Category: These Things Are Better Than Your Things

I can grow an outdoor garden with no problem, put me in charge of houseplants and I tend to fail big time.

I love plants, but for some reason, they do well for a bit and then they die.

I’m pretty sure that I may be overwatering and getting root rot because maybe there isn’t adequate drainage and water is getting trapped inside.

What Does Root Rot Look Like?

The signs that your plant may have root rot are pretty clear, the plant will wilt, the leaves change colors, and when you check the roots you can see that the roots look black and feel mushy.

The soil may also have a gross rotting smell to it.

How Do You Fix Root Rot?

However, today I learned about a simple trick with a sponge that could be the answer to my problems.

You can simply add a sponge to the bottom of the planter to help with the amount of water your plants are getting.

You’ll need to choose a sponge that doesn’t contain any antibacterial agents or detergents.

Cut the sponge down to a size that will fit in the bottom of your planter if needed.

You can then treat your sponge with bleach that has been diluted so that it will help prevent the sponge from molding.

Next, make sure that you have your plant in a proper planter, you want to make sure to use one that has proper drainage.

Remove the dying plant from the planter and make sure any trapped water is allowed to drain out.

Once you’ve done that you just place the sponge in the bottom of the planter, add the dirt back in and repot your plant.

The added sponge will allow air to flow through the soil as well as absorbing extra water in the pot until it can drain out if you happen to overwater the plant again.

This is such a simple and affordable tip to try before giving up hope on my dying plants and I hope to see them perk up pretty quickly.

The evenings are perfect right now, not too cold, a nice crisp evening, and perfect for making s’mores over an open fire.

Spring and fall are my favorites because the weather is so enjoyable for spending more time outside.

It’s also the perfect weather for camping and we all know that s’mores are pretty much required when camping.

Of course, you can buy boring roasting sticks to use while roasting your marshmallows over the fire, but why do that when you can snatch up some fun upcycled S’mores sticks?

They used vintage golf clubs and forks upcycling them to create these unique and functional roasting sticks.

My kids love these!!! They are great. They are a perfect length and the grips help toast the perfect marshmallow!!

Marcia – Etsy customer review

I love that they are handmade and give new life to old items by recycling them into a brand new creations.

These are perfect for keeping near the fire pit or to take with you while camping outdoors.

This is the greatest gift for that hard to buy for person. These are so cute, very well made, a little better than even what I was expecting. Cant wait to give them for Christmas and use them for smores’ and hotdogs. They are nice and long. Dan was very helpful and willing to go out of his way to ship them to me in a hurry. will be ordering more!!

Denise – Etsy customer review

I think they would make an amazing and unique gift for the person that loves spending time outdoors.

You can purchase your own S’mores Sticks made from old golf clubs from OldGolfClub on Etsy!

I hate my period, I legit hate it… I am ready to be done with that part of my life.

Every single month it’s back, sometimes I am blessed with twice a month visits, and oh boy isn’t that just pleasant…

One thing that is always a constant is the cramps, and for me, one of the biggest helpers to deal with cramps is a heating pad.

The Menstruation Crustacean is a cute and cuddly 14″ lobster plush that has a removable lavender-scented heating pad.

I’m thinking about ordering one for each of my daughters to help them deal with that time of the month.

He can sit on their bed with the rest of the stuffed animals they have on display.

I love that there are no cords, that’s one thing that I hate about the heating pad I already have, getting tangled in cords is such a pain when you’re trying to rest.

It doesn’t use batteries either, so no need to worry about your battery dying right when you need your Menstruation Crustacean the most.

All that you have to do is remove the heating pad insert and microwave it for one minute, place it back into the lobster body and place it where you need the relief.

He’s a pretty good size measuring 14 inches and is appropriate for ages 12 years and up.

Not only do you get the heat to help, but you can also help yourself to relax with the lavender scent!

The heating insert does contain wheat, so if you have an allergy you’ll want to avoid using this product.

My cycle can be quite rough as well as the ungodly cramping. I’ve tried heating packs in the past, but I hate the hassle of plugging it in, and it always seems to be too hot for my liking. I came across this cuddly menstruation crustacean and I had to have it. Lo and behold, I started my cycle the same day he arrived. I couldn’t wait to bust him out and he did not disappoint. You can heat up the internal bag to your liking and it smells like fresh lavender. He also holds heat for a long while. I’ve named mine Larry the Lobster (SpongeBob fans will get it). My two small sons have tried to steal him multiple times already. Thank I regret nothing and I have already bought one for my daughter and my sister. This would make a fantastic gift and I intend to gift to give it in the future. 10/10 would recommend. If you have a vagina, buy this lobster…buy it even if you don’t. Who doesn’t like a warm cuddly buddy.

Samantha Pierce – Amazon customer review

You can purchase your own Menstruation Crustacean from Amazon!

If you are looking to replace your furniture and update your home, say no more!

IKEA is doing the unthinkable and is going to pay you to bring back your old IKEA furniture!

IKEA has a new buyback and resell policy to help on furniture sustainability!

Now, before you think this is some April Fools joke, it’s not. Straight from the IKEA website:

Do you have IKEA furniture that’s an oldie, but it’s still a goodie and looking to retire it? We’ll buy it back and you help pave the way toward sustainable living. By finding your furniture a new home, we are making the things we love last longer.

Here’s how the IKEA Buy Back & Resell Program Works

Start by filling out the form on the IKEA website to get emailed a quote of your buy back value.

You will then bring a copy of your quote, buyback number and your fully assembled furniture to your participating IKEA store where a co-worker will assess your furniture’s buy back value in person.

When you buy back, you will get store credit and your furniture gets a second life in the As-Is department.

Where it’s available:

The Buy Back & Resell service is currently available at participating IKEA locations as an exclusive benefit to IKEA Family members.

This service is currently available for IKEA Family at participating stores:

• Atlanta
• Baltimore
• Bolingbrook
• Burbank
• Canton
• Carson
• Centennial
• Charlotte
• College Park
• Conshohocken
• Costa Mesa
• Covina
• Draper
• East Palo Alto
• Elizabeth
• Emeryville
• Fishers
• Frisco
• Grand Prairie
• Live Oak
• Long Island
• Memphis
• Merriam
• Norfolk
• Oak Creek
• Paramus
• Philadelphia
• Pittsburgh
• Portland
• Round Rock
• San Diego
• Schaumburg
• Stoughton
• Tempe
• West Sacramento
• Woodbridge

Keep in mind, this is just for IKEA furniture you want to get rid of or update but it’s still a generous option and gives you a way to update your furniture in your home!

You can learn more about the IKEA buyback program here.