DIY: spring bulbs and wheat grass

I have been counting down and waiting for spring to arrive and stay. There have been some days that flirt and pretend to be spring; however the warmth of the day does not stay. I am ready for green grass, flowers blooming, trees budding and sunshine! For this month’s DIY project revolves around spring bulbs, mine happen to be daffodils and wheat grass. I got this idea from my friend Mirjam. First, here is what you need for the wheat grass: couple of jars or vases; dirt, and wheat berries. I collect spice jars or jelly jars or really any glass jar that I think I could use again. I reuse them throughout the year and they worked well for this project. Fill them up with dirt and add a bunch of seed on the top. Cover with dirt and place by light. Add some water and what them grow within a weeks time.

The second project requires planning or you can do what I did. I went looking for daffodils or tulips bulbs, only to discover that stores only carry them in the fall, not in the spring. I already marked my calendar in September to buy “spring” bulbs for next year! Since I still wanted to do this project I first went looking for a shovel. Then I dug a bunch of daffodils up from my yard! I shook off as much dirt as possible and then washed them with water. It worked. I placed them in varying size canning jars and called it done. That simple! You could fill the bottom up with stones or natural rocks for more details. And do not forget to add water to the bottom. That is the main reason my plants do not make it in my house, lack of water! So once again, my mantel gets another look for the new season. Enjoy!!

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I love this idea!! The green is such a fresh color. Beautiful!

Wheat grass holds a special place in my heart, as I did this for my wedding! I grew wheat grass and then trimmed it and put taper candles in the middle of them for the tables that had the food. I planed them in terra cotta pots. Thanks for the reminder! I’ve done this other years too. I have some wheat grass out in the shed, I should get started on this project.

Love the bulbs in mason jars too! Never though of doing it with just water. I have a thing for mason jars and we use them as glasses. I could certainly spare a few for flowers, though.

Instagrams

Since I gotten my iphone at Christmas I have fallen in love with the Instagram app. I had a crush on it even before I had the iphone. Anyway, I love having a camera with me anywhere I go to capture the everyday details. I decided to share some at the end of each month.

Millers Natural Foods…love this store! Myla get a twist tie ring each week!

we took a trip to the mall and learned that West Elm in Towson is only a pop-up store.

They might be gone in a month or so!

Visit to Bebe and Gigi house!Story time has started again!Love old barns that cover our landscape here in Lancaster!We made a stop at at my favorite store when shopping and I had my first experience with a personal shopper…I loved it!!

the little snow we have received…Valentine’s Daygetting ready for spring!Tomato pie cafe with Pops and Grande! If you are local you must try it out!“Go fish”, 10 years of dating, a new haircut, and fun mail for Myla.

Progress of our church building!! Our church, Crossway has been waiting 30 years for one!

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Jamie!! remember me from the coffee co.?? i was just googling “West Elm Towsnon” because they’re apparently closing and came across your blog! too funny… anyway, it’s been way. too. long. what a nice surprise to stumble upon your blog. You’re amazing!! we gotta catch up :)

Instagrams are so fun! Definitely my favorite thing about the iphone. If there was only one form of social media I’d keep, it would be that one!

love a little peek into your life through your iphone :) and yay for a stop at j.crew!

Press Printed Albums

There are so many ways to organize your digital photos. For me, I like order, traditions and reminiscing. The Press Printed Album covers all three for me. I ordered my first Press Printed Albums from Pictage when we celebrated Myla turning two. You can see these pictures here. The size is 12×12 with matte paper for the inside pages. I ordered the 12×12 again and I love it!! I received this album back in the fall and fell in love with it as I photographed it today! I loved flipping through the pages and thinking about how much she has grown, even in the last six months. As a mother and photographer I want to remember all the things she loves at each age, her smile, her laugh and the way she plays and runs! I know as the years pass, I will treasure these albums more as I sit and reminiscence about my little girl.

Some of my favorite spreads!!I loved planning this shoot around all things she loves!This year I included pictures of us and one family picture to end the book!

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Jamie Bernier

Jamie these are adorable!

That’s a great little book…

Shannon Odell

I LOVE these Jamie.

Running

It used to come easy to me. It was part of my everyday throughout high school and college.  I did not have to think about it. I enjoyed it and loved being in shape. Some time upon college graduation, working full time, and having a daughter running did not come easy any more. It was not a part of my daily routine and I did not want to think about it.  We were living a healthy lifestyle, yet my heart never got a work out.

Naturally, the older I become the more often I think about my childhood and all that my parents did for me and with me. My dad would run with me during pre-season for soccer in high school. We ran up hills and downhills on trails, and for miles. He was never behind or slower then me. As I thought of this I wanted to be able to do this with Myla too. This motivated me a year ago (yesterday-because I am type A and I love dates and numbers) to start running. My goal was to get out the door. I am thankful that I have stuck with this goal, though in December and January the times have been limited, I am working to get out the door several times a week. I wish I could say that I have found a new love, but that is not true. What I do love is dreaming about the day Myla and I could run together.

(When my sister is around we run together after she runs several miles first!)

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I hear ya! I actually did well until I had Sophia. Having kids with different schedules/naps is what’s hard now. I’m trying to get back on track. I’m not able to get out the door, but am trying to do a dvd workout at least twice a week.

Homemade Cholocate Ice Cream

I love homemade ice cream!! Simple ingredients: cream, eggs, vanilla, and sugar. Each time I make a batch I tweak the recipe a little so it never taste the same. I am still working on creating my favorite recipes so it has the creamiest texture and the perfect amount of sweetness. For Valentine’s Day I decided to make chocolate ice cream for the family. Everyone in this household loves chocolate! It is best to start this recipe in the morning as it requires hours of cooling in the refrigerator and then time in the freezer too.

 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup heaping cocoa powder

3 cups half and half (i mix with half cream)

6 egg yolks

3/4 c sugar or natural sweetener (i used evaporated cane juice sugar)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

Place cocoa powder and 1 cup of cream or half and half into medium sauce pan over low heat. Whisk to combine. Ass the remaining cream and half and half. Bring to simmer (do not boil) and remove from heat. n a medium mixing bowl whisk egg yolks until light in color and gradually add sugar. Continue to whisk to combine. Temper the cream mixture into the eggs and sugar by adding small amounts, until 1/3 of the cream mixture has been added Pour the rest in and whisk together over lower heat. Stir until mixture thickens slightly (reaching 170-175 degree F). Allow it to cool at room temperature for 30 minutes. Stir in vanilla extract.  Place in refrigerator once it is cool not to form condensation on the lid. Store anywhere from 4-8 hrs. Pour into ice cream maker. Serve soft or freeze it for another 3-4 hours.

You can find the original recipe here.

Top with strawberries, raspberries or

blueberries!!

(that is how i enjoyed a bowl today!)

 

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Um… Yes, Please! 😉 Looks amazingly delicious!

Caitlin

Yum! I keep telling Andy we need to get an ice cream maker….you’ve made me want one even more! :)

I’ve been wanting to try my hand at this for a while! Is it healthier than regular ice cream?

Oh yum! You’re like the 5th person I know that has that ice cream maker. It’s been on my wish list for a year. I’ll have to get it before the summer this year. I love ice cream in general, and homemade in particular!

Karlyn

Oh my word! We just got a simular ice cream maker in red!!! My first batch of ice cream was chocolate also. Too funny. I am going to try something with nuts in it next. Any thoughts or good recipes?