The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

No.27: Intentions for the Beginning of September

Our family habit for September is kindness.  We’ve been dealing with uncharitable behavior between siblings and it’s starting to take its toll.  So a good lesson in being thoughtful, helpful, and forgiving (when we’d rather just be angry) is on the docket!  I’d like to say this is only for the kids, but I know I could use a refresher course as well.  My spin on this habit is forcing myself to look out.  This season of my life is so full and it’s easy to keep my head down and dig deep into my own crazy.  But I know I’ve been called to more.  I’ll be praying for the Holy Spirit’s guidance to seek the people in my life who may need help, encouragement or love.
  

INTENTIONS FOR THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER:

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  • Habit of the Month: KINDNESS
  • mail three letters
  • send a little care package to my sister in college
  • invite someone to Sunday dinner
  • leave an actual comment on at least 1/3 of the blog posts I read
  • finish Anne of Green Gables & start Anne of Avonlea
  • finish The Way
  • close out Big White Farmhouse bank account
  • finalize shutting down Big White Farmhouse’s website
  • decide on topic for #write31days in October (any ideas welcome!)
  • wrap TJ’s birthday gifts
  • schedule S & TJ well check appointments
  • decide on paint color for house shutters
  • research how to re-do front flower beds
  • buy one piece of clothing for my fall capsule wardrobe
  • clean my makeup brushes (100LT #44)
  • sign up for the Turkey Trot 10K in November
  • find my Garmin running watch
  • keep up with homeschooling Instagram account (one photo every school day)
  • finish reading Mouse and the Motorcycle aloud to J and watch the movie together
  • pull out Sophie’s princess cross-stitch and do a few stitches
  • make a list of clothing needs for the entire family

PREVIOUS INTENTIONS:

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If you’re reading on your phone, click through to see what I crossed off the list!

  • more green smoothies with collagen peptides (drinking them in my post-workout water with Nuun instead)
  • no cell phone scrolling right before bed! (not perfect, but getting better about this)
  • make three more recipes from my new cookbook
  • bake bread in the dutch oven (100LT #51)
  • be able to barbell squat 70lb. (hurt my hip flexor, so stopped these exercises for now – I’m bummed)
  • choose a dress/outfit to wear for the blogging conference
  • reorganize the garage (garage gym is all set up)
  • buy last few school supplies
  • start new Instagram account for our homeschool (here if you want to follow along!)
  • celebrate the beginning of school by going out for ice cream
  • take out all of the kids’ fall/winter clothes and see what needs to be purchased
  • make a list of clothing needs for the entire family
  • think about a fall capsule wardrobe (this turned out to be more like a wardrobe starter set…I have almost nothing!)
  • start reading Anne of Green Gables (part of 100LT #3)
  • read two chapters in my Jackson Pollock book
  • continue Operation Catechism catch-up
  • decide on big gifts for S and TJ’s birthdays and add amount into budget 
  • pull out Sophie’s princess cross-stitch and do a few stitches
  • make root beer floats (100LT #97)
  • finish reading Mouse and the Motorcycle aloud to J and watch the movie together
  • finish kids’ chore charts and start new allowance system (started two weeks ago and working great!)
  • sign up for cards at our new library 
  • hang master curtains and artwork (I finally had Mark ready to help me and the electric drill died!)

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What about you?  What’s on your to-do list for the next few weeks?

No.18: Intentions for the End of August

I am in full school planning mode around here.  We’ve decided to start next week, so it’s a mad dash to pull all of the curriculum, books, and ideas I’ve collected all summer and make them into one coherent outline.  It’s a little overwhelming, but I’m in my element!  It also may explain why I didn’t get to a lot of my previous intentions – oops.  Today’s intentions will actually be for three weeks instead of two, so the list is a little bit longer.  Here’s hoping I’m a little more productive!

Mark and I have decided to financially tighten our belt a little around here.  With a new house, I think it’s easy to want to buy/change/DIY all the things, but we’re trying to focus on gratitude. There will be plenty of time to paint and fluff.  Right now, we’re going to be creative with what we already have and save for boring things like getting dead trees removed, a riding lawn mower and a new washer and dryer.  (Oh and six birthdays and Christmas on the horizon too!)  The other things will come!

