Supplies to keep in handy for plants

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Here are a few things I always have around that help me take care of my plants.

Vinegar.

I always have either apple cider vinegar or regular white vinegar around. It can be used as a trap for fungus gnats expecially when it's mixed with liquid soap.

Alcohol.

Alcohol is great for getting rid of spider mites.

Spray bottles.

I have several spray bottles on hand at all times. I have one filled with regular water that I use to mist my plants. Another one is filled with a liquid soap and water mixture, which is great for gnats as well as spider mites. Then I have one that is filled with a water and peroxide mixture, for gnats as well.

Rainwater.

I collect rainwater anytime it rains. I love watering my plants with it.

Epson salt.

I water my plants with Epson salt once a month and they love it. It's also good to mix with soil and you can sprinkle it on the top of your plant's soil. 

These are the things I always have that keep my plants healthy and pest free. 

Houseplant Pests

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Houseplant fungus gnats are a problem. I have dealt with them because before I knew what I was doing, I watered my plants like crazy. Fungus gnats love that stuff. Soon they were everywhere and I had no clue what to do. There are still a few left, but thank God, they're not a huge problem anymore. Even though there are so many resources online, I wanted to share with you what I did and the things I continue to do to get rid of those disgusting gnats.

Don't overwater.

In fact, I let my plants completely dry out. The plants I have can handle it but if yours can't, let them dry out for as long as they can.

Water with this.

I actually use glass watering bulbs to water my plants. Some people are against it, but they work for me. So when it was time to water my plants I watered with this:

4 drops of liquid dish soap

4 cups of water

I water with this every other time 

1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide

4 cups water

This works as well. If I do this, I water with it every other time.

Both of these mixtures will kill gnats living in the soil over time. 

Also spider mites can be a problem with some plants. I have a jade plant that had them and this is what I did.

Spider mites unlike fungus gnats don't like when the soil is dry. I make sure my plants soil isn't dry, but I make sure to never over water.

I also spray with water every other day because humidity is not a spider mites friend. Also spraying with water dislodges them from a plants stem.

If I see and webs I take either a cotton swab or cotton pad with alcohol and rub the plants leaves. I make sure to do this only once a week until there are no more mites.
I also spray my jade plant with a mixture of soap and water. I leave it on for two to three hours then rinse it off with a spray of plain water.

Remember, getting rid of any houseplant pest takes time. Be persistent and also be patient.

Keeping plants alive

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I love plants. I've killed a couple but I've also kept the plants I have alive for quite some time. For me, it was all trial and error and of course research. Knowing what to do and what not to do is important, but it's also important to do what works for you. I don't do everything for my plants that I've read. I've taken things from here and there and also things that I know and I created my own routine. I've figured out what works for the plants I have so I'm sharing my tips with you. These are in no particular order.

Give them names.

This is something that not everyone does, but I like giving my plants names. I don't know why this matters (it probably doesn't), but I think that it's good for a plant to know that it's loved.

Talk to them, play music.

I talk to my plants. I play music for them. I give them encouragement to grow. I usually do this when I think about it, which isn't everyday.

Know when to water.

A general rule of thumb is to water when the first inch or two of the soil is dry. For some plants it's a little longer and for some it's shorter. I check all my plants once a week and if they're dry I water them. If not I wait a week. For my jade and snake plants, I don't check them every week because they don't need frequent watering. 

Have a schedule.

I check my plants on Friday morning. I like to have a set day to do this that way it's easier to keep track of. I always water in the morning.

Quick Tips:

(special things I do for my plants)

1. Water with rainwater.

2. Water once a month with 1 tablespoon of Epson salt mixed with one gallon of water.

3. Group plants together to increase humidity.

4. Mist with water every other day.

5. Rotate plants every day.

Choosing a houseplant

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I'm no expert when it comes to houseplants. I just know what works for me. I've done research and since I have many of my own, I've kind of figured out what works for them. I do however have some tips that I've learned and things I do that have kept my plants healthy thus far. Here are some things I've learned along the way.

