Good Living Guide

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Maple Pecan Blondies

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If you thought blondies couldn’t get any more indulgent, get ready for the ultimate in rich, gooey decadence with these Maple Pecan Blondies. These dreamy bars are just the ticket if you want a dessert that doesn’t hold back when it comes to pure pastry pleasure.

Maple Pecan Blondies

Give In to the Pleasure

Do you love brownies, blondies and other rich delights? Are you fond of French toast with maple sugar? Did you ever wish you could combine all those flavors into one luscious dessert?

That’s just what these blondies do for you. They mix the flavors of maple, pecans and vanilla into an ultimate blondie that there’s just no point resisting.

Tips for Making Maple Pecan Blondies

  • Real vanilla extract is expensive, and you might have been led to believe you have to use it to get the best flavor. Good news! As it turns out, even expert tasters can’t tell the difference between real extract and inexpensive vanilla flavoring. Use what works for your budget.
  • If you’re out of brown sugar but want to make these anyway, try making your own brown sugar. You’ll always have it on hand when you need it.

What to Serve with Maple Pecan Blondies

These blondies are perfect for brunch or as dessert.

The smooth, nutty taste and the hint of breakfast flavors in these bars make them a natural with a Hot Nutty Irishman.

For kids or those who are avoiding alcohol, pair them with a deliciously simple White Hot Chocolate.

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Maple Pecan Blondies
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Maple Pecan Blondies

Maple Pecan Blondies combine the flavors of maple, pecans and vanilla to create the ultimate blondie that can't be resisted.

Course Dessert
Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Heat oven to 350°F.
  2. Spray a 13x9-inch pan with non-stick baking spray.
  3. In small bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt.
  4. Set to the side.
  5. Add the softened butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar.

  6. Mix using a electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes.

  7. Beat in eggs, one at a time, just until smooth.
  8. Add the vanilla and stir to combine.
  9. Begin to add one-third of the flour mixture, best to combine.
  10. Now add half of the milk, beat until combined,
  11. Repeat with flour mixture and milk.
  12. Add in the baking chips and pecans.
  13. Stir in to combine.
  14. Spread pecan batter evenly in your pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes.
  15. Verify the bar is fully cooked by inserting a toothpick in center until it comes out clean.
  16. Allow to cool completely.
  17. Enjoy!

Maple Pecan Blondies

Apple Cider Shortbread Cookies

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Fall is the perfect time of year for cooking, watching the leaves turn and sitting on your porch with a mug of warm, spiced apple cider. If you want to capture that same experience in a cookie, these Apple Cider Shortbread Cookies are sure to hit the spot.

Apple Cider Shortbread Cookies

Capture the Flavors of Fall

Is there anything better than a buttery, tender bite of shortbread? While I find plain shortbread irresistible, there’s no question that adding apple cider and spices takes shortbread to new heights of flavor.

Like any good shortbread, these cookies melt in your mouth and are not overly sweet. The cider glaze adds a touch of creamy texture and a dash of extra sweetness.

Tips for Making Apple Cider Shortbread Cookies

  • If you’re unsure about the difference between apple cider and apple juice, you’re not alone. It’s actually difficult to tell them apart. For the best results, select plain cider with no spices or flavors added to it.
  • You’ll need a rolling pin and a cookie cutter to make these. If you don’t have these items on hand, try these emergency substitutes. A wine bottle or drinking glass can sit in for the rolling pin, and a drinking glass can step in for a cookie cutter.
  • Pecan shortbreads are a classic cookie. If you want, you can add ground pecans to these cookies to add crunch and smooth, nutty flavor.

What to Serve With Apple Cider Shortbread Cookies

Fall entertaining centers around comforting, warmly spiced food and drinks. That’s why this Spiced Vodka Cranberry Fall Cocktail is a great match for these cookies.

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Apple Cider Shortbread Cookies
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Apple Cider Shortbread Cookies

Course Dessert
Servings 18 cookies
Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

Cookie Ingredients

Glaze Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
  3. Sift flour. Set aside.
  4. Lightly flour a flat surface. (Cutting board)
  5. Add the butter, powdered sugar, and apple cider in a mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer combine the ingredients.
  6. Continue mixing while adding in the salt.
  7. Slowly add the sifted flour, a cup at a time, continuing to mix for a few minutes. At first the mixture will resemble sand. Continue to mix until it begins to look like dough.

