Cape Cod Inspired Toddler Room

It's been a long time coming, but we've finally moved our little one up to her "big girl room"!  Decorating and organizing this space has been a challenge since it's such a tiny room.  And while arrows, deer, and gold polka dots are all the rage right now, we wanted to get the biggest bang for our buck and go with a timeless, classic theme that our daughter can grow into.  | This post contains affiliate links |

We decided to go with a blue, white, and yellow color scheme (which always reminds me of Cape Cod) and just a few decorative touches that can easily be changed out as our little one grows and tastes change.  Keeping everything pretty light in the room helps make it feel just a little bit bigger too.  

The bed and dresser came from Ikea and were very reasonably priced. In fact, these were my first purchases from Ikea EVER (gasp) and I was very impressed with the quality and sturdiness of them. While not shown in these photos, we have under-mattress bedrails that are typically on the bed so she doesn't roll out.

The bedding was one of the most reasonably priced quilt sets I could find and came from Amazon (*at the moment it's listed for double what I had paid, but Amazon pricing can change often so hopefully the price will come down again soon). I just love all the different blues, greens, and creams in the bedspread! It keeps with the Cape Cod color scheme and adds a country touch.

The "love you to the moon & back" sign was made by me and will be coming to our Etsy shop soon ;)  

This little dormer was the perfect spot to tuck the dresser in as well as some decorative touches like the wooden oar, which was a freebie find. The custom name puzzle is from Amazon, and both the lamp and the curtains are from Wal-Mart.

We also added this Personalized Alphabet Printable from my Etsy shop as well, and our daughter loves finding the letters from her name in it.  

This Moon Bed was a custom creation from my brother and sister-in-law as a gift for our baby shower - it makes the perfect spot for snuggling up with a good book and some stuffed animals. The starfish watercolor painting is by New England artist Jen Scully of Mack & Ro. I love how it compliments this corner with the "moon and stars" theme but also fits in perfectly with the overall coastal vibe of the room.

What's New England without a farm? This little Pottery Barn table was a yard sale find (score!) and makes the perfect spot for a barnyard scene. The wooden barn is from Melissa and Doug but the animals are Little People (all yard sale finds again). The woven rope basket to hold accessories for the farm adds a coastal touch. This rope basket is old, but I've linked a very similar one here.

This room has a very shallow alcove and to make the most of the space I built custom book rails in it for storage and display.  I debated on putting one more rail down lower but decided against it since I know our toddler would try to climb it like a ladder.  Instead, I made a custom narrow wooden crate to sit on the floor and hold her heavier books that I didn't want to put up on the wall.  

The book rails make for great storage that doesn't take up a lot of room, as well as gives us a chance to show of some of our current favorite books (including some fun New England-themed ones).  

And last but not least, possibly the most important addition to our daughter's big girl room, the Ready to Wake Clock! I was a bit skeptical at first, but this clock really has been a lifesaver (and no, this is not a sponsored endorsement). Our daughter used to get up between 4-5AM everyday, but once she learned that she needs to stay in bed until the clock turns green she now sleeps to the decent hour (6:45AM) that we set her clock to (thank goodness!).

I've tried to link all my sources for the room but if there's anything I'm missing that you have a question on, please send me a message.  

Giving Back

About a month ago I decided to start something new for Birch Landing Home - after all, every little bit helps and we want to be a part of it!  

Starting this year, we will be donating a percentage of our profits at year-end to charity(ies) of our choice.  The charities will be chosen at the end of each year.  

We all need to remember (myself included) to give back more when we can, and I hope we can inspire other businesses and individuals to do the same.  

More information about how we plan to give back can be found here.  

Easy No-Hardware Valance for Blinds

Wooden blinds are a great window treatment option, but finishing them off can be tricky, especially if you don't want to hang curtains too.  Today I'm sharing my easy, no hardware-needed solution for dressing up the blinds.  

All you need is a thin piece of wood or trim (about 1/4" thick) painted to match your blinds and adhesive velcro - that's it!  I cut down our trim board myself, but if you don't have a saw you could ask your hardware store to cut it to the width of your blinds when you purchase it.  

For velcro I used Scotch Indoor Velcro Squares.  They have a 3 lb weight limit which is more than enough needed for our project, but I made sure to use three velcro tabs per window for a secure hold.

To hang, I just put the adhesive velcro tabs along the top assembly of the blinds and pressed the trim board on top securely.  That's it!  

This makes for a quick and professional finish to the blinds but still allows you to easily take it down to access the mounts for the blinds for window maintenance and cleaning.  

Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter

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.  

Thanks so much for following along :)  

Custom Ornament Orders

Don't forget, I can make custom Christmas ornaments too!  Here is a custom one I made for my husband's business, Build Interactive.  

If you're thinking of ordering a custom ornament this Christmas season, please do so soon.  As we get closer to Christmas it gets harder to take on custom orders.  
You can always contact me through my Etsy Shop or the contact form on my blog for more details.  Thank you!  

Pumpkin Porch Decor Roundup

Fall is here and that means decorating up your front porch with, you guessed it - pumpkins!  I've rounded up 15 very different pumpkin-themed decor ideas for you.  Just click on the author's name to be brought to the original post for the how-to details.  Enjoy!  

