Picking out Makeup for your Tween or Teen

When our daughter started middle school it was like a switch flipped and she was instantly interested in wearing makeup. It’s a totally normal part of growing up and I remember first getting into makeup in middle school as well - nevertheless, it’s still so bittersweet watching them grow up so quick. I told her she could wear makeup as long as I helped pick it out because if it’s something she wants to wear all day and everyday it’s important to wear safe products. | This post is not sponsored and contains my personal opinion as well as affiliate links |

Disclaimer: This post contains my personal opinion based on what I’ve learned - please do your own research on the matter and choose what make up is right for your daughter.

In the past I’ve let our kids wear cheap drugstore-brand makeup for things like dance recitals and plays, after all it’s just for a short time a few times a year and the bold colors are important to show up on stage - I wasn’t really concerned about chemical exposure or anything. But now that my daughter wants to wear make up daily I think it’s important to pick products that are considered safer and don’t have chemicals or additives that could affect long-term health.

After reading around, I found EWG’s Skin Deep website, where you can look up products and see what they rate. EWG Verified or a low number implies that it’s safer, while a higher number means that it contains ingredients that are considered less-safe. It’s my understanding that these ratings are to be taken with a grain of salt, but it’s a great starting point when consciously trying to choose safer products.

The basics.

What we Chose for Makeup

For us, we wanted to choose natural-looking makeup that was very well ranked through EWG. After consulting the list and comparing prices we chose:

• Well People Expressionist Pro Mascara in Brown - this was ranked well on EWG and priced so much more affordably than most other brands. We chose the brown color over the black for a more natural look.
• Well People Supernatural Stick Multi-Use Blush in Peach - again, this was ranked well on EWG and priced so much more affordably than most other brands. We chose Peach because it complimented our daughter's skin tone the best. This product can also be used as a lip color as well so it does double-duty!
• Blending Brush - this brush was not certified or anything but I have this brush myself and love it! It feels great, helps blend cream blush perfectly, and you can't beat the price point!

I think this is the perfect starting point for natural looking, safer makeup for a tween or teen. I know we will build on this over time and eventually add concealer, eye shadow, etc but this is a great introduction to makeup and skincare. After all, makeup looks best on well taken care of skin and it’s important to remind your daughter to remove her makeup every night and go to bed with a clean face. Enjoy this milestone of growing up!

Side note: If your tween or teen wants to wear makeup, consider having them pay for it themselves instead of you buying it for them. They are growing up and having them pay for it is a great lesson in responsibility and being mindful on how much things cost. Since my daughter had to purchase these products herself she’s been very good about not wasting them or losing them.

Shop some of our Picks for Tweens + Teens:

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DIY Hopscotch Court with Pavers + How to Play Hopscotch

For years I’ve had the idea of making a permanent hopscotch court in our lawn using pavers but never got around to making it. Our kids are getting older, and I figured it’s now or never! We had some extra pavers and bricks from an old project laying around so I decided to go for it and finally make our hopscotch court and teach our kids this classic recess game. | This post contains affiliate links |

Materials:

• 10 paving stones
• acrylic paint + paintbrush
• carbon transfer paper
• shovel
• rubber mallet (optional)

How-To:

1. Print out numbers 1-10 on computer paper at the size you want your numbers to be - I used Canva, but you could use Word or Pages too. (Alternatively, you could buy stencils or freehand it.)

2. Center the numbers on the bricks and tape in place.

3. If using printed out numbers, put the carbon paper face down between the printed number and the paver and trace with a pencil.

4. Hand paint the numbers within the outline and allow to dry.

5. Lay out how you want the Hopscotch Court to be. There are several different ways you can layout the spaces, but I went with what is probably the most traditional layout. (Optional: Use extra pavers to outline the 10 space to make it larger, or use a larger paver for the 10 space.)

6. Now that you have it laid out, dig out the soil to the depth of the pavers. I find it easier to to lay one paver at a time and level it with the surrounding ground. (Optional: You can use the rubber mallet to help set the pavers into place.)
   Pro Tip: Use a little stool to sit on to save your back!