  8. Slightly flour your hands and work with the dough to form a ball. Move the cookie dough onto the floured cutting board.

  9. Reflour your hands and coat the rolling pin with that flour.

  10. Using the flour coated rolling pin, roll the cookie dough out until it is about 3/4 inches thick.

  11. With the round cookie cutter, cut out the dough to form the cookies.
  12. Use a spatula to move the raw cookies to the prepped cookie sheet.

  13. Bake at 375 degrees for 6 minutes.

  14. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 1 minute.
  15. Gently transfer the cookies to a cooling rack.

  16. Whisk the glazing ingredients (apple cider and powdered sugar together).

  17. Spoon the glaze over the cooled cookies allowing the glaze to firm.
  18. Sprinkle with cinnamon.

Recipe Notes

Makes 18 cookies.

Apple Cider Shortbread Cookies

Amazing Tiny House with Attached Greenhouse and Pergola

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Tiny houses are creating a big fuss. When you see Elsa, you’ll understand why anyone would ditch their big, bulky home to live in this sweet tiny house that features its own tiny greenhouse.

Tiny House with Attached Greenhouse

Olive Nest Tiny Homes

It’s Petite Perfection

Elsa is the name of this house, which is built and sold by Olive Nest Tiny Homes. Elsa is 323 square feet of petite perfection.

Elsa’s upgrades are worthy of homes that cost many times more. They include cherry stair treads, quartz countertops, a full-sized top-of-the-line oven range, cedar siding, Andersen windows and Pergo flooring.

The style is light, bright and whitewashed. The house gets tons of light from 14 double-paned windows.

Tiny House with Attached Greenhouse

Olive Nest Tiny Homes

A Piece of Art You Can Live In

Olive Nest Tiny Homes is a family-owned company based in Greer, South Carolina. Designer Melodie Aho told Elle Décor in an interview, “We’re a small company and we do about one house a year. We sell only what’s already built, and we think of each design as a piece of art that you can live in.”

This exquisite tiny house was featured on season 6 of the popular TV show Tiny House, Big Living.

How Does It Fit a Greenhouse?

Elsa is actually a two-structure tiny house. When it’s set up, it includes a 28-foot trailer as a separate attachment. The trailer holds a porch with a porch swing and the beautiful greenhouse.

What About Storage?

You’ll be amazed at how much storage is available in such a small space. Here are some examples:

Tiny House with Attached Greenhouse

Olive Nest Tiny Homes

Tiny House with Attached Greenhouse

Olive Nest Tiny Homes

Tiny House with Attached Greenhouse

Olive Nest Tiny Homes

Tiny House with Attached Greenhouse

Olive Nest Tiny Homes

Tiny House with Attached Greenhouse

Olive Nest Tiny Homes

Tiny House with Attached Greenhouse

Olive Nest Tiny Homes

Tiny House with Attached Greenhouse

Olive Nest Tiny Homes

Do You Have Big Dreams About Tiny Houses?

If you’re dreaming about living in a darling house like Elsa, you might like to know that it sells for $81,000. That seems like a great price for this beautiful home. What do you think?

 

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Celebrate Christmas with a Crochet Nativity Scene in Amigurumi Style

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It’s never too early to start a new needlework project, and Gourmet Crochet is ready to help with an utterly adorable Crochet Nativity Scene.

Crochet Nativity

Here’s Why You Need to Make a Crochet Nativity

It’s ridiculously cute.

  • It makes a wonderful gift.
  • It gives you a chance to use up your spare yarn.
  • You can customize the colors to your liking.

Where Can You Buy the Pattern?

It’s available from Gourmet Crochet.

Gourmet Crochet is an Etsy seller who specializes in unique patterns for amigurumi and other crochet projects.

When Do You Get Instructions for the Crochet Nativity?

The instructions are available as an instant, digital download. You can see them as soon as your payment is processed.

Reviews for this pattern say that the instructions are clear, detailed and easy to follow. You should have no trouble creating this adorable crochet nativity scene.

Crochet Nativity

More Christmas Ideas and Recipes You’ll Love

Bourbon Apple Bars

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Apples may not be exotic, but they add tons of tart, crisp flavor to savory and sweet dishes. If you never tire of apples in any form, you’re going to enjoy making and eating these Bourbon Apple Bars.

Bourbon Apple Bars

What’s Special About These Bars

These bars feature a rich, spicy and sweet apple filling on top of a buttery crumb crust and a streusel topping. If you’ve never tried freshly made streusel, you’re in for a surprise. It makes a wonderfully delicate, crisp topping that’s a great alternative to pie crust.

