"Root"imentary My Dear Watson

Black thumbs. Brown thumbs. I've got 'em both. Anything but green. So when I've tried to root a plant from a cutting, in the past, I've been a full on skeptic. In the new house however, I've got this amazing kitchen window that gets full afternoon sun. The cuttings love this light. I mean love it like it's their job. 

In our front yard we have a rosemary bush with these little succulents/cactus things growing at the base. The former owner planter them so I have no idea what they are, but I love them in my tiny 50 cent ceramic cups. And since my Jade just bit the proverbial dust, I'm rooting more cuttings for the it's container. This is addictive.

It works for any plant too. Cr-a-zy! I'm sure you novices out there already know all this, but I am just blown away by it. My Coleus plant recently suffered soccer injury and a few stems broke off. My MIL suggested I root them. I doubted...

Are you kidding me? Roots baby! That's like a whole other plant - from cuttings! Whaaa? Pretty sure this is the only good kind of "root" there is. I'm so stoked. Can you tell?

What color are your thumbs? xo

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Garden Markers

For a lot of us Spring means gardening. It's one of the things I miss most about our old house. We worked so hard on our garden and it produced! But in our new house, I think we'll be lucky to grow a few herbs and lettuces in pots. We just don't have a lot of good, direct sun - good for the electricity bill, bad for gardening. Oh well, I still intend to give it a go. And since my gardening thumb is still varying shades of brown and I can barely remember to brush my teeth most days, I need some markers to help me remember what's what. 

Here are a few that require zero cash, just a little imagination...

paint stir sticks via cakies

images: sticks, pots, corks

plastic dino via the craftinomicon

I'm pretty sure anything can be turned into a garden marker... At least the markers will be cute even if nothing sprouts or everything turns brown!

What do you use to mark your garden? xo

top image: rocks via finding my aloha

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Centerpiece Savings

Perhaps I'm not most like girls, but I don't really like getting flowers. Don't get me wrong, I love being thought of but spending money on something that's going to wither and die in a matter of days seems a bit of a waste. Weird? So I guess it should come as no surprise that when it comes to dinner parties or events, instead of heading to Central Market or the florist, I head outside. Garden scissors in hand, I scour my yard and the block for a pleasing mix of greenery.

You don't have to spend any money to make your dinners and events special. You don't even have to do a centerpiece of flowers! Thinking outside the box for your centerpiece can make your table setting pop and really come to life.

my halloween entry a few years ago using shrubs and pumpkins

centerpiece I did for a dinner party years ago using mint, shrubs and neighbor's flowers

veggies via tumblr

a little bit of everything from apartment therapy

All I'm sayin' is this... it doesn't matter if it came from your garden, your neighbor's garden or your local farmer's market - greenery, flowers, vegetables, herbs - they all go together. How you combine them is what will make your piece unique. And you don't have to spend a lot for it to look amazing!

Do you have fresh flowers or herbs in your home all the time? If so, do you pick them or buy them? xo

Around the House: Garden Prep

garden via (No, that's not me... dare to dream though, right? that garden is fab.)

Happy Monday!  How was your weekend? Ours was full of yard work, friends and sports (of the little variety). The hubs and I have been talking about planting a garden of our own for years. Something for the whole family to do together. Today I'm excited to report that the prep work is near complete and now we just need to plant our seeds and seedlings using this little helpful tool.

I'm so proud of my sweet hubs. Our backyard slopes quite a bit, but he managed to get this baby level. Gotta say, my man impresses me with his handyman skills all the time. I don't know why I ever doubt him.

 (our wood was purchased from two different retailers, hence the different colors - the hubs was bummed about that. who cares? I say. It's not like the veggies won't grow because the wood doesn't match.)

That was Saturday. Sunday, we moved to the front yard. Our huge bushes needed a trim and all the leaves needed to be pulled from the flower beds. As the hubs started whacking the bushes - all Edward Scissorhands style - something kept moving in the bush. He told me it was a rat. I didn't laugh.

I thought it was a little lizard - they're everywhere around our house, but then something flew out of the bush and the hubs found this...