7. Play and enjoy!

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How to Play Hopscotch

There are some variations on how to play Hopscotch, but I’ll share how I learned growing up - and all you need is a Hopscotch Court and a small rock! Yes, a rock!

Start facing spot #1 and toss the small rock onto the court. Hop on one foot towards the rock. If there are two number squares next to each other you can land with both feet, one in each square.

When you get to the spot with the rock, skip that spot and continue to the end of the court.

When you get to the #10 spot, turn around and repeat the process heading back towards #1, but pick up the rock on your way back.

Once you get back to the beginning it’s the next person’s turn. If you fall, or land where you’re not supposed to, you’re out.

Don't want to commit to building a permanent Hopscotch Court in your yard? Just draw a temporary one on your driveway or sidewalk with chalk!

DIY Stock Tank Garden Planter

Our house came with some old whiskey barrel planters that were used for tomatoes and herbs, however 15 years later they were literally falling apart and it was time for something new. Originally I was going to build a cedar raised garden planter but after pricing out the cost of cedar (yikes!) and the time it would take to make it I decided to look into other options. In the end I opted for repurposing a stock tank into a garden planter and it was such an easy and quick project to do. Read on for my tips and advice on how to prep and create your own. | This post contains affiliate links |

Materials:

• Paving stones for the base
• Stock Tank - we used a 2'x6'x2' tank here but they come in other sizes as well. (If your local store doesn't have the one you want, you can order it online and have it shipped to store or maybe even your house depending on where you're located.)
• Drill & drill bits
• Weed supressant fabric
• Gravel
• Dirt
• Good quality soil to top it off (this Coast of Maine Raised Bed Garden Soil is AMAZING!)
• Cedar wood chips (optional)
• Seedlings or seeds

How-To:

Even though this photo doesn’t look it, these pavers are perfectly level.

First, it’s a good idea to prep the base of where you are going to put your stock tank planter. You can use pavers or gravel, but you want something that will keep the base of the planter from sitting directly against the ground.

Next you want to flip the tank over and drill a considerable amount of drainage holes across the bottom of it because as a planter, you don’t want it to hold water. In order to keep the galvanized steel from tearing, start with a small diameter drill bit and work your way up in sizes. (I concentrated some of my drainage holes along where the joints of my paver base will be since I know the water will drain better in those areas.)

Then line the bottom of the stock tank with weed suppressant fabric to keep soil and sand from filling the holes, and lay down a layer of stones and gravel to help with drainage.
Optional: I also built a little “bridge” around the main drain of the tank and put gravel around it to help optimize drainage, just in case we ever need to use it.

Next, it’s time to fill the tank with dirt. We had a lot of old “exhausted” dirt from the previous planters and this was perfect to use to fill in the bulk of the planter.

Once we were about two thirds full, I topped it off with compost and great quality garden soil. (I LOVE this Coast of Maine Raised Bed Garden Soil. It's seriously amazing and my little seedlings got huge and produced so much in just a few weeks.)

Now it’s time to fill with seedlings or plant your seeds! I decided to section off one end with some bricks to make a little herb garden. (Check out our old blog post on how to make these DIY Slate Garden Markers.) I also added a thin layer of cedar mulch to help with water retention.

Enjoy your raised stock tank garden planter!

Feel free to add a little whimsy…

I also added a shepard's hook and this beautiful Copper Kinetic Wind Sculpture I purchased on Etsy. We love watching it spin from the deck and it's a fun way to add some whimsy to this raised planter.

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Some of our Garden + Patio Picks:

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Santa's Village, NH Review - Tips, Tricks, & Information for Your Visit

If you’re local to New Hampshire or New England, chances are you’ve been to Santa’s Village - or at least heard of it! My family has been going to Santa’s Village since way back - my parents went when they were kids, my husband and I both went when we were little, and now we’re lucky enough to bring our own kids as well. Here I thought I’d share some tips, tricks, and information to help you get the most out of your visit to Santa’s Village in Jefferson, NH. | This post is not sponsored. Contains personal opinion/reviews and affiliate links |

Disclaimer: This post shares opinions and tips based on our personal experiences. Please be aware that you may encounter things differently and things are subject to change. Please do your own research.

