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! |
Last summer Pinterest blew up with DIY Cattle Panel Trellises and I decided I was going to jump on this bandwagon next season… And so here we are - it’s spring and I’m excited to get this set up and document my garden’s progress this year. | This post contains affiliate links |
- This post will show how we built our Cattle Panel Arch and I will also add progress photos to this post as our garden grows -
To make a Cattle Panel Trellis, you really only need a few things. We picked up most of our materials at a local Tractor Supply store but you could find these materials at other farm/garden centers too or order online. The trickiest part was getting everything home since the cattle panel is fairly large. Thankfully my father-in-law has a pickup truck and was able to pick up the items for us.
First, figure out where you want your arch to go. For us we put it just inside our garden gate to frame the entrance. It’s also on the north side of our garden so it won’t shade the other veggies too much.
Once you have it laid out and square, drive the t-posts in with a hammer or post driver until they’re deep and sturdy. This was easier-said-than-done with our rocky soil here in NH, so one post couldn’t go in quite as deep as the others but it was sturdy enough still.
Next gently bend the cattle panel into a “rainbow” and set it inside the square you made. (Next year we might move our t-posts out a little wider to get a more gentle and less-tall arch, but this worked fine for us too as-is.)
Once you get it in place, secure it with hose clamps, heavy duty wire, or some rope so it stays in place.
Now you can plant! We planted ours with vining cucumbers, but you could plant just about any vining plant on these - including peas, squash, ornamental gourds, flowers, etc.
The vines do a great job climbing the arch on their own, but it’s a good idea to check them daily and gently guide the vines where you want them. There’s always a rogue vine that will try to go the other way! They will especially need some help being trained to follow along the top of the arch since their natural inclination will be to continue growing straight up rather than bending around the curve at the top.
And that’s it! Overall it was a very easy project and one we will definitely continue with in the future. I also noticed a huge benefit for our pollinators too - the bees were able to reach the flowers easily and we had a bumper crop of cucumbers this year. They were also very easy to pick hanging down from the arch.
Good luck on your cattle panel trellis adventure!
From earlier in the season, before the vines reached the top.
Recently I realized “Crap. I’m almost in my mid-30’s… and it’s all downhill from here. Time to start proactively taking care of my skin!” Up until this point I was just washing my face and maybe using some moisturizer some days and that was it. Thankfully I don’t really have any wrinkles or fine lines to speak of - yet - but I know they’ll be coming on soon. After some trial and error and consulting some friends that are really into skincare products, I settled on a simple routine that I’m enjoying so far and feel as though I’m getting the best bang for my buck. The best part? Most of these are inexpensive drug store finds, with just a few high-end heavy hitters. | This post contains affiliate links |
Simple Mid-30's Skincare Routine - Everything I’m using as the moment, including occasional treatments.
Disclaimer: I am not a “beauty blogger” or skincare expert, just sharing what I’m using and loving so far. It’s a good idea to consult your dermatologist or a skincare expert for more specific recommendations for your skin type and lifestyle. Also make sure to consult your doctor if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, as certain skincare ingredients should not be used during those times.
AM Routine
Simple Mid-30's Skincare Routine - AM
Step One:Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleanser Every morning I start with using this Neturogena Naturals Cleanser, I really love this one because it's very gentle on my sensitive skin and smells amazing.
Step Two: CeraVe Vitamin C Serum (not pictured.. I started using this after I first published this post) After I cleanse and before I moisturize I put a little bit of this Vitamin C Serum on my skin. I feel as though it's made a big difference in evening out my skin tone and brightening. I also really love the way it feels!
Step Three: Clinique Moisture Surge Moisturizer I have been using this moisturizer for years and LOVE it. It's so light and a little goes a really long way. While it is a little on the expensive side, one jar lasts me forever so I definitely get a lot bang for my buck with this one.
What I'm Missing:SUNSCREEN This is a huge hole in my daily regimen and I know that... I have been trying to find a light, mineral based sunscreen for daily wear and haven't found the right one just yet. Once I find one I like I will update this post - and if you have any you love, please let me know!
PM Routine
Simple Mid-30's Skincare Routine - PM Routine
Step One: Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water This cleanser is perfect for end-of-day cleansing and removing makeup. I use the Blue verison since I sometimes wear waterproof mascara and it works like a charm to take it all off (the Pink version is reccomended for regular cleansing and non-water proof makeup removal). I just put a little bit on a cotton round and wipe it all away, no rinsing needed.
Step Two: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum This serum has come highly reccomended to me by so many people as an important part of their daily skincare routine. It has hyaluronic acid which is supposed to help moisturize your skin and reduce fine lines. While I can't attest to wrinkle reduction (I don't have any yet), it does make my skin feel amazingly smooth afterwards and I'm hoping it will keep fine lines at bay in the future. This serum can be expensive but I find a little goes a long way and I haven't made much of a dent in the bottle at all yet.
These are things I do occasionally, maybe once every 2-4 weeks or whenever I feel like it. I never use both masks in the same weekend though - I spread them out.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrogel Mask This is a great, refreshing, hydrating mask. Love using this when my skin might be feeling a little dull or dry.
Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask This mask is amazing for deep cleaning pores! It comes as a powder and you mix a little in a bowl with some warm water to make the mask - you can also mix it with a little bit of Apple Cider Vinegar to give the mask a little more power. Since you mix it yourself you can stretch one jar for a long time.
Vanicream Lite Lotion I got this as a sample and love it for spot treating any extra dry spots that occasionally pop up, especially after doing a mask. It's fragrence-free too which is a nice break when my skin might be feeling sensitive.
Important Buying Tip: When purchasing “higher end” brands (such as Clinique or Estée Lauder), always make sure you’re purchasing directly from the company or from an established department store chain (such as Nordstrom, Macy’s, etc) to make sure you’re getting real, legitimate products. While you may be able to find high-end brands listed for sale on other online retailers (yes, even the big ones), these products are often knock-offs sold by third party sellers and who knows what could be in them.
Just stumbled across this sweet mention of our Ornaments on the Artists & Makers Page of Wiglesworth’s Mercantile’s website - thank you so much Anne! I was so honored to be a part of the opening of your shop and through your first Christmas season.
If you’re ever in Portsmouth NH, please be sure to check out Wiglesworth’s Mercantile in person - they cater to carrying New England-made products and have “Give Back” weekends once a quarter where they donate 10% of sales to local charities (how wonderful is that?!).
In January of last year I wrote a post about how one of my big goals for the year was to use less plastic in our daily lives…. but then as you know, everyone’s daily lives changed a lot due to the Covid Pandemic. Even though it was a very strange year that changed our normal, we still made some good progress towards our goal to use less plastic. | This post contains affiliate links |
Below are the improvements we planned to make in 2020, and how well we carried them out one year later… and how we could have done better:
Reusable Water Bottles. We did great with our goal to use reusable water bottles and not buy bottled drinks when out... it especially helped that we didn't go out much for most of the year, so drinking water at home was very easy.
Reusable Grocery Bags. Through March we used our reusable grocery bags for every trip, but once the Covid Pandemic started our state banned reusable bags in order to try to curb the spread of germs. They have since allowed reusable bags again, but many stores still won't use them at this time. So until the pandemic is over and everyone feels comfortable about reusable grocery bags again, we plan to ask for paper over plastic.
Reusable Produce Bags. This fell to the same fate as Reusable Grocery Bags above, and I have been just using the store-provided plastic produce bags. Though, I did write to the grocery store chain to ask them to make the switch to compostable produce bags... hopefully they will eventually.
Reusable Travel Mug for Coffee/Tea. This was quite easy again since we didn't go out much this year. We made a point to avoid unneccessary stops and we didn't stop at coffee shops much... instead, if we were going for a drive we would make our coffee at home and take it to-go in one of our own reusable mugs.
Silicone "Plastic" Bags. Last year I told myself I would purchase some reusable silicone plastic bags for our kids' lunch boxes once we started to get low on our plastic bags (we had a very large box of them), but then school was cancelled soon after that and we haven't had the need for them yet. However, I have since come across these Compostable Wax Paper Bags, and once school is open again I think I will probably use these until our kids are a bit older and I know they won't throw away the expensive silicone ones by accident.
Silicone "Plastic" Wrap. We ended up getting some Silicone Covers and have loved them - they work great for covering leftovers in the fridge or cut-up fruit and it saves us from using a lot of plastic wrap.
Glass or Metal "Tupperware". We were planning on waiting on this one as we still have very functional plastic Tupperware and don't need to replace it yet. Once we need some new containers we will make a point to get more eco-friendly, non-plastic options.
Sustainably Made Wooden Toys. Our kids are still loving and playing with the wooden toys they have gotten in the past. I don't think we added any new ones this year, but I still think that getting some heirloom quality, sustainably made wooden toys for young kids is a great idea.
I thought I would do a quick round up of my Favorite Finds of 2020. These are products or items that we loved or used frequently and were new to us this past year or became a staple in our routine - best of all, most are under $30! | This post contains affiliate links |
Favorite Finds of 2020
“Unpaper Towels”
I know I've talked about this several times now, but making the switch to these "Unpaper Towels" has definitely been my top Favorite Find of 2020. They save us money every month on buying paper products and since they're reusable they're good for the environment in the long run. So happy we made the switch!
Stars Above Pajama Set
With the year that it's been having a cozy PJ set has been a must. I got this Stars Above Pajama Set from Target (just added it on to my online order) this winter and they have quickly become my favorite. They are SOO soft and luxurious feeling, perfect for lounging around at home.
OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker
My husband got this OXO Cold Brew Coffee Maker as a birthday gift and we've both been enjoying it all year. Now that we can't go out for coffee all the time it's been really nice to be able to make our own cold brew concentrate right at home.
Mask Lanyards
Mask Lanyards have been the unsung accessory hero this year. We've been using them every time we go hiking so we can have our masks at the ready if we unexpectedly come across others. We chose ones with a breakaway feature for some added safety.
