I'm a wife, stay-at-home mom, crafter, and blogger living in rural New England. As seen in Martha Stewart Living, Food Network Magazine, and more! | Tutorials, DIY, crafts, parenting tips, recipes, money saving tips, product reviews, local product features, New England living, intentional living, and more! |
When I was growing up my Grandpa always threw his extra pennies in a big jar on the kitchen counter for me. And every time we visited I always checked to see how high the pennies had creeped up. Waiting for the jar to fill seemed to take forever (and for us it did take years for the jar to fill each time), but it taught patience and was something special to look forward to. This simple tradition is one I'd love to bring back for our own kids. **Make sure to scroll to the end to enter the $200 Target Gift Card Giveaway!**
Once the jar was finally filled to the brim it was mine to take home! Guessing how much money was inside was always the most exciting part. Since there were only pennies it came to around $14-15 each time but that seemed like huge money as a 7-year old. Growing up my Dad always instilled on us that gifted money (received for birthdays, Christmas, and even the penny jar) needed to go to our college savings account so that's where it went. I didn't mind though, as a kid it was exciting just bringing it to the bank and hearing the coins run through the counting machine. Though I didn't realize it at the time, looking back that was such a sweet and important lesson -- that Grandpa thought of me every time he put a penny in the jar and that even small savings can add up over time.
Now that we have little one (and another on the way), I want to continue this tradition still. So with just some simple Ball Jars, I punched slits in the top for change and labeled each grandkid's name on tags - these jars are going to my parents' so they can continue my Grandpa's simple legacy for all their grandkids.
I have such fond memories of this tradition and want my daughter and future baby to have a simple custom like this to look forward to when visiting their Grandparents.
Giveaway
I've teamed up with a couple other great bloggers to give you a chance to win a $200 Target Gift Card! Just think how many Ball Jars - or anything else you'd like - that you could buy ;)
Giveaway is for $200.00 USD. Open to US residents 18+ only. One (1) winner will be chosen. Prize must be claimed within 48 hours of announcement or a new winner will be drawn. Prize delivered via email. All entries will be verified. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, Target, Rafflecopter, or any other entity unless otherwise specified. Blogger not responsible for delivery of prize. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Newsletters are where it's at now and I'm jumping on the bandwagon ;)
Please feel free to sign up for my weekly newsletter in the form below. I manage the list myself and don't share your information, so you don't have to worry about getting spammed.
I plan on sending out one email per week, tops (we all get enough emails everyday already, right?). In the weekly newsletter I'll share a summary to some of my latest posts, any giveaways I'm hosting for the blog, as well as what's new in the Etsy shop and exclusive coupon codes.
It's been a long, loooong time since I knit anything but when We Are Knitters contacted me to see if I wanted to try out one of their kits and give one away to a lucky follower I was excited to say yes. There's just something about curling up in a cozy chair and knitting that melts the stress away. (Don't forget to look for our exclusive coupon code and enter the giveaway to win your own kit!)
We Are Knitters has tons of kits available to choose from - including scarves, hats, sweaters, blankets, and even dresses! But since it had been so long since I knit anything I decided to be safe and go with the
Downtown Snood kit from their beginner level selection of kits.
The wool for this kit is premium 100% natural Peruvian wool which is amazingly soft and thick with 35 colors to choose from. In fact, I loved it so much I got an extra skien so I could make the project twice. (You are also able to purchase wool skeins separately right from their website.)
In the kit you find your wool, wooden knitting needles, pattern, needle, and a label for your finished project. Embarrassingly, I do not know how to read a knitting pattern (ha) but it was written so simply even I could understand it. And what's even better, We Are Knitters (WAK) has great video tutorials available to you so you can study how to do the stitch and easily pause the video to practice step-by-step.
I definitely recommend watching the videos with your knitting needles and some scrap yarn in your hands so you're able to practice before you start on your nice yarn from WAK. But after some practice I was able to get it down and was kitting away a mile a minute in no time.
The project went quickly and now I have some gorgeous handmade scarves to wear now that the cold weather is setting in.
We Are Knitters was also kind enough to share an exclusive coupon code with my readers - just use the code BIRCHLANDINGWAK at checkout to receive 15% off your order!
GIVEAWAY
Would you like the chance to win your own Downtown Snood Kit in your choice of color? Just visit We Are Knitters
HERE and sign up for their free newsletter. Givewaway will end October 24th.
EDIT 10/26/16: Winner chosen and notified - Congratulations Kristin B!
- I received these materials for review from We Are Knitters but all opinions expressed are my own. Please see our Disclosure Policy for more information. -
I've had the pleasure of following Allison Cole Jewelry on Instagram for awhile now and fell in love with Nicole's gorgeous nautical-inspired jewelry. Nicole was kind enough to send me one of her classic rope bracelets to style and offered to give a bracelet from her gorgeous line to one lucky winner. Read on for an exclusive coupon code and how to enter to win a bracelet of your own!
Nicole Recomendes is the owner/designer behind Allison Cole Jewelry. Nicole has roots in New England - growing up in Hanover, MA and spending every summer on her family's boat. She has always had an eye and love for nautical style. After working in the corporate world for awhile, she followed a dream to work for herself and launched the line in May of 2015 and it really took off from there!
I've always been a big fan of nautical and New England-inspired fashion myself and so I was excited to pair her Metallic Rope Bracelet with some of our favorite nautical inspired pieces. What I really love about this bracelet is that it's simple enough to dress up or down but still bold enough to make a statement. These rope bracelets look great on their own or stacked with other bracelets and bangles.
Exclusive Coupon Code
Allison Cole Jewelry is also very reasonably priced which makes this trendy style achievable for everyone. Better yet, we have an exclusive coupon code to share with you -- use the code BIRCHLANDING at checkout to get 20% off everything in her shop! (That makes the bracelet I'm wearing less than $20 - such a great deal!)
*GIVEAWAY!*
Looking for a chance to win your choice of bracelet from Allison Cole's line? Find the photo above on my Instagram (@birchlandinghome) and enter there! All details and rules can be found in the giveaway post. Good luck!
- I received this bracelet for review from Allison Cole Jewelry but all opinions expressed are my own. Please see our Disclosure Policy for more information. -
Feeling really behind lately, I have a million little (good) projects going on and haven't been able to check any off the to-do list in a while. Between training for a half marathon, working on Etsy/wholesale ornament orders (I get them year-round, wahoo), and trying to work on some projects around the house I've fallen a bit behind on the blog and getting new Etsy stock out there and I apologize.
Just wanted to let you know that things will be picking up again soon with new Etsy items as well as some great collabs/giveaways with companies like Nuby and We Are Knitters.
If you haven't turned on Post Notifications on Instagram for Birch Landing Home yet, now is the time because you won't want to miss out!
We're hosting a great giveaway with Mariner Lines over on Instagram! Now is your chance to win one of their beautiful Maine-made recycled rigging line leashes for your pup. Please see the original giveaway post on my account (@birchlandinghome) for details and to enter.
I've teamed up with some great bloggers and shops to bring some amazing GIVEAWAYS over the next couple weeks. Keep an eye out, they're not to be missed!
Giveaway Brought to you By:
Juggling Act Mama, Doodlecraft, Bree Cooley, Birch Landing Home, Walking on Sunshine, and The Redhead Baker.
