How to buy houseplants (once and for all)

I've always loved the idea of a house filled with greenery. But whenever we've brought home a brave little plant, it has shriveled up and died within a couple weeks. Eeps! What gives?! Maybe it wasn't meant to be, I thought.

Well, luckily, my friend and floral designer Amy Merrick promised me that houseplants are easy if you know two simple tricks...

Amy's advice: "I live in Brooklyn, so filling my apartment with plants is my connection to nature. And my dad is a houseplant genius. Some of his plants are more than 40 years old! The two key tricks are: Choose plants that work with the light in your home, and water them the right amount. People often don't realize that they're overing-watering their plants, causing the plants to turn brown."
8 easy houseplants that Amy swears by:

1. Air Plant
No soil required! They thrive in direct sunlight with a once a week misting. (Here's where to buy them.)

2. Rabbit's Foot Fern
A rabbit's foot fern is one of the easiest ferns to keep inside. They need indirect light and twice weekly waterings.

3. Strawberry Begonia
Pretty plant -- it also sends out the most darling little baby plants! Likes medium to bright light and the top of the soil should dry out slightly between waterings, so keep an eye on it.

4. Split Leaf Philodendron
This tried-and-true houseplant sometimes gets maligned as boring. I love the huge ones, though; if you cut off an extra leaf, it'll keep in a vase for a month! They like indirect light and once a week waterings.

5. Prayer Plant
With really pretty patterned foliage, a prayer plant does well with indirect sunlight and twice a week watering.

6. Rex Begonia
They take a little more care and dedication, but they're so gorgeous you have to try. They thrive in indirect light and the top of the soil should dry out slightly between waterings. (Repeated overwaterings is just as bad as underwaterings with these guys.)

7. Ponytail Palm
The Dr. Seuss of houseplants, Ponytail Palms are virtually indestructible. Happiest in a sunny spot with once a week watering.

8. Succulents
Low maintenance, if you have a very sunny spot inside. Water once a week and ignore.

Thank you SO much, Amy! I'm excited to create a green home! (I'm going to take this list to the flower shop.) What do you think, my darlings? Do you have houseplants? Any other tips from those who garden? xoxo
(Plant layout by Em from HipHipGinGin for Cup of Jo. Home photos by SFGirlbyBay, Bologet and Lonny.)

United States pillows

Oh. My. Goodness. I adore these hand-embroidered United States pillows, which feature cities, states, countries, regions and national parks. Aren't they fantastic? Which would you get? Where are you from?

P.S. State cheeseboards and city prints.

(Via Lucky Magazine)

Terrain

Yesterday I went to Terrain, the gorgeous home and garden shop in Pennsylvania, after being a fan for years. The grounds are stunning, and I learned that people spend an average of TWO HOURS browsing the shop! (On average!) But I wasn't surprised: The flowers, linens, mustards, cookbooks, everything are so beautiful. Here are the two things I splurged on:
A velvet pumpkin (with a real gourd stem) to put on our mantle this fall.
Black sea salt. Wouldn't it look cool on baked potatoes?

Check out their online shop here, and thanks for the inspiration, Terrain!

What's your secret to a great bed?

Many people I know are smitten with their beds, but I've never loved the beds I've had. My beds have just felt like places to sleep (and/or lie awake obsessing about something random:). So, I'd love to ask: What's the secret? Flannel sheets? Two pillows per person? Or something more abstract, like banning work from the bedroom or having a nightstand full of favorite books?

We're giving our bedroom a makeover, so I'd love to hear any tips!

(Photos by Richard Powers and Cassandra)

Three pretty things

How would you like to wear this...
read a book here...
and vacation here?

(Top photo by the Sartorialist, bottom photo by Papa Stour. Via TKOW)

Three pretty things

The beautiful Susan Cernek in a blue shirt with ripped jeans and sky-high heels. She gets it right every time.
This gorgeous room makes me want to get brighter lightbulbs and more plants for our apartment.
How genius is this? I have an elevator phobia, but I'd at least press the button for this one (and then take the stairs.)

