The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

{friendship} Supporting Mammas in the Kitchen with a Swap and a GIVEAWAY!

Back in February, I felt really convicted to reach out to Mammas with support and a little fun.  The purpose of the first Mamma Support Swap was to use the Internet to support mothers in all walks of life, connect us on a deeper level, and to celebrate this crazy vocation we’ve been called to.  Being a teeny little blog, I was so nervous that this idea of mine would crash and burn.  But I was blown away by the interest and the support!  And I knew this had to be something that happened more than once.

Enter the second Mamma Support Swap! 

This time around, the swap has a cooking theme.  We all know that the kitchen is the heart of our homes and as Mammas, we hold a great responsibility to feed our families. But boy, can that be an intimidating challenge!  Picky eaters, tight budgets and just overall exhaustion can all affect our meal planning.  I think we can all appreciate a little help!   



So this is the plan.  The Mamma Support Swap encompasses a few things:   

  1. Support: This time around, this part is up to you.  If you’d like, include a handwritten note to your partner, telling her about yourself and your family.  Feel free to add some advice about meal planning, budgets, or tips for picky eaters.  Words of encouragement are also great and always appreciated.  Words are powerful…you can do so much good.  
  2. Recipes:  Include at least two favorite recipes to share.  You can use recipe cards you already own, or there are tons of free printables out there (check a few out here, here and here).
  3. Swap:  A little something special purchased to help her in the kitchen or just make it pretty!  Let’s keep it in the $10-15 dollar range.  Ideas: your favorite cookbook, recipe cards, coffee mug, etc.  Anything kitchen/cooking related is fair game.  Be sure to check your partner’s blog if you need ideas!  

Like I said in February, my prayer is that through this swap, we can encourage each other on this wild adventure we call motherhood.  Hopefully we’ll even make a new friend!  So are you in?  Know a few friends who could use some support and need an inspiration boost in the kitchen?  I hope so!  Please comment below with your name, blog address (if you have one – it’s not mandatory to have one to enter) and e-mail address. (You can also e-mail me at mrsb04jc at gmail dot com if that’s easier too!)

Sign-ups will be open from August 20 to August 24.
I hope to have everyone e-mailed with their partner by Monday, August 27.
You will then be responsible for getting in touch with your partner for her address.
Please have your packages in the mail no later than Friday, September 7. Then be on the lookout for a special package just for you! 🙂


And a big bonus: for everyone who signs up for the swap, you will be entered into a giveaway of kitchen goodies from me!  Included in the prize package:

A striped kitchen towel
OXO Wooden spoon
Recipe Cards from Greencard Designs
White Privet House for Target plate
and possibly a favorite sweet treat too! 🙂



One more thing before I close this monster of a post…please, please, please spread the word!  I know there have to be so many mammas out there who could use some love, support and inspiration.  So please talk about it on your blog, Facebook, twitter or even pin the picture above!  I’d be forever grateful!  

{friendship} Now What? Letter & Gift Ideas for the Mamma Support Swap

First of all, I want to thank everyone for the positive response with the Mamma Support Swap!  Everyone should have been e-mailed by now with their partner.  Please let me know if you didn’t receive the e-mail! 

Your next question might be: What Now?  Well, I’m here to help you get started!  Even if you didn’t participate in the swap this time, I hope this gets your ideas flowing with ways you can brighten someone’s day. 

Letters of Encouragement
This is the most important part of the swap.  Like I said before, your words can do so much good.  Words are powerful and life-changing.  (See this post for an example.)  Here are few ideas that you can include in your letter:

  • Recommendation of your favorite parenting book
  • An uplifting quote
  • A tip that’s worked for your family (how did you get your son to potty-train?, how do you get your little one to eat her veggies?)
  • Share a story of hardship with motherhood/share a wonderful moment too!
  • Let your partner know you are in this motherhood journey together!

Gift Ideas for Mammas

  • Soaps
  • Recipe cards (include one of your favorite recipes too!)
  • Nail polish
  • Hair accessories
  • Journals
  • Baking supplies like cupcake liners and sprinkles
  • Stationary
  • Your favorite book
  • Chocolate!
Remember to try to have your packages postmarked
by Friday, Feb 24! 

