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! |
Amazon is a lifesaver in our house. We live about an hour from the nearest big box store, so whenever we run out of paper towels, cereal, garbage bags, dog food, whatever - Amazon comes to the rescue. We've been Amazon Prime members for years now, which grants us FREE 2-day shipping on most items on Amazon. Right now we also use Amazon Video exclusively for our streaming TV service.
This year Amazon Prime Day is July 12th, which means that Amazon will be having Black Friday-type deals that day but for Prime members only. If you're one of the few people out there that doesn't have Amazon Prime yet, you can click the link below to start your Free 30-Day Trial and take advantage of the savings on Prime Day. Happy Shopping! :)
Ever have a favorite mug but the handle broke? :( Well that very thing happened to this great Salmon Falls Chowder Mug I have. I superglued it back together and while the repair looked pretty good I didn't dare trust it to hold a piping hot cup of soup or coffee over my lap anymore. I was thinking of tossing it but decided to repurpose it into a little herb planter for the kitchen instead.
The first step was to fill the bottom with some gravel so my herbs won't sit directly in water. Alternatively, you could drill a hole in the bottom for drainage and put a saucer underneath, but since I don't have anything to put under the mug that matches I decided to use it as-is.
Then I filled it with dirt and added an Italian Chive plant I picked up at the local garden center and it was done! (Pretty easy, right?) Depending on the size of your mug and your plants, you could add more than one type of herb in it. You could also grow your herbs from seed.
Now I just need to keep it on a sunny windowsill and water it very carefully as needed. Keep in mind since there's no drainage hole at the bottom and it's a small container, it would be very easy to over-water a plant like this.
Thankful for our family, friends, freedom, and those protecting it all. We spent a quiet weekend around town with family and that was just perfect for us.
I was recently interviewed by Lori over at B. Gatsby Blogs to talk a little bit about Birch Landing Home and being a mamapreneur. Check out her post here to see the full interview and while you're visiting her blog make sure to check out other interviews from fellow mom bosses!
New to the Etsy shop for 2016, Compass Rose Hand-Etched Ornaments in Birch. These are a fun way to add some nautical flair to your home decor or Christmas tree - also a perfect favor for a coastal-inspired wedding!
As always, wholesale inquiries are welcome - please send me a message for pricing information.
I'm a New Hampshire native, born and raised. I love this state and all the great things it has to offer. I thought I'd share some of our favorites - from the city, mountains, ocean, and countryside, New Hampshire has it all!
Things to Do in New Hampshire This Summer
- This list will be continually added to, so be sure to check back often for more ideas -
The Flume
Located in the White Mountains, The Flume is a fairly short loop trail that brings you right through a narrow gorge with a rushing river and several waterfalls. There is a covered bridge, stairs, and deck walkways to help you through the tricky parts with ease.
Castle in the Clouds
I confess I'm biased to this place - afterall it's where my husband popped the question and where we got married :) But Castle in the Clouds does offer some of the most breathtaking views of the Lakes Region from the lawn of the Lucknow Estate (aka "The Castle"), where you can also explore the rooms of the mansion during your-self guided tour. There are also miles of hiking trails, horseback riding, and a restaurant on site.
Polly's Pancake Parlor + Lupine Festival
Pancakes - do we really have to say more..? But seriously folks, Polly's has amazing pancakes, delicious hearty breakfasts, and great views of the mountains. We recommend making the trip up there in June for the Lupine Festival and checking out the gorgeous fields of lupines in bloom after your hearty breakfast.
Strawberry Banke
Strawberry Banke, a 10-acre historic collection of buildings along the seaside in Portsmouth is rich in history and historic architecture. The buildings on the property span 300 years and costumed guides and artisans fill you in on interesting stories and facts from an era gone by. I especially love seeing all the quirky features of the buildings there.
4th of July Parade in Wolfeboro
As "The Oldest Summer Resort in America," Wolfeboro does the Fourth like no one else with the largest parade in the state complete with their traditional Precision Lawn Chair Drill Team, Antique Tractor Brigade, and Presidential hopefuls. Jimmy Fallon and Mitt Romney are frequent attendees of the parade.
Isles of Shoals
The Isles of Shoals is a group of islands off the coast of NH is known for it's rugged coastal beauty and it's historical significance. Guided tours are available through the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company. (Taking a tour of the islands is something we haven't done ourselves yet but have been meaning to for years - this year we plan to change that though and finally go!)
Paddleboard Yoga
There are various places around NH that offer this new trend, one being Full Moon Paddleboard in Wolfeboro. It's a lot of fun and adds a whole other level to your yoga practice. Whether you're a yogi master or just a beginner, you'll have a fun (yet challenging) time.
Zip-Lining
There are many places throughout the state that offer zip line tours and obstacle courses. We've gone with Alpine Adventures in Lincoln before and highly recommend them - great staff, great views, and a lot of fun.
