cuddlebunny's Profile

I've had both Ikea and West Elm furniture and found that Ikea is every bit as good for less money. Perhaps an ikea expedit turned on its side or something similar?

I have also found that a lot of CraigsListers treat their furniture pretty well--see if you can get a bargain for one of them on there! Both brands come apart pretty quickly and easily for transport.

Hostas have got to be the drop-dead easiest to divide, those and daylilies can grow quickly and easily just from a piece of root. I put daylilies next to the road up here in the northeast where they are heavily exposed to salt from the roads in winter, and they still come up like crazy every year. I also recommend butterfly bush for propagation--it will root in water on its own. Hibiscus takes pretty easily, any nice vine--wisteria, trumpet vine, hops vine--also spirea, stonecrop! pachysandra, so many! Basically look for something that grows and spreads rapidly and take a cutting and put it in water. Often, rooting hormone won't do a whole lot more for you.

This fall I've taken cuttings of those beautiful chartreuse and purple sweet potato vines to hopefully keep through the winter and put out next summer. They root like crazy!

As for wild plants--mint grows like a weed--I'll include it here. But also try wild ginger--it has a lovely shape, but grows very slowly.

Just learn HOW to take a cutting and where on the plant to take it, and start robbing your neighbors!

I'm a snob about sheets, and I have to say, Ralph Lauren makes some amazing sheets--Avenue sheets are definitely the way to go if you can find them--AND they hold up remarkably well (I've had some other sheets and pillowcases fall apart after too many washes). You can get a great set for around $40 at TJmaxx or Marshall's, and they usually have a couple extra pairs of pillowcases--buy an extra pair.