Plant Succulents in Eggshells

Do you have a black or green thumb? It does not matter with this easy indoor plant. Succulents are the easiest plant to maintain. This blog gives you some ideas on how to put some green in your home with the help of some eggshells. You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.

Succulents: The Easiest Houseplant


Succulents, when cared for properly, are nearly impossible to kill. (I say nearly because I have killed a few—it happens to all of us Black Thumbs now and then.) Give them plenty of natural light and water them sparingly and they'll be sure to thrive. They require minimal effort and will let you know (by way of looking a bit wilted or puckered) when they’re ready for some more attention.


I love having them around, not only for their low-maintenance needs, but also for their ability to instantly bring life and light to every room.
What Kind of Succulents to Use?


Head to your local nursery, grocery store, or home improvement store, and check out the selection. Baby (or miniature) succulents are going to be your best bet. Go for a variety of shapes and textures and aim for mostly green succulents, which are better suited to indoor growing than succulents of other colors.


I went to a nursery in Maine that had very limited options, so I purchased two potted succulents (a blue spruce and some hens-and-chicks) and cut off clippings to plant in the eggshells.


Succulents are easily propagated from cuttings from other plants, too, so if you have a friend with well-established succulents (indoors or outdoors) ask if you can have a few clippings.
What Kind of Soil to Use?


The key to keeping succulents happy is ensuring they can drain easily. You can purchase potting soil designated specifically for planting succulents, or you can make your own by thoroughly combining regular potting soil, coarse horticulture-grade sand, and a grit component like pumice or perlite to promote water drainage. Home Depot has a handy guide for mixing soil:
How to Use Leftover Eggs?


Don’t forget that this is a two-part project! When part one (planting the succulents) is all said and done, you’ll have six eggs to eat. Whip them all up with fresh veggies and cheese in a big frittata or scramble them until they’re soft and creamy. You can also pour each egg out into individual ramekins with butter and fresh herbs to bake in the oven. Or, for a different take on eggs in ramekins, try these Korean steamed eggs.
How to Plant Succulents in Eggshells
What You Need
Supplies


A half-dozen carton of eggs
An assortment of small succulents (enough to fill six eggshells)
Potting soil
Equipment


Butter knife
Small spoon
Spray bottle
Instructions


1. Open the shells. With the back of a butter knife, carefully tap the pointy top of the egg, just until you create a small crack. Using your fingers, remove bits of the shell from the top until you have a hole big enough to pour out the whites and yolk.


2. Clean the shells. Pour out the contents of the eggs (see ideas for using the leftover eggs above!) and set aside. Gently rinse the eggshells out with warm soap and water and set them back into the carton to dry.


3. Fill the shells. Using a small and narrow spoon, fill each eggshell about 3/4 of the way full with potting soil.


4. Add the succulents. Carefully remove succulents from their original containers. Create a small well in the soil with your finger, gently place the succulent root into the well, and lightly pack the soil around it. If needed, cover with a small amount of additional soil to help anchor the succulent.


5. Maintain the succulents. Immediately give the succulents a light spritz of water from a spray bottle and set them in a spot with great natural light. As far as future watering goes, just keep an eye on the succulents. To avoid overwatering, the soil should feel completely dry to the touch before you spray with water again.

Project Notes
As always when working with raw eggs, remember to wash your hands thoroughly and disinfect any surfaces that may have come in contact with the raw eggs.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Do you have your green on today?  How do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Design Your Perfect Bedroom

Your bedroom should be the oasis in your apartment, so you want that space to feel as large as possible, whether it is actually large or not. You can use the decor and furniture pieces in your bedroom to manipulate the size of the space. So how do you make a room feel larger than it is? Try these tricks from Apartment Therapy:





1. Bed drawers and multi-tier nightstands
It's not within every budget to buy a bed that has built-in storage, but in this small and closet-less space, it appears to have been a vital element to ensure this small space actually functioned the way they needed it. Another fun storage feature? Not just one nightstand, but three, on each side! Floating nightstands have long been a smart choice for small spaces, but here, the addition of even more wall-mounted (or in this case, headboard-mounted) ledges means more room for both needed and decorative objects.


2. A large, horizontal wall-mounted mirror
We all know that wall-mounted reflective surfaces like mirrors work magic in small spaces, and in here it's no different. They chose to add the mirror to the wall opposite the door, which is a smart move since it'll reflect an image of the other room, making it feel a little more open than it actually is.


3. A sliding door
For privacy, you can't beat a door. For saving space and adding privacy, you can't beat a sliding door, which they made here themselves using mostly items found at Home Depot.
DIY Home Decor: How To Make a Sliding Door for Under $40


4. Light-colored black-out drapes that blend
For those who need a lot of darkness to sleep peacefully, black-out drapes (lined with dark, light-blocking fabric) are a must. But keep the side of the drapes that face the bedroom a light color, preferably a similar color to the wall. This will help them blend in and expand the look of the space visually.


5. A minimal style
It just makes sense — small spaces need less stuff, and keeping the decorative elements to a minimum will help keep a small space from feeling cluttered. But, that doesn't mean you have to keep everything out. As this small bedroom proves, you can find a good balance between art, decorative elements and more and still have a room that feels spacious for its size.

Fix Your Household Pet Peeves

Do you have pet peeves throughout your home? These could include a crooked picture, clothes not staying on their hangars, or bunched up duvets.Apartment Therapy has 11 easy fixes to get rid of your home pet peeves. These will only take a few minutes, and it will give you some time to focus on other household chores.

