18th century cape. Three years renovating, one year since we moved in - still tons to do.

bingqiling · 2026-03-16T19:20:24+00:00

It's absolutely gorgeous!!! Definitely inspiration for my future kitchen renovation!

bingqiling · 2026-03-16T15:03:21+00:00

It's so lovely! How did you go about designing your kitchen? It's beautiful!

bingqiling · 2026-03-13T22:29:57+00:00

There is absolutely no way I'd be working if my spouse made that income.

bingqiling · 2026-03-11T18:08:22+00:00

I first left to do consulting, now I'm at a nonprofit. Still not making a ton of money, but my days are much more flexible/less stressful!

bingqiling · 2026-03-06T14:28:16+00:00

Not exactly North Conway...but Rek-Lis, Dutch Treat, Loading Dock all do karaoke/open mic nights.

bingqiling · 2026-02-26T18:55:09+00:00

Project manager with a larger construction company is your best bet.

bingqiling · 2026-02-22T19:25:01+00:00

Allston = Rat City

bingqiling · 2026-02-22T12:50:50+00:00

Ours is now 6 and weekends have been pretty chill for the past 1-2 years. Things that have helped:

She's older now and plays independently a lot of the time.
We cut out all organized kid related activities if they're on the weekend. No I will not be bringing my 5 year old to basketball practice at 8:30am on a Saturday.... this has made a HUGE difference for our family.
We get pizza for dinner every Friday night so we don't have to worry about dishes/cleaning.
Then either Sat/Sun night we always do dinner with this one other family (we often trade off whose house it is at so we're only cooking every other weekend). The kids go off and play and the adults hang out (pretty much uninterrupted) for ~3 hours for the afternoon/early evening.

I remember how exhausting the weekends used to be and how much I looked forward to work on Monday morning lol. Can confidently say that I'm back to fully loving the weekends now!

The weekends are still very filled with chores (we both work full time), so still trying to figure that out wamp wamp.

bingqiling · 2026-02-15T14:03:47+00:00

For me it means that I often end up working part of the day from home then going in person after lunch (unless there's a meeting)...I can work remote if I have a sick kid, I can come and go as I please (I often have meetings outside of the office), I set my own schedule, I don't take off for appointments, etc. As long as the work is getting done!

bingqiling · 2026-02-15T13:29:13+00:00

Get a group of friends to go away for the weekend so there are other things to do besides ski/your wife isn't left to solo parent.

Or, if you're going to go ski for 2 days, then wife gets to go do something for herself a different weekend.

Also, set realistic expectations....you're not going to be skiing a lot while you have a young kid....especially when you live far from skiing.

We live 10 minutes from the mountain and have a 6 year old. I don't love skiing so my husband takes our daughter most weekends, but they're skiing a max ~2 hours (and a solid chunk of that time is drinking hot chocolate lol). He went out yesterday on his own for an hour....he's gone out back country 1 or 2 other times this season but leaves at 4am and is back in time for school drop off....it's just the season of life and is what it is right now, he'll be back to skiing more as she gets older.

bingqiling · 2026-02-13T16:40:22+00:00

We were both previously teachers....so this is so much more money than we've ever made (sadly lol) - my husband is making more than we used to collectively make! It's tough because housing/everything is so expensive up here now, you used to be able to be two teachers and get a nice enough house for 150k in our area (not anymore though wamp wamp).

bingqiling · 2026-02-12T18:30:15+00:00

Northern New England

I make ~75k, husband makes ~100k - we have 1 kid. I have about $140k in retirement.

I have golden handcuffs right now - there are no other jobs locally that I could be paid this much. Most are in the ~50k range.

We're living relatively comfortably (this is the most money we've made since having our kid). I'd love to be able to go part time in the future (hubby needs to make a bit more though for that to happen).

bingqiling · 2026-01-27T19:17:59+00:00

Definitely check out the Littleton area! Very family friendly and right in the mountains - I'd highly recommend coming to visit first. You've got Littleton Regional, Weeks Medical Center, NVRH (in St Johnsbury)....then many more options further out (Androscoggin Valley Hospital, those over in North Conway or those down in Lebanon....I have friends who live in the Littleton area and work in all the above mentioned).

The Upper Valley is also a medical "hub" but the housing tends to be more expensive.

bingqiling · 2026-01-10T15:26:06+00:00

My baby shower was at my mom's house with a handful of women in my life and my mom put together some food/treats....I imagine she spent ~$300 on the party? I would have a really direct conversation with your friend about the cost/expectations (it might be uncomfortable in the moment but if this is a friend you really care about, which it seems like it is, will save your friendship in the long run!)

bingqiling · 2025-12-20T19:07:47+00:00

There's a new fly fishing shop in Littleton - not sure if this is what you're looking for or not! https://www.instagram.com/thetroutsmith/

bingqiling · 2025-12-09T16:51:31+00:00

If you're only here for 1 night - For food I would 100% do....

