4 Ways to Decorate with Faux Succulents

Succulents have been super popular the last few years and seem to be staying on trend.  There are two problems with real succulents, though: they are pricey, and they can be high maintenance.  In some climates, succulents are low maintenance and require little to no attention.  But there are some succulents that seem to die no matter what.  Too much water, not enough water, too much sun, not enough sun, too much humidity, on and on.  Divas.

That's where fake succulents come in!  Here are some ways to use faux succulents to decorate your space-- indoors or outdoors!

You can find faux succulents at a variety or craft stores.  I got the ones you see above at Michael's.  They come in different sizes and varieties.  It was hard for me not to buy every single one they offered.

Over the last couple months, they have put them on sale a few times, plus there are always coupons on the Michael's app!  If you order online, be sure to use ebates to get 2% cash back.

IDEA 1

Let's start with the easy DIY pictured above.  You can grab any container.  A teacup, bowl, jar, whatever.  This white bowl once had a candle in it.  When the candle was used up, I cleaned out the bowl.

First, I stuffed a paper towel into the bowl and then covered the top with succulents.  This, of course, should be used for indoors only since there is a paper towel in the bottom, and I didn't glue anything down.  I used this in my dining room, and the succulents stay put.  Since I didn't glue them down, I can always move them to another container if I want to change up the decor.

IDEA 2

My mom made the succulent jars you see above.  She used craft paint (like Apple Barrel brand) to paint the jars.  Using sandpaper, she sanded down a few areas of the paint to give it a rustic look.

She stuffed each jar with 3 to 4 plastic grocery sacks.  Then she cut circles from cardboard to set on top (pictured below).  The hole was to brace the main succulent.  After setting the succulents in place, she sprinkled small rocks in the spaces.  You could use hot glue to keep everything in place.

IDEA 3

Want to really wow your guests with an impressive centerpiece?  Grab a piece of driftwood or dried out branch.  Glue moss and large succulents to the center of the wood or into any holes/openings.

IDEA 4

This project combines real and fake.  If you have some real succulents planted but want to add some bulk and variety, add some faux succulents to the planter.  Can you even tell which is real and which is fake?  Neither will your guests!

Now go grab some fake succulents, and get ready to go crazy!  These plants will be the easiest to care for that you've ever had!

Photos + Video: Petit Jean State Park (with a Toddler): Part 2

When we went to Petit Jean in the fall, the waterfall was just a trickle.  It was enjoyable to see it from the overlook, but I was really hoping to see more.  We also didn't hike down to the bottom of the waterfall since we weren't sure if we would be able to do it with Harlow (who was a few days shy of being two-years-old).

I've been wanting to go back after a heavy rain, but the timing has never worked out.  We got a heavy rain this past weekend.  We woke up Saturday morning, and I pitched the idea to Colin to head to Petit Jean.  I was hoping the waterfall would be impressive this time around.  I wasn't disappointed!

We got to Petit Jean State Park in the early afternoon.  We first drove to Cedar Falls Overlook to see the waterfall from above.  It was roaring!  I knew we just had to hike to the bottom.

We then headed to Mather Lodge for a late lunch and to enjoy the view...and to make sure we had energy for the hike!

The Cedar Falls Trail starts at the lodge and is a 2 mile round trip.  The hike down wasn't too bad with Harlow.  Colin carried her on his shoulders for some of the hike, and she walked for part of it.  It's a steady descent, so it's not overwhelming.  The hike is rated as strenuous, but I think it's because of the hike back up to the top.  When you get close to the top, you have to hike up steps, and that takes more energy with a toddler for sure.  I don't think Harlow would have been able to do it back in the fall, but she was definitely able to do it this time around.

The waterfall was gushing when we finally reached the bottom.  Since we were there on a Saturday in the spring, there were quite a few people.  We couldn't sit and enjoy the waterfall as long as we would have liked since other people were trying to walk past us.  There are lots of boulders to climb and rest on that would make for a good picnic and rest spot before heading back to the lodge.

The pictures make the waterfall look much smaller than what it really is.  It's hard to get a proper scale since we couldn't stand close to it with the amount of water that was in the pool below.

The hike is enjoyable.  It's beautiful scenery, and you walk along Cedar Creek on the way to the waterfall.  The weather was nice when we were there.  I didn't get too hot until the end of the hike as we were almost back to the lodge.  I'm so glad we decided to make the trek.

After we got back to the lodge, we drove to the M.A. Richter Memorial Overlook.  From here you can see Mount Nebo and Mount Magazine in the distance.  It's a small, quiet overlook that I prefer to the large, crowded, chain-link fenced Palisades Overlook.  The Richter Overlook is a short drive down a gravel/dirt road, so that might be part of the reason it's not as crowded.  The Palisades Overlook is right off the highway, so it's quicker to get to, maybe also part of the reason it's more popular.  Down from the Richter Overlook is a CCC Overlook that's peaceful and remote.  I think this is one of my favorite areas of the park.

By this time, it was evening and time to head home.  I have two more trails I want to hike, so we're going to have to go back soon!

Here's a short video from footage I shot on my phone.  We had a good day!

Read about our trip to Petit Jean from Fall 2016

Displaying Photos + Memories on Tin Tiles + Wood Planks

If you're looking for a unique way to display photos, then this is the project for you.