INTENTIONS FOR THE END OF AUGUST:

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  • Habit of the Month: HEALTH
  • more green smoothies with collagen peptides – maybe a mid-afternoon snack?
  • no cell phone scrolling right before bed!
  • make three more recipes from my new cookbook
  • bake bread in the dutch oven (100LT #51)
  • be able to barbell squat 70lb.
  • choose a dress/outfit to wear for the blogging conference
  • reorganize the garage
  • buy last few school supplies
  • start new Instagram account for our homeschool
  • celebrate the beginning of school by going out for ice cream
  • take out all of the kids’ fall/winter clothes and see what needs to be purchased
  • make a list of clothing needs for the entire family
  • think about a fall capsule wardrobe (I’m in desperate need of new clothes! #chronicunderbuyer)
  • start reading Anne of Green Gables (part of 100LT #3)
  • read two chapters in my Jackson Pollock book
  • continue Operation Catechism catch-up
  • decide on big gifts for S and TJ’s birthdays and add amount into budget
  • pull out Sophie’s princess cross-stitch and do a few stitches
  • make root beer floats (100LT #97)
  • finish reading Mouse and the Motorcycle aloud to J and watch the movie together
  • finish kids’ chore charts and start new allowance system
  • sign up for cards at our new library 
  • hang master curtains and artwork

PREVIOUS INTENTIONS:

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If you’re reading this on Bloglovin’ or another reader, click through to see what I checked off!

  • lots of veggies in every meal (work on breakfast!) (still need work on breakfast, but getting there)
  • order collagen peptides
  • make three recipes from my new cookbook (2/3: fig jam cookies and Oregon berry crumble – both delicious!)
  • green smoothies for the kids at least twice a week
  • don’t skip weight training even though it hurts! (started Stronglifts 5×5 and love it)
  • wear my new running shoes around (NOT running) to adjust and avoid blisters
  • finish kids’ chore charts and start new allowance system
  • have a tea party in Sophie’s room with real drinks/treats
  • continue Operation Catechism catch-up (didn’t pick this up once!  need to get a better routine started)
  • read Across Five Aprils in preparation for M’s history
  • read two chapters in my Jackson Pollock book
  • start thinking about birthday gifts for Sophie and TJ (found a few fun ideas)
  • make a big batch of taco seasoning to keep in the pantry (100LT #46) (this was way too easy – why did I wait so long?!)
  • organize and prepare the school room
  • register at our new parish
  • sign up the boys for CCD
  • hang master curtains and artwork (STILL on the list – argh)
  • sign up for cards at our new library (STILL on the list – I need to make the time to do this!)

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What about you?  What’s on your to-do list for the next few weeks?

No.13: Intentions for the Beginning of August

August already – I can’t believe it.  We’re soaking up every bit of summer, but I’d be lying if I wasn’t anxious for some relief from this weather.  I’m melting!  On Sunday morning, we woke up to a little chill in the air and it made me so excited to experience fall in the new house.  Soon.  On the new habit front, Mark and I chose “health” to work on this month.  We’ve already casually started this in July, so I’m hoping to continue the momentum.  Our goals as a family are:
– Make food choices that make our bodies work well and help us feel strong (but always have room for the occasional treat too!)
– Try new fruits and vegetables because as Sophie reminds us, “Daniel Tiger says to try new things ‘cuz they might taste go-od”
– Get active everyday, play outside (even Mom and Dad) and reduce screen time significantly
– And a personal goal for me: more positive self-talk, celebrate small victories and don’t obsess over the scale or the work that still needs to be done

INTENTIONS FOR THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  • Habit of the Month: HEALTH
  • lots of veggies in every meal (work on breakfast!)
  • order collagen peptides
  • make three recipes from my new cookbook
  • green smoothies for the kids at least twice a week
  • don’t skip weight training even though it hurts!
  • wear my new running shoes around (NOT running) to adjust and avoid blisters
  • finish kids’ chore charts and start new allowance system
  • have a tea party in Sophie’s room with real drinks/treats
  • continue Operation Catechism catch-up
  • read Across Five Aprils in preparation for M’s history
  • read two chapters in my Jackson Pollock book
  • start thinking about birthday gifts for Sophie and TJ
  • make a big batch of taco seasoning to keep in the pantry (100LT #46)
  • organize and prepare the school room
  • register at our new parish
  • sign up the boys for CCD
  • hang master curtains and artwork (I WILL do this!)
  • sign up for cards at our new library (need to make the time to do this!)