Every household has minor, but needling, annoyances that repeatedly drive you crazy. Picture frames that won't stay straight, bunching duvet covers, and wobbly furniture are first-world problems to be sure, but exasperating nonetheless. A few quick fixes and modifications can relieve your pain, and make your home enjoyable instead of endlessly frustrating. Here's how to fight back against some common pet peeves, in five minutes or less.

1. Crooked Art or Picture Frames: Solve this nagging issue by putting rubber feet on the back corners of each frame. They will provide enough friction to prevent them from sliding around on the wall.

2. Clothing Slips Off Closet Hangers: Wrap rubber bands around the ends of each hanger to prevent especially slippery materials from sliding right off and onto the floor.

3. Losing the Start of the Tape: After you tear off a piece, wrap the end in a toothpick or paper clip to mark the spot. You'll won't have to run your fingers around the roll, feeling for the start.

4. Stuck Drawers: Aim a heat lamp at the affected furniture to slowly rid the wood of its moisture, which is the usual cause for wood expanding. Or use a toilet plunger for extra traction needed to pull it open by force. Once you've coaxed the drawer out, apply soap, paraffin, or paste wax to the runners and sides.

5. Sticky Price Tags: Once again, put heat on the job! Hold a hair dryer up to the sticker for about a minute, then test a corner of the sticker and see if it peels away easily. If it doesn't, continue the hairdryer treatment until the residue loosens. Work in sections if you have larger stickers.

6. Sliding Dish Towels: A lot of people hang kitchen towels over stove and fridge handles. And then constantly have to pick them up when they slip off. To remedy this, attach strips of velcro on each end of the towel and loop it around the handle.

7. Bunched Up Duvets: When left to their own devices, duvets constantly creep and migrate to the middle of the duvet cover. Stitch two pieces of ribbon to each of the corners of the duvet cover. Tie the ribbons around the corners of the duvet to make it stay put.

8. Stubborn Trash Bags: This is a two-parter. If you have a suction issue that prevents you from removing the bag easily, drill holes in the bottom to relieve the pressure. To prevent liners from slipping into the can, attach the bag to the can with clips. Or, if you have a metal can, fold the bag over the top, then use magnets to hold it in place.

9. Errant Cushions: Try putting some rubbery non-slip drawer liner, or a cut up rug pad, underneath. We've also heard to stick strips of velcro on the sofa and the cushions helps prevent the slide.

10. Wobbly Table: Before you do anything, try rotating the table around and see if that helps. Sometimes uneven floors will cause furniture to wobble, and shifting the legs around can help you find the sweet spot where everything is level again.

11. Squeaky Door: Remove the hinge pins one at a time and lightly coat them with petroleum jelly, soap or wax. Reinsert the pins, wipe off any excess, and open and shut the door a few times to distribute the lubricant.

BBQ Chicken Pizza

  We all love a good night of Netflix and Pizza.  However, instead of calling your favorite pizza place, you should try this easy recipe.  This BBQ Chicken Pizza will quickly become your favorite. You can learn more at The Kitchn.

Tuesday Movie Discounts in Pittsburgh

Did you know that several movie theaters in the Pittsburgh area have discounts on Tuesdays? Tuesdays are the perfect day to grab some friends and family and see a movie. There are many theaters throughout the area that offer this discount. You can learn more at Living Pittsburgh


Cinemark Theaters- Discount Tuesdays offers $5.50 admission at the Robinson Township location, and $5 admission at the Galleria Pittsburgh Mills and Monaca locations.


Chartiers Valley Stadium 18 – Tuesday Bargain with $5 admission.


North Versailles Stadium 18 – Bargain $4 Tuesdays.


The Oaks Theater- $5 admission and discounted concessions.

Add These Steps To Your Morning Routine

After you get ready in the morning, do you go to the kitchen? Getting your day started can be tough. However, these five steps may get your day off to a great start in the morning. Keep reading to learn about the five things you should do in your kitchen. You can learn more at The Kitchn.


1. Have some water and lemon.
What? No coffee or tea? We'll get there, don't worry. But before you grind those coffee beans or drop that tea bag in your mug, drink a glass of water. Add a slice of lemon if you want. It's good to rehydrate after a long night's sleep. If gulping down a tall glass of cold water in winter doesn't sound like a good time, sip on hot water with lemon. We all know drinking more water is a good idea, so this is a great way to get that habit going.


2. Put all clean, dry dishes away.
If you followed our suggestion here, then you have no dishes to put away in the morning! Yay! However, many of you said you prefer to let dishes air dry overnight, so if that's the case, put those dishes away first thing so you free up your drying rack and dishwasher for the day.


3. Water the plants or change water for herbs and flowers.
Have anything plant-like living in your kitchen? Take a few minutes first thing in the morning to pay attention to them, and you won't have to worry about forgetting later. Water the plants and refresh the water in any herb glasses or flower vases you have going.



4. Take five minutes to think through your day.
Before the day gets crazy and you suddenly find it's 5:00 and you haven't thought about dinner plans yet, take five minutes in the morning to think about what you plan to cook and eat that day. Make sure you have everything you need, or make a list of anything you need to pick up at the store. If something for today or tomorrow's meal needs to start defrosting, take it out of the freezer and put it in the refrigerator.



5. Set out any necessary cookware for the day.
After you've thought about your cooking plans, go ahead and pull out any cookware you're going to need and set it on your stove. You might keep your slow cooker on a high shelf in your pantry, or your heavy Dutch oven on the bottom of a stack of pans. Take the effort to get it all out now, and you'll save yourself a little time later. That pot or pan can be a cheery, welcoming invitation to cook as you walk back in the door.