Santa’s Village is a Christmas-themed amusement park for families in Jefferson, NH.

Tickets are ONLY Available Online and can Sell Out

Probably the most important thing to take into consideration when planning a Santa’s Village trip - tickets are ONLY AVAILABLE ONLINE. You can’t buy them at the gate, so make sure to buy them ahead of time! Also, Santa’s Village sells a maximum number of tickets every day to make sure the park doesn’t get overcrowded (we love that!). Because of that though, dates can and do sell out… so make sure to plan ahead and buy your tickets ahead for the date you want.

Print or Screenshot Your Tickets before Arriving

Cell phone service is VERY spotty/nonexistent in the area, don’t count on opening your email and pulling up your tickets when you get there - it might not load! It’s recommended to print or screenshot your tickets so that you have them available to scan at the gate, cell phone service or not.

Season Passes are Hard to Get!

Just a heads up if you were thinking of getting season passes, they are VERY hard to get! Santa’s Village releases a limited amount of them at a specific time and they often sell out within minutes.

Free Parking (with Guided Parking During Opening Rush)

Unlike many other theme parks, parking is free at Santa’s Village which we love! Also, it’s good to be aware that if you arrive during the opening rush (before park open and a little after), there will be parking lot attendants guiding you in to park, one car after another. They have it down to a science and are very efficient, just be ready to follow their instructions.

Note: If you have an RV or extra large vehicle, you should park across the street in their overflow lot.

It’s Like a Maze - Grab a Map

Santa’s Village is very maze-like. There are seemingly a hundred paths that spider-web across the park. It can be a little disorienting at first to find your way, so definitely make sure to grab a map when you enter! One great thing about this though is there is always tons of shade and a lot of the paths meander through the forest which is really pretty.

EVERYONE is Welcome

Even though this is a Christmas-themed amusement park and there are some religious aspects around the park (a chapel, a life-size nativity scene, etc), EVERYONE is welcome at Santa’s Village. We have seen plenty of families from different religious backgrounds enjoy the park.

NO Cell Service

Another really important thing to keep in mind is there is little to no cell service in the area for the most part. Jefferson is quite a remote area of New Hampshire, surrounded by a lot of mountains. If your party decides to separate in the park, don’t count on texting later for a meetup. Plan your rendez-vous point ahead of time like it’s the 1990’s.

Pro Tip: While we've never done this before ourselves, I have seen some families utilize Walkie Talkies to keep in touch in the park - genius!

Consider Packing Light

Everyone has their own preferences but now that I don't need a diaper bag these days I always pack light and simple - a quality belt bag with wallet, phone, keys, and hand sanitizer. That's really all you need and it's small enough to wear on almost all rides.
For those that do need a diaper bag, I recommend a modest-sized backpack diaper bag, similar to this one to keep your hands free and be able to move around the park easily.

FREE Stroller and Wheelchair Rentals

Santa’s Village has FREE stroller and wheelchair rentals available - first-come, first-serve - while supplies last. I think this is such a thoughtful and helpful touch for those that need it. You are also welcome to bring in your own strollers/wheelchairs and a lot of people do.

Feel Free to Bring the Christmas Spirit

While not necessary or expected, feel free to dig out that Christmas t-shirt from the closet and get some more use out of it! Lots of families wear Christmas shirts or accessories.

Elf University

Make sure to stop by the Elf University by the front of the park if you want to play the “Elfabet Game.” At Elf University you’ll be given a card with the alphabet on it (shaped like a Christmas tree) on an elastic string. Around the park are elf statues for every letter of the alphabet and each has a present that can “punch” your card. Find all 26 letters and bring your completed card back and earn a prize! The prize changes year to year but is usually something like a fancy Santa’s Village pen or a key chain. (Note: even if your kids don’t complete all 26 letters, you can bring it back and they will usually give you your prize - they’re very accommodating.)