This year I've been using my Aura Cacia Lavender Aromatherapy Spray on our linens every night before we go to bed - it's so relaxing and spa-like and we find it helps us fall asleep. (Make sure to spot test on your linens first, but we've had no problems using it on our fabrics.)
Powdered Tide for Cleaning
This year I jumped on the Powdered Tide bandwagon - for cleaning, not for laundry. Just a little Powdered Tide mixed with warm water does wonders for washing smudgy walls and built-up grime on surfaces. I keep it under my kitchen sink (in an airtight plastic bag so moisture doesn't get to it), so it's ready to use anytime. It's such a great cleaning hack!
Hug Patrol Shoulder Wrap
I mean, who couldn't use a hug this year? Hug Patrol makes weighted wraps, blankets, and more. I collaborated with them last January (you can read that previous post HERE), but the wrap became a wonderful addition to my routine. It's so peaceful and comforting to curl up on the couch with a good book and the weighted wrap across my shoulders.
L.L. Bean Sweater Fleece
I've actually had this L.L. Bean Sweater Fleece for a few years now, but it's really gotten a lot of use this year as my go-to for "Driveway Visits" with family and friends. We've been having socially distant driveway visits (outside, everyone standing far apart and masked, no contact) to see our family and friends when we can. This Sweater Fleece has been great as a casual and cozy layer that still looks nice for those chilly visits outside.
With the Covid Pandemic still unfortunately raging, we've been playing more board games the last few months while we’ve been home. To be honest, I had forgotten how enjoyable board games can be and our kids have also come to really love playing them too. I thought I would share some of our personal family favorites in case you’re looking for new ideas too. | This post contains affiliate links |
Our Favorite Board Games
Puzzles - Puzzles are always a family favorite here... they're just so relaxing! You can find them for just about every age and skill level which is great too.
Chutes and Ladders - This is a personal favorite from my childhood and our kids have come to love it too.
Battleship - Our six-year-old really loves this game. She gets so excited when she sinks a ship.
Candy Land - A cutesy game perfect for young kids who can't read or count dice yet, but still enjoyable for older kids and adults too.
Jenga - Our three-year-old has gotten surprising good at this game. She's beat me several times now.
Connect 4 - Like tic-tac-toe but more interesting and so easy to play.
Zingo Sight Words - A great educational game for kids just learning their sight words and how to read.
Apples to Apples - Great for adults and teenagers. I have so many great memories playing this game a lot in college with my roommates and friends.
These were just a few of our favorites and I’ll be sure to add to this list as we find more we love. Do you have a favorite family-friendly game we should try next?
Happy Small Business Saturday! Just wanted to hop on here real quick and share just a few of my favorite small businesses and makers, most of which are based right here in New England. Quite a few are having sales today, so please go check them out and support them if you can!
Small Business Saturday Picks
Wiglesworth's Mercantile - Wiglesworth's Mercantile is one of the newest shops in Portsmouth, NH. The owner Anne is committed to only carrying items made right here in New England, and this week she is giving back to local charities with every purchase at her store (I love that so much!).
Mermaids & Madeleines - Heather from Mermaids & Madeleines makes the most beautiful, bright coastal-inspired jewelry around. She's also such a positive, happy soul and a joy to follow on Instagram.
Wolfeboro Candle Company - Carrie from Wolfeboro Candle Company makes wonderful candles, and this season is offering Gift Boxes too (our Hand-Etched Snowflake Ornament is included in the Large Gift Box).
Maine Rope Mats - Maine Rope Mats makes amazing recycled lobster rope mats and products. We personally have two of their mats and love the fun it brings to our doorways.
S.Lynch Knitwear - Samantha isn't actually from New England, but is a New Englander at heart and it shows in her beautifully made knitted items. I just love her chunky knit hats and her craftsmenship is beautiful!
Daytrip Society - Daytrip and Datyrip Jr., both in Kennebunkport Maine, are some of my favorite stores around. They are beautifully currated and have such thoughtful and unqiue gift ideas.
Watts in Maine - Watts in Maine is best known for their Perfect Catch Cuff, but also offers other jewelry and accessory items as well. They also have made donations to help with Shark Research.
Sewcialite - Roula of Sewcialite hustles so hard every day, working fulltime and creating the most amazing coastal-inspired rope creations and jewelry in her spare time.
Just a quick PSA that if you were ever considering taking a class or course in something but the schedule or distance put you off, to look into it again. So many courses out there that were in-person only have been converted to online-based during the pandemic. College courses, continuing education, licensing for various things, etc. Of course not everything is available online now but a lot is, making it more accessible than ever - so stop putting it off and get to it, whether it’s something personal or professional.
What courses have I done, you ask? Well, nothing too crazy - but I was able to finally check a few personal goals off of my list. For years I’ve been wanting to get my OHRV (Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle) License and Boating Safety License but never seemed to find the time to line up taking the courses on a weekend. However our state is now letting you complete these online which was great, so over the summer I was able to complete both of them as well as my Paddling Safety Certificate (for canoeing/kayaking) all online and at my leisure which was wonderful.
I really enjoyed finally checking these courses off of my to-do list and hopefully you will find something you’ve been wanting to accomplish available online too!