So sweet right? The Mama bird kept flying back to check on her babies. I was near tears, telling her that we wouldn't harm them and that we'd put them right back once the bush was trimmed. The hubs sarcastically reminded me that birds don't speak English. Uggh... Once "Edward" put the hedge clippers away, we put the little nest back in our bush. I'm praying the Mama comes back and cares for her sweet babies. The nest is right outside our dining room window. How cool would it be to get a front row seat to hatching eggs? You know I'm gonna be sayin' prayers for those eggs right? xo

Weekly Challenge: Checklist Management

I'm not quite sure why, but my checklist for each week generally has 15-20 items that I'd like to accomplish instead of the very doable 2 or 3. And I'm quite ashamed to admit it, but my New Year's list just got started this week. Uggh, it's April and I'm already behind. Oh well. No time like the present to get started. This week I...

1. Start and finish this baby gift - check. (Stop by next week for details.)

2. Take littles to Fort Worth Zoo - negative. Gas prices put us closer to home at the Dallas Arboretum - check.

3. Begin writing notes/letters to loved ones - check.

4. New shoes for my oldest - check.

5. Quality time with my youngest - check.

6. Clean up the backyard and get ready for outdoor dining - check.

7. Start this bench project - check.

8. Make a snack shelf for the littles that they can reach - check.

9. Send notes of encouragement to a dear friend - check.

10. Garden - check.

11. Make gift bags for teacher appreciation week - check.

All in all I'd say it was a pretty productive week.  Productivity does this mommy a lot of good. Bonus: I get to kick back and enjoy the weekend with my family. Here's to a sunny weekend full of picnics, family and friends for all. xo

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Washtubs

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On Monday my friend Julie posted about a major score she found for one of her clients - vintage washtubs. She's going to use it in her client's mudroom. Genius. I have one in my front yard filled with plants and I love it. Here's a look at some other washtubs that you may find inspirational.

painted

with feet

double goodness

ice chest 

storage

Paint them. Decoupage them. Add wheels. All make for great storage. I've seen them in loos holding toilet paper or towels, by the fire filled with wood and by the couch with magazines. These babies can hold it all; even small children taking baths! How would you use a vintage tub? xo

PS - my sweet friend Nicole did an interview with me on Monday. Check it. Thanks girl! xo

Around the House: The Constant Gardener

Gardening is not for the faint of heart. Trust me on this one. You have to be committed, love what you are doing and most important be willing to try and fail (says my neighbor Mr. Ronnie.) I love plants. They bring so much life to a space. But only when they are green. When they're brown, they can really suck the life out of a space. Above is my first little garden trial of basil, rosemary and thyme. (They've lasted all throughout the Texas summer, so I consider that a HUGE success.) I'm quite proud. Here's a look at more of my outdoor plants:

Not bad right? But, you can see the progression from good to not bad to sad per image. It's okay to be honest with me. I'm aware of my brown thumb. Here's the problem... once you enter my house, it gets worse. Much worse! I'll show you, again with a progression.

Pathetic. Just pathetic. Why can't I do this? I try so hard and yet... they die. Now to be fair, I have had some of these plants for 5+ years. But plants don't have a life expectancy - do they? I am bound and determined to have a home filled with greenery. The real stuff that provides oxygen and makes a house homey! Back to Home Depot I go with dead plants in hand, lots of questions and high hopes. Do you have a green or brown thumb? If you have any tips for me, would you mind sharing them? Happy Monday! xo

Labor of Love

One of my biggest longings is to have an amazing backyard. You know, an oasis. My own private sanctuary. But with my two brown thumbs and two preschool boys, this dream will have to be put on hold for a while. However, a mere three hour drive puts me in Austin, Texas at the home of Susan and John Horton. (My best girlfriend's parents' home.) THIS is where I get to stay every time I go visit and where I spent this past weekend!

I know! Heaven right? Are you drooling yet? While eating fresh fruit and drinking coffee by the pool, I asked John how many hours total he thought they had put into their garden/backyard. He replied, "about a year's worth of work if you total all the hours." What? Did I hear that right? A year? Labor of love indeed.

starting grounds for many of their backyard beauties

even their turtle has an oasis of his very own

great spot for morning coffee looking out into the Texas hill country

It gets better...this backyard friends, is where my best girlfriend of almost 15 years will be getting married in just two short weeks! Lovely right? I'm so excited! The best part is that I get to call this place home as well and every time I go "home" I am greeted with love, blessings, warmth and fun. Susan and John are the most laid back, warm, loving people you will ever meet and you feel that the minute you step into their home. I love you guys! xo