The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

{learn goals} Some Goals for November



Things to Look Forward To
– birthday celebrations for M and J
– consistently chilly days (hopefully no more days in the 80s!)
– getting closer and closer to this baby’s birth
– spending Thanksgiving with the entire family
– dropping off the donations from our Pajama Drive

Things to Work On
– Christmas shopping
– choosing outfits to leave the hospital in, both for me and the baby
– creating a warm, cozy space for the boys to come home to after school
– supporting mamas in my path who may need a little extra love and encouragement

Things to Think About
– wardrobe needs for that frustrating postpartum period
– ways to combat triggers that would exacerbate postpartum despression
– a pie to make for Thanksgiving dinner
– exciting, but realistic business goals for 2017


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{learn goals} Some Goals for October









Things to Look Forward To
– birthday celebrations for me and D
– pulling out warm quilts and blankets
– cozy evening decaf coffee “dates” with Mark
– baking batches of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, a fall tradition
– inching closer to the end of this pregnancy
– pumpkin carving

Things to Work On
– hosting a pajama drive for Northern Virginia Family Services
– implementing some of the ideas in Trim Healthy Mama
– starting a few meals for the freezer
– finding that dresser (!!!)
– switching clothing from summer to fall

Things to Think About
– an apple pie recipe to bake
– ways I can serve others while in this season of life
– a new book to start
– throw pillows for the couch
– a nail polish color to try (if I can still reach my toes!)




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{learn goals} Some Goals for September



Things to Look Forward To
– baking regularly with Sophia
– apple picking at our favorite orchard
– birthday celebrations for S and TJ

Things to Work On
– a new fall routine
– regular meal planning and less eating out due to exhaustion/laziness/lack of planning
– intentionally taking time to slow down
– purchasing a few new maternity items for cooler weather

Things to Think About
– a Bible study to begin
– a new apple recipe to bake
– another low-cost marketing technique for BWF
– a documentary to watch


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100 Little Things: Round Three



It’s that time of year again!  100 Little Things, round three – here we go!  

What I’ve learned from Round Two: 
1. I ended up completing 45 out of the 100 items on the list.  Not even half, but more than I managed the first year, so improvement!
2. I need to keep the little things simple.  In Round Two, I had many multi-part goals and those ended up taking much more time than I had expected.
3. 100 Little Things is the perfect pick-me-up when I’m feeling uninspired and in a rut.  There’s no pressure to complete it all, but it’s definitely a starting point for creativity in different areas of my life.  I see it being a yearly tradition for years to come.

My hopes for the third round:
1. Document with photographs this time!  
2. Start a new monthly recap series on this blog to keep me motivated. 