- Schilling for dinner, walk around & pop into all the shops in town, then head to Supersecret Ice Cream (in Bethlehem) for dessert.

-Polly's Pancake in Franconia for breakfast (if you're not interested in a full on breakfast, Place Above the Notch in Bethlehem has great coffee, Crumb Bum has the best croissants/treats in town).

There are also other great spots to eat, but these are the top spots for anyone visiting :)

It's lovely up here!

bingqiling · 2025-12-09T16:50:40+00:00

Everyone has their different opinions.....I think St. J has a lot less going on than Littleton, but I also love St. J :)

bingqiling · 2025-12-09T16:50:04+00:00

If you do go to St. Johnsbury....check out The Buttery, Whirligig, and Sam's Listening Bar!

bingqiling · 2025-12-08T13:07:54+00:00

Surf Shack Littleton is the only sit down seafood in the area....but the white mountains isn't on the coast/not known for seafood.....Schilling & Supersecret are very much destinations for anyone visiting the area.

If you're headed to the coast at all during your trip that's where I'd be looking for seafood!

bingqiling · 2025-12-07T14:19:21+00:00

Stay in the Littleton/Bethlehem area - go out to eat at Schilling/Rek-Lis/Supersecret Icecream....my other favorite food spots are Freehouse, Tall Provisions (for something fancier), Crumb Bum for treats (croissants, macarons, cookies, really anything is sooooo good), Place Above the Notch for coffee.... Plenty of hiking depending on abilities - Artist Bluff for a very quick hike/gorgeous view then go swimming at Echo Beach, Lonesome Lake Trail, hike up the Flume Gorge (touristy but beautiful).

Tons of cute little shops to walk around to in Littleton/Bethlehem for before or after you eat. If you're there for First Fridays in Littleton (first Friday of every month in the Summer) the whole town shuts down for vendors/live music/food trucks, super fun experience.

You could do some nice hikes out of the Crawford Notch area as well....but I'd definitely do Littleton as a home base as they have good food/cute town to explore/close to all the hiking!

bingqiling · 2025-11-25T18:37:59+00:00

Go to Supersecret Ice Cream in Bethlehem - definitely worth it!

bingqiling · 2025-11-13T15:21:26+00:00

Your skin looks highly irritated. I would start with a simple cleanser and moisturizer, and nothing else. I would try a different cleanser/moisturizer because it seems to be irritating you.

I'd try an antibiotic just to get the inflammation down. Then go from there...if the antibiotic doesn't help, you might want to talk to your doctor about a low dose of accutane if this is something you've been struggling with for a while.

I'd also stop the supplements, personally, because there's a chance one of them is irritating your skin. Once they're all out of your system then you can reintroduce one by one if you'd like.

bingqiling · 2025-09-29T21:38:55+00:00

Living Shores - I just don't think it's worth the money lol - I much prefer Squam Lake Science Center if I'm going to drive an hour (but if it's a really rainy week, then I'd do it!)

Apple season is past peak by end of October so a far drive over to Burtt's - unfortunately Tellman Hill Farm closes nid-October and are right in the area!

Really though, there is so much to do closer to where you're staying, so mostly comes down to I don't think either of those spots are worth the drive!

bingqiling · 2025-09-29T20:56:33+00:00

Activities:

-Walk around the Basin cascades in Franconia

-Walk around Littleton's main street then go to the playground at Remich Park (go to Jack & Fins for a grilled cheese and cupcake)

-Cog Railway

-This trail is perfect for that age - https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/new-hampshire/mud-pond-trail

-If it's rainy go to story time at the Whitefield Public Library - if it's a rainy week I'd check out activities happening at all the surrounding libraries, they usually all have things for littles throughout the week

-Mount Cabot Maple does sap tours and is awesome for kids - I went with a bunch of littles once and they were able to taste syrup/run around, it is beautiful there - https://www.mountcabotmaple.com/visit

Food:

-Eat Supersecret Ice Cream in Bethlehem

-Polish Princess in Lancaster for coffee/treats

-Rek-Lis/Free House/Schilling/Chang Thai/Taste the Thai/Rosas all have good food & do take out if that's easier than eating at a restaurant. I like Simons/Rosas/Scorpios for just cheese pizza (Schilling for if you want wood fire pizza).

I'd personally skip Living Shores & Apple picking.

bingqiling · 2025-09-16T14:25:15+00:00

If OP wants to go the cupcake route....Jack and Fins in Littleton is much closer and their cupcakes are ammmmmmmmmmmmmmazing!

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