Tropical plants that feel like vacation, My favorite white paint colors, Sage Butternut Squash risotto, and more…

Tropical Plants That Will Make Everyday Feel Like Vacation

Spring is on its way and most of us are still hanging out at home. I think it might be time to invest in some fresh greenery. Plants give such a vibe that sometimes I think we don’t fully appreciate them, plus the benefits of owning some greens are really magical. Not only are they known for cleaning the air in which we live (and we spend a lot of time at home these days) they are also natural mood boosters and even help reduce stress. Let’s take a look at a few beauties that you could add to your home to create that tropical vibe of summer with a warm breeze. Seriously.

Bird of Paradise

This large tropical Bird of paradise is impressive. She has large glossy leaves that split naturally. She is considered the Queen of indoor plants. This large upright plant has a rich tropical flair with large banana shaped leaves that fan out. She is hardy and adapts to a wide spectrum of light conditions from direct sun to low, indirect light, but will flourish in a sunny spot. Water and humidity are important to her and she will benefit from a regular misting. I water mine every Saturday and make sure that the pot doesn’t sit in standing water as a Bird of Paradise doesn’t appreciate wet roots. When grown indoors, there will not be enough light to trigger the plant to produce a bloom. The splitting of the leaves is normal and not cause for concern. In the wild this is how it stands up to the high winds of the tropics.

Areca Palm

Areca Palms are also low maintenance plants and they usually like to live in temps that are similar to yours. She thrives in low light and likes a moist soil but no standing water. The palms have smooth, sometimes golden trunks that are reminiscent of bamboo clumps. Their fronds are narrow and full, almost like bamboo leaves. It’s a good idea to fertilize an Areca palm from spring to fall as she is a heavy feeder.

Opuntia Microdasys (Bunny Ears)

Bunny Ears is a bushy perennial cactus with oval to round flattened small pads. The pads appear in two’s like the ears of a rabbit. They are spineless but densely spotted. She prefers full sun or light shade and well drained soil. She is a very low maintenance plant and one of my favorites.

Money Tree

The Money tree is a perfect indoor plant to give you a tropical feel. With her braided stem and bright green palm leaves she is both tree and palm. Native from Mexico to northern South America, the Money Tree is also very popular in Taiwan and other East Asian countries. The Money Tree gets it’s name because the Feng Shui practice believes it will bring positive energy and good luck to the owner. It has been said this plant reduces stress, anxiety and may also help lessen sleeping disorders.

Ponytail Palm

The Ponytail Palm is the easiest plant to take care of. She is draught tolerant and slow growing, a perfect match for a new plant lover. She is pretty happy to be watered every couple weeks and soak up the sun, plus she just has a fun attitude, don’t you think? The Ponytail Palm is neither a palm nor a tree — it’s actually a member of the Agave family, native to the southeastern desert of Mexico. The bulb-like trunk is used to store water and the long leaves that grow from the top of the trunk resemble a ponytail.

Where Can I find These Plants?

You should be able to find all of these plants at your local nursery. If you take the names in they should be able to help you locate them. You can also find most of them at these online retailers:

Bloomscape

The Sill

Plants.com

Amazon

Horti

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My Favorite White Paint Choices

Because picking paint is hard…

Here is a round up of my favorite white paints that aren’t too stark white. Some give a creamy finish while others are a true whites. Check them out.

Alabaster - Soft neutral off-white. Great for bedrooms.

White Flour - A clean, creamy white that is great for living spaces that desire a minimal yet warm look.

Chantilly Lace - This is a fairly pure white with minimal undertones. As delicate and refined as the lace it was named after.

Swiss Coffee - A great traditional white that is warm and welcoming and goes great with golden tones.

Simply White - Fresh as the first snowfall, this clean, crisp, multi-purpose white is a perennial favorite for trim, ceilings, and walls. It’s one of those colors that looks warm when paired with warm tones and cool when paired with cool tones.

White Dove - Unerring style defines this classic, softly shaded white. Light and luminous, it is a favorite choice for moldings and trim.

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Recipe of the Week

Butternut Squash & Sage Risotto

Oh my, is this so good or what? That’s what your family will say when they enjoy this! It is creamy good and can be made with some simple substitutions to make it vegan. Just swap out the chicken broth for veggie and use plant based butter and Follow Your Heart Parmesan. Easy Peasy. This recipe does require a little more watchful eye but she is worth it. I use a large organic butternut squash but you could easily sub it for a pre-cut version.

Yield: 8

Author: Jen Adair

Print

Butternut Squash Sage Risotto

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 40 Min

Ingredients

• 7 c. low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 tbsp. butter, divided
• 4 c. cubed butternut squash (from a 2 1/2-lb. squash)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 c. arborio rice
• 1/2 c. white wine
• 1 c. freshly grated Parmesan
• 2 tbsp. freshly chopped sage

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring chicken broth to a simmer. Reduce heat to low.
2. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in squash, 1 tablespoon butter and garlic. Cook until the squash is beginning to color around edges and then soft, about 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Stir in remaining tablespoon butter arborio rice, stirring quickly. Cook until the grains are well-coated and smell slightly toasty, about 2 minutes. Add the wine and cook until the wine has mostly absorbed.
4. With a ladle, add about 1 cup hot broth. Stirring often, cook until the rice has mostly absorbed liquid. Add remaining broth about 1 cup at a time, continuing to allow the rice to absorb each addition of broth before adding more.
5. Stir often and cook until squash is tender and risotto is al dente and creamy, not mushy, about 25 minutes. Stir in Parmesan and sage, then season with salt and pepper before serving.

Created using The Recipes Generator

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Styling Tip of the Week:

Nightstand Necessities for Overnight Guests

We are ramping up at our house for a surge of houseguests as the weather warms up our phones light up a bit with kids visiting and friends heading to the desert. I guess that’s what happens when you live in Palm Springs. Either way, I LOVE it! There are some items I like to keep handy for guests, kids or not.

My favorite things to have on hand:

Extra Blankets

Extra Towels

Bedside water pitcher w/ glass

Clock

Some favorite books

Phone Charger

Notebook and pen

Slippers

Lots of quality toiletries

Sunscreen options

Here’s to hoping travel happens soon!

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Product of the Week:

Coco and Eve - Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Bundle

Ok, sorry guys but this one’s for the ladies. I have tried my fair share of bronzers and self tanners, heck remember when I owned Glō Seattle and did mobile spray tans!? This one is really killing it and for more than one reason. It’s forgiving, it’s easy to apply, it doesn’t come off on our sheets (which my guy really hates), it looks really natural, AND it smells so good I’ve had people ask me what I’m wearing. Oh, and it’s easy on the wallet. I also use the tanning face drops in my morning moisturizer. I purchase the “Dark” shade FYI. You can grab yours here!

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Thanks for stopping by, see you next week!