Option 1: The Everygirl | Option 2: Pinterest (source uncredited)

I adore art. Have WAY too much of it, in fact. At one point, it had piled so high in my studio closet that I literally gave up and hung everything gallery wall style in our upstairs hallway just to get it up off the floor! So it should come as no surprise that I would be particularly enamored with different exhibition methods. The age old question (at least it’s “age old” to me…) – Gallery wall or gallery ledge?

Option 1: Gallery walls can typically withstand a larger VOLUME of framed prints, so that’s score #1 for this particular methodology. The options are nearly limitless too when it comes to shape – Hang your prints randomly like the first inspiration image above, or hang them to mimic a round shape. You could even take the time to painstakingly line up your frame edges (think a rectangular puzzle with perfect 90 degree corners). No matter your arrangement, you can’t deny the impact of this first option.

Option 2: And yet, for the more calculated art connoisseur, there’s the gallery ledge. A sturdy thin shelf mounted securely to the wall allows your favorite framed prints to “float” in a more contained manner on the wall. The layered effect of larger frames behind smaller ones in the front is my favorite part of this set up. Plus, you have much more freedom to move the frames around or switch out the art when it suits your fancy.

Those are my thoughts, but I’m dying to know your opinion – Cast your vote!

I’ll be recapping our trip throughout the week, including a full tour of the house we rented and a review of one fun, HANDY new product I tested out, but today I’m sharing a little project I managed to whip up yesterday afternoon after everything was unpacked and I was ready to do a little reminiscing…

Source: Martha Stewart

The inspiration image above (snagged from Pinterest, of course) caught my eye right away. I’m definitely the sentimental sort, saving everything from receipts and candy wrappers, to ticket stubs and those little cardboard restaurant coasters – Anything to encourage a little walk down memory lane. As I’m sure you can imagine, I came home with quite a few new pieces of memorabilia to commemorate our latest trip to South Carolina.

Although this is something like the 12th time we’ve visited Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, a quaint southern plantation my parents discovered on their honeymoon almost 30 years ago, we’re always discovering new places and picking up new treasures. Instead of tossing it all, I loved the idea of filing it all away in a special labeled box. Luckily, I was able to pick up all of my supplies pre-vacation and just had to set aside 15 minutes of my Sunday afternoon to put it all together.

As to those supplies, I bought two hinged wooden boxes for less than $5 apiece at my local craft store, one for this recent trip to Hilton Head and another for our honeymoon to Punta Cana last May. The stencil I also picked up cost next to nothing and helped my confidence to stay on point as I drew out the letters on my first travel keepsake box.

To label my box with “HHI” (for “Hilton Head Island”), I simply held the stencil in place and traced the shape with a pencil. Now here’s where I know a lot of you will think I’m crazy, but really I’m just impatient…I knew that black paint would have given me a cleaner look, but I had just finished cleaning up from a spontaneous closet purge and didn’t have the energy to paint my letters. So instead I grabbed a Sharpie pen and merely colored inside my traced lines.

Sure it bled a little bit but, since it only took me .5 seconds to complete whereas it would have taken me at least 20 minutes to paint it on, the uneven lines were worth it. I can always go back over with black paint to clean up the edges if I feel like it, but frankly, I don’t mind the drawn on look. This is one of those projects that’s just for me and my desire to remember a wonderful family vacation – Perfection was never my goal.

That said, my ultimate goal of creating a special sanctuary for all of my collected paper memories was easily met, and I can’t wait to move on to my second box reserved for Punta Cana memories!

How do you make the most of YOUR vacation memories?

But one OTHER great thing I learned while on this little quest of mine was the glory of a morning smoothie. Quick, tasty and almost too good to be true Weight-Watchers-point-wise, I’m now addicted and can barely begin my day without one. That said, I thought it would be fun to share the recipe I’ve been using as well as the corresponding point balance in case any of you are loyal Weight Watchers members.

Strawberry & Banana Smoothie

Directions:
Combine ingredients in blender and puree until smooth. Makes 1 and 1/2 servings. (Total Weight Watcher’s Points: 5)

Enjoy!