1. Know your living space.

It's important to know what kind of environment you live in. Does your space receive low light or bright light? Do you live in a humid area? A cold climate? All of these (and others I didn't mention) factor in when deciding what type of plant would best suit your space.

2. Do your research.

Before thinking about getting a plant you need to do your research. Find out what plants do well in low light. Find out which ones require little care or which ones are a little more high maintenance. Find out which ones are harder to kill (hello snake plants). It's so important to know what a plant needs so make sure you know before you buy.

3. Know the type of houseplant parent you'll be.

You know better than anyone the amount of time you have to care for a plant. All plants need some type of care. If you know that you don't have time to, then you might want to choose one that's low maintenance like a succulent. 

4. Choose a healthy plant.

When buying plants, there's nothing more important than buying a healthy one. That's where doing your research comes in. Knowing what a healthy plant looks like comes in handy. Make sure to check for dying leaves, pests, and other things that can make any houseplant you chose a bad one. You do not want to start off on the wrong foot. 

There are so many more things I could share but these are the basics. I hope this helps. 

Are you a settler??

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I'm somewhat of a settler. What I mean is that I settle. I settle with how things are and sometimes I don't expect them to get better. It's something that I'm working on because let's face it, it kind of sucks to be a settler. I mean settling is a bad thing, right? I'm so much a settler that I won't speak up even when I feel things aren't right. I'm talking in relationships and in my daily life. One example that comes to mind is the time I ordered a ring online. It was a ring that I really wanted so I was excited to get it. The ring is beautiful (I still have it) and I don't regret buying it. When it arrived at my house, the band of it had little indentations in the silver. It wasn't much, but looking back I was just satisfied with it not being the way I originally thought it was online. I could have (and I should have) just returned it and got another one, but because I'm just so much of a settler (not sure what else to call it) I just accepted the ring. Maybe not a good example but I think you get the gist. I'm not sure why I'm so comfortable with things the way they are, probably because I'm a little impatient. It's not a bad thing to be happy in good times as well as bad. I'm just saying that sometimes getting so comfortable with things when they're bad can lead you to never accept and expect things to be good. Or never even try to live the life you deserve simply because you're comfortable. Like I said, it's something I need to work on. I know that I'm worth so much more and that I (and you for that matter) should never settle. I don't care what is in life. Whether it be a ring you ordered online, a guy that you're not happy with, a job that you hate, or whatever. Settling just sounds so mediocre, and I don't want no mediocre.

What is something that you've settled on in life?

Pin-spiration Friday

It's Pin-spiration Friday! If you're new, this is where my obsession with Pinterest and my love for blooging meet. Here I share a few of my favorite pins from the past week and sometimes there's a theme. This week's theme is plants. Houseplants. Garden. Green. I'm obsessed. I plan to talk more about that next week, but for now you can follow my new instagram page dedicated to my plants here and you can always follow me on Pinterest here because I'm always pinning. Let's get started!

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I love everything about this picture from the hanging planters to the plant itself. If you're wondering its a donkey's or burros tail and I recently added one to my little collection.

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I have one word, OBSESSED. Okay I have a few more words, but I just love this. I have 3 snake plants in my collection, this photo makes me want even more!

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This is literally my dream.

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Succulents. Hot pink gravel. Enough said.

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I have 4 jade plants so I'm a kind of biased but I love them. They're so easy and practically indestructible. Also this diy vase is amazing!

That's all for this plant themed Pin-spiration Friday. Are any of you guys as obsessed with plants as I am? I can't be the only one. 

Have a great weekend guys!

