J Schwanke’s Life In Bloom

>> "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom" is brought to you by the following... >> That flower feeling.

At home.

At work.

Or anytime.

CalFlowers is a proud sponsor of "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom," where flowers and wellness go hand in hand.

>> We have fresh in all our stores, from soups and steaks and all things flour to all things flowering.

Custom fresh arrangements designed by our in-store florists at Albertsons Companies.

>> With additional support from the following... >> Today, on "Life in Bloom," we're exploring ways to live the flower life.

Surrounding yourself with flowers is a good start and easier than it sounds.

I'll search for flower metaphors with a life coach, share my spirit flower, and did someone say "Million-Dollar Spaghetti"?

I'm J Schwanke.

Welcome to "Life in Bloom."

Today on "Life in Bloom," we're looking at the importance of putting yourself first.

It's not selfish to love and take care of yourself and to make your happiness a priority.

It's necessary.

Plus, when you take the time for self-care, you're better able to care for others.

Whether your energy is depleted physically or mentally, when you take action to replenish your own feelings by de-stressing and through healthy choices, your ability to share with others is magnified.

As you might expect, flowers provide many opportunities to enhance your own self-care.

Let's explore some ideas today on "Life in Bloom."

Much like many things in life, it's not only the destination but the journey.

This even applies to flower arranging.

Perhaps my favorite tip for arranging flowers is to remember to be present and enjoy the experience.

As golfer Walter Hagen famously said, "You're only here for a short visit.

Don't hurry, don't worry, and be sure to smell the flowers along the way."

Just as in life, flowers need proper care.

We need the sharp cut and the water and food.

That encourages growth and the blooming and the maintaining of the health of the flowers that we're arranging.

Our life's the same way.

We need to encourage growth and what causes us to bloom.

And maintaining our health on a daily basis is extremely important.

Fresh flowers do better in cold water versus hot water.

The same goes with our mood and attitude in life.

Cool and calm is far better than hot and angry.

And remember, any vessel will do.

Even an empty jar or can will hold flowers.

The same goes with life.

Anything we're dealt can allow blooming to occur.

Enjoying the process when arranging is important.

Rushing to complete is never going to give you a good result.

Taking your time to complete the process is going to give us better results.

The health benefits of flowers are scientifically proven.

Seniors, in the presence of flowers, enlarge their circles of friends.

They're less depressed, they have happier thoughts, and they're more likely to seek medical attention when needed.

Certain flowers have specific powers.

For example, rosemary helps improve memory.

People who are sick recover faster in the presence of flowers, and they recover even faster in the presence of yellow flowers.

I think it's important, too, to consider the vase.

Take your memories down from the shelf and enjoy arranging flowers in containers that are special to you or evoke memories.

It's truly more about the journey or the process than the end result.

Making sure we experience the health-and-wellness benefits that come along with flower arranging helps us be happier, have less depression, and less stress.

Tell the story behind this Million-Dollar Spaghetti.

>> I was actually a teen mom.

So, I had three young kids before I was 23.

And so, you know, life was challenging.

And one of the things that we look back and we laugh about with my boys is this recipe that I don't even remember who gave it to me.

>> Okay.

>> But I remember that I made this quite a bit, and it's called "Million-Dollar Spaghetti."

And so, you know, when the boys were young, I kind of made it this, like, "Oh, this is something that's going to be so special."

And, really, what it was, was the fact that I was dead broke, you know?

>> Mm-hmm.

>> I was a full-time student going to college, taking 18 hours just to make sure that I graduate and try to get rid of that teen-mom stigma.

>> Mm-hmm.

>> And I was working three jobs... >> Okay.

>> ...and raising three boys.

>> My gosh.

>> And so, you know, I had a limited income.

And so, I was able to create something that really cost under ten bucks to feed these kids.

>> Uh-huh.

>> And it lasts quite a bit, you know?

We had this little, tiny, round table, you know, for all of us.

>> Uh-huh.

>> But I would make sure to set the table real nice.

I would fold the paper towels really fancy-like.

And then we would even have, you know, a little vase with, like, grocery-store flowers... >> Right.

>> ...to make it so special.

Then I would pour their milk in, like, wine glasses, plastic wine glasses, but, you know.

>> Right, right.

>> I just tried to make it appear that this was a special night, that we're going to have a really good meal.

What was funny is that they soon realized that Million-Dollar Spaghetti was code for, like, "We're broke this week."

>> Okay.

>> But we're going to make something that's really delicious that we can, you know, put back in the freezer, put in the refrigerator, and it's going to be filling, because one slice -- let me tell you, one slice is going to make your belly happy.