Go Hiking
There are countless mountains and great hiking trails in New Hampshire (this website is a great resource for trail info), but Mount Monadnock is definitely the most popular. After all it's one of the most-hiked mountains in the world, and with good reason - a moderately difficult hike rewards you with great 360-degree views atop it's rocky peak. If you hike Mt. Monadnock we recommend getting there early to beat the crowds, then getting lunch and ice cream at Kimball's in Jaffrey after.
Cog Railway
A must-do, the Cog Railway brings you up Mount Washington (the tallest mountain in the Northeast) on the first mountain-climbing train in the world! Make sure to bring extra clothes for the summit since Mt. Washington is also home to some of the world's worst weather.
Go Camping
There are countless campgrounds across the state, with varying degrees of amenities. Two of our personal favorite campgrounds are Fransted Campground in Franconia and Crawford Notch Campground in Hart's Location - both are family friendly, well-kept, and convenient to hiking trails.
Canoe Trip
There are also many canoe tour companies throughout the state, but we really love Contoocook River Canoe Company in Concord, NH. They offer many choices for rentals, shuttles, and tours of surrounding rivers and lakes. I've done the 9-mile Contoocook River Tour a few times and can't say enough great things about it.
Clark's Trading Post
A true NH novelty, Clark's Trading Post is a little theme park tucked away in the White Mountains. It's best known for it's trained black bear act and "The Wolfman," an ornery prospector who chases the train ride to keep visitors away from his mine.
A day in Portsmouth
Portsmouth is a gem of a city tucked away along the seacoast - there are countless amazing restaurants to eat at, unique shops to explore, and historic buildings to see. Get into downtown before 11AM to best ensure finding a parking spot in the downtown parking garage, then spend the rest of the day eating and shopping your way through town.
Fisher Cats Game
The Fisher Cats is NH's own Minor League baseball team - their beautiful new ballpark is located conveniently in Manchester where affordable tickets ensure everyone can enjoy America's favorite pastime.
Storyland
Storyland is a wonderful theme park where kids of all ages will find rides and attractions to enjoy. I have so many great memories of going to Storyland with my parents and exploring the different themed areas. Our young daughter really loves Storyland as well and I'm so excited to share the experience with her too.
A Day Out with Thomas
If you have a Thomas fan in your family, going to A Day Out with Thomas in North Conway is a must. You'll not only be able to meet Thomas, Percy, and Sir Topham Hatt but you'll also be able to go for a ride on the famous trains!
This time of the afternoon all directions point to coffee (duh), but I thought I'd share a sneak peek of a new ornament design for 2016 - the Hand-Etched Birch Compass!
New England-inspired painted signs will be coming to Birch Landing Home soon too ;) Stay tuned!
Statement necklaces are big right now, and why not put that style to good use by working double-duty as a teether for your tot? Sounds like a great solution to me! Nûby was kind enough to send me two of their new Teething Trends statement necklaces to style and review - and one lucky winner will get to choose one necklace for themselves from Nûby's line!
All of the teething necklaces in Nûby's new line are both on-trend and on-hand when you need them most. By having a teether that you wear, you always have one at the ready when your little one is in need of something to teeth on - especially handy to keep them from gnawing a finger off while you're stuck in a long line at the post office.
These teething necklaces are BPA-free and made from soft silicone so they're easy on tender gums. They also feature a break-away clasp in the event of an overly-grabby toddler but please keep in mind these necklaces are meant for moms to wear, not your teething littles.
There are a variety of colors and styles available, as well as bracelets (not pictured in this review), so you can find one - or seven - that match your style and every item in your wardrobe. What I love most is these don't even look like teethers - they're stylish enough to wear to work or a girls night out.
Mom Style
Necklaces featured are Nûby Teething Trends Medium Oval + Pearl Necklace in Teal and Nûby Teething Trends Pearl Necklace in Grey.
This is probably one of my favorite combos and a perfect outfit for a lunch out with friends. This necklace really pops against the crisp white linen shirt and the straw fedora and aviator sunglasses add some more fun, trendy elements.
The teal teething necklace also pairs perfectly with this geometric print maxi dress, over-sized sunhat, and sunglasses. Perfect outfit for getting ice cream with the family down at the water.
This monochromatic outfit is ideal for doing errands and running around town with a grey and navy striped tunic top, dark washed jeans, and the grey pearl beaded necklace.
Just love the grey pearl beaded necklace against the grey and navy stripes!
This week we made the trek up north to check out the Lupine Festival. The flowers were in full bloom and still gorgeous despite the constant drizzle (though I wish I could have said the same thing about my hair). We dressed for breakfast out and walks around the lupine fields, and the Medium Oval + Pearl Necklace in Teal was a great pop of color against my white button-up and black quilted vest.
**GIVEAWAY!** A teething necklace of your choice from Nûby
One winner will be chosen to receive one (1) Nûby statement teething necklace in their choice of style/color. Open to US entrants only, 18 years or older - winner will be contacted by the email address provided. You can select how many entries you would like to complete but keep in mind an invalid entry (i.e. stating you're following on Instagram, but you are not) will result in disqualification. Thank you and good luck! :)