P.S. We are coming home from the beach tomorrow…A sad sad day to be sure, but I’m glad to be coming back to reality and a routine. I can’t wait to share all of our adventures with you next week! Stay tuned…

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Continuing with this week’s travel theme, I couldn’t help but chat about the fun, energetic poolside image above. While our own rented courtyard pool for the week isn’t quite as glamorous as this one, I wanted (nay, NEEDED) to spend a little time imagining the possibilities.

Let’s talk details…

1…I know our next house will never include such a decadent outdoor eating area, but that doesn’t mean that this girl can’t dream! Potted palms, a dining table that seats 10 and cushioned corners for reading in the shade make this the be-all and end-all of outdoor living.

2…I’ve never been well-versed in architecture, but thanks to being an avid reader and subscriber to Dwell magazine, I DO know how dramatic an extensive overhang can be. This one is a great example, with its dark stained boards and massive industrial windows underneath. The shade there on that upper deck must be hugely tempting come afternoon. Plus, can we please take a moment to admire the gorgeous curvy white detailing on the railings?

3…Who knew glass blocks would come back into style?? This patio is flanked on either side by what looks like twin glass feature walls. I can only imagine how gorgeous the lower INDOOR living area is with the natural light shining through the frosted surface of the glass.

What are your favorite details?

For past “All in the details” features, click here. 

On my blog, I write about finding intention and adventure in our everyday life. This theme has its roots in my deep desire for an adventurous life, to be a part of something bigger than myself. I am not a skydiver and I don’t travel the world, but I want my life to be rich and nourishing. I want to feel alive.

Each of us has a unique and valuable story to tell, and I believe that no matter what we spend our days doing, whether it’s hiking up mountains or going to the grocery store, we can live an adventurous life. Our stories matter.

I have this photograph sitting on my desk. It’s of a woman and her child standing next to a simple water well in Marsabit, Kenya. I’ve never been to Africa, and I don’t know how to build wells, but I helped bring water to that woman and her family – just by making a choice to ride my bike.

Here’s how it started: I was sitting in my dorm room. It was senior year, I was avoiding studying, and my college graduation was approaching. I was feeling antsy. I didn’t have a job lined up, and I sensed that I needed one last hurrah! before I signed up for the yawn-filled desk job I needed in order to pay my student loan bills. I remembered that an acquaintance of mine had rode his bicycle across the country two summers prior to raise money for a clean water project in Africa, and I wondered if I could do the same. I was not an avid cyclist. I had never been on my bike for more than 30 minutes. But deep down in my heart, I wanted to be a part of something that was bigger than myself.

Five months later, I was in San Diego, surrounded by 15 cyclists who would be trekking up the Pacific Coast Highway with me. Our destination: Seattle. Our goal: to raise funds and awareness for clean water projects and health initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa. Our fuel: a passion for adventure.

I’ve never done anything so hard in my life. I really didn’t know what I was getting into, to be honest. One moment I was in my dorm room, wishing for an adventure, and the next, I was sweating and pedaling up San Marcos Pass in Southern California, my lungs heaving for breath. And while the physical pain was tough, the personal refinement was even tougher. The lessons I learned about myself, about community, about hard work, about leadership – they’re burned deep into my soul. They’re never going away. Just like the scar from the road rash D got when he wiped out at the bottom of a hill in Big Sur. Or the love between Erin and Dan, who met on the trip, fell in love on the road and got married a year later. What I learned, and the people I met, are a part of my story forever.

Adventure isn’t just about zip lines in the jungle in central America or backpacking the Appalachian Trail. It is about making intentional choices every single day to live life with love and courage. To take on the daily challenges of our lives with vigor, to reflect upon them, to learn from them. Just as the landscapes of the world are different, so are the landscapes of our souls. An adventurous life is uniquely yours, and is always at your finger tips, always one step away.