>> Okay.

Awesome, awesome, awesome.

>> All right, so, first you're going to need some, like, I don't know, box or two, depending on how big you want it... >> Right.

>> ...of noodles.

And so, kind of like the lasagna-type concept, right?

So, while am I doing this, J, I am a garlic girl, so I need you to cut up that garlic.

>> Okay.

>> I like to put big chunks of garlic.

Some people may not.

>> Okay.

All right.

>> I don't know.

You saw me take about three scoops and put this in the little lasagna layer.

>> Mm-hmm.

>> I usually put two sticks of butter, but we're going to be a little bit healthier this time around.

>> So, okay.

>> This is probably what the real recipe called for.

I always put double, but I think the purpose of putting the butter is that so the noodles don't stick when you scoop it up.

You know what I mean?

>> Right.

>> Then I will put a layer of just sauce -- and this is really fast and easy to make once you're done boiling the noodles -- and the meat.

So, this is pork sausage, right?

>> Correct.

>> Italian sausage.

You can use ground beef.

I used ground beef because that was always a lot cheaper.

>> Got it.

>> We're going to put in some cheese.

And see, you're just layering it just like that, right?

>> Okay.

>> Okay.

Then, another layer of noodles.

>> All right, okay.

>> Okay?

This is where the garlic and the cream cheese comes in.

>> Okay.

>> Then, with the same type of concept, where you're just kind of putting it down.

So, you're gonna put another round of sauce.

The most of the meat I like to put on top.

>> Okay.

>> And then we'll go ahead and put another layer of cheese.

And the cheesier, the better, for me.

And then what you're going to do is you're going to bake it till it melts, because, really, everything's already cooked.

>> Right.

>> You're just wanting the cheese to melt to get to that golden color.

>> Okay, got it.

Right.

>> And usually it takes about an hour, 45 minutes, depending on how high you have the heat -- usually about 375, 400 is what I put it on.

>> Okay.

That's what we'll do.

So, this is one of my favorite things that I think is in the same vein as the Million-Dollar Spaghetti, okay?

>> Yeah?

What is it?

>> So, it's taking a bunch of flowers that you pick up and spreading flowers all around the house... >> Love that.

>> ...because, you know, yeah, many people just come home and put it in one spot.

>> That's me.

>> But then it's just there, right?

>> Yeah, right.

>> So, if you have little bouquets around the house, then you can put one in your bedroom, one in the bathroom, one in the kitchen... >> Okay.

>> ...one at your desk, where you're working, all that kind of stuff.

So, I figured we could make these while the Million-Dollar Spaghetti is cooking.

>> Great idea.

>> Okay.

There's all sorts of different flowers in here.

What I always think about is I always look at it, and I just take inventory to kind of see, okay, this is what I've got.

Now, I always want to pull off... >> Oh, you do?

>> ...the leaves that are below the waterline.

>> Okay.

>> I think I might use a couple of these little roses with it.

That'll be pretty, too.

So, these guys are going to come off, too.

And I've got -- I'll use one of those green guys like that, and we'll put another one on this side so it kind of backs it together.

We'll put one down in front, like that.

And this is like -- it's kind of a big one, right?

>> Yeah.

>> So, I mean, it's a little bit bigger.

That looks pretty good.

Okay, so, my vase is about so big.

So, I'm going to cut off right here, and I'm going to drop it down inside.

>> Oh, that's so pretty.

>> Right?

And it's fast.

>> Yeah, it is fast.

>> And so, it's like, "Okay, so, that's done.

That can go somewhere."

>> But when you talk about the waterline, the waterline in the cup?

Is that what you mean?

>> Waterline in the cup.

>> Okay.

>> So, anything that would fall down from here below... >> Okay.

>> ...is what we want it.

And so, now, here's the other thing I can tell you about these guys... >> Yeah?

>> ...because I know sometimes these are a challenge.

>> Right.

>> If we take a couple of those off, then see how that guy's going to fit in there?

>> Yeah.

>> And so, then, these guys can go up... >> Oh, you can move it up!

>> ...there.

>> Well, I love this because, again, this was a big part of doing these nights is having some sort of, you know, fanciness.

And flowers are fancy, right?

>> It is true.

>> Especially when you're a kid and you don't know any better at that time in your life.

Look at that!

Mm!

This is the best part.

So, you know, you've got the flowers all set.

You know, do your little grace around the table, and then you just cut right to it, right?

So, we're going to cut right through it.

>> Awesome.

>> Ready to try it?

>> Yes.

>> All right.

>> That's so good.

>> Mm!

>> And I have a tradition.

