next month’s Five Favorites giveaway so stay tuned for that. 😀)
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A Peek into April’s Prize Pack

The giveaway items I’ve chosen are a mix of some of my favorite things: etsy finds, vintage pieces and little bits picked up from various stores.  All have been purchased by me and nothing has been sponsored.  This incentive is to thank you for visiting here and linking up your posts.  It’s my small way of showing you that your words are being heard!  I read every single entry and try to comment on or share a few (I wish I could do this for every one – not enough hours in the day!)  Here’s how it works: every time you link up a blog or Instagram post, you get an entry.  The official closing date will be Sunday, May 6th and I’ll randomly pick a winner on May 7.
April’s prizes include:
1 // Tall daisy glass

2 // Hello notecard from acbcDesign
3 // Two Bobo’s Oats Bars
4 // Sky blue Snack Pack from Re-Play Recycled
5 //  Three packs of tags
I can’t wait to hear about what you’re loving this month!  Here’s what to do:
1. Write a blog post sharing about five of your favorite things.  You could also share a photo on Instagram too! (hashtag is #bwffivefavorites)  It can have a theme (ie: five of your favorite slow cooker recipes) or just a mishmash like I usually do.
2. Please link back to this post so your readers know where to find the Five Favorites hub (posts not mentioning “Five Favorites” or not linking back to this post will be subject to removal).
3. Not mandatory, but feel free to visit some of the other posts in the link-up!  Sharing and/or leaving a comment is even better.
4. Make sure to add a link to your specific post or Instagram picture, not just your blog address.
Thanks for linking up!

Less Materialism, More Intentional Living

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