You’ll be tempted to eat these bars right from the oven, but give them time to set. The flavors will be even better once they meld.

Better with Bourbon

The combination of slightly tart apples, sweet streusel, rich bourbon and buttery crumbs will knock your socks off. Don’t worry, the amount of bourbon is just enough to give them a punch of flavor.

Tips for Making Bourbon Apple Bars

  • Bourbon imparts a smooth, deep flavor to baked products. You can buy bourbon in miniature sizes at your local liquor store. If you don’t want to add alcohol, you can use an extract. You can also substitute with rum or cognac.
  • For the best results, use real butter and be sure it’s unsalted.
  • Gala apples are popular, but feel free to substitute your favorite type.

What to Serve with Bourbon Apple Bars

Serve them with a bottle of chilled Moscato D’Asti. This sweet, sparkling wine is low in alcohol and high in fruity flavors that pair perfectly with the fresh, buttery flavors of these bars.

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Bourbon Apple Bars
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Bourbon Apple Bars

Bourbon Apple Bars feature a rich, spicy and sweet apple filling on top of a buttery crumb crust and a streusel topping.

Course Dessert
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

Crust Ingredients

Apple Filling Ingredients

Streusel Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
  2. Line an 8 in square baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.

Crust Directions

  1. In a medium bowl stir the melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt together.
  2. Slowly add the flour to the mixture stirring to blend all the ingredients together.
  3. Using your hands, press the mixture into the baking pan.
  4. Bake at 300 degrees for 15 minutes.

Apple Filling Directions

  1. In a large bowl add the sliced apples, flour, sugar, bourbon, cinnamon and nutmeg.

  2. Continue working with the apples until they are well coated. Set aside.

Streusel Directions

  1. Begin adding the oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour in a medium bowl.
  2. Whisk all ingredients together until they are mixed well.
  3. Slowly begin to work the butter into the dry ingredients. Using your hands to work with the mixture until it looks like crumbs. Set aside.
  4. Remove the crust from the oven. Set aside.
  5. Increase the temperature of the oven to 350 degrees.
  6. Begin to make a thin layer of apples on the baked crust. Put the apple slices close together pressing them down into the crust.
  7. Sprinkle the streusel on top of the apples.
  8. Return to the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. (Streusel should be a golden brown)
  9. Take the baked streusel from the oven. Set it aside to cool for 20 minutes at room temperature.
  10. Transfer to the refrigerator for 2 hours to chill.
  11. Remove the bars from the baking pan and cut into bars.

Bourbon Apple Bars

Fall Harvest Chex Mix

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Every new season brings us a chance to change our wardrobes, our decorating style and our favorite recipes. This Fall Harvest Chex Mix is a perfect example. It’s the classic party recipe but with the fall-friendly additions of spices and pumpkin seeds.

Fall Harvest Chex Mix Perfect for Parties

The holiday season usually brings a lot of socializing. People are in and out of each other’s homes and relatives visit from out of town. Parties center around warming, comforting food and drinks.

This Fall Harvest Chex Mix is great to have on hand for every occasion. It’s perfect to put out at all your parties, bring to potlucks or carry to work events.

What’s Different About This Chex Mix?

This recipe takes the original party mix and adds seasonally appropriate pumpkin seeds for a dash of crunch and flavor. The varied shapes and golden colors make it look as inviting as it tastes.

Tips for Making Fall Harvest Chex Mix

  • Make this truly seasonal by using the new Halloween M&M variety. The new flavor comes in orange, brown and red. Using it will give your Chex Mix a wonderfully fall-appropriate look.
  • You can buy pumpkin seeds in most grocery and discount stores. You can also order them online.

What to Serve With Fall Harvest Chex Mix

You can’t go wrong with one of the many pumpkin beers or ales that come out every season. Southern Tier’s Pumking is a smooth, delicious choice.

This Warm Pumpkin Pie Cocktail is a creamy, decadent treat that works as a cocktail and dessert all in one.

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Fall Harvest Chex Mix
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Fall Harvest Chex Mix

Fall Harvest Chex Mix is a classic party recipe with fall-friendly additions of spices and pumpkin seeds. It's perfect for parties, potlucks or work events.