Let's talk about...plants

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I want to start this off by saying I hope you guys are liking some of the changes I've made to le blog. I'm changing my content up a little and I'm going in a little bit of a different direction. My whole vision for this blog has changed drastically. Well maybe not drastically (that's me being all dramatic) but its changed. Things are still in the process of being perfected, but so far I'm liking it. Let me know if you are. So back to the subject at hand. The subject of plants. Houseplants. Succulents. That sort of thing. Over the past few months, I've become literally obsessed with plants. I'm not exactly sure how it started but the love is real. All I want to do is fill my space up with as many plants as possible. I love the way they look and not only that I enjoy taking care of them. I also enjoy, probably more than I should, going on Pinterest (you can see what I've been pinning here) and looking at all the plants and how people have decorated with them. I research how to take care of them and everything. I told you the love was real. I've even created an Instagram page (follow here) with my mom to showcase all our plants. I'm crazy, but there are worse things to be obsessed with. I thought that since plants are the new loves of my life I could incorporate them into my blog. If you're not into this stuff there will be plenty of other content, but that's just where my head is at right now. I've done so much research on how to choose the right plant for you, how to take care of it, and all that stuff. I'm somewhat of an expert, not really but I like to think I am. I want to share my knowledge with you all here cause we're friends. So let me know what you think, and if you think I'm crazy that's okay. I agree.

Don't take it personal

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Okay, let's just get it out of the way. I'm totally singing don't take it personal by Monica right now, it's in my head. I can't help it. But in all seriousness, don't take it personal (baby, personal baby). There's a quote (and I'm paraphrasing here) that says there's freedom in learning not to take everything personally. That is so true. I'm one of those people who takes everything personally, or at least I used to. I'm sensitive, but I also thought everything was about me. I thought this person is doing that just to get back at me or they're doing this because they know I hate it. That kind of thinking is so self centered and stupid and to be honest, I'm neither of those things. Don't ask me why I thought this way, I'm going to chalk it up to just being immature. It's amazing what a few years and life experiences can do for you. Back in college I had a string of bad roommates (we'll save that story for later). I'm talking messy, loud, partying, and disgusting roommates. We didn't get along because little old me was in college to study not to party, what a concept! Every last one of them would do things like leave dirty dishes in the sink for days, leave food out, leave clothes everywhere; you get my drift. I would always think that they were trying to annoying me or get back at me; that they were doing it intentionally. Who knows? Maybe they were, maybe they weren't. Maybe just maybe it wasn't about me at all and that was just who they were: slobs. Everything is not about me, it's not about you. People are going to do things that might make you mad and that you don't agree with, but I had to stop taking responsibility for what other people were doing. I had to take me out of the equation. Sure there are vengeful people out there that do things to get a rise out of other people, but again, that's not my problem. It's not personal and if it is, I have to stop taking it personally. There really is such freedom in that like you wouldn't believe. It's amazing to not let every little thing someone does get to you. When people would do things to me, it would hurt and I would turn it around on me. People still do things that hurt me (and they probably always will) but the way I respond has changed. I don't let it get to me. Instead of thinking it's all about me, I realized that it's on them. They're the one with the problem and I've got enough of my own. And sometimes they might want to make you mad, but isn't it amazing to be calm when people expect you not to be? This is totally unrelated but I love that quote (again paraphrasing) what people think and say about me is none of my business. I'm going to turn it around and say what and how people act towards me and how they treat me is none of my business. Unless I'm being a bitch then it's on me.

Do you take everything personally? What are some ways you can change that?

23 things I want to do

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1. Be more positive.

