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! |
I've been very busy around the house lately, working on a lot of spring cleaning and garden projects. It seems like there isn't enough time to get it all done... raking, weeding, mulching, planting our veggie garden, cleaning out the closets and donating/consigning our unwanted warmer weather clothing... just a few of the things on my to-do list. Whew.
But you certainly can't beat lilac season! These beauties are from our next door neighbor and a reminder to stop and smell the roses (or lilacs) no matter how much there is to get done.
Well, I finally did it! I ran my first Half Marathon :)
Finally completing a Half has been about seven years overdue. I got stress fractures training for one in 2009 and gave up running long distances for awhile after that. But this time with a great plan by my sister-in-law that focused on interval training over long distance runs I was finally able to accomplish my goal injury-free. I'm very thankful that I was able to do it, along with all the support I got from family and friends, and especially my husband.
Before the start of the race, so nervous!
If any New Englanders are looking for a great Half Marathon to run, I'd highly recommend the Maine Coast Half. It was great, fun race with beautiful ocean views - and you get Shipyard beers at the end ;)
Now that I've done this Half, I'm looking forward to focusing more on the blog and my Etsy shop again - so look for more coming soon from Birch Landing Home!
Last Friday we decided at the last minute to spend the weekend in Ogunquit, Maine - the weather looked great, my husband was itching to take some Milky Way photos, and it had been too long since we did a little family trip. It was also right before "the season" starts, which meant that there would be less crowds and cheaper hotel rooms (yes!). All-in-all as a family of three we spent less than $175 for the whole weekend, including the hotel room, so I would call that a huge success!
For hotel we stayed at The Beachmere Inn which is conveniently located right on the Marginal Way, a 1.25 mile scenic walkway following the edge of the ocean. Even though we were calling for reservations the day before, The Beachmere thankfully still had a few rooms available. We opted for the least expensive one ($100+tax, which was this particular room's preseason rate). It was a nice, modest room with a queen sized bed in the Victorian building of the hotel complex. This room didn't quite have the view that most rooms at the hotel have, but we didn't mind since we knew we'd be out walking most of the day and then to bed early with our little one.
The Beachmere Inn
The view from our private balcony.
To save a little extra money we packed our lunches from home for that first day. We got to the hotel around lunch time and since our room was ready they let us check in early (very nice!). We were able to enjoy our lunch on our own private balcony overlooking the great lawn of the hotel.
That afternoon was spent wandering up and down the Marginal Way and walking into town to explore some of the little shops and buy some delicious pastries at Bread & Roses Bakery. We highly recommend their Cinnamon Butter Puffs and our daughter was a big fan of the massive chocolate chip cookies bigger than her head (no surprise there).
Running along the ocean = perfection.
Mid-afternoon Daddy watched Miss M so I could get a training run in. I ran four miles along the Marginal Way and through the high-end coastal neighborhoods, and even did a short stretch of running in the sand on Ogunquit Beach. This run has to be the most fun and scenic I have done to date - why can't all runs be so pretty?
Dinner options in Ogunquit were a bit limited as it's still the "off season" (many seasonal businesses and seasonal rates start April 14th). So we opted to drive up the road a few minutes to the Moody Beach area and have dinner at Jake's Seafoodwhere we ate our weight in delicious fried seafood. The bill for the three of us came in at $40, which was a little more than we were expecting but splurging on fried food is pretty much a must-do of any seaside trip.
The views along the Marginal Way are breathtaking.
After dinner we went back to the hotel and played outside a bit before turning in early. Adrian was planning to get up at 3AM to capture some Milky Way shots as long as the weather cooperated. Luckily for him, the clouds held off and he was able to just walk off the hotel lawn and get some amazing Milky Way and sunrise shots (you can see more of his photos on his Instagram, @adrianpelletier).
The next morning we enjoyed a nice continental breakfast at the hotel. They had coffee, tea, cereal, bagels, fruit, and yogurt as well as selection of locally made donuts. (I had yogurt with granola and a very delicious Boston creme donut, because you know, balance.)
Bread & Roses Bakery - so much deliciousness!
After breakfast we walked back into town to do some last minute poking around and pick up more pastries from Bread & Roses to bring home, between our two trips here we spent about $20. Then we went to Ogunquit Beach to let our little one run around and play in the sand a bit. It was brisk but sunny and we pretty much had the whole beach to ourselves. After that we decided to check out a little early and head home to catch Miss M's nap, but if we had stayed in Ogunquit for lunch we would have grabbed some sandwiches from The Village Market, which looked yummy and reasonably priced and had a picnic on the beach or along the Marginal Way.
