If you’re a mom of a child of any age, you’ve likely heard this, “Mom! Mom! Can I PLEASE have a Nugget?! They’re SO fun!”. I’m all for toys that use their imagination, let them climb and play, can be used for multiple things, and don’t take batteries, but $300 for cushions is hard to justify or wrap my mind around.
I searched and searched for several years for great dupes, but all of them were nearly the cost of a Nugget with horrible reviews or the colors were just so awful they would look terrible in any space, so I gave up. I was adding something to my Kohl’s cart one day when an ad popped up for the Yourigami Folding Convertible Kids and Toddler Play Couch. I was shocked that the colors would go great in any space and the cushions looked very similar to the style and size of the Nugget. But, what were the reviews like? The reviews were great and the cushions have removable covers. SCORE! The price? $259 (the price of an original Nugget), but there was a 40% off sale using a Kohl’s card and an extra $10 off a Home purchase. This brought the total down to $149.40 before tax with free shipping. Done deal!
Yourigami Convertible Couch Color Options
The package arrived right to our door in a compact package and when left out the cushions bounce back and reshape over a few days. This price I can live with! The kids will love this for Christmas and we’ll get a lot of use with much less guilt than the hefty price of a Nugget.
While the 40% off sale is over, they’re bound to have one again and there is currently a Black Friday sale making the sale price of this convertible couch $169.99 and a code may be used for an additional 15% off (SAVE15), $5 off in store pickup option, as well as receiving $30 Kohl’s cash making the total $110.24.
Gorgeous Caraway ceramic cookware set, isn’t it? Or IS it???? Nope! Member’s Mark, people. No, I’m not kidding. You can pick this set up from *drumroll*… SAM’S CLUB! Yes, really.
Let’s compare, shall we? I have a fantastic cookware set my mom bought me for a wedding shower gift that I love. The only problem is it won’t die. No, seriously. This set is fantastic, but I see Caraway everywhere I look. It is absolutely gorgeous and I get skillet envy every time I see the modern ceramic sets. Well, of course I do what any good Instagram user does and click the ads. Boy, was that a mistake!
Caraway Cookware Set
$395 ON SALE for 2 pots and 2 skillets. In a color I don’t want. The color I do want? $595 on sale also for 2 pots and 2 skillets. Ok, the dream bubble has burst. Back to my tried and true Circulon that just won’t quit. Or maybe not…
Member’s Mark Ceramic Cookware Set
As I’m scrolling I see a set on Google, but wait… it’s $159 and there are WAY more pieces in this set. What is it? Member’s Mark. Member’s Mark? Like Sam’s Club? Yes. Sam’s Club. You guys, I had to do a double take to make sure this wasn’t the same set! This set comes with 2 skillets, 1 deep skillet with a lid, 3 pots with lids, and one calendar. That’s 11 pieces. ELEVEN. For $160. Here, I’ll do the math for you: that is 17% of the cost of Caraway. For that price I can use this set every day and not worry about what happens to it!
Caraway CookwareMember’s Mark Cookware
The Member’s Mark set is GORGEOUS and in a side by side comparison I can’t tell the difference! I can’t wait to test it out. It was beautiful right out of the box.
I’ll keep you posted on how well it wears, but out of the box I am completely sold on this beautiful set. If you’re not a huge fan of black they have other modern colors to choose from: pink, lavender, green, red, coral, gray, and navy. Run to your nearest Sam’s Club or choose to have it shipped, but hurry… I don’t think these sets will last long!
Those of you that know me, know that I love coffee even more than a Gilmore girl. When my favorite coffee storage container finally became unusable I found this adorable on Amazon. What I didn’t know is how badly I needed to step up my coffee bar game with some not just pretty-to-look-at items, but extremely useful items. I’ve compiled a list of my favorites here for you from coffee storage to an awesome milk frother for homemade Starbucks copycat cold foam cold brew recipes (you can check out lavender, pumpkin cream, or traditional versions I’ve perfected!). Get your caffeine fix in style and the best part? It shows up at your door!
Gilmore girls fans rejoice! You can have your very own cup of Luke Danes coffee every morning thanks to Scott Patterson’s coffee company, Scotty P’s Big Mug Coffee. The best part? You can buy it on Amazon!