2. Complain less.

3. Fall in love.

4. Find my passion.

5. Feel more confident.

6. Be happy even in the hard times.

7. Worry less.

8. Say what I feel.

9. Live and love without limits.

10. Work harder.

11. Laugh more often.

12. Never hold back.

13. Know that it's okay to cry sometimes.

14. Be more creative.

15. Take better care of myself.

16. Write more.

17. Sing more.

18. Be myself.

19. Have more faith and less fear.

20. Spend less time on the internet.

21. Create lasting memories.

22. Be successful on my own terms.

23. Make myself proud.

What to expect/not to expect

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There a lot of things that make up who I am. Like most people. I'm not just interested in one thing. One dimensional if you will. Over the last few months, my interests have changed. Let's be honest here, they haven't changed that much but I digress. I'm growing, I'm getting older, and ugh I'm becoming an adult. So even though I hate expectations, I feel like this blog needs some sort of guideline or something like that. So what can you expect from this blog. First off there will probably be some fashion related things since I do love fashion and all that good stuff. There may be some decor posts. There may also (okay there will) be some posts where I'm just writing what's on my mind, kind of like journal except I'm not the only one who will be reading it. I may discuss celebrity type things, because let's be honest, I'm kind of more than I'd like to admit interested in that stuff. One day there may be tips and advice, like things I've learned. Also quotes cause I love 'em. There may be spiritual posts because God is an important part of my life (if you don't like that, sorry). There will be beauty related things like nail polish and lipstick cause I'm somewhat of a lipstick hoarder. Oh and hair. I've recently developed a keen interest in all things natural hair so you can expect a lot of that. I'm still a beginner, so bear with me. 

And since I mentioned that I don't like expectations, here's what not to expect:

Please don't expect there to be expensive products or fancy shit like that cause that's just not who I am. I for one (like many people) am on a budget. A tight one. One of the things I'm most looking forward to is showing you guys how to or how I take care of myself with spending a shitload of money. I want to be relatable  cause after all, I'm just a normal, small town girl. Some of the blogs out there show things I could never get (at least right now) simply because I don't have the money. Or because I'd rather spend the money on something I need as opposed to something I want. That's not a good feeling and I never want anyone to come here and feel like that. I want this to be a feel good place where you can come and relax, laugh, get some advice (maybe), learn, grow, and all that jazz. Oh and you can also see me stumble and fumble my way through life cause I still got a lot of figuring out to do. It shall be fun, or at least I hope it will be.

New year, new blog, new me. Maybe?

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So it's been a really long time. You're probably sick of me saying that, but I'm only stating the facts. There are lots of things I said I was going to do and I didn't. Shocker. Like I said in earlier posts, which if you didn't read them then you don't know, but this blog became somewhat like a chore. It was kind of a bad space that I just didn't want to be in. It started off as one thing, then as life hit me with blow after blow, it evolved and so did I. I don't like what my blog has become and that got me thinking. I'm in a totally different space in my life right now. I'm eclectic. Different things make up who I am. I'm inspired by many things, moved by many things. I realized I don't want to be put in a box. I also realized the box I was in was one I indirectly created. So with all that being said, The JaToya Chronicles is back in full effect and it's just what it says it is. It's a chronicle of all the things that make up my life and who I am; the chronicles of JaToya. I'm determined and I really fucking mean it this time, to make this a space that I love. A space that I love coming to and sharing on. A space that is so ME. This time I'm for real. This time I'm actually going to make this blog what it was supposed to be in the first place. 

Unexpected

It's story time! Okay so I need to get real with you guys for a second or a minute since this will probably be long. I want to tell you a story about something that recently happened to me. I'm only telling it because I know I'm not the only one who's had something similar happen and because there's important life lessons to learn. Life lessons that I learned or more to the point that I needed to learn. Life is sneaky like that you know. Every thing is a lesson, every situation can be a learning experience. 