Overall it was a great, affordable weekend in Ogunquit. Lots of beautiful views, good food, exploring downtown, running and photo adventures, and, most importantly, some quality family time.
I've never been a fast runner at all, in fact I'm definitely more of a "slogger" (slow jogger) - but it doesn't matter how fast or slow you run as long as you're getting out there. I used to run pretty regularly but took a break from it for awhile after getting stress fractures training for my first half marathon years ago. After that I ran when I felt like it but never seriously and never with a big goal in mind. | This post contains affiliate links |
Since we're hoping to try for baby #2 later this year I'm working on my "Pre-Baby Bucket List", which includes finally running a Half Marathon. While I'm sure I'll be able to cover the distance, I'm not sure if I'll be able to do it in the strict timeline set for the course since I'm such a slow runner - but here's hoping! I've been following a wonderful training plan made by my sister-in-law (who has a Masters in ESS), that includes a lot of interval runs, stretches, and one long run a week to help minimize my risk of injury again.
Along with following a great plan that builds mileage slowly and includes varied runs and cross-training, I thought I'd share some of my favorite running must-haves:
Good Sneakers. I can't say how important it is to have the right kind of running shoe. Don't just go by what looks cute and feels comfortable at the store - go to a running specialty store and be properly fit for your gait and foot type. (Also, if you have any inkling that you may have something going on with your feet don't hesitate to see a podiatrist too. I was properly fit for sneakers but still hurt my foot because I had a structural issue that could only be identified with x-rays and helped with custom orthotics.)
Running Belt. These little belts are handy for carrying your phone, keys, and fuels for those long runs. I've really liked the SPIbelt because it's very streamline - the pouch stays small and stretches to fit your items so they don't bounce around.
Running App. I've found using a running app to be very helpful. It reminds me what pace I'm currently running, as well as distance and elapsed time. It's a great tool to keep on track and follow your progress. I've been using the free version of Runkeeper for years and love it but have also heard great things about the app Strava too, so I think I will give that app a try once my half marathon training is done.
Reflective Vest. If you're doing any running on the road at all it's very important to be seen. Wearing a bright reflective vest gives traffic a better opportunity to see you and keep you safe.
Road ID. Do you run with your driver's license and medical info on you? I didn't think so, which is why you really should have a Road ID. I've never needed it - and hope to never need it (knock on wood) - but it's so important to have, especially if you run solo. These totally customizable IDs are lightweight, sporty, and streamline but contain important information like your name, year of birth, emergency contact info, and medical information that paramedics may need if you had an accident (God forbid) or have passed out.
Pssst... I have a $5 Gift Card to RoadID to share with the first five people that purchase using this link. You're welcome :)
Running Stroller. If you're going to do any training with your little ones in tow, it's important to have a great stroller that you can take on those runs. We have a BOB and it's perfect for running on back roads and flat trails. These strollers can be expensive though, so don't be afraid to look for one second-hand - we got ours for only $40!
There are also a few items I haven't used yet but would love to try, including recovery sandals (which look amazing!), hydration belts and packs, and compression sleeves. Getting back into running has been fun and rewarding and I'm hoping to improve my distances and times more and more. Keep your fingers crossed for me that I can finish my half marathon in the allotted time! ;)
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!
As you probably know already, I love supporting local makers and buisnesses so I thought it was time to make a group board on Pinterest to support New England Made Products. This board will be a collaboration where New England-based crafters and small buisnesses can share their beautiful goods.
If you're interested in joining please give me a follow on Pinterest and send a message requesting to join the group board.
As of right now there's just my items on the board, but I can't wait to get more collaborators and see more beautiful New England-made products on here too!
Every so often someone will contact me and ask if they can order a completely custom ornament. I'm always game to give it a try and see if I can use my wood burner to translate what they want onto a little wooden disc.
Custom Methodist Cross ornament in the making.
Recently a very nice lady contacted me on Etsy to see about ordering a set of Methodist Cross ornaments for her Church. I loved the idea of having my ornaments hanging in a Church and I was excited to give it a try. I'm really happy with how they came out and I especially love the texture of the flame on them.