These bottles come in a set of two with their own labels that cover any type of syrup flavor you can imagine, two gold tone pumps, and a silicone funnel to fill the bottles easily. This set is so well made and beautiful that I now have to contemplate what other syrup I want to add to the collection!
Not only is this milk frother aesthetically pleasing, but it is amazingly functional to froth milk for cappuccinos, lattes, and my favorite, cold foam cold brews!
Alright, this isn’t really COFFEE, but it is tea, so that counts, right? These Lulu candles are made in USA and their tea scents are fantastic! They’re the perfect addition to a coffee bar!
Go forth and conquer coffee lovers. Decorate and caffeinate!
I love fall most of all. Ok, maybe I love caffeine most of all, but I DO love fall and all the pumpkin things! If you love Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, you’ll love this version! I found a few recipes on Pinterest and I’ll be updating this recipe as I tweak it to perfection, so stay tuned for updates!
Ingredients
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 Tbsp pumpkin purée
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1-2 tsp honey
Pinch of pumpkin pie spice
Cold brew
Ice
Directions
Add ice to a glass and pour cold brew over ice.
Add all other ingredients except pumpkin pie spice to a glass and mix using a blender or milk frother until we’ll blended and light and fluffy.
Pour over cold brew. Add a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice to top of cream and enjoy!
So, you found webbing all over your plant and leaf edges are browning and dying… now what? There are fuzzy little white things all over your plant and new leaves are suffering… now what? Nearly every plant I’ve brought home from Lowe’s has been infested with mealybugs or spider mites, but don’t panic! I have several options that will eliminate soft bodied pests and keep them away.
Identifying the Pest
Spider Mites
Usually spider mites create tiny webbing on the tips of leaves or where the leaf meets the stem. These pests are very, very tiny and are typically on the back of leaves in these locations.
Spider Mite Webbing after Misting
The pests may even create webbing on the pot or basket in which the plant is contained. The photo above shows webbing that appeared after being misted with water.
Mealybugs look like fuzzy little dots on plants and can be found on the underside of leaves and the stem. They sometimes clump on the stem at new leaf growth.
Step 1: Physical Removal
Remove all webbing and spider mites using a damp paper towel or lint roller. Remove a sheet of lint roller sticky tape and gently press it on the back of leaves to remove all spider mites.
Remove mealybugs by soaking a cotton ball with 70% isopropyl alcohol and dabbing each bug. This will kill them in contact.
Wash hands thoroughly after removing pests to ensure no other plants are affected.
Be sure to keep the affected plant(s) away from all other houseplants until all spider mites are eliminated.
Step 2: Elimination and Prevention
There are several methods for this part. I’ll provide the 3 options that seem to work best for me: chemical pesticide, natural soap wash, and alcohol and water wash.
Each method has its pros and cons. While chemical insecticide works well, there are drawbacks as well. It is, after all, a chemical that isn’t safe around pets or children and should be used according to the instructions. When I have used this method, I was able to eliminate the spider mites in one use.
The soap wash and alcohol and water wash are also effective and safe to use around pets and children. These methods do sometimes take several applications if there is a large infestation.
Physically remove any pests with the method described earlier, then apply the Garden Safe product. This should be sprayed outdoors all over the front and back of leaves, on stems, and on the top of the soil to kill any pests.
Move the plant to a spot indoors to fully dry away from the sun, as direct light after application of this product could cause burning of leaves (as me how I know… oops!). Wash hands thoroughly after application.
Check the plant weekly for pests after application and physically remove any pests and follow with insect killer application weekly if any pests are found.
Do not leave plant in direct sunlight as the leaves could burn after product application.
Soap Wash
This happens to be one of my favorite methods, although not as effective as the other two. If it’s not as effective, why is it my favorite, you ask? Well, because it’s easy, has no odor, and I can do it quickly weekly without worrying about chemicals or ruining anything else in the house like rubbing alcohol could if there’s a spill.
I also bring my plants inside and allow them to dry on a potting tarp to avoid leaf burn in direct sunlight outside. This is one of my favorite plant care items and you can find it here on Amazon!