100 LITTLE THINGS: ROUND THRE

1. Read 35
books
2. Read An
Omnivore’s Dilemma
3. Read
Kirstin Davenstradder
4. Read The
Birth Order Book
5. Leave a
positive, thoughtful comment on 50 blog posts
6. Blog at
least twice a week regularly
7. Host a “My
Favorite Things” giveaway on my birthday
8. Rearrange
books in the bookcases by theme/genre
9. Financially
support a family raising money for an adoption
10. Send
someone flowers, just because
11. Send five
baby gifts (for the first baby or the fifth!)
12.  Send 15 cards, just because
13.  Make 5 birthday boxes for the food pantry
14.  Send a care
package to a college student
15.  Thank our garbage men
16.  Thank our mailman
17.  Meet someone
new
18.  Make a rosary
19.  Pray 5 novenas
20.  Learn about a new saint
21.  Read an
encyclical
22.  Complete a
Bible study
23.  Replace all light switch covers to one design
24.  Add another house plant
25.  Find a dresser to refurbish for the new baby
26.  Install new
kitchen lighting
27.  Repaint the kitchen table
28.  Make roman
shades for my office
29.  Finish my office desk project
30.  Redo the
back patio
31.  Clean the microfiber couch
32.  Grow tomatoes
33.  Grow cucumbers
34.  Grow spinach
35.  Buy containers for flowers on the front porch
36.  Add bamboo
shades to the kitchen and living room
37.  Have the carpets
professionally cleaned
38.  Power wash the back porch
39.  Buy a hummingbird feeder
40.  Cook through the “30
Recipes You Should Know By Age 30” list
41.  Sign up for a small farm’s CSA program
42.  Make 10 different pies
43.  Make popsicles
44.  Go strawberry picking
45.  Go apple picking
46.  Make no churn ice cream
47.  Bake 5 new hot breakfasts
48.  Do a green smoothie challenge
49.  Make homemade jam
50.  Bake
doughnuts from scratch
51.  Try a new
vegetable
52.  Watch 15
documentaries
53.  Participate in Screen-Free Week
54.  Make a dent on the movies on Common Sense
Media’s “50 Movies Every Kid Should See before age 12” (at least 50%)
55.  Create six memory boxes for the kids
56.  Make silhouettes of the kids
57.  Make 20 freezer meals before the baby comes
58.  Refresh memory on infant CPR
59.  Lose the baby weight
60.  Complete a 30-day walking streak (at least 1
mile a day)
61.  Run a 5k
62.  Run a half marathon
63.  Complete all three levels of T25
64.  Double Big
White Farmhouse’s sales from 2015 to 2016
65.  Try a new marketing technique for Big White
Farmhouse
66.  Purchase vintage at a big fair
67.  Hold a Big White Farmhouse pop-up shop
68.  Grow BWF’s Instagram followers to 400+
69.  Finish a 12-day gift wrap idea series for BWF
70.  Complete a 30-day no spending challenge
71.  Pay off car debt
72.  Pay off remaining student loan debt
73.  Schedule an eye exam
74.  Buy new glasses
75.  Clean my
wedding ring
76.  Take a bath
77.  Finish our home first aid kit
78.  Finish our emergency preparedness kit
79. Find a skin
routine that works and stick with it
80.  Make a quilt
81.  Sew a throw pillow with pom-poms for Sophie’s
bed
82.  Hang something on the wall to display Sophie’s
peg dolls
83.  Complete an embroidery project
84.  Buy new pajamas
85.  Create a postpartum wardrobe that makes me
feel confident and not frumpy
86.  Find new summer sandals
87.  Find a new winter coat
88.  Send out birth announcements
89.  Write three love letters to Mark
90.  Make salt dough ornaments
91.  Potty train TJ
92.  Explore a new city
93.  Try 5 new local restaurants
94.  Make a weaving
95.  DIY a felt leaf wreath
96.  Learn calligraphy
97.  Buy 2 new board games to play as a family
98.  Make DIY Geodes with the kids
99.  Take the
kids to see a movie in theaters
100. Paint something on a canvas

{learn goals} Some Goals for August



Things to Look Forward To
– big glasses of ice cold lemonade
– water balloon fights
– dinners on the grill and fresh garden veggies
– belly laughs
– the start of a brand new school year


Things to Work On
– crossing off items on our school supply lists
– writing new content for Big White Farmhouse’s neglected blog
– the beginnings of a project about gratitude
– selling unneeded items on Craigslist
– finding a maternity dress to wear for a fall wedding (at 30 weeks!)


Things to Think About
– a new tradition to start on the last day of summer break
– a documentary to watch
– a marketing technique for BWF to try
– a novena to pray
– a pie to bake


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{learn goals} Some Goals for July



Things to Look Forward To
– home improvement projects around the house
– making memories with extended family
– exploring the local farmer’s market
– a new series to watch at night with Mark
– seeing our baby on the ultrasound machine

Things to Work On
– a new 100 Little Things list (to begin in August)
– making rest a priority
– less anxiety, more positive thinking and prayer about the future
– birthday ideas for my kids born in September
– exercising regularly again

Things to Think About
– a craft I’d like to make with the kids
– an encyclical to read
– a new flavor of lemonade to try
– an act of service to complete as a family
– fun ideas to help D practice his handwriting


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{learn goals} Some Goals for June

Things to Look Forward To
– starting a new routine for summer
– fresh berries for breakfast & ice cream cones for dessert
– feeling the first fluttering movements of this baby within me
– getting started on my Christmas prep to-do list (!!) for Big White Farmhouse
– warm sunshine on my skin

Things to Work On
– first floor paint touchups
– deep cleaning the entire house after a first trimester of neglect
– a new solution to corral all of our children’s books
– making more time for consistent spiritual reading


Things to Think About
– a new book I’d like to read
– a skill I’d like to practice
– a topic I’d like to learn more about
– a secret kindness I’d like to do for someone
– a recipe I’d like to try




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{learn goals} What I Learned in April & May

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(1) IT’S OKAY TO TAKE SOME TIME TO COAST.
I put a lot of pressure on myself to live every day to the fullest.  Be on top of things, knock out those to-do lists, live that full and exciting life.  But sometimes that mentality just isn’t realistic and I’ve learned that’s it totally okay to let myself off the “seize the day” hook for a little while.  Slow down, enjoy my kids by just being together, remove all the extras and just breathe for awhile.