(Photo credits unknown, anyone know? Third image via The Bean and the Bear)

Home inspiration: Welcome mat

A welcome mat is the first thing you see when you come home. It truly welcomes you! This one is really sweet, don't you think? (Anyone know where to find something similar?)

P.S. Another funny welcome mat.

(Photo by Love Made Me Do It)

Do-it-yourself cloud artwork

Since Alex and I are giving our bedroom a makeover, we've been thinking about new artwork. Well, this is genius: Amber took her a snapshot of clouds and then blew it up on glossy poster paper for $30. Then she framed it in an IKEA Ribba frame. The whole project cost less than $60, and it's gorgeous! Double thumbs up! I'm super inspired.

(Photos by Amber Interiors, via Little Green Notebook)

First day of spring!

Today is the first official day of spring! Aren't you excited for warm days and spring flowers? Speaking of, I adore these dried flowers from etsy shop Flores del Sol. They are just as beautiful as fresh flowers, but last way longer. I'd love to put them all around our living room.

(Via Spicer and Bank)

Etsy: Vintage wishlist

I was just peeking around etsy and spotted this rad vintage ship mirror. (We have one in our apartment and love it.) Someone should snap it up!
And how sweet is this brass dog? He'd look so earnest and attentive on a desk.

The Old Red Hen

Just stumbled across the lovely vintage etsy store The Old Red Hen. (How beautiful are those horse bookends? Someone please buy them before I do!:)

Matchbook Magazine

Have you seen the new Matchbook Magazine? The first issue launched yesterday and features a bunch of awesome people, including Haley Boyd, the Brooklyn designer behind Marais shoes. Isn't she cute? I love her little black shorts and how she leaned silhouette art on her radiator. Double thumbs up!

See the full Matchbook issue here. Congrats, ladies!

Home inspiration: Hanging bulb

Oh my goodness, I'm in love with this beautiful room. Everything from the vintage frames to the topiary to the flickering candles are just gorgeous, don't you think? But most of all, I adore that hanging bulb. Any idea where you might find one?

Update: Here's the rest of the house. It's from a real-estate listing in Sweden, believe it or not!

(Photo by Alvhem, via Abbey)

Daydreaming

Wouldn't you love to take a bath here (those antlers!)...
...and then eat this for breakfast? Crikey.

(Top photo via Kat. Bottom photo by Oh Joy)

Baby quilts

Loving these beautiful baby quilts and stroller blankets. They're handmade and look so timeless.

P.S. An added bonus: You can hang them on your wall when your baby outgrows them. Sweet.

Home inspiration: Black and white

Loving this print and crib sheet. They both pack such a punch!

(Photos by Mia Linnman and Kjerstis Lykke, via The Boo and the Boy)

Home inspiration: Brooklyn brownstone

My friends Mike and Emma shared photos of their Brooklyn brownstone on Design*Sponge this week, and it's as quirky and fun as they are. The coolest part? They have an actual Alex Katz painting in their living room. They found it on eBay for a deal, since it had a small tear in the corner. ("I could care less," Emma says.) Incredible.

And on their perfect paint color: "When we bought the house, the walls were orange—sherbet orange—it was very Santa Fe," says Emma. "We knew we had to get rid of the orange. We spent a lot of time thinking about blues and greys, and this is Wedgewood Blue."

P.S. Their awesome Manhattan wedding.

(Photos by David Land)

A study in brown

A romper. Tomboy pajamas are so sexy.
A tote bag filled with delicious foods = fabulous and easy holiday gift. (New York Magazine has four yummy suggestions.)
A wooden mobile. This would look great in a grown-up room, too.

Natural nursery

Textile designer Lena Corwin is putting together the loveliest nursery for her little boy. She pays great attention to natural materials (which she talks about on her wonderful new baby blog.) What a lucky little man!

P.S. The crib sheet is from Garnet Hill; the blue blanket is from Pendleton, and the fish mobile is by Flensted.

Hanging children's art

I'm not sure if this adorable elephant was actually drawn by a kid (the cheeky eyes make me think a grown-up was involved), but I love the idea of framing kids' artwork. I'm so excited for Toby to start drawing!

P.S. Also, natural art supplies.

(Via Merry Mishap)