

If you don't consider yourself having a green thumb, please raise your hand (*raises hand*). If you love plants but can't seem to get the hang of keeping them alive for long, raise your hand (*raises hand higher*). Well, you are not alone.
Recently, taking care of a plant has been a new way to enhance your home space and a great way for self-care. According to EcoWatch, having plants in your home can improve your mental health, your immune system, your productivity, and your relationship with others. No matter if you have a "green thumb" or not, we all deserve some nature that will improve our health in some way.
6 Easy Plants To Grow Indoors
Air Plants
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These plants have been trending for the past year and they are ideal for easy plant care. Air plants are considered epiphytes. This means that they naturally grow on other plants. No soil needed. That's right, y'all!! Here is a plant that you do not need to pot and repot after a certain amount of time in order for it to blossom. Even though air plants still require water and sunlight just like any other houseplant, they are a top choice.
Spider Plants
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Now the spider plant is a plant I have had some experience with. Spider plants are one of the most adaptable house plants you can find. With well-drained soil and enough sunlight, spider plants produce like no other. They grow little spiderettes everywhere which can be transferred from the mother spider plant to water or soil, where they can start to root. The good thing about spider plants is their resilience. These plants are able to grow in various ranges of environmental conditions and sprout successfully.
Aloe Vera
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Most of us should be familiar with this one. Aloe Vera is not only a plant that is easy to take care of but a plant that you can use its gel-like juice to relieve pain from cuts and burns. You can also use this plant as a natural hair product! For my fellow curly girls, this plant is a great conditioner and it can reduce dandruff. Why shop for a haircare product when you can save money and grow it right in your own living room?
Peace Lily
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Let me just say, the name of this plant makes me feel better already. These beautiful plants can grow up to 16 inches indoors. If they are grown outdoors in a warm climate, they can grow up to six feet tall. Since these are tropical plants, they need bright indirect sunlight and consistent moisture. Outside of the name, these beautiful plants will be great to grow in your home and bring a nice aesthetic.
Christmas Cactus
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We are slowly approaching holiday season, so this one seemed like a good fit. This cacti blooms red, white, pink, or purple flowers at the tips of its branches. Despite its name, you are able to keep this plant around past the holidays with the right temperature (around 55 to 65 degrees) and keep the soil barely evenly moist. This plant will definitely make your home more festive for guests and brighten up your home overall.
String of Pearls
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Last not but least, this cool-looking succulent is a must to add to your list of home plants. They grow fast in warm and cool climates. While this plant looks like tiny little green buds, these buds actually bloom into tiny white flowers that smell like cinnamon! To get your string of pearls to blossom these lovely flowers, you can cut back a little on the watering and keep the temperature a consistent 60 degrees during the winter months.
There are more "easy-to-grow" plants out there that you can add to your home. We can all practice our green thumb with great plants with the right tools. There is one app I found that is really helpful for people who are new to house plants. This app is called Planta. Planta will be able to identify the type of plant you have, get care schedules for each plant to follow, and a special feature that can help you solve possible plant growth problems.
To my beginners and non-green thumbers, WE GOT THIS!
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'K' is a multi-hyphenated free spirit from Chicago. She is a lover of stories and the people who tell them. As a writer, 9-5er, and Safe Space Curator, she values creating the life she wants and enjoying the journey along the way. You can follow her on Instagram @theletter__k_.
'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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Are You & Your Partner Financially Compatible? Here’s How To Tell.
With nearly half of all marriages that end in divorce citing finances as the nail in the coffin to deading their relationship, financial compatibility is one aspect of long-term compatibility that doesn't get talked about enough. Beyond the circular 50/50 discourse and whatever hot-button issues regarding providers and the like, at its core, financial compatibility is about how well your financial behaviors, values, and long-term goals align with those of your partner.
More than it is about how much money a person makes or doesn't make, financial compatibility focuses on how you think about money, how you spend your money, and most importantly, how you plan for the future with your money. Think, questions about money mindsets, spending habits, debt, budget, etc. Are you a saver and he's a spender? Do you see money as a tool for freedom? Does he see it as something to hold on tightly to as a means of survival? Can you talk about your financial goals and plans openly?
Knowing if you and your partner are financially compatible can save a lot of heartache, a lot of headaches, and a lot of money in the end. Keep reading for a few key indicators to pay attention to and learn whether or not you and your partner are truly aligned financially.
Signs You’re Financially Compatible
1. You can talk about money without judgment.
Conversations about money aren't something you dread. You're able to talk to your partner freely and openly about money matters, like debts, bills, the budget, etc., even when it is uncomfortable. There is an understanding that talking about money doesn't have to be something you're on the defense about, instead it's an opportunity for transparency, clarity, and solutions.
2. You respect each other's money personalities.
What is a money personality? According to Ken Honda, author of Happy Money, a money personality is our "approach and emotional responses to money" and there are seven money personalities we can fall under. These personalities can help us understand our own relationship with money, as well as our partner's. For example, maybe you're someone who likes to treat yourself to a fancy dinner once a month and your partner is someone who believes ordering takeout and not cooking meals at home is a cardinal sin.
When you can respect each other's money personalities, neither approach is subjected to judgment and shifts can be made in each other's spending habits as needed and from a place of love versus guilt or shame.
3. You agree on what it means to have "financial security."
Whether it’s building a stacked emergency fund, paying off debt before putting a downpayment on a home or being able to splurge on a baecation without checking your account balance before the bill arrives, your definitions of what it means to be financially secure are in sync, or at least compatible enough to reach a compromise.
4. You are not each other's "financial parent."
You’re not constantly teaching, fixing, or stressing out over what the other person is doing with their money. Although I fast-forwarded through a lot of the most recent season of Love Is Blind, I did pay attention to Virginia and Devin and money seemed to be a recurring theme in their conversations. It was clear Virginia had her ish together when it came to money and her financial plans for the future and Devin was not quite on her level.
Though she said no at the altar for additional reasons, I could also see how sis could eventually get very tired of being her partner's second mama, so to speak. And that's the thing about being your partner's "financial parent," eventually, you could end up feeling like you are one-half of a "parenting" or "teaching" dynamic with your partner instead of feeling like you're equals in a partnership.
5. You make financial decisions with each other in mind, not for each other.
Whether it’s booking a trip, deciding which debt to tackle first, saving up for a big purchase, or planning out your next move, there’s a mutual respect for each other’s input. Those shared goals might look like wealth, freedom, stability, or just a debt-free life that feels soft and secure.
You don’t have to be chasing the same bag in the same exact way, but you do need to be aligned on the vision. What you're building should feel like a joint venture with shared effort and purpose, not one of y’all making major money moves like you're still single. Making financial decisions is not just about where the money goes, it's about where you’re going together.
6. You're aligned when it comes to the big stuff.
Financial compatibility extends to the long-term of money management. The legacy, structure, and shared responsibility that comes with decisions like shared accounts, estate planning, having babies, or even blending families. Will you split bills or combine income? Who’s taking time off if you have a child? How do y’all feel about generational wealth or investing for your family’s future? You and your partner have had the real conversations.
These conversations can’t wait until after the wedding or until after a baby’s here. They’re the foundation for how you function as a unit, and if you're not aligned, or at least willing to get on the same page, that incompatibility can cause friction in the end that love alone can't fix.
Love is cute and all, but building an empire together? That’s the real flex. Tap into our new series Making Cents to see what financial compatibility really looks like when love and legacy go hand in hand.
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