>> Oh, you do?

I mean, I can't leave here without getting my... >> Here's your flower crown.

>> ...flower crown!

>> It has jasmine in it.

>> Ooh!

>> It has peonies in it.

>> Lovely.

>> It looks great with your shirt.

>> It does.

>> I'm going to feel fabulous all day long, especially with a, you know, belly full of food.

>> I know.

This is so yummy.

>> Thank you for letting me share it.

This is my love language, and nothing makes me happier than to see my friends and family enjoy the food that I make.

>> Mm.

It's so good.

>> Mm.

>> Surrounding yourself with flowers is a wonderful way to improve your outlook and attitude.

It may sound extravagant to surround yourself with flowers, but it's more accessible than it might seem.

Is there a sunflower field nearby that allows visitors?

How about a botanical garden?

Many have free-admission days.

Even time spent on your own outdoor space with container gardens could be a way to surround yourself with flowers.

Maybe your own garden or a friend or neighbor's garden... ...or a brief visit to a nursery, even if new flowers and plants are not in the budget, can provide an uplifting escape that clears your mind.

Nicolette, I thought it would be great for us to make flower arrangements together.

We've known each other for a long time, but we've never got a chance to, like, design.

>> Right.

>> Just tell me a little bit about what your concept is for Nicolette's Inspirations.

>> I really want to inspire other people to be inspired in their own lives with something.

My inspiration is flowers because that's what I grew up with.

And that's, like, one thing that literally lights me up, puts me in flow, makes me feel amazing.

And that might be different for somebody else.

But I want to inspire other people to find that for themselves.

>> So, what I felt was, you know, in my show, we arrange flowers a lot with other people, and it's really nice to be able to say, "Let's arrange flowers together and visit," because I think it's a connection point.

>> Absolutely.

It puts me in this flow, and you just kind of chit-chat while you're arranging flowers.

And there's -- I feel like your truth comes out when you're designing, when you're in that spirit of arranging flowers.

>> So, let's let some truth come out about life and flowers, and we'll make some flower arrangements.

>> Sounds great.

>> I need a little bit of structure.

>> Right.

>> Because sometimes if you don't have structure, things don't fall into place correctly.

>> Right.

>> And I think that that works with flower arranging, too.

So, I love these little green bouquets because I can drop that into here.

And it starts to give me a little bit of structure.

>> I am completely in agreeance.

I believe that in order to create, like, a beautiful flower arrangement, you create a base.

You create a structure for that, those flowers.

And isn't that how life is, too, though?

Yeah, because you need that base, right?

>> Right, right.

>> We always talk about the health-and-wellness benefits of flowers.

>> Right.

>> And I think that that's the big thing is that those health-and-wellness benefits are so prevalent with what we do.

>> Correct.

>> So, yeah.

Yeah.

>> One of my favorite things to share when I really started to get into this is I... my favorite flower is the tulip.

>> Okay.

>> And part of the reason why they're such an amazing flower...

I don't know if you knew this, but if you plant the ball before you put it in the soil, the bulb already has every petal, stem, leaf already existing in that bulb before you put it into the ground and even has a nutrition.

Has layers of nutrition around that ball.

They already know what they're going to be.

They already know their purpose.

And they have to have a dark period.

Like, I don't know if you know this, but tulip bulbs, if they don't have a cold, dark period, they will not grow.

They have to have it in order to -- they have to have that struggle and that pushing through the dirt in order to grow up to the light.

But they do it because they know they're going to fully blossom in the sunlight.

They're going to bask in the sun.

They're going to fully bloom.

They already know that.

Imagine what humans would do if they already knew that they were going to -- what their purpose is and what they will become and just guide themselves in that way.

>> So, that dark, challenging time is important because it's going to make beauty.

>> Absolutely.

>> When we're arranging the flowers, we're experiencing that endorphin release.

>> Yeah.

>> And it's calming us down.

>> Yes.

>> It's letting us think.

It's letting us be contemplative.

And I think that that's cool.

I mean, that's -- and I think that people don't think about that because so many people are like, "I want to make sure I do it right.

How am I going to make something beautiful?

How am I going to do it like you did it?"

Be that tulip bulb.

>> Right.

>> Be that -- it's all inside you already... >> Absolutely.

>> ...ready to go.

>> Absolutely.

>> Figure out what's going to nurture it.

>> Absolutely.

And I started becoming a better designer when I just did what I love to do, like, what makes me happy, what I think is pretty... >> Oh, sure.

>> ...and, you know, not what I think that somebody else might think is pretty.

>> I have a tradition at "Life in Bloom."

I made a tulip-flower crown for you.