Materials Needed:
1 quart warm water (tap water will work fine, but may spot your plant leaves when dry, so use distilled water if you want to avoid hard water spotting on your plants)
1 Tbsp Castile soap (I prefer Dr. Bronner’s, but any pure Castile soap will work fine as long as it has no dyes or fragrances)
Physically remove pests using the previously described method.
Mix ingredients well in a spray bottle.
Move the affected plant outdoors and spray leaves (front and back), stems, and top of soil thoroughly.
Move the plant back inside to dry on a surface that won’t be damaged by drilling soap mix, such as a tarp or repotting mat. Do not leave the plant outside as direct sunlight could burn leaves.
Keep the affected plant away from other plants to endure spider mites do not spread to other houseplants. Wash hands thoroughly after completing this process.
Repeat this process weekly to ensure pests are completely eliminated.
Isopropyl Alcohol as Insecticide
This method works well and kills pests on contact. Namely, mealybugs. If you have fuzzy white bits on your plant, this method may be for you. This will also help eliminate fungus gnats and spider mites.
Remove any spider mites with the previously described physical removal method. Remove mealybugs by soaking a cotton ball in 70% isopropyl alcohol and dabbing any visible mealybugs. This will kill them in contact.
Mix 50/50 water and 70% isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle. Add 1 tsp Dawn dish soap and mix well.
Spray entire plant, front and back of leaves, stems, and top of soil with alcohol, water, and soap mixture.
Allow plant to dry inside, away from direct light in an area that won’t be damaged by the dripping alcohol mixture such as a tarp or repotting mat.
Wash hands thoroughly to avoid spreading pests and chemicals to other houseplants.
Inspect plant daily for pests. If mealybugs are found, remove by dabbing with alcohol soaked cotton balls.
Repeat this process weekly until all pests are eliminated.
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Starbucks. I always pass on the Refreshers and Pink Drink because I feel like I SHOULD be able to make something similar at home. But do I? Nope. I came across this Dragonfruit Refresher “recipe” and it is delicious and only has two ingredients that are really easy to find in stores.
Ingredients
1/2 Bottle Power-C Dragonfruit Vitamin Water
2 Tbsp Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup
Ice
Directions
Add ice to your favorite glass or tumbler. Add Vitamin Water and Vanilla Syrup.
These recipes are ALL OVER Pinterest. I’ve tried some that are good, some that are not so good, and some great ones. I found one that was so simple I couldn’t pass it up, so I decided to try it. Well, Target failed me and didn’t have the Ocean Spray White Cran-Strawberry juice I needed for the recipe, so I substituted with Cran-Raspberry. This one was definitely a keeper! Two ingredients and throw in some frozen raspberries and voila! Pink drink! Easy. Chip. Fast. What more can you ask for?
Ingredients
Original Silk Almondmilk
Ocean Spray Cran-Raspberry juice
Frozen or fresh raspberries (optional)
Directions
Add desired amount of ice to a glass. Add frozen or fresh raspberries, if desired.
Pour almondmilk into the glass until it’s half full. Fill the rest of the glass with cran-raspberry juice.
I’ve always loved seagrass baskets, but always thought they were so expensive. I decided to look around the interwebs one last time to see what deals I could find. I came across these seagrass baskets from Potey on Amazon for $30. What a deal, right?!
I was shocked by the quality of these baskets for the price. The one pictured in my house is the smallest size this set comes with (see the tiny 10 lb chiweenie for size reference below). This particular set also comes with several different color combinations, including all natural, natural and white (pictured here), and black and natural. Check them out and check out all of Potey’s planter options while you’re at it!
I’ll be sure to follow up with other places I’ll be using these baskets in our home for storage and of course, other plants because, let’s be honest… there are many more plants that need baskets around here!
I’ve waited this long to jump on the air fryer bandwagon and I’m just hoping I’m not disappointed! Kohl’s currently has a sale on Ninja Air Fryers, 15-30% off when you use your Kohl’s card (15% without a Kohl’s card), 5% back in Kohl’s rewards, $10 Kohl’s cash for every $50 spent, 1% cash back with RetailMeNot, and 3% cash back with Swagbucks.
