Blog Post #200!

 

As my children are playing outside and preparing to go for a bike ride with their dad on this 70 degree afternoon in February, I just realized that I am about to post for the 200th time.  Coincidentally, post #100 was published last year on Feb. 21, and I commemorated it by sharing my top 5 viewed posts of that first year of blogging.  I thought I would do the same today, except I won't include the "Popular Posts" already featured on the sidebar.  So aside from those, below are the other top 5 posts of the past year, from blog posts 100-199.  If you missed reading them the first time, just click on the link and you can see them now.

 

Taking a Break: The Real Reason 

I wrote this post last March when I was feeling rather discouraged about my perceived slow growth of this blog.  I had recently installed Google Analytics and was checking my stats and comparing myself to other way more experienced, way more popular bloggers.    I was actually seriously considering throwing in the towel, but I'm so glad I didn't.  I am grateful to all you readers and fellow bloggers who sent me words of encouragement and have continued to faithfully read my posts.  I feel a little embarrassed that I might have sounded rather whiny in that post, and I'm happy to report that I've cut back on comparisons as I go about just "running my race."

 

10 Fun Snacks for Children 

Creating delicious meals for my family and friends is one of my favorite things to do, especially if I'm not rushed.  Making fun, quirky snacks that the kids delight in is also a favorite past time of mine.  Some of these ideas came from Pinterest, some from cookbooks, and most were adapted by me based on what I had in the house.  I think the general consensus amongst the littles in our family was that  the yogurt pops were the best.

 

Why You Never Sell a Goat to a Frat Boy 

There are many stories I can tell about the adventures we've had while living in this farmhouse.  The story of the little goat that spent the night with some fraternity brothers is certainly one of the more memorable ones.  We learned a lesson that night about selling livestock, and fortunately, the goat wasn't hurt and the story has a happy ending.

 

Feeling Mama Pride & Teary Eyed 

Sometimes I'm really surprised by the views that certain posts get.  This one was my emotional ramblings of the pride I felt watching our daughter run a final cross-country meet of the season.  I witnessed her walking part of that 5K and almost giving up, but then I saw her reach down inside and pull out a surge of energy that propelled her across the finish line to beat her personal record.  And I was flooded with the love and emotions that a mother feels as she watches her child struggle and suffer and nearly quit, but then she overcomes and achieves her goal.  It's nerve-wracking.  It's gut-wrenching.  But it's one of the most satisfying parts of being a parent.

 

15 Things Every Preppy Farmhouse Should Have 

Interestingly enough, while I've been composing this current post, the one I just published last Wednesday jumped into this list.  It's full of items on Amazon that I would love to have in our farmhouse, and that I suspect many of you readers would love to have too.  If you click on the pictures or the blue Amazon links, they'll take you directly to the merchandise for sale.  I wasn't sure how I felt about finally running ads or promoting affiliate links.  Frankly, I was a bit afraid it would drive away some readers.  But here it is finishing out my list of the most popular posts of this past year.  To see the 8 posts that were at the very top of the list, just look on the sidebar of this blog.

In conclusion, thank you all for sticking with me through the past year of another 100 posts.  I truly enjoy blogging, more than I ever dreamed I would.  And I absolutely love seeing the numbers of you viewers from all over the world increasing monthly.  Thanks especially to those of you who take a few minutes to leave a comment here and on social media.  It is a pleasure to get to know each and every one of you.

After showing you the photo at the top of my kiddos outside in shorts this afternoon, I'll close with one I took just 10 days ago.  It's hard to believe these were both taken in the same month.

15 Things Every Preppy Farmhouse Should Have

Valentine's Day got me thinking about love and how much I love this old farmhouse that seems to have a life of its own.  And I wondered if it had a voice and could create its own wish list, what would it want that it doesn't already have?  I'm thinking these 15 things would be great in every farmhouse:

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1. These Gingham Checkered Cloth Napkins would be perfect in any farmhouse kitchen.  You could mix and match them with a number of tablecloths or just use them on your bare wooden table. 

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2. This house has seen me sneak far too many desserts when I think no one else is looking.  The Life is Short...Eat Dessert First handmade sign belongs somewhere in my kitchen, I am certain.  But it doesn't apply to the children or Hubby.  How many of you can relate?