So there is this guy I went to high school with who I had a crush on. Let's just say he's really cute, how eight grade of me, but it's true. I always kind of admired him from afar. I went on with my life, liked other boys and such, but I always thought he was a cutie pie. Fast forward, we graduated and all that stuff. I went to college, forgot about him basically. Then two years ago I was home on spring break and I saw him. He looked better if that was even possible. A few days later it was his birthday. I knew that because we're friends on Facebook, duh. So I decide to wish him a happy birthday. I didn't think anything of it until he replied and we struck up a conversation. You know those like what have you been up to, where'd you go to school, how have you been. Small talk. Kind of boring if you ask me. He asked for my number and we continued to talk. Let me tell you, I was happy. I had had a crush on this dude and I was finally getting to talk to him! High school dreams were coming true here people. All common sense went out the window. We eventually stared hanging out and that's where things got weird. He wanted to you know, have sex. I'll just say it right now, I can be a little naive sometimes, what can I say. I thought we were friends, just getting to know each other. I had no clue that was on his mind. Here's where I was stupid. I actually wanted to do it. Well I didn't but I liked him, always had and I just wanted to please him, keep him, whatever. So I thought about it. We didn't do it, but we almost did. I felt horrible. It went against every thing I believed in. I didn't want to just have sex with him for the sake of it, or because he wanted to. Sex should only be done if YOU want to do it. That goes for anything in life basically. We stopped talking but I always felt as if I should have just done it. If I had, then we would still be talking. I know, I was stupid. Another fast forward to about a month ago. He messaged me on Facebook. That damn Facebook. We engaged in that same small talk, boring, but I thought maybe we could be friends. The next day I text him and point blank asked him if all he wanted was sex from me. He said yes. I knew what I had to do so I told him no and we could just be friends. Let me try to explain how that feels. I wasn't hurt by any means, it just sucked you know. It sucks to be thought of in that way. It sucks to think that a guy you thought was cool, turned out to be a total douchebag. It just plain sucks. Another week or so passed and he contacted me again, wanting the same old thing. He tried to strike up another conversation (I almost believed it), then he went in for the kill. I turned him down once again. Seriously does this guy ever learn? Story's over but here's what I learned. You never really know someone until you know them. Translation: the outside can hide a lot of stuff that's going on on the inside. I had admired this guy from a far and when I got to know him, he was so different from not only what he appeared to be but from how I thought he was. I also learned that some people come into your life to teach you something. I'm a big believer in everything happens for a reason and that there really are no accidents in life. People come in and out of your life and it's up to you to learn from it. I struggled with why did God allow him to come back into my life if he was just going to leave again. He hadn't changed so why was he back? I now know that I needed that lesson. Maybe not for today, but maybe I need it for the future. I needed to know that I'm strong and that I don't need to compromise who I am for somebody else. I needed to learn to say NO. So I'm happy he who shall remain nameless came back into my life. I needed that do over. I needed to gain that strength. I needed to know that who I am is enough. I needed to know that my beliefs are important. I needed to know that some people actually aren't who they appear to be. I needed to know that just because someone doesn't value or respect me doesn't mean someone else won't. I needed that unexpected lesson. Unexpected lessons are really the best ones after all.

What are some of the unexpected lessons you've learned? Have you been in a similar situation?

A New Start

The Beginning

November 5, 2014

Well I actually have no clue what I'm going to write, or what I'm supposed to write. I figured I would just start writing, typing really, and see what comes of it. That seems to be the best way to approach things right? You just go for it. Not really knowing how it's going to turn out, but you hope for the best. Or in my case you hope what you're saying, or what you're trying to say, makes sense. So what's in my head? What do I want to say? That's the thing, I have no clue. There are so many thoughts in my head, gaps I want to fill in, but I'm not quite sure where to start. Already things are becoming a little jumbled, so I'll just start from the beginning. So, I love writing. I discovered I had the natural ability to write when I was young. I'm no author by any means, the thought of writing a book actually scares me, but I love being able to write down what I'm feeling and basically just random things. I had a journal (we'll refrain from calling it a diary) and I used to write in it often. I still have them and let me tell you it's beyond hilarious to read what my teenage self wrote. But isn't it the best though? I mean, when I read it I can still remember how I felt even where I was when I wrote it. It takes me back to that time and that's what good writing is. It makes you feel things, takes you to another place. So that's what I want to start doing. I want to write about things that I love, things that are important to me. I want to write my feelings and maybe get emotional at times, who knows. When I started this blog, I had no clue what I was doing. Still don't if I'm being honest. Sticking to this whole honesty thing, I also wasn't being true to myself. I read other blogs, and while I wasn't  trying to emulate them, I did what I thought people wanted to read. In doing that, I begin to hate it. I didn't want to do it because it wasn't me. I do love fashion, but I'm not rich. At all. I don't wear brand name or expensive clothing. I would love to, but that's just not me. I couldn't relate to those blogs at all. So who am I you ask, well that's the thing, I'm still figuring that out. I don't quite know exactly who I am, but here's what I do know. I'm a 22 year old young woman who's still trying to find her place in this world. I have fear of the unknown, I want to make my mother proud, and I don't know what the future holds. I'm just an average girl who lives in a small town. I have big dreams but sometimes I have no idea how I'm going to make them a reality.  I'm an average girl, but I'm unique. I'm on this journey called life and I'm not sure which road I'm going to take, but I am sure that I'm going to be me, be true to myself every step of the way. Sometimes I live for others more than I live for myself, I get insecure sometimes, and a little too comfortable with the mundane. I'm also a girl who loves to make people happy and give myself to others. I'm sarcastic, witty, and, funny. The thing I want most out of life is to enjoy it and be happy. I want to find love, have a family, and most of all just be JaToya. With that being said, this blog may be a complete mess. My life is like that sometimes and that's okay. It's okay. Like life, I'm just going to go with it and see where it goes. I hope you'll join me!