Since I love making large quantities and having leftovers or feeding a crowd, I opted for the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL with 5 different settings. It had great reviews, holds a large quantity in its basket, is dishwasher safe, and one of the settings is a dehydrator (yes, I’ve always wanted a dehydrator, so I’m pumped!).
Here’s a breakdown of the cost after all of these discounts and rewards:
Sale Price: $149.99, Sale Price: $179.99
30% Kohl’s Discount with Card: $104.99
Kohl’s Cash Earned: $20
5% Kohl’s Rewards Earned: $5.25
1% RetailMeNot Cash Back: $1.05
3% Swagbucks Cash Back: $3.15
Total Savings: $104.45 (a savings of 58%!!!)
Total Purchase Price after Savings and Cash Back: $75.54
Let me know what your favorite air fryer recipes are and maybe they’ll make a feature here in the future!
You guys… YOU GUYS! I haven’t blow dried or straightened my thick, wavy hair since our oldest child was 2… that was over 6 years ago. Why? My hair is THICK… like, thick thick. And wavy. Not a good combination. Sometimes it looks great air-dried with an oil (slight, loose curls) and other times it’s just like, “nope… you ain’t looking cute today without effort”. It takes 45 minutes (and sometimes longer) for me to blow dry it myself and when I do it’s a frizzy hot mess, which requires product, straightening, and a lot of crossed fingers and prayer to make it look somewhat decent. You know what? Ain’t nobody got time for that, so it’s usually a piled bun on top of my head as soon as I exit the shower, or air dry and hope it curls well (which it typically does, so I am thankful for that). If it doesn’t curl well, I add some loose waves and curls with my curling wand or straightener. If you want to see that technique and the products I use, I gotcha covered! Check it out here.
Enter the REVLON One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer Hot Air Brush. GAME. CHANGER. I’ve tried hot air brushes in the past and not one has met my expectations, so I was very skeptical on this one. Man… not only were my expectations met, but they were exceeded! The total style/dry time was around 30-45 minutes and it was sleek and perfect at the end. I think if I was going anywhere in public (thanks, COVID… I sit and rot at home even when I’m having a great hair day…) I would’ve run a flat iron through a few portions that I didn’t hit that well, but I was experimenting and going quickly, so overall, I’m definitely a fan! Here are some style tips and products I used for an (almost) effortless blow-out style:
Styling Tips
Pre-Styling
To start, shampoo and condition your hair as you normally would. If you need suggestions on great products, check out some Verb products I reviewed here. Towel dry your hair to remove any excess moisture.
Apply a good heat protector or blow-out product. I’m a fan of John Frieda for protection/volume. I also love a flat-iron spray to help protect my hair and eliminate flyaways post-style. I recommend Garnier’s products for heat protection. Comb these products through your hair with a wide-tooth comb to evenly distribute product and remove any large tangles or knots prior to styling. Allow your hair to air dry approximately 30 -45 minutes if you have thick hair. The air dry time will depend on the thickness of your hair. Allow it to dry until it’s still damp and you’ll be able to style/blow dry it. Don’t allow it to dry too long, otherwise the blow-dry heat won’t style it if it’s dry.
Separate your hair into three sections if it’s very thick: bottom (style this first), middle, and top/crown. Clip the top two sections up and focus on small sections of the bottom layer of hair. If you want your hair to curl under, start with the REVLON brush under the roots of your hair, concentrating for 2-3 seconds to fully dry the roots while pulling tightly through your hair slowly to fully dry/straighten. Curl the brush out down to create an under curl on ends. Do the same for the following two layers.
If you prefer a flipped out style on the bottom, do the reverse and use the REVLON brush on top of the section of hair you’re drying/styling and curl the brush up to create a flipped style.
If you have very long hair and want the loose wave, blowout style, use the brush on the side of the hair and alternate flipping directions to create loose waves.
When you’ve completed your style, finish the look off with a small pump of Verb Ghost Oil. Pump a small amount onto your fingertips and run it through your hair to prevent flyaways or frizziness.
The Engineered Mama 