(2) SOMETIMES SELF CARE MEANS LIGHTENING YOUR LOAD A BIT.
I’m an out of control busybody and I love a full plate.  But due to some physical and emotional health issues, I forced myself to take a step back from many much-loved activities.  I eased up on this blog, passed the torch for #5Faves, worked less on Big White Farmhouse and even stepped back from actively participating in my book club.  I love each of those things SO much and they bring me a lot of joy, but I also knew it would be beneficial to not do all.the.things.  In the process, I gained a lot of head space (my brain not constantly swirling with ideas and tasks), slept better and even had a smaller to-do list.  I hope to reintroduce those activities back into my life, but not at the expense of my health.   

(3) MY SON MAY HAVE A LEARNING DISABILITY, BUT IT CERTAINLY DOESN’T DEFINE HIM.
After months of personal research, we are finally getting him officially assessed for dyslexia and hoping it provides an avenue for extra help.  We have made HUGE strides this year at home, but I can still see doubt and frustration come through when he struggles.  BUT.  We just got his standardized testing scores back (mandatory for homeschoolers in our state) and he scored above average. Above average!  I sobbed and sobbed in thanksgiving that what I know in my heart is true – it may take him longer than others, but he is such a smart little boy.  Now if I can continue to tell him so he starts to believe it too.

 (4) I HAVE A LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE INTERNET.
This is probably ironic being that I have an online business and love to write this blog.  But sometimes too much is too much.  Too much negativity, too much stimulation….I needed to shut it all off and look at life around me with clear eyes.  I think the reset is so helpful to re-evaluate why/how I use the Internet, rid myself of bad habits (scroll, scroll, scrolling….) and re-prioritize the people/things that may have been pushed aside.  I’m still full of questions: how much is too much sharing when it comes to my kids?  Is this a waste of time?  Do readers doubt my sincerity or think I’m a sell-out based on what I share?  Do I even care?  Is it time to just shut the whole thing down?  No real answers yet, but the struggle is real.        

 (5) YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THIS COMING, BUT I SURE DIDN’T.


Remember all those feelings of something being off?  Laugh along with me, friends.  This was a bit of a shock and surprise, but after letting the news sink in a bit, we’re happy and excited to add to our crazy crew.  Baby #6 due in December.

{learn goals} What I Learned in March

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(1)  HORMONES ARE NO JOKE.
Holy moly, have I been through the ringer this month.  Up and down and all around.  It’s been strangely comforting to know, though, that mamas have been here before and made it out okay.  

(2) A GOOD MARRIAGE TAKES WORK.
Mark and I have been watching the Beloved: The Mystery and Meaning of Marriage video series on Formed.  I’m pretty sure the series is meant for engaged couples or newlyweds, but I really appreciated the reminder of what a special sacrament marriage is.  So thankful I get to go through life with Mark.   

(3) I’M A MUCH CALMER PARENT WHEN THE HOUSE ISN’T IN CHAOS. 
Duh.  Since I’ve been feeling a bit fragile, I’ve been trying to know my triggers and too much stuff is a big one.  To combat that, I’ve been simplifying the areas where I spend the most time, having frequent 5-minute pickups, and keeping the kids accountable for putting their things away.    


(4) COOKING 100% FROM SCRATCH IS A LOT HARDER THAN IT LOOKS.
After watching the Cooked series on Netflix a few weeks ago, Mark and I have been inspired to try replacing almost all of our processed foods with our own homemade version.  It has quickly become one of the most rewarding ideas we’ve come up with, but also one of the hardest!  Too lazy to bake bread?  No bread for lunch!  I’m learning so much and it’s been a fun adventure to experience with my husband (a WAY better cook than I am!) too.

(5) MEAL PLANNING WORKS BEST WHEN MARK AND I SHARE THE WORK. 
Cooking 100% from scratch obviously means more work, which hypothetically could be so overwhelming to me that I’d just quit.  Thank goodness for Mark!  We’ve been making a menu together on Friday night and then splitting up the dinner duties throughout the week.  I’ve cracked the meal planning code!   