My brother got married last month, and my mom wanted some ways to display photos for the wedding rehearsal dinner.

She used antique tin ceiling tiles as the backdrop to pictures-- a twist on a bulletin board!  She first tried gluing clips to the tin tiles, but the glue and clips didn't stay put.  She then went and bought heavy-duty magnets and glued the clips to the magnets.  This way you can move the clips around as you change out photos, allowing you to change the layout of your pictures.

You can find tin tiles at antique stores and flea markets or pick up replica ceiling tiles at hardware stores.  The small binder clips can be picked up at any store that sells office supplies.  Heavy-duty magnets can be picked up at craft supply stores.

You can prop the tins on an easel or hang them by gluing wire to the back or attaching a sawtooth hanger.  My mom made this photo tin to hang in her kitchen:

If you don't have access to tin ceiling tiles, use an antique wood board instead (like below).  You can glue the binder clips to the board.  Don't have an old board laying around?  Pick up a new piece of wood and distress it yourself!

While this doesn't display photos, it's a good way to use distressed boards.  My mom purchased the gather sign and glued it to the antique boards to hang in the kitchen next to the tin tile.

These projects are quick and easy ways to personalize a space!

HONEST Review of Willing Beauty Skincare

I have always been interested in taking care of my skin, but for years I struggled with severely dry skin.  In high school, I didn't want my skin to appear oily (matte was in), so I didn't want to over-moisturize.  The problem was that I naturally had painfully dry skin.  I would moisturize the areas that were the worst, but I was afraid if I used too much lotion that my skin would look oily and greasy.  "Glowy" skin was not popular like it is today.  If facial oils had been popular then, there is no way that I would have used them.  Today I use facial oils morning and night.  I now know it's not only good for my dry skin but also great for most skin types.

I also avoided spf for daily use.  I thought it was thick and would clog my pores.  Since then, spf options have changed.  I now use a daily moisturizer that has spf included.  Gotta protect that precious skin!

The last few years as I hit my late-20s and now my early 30s, I have been very vigilant about skincare.  I never sleep in makeup, and I use a variety of products to nourish my skin.  I use a mix of affordable items that you can buy at stores like Target, Walmart, and Kroger, mid-range products from Ulta and Sephora, and higher-end skincare from BeautiControl.  I mix and match to fit my dry skin needs.  Overall, I'm pretty happy with the concoction, but I love trying new products.

Would I say that I am 100% pleased with the condition of my skin?  Well, not exactly.  I still struggle with dry skin patches, which affects my makeup, and I see the beginning signs of age.  Oh, those fine lines and wrinkles.  I have freckles, and I am not on the hunt to rid of those, but I am open to using products that can even my skin tone.

A friend approached me about trying a new skincare line called Willing Beauty.  Jessica has sold Origami Owl, a personalized jewelry line, for years, and Willing Beauty is in the same family as Origami Owl.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Jessica asked if I would be willing to try the skincare items for five days in exchange for a review on my blog.  I tried out the day and night skincare routine for five days before returning the box to Jessica.  All opinions are my own and are 100% honest.  I was not compensated for this review.

I tested the HY+5 Regimen plus the willa Born to Glow Skin Elixir for five days.  I stopped using all of my other skincare items to see what this alone would do for my skin.

In the video at the bottom of this post, you will see my first impressions and follow along as I use the products day and night for five days.

^ Products that come in the HY+5 Regimen

^ Products I tried: 5 piece regimen plus the willa Skin Elixir

In addition to the video, below are some questions I asked Jessica.  I tried to anticipate what questions some of you may have as well as what I wanted to know about the brand.  If you have more questions, leave them in the comments, and I will see if I can get an answer for you.  Before you ask the question, check the Willing Beauty FAQ page to see if they have an answer for you there.

Q: Do you have to buy the full box of products, or can you purchase/repurchase individual items?
A: Individual products are available to purchase to replenish any products that you may use more quickly than others.

Q: About how many days would the day/night regiment products last?
A: A five piece regimen would likely last close to six weeks.

Q: Since there isn't an eye cream, are there products that work in place of an eye cream?

A: Partner in Time and Sleepover actually treat that area and are safe to use around the eyes.

More info from Jessica:

There is a 100% money back guarantee.

Customers have the option to enroll in The Crush Club which would give them their own link to refer friends without selling the products. If their friends use that link to order products, they'll earn points towards free products! Also, they'll earn free products to gift to someone if they enroll in a replenishment program, which they control frequency (4, 6, 8 weeks) and what the auto ship contains. It can even be put on hold. You can also sign up to be a Beauty Advisor.

Here is a chart that shows common allergen questions and which products contain certain ingredients. (click to enlarge)

Have a tween or teen in your life? The same company has a skincare line targeted to younger skin-- willa. I tested willa's Born to Glow Skin Elixir day and night, and you can see in the video that it was my favorite product!

So I bet you're wondering-- Well, Marla, did it make a difference with your skin?

To hear and see my 100% honest thoughts and first impressions, view the video below. I chat about some things that I wish were different, and I share what I like. As a reminder, I was not paid to write this post or make this video. I was excited to try some new products and to see what they could do for my skin.

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Video: May Five Faves | HAIR PRODUCTS