PREVIOUS INTENTIONS:

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  • add green smoothies to my day (I had one every few days, not a bad start)
  • find a dairy-free protein powder (decided on a slightly different direction and getting collagen peptides instead)
  • sign up for a 10K in October (SO excited!)
  • accept compliments and give them freely! (work in progress…)
  • Operation Catechism catch-up (started, but have more work to do)
  • hang master curtains and artwork
  • write and send “Intent to Homeschool” letter
  • sign up to be a Wild + Free subscriber
  • power wash the front porch (100LT #38)
  • read two chapters in my Jackson Pollock book (25% of that monster of a book complete!)
  • bake a pie 
  • schedule an eye exam for me (100LT #73)
  • draw together with D (we followed along with Art for Kids and drew Spiderman!)
  • start working on a bird watching basket (just a few more items needed)
  • July house photo
  • sign up for cards at our new library

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What about you?  What’s on your to-do list for the next two weeks?

No.07: Intentions for the End of July

Summer is just zipping by.  The kids’ days have been full of playing outside, reading and drawing.  They keep themselves pretty entertained and have only asked for a little screen time – we usually watch something after lunch when it’s boiling outside (temps have been in the 90’s!) and the baby is down for his nap.  Our current favorite show is Dino Dana on Amazon.  I’m deep in the throes of school planning: researching all the things, ordering books and starting lesson plans.  I’m nervous about having four students, but much more confident in my abilities as a teacher.  Add in a little decorating, a little baking, and some reading and it equals a pretty wonderful summer break.  These lazy days have been such a balm for my soul after the crazy last few months.

INTENTIONS FOR THE END OF JULY:

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  • add green smoothies to my day
  • find a dairy-free protein powder
  • sign up for a 10K in October
  • accept compliments and give them freely!
  • Operation Catechism catch-up
  • hang master curtains and artwork
  • write and send “Intent to Homeschool” letter
  • sign up to be a Wild + Free subscriber
  • power wash the front porch (100LT #38)
  • read two chapters in my Jackson Pollock book
  • bake a pie 
  • schedule an eye exam for me (100LT #73)
  • draw together with D
  • start working on a bird watching basket
  • July house photo
  • sign up for cards at our new library

PREVIOUS INTENTIONS:

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  • be better about water intake – less caffeine! (averaging 5-6 glasses a day and just one cup of coffee)
  • ease back into writing by blogging Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week (still getting into a routine, but it feels good to be back!)
  • bake blueberry peach cobbler with J (our summer tradition – so good)
  • make cold brew coffee to keep in the fridge
  • buy sparklers for the 4th of July (nothing like last minute!)
  • read two chapters in my Jackson Pollock book
  • challenge M to a basketball game (we’re both getting quite the workout!)
  • write 2 letters (just one: notes to my aunt & uncle)
  • finish meal plan for the month of July
  • sign up for cards at our new library
  • purchase three school books for next year (all four math books checked off the list)
  • schedule M eye appointment (new glasses needed again!)

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What about you?  What’s on your to-do list for the next two weeks?

No.02: Intentions for the Beginning of July

Trying something new as a way to combine my monthly goals with 100 Little Things and just the minutia of everyday tasks!  I’ve loved reading Tracy’s weekly intentions on Shutterbean, but I think a twice-monthly frequency would work best for me (and give me a bit more wiggle room) right now.


INTENTIONS FOR THE BEGINNING OF JULY:

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  • be better about water intake – less caffeine!
  • ease back into writing by blogging Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week
  • bake blueberry peach cobbler with J
  • make cold brew coffee to keep in the fridge
  • buy sparklers for the 4th of July (nothing like last minute!)
  • read two chapters in my Jackson Pollock book
  • challenge M to a basketball game
  • write 2 letters
  • finish meal plan for the month of July
  • sign up for cards at our new library
  • purchase three school books for next year
  • schedule M eye appointment

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What about you?  What’s on your to-do list for the next two weeks?

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