>> Oh, my gosh, I am just so ecstatic.

It's beautiful.

>> Let's see if it's gonna fit.

Is it gonna fit?

>> It fits.

>> I think when you put flowers on people's heads, they always smile.

>> I know.

I'm like, "Mm!"

[ Both laugh ] >> It's perfect!

>> Right.

>> It's perfect.

Well, thank you, again, for enriching my life.

Thank you for being my friend.

>> Thank you for having me, and thank you for being here.

>> Yeah.

>> And thank you for being my friend.

>> Wonderful.

>> I've seen in my flower travels many flower artists who have a signature flower, one that they love or even base their businesses around.

Of course, I love flowers, but it's not often I can choose a favorite or a signature flower.

I like to think about favorite flowers in a more encompassing way, which allows a bit of variation depending upon mood or circumstance or even season of the year.

I like to think I have what I call "spirit flowers" that speak to me and even guide me.

An ever-present spirit flower for me is freesia, so I'll make an arrangement as we explore this idea.

So, how do you decide what's your spirit flower?

Perhaps you have a favorite flower.

Or maybe there's a flower that really brings you joy.

Do you have a favorite color?

For example, purple represents protection and passion.

Perhaps purple flowers would be your spirit flowers.

Do you have a favorite fragrance?

I love gardenias.

It's one of my favorite flowers.

Or does a fragrance of a specific flower evoke a memory for you?

Does that memory make you feel happy or maybe peaceful or loved?

Different types of flowers can influence your mood, too.

Remember, your spirit flower doesn't have to stay the same.

Roses might reflect romance.

Or sunflowers might remind us of sunshine when it's deep in the heart of winter.

Tulips -- they represent spring, but they can also represent a new, fresh start.

Selecting these spirit flowers to help you get through your daily life in bloom or inspire you or empower you is what a spirit flower is all about.

Try a few out and see which one appeals to you.

Now it's my favorite part of the show, "Flowers from You," the viewers.

Today I have tiny arrangements to share from viewer Laurie Fels, who watches the show on PBS Passport, since she's often working when the show is scheduled.

Laurie writes, "I'm a librarian with the Wauwatosa Public Library.

That's located in Wisconsin.

It's a suburb of Milwaukee.

I've been hiding flowers and plants in the stacks of books since Valentine's Day.

Employees and patrons were delighted when they found them and could keep them.

I was inspired to do this from watching your show.

Thank you for a great show."

This means the world to me, Laurie and the library staff.

You're bringing the flower power front and center and helping others enjoy a life in bloom.

These social-media posts mean so much to me.

I'm so thankful and grateful that you're inspired to share flowers with others.

That's what "Life in Bloom" is all about.

Thank you, Laurie.

You're amazing.

I love to see pictures of your flower arrangements inspired by "Life in Bloom."

We call them "Schwankes," after a viewer's nickname.

Send them to [email protected].

That's the letter J at the letter U bloom.com.

And watch for more Schwankes on upcoming shows.

I hope this episode inspires you to consider living a flower life and gets you thinking about ways to include flowers in your life more often.

And in doing so, take care of yourself.

You will reap the rewards for body, mind, and soul.

For "Life in Bloom," I'm J Schwanke.

>> Fantastic.

But I texted my boys and I'm like, "You know what?

If you look back at your childhood and remember really where the wealth is, it's in your health and love."

So, we always would say we're rich in love.

And so, when I make the meal, I always think of texting the boys.

And to this day now, they're like, "Oh, it's Million-Dollar Spaghetti."

And now they make it.

You know, I get, like, emotional.

>> I know, but it's so true.

>> Yeah.

>> And your kids are handsome, successful, wonderful young men.

>> Thank you.

Yeah.

>> They are just -- they're great leaders in their community, leaders in their groups that they have because their mom made Million-Dollar Spaghetti.

>> Aw!

[ Laughs ] >> I mean, you know, that's the thing.

>> Yeah, yeah.

>> You did that.

"J Schwanke's Life in Bloom" is filmed in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

>> Visit J's website, uBloom.com, for flower projects and crafts, complete recipes, behind-the-scenes videos, J's blog, flower cocktails, and more.

"J Schwanke's Life in Bloom" is brought to you by the following... >> That flower feeling.

At home.

At work.

Or anytime.

CalFlowers is a proud sponsor of "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom," where flowers and wellness go hand in hand.

>> We have fresh in all our stores, from soups and steaks and all things flour to all things flowering.

Custom fresh arrangements designed by our in-store florists at Albertsons Companies.

>> With additional support from the following... Closed-caption funding provided by Holland America Flowers.