Pumpkin Porch Decor Roundup

5 Minute Monogramed Pumpkin 

By Salvage Sister & Mister

Gourds in an Obelisk

By The Stylish Nest

Teal Pumpkin Project

By Birch Landing Home

Wooden Pumpkin Fall Sign

By The Kolb Corner

Nail Head Pumpkins

By Designers Sweet Spot

Shabby Chic Door Hanger

By Where the Smiles Have Been

Painted Pumpkins and DIY Stems

By 2 Bees in a Pod

DIY White Pumpkin Fall Wreath

By Paint Yourself a Smile

Pink Fall Decor for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

By The Magic Brush

How to Build a Rustic Pumpkin Stand

By Modge Podge Rocks

DIY Fall Wreaths

By Hey Fitzy

DIY Pretty Porch Pumpkins

By This is Our Bliss

DIY Wood Pallet Pumpkins

By Our House Now a Home

Fall Porch & Courtyard Home Decor

By FrugElegance

Pumpkin Wreath Tutorial with Burlap

By Grillo Designs

All images and links are used with permission from the authors.  

Shop Fall Fashion

Important Tips on Creating Your Baby Registry

Creating a registry for your first baby is a lot of fun - and pretty overwhelming.  A lot of people either end up registering for way too much stuff or not enough - so we're here to give you some tips to help find a good balance.  | This post contains affiliate links |

Bring a Recently New Mom With You

If possible, bring a relative or friend who's had a baby within the last two years - but someone who won't be overbearing and force all their choices on you. This mom's insights will be invaluable as you navigate the overwhelming selection of Babies 'R Us. Show her the products that catch your eye and get her honest feedback on them - she'll think of things you haven't thought of (how hard something would be to clean, how often you'll actually use it, how quickly baby will outgrow it, etc). She'll also help you think of items you maybe hadn't thought of (like a carseat mirror, a mattress cover for your own bed, etc).

Less is More

As tempting as it is, don't put every single cute thing you see on your registry.  Make sure to only put what you *really* need (plus a few fun things too of course).  The reasoning is, there's a good chance family and friends will just buy a lot of the fun stuff on your list and overlook some of the most important items, leaving you to purchase the necessities.  

Wide Variety of Price Points

Not everyone can afford shopping at Pottery Barn, or will be able to afford to buy you the $500 crib or $200 car seat.  Yes, many baby essentials are expensive - but make sure you have items that everyone can afford on your list too.  Think bottles, sheets, teethers, wipes, etc.  

Think Beyond Newborn

Don't just register for newborn items - make sure to think ahead to what your baby may need their whole first year. Eventually they'll need a high chair, feeding items, a push toy, etc. Make sure to think beyond the first three months and include some items for when they get a bit older.

Choose Products to Grow with Baby

If possible, choose items that do double duty and will grow with your baby. Carseats are a big one: you have the option of choosing an infant carseat (one with a handle that detaches from the carseat base) and then buying a toddler or convertible carseat later that year when baby outgrows it. -OR- you can choose a convertible carseat from the get-go, one that's good from around 4-70 pounds, so you just buy one carseat and you're good for the next six years or whenever it expires (yes, carseats do expire). Other items that you can choose to grow with your baby are convertible pack-and-plays, high chairs/boosters, and carriers.

Don't Register for Baby Clothes

Other than some necessities (side snap onesies for newborns, sleep sacks, etc), don't register for clothes. Why, you ask? The most practical reason is that clothing availability changes so often (sometimes a few times within a season) - so when you add a cute outfit to your registry today, there's a good chance it will be unavailable in a month or so. Another reason is that shopping for baby clothes is so special and enjoyable for your family and friends, you don't want to deprive them of that. And yes, you probably will end up with some outfits that aren't in your taste, but if it makes Great Aunt Madge happy it's worth it.

Start a College Fund

Politely let your family and friends know that contributions to your baby's savings account are welcome.  It's important to start saving early and even if it's small, it's worth putting money away little bit, by little bit.  

Something for You Too!  

Don't forget Mama too!  Ask for something practical that you need or that will help make things a bit easier.  Maybe a gift card to a maternity shop so you can invest in some great nursing bras or nursing-friendly clothes.  Or maybe a one-month subscription to a meal delivery service, because every new parent knows how rough that first month can be (and the last thing you want to do is drag your sleep-deprived self and a newborn to the grocery store).  

I hope I gave you some helpful tips on planning your baby registry!  If you're looking for some ideas on specific items to get, be sure to check out our Top Baby Must-Haves post.  

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Related Posts:

• Our Top Baby Registry Must-Haves

• Pain-Free Childbirth: My Hypnobirthing Experience

• “Things I Wish I Knew Before my C-Section”

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Give Back When You Can

Just a little reminder to give back when you are able, even if it's something small.  

Over the course of the summer we've been blessed with a lot of produce from our garden - we enjoyed it, shared with family and friends, and froze quite a bit for future use.  Last week we picked the last of the veggies and pulled out the rest of our vining plants to get ready for winter.  We ended up with quite a few squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes and rather than try to squeeze them into the freezer we opted to bring them to our local food pantry where we know the donation will be greatly appreciated.  

Giving back doesn't always have to mean volunteering a day of your time or making a large monetary donation - it can be giving back in small ways everyday to help your neighbor and those around you.  We all need to remember this more (myself included), and next year we'll make a point to share even more of our produce with the food pantry all summer long.