(6) COOKING AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD IS FUN.  
A lot of food lessons this month!  I’ve been taking a Mexican street food class on Craftsy and am enjoying practicing what I’ve learned.  My favorite so far is the Roasted Tomatillo Salsa, which Mark has declared one of his favorite salsas ever!

(7) THE SHEER AMOUNT OF PLANTS AND FLOWERS IN THE WORLD IS MIND-BLOWING.
My latest Great Courses Plus class is called How to Grow Anything: Container Gardening Tips & Techniques.  It’s been a very informative class, but yikes!  SO many names – my mind was spinning as she rattled off at least 20 different types of flowers and plants.  I think I’ll be wandering the garden center looking a bit lost, haah!  One of the best tips I learned was the “thriller, filler and spiller” technique and I’m anxious to try it out on our front steps this spring.

(8) WE DON’T HAVE TO LIVE ON TONS OF ACREAGE TO ENJOY GOD’S CREATION.
We may only have a postage stamp of a yard, but that hasn’t stopped us from watching dozens of birds and even a cottontail rabbit!  Sometimes I get so frustrated that we don’t have acres and acres of land, but there’s still much to enjoy if we take the time to notice. 

(9) I LOVE BUSINESS.
Love, love, love.  And what a surprise that is to me!  Big White Farmhouse unearthed a passion I didn’t know existed and while it’s a TON of work, I love every minute.  

(10) WHEN IN DOUBT, LISTEN TO SOPHIE.
Her wise words this time? “Run around, go to church, eat a cookie and feel better.”

{learn goals} Living Seasonally in March & a Free Printable!



This is a packed post.  Each month in 2016, I hope to share a bunch of ideas for living the fullness of that month.   The possibilities are endless, but I plan to include church feast days, small celebrations, books, crafts ideas and delicious foods to eat.  In no way do I think I will be able to pull off ALL of this, nor should you!  My hope is to provide a handy resource to check in on and get ideas.  I’ve also included a handy printable at the end. Here we go!  








Ahh, finally finishing this post a few days late!  I still can’t believe that it’s March already! I’m getting so excited for warmer weather, getting outside and planting a garden.  I plan to begin cleaning and decluttering my house (again!) and getting my bum in gear with healthy eating and exercise.  Spring is on the horizon, friends.

Below are a bunch of ideas for celebrating the fullness of this month.  Again, let me say that in no way do I think anyone (me included!) should think they can pull off ALL of this.  My hope is that you could pick and choose what you’d like to do with your own family.  I’ve done the leg work for you.  You just need to add the most important ideas to your calendar and get ready for memory making!


LITURGICAL YEAR



CELEBRATIONS
  • 1: National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day
  • 2: Dr. Seuss’s Birthday
  • 13: Daylight Savings Time Begins
  • 19: Return of the Swallows to San Juan Capistrano
  • 20: First Day of Spring
  • 25: National Waffle Day



    BOOKS TO READ



    ACTIVITIES TO DO


    {learn goals} What I Learned in February

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    (1) MEMORIZING LATIN IS HARD.

    I got a wild hair to memorize the Pater Noster (the Our Father in Latin) and wow. So hard.  I listen/watch the chant on Youtube (with the words – crucial) almost daily and am making small victories.  You know you’re a little bit crazy when the house sounds like a monastery and nobody bats an eye!  I told Mark that when I get it down, I’m going to stand in front of the living room and present it like I’m in the fifth grade, hah!


    (2) TODDLER WEANING IS ALSO HARD.
    TJ will be 18 months in March and I’m ready for a break!  Unfortunately, this is the first time that I’ve had a baby who shows no interest in weaning and I’m trying to figure out what to do.  We’ve reduced nursing to nap and bedtime, but he’s not above having a full-out fit when he doesn’t get his way.  It’s totally a battle of wills and I’m exhausted already.      

    (3) GOD’S TIMING IS MYSTERIOUS, BUT I’M GETTING BETTER AT ACCEPTING IT.
    You don’t have to read here long to know about me and my never-ending quest for contentment.  We had yet another teaser of an opportunity fall through and while this one stung, I’m slowly learning to accept that God knows best.  I’ve also been repeating the phrase, “And if not, He is still good”, which is sort-of based on Daniel 3:18.  I’m still not sure if God’s answer to our prayers is no or not yet, but God is faithful and I have peace.