Start at the Back

A great tactic we’ve found is to make a beeline for the back of the park and start there, then work our way towards the front. There’s often no lines at all at those far rides and sometimes you can ride them a few times in a row with no waits!

Santa Says…

Santa’s Village really leans into the Christmas theming… right down to their signs and rules. Be prepared to see a lot of signs that say “Santa says…. (keep hands in the vehicle, etc.)” I love this touch!

Meet Santa and Get your Picture Taken With Him

Did you know you can meet the big guy himself?! ;) It’s definitely a highlight of the trip, be ready to tell Santa what you’d like for Christmas before you get your picture taken and get a candy cane. What I love about this meet and greet is that Santa will have your kids look at you for a picture, then at the staff photographer - this way you end up with a great picture where everyone is looking at your own camera, it’s such a little thing but it’s so considerate of Santa’s Village. You can still buy the staff-taken photo too if you decide (and can get it on things like Christmas ornaments), but it’s so nice to have a good photo of your own too.

Feed Real Reindeer

Towards the back of the park is a beautiful stable with Santa’s reindeer - REAL reindeer. For a very reasonable cost (I believe it was $2 last time we went), you can buy a cup of carrots/reindeer food from the attendant and feed the reindeer yourself! It’s such a magical experience, especially for little kids.

Pro Tip + Important Note: Only a certain amount of reindeer food is sold every day to make sure the reindeer don’t get overfed. If feeding the reindeer is important to you, make sure to visit early in the day to avoid possible disappointment.

The Ride Queues Aren’t Always Obvious

Many of the rides at Santa’s Village don’t have fenced queues. Thankfully the lines are usually short or nonexistent, but it can get a little confusing when a line does start to develop and everyone kind of gathers in a makeshift line in whatever direction suits them. Though, I do wish they would paint a candy cane stripe on the ground or something for a few feet to kind of guide people into what direction to start the line.

Don’t Miss the Skyway Sleigh Monorail

The Skyway Sleigh Monorail is one of our favorite rides - it brings you around the whole park in a giant sleigh and lets you get a birds-eye view of everything. It’s so magical “flying” through the trees!
Note: If you are afraid of heights then you probably want to skip this one. Also, this ride probably has the longest wait in the park so be prepared for that.

The Midnight Flyer is SO Smooth

Santa’s Village’s newest roller coaster, Midnight Flyer (opened in 2024), is SO smooth! Seriously, it’s one of the smoothest roller coasters I’ve ever been on, Disney rides included. If you have child who’s never been on a roller coaster before and is nervous to try one, this might be a great introduction (though it does set a high bar, for sure).

(This roller coaster replaces the old Rudy’s Rapid Transit roller coaster which I honestly thought was terrifying, haha)

Santa’s Water Park

Santa’s Village also has a huge water park that’s included with admission. It has 3 separate areas, each with a different vibe. Poogee’s Splash Pad is mostly for the littlest kids - it’s an area where water jets shoot up from the ground and is a great place to cool off. Polar Paradise better for toddlers and younger kids - it has a huge splash area and kid-friendly water slides. Finally there’s the Ho, Ho, H2O / Joy Ride Slide area - I would say these are best suited for older kids or brave younger ones that don’t mind a lot of stimulation and water spraying/dumping. If you forget your bathing suit they do sell them at the Trading Post gift shop right by the water park area.
Note: The water park does close on colder days and is not open in early spring, fall, or winter.

Santa’s Cabana Rentals

Santa’s Village also has a limited number of Cabana rentals available around the water park. These need to be rented ahead of time when you purchase your tickets and they almost always sell out - so if you want to rent one we recommend planning far ahead. These make a great home base for those spending a full day here and have shade, a mini fridge stocked with some drinks, and a place to take a break or for your little one to take their afternoon nap.

Free “Reindeer Shoe” Ring

Make sure to stop by the Reindeer Shoe Blacksmith Shop to get a free “good luck ring”, made from a nail that’s custom fit to your finger. This is another really nice touch that’s included for everyone with admission.