Even though it's not Christmas-time, if you have an idea for a completely custom ornament please don't hesitate to send me an e-mail or a custom order request on Etsy. I'm always happy to see what I can do for you.
Willow Crowns has probably been my favorite mama-made business I've watched grow over the last few years. I started following Willow Crowns around the same time I launched my own Etsy shop and blog and Megan's hard work and resulting meteoric success has been such an inspiration! Megan was kind enough to answer a few questions for me about how she got started, how she handles the work-mama balance, and where she hopes to take Willow Crowns in the future.
BIRCH LANDING HOME: Tell me a little about yourself and your business.
WILLOW CROWNS (MEGAN): I'm a lifelong New Englander living in Texas with my husband and three year old daughter, trying to keep it all balanced! I love coffee (French press is my new addiction), hair and beauty products, and I honestly never thought I'd be an entrepreneur! Willow Crowns in my second baby and over the past 2.5 years has grown into what I like to think is the premier destination for stylish, timeless hair accessories for ladies of all ages.
Megan, the mama behind Willow Crowns.
BLH: How did you start Willow Crowns? Did you always make headbands and accessories or was this a new leap for you?
WC: When my daughter was ten months old we were newly relocated to Houston and I was struggling to find my groove. Being alone in a new city with a little baby was stressful and I was looking for something to help me decompress and fill my time, something that could me "mine." I was already (occasionally) making her some headbands and thought I'd give opening an Etsy shop a try! I ended up enjoying it so much and found it so fulfilling that I kept trying to grow, improve, and ultimately make it a full-time business.
BLH: What does a typical day look like for you? Do you set aside specific time for work and for family? How do you handle the dreaded nap strike? (okay.. that last question is mostly for me)
WC: There's really no "typical" day around here, but I try to dedicate my mornings as much as possible to Olivia. I'll schedule playdates, etc during that time. During nap time (or "quiet rest time" with the iPad during nap strikes), I handle the bulk of my administrative work, which means replying to e-mails, preparing social media content, and getting orders filled. Late afternoon is ideally earmarked as family time, prepping meals, folding laundry, etc. and I handle the rest (mostly production) after she goes to bed.
I have a part-time production assistant who comes to the studio once a week and she helps keep our inventory stocked, and I'll do the rest while my daughter is at a Mother's Day Out program two days a week. All this keeps my days pretty busy, but I wouldn't have it another way! I love knowing that there's lots to be done and I find it really gratifying to check it all off my list as the day goes on.
BLH: What is your favorite part about owning your own company? And least favorite part?
WC: This is a tough one, and they're kind of the same! The flexibility of being able to work from home and set my own hours is huge. My family is my top priority and being able to adapt to changes in our life/schedule/whatever is going on has really helped me maintain a balance. On the flip side, since I work from home, I'm never off the clock. My mind is always racing with ideas, to-do's, and the studio sometimes calls to me late at night when I know there's work to be done. Finally, I have to add in the personal satisfaction as another favorite. When a collection does well, our customers are happy, and we continue to grow, it feels enormously satisfying to have my name attached to that!
BLH: What has been the most exciting moment for Willow Crowns since you started?
WC: So many to choose from! The most recent one is the one I'd have to award "most exciting moment" to, though! Over the holidays West Elm reached out and asked us to do a pop-up shop in one of their Houston stores. I love West Elm and the idea to work with such an established and respected brand was a huge of highlight of WC's short life.
BLH: What advice do you have for people just starting out?
WC: I usually give two separate pieces of advice, the first of which is photography is critical. If you have a great product, great service, and poor photography, your product just won't move. Investing in a photographer or working a trade with a local photographer can put you at a huge advantage when marketing your product. I've spent the two years working on my own photography skills so that I can combine my work with the photographer's we hire and have social media accounts and a website that always look top notch and the better our products look, the more they sell!
Secondly, hang in there! Growing a business can take time (lots of time sometimes depending on your market) and it's important not to compare yourself to others. Staying focused on your product, your brand, your shop, and working persistently even when times are slow will serve you well. Strike up friendships with other local creatives, be consistent on social media, be true to your aesthetic, and things will come together!
BLH: What is your long-term goal? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
WC: I'm so excited to watch WC grow over the next few years! A move into retail establishments is very much on my mind for the near future and I'd also like to grow our family in the next five years. Hopefully five years from now I can follow up and have another baby, a few more employees, and lots more ladies wearing Willow Crowns!