Smile

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"I have many problems in my life but my lips don't know that. They always smile". Charlie Chaplin

Smile. Here's to a great Monday and an even better week!

Pin-spiration Friday

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I hope you are having a great day so far. This week's edition of Pin-spiration Friday is going to be a little different. Two weeks ago I did a Valentine's Day post but this week I'm devoting it to a few of my favorite quotes. Not to be negative, but this week has been hard for me. These quotes helped me out and I'm hoping they will help any of you who may be going through a difficult time as well. 

love yourself

find joy

choose

trust

nothing is impossible

rest

all images via Pinterest

I hope you all enjoyed this week's Pin-spiration Friday. Remember to follow me on Pinterest here.

Thanks for reading and have a great day filled with lots of love!

Have a laugh

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1. Life is better when you're laughing.

2. Laughter is the language of the soul. Pablo Neruda

3. Laughter is an instant vacation. Milton Berle

4. A man isn't poor if he can still laugh. Raymond Hitchcock 

5. The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. E.E. Cummings

6. Life is worth living as long as there is a laugh in it. L.M. Montgomery

Have you laughed today?

Pin-spiration Friday: Valentine's Day Edition

Since Valentine's Day is just around the corner, it seemed fitting that this week's Pin-spiration Friday be dedicated to the holiday of love. I'm going to try not to get too mushy, okay.

completely

i love you

bow

i heart you

diy candy boxes

love you note

hearts hearts hearts

all images via Pinterest

Follow me on Pinterest here.

Do any of you have any big plans for Valentine's Day?

10 quotes to make you happy

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1. Make someone happy and then you'll be happy too.

2. You can't wait around for someone else to make you happy. Make joy in your own heart and go from there. Ellen C. Maze

3. Happiness is a choice, not a result. Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy. 

4. Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking. Marcus Aurelius

5. Smile. Why? Because you can.

6. When life gives you a thousand reasons to cry, show life you have a thousand reasons to smile.

7. You are loved.

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8. There is only one person who could ever make you happy, and that person is you. David Burns

9. Forget about what everyone else thinks and says. If it makes you happy, go for it. 

10. Learn to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want. E. James Rohn

Just a few quotes to brighten up your Monday a little. Have a great day!

Pin-spiration Friday

I hope you all had a great week. I'm so happy and ready for the weekend. Even though it was a four day week, I'm more than ready for a little rest and relaxation. Who knows, I might even get a little crazy and read a book. Anyway, this edition of pin-spiration Friday consists of a few quotes, a little beauty, and some jewelry. I hope you enjoy!

favorite look via Barefoot Blonde

this guy

and this one

do.

faith is 

gold

frosted animal sugar cookies, yes please

all images via Pinterest

To see more of my pins, follow me on Pinterest here. Have a great weekend guys!

Pin-spiration Friday

This week went by so incredibly fast. With travelling and getting back to the swing of things, pinning wasn't on my list of top priorities. But, I do have a few that I loved so let's get into it.

twist on a french manicure

simple gold

never

i can

perfection

circles

all images via Pinterest

You can follow me on Pinterest here.

I hope you all have a great weekend!