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3. Don't you just love these Copper Hurricane Lanterns?  You can place candles or LED lights in them or do something festive and creative from Pinterest inside.  I've got to get some of these before next Christmas.  I think they'd also be great to have lit on a summer night while sitting on the porch swing under the stars.

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4. Every old farmhouse needs a couple of these Reversible, Washable, Braided Area Rugs lying around.  I would love to have one for our living room and one for the dining room.  I've had to throw out more rugs than I can remember due to accidents and messes made by puppies, toddlers, and sick children.  Being able to wash them or flip them over sounds fantastic to me.

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5. What preppy bathroom wouldn't want a Teal Paisley Fabric Shower Curtain?  This would be perfect to hang in the spring and summer, and it kind of matches a tablecloth I have.  Not that the shower and the kitchen table need to match, mind you.

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6. These Tartan Plaid Ceramic Tile Coasters are too cute not to have sitting on the coffee table or end table.  I'm constantly having to distribute coasters to family members so they're not placing hot coffee or tea cups on the wooden furniture here.  

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7. These Argyle Wall Hanging Wood Letters would be terrific in the children's rooms spelling out their names or something fun or motivational.  They're hand painted and can be purchased in different colors.

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8. Can't you picture this Personalized Aluminum Sign hanging above your kitchen sink or the doorway?  I love it, and what makes it even better is that it's made here in the USA.

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9. Mother Teresa is my absolute favorite saint, and this quote of hers is made into these Handmade Maple Signs by a husband and wife team who make each sign as they're ordered.  What a great reminder every day to start changing the world by loving your family first.

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10. I have to admit I was unaware of the existence of these Handmade Monogrammed IPad/Tablet Holders until recently.  They're made of solid wood in a cutting board style, and I can't imagine how we all managed following recipes on Pinterest without one of these holding up our tablets in the kitchen.

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11. What preppy farm girl wouldn't want a Pink Argyle Lightswitch Plate Cover in her bedroom?  I so wish I'd had one when I was a teen in the eighties.  

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12. For all of us backyard chicken owners, there's a Handmade Burlap Print for our kitchens.  This time of year we're never sure if we'll find half a dozen eggs or no eggs in the nesting boxes.  In another month or so, however, there will be more farm fresh eggs than we know what to do with.

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13. This Handcrafted Rustic Farmhouse Mirror with Shutters has so much interesting design and texture and would work hanging in a number of rooms.  I've got some teenagers who would stop and admire their reflections in this a number of times a day.

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14. The book, A Touch of Farmhouse Charm, is definitely next on my book list.  If I have this, I can probably eliminate entire boards of pins on Pinterest.  It claims to have easy DIY projects, so it must have been written for people like me.  I hope there are a bunch of pallet board ideas in it.

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15. Seriously, what farmhouse is complete without an entire season of shiplap-loving home-flipping Chip and Joanna Gaines in Fixer Upper?  I can easily spend an entire rainy Saturday viewing one episode after another of these two and their family renovating, decorating, and farming.  They inspire me to get up off my chair and consider knocking out a wall somewhere.  They've made rustic farm style chic.

All of the items in this post can be found at Amazon by clicking on the blue link.  I was thrilled to learn that Amazon has a new store called Handmade at Amazon that features artisans and their handcrafted products.  Many items can be custom made just for your home and family, and it's pretty cool to read about the people who create your decor.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.   I receive a small referrer fee from purchases made through Amazon after clicking through.  Thank you for reading and supporting Preppy Mountain Farmhouse.

20 Things I Love

 

Last month I read a blog post by Ashley at The Big White Farmhouse blog where she made a list of 20 simple things she loves about her life.  I thought that was a wonderful way to start the new year, and it inspired me to do the same.  I decided to wait to post mine near Valentine's Day since that seemed fitting, so here is the list I came up with:

1. That first cup of steaming flavored coffee in my favorite mug when I come downstairs at 6 AM.

2. Holding and petting our 2 Maine cooncats.

 

3. Spending hours browsing in a library or bookstore.

4. Attending concerts and shows with my husband.

 

5. Sitting in my new kitchen as the sun streams through the windows.

6. The smell of homemade bread baking in the oven.

 

7. Seeing several "Comments Awaiting Moderation" in my blog inbox after publishing a post.

8. Sitting down to blog when the house is quiet and I have no interruptions.

 

9. Playing board games as a family on long winter nights.

10. The feel of a baby in my arms.

 