    (4) MY NEW FAVORITE SAINT IS JOSEPHINE BAKHITA.
    I am ashamed to say that I had never even heard of her before working on February’s Living Seasonally post, but after hearing her story, I feel connected to her in a special way.  Not because our stories are similar in any way (the suffering she endured throughout her life was absolutely horrendous), but because I feel she has so much to teach me.     

    (5) THERE IS A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT THE STARS.
    I’m taking a new class on The Great Courses Plus called Our Night Sky.  When I chose it, I thought, “Huh.  I don’t know much about the constellations and it would be fun to learn along with the kids.”  Um wow.  Astronomy is no joke!  The professor is knowledgeable, but talks fast, and I’m trying my best to keep up!  I’m easily lost when he starts in on how this planet is this many light years away (all of the numbers, ahh), but I’m excited to save up for a telescope and actually learn through hands-on experience.  Until then, I downloaded the Google Sky Maps app on my phone and that’s been really fun to explore with the kids. (Another good resource: printing off the month’s Evening Sky Map) 

    (6) WHEN SOMETHING ISN’T WORKING, IT’S OKAY TO CHANGE THINGS UP.
    I’ve been in a big exercise rut the last few months.  And then came the “DUH” moment: as much as I love a plan set out for me, sometimes you just need to shake it all up and try something new.  I’ve been trying a variety of exercises and trainers and I’m actually waking up excited to work out!  

    (7) MY LAUNDRY DRIES FASTER AND SMELLS BETTER TOO BECAUSE OF ONE SMALL CHANGE.
    Through the rabbit hole of Pinterest, I came across this blog post and knew I had to try it myself.  I found a wonderful seller on etsy (more about that shop soon!) and tried them out right away.  And all of the claims in that post are true! 

    (8) I SEE COOKING AS A DREADED CHORE AND I WANT TO CHANGE THAT.
    I’ll blame it on my very stressful toddler (sorry TJ), but I just have zero enthusiasm for the kitchen right now.  Every meal seems like a chore and I get embarrassingly stressed about what to feed the family and myself.  I stare blankly at my meal planning notepad.  I just can’t get it together and it’s something I want to change.  And that’s got to be the first step to improvement, right?  

    (9) I’M STILL BABY STEPPING INTO ESSENTIAL OILS AND VERDICT: SO FAR, SO GOOD!
    Last month, I was pretty overwhelmed with all there is to learn about essential oils.  When there is a steep learning curve, I tend to paralyze myself with uncertainty: where do I even begin?!  In February, I decided to just jump in somewhere.  I finally tried the Stress Away from the Starter Kit, which has a roller attachment for applying to your wrists and neck.  (Mark likes it too.)  I took a class about the digestive system and am experimenting with ways to heal some symptoms I’ve been having.  I purchased the V-6 Vegetable Oil, so I can start trying the oils topically.  I have also been adding a few drops to my dryer balls and love the subtle scent on our clothes.   
    (My member number is #3507725 if you ever want to order something!)

    (10) WHEN YOU FEEL THE PROMPTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ACT.
    Too often, I ignore that feeling in my gut for so many reasons: I doubt my ability, I don’t want to impose, I’m afraid I’ll look silly, etc etc.  Trying to remember that trust and going outside of my comfort zone can create good things in this world, if only I have the courage.




    What I Learned Archives // January

    {learn goals} Living Seasonally in February & a Free Printable!

    This is a packed post.  Each month in 2016, I hope to share a bunch of ideas for living the fullness of that month.   The possibilities are endless, but I plan to include church feast days, small celebrations, books, crafts ideas and delicious foods to eat.  In no way do I think I will be able to pull off ALL of this, nor should you!  My hope is to provide a handy resource to check in on and get ideas.  I’ve also included a handy printable at the end. Here we go!   
    February – the month of love!  .  

    Below are a bunch of ideas for celebrating the fullness of this month.  Again, let me say that in no way do I think anyone (me included!) should think they can pull off ALL of this.  My hope is that you could pick and choose what you’d like to do with your own family.  I’ve done the leg work for you.  You just need to add the most important ideas to your calendar and get ready for memory making!

    LITURGICAL YEAR

    CELEBRATIONS

    BOOKS TO READ

    ACTIVITIES TO DO
    DOWNLOAD YOUR OWN COPY HERE

    Less Materialism, More Intentional Living

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