Outside Food is Allowed

If you’d like to bring your own food into the park for snacks or lunch that is welcome and allowed. Just no glass containers or alcohol!

Buying Food in the Park

You will be pleasantly surprised by the food offerings at Santa’s Village. They have all the typical park food - chicken fingers, burgers, fries, etc. But they also have seasonal-inspired treats like fresh apple cinnamon mini donuts (SO good!) and cookie decorating. They even have a food stall called Fruit Loup’s Farm Stand that offers (gasp) fresh fruit and veggie trays (unheard of at amusement parks)! We have been pleasantly surprised by the good food quality at Santa’s Village (their mac and cheese is so rich and good), and love the little touches like the kids meals are served on a Santa’s Village frisbee that they get to keep and bring home (such a nice bonus!).

Our one criticism is that there isn’t anywhere to get a really GOOD cup of coffee in the park. We found Polar Expresso to be very disappointing… just very mediocre drip coffee available. I would love a latte or really good frosted coffee drink! (Santa’s Village, I hope you’re reading this and bring in some good coffee options!)

The Park is Immaculate

One of the biggest take-aways from Santa’s Village is just how clean and immaculate it is. Nothing ever looks rundown or broken - so much pride and joy is taken with upkeep and cleaning. You will constantly see employees walking around picking up litter and even squeegeeing off park benches in the rain to give people a dry-er spot to sit.

Leaving the Park and Re-Entering? Get Your Hand Stamped!

Super important - if you’re looking to leave Santa’s Village and re-enter the same day, make sure to ask for a hand stamp at the Stocking Stuffer Exit Gift Shop. You’ll need that hand stamp to re-enter the park!

Don’t Forget the Themed Old-School Playground at the Exit

At the exit there is what looks like a giant Nutcracker and Drum sculpture - but this isn’t just a sculpture, it’s actually an old-school playground! Climb up inside the Nutcracker and slide down his arms onto the drum! There’s also some tunnels and other areas to explore around the base.

Talk to Rudolph when you Leave (Easy to Miss!)

Talk to Rudolph at the “Santa Cam” Kiosk

When your day at Santa’s Village is done, make sure to look for the “Santa Cam” kiosk outside (just outside of the park exit) that looks like a ticket booth and has a large Rudolph head in it. Go talk to Rudolph and he will talk back to you - really! Trust us on this one, you definitely want to go say hi and have a quick conversation with him - your kids and you will get a huge kick out of it.

FEASTival Events

On select days in June and September, Santa’s Village has FEASTival Days where most food items are included in your admission cost! This event does cost a little more than regular admission but it more than makes up for it with what’s included.

Holly Jolly Halloween Events

On select days in October, Santa’s Village transforms into a mash-up of winter and Halloween (think pumpkin snowmen, elf jack-o-lanterns, and more fun decorations) and trick-or-treating. Definitely wear layers - it can be chilly! (Water park/rides are closed during this time.)

Guests are welcome to wear Halloween costumes or shirts if they would like, but it's not necessary.

Christmastime at Santa’s Village

Santa’s Village also is open for select dates in November/December to make Christmas extra-special! Just imagine exploring Santa’s Village in the snow with Christmas lights twinkling around. Specific ride operation is subject to weather conditions - but Santa’s Village typically runs a lot of rides during this time. However, all water park/water rides are closed.

Definitely wear lots of layers and even your snow clothes! It can be downright cold!

Disclaimer: This post shares opinions and tips based on our personal experiences. Please be aware that you may encounter things differently and things are subject to change. Please do your own research.

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Santa’s Village is Famous Amongst Theme Park Enthusiasts

Now to share a fun personal story… two years ago we went down to Disney World for vacation. I went to a gift shop in Magic Kingdom and was checking out at the cash register, making small talk with the Cast Member. He asked me where I was from and I told him New Hampshire. He asked me, “Have you ever been to Santa’s Village?! That’s on my bucket list of theme parks to visit, I’ve always wanted to go there!” I was so surprised that someone who works at Disney World and has experienced so many other parks, had little Santa’s Village in remote New Hampshire on their wish-list to visit. It just goes to show what a quality theme park Santa’s Village is.