11. The smell of crisp sheets after they've hung on the clothesline on a sunny day.

12. Walking through the woods with my camera.

 

13. Filling a pew at church when grandparents and adult children come to visit.

14. Trying out a new dinner recipe while sipping a glass of wine.

 

15. Feeling the breeze off the mountain blow through our kitchen screen doors on a summer evening.

16. The sound of water flowing in the brook beside our house.

 

17. My afternoon cup of homemade mocha with nutmeg and cinnamon on my way to the school.

18. Watching goat kids and lambs frolic in the pastures.

 

19. Licking raw cookie dough off the beaters.

20. One big snowfall each winter with all of us at home for a snow day.

 

This list just scratches the surface.  Those of you who read this blog know that each season and holiday brings another unique collection of photographs of the things I love most about life.  Focusing on those things and the positive in every person and situation I encounter is one of my goals for this year.  

So what about you?  What would be on your list of 20 things you love?

Homemade Ideas for Valentine's Day

Pretzel Treats

 With Valentine's Day less than a week away, I need to start planning to do something special for the ones I love.  These are some of the things I made last year. 

Raspberry Filled Sugar Cookies

Heart Shaped Cucumber & Cheese Slices

Cupid Floats

Recipes for these treats can be found on my blog here.

And here are a couple that I actually made on Valentine's Day last year:

Salted Caramel Cocoa

Cocoa Pudding Cake

The recipes for these can be found in my blog archive here.

How about you?  Do you have any special Valentine's Day recipes you make for your sweethearts?  I'd love some new ideas for this year.

Healthier Dinners at Our Farmhouse This Year

 

One of my goals for 2017 is to try at least two new recipes each week and to consistently prepare nutritious, lower fat dinners for our family.  I've fallen into a rut over the past year or two as I'm driving children around every afternoon and evening where I rely on tried and true quick meals that I could make on autopilot.  If I haven't planned ahead to thaw some meat or start something in the crockpot in time, I dash into the supermarket near one of the schools after parent pickup and spend more money than necessary for convenience sake.  Even though my family is content with those meals since they're usually favorites of our children, my husband and I get bored with the same 20-30 dinners that get rotated throughout the months.  And they're not always the healthiest.  

So this year, I've decided that since I have this beautiful new kitchen, it's a good time for a culinary change.

 

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I pored over the many food magazines before settling on this Special Edition of Cooking Light: Top-Rated Recipes.  It contains several months' worth of dinner recipes that are quick to make, use ingredients I typically have stocked on our pantry shelves, and are not so exotic that my little ones will turn up their noses and complain.  The dishes that claim to only take 20 minutes of prep time really do only take 20 minutes, which is a huge selling point for us busy moms of school-aged children.  I tried two recipes last week, and we're giving them star ratings of 1-5 with 5 being the absolute best and I must make them again.  The Lemon-Garlic Broccoli Bulgur Bowls that I made with quinoa instead (because I couldn't find bulgur in the local grocery store) received 4 stars.  I was informed by my teenagers that it would have been 5 if I had left out the broccoli.

 

I made the Speedy Shepherd's Pie above on the right later in the week, and it was a unanimous 5 star recipe, even with the instant mashed potatoes on top.  My family wants this as a weekly dish, surprisingly enough.  I doubled the recipes both nights, so there was enough for 8 servings.  This usually means no leftovers in our house, but in both cases, everyone was so full that we had extra for lunches the next day.  That's almost unheard of in my house.  Better yet, both of those recipes were only around 400 calories/serving, so they were lo-cal meals that were quite healthy and filling.

This week we're trying the Chicken-Poblano Tortilla Soup one night and Sausage & Spinach Spaghetti Pie another evening.  Hopefully they'll also receive rave reviews from my personal picky in-house food critics.

Furnishing & Accessorizing That White Farmhouse Kitchen

The best part of renovating our kitchen was finding and arranging furniture in it, organizing the cupboards and shelves, and decorating the walls.  I still have some boxes in the attic to sort through that are filled with items from our house in the South that I haven't used since we moved nearly eleven years ago.  But for the most part, I am finished moving things into our new kitchen for the time being.  I'm intentionally leaving the tops of the cupboards bare and saving room in the cabinets for future items that I pick up through the years.  Throughout this post, I'm sharing what I've done with our white farmhouse kitchen so far.

