I finally did it… I jumped on the Stanley Tumbler bandwagon. The 40oz Stanley Tumbler cups are the “it” accessory at the moment and seen everywhere. But the big question is, are they worth it? In my opinion, yes… and no. Let me explain. | This post is not sponsored but contains affiliate links and an honest opinion of products |
First, I’ll share the reasons why I think you should *not* get one:
You already have a straw tumbler. So many of us already have another brand tumbler and we really don’t need another one just because this style is popular at the moment. If your current tumbler is doing it’s job just fine then don’t bother jumping on this bandwagon and save your money.
It’s HEAVY. Really heavy. At 40oz when this tumbler is full it is super heavy - it’s really not practical to carry around all day like you see those influencers on Instagram doing.
Now why I think you *should* get one:
- You're in need of a straw tumbler. I actually was in need to upgrade my old tumbler. My
old straw tumbler
was 10(!) years old and not insulated... I was tired of it leaving condensation marks on our coffee table and it never kept my water cold for long.
- You like your beverages cold (or hot). While I haven't tried my
new Stanley Tumbler
with hot beverages yet, I'm very impressed how it keeps things cold super long. I'll take a sip of water the next morning and it's still nice and cold from the day before!
- You keep your beverage at your desk or in your car. The large size isn't an issue if you tend to leave your cup in the same place for long periods of time. I typically leave my tumbler on the kitchen counter or on the coffee table and constantly sip it throughout the day so the large size wasn't a problem for me. This cup also fits nicely in our car's cupholders.
- You're trying to increase your water consumption. If you're looking drink more water, this large cup definitely helps get it done.
Overall - I am happy I jumped on the Stanley Tumbler bandwagon. I don't condone buying the "it" thing everytime if you don't need it, but if you are actually in need of a straw tumbler I have been very happy with my Stanley one.
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Our kids’ playhouse is pretty special - it was built for them by their Grandfather and the door was built by their Dad. It’s a special spot that has gotten a lot of use over the years and is always a hit when they have friends over. For awhile now I’ve wanted to add a little flagpole but wasn’t able to find an affordable boat flagpole in the dimensions I needed so I decided to make one myself. | This post contains affiliate links |
- 12"x 18" boat flag (I used a nautical-inspired one but you could get a traditional American flag too)
- dowel (I used 3/4")
- small piece of 2x4
- drill and screws
- wooden knob that fits on end of dowel
- paint (white and gold)
- wood glue
- clothes line rope
- optional: you could use a boat flagpole and bracket kit if you wanted to make this quick and easy, but I was trying to make this project as inexpensively as possible and opted to make it myself with scrap wood we already had - I also wanted more control over the length of the pole and the angle which is another reason why I decided to make it myself.
First, I decided on the angle of the dowel into the scrap piece of 2x4 and made a pilot hole at that angle with a small drill. Then I kept going up in drill sizes to make the hole the correct diameter. (Note: I do not recommend using a spade bit.. I tried that and it was terrible going in at an angle. We ended up borrowing a drill bit in correct final size to finish the hole.)
Once the hole was made I glued the dowel into it with some wood glue then painted it white with several coats of paint. While I was waiting for that to dry I moved on to painting the wooden knob with several coats of gold paint and then let that dry too.
Next I drilled a small hole into the end of the top of the flag pole and cut some toothpicks down to fit inside the hole but stick out far enough to also fit into the hole in the wooden knob. Then I added wood glue and put the knob onto the end of the flagpole. (Note: Using toothpicks to reinforce this joining is key - if just wood glue was used it would be at more risk to break off, but the toothpick reinforcement going through really helps!)
And now we can attach the flag! I just used some cotton clothes line rope to tie the flag to the flagpole. The wooden flagpole has enough grip and the flag is so small that we don’t have any issue with the flag sliding down or moving.
Now that your flag is assembled you just have to mount it. I screwed the base into the side of the playhouse then touched up the screw heads with white paint to help them blend in.
The finished product!