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4th of July Giveaway from Birch Landing Home!

We’re hosting a great giveaway this week over on Birch Landing Home’s Instagram! We’re giving away a New England Lakeside Hat and a selection of stickers from Birch Landing Home. (Sorry, dog not included.)

Head on over to our Instagram for details and to enter. Giveaway ends 7/4/26 at 10AM.

Want to purchase these items now? You’re in luck - we’re running a sale through July 5th!

Create an "Analog" Bag or Basket for You and Your Family

It’s more important than ever to incorporate screen-free time for yourself and your family into our daily lives. Most of us spend too much time on our phones or watching TV that we’ve forgotten how to entertain ourselves without a screen. Probably the biggest red flag is kids out and about (especially in restaurants or in the car) always need a tablet to keep them occupied - they don’t know how to sit and enjoy others’ company anymore or entertain themselves. Teens and adults are often guilty of it as well, we keep our noses in our phones and ignore who we’re with.
One easy solution is to create an “analog bag” - a bag that has screen-free activities in it. It can be travel games, puzzles, books or magazines, knitting, small toys, coloring, word searches, etc. You can make it for on-the-go or something to keep in your living room for designated screen-free time. Read on for more ideas on how to incorporate this easy modification into your lives.…
| This post contains affiliate links |

An Analog Bag is something you can make for yourself, your young or older kids, or the whole family! You can also tailor it to things to use on-the-go or something that you keep at home for quiet evenings. Whatever it is you can make it yours and change it up as much as you want! Here are some ideas:

Analog Bag Basics:

• a sturdy tote bag (this "Analog" embroidered L.L. Bean Bag is PERFECT!)
• something to help organize your things, such as a small canvas pouch or a tote bag organizer
• Now for the fun part - filling it with what interests you or your family! I've broken it down with ideas for different age groups below.

Ideas for Adults & the Whole Family:

• a beautiful coloring book
• colored pencils
• Sudoku book
• knitting kit
• mini watercolor travel set
• deck of cards
• magazines or your current library books

Ideas for Teens & Tweens:

• you may want to consider a different bag, like a trendy rubber tote
• a fun card game like UNO or Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
• a travel puzzle game (like Kanoodle)
• a cute crochet kit (my daugther LOVES this brand - they have great tutorials and are easy to make)
• a journal
• Rubik's Cube

Ideas for Young Children:

• you may want to consider a different bag, like a cute animal alphabet themed one
• Water Wow books (these were such a hit when my kids were little - a lot of fun and zero mess!)
• Paint by Sticker books
• Spirograph
• fun activity book
• activity dice (these Bluey themed ones are really fun!)

Analog “Basket” Ideas for Home:

The Analog Basket is something that would stay in your living room or family room and your family can use everyday! The following ideas are for a mix of age groups.

• sturdy basket that will look nice in your room
• puzzle the family can do together
• games such as Jenga, Chutes & Ladders, or Chess (Chess is making a comeback!)
• a tabletop activity like wooden balancing "stones" (irregular-shaped wooden "rocks" that you can stack and balance)
• nice LEGO kit to make with the family

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Shop some of our Analog Bag picks here:

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Looking for New Wholesale Accounts for Spring/Summer!

I am looking for new wholesale accounts for spring/summer (and beyond)! Are you a storefront in New England looking for unique stickers? I got you covered! I have stickers featuring New England states and vibes and more coming soon. Please send me an email or reach out on social media if you would like more information about carrying our stickers. Thank you!

Teaching the Inquiry Research Process in Middle School

Recently for an assignment for grad school we had to create our own Cycle of Inquiry based on Guided Inquiry Design and Carol Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process. Since I teach middle school I thought what better than to synthesize that information and rename everything in middle school slang!

Getting middle schoolers to be invested in researching something for a project is a challenge in itself, so why not get their attention and use their own words? Yes, there will be some eye-rolls - this is pretty “cringe” after all - but it gets their attention. I’m really excited to use this in my own practice and to share with teachers at school so they can use it in their classrooms too.