Cheers to 10 Years!

10 years ago today I launched this blog/business. I was a new mom looking for a creative outlet. Over the years I’ve had some pretty amazing opportunities - being mentioned in Martha Stewart Living Magazine and New Hampshire Magazine, being a contributor for an article in Food Network Magazine, getting interviewed for a lifestyle article by The Wall Street Journal. Also working with some huge brands for features like The Home Depot, L.L.Bean, Nûby USA, Lovevery, Safety 1st, and others - not to mention countless amazing local brands.

Despite all that this business has never “made it big” and that’s okay - I’ve really enjoyed this outlet and will continue to work on it and keep it fun. I have so many ideas for products and projects and will continue to make progress towards those ideas as real life allows.

Thanks so much for following along and supporting me these last 10 years - here’s to 10 more of Birch Landing Home!

Best,
Sarah

PS - to celebrate 10 years everything in our Etsy Shop is 10% Off through August 10th.

Getting Ready for Back to School 2021

We’re getting ready to send our oldest back to school in person for the first time in about 18 months and I don’t know who’s more nervous - me or her. Nevertheless, we’re trying hard to be positive and prepare her as best we can for the return to school. I thought I would share some of the things we’re packing in the event it helps other parents think of things to pack too. | This post contains affiliate links |

Disclaimer: I am not giving medical advice… please consult the CDC, your doctor, etc for what supplies your child should need for themselves and their school situation.

Some Ideas for Back to School Supplies 2021

• Sturdy Backpack - We're huge fans of L.L. Bean backpacks. They're built to last so we buy a size bigger than our kids need in order to last them many years to come. Since our school does a lot with computers we made sure to pick a backpack that also has a built-in laptop sleeve. (Side note: We always add some added visibility to our kids' gear with Gear Aid Reflective Patches.)
• Hand Sanitizer - We got some small "key chain" hand sanitizer dispensers to attach to both her backpack and her lunch box so cleaning her hands whenever she needs to will be easy, especially important before adjusting or taking off masks and before eating/drinking.
• Covered Water Bottle - This was a small upgrade we thought might be useful this year. In the past our daughter always used reusable water bottles with an exposed spout, however we thought it might be a better idea to have one that keeps the spout covered when not in use to help keep it cleaner.
• Good Masks - We did our best to try to find better masks for this year that are supposed to have better filtration. We have some child-sized "M95" ones as well as some cloth masks that have special filters that go inside of them.
• Mask Cases/System - I have no idea if this system will be practical, but we're going to give it a try! I ordered these clear mask cases from Amazon and cut labels for them on my Cricut. We'll be packing one with extra clean masks, and the other will be empty for dirty masks to come home in. Since we invested in some better quality masks I wanted to make sure they stay in cases when not in use to keep them in good shape.
• Breakaway Mask Lanyard - These can be handy during times when masks come down (lunch/snack, mask breaks outside, etc).
• Label Everything - Pandemic or not, it's important to label all the things when kids go to school. We love this label maker for making quick and easy labels for water bottles, cases, sports gear, etc.

I hope that gave you some ideas of things you may want to pack for your children too, I hope you all have a safe, happy, and healthy school year!

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Favorite Finds of 2020

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.

Aura Cacia Aromatherapy Spray

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.

LL Bean Boots Buying + Styling Tips

Those iconic L.L. Bean Boots - everybody's wearing them and everybody wants them, but sometimes they can be hard to find!  They often go through periods of being backordered so I’d recommend buying early in the season so you don't risk having to wait.  But before you order, be sure to read our review because there's some things you should definitely know first!  | This post contains affiliate links |

Sizing

The sizing for L.L. Bean's "Bean Boots" is definitely kind of tricky and I'd highly recommend trying them on in-store before purchasing, even if you're going to order them online (though, L.L. Bean does have a great return/exchange policy if you do end up ordering the wrong size online). Bean Boots only come in whole sizes and run BIG. For example, I typically wear a size 8-8.5 shoe but in Bean Boots I'm a size 7 and they still feel quite roomy. Keep in mind too if you typically wear a very small women's size shoe, you may need to check out the kid's sizes if you're unable to size down anymore in women's.
When trying on the boots make sure to wear what kind of socks you're planning on using them with (whether it's regular thin socks or thick ragg socks ), to get a better idea of the fit.

Women's Bean Boots come in two different rises too - 6" rise or 8" rise.  Try both on to see what's more comfortable and what style you like better.  I personally prefer the 8" rise - here in New England it's a bit more practical with the deeper snow in the winter and I also feel like it's the more classic style. 

L.L. Bean also makes Bean Boot Moccasins as well as Small Batch Boots and Signature styles with fun colors and linings - there are so many options!

Where to Buy

During Fall and Winter when there's a big rush on Bean Boots and it may be very difficult to find the exact style and size you want in-store or even online.  You may need to shop around a bit to find what you're looking for.. or wait for your backordered item to come in.  L.L. Bean Outlet stores can be a great resource too!  Boots and other items that were ordered online and returned often end up at the outlets - and at a discount to boot!  (Ha, couldn't pass up a boot pun.)  In fact, I got my Bean Boots for 40% off at the outlets - now that's a great deal!  

One thing to keep in mind about outlet shopping is that they will likely have a large selection of bigger sizes of Bean Boots, and less of the smaller sizes... this is because so many people mistakenly order their normal size without realizing how big they run.  When I bought my Bean Boots at the Outlets, they had tons of sizes 8, 9, and 10 - and the ones I bought were literally the very last pair of size 7's.  

If you decide to purchase your Bean Boots online, keep in mind that coupons or regular L.L. Bean sales may not apply to them because they're such a popular item - you may have better luck earning some rebate money back on your purchase with a program like Rakuten (formerly called Ebates). L.L. Bean also has a great return and exchange policy, so if you buy online and it doesn't fit quite right, you should have no trouble exchanging for another size (just make sure to keep your reciept/packing slip for proof of purchase).

Styling

What doesn't go with Bean Boots? Seriously - just about anything goes with them (I've even seen people wear them to their wedding!). But really you can't go wrong with some fitted jeans, ragg socks, and a cozy pullover. I've linked to some of my favorite L.L. Bean looks below and all would look great paired with Bean Boots.

L.L. Bean Style

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Originally published 11/1/17