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!
When you’re momming all day you don’t really have time to think too much, which is why I live in tees, straight leg jeans, and sneakers. No one has time to be uncomfortable! As much as I love band tees, you never see many rap tees, which is why I absolutely love this one from Amazon! You can shop this entire look with the breakdown below!
Every philodendron I’ve loved has unfortunately suffered from these nasty brown spots. Guess what? They’re a fungus! These spots are likely fungal leaf spot disease or rust spots. Fortunately, I’ve had great success at helping eliminate or stop this fungus in its tracks as long as it’s caught fairly early. The largest cause for this fungus is soil that is too damp or doesn’t drain well. Preventing these issues as well as using some great products to help eliminate the fungus should have your philodendrons thriving in no time!
The most likely cause of the fungus is improper drainage and wet roots. Remove the plant from its current soil and thoroughly rinse the roots while checking for any black or mushy roots. Trim away any roots that seem to be rotting or mushy and sterilize any tools used by wiping them down with rubbing alcohol thoroughly to prevent the spread of any fungus. Once the roots are rinsed well, dry the roots well with paper towels. Repot the plant in a well-draining soil mix and ensure the pot being used has adequate drainage. Using a chunky mix works well for philodendrons so the soil doesn’t stay damp too long for the plant.
I treat my plants with Big Leaf Energy from Bless Your Soil. It’s made with a blend of organic Neem and other oils to help plants thrive pest and fungus free. Shake the bottle well and spray on a paper towel. Wipe the front and back of each leaf of the plant well and spray on all stems and stalks to ensure the fungus will be treated.
Isolate the plant away from other plants to avoid infecting neighboring plants. Monitor the soil weekly and water the philodendron sparingly to avoid the plant sitting in continually damp soil.
The air fryer has changed my life! Ok, well, it has changed my diet and has made me a little more culinarily adventurous at least… I found this recipe from Healthy Fitness Meals and it is SO good!
This is hands down one of my favorite soups! It’s right up there with Zuppa Toscana and has a great bite to it from the white pepper this recipe calls for from Food.com.
After searching for what seems like forever for a tried and true way of making rice, this is it! I found this recipe from Green Healthy Living and it’s foolproof! I use this recipe for all types of rice and it has really upped my chicken fried rice game.
The great thing about this vegetable tray is you can use any vegetables, fruits, or cheeses you like to decorate it! Have fun, choose what your family loves, and get creative!
This is about as easy as it gets-premade spreadable cheese of your choice shaped into a cone shape with your favorite additions. Boom. Instant festive cheese ball!
The Engineered Mama 