Fall is here, and so are the wonderful outdoor activities it brings with it–like hiking, camping and biking. But as the weather cools off and the days get shorter, getting out of bed is getting that much harder. The urge to snuggle up on the couch with a good book or movie is starting to get more appealing than going out on the town. Don’t fight the urge–get comfy! Read on for some inspiration.

Warm up with yummy Fall recipes

The summer days of frozen margaritas and ice cream are slowly but surely transitioning to hot cider and apple pie. If you’re a gardener, you may be harvesting your tomatoes and peppers now. Why not use some of the fruits of your labor–or of the grocery store–and try one of the comfort-food recipes below tonight?

1. Chili

There are as many variations of chili as there are tastes. The basic, core ingredients are pretty much standard though: tomatoes, peppers, onions, chili powder and beans. Of course, many of us choose to include meat–usually ground beef or turkey–but there are many flavorful meatless versions. You’ll find a quick and easy chili recipe here; for you more advanced chefs here is a recipe with more exotic ingredients, including chocolate! Do you have a chili recipe you swear by? Post it in the comments to share!

2. Chicken soup

With Fall marking the start of the cold and flu season, it’s always good to get your daily dose of vitamin C. But, if you do happen to fall sick then nothing is better that some homemade chicken soup–although it’s delicious even if you aren’t sick! Be sure to load yours with tons of nutritious vegetables!

3. Pot roast

This pot roast recipe is cooked in a slow-cooker, so it simmers all day and you come home to a delicious meal that sticks to your ribs! Serve with bread for a delicious and quick weeknight meal.

4. Apple pie

The ultimate in comfort-food deserts! Although there are a ton of more unique–and time consuming– versions out there, here is a tried-and-true old fashioned apple pie recipe. Serve it over ice cream for a real treat!

5. Hot chocolate

Sure–instant hot cocoa is always yummy and convenient, but nothing beats homemade hot chocolate! Pair with some classic sugar cookies–either from scratch or a mix–yum!

Curl Up on the Couch with a Good Book

Snuggling up on the couch with a good book is always comforting. Although it’s always nice to enjoy a good movie, we sometimes forget about books. Learn something new, read an interesting biography, a suspenseful mystery or a page-turning novel. Get some inspiration from the New York Times Bestseller List or Amazon. And don’t forget about your local library! It’s a wonderful–and free!–source for books, music and movies.

Learn to Knit or Crochet

Did you know that knitting is cool now? Well, it is! Knitting books with cool patterns and easy-to-follow instructions and knitting ‘parties’ have sparked a resurgence in this pastime. Try it–it’s fun! I won’t lie; it’s not as easy as it looks. But the payoff is great! And it’s very calming to sit on the couch and knit up a cozy creation. Start with a basic scarf–take it from me and my beginning disasters!

Fun & Games

Take out that dusty old Scrabble and Monopoly and enjoy a fun night with friends or family.

Movie Marathon

On a rainy–or just lazy–day, there’s nothing better than watching movies on the couch. So, put your chores off for once (the dishes will just get dirty again and the leaves will just keep falling!), clear your day, grab someone you’d like to snuggle up with, and have a movie marathon! Don’t forget the popcorn.

We hope we’ve inspired you to slow down, relax and get comfy!

White Phalaenopsis Orchid

So, you’ve been the lucky recipient of an orchid plant–congratulations!

Once the gorgeous blooms start dying off, perhaps that feeling of joy has turned to one of panic. Questions pop into your head…along with the premonition that you surely cannot keep this thing alive.

What now? When the flowers die is the plant dead? Do I put it outside or inside? How often do I water it? Should I just throw it away since the flowers fell off?

Stop panicking…believe it or not, orchids aren’t as high maintenance as their reputation makes them out to be! That said, they definitely aren’t as low maintenance as that cactus on your desk! But, just follow a few general tips and you can enjoy your orchid plant for months, maybe years, to come. There’s a reason why ‘orchid people’ are an infatuated bunch of folks–they can’t resist the unique beauty of the breathtaking plants!

Read on for basic info–applicable to most orchid species–along with great orchid resources for detailed info.

Take it From the Top

Congrats–someone must really care for you to send you such a gorgeous plant! So, take good care of it!

-When you receive your new orchid, feel the ‘soil’ (orchids use a different potting mix than other plants and do not survive in plain old dirt/soil) to see if it is very dry. If it is, water it–lightly!–over a sink.

