This one is self explanatory… I’ve loved this shirt since the first time I saw it and impulse bought it because it can be used for any sport. Check it out on Etsy or the other items in this outfit below!
Well, here in Ohio the weather can’t just magically be fall. That means a few last minute warm weather game day outfits! This one relies on maximum airflow, so as usual, my main choice is a dress. Pair it with a favorite sun hat and a team accessory and you’re set! Find all of these items below to cheer on your favorite team!
If you love your plants as much as I do, I’m sure you also get excited to share your amazing plant care finds with friends. This list has some of my tried and true plant care products. Whether you’re fighting pests, chopping and propping, or need something for your foliage to climb, this list will be sure to cover your plant needs. Happy growing, all!
Shiny leaves. Pest control. Smells great. What’s not to love?! All of my plants are happy to see this bottle coming their way. I love using this for aesthetic and functional proposes. Pest free plants are happy plants!
This is my tried and true product for pest control of ALL kinds! Mealy bugs, spider mites, fungus gnats, you name it, this product eliminates and protects against it! It is systemic, so it works for 8 weeks if applied correctly. I use this for any new plant I bring home since a new plant with pests can create an infestation (no one wants that!).
These garden clippers are excellent for trimming dead leaves or roots for regular plant maintenance or chopping plants that have a lot of overgrowth so you can propagate them. I carry them with me as I water so I can trim any dead or dying leaves as I go.
This insect trap is fantastic for areas with a large number of plants. The light attracts flying insects and the gentle fan sucks them down onto sticky paper. You can empty the bottom of the trap into the trash can easily and replace with a new sticky trap to catch more pests. This trap is particularly great for fungus gnats and thrips (aka my worst enemies!).
Again with the thrips and fungus gnats-these are a lifesaver! If you are struggling with fungus gnats or thrips, lining pots with these is a great, inexpensive solution to catch the insects as they leave the soil.
Just like the Katchy, this trap attracts insects by the blue light then traps them with a replaceable sticky film. I love using these in the kitchen, bathroom with plants, and any room I seem to be having issues with fungus gnats or thrips.
If you’re having pest problems in your garden, lady bugs are the best natural solution for aphids. They will eliminate them in no time!
These moss poles are excellent for larger plants like monsteras or bird of paradise. The thicker base and sturdy nature of these make them my favorite. They also come with Velcro tape that is reusable and customizable for any size or shape plant.
If you have a smaller plant, these moss poles are excellent. They are lightweight and sturdy and are excellent for plants like pothos or philodendrons.
This wooden trellis looks great and is functional. I love using this trellis for Hoyas and other smaller climbing plants. Bonus-it comes with two in a pack!
This decorative trellis is also great for Hoyas or pothos. Another bonus… two in a pack!
These grow lights are excellent for places like bookshelves or smaller areas. They have a small footprint, don’t use much power, and have an easy to use timer and dimmer function.
These clip-on grow lights have a timer and dimmer function like their stick-on counterparts. I use mine for the top of a bookshelf that doesn’t get much light and it’s an excellent option to keep plants with higher light needs happy.
This one is for all of my plant lovers who care greatly about the aesthetic of their home AND their plants. Some grow lights can ruin the look of a room. This one, however, adds to the functional design element. I love this lamp in back of my living room where there isn’t much light.
These are excellent for plants like Alocasia and orchids. They love bottom watering and these clay pebbles hold just enough water to keep them happy, but their roots won’t be too damp.
Since I recommended leca, I also recommend these clear, plastic nursery pots. They have excellent draining and you can easily check the roots of any plants potted in leca with these pots.
As much as I love grabbing a rotisserie chicken while I’m picking up groceries, there’s just nothing like a homemade roasted chicken. I have adapted this recipe from Cooking for My Soul, which is simple and flavorful and it’s my go-to when I want to roast a whole chicken. The best part of this recipe is you can save the carcass and vegetable scraps to make homemade bone broth later!
You guys… kids shoes fit me. Why am I JUST NOW figuring this out? So many missed shoe opportunities not realizing this until now! Here’s a handy chart to see if you can share in my new found joy:
You can find all of the items in this outfit below!
It’s game day and it’s finally feeling like fall (even if it’s only for the next few days). I decided to bring out the sweatshirts to get ready for fall. This sweatshirt is one of my favorites because although it’s not very thick or bulky , it’s so warm!
Find all of these game day favorites linked below!
I absolutely love a good bargain plant, but I don’t love the root rot, pests, and other dun surprises they come with. There are steps you can take to help eliminate these issues when buying big box store and bargain plants.
