weekly scenes

4.17.2014

Life has taken a turn for the busier. You'll have to forgive me for the silence that has ensued because of it. I know I've barely shared a peep, but I must admit, I don't feel entirely horrible about it. It's important to get out and experience life that is not set behind a computer screen. With the recent shift in weather, I've been making it a point to do so. I've been chasing dreams, laying in the grass, cooking up a storm, biking EVERYWHERE just because I can, and trying to make it to as many yoga classes as possible.

I do want to call out a few special moments that have happened recently though....
1. Adam's band had their first show! It was such a fun night of free beer, free souls, and free rock n' roll.
2. We finally bought a vine! Now I just want more. :)
3. This little one is back in my life and we've been having a ball. This shot was taken while enjoying the weather at Penn Treaty park on a Saturday afternoon.
4. My new favorite thing is to pick up fresh fish from Ipolito's Seafood. They got what's good.
5. Check out this post I did on cream vs. oil moisturizer! I'm a total convert.
6. Yes, succulent vines do exist. And yes, I will own one someday.
7. God I love this girl. She is one of the best, kindest, funniest, good-to-be-around people you'll ever come across. Anyone who gets to meet her in their life is damn lucky. I'm so happy to have been one of those people!
8. I almost started a chicken farm in our way-too-small of a backyard when I met these babes (or should I say chicks) at Greensgrow
9. Adam & I started a food blog! Go check it out!

Oh, and I'm heading to San Diego next month! Anyone with suggestions of where I should go, visit, stay, eat, etc. please drop me a line in the comments! I hope everyone's spring is off to as glorious a start as my own. Much love. xx

diy succulent mobile

4.03.2014

Note: This post was previously published as a part of my freelance work here
Obsession confession: house plants. You can never have enough. They are the silent companions, the life teachers, and the friends who will always put a smile on your face.

Double obsession confession: succulents. They will never get mad at you for forgetting to water them, and they look like Mother Nature’s coolest alien.

Now here’s a fun new DIY to celebrate the obsession and fill your house with hanging succulents.

You’ll Need:
-          Sculpt It (air hardening sculpting material)
-          5 Old Jars (I used a mixture of jars from spices and preserves that varied in size)
-          5 Inches of stiff wire
-          String
-          Pointed clay tool or safety pin to poke holes
-          Paint color of your choice
-          Paint Brush
-          Cup & Water for painting
-          Painter’s tape
-          5 Small succulents & soil

Directions:
1.       Taking a small piece of sculpt it and roll it into a ball.

2.       Being flattening the ball into a round sheet with your fingers

3.       Mold the flattened piece around the bottom of a jar.

4.       Polk two holes on opposites sides of the clay where you will feed your strings through.

5.       Poke another hole in the center bottom for string as well.

6.       Let your sculpt it dry completely. Part way through, pull it off the jars and let it sit to continue drying. The whole drying process takes about one day or two. Be patient.
7.       Once your clay is dry, tape off the top half with painters tape.

8.       Thoroughly paint the bottom half and let dry.

9.       String two strings through the holes on either side of each planter, and knot them the inside to secure. Leave the strings on the smallest and second to biggest planters fairly long so that you can choose how low they will hang.

10.       To begin putting everything together, figure out which succulent you want to put in which container, and line them up smallest to biggest.

11.       Plant the biggest container first. Then, pick up the strings so you can find where it hangs centered. Once you’ve found the spot, tie a knot and feed the strandsthrough the bottom hole of the next planter, tying another knot to secure.

12.       Plant your second to largest pot next and set the two to the side.
13.       Plant the next three planters on their own using the same method. So you will have one strand of two planters, and another of three.

14.       Hang both strands from the ceiling so that the hole of one hangs next to the knot above the other. Stick a piece of wire in the hole and wrap it around the knot of the other to keep them separated like a mobile.

15.       And you’re done!