Instagram Giveaway!

I'm having a Giveaway over on Instagram for one of our Infinity Bracelets!  Find me on Instagram @birchlandinghome, details are on the original post and entering is easy!  

Giveaway ends 4/2/15 at 2PM EST.  Good luck! 

Young Toddler Easter Basket Ideas

Today I thought I'd share what we'll be putting in our little one's Easter Basket.  My goal was to spend less than $20 and fill it with practical and fun items.  | This post contains affiliate links |

Our little girl is only 15 months old, has more than enough toys, and doesn't eat candy yet so I was a little stumped as to what to put in her Easter basket at first.  After some thought I decided to fill it with some items she needed anyway and a few things to use outside once the warmer weather comes (someday soon, I hope).  

I started with the Easter basket I made for her last year (you can read my post on making her Button Easter Basket here).  First I filled the bottom with paper Easter grass - having a toddler and a dog, it's so important to use the paper Easter grass over plastic just in case any gets eaten.  The paper grass is also a lot more eco-friendly.  

I love what I found to put in her basket!  

In her basket:  

• Owl Lunchbox by SkipHop.  She desperately needed a new lunchbox (hers broke) and this owl one from Amazon was just the cutest.  There are many other animal styles to choose from too if owls aren't your thing.  
• Purée pouches by Plum Organics.  What toddler doesn't love snacks?  We picked these up last time we were at Target but they can be found at just about any grocery store or purchased by the case from Amazon.  
• Baby Farm Animals board book by Golden Books.  We actually got this book for free from the local library (they were clearing out duplicates) but you can usually find inexpensive board books on Amazon or on sale at your local book store.  
• Child's Watering Can.  We got this from the Dollar Store, but these can also be found at your local pharmacy.  (Similar one here.) 
• Egg-Shaped Chalk.  These came from the dollar bins at Target, and I love them because they're easy for little hands to hold.  (Similar ones here.)

Since I got the board book for free I spent right around $15 for everything - wahoo!  

Other basket ideas for a one-year old or young toddler:  

• puzzle
• socks
• crackers
• crayons
• busy book
• sunhat
• bubbles
• educational placemat
• teether
• rubber playground ball
• shovel and pail for the beach

All of these items can be done for a girl or a boy, and are easy to tweak if you wanted to tailor it more to your own child.  I hope I've given you some ideas of what to put in your little one's Easter basket - Happy Easter!  

Looking for more Easter ideas?  Check out our other Easter posts:  

• DIY Button Easter Basket
• Chicken-Themed Toddler Easter Basket

Mudroom Organization

I always keep an LL Bean boat tote bag by the door, full of our little one's outerwear so we're always ready to go play in the snow!  

St. Patrick's Day Sale

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  

To celebrate I'm offering 20% off everything in the shop today AND tomorrow.  Just use the coupon code LUCKY20.

Coupon code expires midnight EST on 03/18/15.

Local Product Love: Black Dinah Chocolatiers' Dark Spiced Sipping Chocolate

It's cold and yucky out and nothing puts the end of winter blues at bay quite like a nice cup of hot chocolate.  I've recently discovered my new absolute favorite and wanted to share!  It's called Black Dinah Chocolatiers' Dark Spiced Sipping Chocolate and it's made right in Isle Au Haut, Maine.  I don't know if I can explain just how good it is, but I'll try ;) 

It's easy to make, just a tablespoon of the sipping chocolate powder, some sweetener, and some milk heated in a saucepan and you have a delicious, thick, lightly spiced hot chocolate.  My favorite detail of this sipping chocolate is the spices - it doesn't have a hot kick like Mexican hot chocolate, instead it just adds the perfect amount of flavor.  Oh, and it smells ah-mazing.  

I received this product as part of a promotion from Daytrip Society, but all opinions expressed are my own.  

Now on Hometalk!

Birch Landing Home is now on Hometalk!  I'll be sharing some, but not all, of my tutorial posts over there as well - so if you're on there please give me a follow!  

New Etsy Listing: Rustic Birch Chalkboard Gift Tags

Now on Etsy, I have some really cute rustic birch chalkboard tags available.  They are perfect for adding the finishing touch to a small gift - and the best part? They're reusable! 

I plan on having more new items coming soon too, I promise!  

DIY No-Sew Baby Legwarmers

Baby legwarmers are huge right now, and with good reason - they're just too cute on those chubby little legs!  

Today I have the easiest no-sew DIY on how to make your own baby legwarmers from something you already have in the house.  In fact it's so easy that I made these this morning before I even finished my first cup of coffee - now that's saying something!  

Materials: 

• Tall socks (preferably knee socks)
• scissors

How-to: 

Take an old pair of tall socks (I used a pair of tall dress socks that I never wear), and cut off the feet... that's it!  (See?  I told you it was easy!)  Then use the tube portion of the socks for baby's little legwarmers.  

These would be especially cute made with tall, slouchy tube socks in fun colors or patterns.  Target always has fun socks for a dollar or two and I know I'll be picking some up next time I go to make more of these for our little one.  

You most likely won't have to hem these legwarmers but depending on the material and weave of the socks, you may want to.  

These little legwarmers would look especially cute paired with a wrap headband like those from Andy Sachs or Rascal & Roo.  I tried to put one on Miss M this morning for these pictures, but she wasn't having it.. typical toddler ;)

(Excuse the frosty toddler handprints and puppy noseprints on the glass.. it's a never-ending battle.)