-Orchids need light! Don’t stick it in a dark corner, but don’t put it in direct light either. Filtered, indirect sunlight–like on a nice window sill–is best.

-Enjoy the show! Appreciate the flowers while your plant is still in bloom. Different species keep their blooms for different amounts of time. If your plant is blooming for quite some time, make sure to water it–lightly!–once every 7 days and to make sure it is getting enough light.

-Figure out what kind of orchid you’re dealing with. There are many different species, which require different care. Some of the most popular are Cattleya, Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium and Oncidium. Posted below are three popular species; see the resources section at the very bottom of this post for a more detailed list in order to identify what kind of orchid you’ve got and how to care for it.

Dendrobium:

Oncidium:

Oncidium Orchid

Phalaenopsis:

Lavender Phalaenopsis Orchid

What Now?!?

So you’ve enjoyed your orchid in all its blooming splendor…now what? Well, it’s time to repot!

-Your orchid most likely came in a small, decorative flowerpot with minimal drainage. You must repot it so it has a bigger home to flourish in.

-Clay pots, shallow but wide are the best. If you cannot find a special orchid pot with holes for good drainage online or at a local nursery, then head to the Home Depot and grab a shallow terracotta ‘azalea pot’.

-Orchids cannot survive in potting soil. They require a special mix. This is a great one; if you cannot find orchid mix at your local nursery/home improvement store, then look for fir bark at Home Depot or Lowe’s.

-Fill the pot about 1/3 of the way with the orchid mix.

-Carefully remove your orchid from the decorative pot it arrived in–taking care not to damage the plant or roots. You may have to use a screwdriver or knife–just be sure to clean it with alcohol first–to gently pry it out.

-Fill the rest of the pot with orchid mix.

-Water lightly and place it back in its favorite spot with plenty of light. Don’t water for another 6 days or so.

-Keep an eye on it and make sure not to over-water it! Water your plants over a sink and never let it sit in water. Always water in the morning!

-Fertilize with orchid fertilizer once a month. Make sure the fertilizer you buy is specially made for orchids.

Bad Signs

Once you’ve repotted your orchid, you need to keep an eye on it to look for signs of sickness or distress.

-Your orchid leaves should be a medium green color. Very dark green leaves mean your orchid may not be receiving enough light; lighter green leaves means it is getting too much light. Adjust accordingly!

-If your orchid starts to get blotchy or damaged looking leaves, hold off on watering. It may be getting “root rot” from over-watering it. If the leaves and new growth turn black, then it is definitely getting root rot.

-If you see signs of distress, then seek help! Check out the orchid resources listed below for more in-depth help.

Orchid Help: Care, Identification and Shopping

Orchid Care Tips: Beautiful Orchids

Orchid Identification: My Orchid Care

Orchid Care for Specific Species: Aloha Orchids

Send Orchids: FromYouFlowers.com

Buying Unique Orchids for Yourself: Aloha Orchids & Angel Street Orchids

Happy Growing!

It’s a magical time of year–fireworks, BBQs, pool parties and fun on the beach. It’s a time for getting together with your friends and family to laugh, eat and celebrate our independence. Read on for some great ideas for entertaining your 4th of July guests.

Crank up the Grill

Two words come to mind for 4th of July: Fireworks and BBQ, and not necessarily in that order! In addition to the summer staples–hamburgers and hot dogs–why not try something new this year? Try this Ultimate Barbecued Chicken and be sure to impress. Molasses and brown sugar set this recipe apart from the rest. For a delicious and unique main dish give this Sweet Cola Ribs Recipe a try. For a quick, easy and nutritious side dish, just slice up some eggplant and zucchini, coat in olive oil, season with salt and pepper and throw it on the grill. Yum!

Entertaining

What’s a 4th of July get-together without all your favorite family and friends? If you’re entertaining this year, try out these creative party ideas. Instead of just serving boring beer to your adult guests give these Fun 4th of July Cocktails a try. And don’t forget the music–make a patriotic themed playlist with songs like ‘Born in the USA’ and ‘Bye Bye American Pie’.

Setting the Scene

Why not have fun with your 4th of July party this year? String up some red, white or blue holiday lights in your backyard for a festive touch. Miniature American flags scattered along backyard paths is a nice touch. For centerpieces, pick a beautiful and festive flower arrangement to set the mood. Surround with boxes of sparklers for an extra fun touch!

American Spirit Flower Bouquet

Happy 4th of July!