What adventures are you living today? I want to hear your stories! Leave a comment below or email me at annetheadventurer@gmail.com. You can also find me at my blog, on Facebook and on Twitter. I can’t wait to hear from you!

Option 1: Style Me Pretty | Option 2: Taylor McCutchan Photography

In honor of our family vacation this week, I’m shying away from home stuff JUST for a little bit. And since I know we all have our own opinion when it comes to a vacation destination, I want to know…Are you a beach bum when you have the opportunity to get away? Or are you more interested in a mountain retreat?

Option 1: I’m pretty picky myself when it comes to beach vacations. I can’t stand over-commercialized places like Myrtle beach (a biggie around these east coast parts), preferring a more secluded and relaxed vibe. But there’s also the idea of a super glamorous exotic vacation to somewhere like Punta Cana or Mexico. Even if I had all the money in the world though, I still think I’d choose our current location in South Carolina.

Option 2: If John were to vote in today’s post, I’m pretty sure he’d choose the mountains. While his excuse for not joining us this year was a lack of vacation time available at work, I have a secret theory that a beach vacation just doesn’t interest him much. He’d rather take off for a long weekend away in the mountains – a cabin, a fishing pole and a campfire are all he needs to have a good time. And I can definitely wrap my head around that notion…

I’m torn!

Welp, SURPISE!! My family and I (minus John, who didn’t have enough vacay time…) are off to the beach for an entire blissful week. We are already a couple of days into it and having a blast. The house that we rented has this fabulous courtyard pool that my sis and I have been lounging around all day every day. Follow me on Instagram for ALL the updates, although prepare to be jealous!

And before you start feeling bad for John, I think he’s looking forward to a nice relaxing girl-free week. He’s not much of a fan of the beach anyway.  Don’t try to figure that one out, by the way – I already have and am left cross eyed.

But now that that little sidebar is out of the way, I wanted to share a little something different this “Pinspiration Monday” morning. It’s high time that I give a little run down on my top ten pinners and why they made the cut. So much of this blog is made possible because of inspiration gleaned from this website, so I want to turn the spotlight on the individuals whose instincts  keep my creativity on its toes.

1. Glitter Guide: The Glitter Guide has ALWAYS been an incredible resource for me, even before I started writing features for them. Every morning (and afternoon and evening) I jump at the chance to “bookmark” their inspiring pins on fashion, food and home design.
2. Apartment Therapy: My favorite things to pin from the Apartment Therapy board are (of course) the homes they feature. The small space pins are especially interesting to me as we work to decorate our OWN small space.
3. Lily /Birch + Bird: Lily (of the blog Birch and Bird) is definitely one my most repinned Pinterest users. Scrolling through her latest pins is like looking through my favorite magazine – A beautifully curated collection of photography and bookmarkable resources.
4. Bri Emery / designlovefest: This oober talented graphic designer is constantly keeping me on my toes with her glamorous throw back lifestyle and gutsy use of color.
5. N C (i.e. Nest Design Studio): I definitely feel like Natalie and I just repin each others pins all day. She and I must be kindred spirits when it comes to taste and style, because there’s hardly a pin of hers that I don’t file away for myself.
6. Tanya from Dans le Townhouse: This board is one of my favorites for mid-century inspiration and geometric patterns. Tanya has wonderful taste in vintage products and spaces, and I so value following her boards (especially her “DIY to TRY” board!).
7. The Everygirl: Like The Glitter Guide, The Everygirl Pinterest account is my go-to for all things fashion, food and decor. Their career features are some of my favorites to file away for future reference too.
8. Emily Henderson: Hands down my favorite designer/stylist, Emily Henderson has THE best taste in all things beautiful. She all but dominates my “Styling 101″ board, with examples of her own work and the work of those she admires.
9. Jillianne: John and I have actually known and loved Jill since high school. Her perky and whimsical personality is one of those that shines through so perfectly from her Pinterest account. I particularly love her taste in jewelry.
10. Better Homes and Gardens: Since this post is getting a bit overstated, I’ll keep my description for this pinner brief and matter of fact. One word: DUH!!