{friendship} 1st Ever Mamma Support Swap!

Source: etsy.com via Ashley on Pinterest

This post is for all of you Mammas out there.  Maybe you are pregnant with your first baby and you are filled with both excitement and anxiety for what’s to come.  Maybe you are a new mama or maybe you are a mama to many!  Maybe you feel unsure in your role as a mother.  Maybe you feel isolated from the “outside”.  Maybe your life feels so crazy, and while you’d love another child, the thought just terrifies you.  Maybe you feel all alone.


Motherhood is a hard and largely misunderstood vocation.  So my thinking cap went on.  How can I use my blog to provide encouragement to another mom?  How can I help another mom know she is not alone?  How can I show another mom her worth?  The wheels started turning.  After I participated in the Blogger Exchange Party, the wheels started really turning!
Enter the first ever Mamma Support Swap! 

This is the plan.  The Mamma Support Swap encompasses two things:   

  1. Support: A handwritten note to your partner, telling her about yourself and your family.  You can add some advice, words of encouragement or just let her know you’re praying for her.  Your letter can be any length, but challenge yourself!  Words are powerful…you can do so much good.  This letter is the most important part!
  2. Swap:  A little something special purchased just for her.  You can learn more about her on her blog if you need ideas.  Let’s keep it in the $10-15 dollar range.  Not mandatory, but if you want to include a little present for her kid(s), please feel free to do so!

My prayer is that through this swap, we can encourage each other on this wild adventure we call motherhood.  Maybe we’ll even make a new friend!  You know the phrase, “It takes a village to raise a child”?  Well, I think it takes a village to support a mamma!

So are you in?  Know a few friends who could use some support?  I hope so!  Please e-mail me at mrsb04jc (at) gmail (dot) com with the following information:

Your Name
Your blog address
Age(s) of your children
Sign-ups will be open from February 6 to February 10.
I hope to have everyone e-mailed with their partner by Monday, February 12.
You will then be responsible for getting in touch with your partner for her address.
Please have your packages in the mail no later than Friday, February 24. Then be on the lookout for a special package just for you! 🙂

One more thing…please, please, please spread the word!  I am just a little fish in the big blog ocean, but I know there have to be so many mammas out there who could use some love.  Talk about it on your blog, Facebook, even twitter! 

P.S. I’m working on making a button for you to grab too! Check back soon!

{friendship} Meeting a New Friend through the Blogger Exchange Party

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One of my unwritten goals for 2012 (unwritten because it sounds kind-of lame) is to use my blog to meet new people and create new friendships. Being a stay-at-home mom can sometimes feel so isolating, you know?  So when I heard about the Blogger Exchange Party, I knew it was the perfect way to start off 2012 and I couldn’t sign up fast enough!     
I was paired up with Heather, who blogs here.  She is a momma of two, a big movie buff and bowler, as well as a lover of all things pink and glittery!  From the moment I “met” her, I knew I liked her and was determined to think of a really good gift. 
Now my family will laugh at me, but just like I do with my husband, my relatives or my kids, I was on a mission to find the best gift for Heather (and in the designated price range!). After reading much of her blog, and lots of deliberation and “Mark, what do you think of this?”, this is what I came up with: 
Because she is such a movie lover and saw something like 60 movies last year(!!), I thought she may enjoy the Ticket Stub Diary.  I have given this as a gift before and it was well-received.  A fun way to record all of those movies for 2012! 🙂  And since I couldn’t help myself, I included a little tissue cozy that I found on etsy to represent her love for bowling. 

I packaged everything in the only pink wrapping paper I own (oh perks of living with a ton of boys!) and some vintage lace and rick rack.  Then off to the Midwest it went!

And this is what she sent me! 

Amazingly generous, right?  I was blown away by all of her gifts but this may be my favorite part:

She sent little goodie bags for the boys!  They were so surprised!
Thank you, thank you, thank you Heather! 🙂
—————
This swap was so much fun and it really got my wheels turning.  I can’t wait to share my big idea with all of you.  Be sure to check back next Monday for the big announcement! 

Less Materialism, More Intentional Living

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