Course Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Servings 22
Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
  2. Prep cookie sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
  3. Melt the butter. Set aside,
  4. Combine cereal, crackers, and pumpkin seeds in a large bowl,
  5. Add the melted butter to a small bowl.

  6. Add the Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon pepper sauce and 1/8 teaspoon pepper sauce.

  7. Stir as you add the ingredients.
  8. Drizzle over the chex mix.

  9. Use your hands to toss the mixture to coat all of the ingredients.

  10. Dump the chex mix on the prepared cookie sheet. Spread the mix throughout the cookie sheet.
  11. Bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour.

  12. After removing from the oven, carefully put in a large bowl. Allow to cool for 15 minutes.

  13. Add the M&M's.
  14. Stir to combine.
  15. Store the remaining chex mix in a lidded jar or a zip loc bag.

Fall Harvest Chex Mix

Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Get all the flavors of fall in one bite of these pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. These rich, hearty cookies smell amazing while they’re cooking. They’re a great way to kick off your fall baking.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Get Ready for Fall with Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

These pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are quick and easy to make using ingredients you probably have on hand. Take advantage of the abundance of canned pumpkin available in stores right now.

Chocolate and Pumpkin Lead to Cookie Bliss

Have you been looking for a way to shake up your oatmeal cookies? If you’re like me, you know there’s no such thing as a bad cookie, but sometimes you want to give a traditional recipe a twist.

These pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip cookies answer the call.

Adding chocolate chips to anything is an instant improvement, but adding the pumpkin takes these to pure cookie bliss. The creamy warmth of pumpkin sparked with traditional spices is the perfect counterpoint to the rich indulgence of chocolate.

Tips for Making Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

This recipe calls for parchment paper. You can find this handy, versatile baking buddy in most grocery sores or cooking supply stores. Once you try parchment paper, you’ll be hooked.

  • You don’t have to grease your pans.
  • Cookies slide off easily without breaking.
  • You won’t have a dirty pan with burnt-on grease to clean.

How to Serve Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies taste best warm from the oven. I like pairing them with a warm or cold spiced cider. The combination brings together everything that’s wonderful about this time of year.

Storing Your Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

You probably won’t have any leftovers, but if you do, store them in an airtight container or a plastic storage bag.

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Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
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Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

These pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip cookies are quick and easy to make using ingredients you probably have on hand. The creamy warmth of pumpkin sparked with traditional spices is the perfect counterpoint to the rich indulgence of chocolate.

Course Dessert
Author Good Living Guide

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Using a hand mixer, beat together the softened butter and both sugars in a large bowl.

  2. Add the pumpkin, egg yolk, and vanilla beating to combine with the butter mixture.

  3. Whisk together the flour, quick oats, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. (Carefully measure your flour, spoon it in the measuring cup not packed in the cup.)

  4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir well to combine. (Don't over stir.)

  5. Add the chocolate chips to the batter. Stir well.

  6. Cover the batter with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

  7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  8. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Use a small ice cream scoop to measure out the cookie size. Use a spatula to flatten the cookies.

  9. Return the cookie sheet to the refrigerator for an additional 10-15 minutes. 

  10. Remove from the refrigerator and put directly into the oven to bake.

  11. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes. (They will be slightly under baked.)

  12. Cool the cookies on the cookie sheet for 1-2 minutes allowing them to continue to bake.

  13. Remove from the cookie sheets to a wire rack for complete cooling.

  14. Store in an airtight container.

Recipe Notes

The cookies taste better the next day.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Brazilian Artist Creates Beds For Stray Animals From Old Car Tires

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We’re all trying to recycle, reuse and repurpose, but one young artist is taking that trend to the next level. Amarildo Silvio Filho is a 23-year-old Brazilian artist who upcycles old car tires into beds for stray animals.

Compassion and Creativity

Filho was trying to come up with a way to recycle the old tires he saw littered all over his city. It occurred to him that they would make durable, waterproof beds for animals. He began experimenting and soon realized that he had a winning idea.

Two years later, Filho has made thousands of his colorful, comfortable beds for stray cats and dogs.

Colorful Enterprise

To make each bed, Filho begins by cleaning each tire. He then paints the tire in bright colors, adds some pet-friendly touches and attaches a mattress. The beautiful, eye-catching beds quickly caught the public’s eye.

Soon, people wanted tire beds for their own pets. Filho has set up his own business called Caominhas Pets. He has an active Instagram account where he updates followers on the stray animals who are using his beds.