Who are YOUR favorite pinners?

I’m so excited to kick off a fresh new series here on DGD – Etsy Spotlight is my (small) way of giving back to the talented Etsy artisans, crafters and treasure hunters who have helped to make our home a special and unique one. Maybe it’s a first introduction, or simply a behind the scenes look at one you already know and love, but either way we’re getting a first person account of the dreams and passions that went into making these shops really special corners of the Internet.

First up we have Nia, of The Silver Shed. After grabbing up my own antler accessory from a Charlotte, North Carolina antique shop earlier this year, a few of you spoke up about getting these decorative accents humanely. I’ve since discovered that mine is an acrylic cast (not authentic), but you still got me thinking about these trendy new pieces of art and how they should be sourced. Thankfully, Nia and her mother Victoria have created an incredible brand, all based around the idea of natural sourcing.

Let’s get to know Nia, the shop and the mission a little bit better, shall we?

1.When did you start your Etsy shop? What made you decide to sell these types of pieces?

My mom Victoria and I had been preparing The Silver Shed since January 2013 and finally opened up our Etsy shop in April. My mom was an award-winning painter and ceramic artist in the ‘80s and ‘90s and has always had a passion for art. I moved to New York City in 2010, and starting our shop was a fun way to work on something together while we are apart. My dad has been collecting shed antlers on our family property in Manitoba, Canada for years, so we decided that merging his love for nature, my mom’s passion for art and my knack for commerce would be a great way to start a small business and keep a close family bond while we live in different countries.

2.What’s the story behind your shop name, The Silver Shed?

‘Shed’ comes from the whitetail-deer shed antlers we sell in the shop. Each year, male deer – or bucks – shed their antlers for the growth and regeneration of a new pair in time for the spring mating season. ‘Silver’ comes from our signature designs – white or ivory antlers with metallic chrome (silver) tips.

3.Can you explain the 100% cruelty free mission behind your brand? 

My mother’s day job is in the sustainable energy industry and my entire family are nature lovers. Growing up in a rural setting, the importance of nurturing our natural surroundings was very apparent to us, so it was important that our business reflected this same eco-friendly vision. All of the antlers we sell were naturally shed by white-tail deer and collected on our family property – a 180-acre forest in Manitoba, Canada. Absolutely no animals were harmed in the making of our products.

4.How would you describe your style? And how does that influence your work as an artisan/artist?

We paint our shed antlers to reflect our modern minimalist design aesthetic – clean ivory or white with high-shine chrome accents. We love the juxtaposition of the purist paintwork against that organic shape of the antlers. Since no two sheds are alike, each hand-painted antler is a one-of-a-kind home accent. Our antlers are meant to transcend a variety of home décor – they’ll look equally chic in a country cottage as they would a contemporary New York apartment.

5. The photography on your site is gorgeous! What camera do you use? What are your top 3 tips for photographing sale items?

Thank you! I use a Pentax K200D or a Canon EOS Rebel T3i and shoot the antlers against a white wall and hardwood floor.  My top three tips would be to have good lighting – I prefer natural light from my studio windows, make sure your items are in focus and to take photos of the product from all angles to give the consumer a clear idea of what they are purchasing. I also like to stage my antlers with flowers, books or other props so clients can be inspired as to how they can style their own. Hopefully they can visualize The Silver Shed antlers in their own living space!

Stay connected with this innovative shop and brand by checking them out on Etsy, Twitter and Instagram. Thanks for sharing your story with us, Nia!

P.S. Time for a quick “Friday Feature Round Up”! This week, I made it over to Le Papier Studio three times – (#1) a “Pin of the Day” post featuring a fabulous warm weather chilled soup recipe, (#2) a DIY Mother’s Day silhouette card tutorial and (#3) an “Inspired by” post focused on the beloved pets in our lives. On Glitter Guide this week, I gathered up 5 tasty beet recipes – No really! Tasty!! And lastly, I contributed a quick DIY namecard tutorial on GalTime.