I will probably take the flag down come winter, as our harsh New England winters with heavy snow and ice would likely damage the pole but then I plan to put it right back up in the spring.
| "The Cottage" Sign - I made this a few years ago by making a stencil for the words using my Cricut and having the kids dip their hands in paint for the handprints. |
A few other Playhouse details…
I just love the simple details of our little playhouse - my favorite being the amazing custom farm-style door my husband made for the playhouse.
| Similar Wireless Doorbell - we put the button on the porch post and hung the box inside the playhouse so the kids can ring the doorbell to be let in. | Similar Kid-Sized Adirondack Chair - we got a kid-sized adirondack chair at a yardsale and painted it the same bright green that we painted the door (the original chair was yellow!). |
| Peep Hole - We added a peep hole to the playhouse door too. The kids love looking through it to see who's ringing the doorbell. | "Friends" Reference - I just had to paint a gold frame on the back of the door around the peep hole, just like on the TV show "Friends." |
| Porch Bell - the kids always get a kick out of ringing it to call their friends in from around the yard. |
| Chalkboard - Inside the playhouse I painted one wall in chalkboard paint so the kids have a space to draw. We just keep the chalk and eraser on one of the windowsills inside the playhouse. |
PS - At Christmas we even decorate the playhouse with solar Christmas lights and a wreath!
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We’ve been long-time fans and customers of Maine Rope Mats - they are rugged, functional, and add some New England nautical flair to your home. Our mats have held up beautifully to years of harsh New England weather - sun, snow, and mud. Maine Rope Mats was kind enough to send us a few of their new products for us to style and share about.
| This post contains an honest review of product provided by Maine Rope Mats |
At Home in the Woods as well as on the Seacoast
Maine Rope Mats definitely have a nautical vibe to them (they are made from lobster-style ropes after all), but nevertheless they fit right in at a cabin in the woods as well as at a cape on the cape.
We love mixing and matching the mats with other accessories too - like their Maine Rope Baskets. These rugged baskets would be perfect for holding a potted plant, gardening tools, or flip flops and towels for a walk down to the lake.
Wipe Your Paws
These mats also hold up well to our four-legged friends too - just make sure to wipe your paws before coming in the cabin! (PS - Maine Rope Mats also makes awesome dog leashes from soft but strong yacht braid rope. Those are definitely next on our wishlist.)
Perfect for Play Too
Maine Rope Mats are also the perfect addition to a child’s play house - or a Hobbit’s house ;)
They add the perfect touch of whimsy and help keep sand and mud from getting tracked inside.
Here’s a pro-tip for all you campers out there: pack a Maine Rope Mat to put in front of your tent door. It really makes a huge difference in reducing the amount of mud and wood chips that get tracked into the tent. It also makes a great spot for the pup to hang out too.
We’re long-time fans of Maine Rope Mats are looking forward to many more years enjoying our rugged and stylish mats!
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- I received these items for review from Maine Rope Mats but all opinions expressed are my own. Please see our full Disclosure Policy for more information -
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Looking for our products locally in New England? Here are some wonderful shops that are should be in stock right now:
New Hampshire
Maine
Vermont
Stores may carry different items, so please reach out to them if you’re looking for something in particular.
Interested in becoming a Stockist? Please send me a message with any questions regarding wholesale inquiries. I would be happy to send you a line sheet and/or a sample product. Thank you!
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A tradition I started six years ago was to donate a percentage of profits from Birch Landing Home at year-end to Charity. This year we were able to help support The New Hampshire Food Bank - I chose to support this charity because food insecurity has become an issue for many more families this year due to inflation and rising costs.
Thank you so much for all your support this past year, it has definitely been a different year with me returning to work while still trying to balance Birch Landing Home. Nevertheless, I am thankful for my Wholesale Accounts and continued traffic on my blog to make these donations happen. I hope to continue to grow Birch Landing Home and be able to give back more each year in return. Thank you all!
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Just a quick reminder to shop small and shop local this season - and always! In particular I would be so grateful if you could show some love to the storefronts that help support Birch Landing Home!
Our Stockists with items currently in stock include:
Wiglesworth’s Mercantile - Portsmouth, NH (handmade birch ornaments)
Hazel Moon Botanicals - Meredith, NH (stickers)
White Mountain Trading Co. - Lincoln, NH (stickers)
Gilford Country Store - Gilford, NH (stickers)
The Makers Bazaar - Wolfeboro/Center Harbor/Manchester, NH (stickers)
more to be listed soon as I send more inventory…
And as always you can also shop our Etsy Storefront. Thanks so much for the support!
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By popular demand I’m now also offering Birch Vermont Vinyl Stickers! Limited quantities are available for this first run, so make sure to grab yours before our Cyber Week Sale ends on 11/30/22!
PS - All of our Stickers are also available for wholesale! If you are shop that would like to carry them, please send me a message for more information.
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Cyber Week is fast approaching and we’re joining in! Now through the end of November we’re offering 20% Off EVERYTHING in our Etsy Shop - yes, even the handmade items that rarely go on sale!
Now is your chance to snag that item you’ve had your eye on or stock up on some stickers for stocking stuffers. Quantities are limited, so make sure to shop early ;)
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