Branching Out

Filho has since branched out. In addition to the pet beds, he makes and sells planters, furniture and recycling bins, all made from old tires. He also teaches workshops on recycling.

Filho donates a percentage of his profits to nonprofits that support the environment. He estimates that he has saved over 6,000 tires from landfills.

Can You Buy Beds For Stray Animals?

This talented young artist can only sell his pet beds and other products in Brazil at the moment. He’s hoping to find an investor or partner to help him expand worldwide.

In the meantime, you can enjoy looking at those adorable beds. Maybe you’ll be inspired to turn one of your old tires into something wonderful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hand-Knitted Baby Bird Nests Needed For Local Rescue Group

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Hand-Knitted Baby Bird Nests Needed For Local Rescue Group

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If you’re like most knitters, you probably have more yarn than you know what do with. Now, you can put your yarn to good use creating hand-knitted baby bird nests.

Knitted Baby Bird Nests

Carolina Waterfowl Rescue (CWR) needs tiny, knitted or crocheted nests for their orphaned and abandoned baby birds. CWR takes in thousands of baby waterfowl and songbirds every year. Rescuers need soft, cozy nests to keep these fragile babies warm. A secure nest ensures that the birds’ legs will grow properly.

Knitted Baby Bird Nests

Tremendous Response

The need for nests is especially critical in the spring. CWR puts out a plea for the handmade nests every year. In the past, they only received a few hundred. This year, the call went viral.

Knitted Baby Bird Nests

An adorable picture of a baby bird in a handmade nest went from CWR’s Facebook page all over the country. The post included a link to a pattern for wildlife nests.

Knitted Baby Bird Nests

CWR has been stunned by the response. Thousands of soft, knitted and crocheted nests have poured in from caring, compassionate knitters and crochet enthusiasts all over the country. CWR volunteers and staffers say they’re overwhelmed by the generosity of the stitching community.

Knitted Baby Bird Nests

Hand-Knitted Baby Bird Nests Are Still Needed

Despite the outpouring of support, CWR says that they can always use nests. They can also send extra nests to rescue groups that need them.

If your fingers are itching to create some handmade love, patterns are available on CWR’s Facebook page or on various YouTube videos.

Once your nest is completed, you can send it to:

Carolina Waterfowl Rescue
PO Box 1484
Indian Trail, NC 28079

CWR asks that you use tracking on your package if you want to know when it arrives. They don’t have time to acknowledge each one.

This is great way to support a wonderful organization, so get those needles going.

How To Grow Your Own Avocado Tree With Growing Kit For Under $20

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We all love creamy, decadent, delicious avocados. Avocados love us back with loads of healthful nutrients, fiber and the right fatty acids. Wouldn’t it be great to learn how to grow your own avocado tree so you can pick fresh ones every day? A simple solution has become available with the AvoSeedo Avocado Tree Growing Kit.


Now, you can grow your own avocado trees:

  • Quickly and easily.
  • Totally indoors.
  • For less than $20.
  • With an easy kit that comes with full instructions.
How To Grow Your Own Avocado Tree

AvoSeedo

How To Grow Your Own Avocado Tree

If you’ve ever tried to grow plants from an avocado seed sitting on toothpicks, you know that avocados are easy to grow indoors. Some instructions make it more complicated than it has to be.

With this $20 kit, you don’t need any fancy tools, a green thumb or any gardening knowledge at all. You simply:

  • Place an avocado pit in the avocado-shaped boat.
  • Float the boat in a small amount of water.
  • Wait 3 to 6 weeks for your seeds to sprout.
  • Once you have full plants, transfer them to a plant pot.
How To Grow Your Own Avocado Tree

AvoSeedo

Make Some Family Fun

The kit easy enough for children to do. Gardening with your kids is one of the best things you can do for their emotional and mental health. This kit makes it easy to explore the wonders of gardening even if you live in a high-rise.

Brighten Up

In just a few weeks, your avocado plant will grow strong and healthy. There’s nothing like a live, growing plant to brighten up your home and your mood.

Plants clean the air, add color and can even reduce your stress levels. Avocado trees make lovely houseplants with their dark, glossy leaves.

Get Everything You Need

The AvoSeedo Kit comes with everything you need. You get the avocado boat in your choice of pink, blue or green, the water bowl and the plant pot. It works with any type of avocado seed.

If you love plants and you love avocados, it’s time to get busy growing.

How To Grow Your Own Avocado Tree