I love wooden benches, and I love window seats.  After rearranging the layout of the kitchen slightly, there was plenty of space along this wall, so I decided to create a sunny sitting area here under this window on the east side of our house.  I went to a local antique mall and looked at dozens of benches.  Some of them were extremely rustic, and others were rather ornate.  When I found this oak bench made of reclaimed wood with its imperfections on top, I knew it was the one.  Once I brought it home, I realized how closely it matches the stain on our floor and the kitchen table.  I now sit here and browse through magazines while I'm letting things simmer on the stove for dinner.

This corner of the kitchen has been an eyesore for years.  It started out with a cheap computer table here that was cluttered and full of electrical cords, paper, a printer, office supplies, etc.  After moving our "office" to the landing upstairs, it harbored a small Christmas tree for about six weeks every winter.  The rest of the time it was vacant except for a stray chair waiting to be used when we had guests for dinner.  Our old house had a built-in hutch in the dining room, and I filled it with china plates, glass bowls and cake stands, wine glasses and holiday items.  When we left that house, I really had nowhere to put many of those things, so they remained boxed up in the attic.  I've spent the past two years searching for a china cabinet or corner hutch for this room.  My husband spotted this one with the built-in wine rack at the Amish Furniture Connection in a nearby town.  At first I wasn't sure that it would fit with our other existing kitchen furniture.  Then I feared it would be too big for this corner.  I considered paying the business to make it look distressed, but then I figured that after a few years with our family, it will become distressed enough naturally.  I finally agreed to buy it when nothing else suited me, and that wine rack was very enticing.  Once the movers set it in the corner, I knew that I made the right choice.  It really adds a lot to this kitchen, I think.  And now my new plaid dinnerware from Home Goods has a home, as well as all that stuff boxed up in my attic. 

It was my goal to not allow the kitchen to get cluttered again.  While there is still a lot of essential stuff in sight on the shelves and countertops, it's an improvement compared to what these open shelves looked like before (see last post.)

I filled those canisters that I found at Home Goods, and I used old Mason jars to store unpopped popcorn and salt.  I may do the same with other items like baking powder, cocoa powder, and quinoa since we have dozens (maybe hundreds) of Mason jars filling our basement.  I'd rather see those on the kitchen shelves than various open bags tied shut with twist ties.

At the antique mall, I also found this handmade wood cutting board that hangs nicely on the outside of the shelves next to the sink.  I needed another cutting board since my last wooden one got thrown away after using it to cut up a bunch of strong onions from our garden.  I tried all kinds of methods to get rid of the odor to no avail.  Every time you walked into our kitchen, you could smell old onions until I got rid of it.  I'll remember to use the glass cutting boards for pungent foods from here on out.

As you can see, this cabinet isn't yet full, and although there is a bit more stuff on the counter than I'd like, it's definitely an improvement.  I'm using a wire egg basket to store miscellaneous items that we use often, and that white ceramic crock I bought at Bed, Bath & Beyond is coming in handy for holding the kitchen utensils that I use the most frequently.  That freed up our junk drawer quite a bit.

Finally, I hung a few pictures on the walls.  I really want this room to be bright and simple, so there isn't a lot of decorating going on...by choice.  I decided to leave the tops of the shelves and cabinets bare and to not hang any curtains or valances over the five windows in this room.  The above print I picked up at the same antique mall, but the rest of the walls hold only a few items, all of which I had before.

I do believe this concludes my month-long posting on our kitchen renovation, and I think I am officially finished getting that room back in order.  Our youngest daughter told me this morning, "Mommy, I think you are too anxious about this kitchen and us messing it up."  I had to admit she was right.  A lot of living goes on in this house, and I must relax and stop following people into our kitchen to ensure they don't put a hot cup on the countertop or spill milk on the floor or crack a cup in the cast iron sink.  No one but me has washed a single dish in this house in nearly a month because I've been too afraid someone will "ruin my new kitchen."  Mind you, they're not complaining about the break from dishwashing, but my husband is rolling his eyes at me and sighing when I greet him at the door to remind him to take off his shoes before he takes another step into my new, beautiful kitchen.

I really don't know how these decorating bloggers with their Pinterest-perfect kitchens survive without a medicine cabinet full of Xanax.  

Ending on that note, I wish you all a terrific Super Bowl weekend!