Enjoy…

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I’ve recently become an avid fan of the Home Depot blog, The Apron – Specifically obsessing over their outdoor Style Challenge series. I think the series has come to a close, but feel free to click that link to see all of the posts in one place. Essentially, the idea is that The Home Depot contacted a number of bloggers throughout the community and asked them to review different collections from their outdoor furniture lines. While I really enjoyed the reviews (and am now hard core coveting new patio furniture), My favorite part was getting to know some new voices in the blogging industry. There is so much talent out there – I wish I had 8 hours in the day JUST to read blogs.

But anyway, let’s talk details about this particular outdoor Style Challenge space…

1…As I’ve mentioned before, I have quite a black thumb when it comes to gardening. Flowers almost NEVER take up residence at our house, at least not for long. Plain greenery is far more likely to stick around just because of its hardy nature in general, but there’s nothing very fun about greenery. And yet…One tip I’ve snagged from this space is the idea of color blocked gardening containers. I can have my color AND my live plants too by parking them in pretty neon striped pots like the ones shown here. Adding this to my (growing) list of things to do this season!

2…I recently wrote an article for Central Virginia Home Magazine (for the summer issue, out soon) all about indoor/outdoor fabrics, and ever since finishing up my research I’ve been obsessed with the idea. Modern weather resistant fabrics and rugs have come SUCH a long way, featuring tons of gorgeous, vibrant color and pattern. You can hardly tell the difference between patio pillows and living room pillows anymore – Sort of like these colorful beauties shown under the sunshine. Makes me wish, yet again, that we had a patio to speak of…

3…5 years ago, you would totally think that this punchy pink rug was pulled from the living room just for styling the photograph, only to be pulled to safety as soon as they got the shot – But that’s not the case anymore. This beautiful rug is likely one of the new polypropelene blends. UV resistant, bleach resistant and water resistant, these accessories can survive a hurricane – And look GREAT doing it.

What are your favorite details?

For past “All in the details” features, click here. 

P.S. In case you missed it, I wanted to shout out to a DIY I published over on the Le Papier Studio blog. It’s a tutorial for watercolored DIY Silhouette Mother’s Day cards - If you’re running low on time and ideas, this could be the perfect solution!

It all began with Instagram. Of all forms of social media, Instagram is hands down my favorite. It’s how I stay up to date on my friends, family and favorite bloggers and, more importantly, it’s my little way of documenting the simple things in life. John laughs at me whenever I snap a little square shaped shot of things like my plate of eggs and bacon at brunch downtown, but this is my way of capturing special moments. No matter how mundane they might seem, I’m a visual person. These tiny digital photos catalog our memories, which clearly you guys don’t find too mundane thanks to your sweet “likes” and comments (I absolutely can’t get enough of those, by the way).

But that brings me to my latest product love – Artifact Uprising (and no, I’m not being paid or perked to write this!). I’ve already fallen in love with StickyGrams as a way of getting my favorite Instagrams out of their digital dungeon and out in the open, but I wanted to take things a step further and get an actual album printed – And thanks to a well composed Artifact Uprising review over on decor8, I quickly snapped one up for myself.

Although a bit belated given that it’s now May of 2013, I decided to start a tradition with annual albums – Thus, this first one was aptly dubbed “2012.” In it, I chronicle everything from those everyday-yet-special meals out, photo after photo of our pets, lunch dates with my sister, a favorite record picked up on a spontaneous trip out of town – Anything at all worth remembering from last year, which turned out to be a lot.

By the way, it’s worth noting that the Artifact Uprising site was very easy to use and allowed me to populate all of my favorite Instagrams with ease. In a nut shell, it comes highly recommended by yours truly.

Although you won’t find me flipping through this little album every single day, or even every single week, I know it’s there sitting on the shelf beside our bed ready for me to take down on a whim. And that to me is priceless.

Thank you, Artifact Uprising, for helping me to document my beautiful little life…

How do you chronicle YOUR favorite memories? If you’re on Instagram too, feel free to share your username in the comments section (so that we can stalk you, of course!)