Remove all decorative moss topping the soil as well as any tags or other decorative items. If the plant comes in a decorative pot ensure that it has drain holes. If the pot doesn’t have drainage holes remove the nursery pot from the decorative pot to allow for better drainage if not repotting immediately.
Check the bottom of the nursery pot to see if any roots are visible. If roots are visible, repot in a larger, well draining pot.
If the roots aren’t visible and the soil doesn’t feel saturated it shouldn’t need to be repotted right away. If you choose not to repot the plant, make sure to use bonide granules to ensure no pests will affect your new plant. Also make sure to isolate it away from other plants in case there are any pests on the plant.
If the root ball is densely packed or overly saturated, completely remove all soil and inspect the roots thoroughly. Check for mushy or black roots and remove them gently. Inspect the root ball for a fine mesh surrounding the base of the plant. If your plant contains a mesh “death plug”, gently cut it off of the plant.
Repot your plant in a well draining pot with well draining soil. Gently place the roots of the plant in the center of the soil and gently pack soil around the plant.
Trim any dead or dying leaves off of the plant. This will allow the plant to use its energy for new growth instead of dead or dying leaves.
Add systemic insect control granules to the top layer of the soil and mix into the first inch or so of the soil. This will prevent fungus gnats and will help control any infestation that may already exist on your plant.
Water the plant thoroughly. This will help the plant receive the moisture it needs while activating the bonide granules to ensure pests are kept at bay.
Treat leaves and foliage with a Neem oil product such as Bless Your Soil’s Big Leaf Energy. This organic blend helps keep leaves and foliage shiny and healthy and helps eliminate pests.
Our half bath lacked… well, character. I would consider myself to be rather moody in my design style. Dark colors mixed with prints and rich colors are my jam. When we moved into our house we had to gut it before we could move in. I mean GUT IT… down to the light switches and outlets. It was so bad that when I toured the house I was told not to get too close to the master bath shower because it would fall through the floor. Since there were so many design details to tackle, I kept it simple in most rooms and just figured I’d update as I became tired of gray and taupe walls. I designed this bathroom update with mostly items from Amazon because kids, work, and all of the momming doesn’t leave much time to shop around. I have to say I’m pleased with the outcome-especially since I didn’t need to run around like crazy trying to find things to work in this space. I’m linking items I used in this bathroom update at the end of this post so you can shop effortlessly, too!
This half bath project stemmed from finding a mirror I loved to replace the one I just tolerated. Problem? There was a giant hole in the wall behind the mirror where the old light fixture was prior to renovating the house. Fast forward a few years AFTER the wall had been patched and we got around to painting the bathroom after patching. If I was painting, why not paint a new color and paint the whole bathroom? If we’re painting, why not wallpaper, too? It’s like If You Give a Mouse a Cookie… it will never end! How did I make sure I didn’t overspend after deciding to revamp? I tried to keep it simple and make bold changes with low cost fixes.
First, design your space like there is no budget. That’s right, have all the champaign dreams. This is just to get an idea of what feel your space should have. Check out Pinterest boards, blogs, anything that gives you inspiration. Keep in mind the colors you like and the overall style you’re going for.
If you’re really on a budget, make a list of what cannot be changed. Examples of this could be a vanity, bathtub, shower, flooring or tile, or other high cost item. Our vanity was still in good shape and was still great aesthetically, so I designed the update to work with the current vanity. Get a sense of what your dream designs or ideas would look like with your existing pieces. If the ideas you gathered just don’t match the “can’t change items” in any way, search for other examples that will work well with existing pieces in your space.
While looking at ideas on Pinterest or blogs make note of low cost items that could be used in an update that can change the entire look of the space. Here are some low-cost updates for bathrooms:
While considering all of these lower cost items, build your space around these cost effective updates. Consider items that already exist in your home or from thrift stores or clearance sales to fill in empty spaces. When I find items I love I also comparison shop online to see if cheaper alternatives exist. If you can achieve the same look with a lower cost item, doesn’t that make the look all that much better?!
Create a visual plan of your space using the items you found to create your desired look. If you’re using paint colors, wallpapers, or other similar items in your design include those. I don’t like to spend a lot of time on my visual planning, but getting an idea of what items will look like together definitely helps. I like to use the PicCollage app on my phone so I can add items together quickly to make sure everything meshes well. I do a quick price check and add the cost of all of the design items to make sure I stay within my budget.
Once you’re sure everything meshes together well and the budget checks out, get shopping! Purchase all items, prep your space, and enjoy your newly updated room!
The Engineered Mama 