The Homebody: Gift Guide

Shopping for loved ones can always be tough during the holiday season, but especially this year. While we can't all be together, we can still show love to our friends and family with gifts that can bring them joy during and beyond the holiday season. We gathered up our favorites for the homebody (ahem-- isn't that all of us lately?) in our gift guide!

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1. This European Style Bread Board is the perfect accent to your kitchen. It can double down as a decor item against your tile backsplash, or even be used for a charcuterie board for your zoom gatherings.

2. This Faux Seeded Eucalyptus Wreath is a great way to show some holiday spirit in a subtle way.

3. Marble and Wood Coasters are an adorable accent for your coffee table. Cuddle up with your mug of hot cocoa and put these to use!

1. This Debossed Ceramic Soy Candle is almost too pretty to burn! But the scents of bergamot and patchouli are timeless all year long.

1. This Ivory Enamel Teapot captures that vintage holiday feel but is neutral enough to keep on your stovetop all year long.

We hope these gifts can help you spread some holiday cheer and make the most of these holidays spent at home.

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Driftwood Guide to Houseplants

We get loads of compliments on our house plants! At this point, I have a serious love for (addiction to?) collecting houseplants. Without them, our house wouldn’t feel like a home. Plants were my first responsibility. The first things I ever had to take care of. I don’t think I was born with a green thumb, but I’ve worked hard to cultivate one. If you’re thinking, “There’s no way I’ll ever have a green thumb,” or if you’re just looking to elevate your houseplant game, then this blog post is perfect for you. Houseplants are so good for you. Our indoor air quality, although filtered, is not the greatest air to breathe. Especially with quarantine, we are all spending a lot more time within our homes. Plants are one of the easiest ways to breathe cleaner air. Many plants even absorb various pollutants [JSS1] from the air, acting as a natural filter in your home. Super cool- right? Or maybe I’m just a plant nerd 🤓 Not only do they bring physical benefits, but plants also bring texture and vibrancy to design! We are big fans of clean modern lines, but these spaces can so easily feel sterile. Houseplants come in a wide variety of textures, shapes, and sizes. They bring an organic feel to any space, automatically making it feel more lived-in, cozy, and welcoming.

Speaking the plant language Plants communicate with us. Unfortunately, not in the, “Hey, I need more water, please!!”, kind of way, but you’d be surprised what you can understand if you know the signs to look for. There are three conditions we need to consider when speaking the language of plants: HYDRATION - aka how much you water LIGHT - sunny vs shade NUTRIENTS - soil type and fertilizer Every plant requires a specific balance of these three factors. If you can get the balance right, you will have a happy and thriving house plant. Here are some common plant signals that we see, and what they can mean: SIGNAL: Drooping leaves, wilted leaves, dropping crunchy brown leaves MEANING: typically these signals mean your plant is thirsty! Check the soil to see how damp it is. If it’s dry an inch or two below the surface (think knuckle-deep), give it a good drink! Don’t be shy, but remember that most plants do not like to sit in water- it’s best to water generously until you see drainage, and then stop! SIGNAL: Browning/yellowing at stems that spreads to leaves, softening of stems, wilting and discolored/yellow leaves, blisters and lesions on leaves, new growth but you have yellow falling leaves MEANING: too much water! Check if the soil is wet and let your plant dry out. Leave it until the first inch or two of soil are dry and then reduce the frequency you water. SIGNAL: Tips of leaves are brown and dry MEANING: Your plant is likely sunburnt! Some plants only like partial sun to shade, so be mindful of the lighting conditions. This can also be a symptom of underwatering as well. SIGNAL: Plant is alive but barely growing, the plant is reaching towards the light and getting “leggy” (stems are long with few leaves, possibly just at the top) MEANING: Your plant needs more light! Try moving it to a sunnier spot or closer to a bright window. This is a common difficulty with succulents and other sun-loving plants.

Some of my favorite beginner-friendly house plants! Low light plants:

· Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)- all varieties like low to bright indirect light

· Snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata)- all varieties also like low to bright indirect light

· Ivy (Hedera)

Bright-indirect light plants:

· Anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum)

· Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

· Coin plant (Pilea peperomioides)

Sunny/bright light plants:

· String of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus)

· Jades- all varieties (Crassula ovata)

· Yucca (Yucca filamentosa)

These tips and tricks are general. Different types of plants required different conditions, and my best advice to you, if you’re struggling with a certain plant, is this: if something isn’t working, listen to the signs your plant is showing you and take ACTION! Always research the type of plant that you have and understand the conditions it needs. We can’t expect our plants to change if we don’t alter their environment. Wishing you all a green thumb and some happy, healthy houseplants!

5 Coffee Tables We Love Under $150

If you're like me, you know that good design can definitely happen on a budget.

Good Design on a Budget

So many of us think that in order to have a designed and beautiful space, you have to break the bank! Or that when you hire a designer, they will only recommend products that are super expensive. If you're in this frame of thinking, just know that you can totally change up the feel of a room by switching out a single piece of furniture.

Why a Coffee Table is a Perfect Switch

Now, let's talk coffee tables. The coffee table is like the central anchor for your living space. Everything in the room revolves around the coffee table. We opted for round coffee tables for this "roundup" (no pun intended!) because they are functional, allow for flow with many different layout options, and they are everywhere right now. The softness of a round sofa next to a rectangular sofa is lovely.

Sometimes, just changing up one piece of furniture can transform an entire space. We've rounded up 5 coffee tables we love that are under $150. Yes, you read that right UNDER $150!

Where to Shop

You can shop all these tables and more on our Like To Know It page!

CLICK HERE TO SHOP THESE TABLES!