We recently (finally!) created a little gallery wall in our living space and I couldn't be happier with the outcome! After a long time spent hoarding frames, printing pictures and a lot of procrastinating, it's finally feeling a little bit more personal in here.

Hanging a gallery wall can be a daunting task, especially if you're not quite sure where to start. When choosing the family photos and mementos that will adorn your walls, assembling a cohesive group of trinkets and snapshots is by far the most fun part of the process. My magic formula? A few family photos from varying occasions (although I was tempted to make a whole wall of wedding portraits, keeping all of the shots from difference special times in our lives makes our gallery wall exciting and full of memories), some landscape / non-personal photographs (a snapshot from our trip to Morocco, a cool cacti and a Saint Laurent ad), paintings/sketches (like these two prints we picked up at the Picasso Museum in Spain), a cheeky greeting card from a friend and a few inspirational quotes.

Tips for creating your own gallery wall:

- Lay everything out before nailing it down! It helps (big time) to see what your gallery will look like before busting out the hammer... I resorted to mocking up our spread on the living room rug and moving everything around until landing on an arrangement that felt right. If you're feeling thorough, make paper templates and tape them to the wall to be sure that you're digging the arrangement. If you're not, winging it will just add extra whimsy!

- Mix it up with a variety of frames and images. We collected frames from Framebridge, West Elm, Ikea, Target and Homegoods. Since our home feels a little eclectic and very casual the mix of wood tones and sizes works for us. If you like something a little more polished you can absolutely opt for uniform frames.

- Hang things that make sense to you. Naughty words and YSL don't make sense for everybody but I like to think of our living space as being a little fun and a lot unapologetic. When choosing the artwork for your gallery wall don't be afraid to invest in prints you love and pieces that make you laugh. in addition to those beautiful family moments, quotes and art will keep it from feeling like you're staring at an art exhibit all about you.

- Keep it fun and don't take decorating too seriously!
 

Things have a tendency to get a little whiny in the blogosphere and I'm totally guilty of being part of the problem (the weekend was hard, the weather is bad, I can't find that amazing pair of shoes we've all been lusting for... the usual suspects). I thought it might be a good idea to inject a little bit of positivity into this space with five good things every once in a while.

1. I've been re-committing myself to skincare with brand new Glossier products that make my face feel super soft and taken care of. I'm actually a little obsessed with the brand and have been soaking up their story (and moisturizer) every chance I get. I've been loving listening to CEO (and founder of Into The Gloss) Emily Weiss tell-all on my favorite podcasts. In need of new skincare basics? Look no further than glossier.

2. Speaking of podcasts, I've traded in tunes for talk radio and am LOVING it. I listen to podcasts driving to and from work, getting things done around the house and in my spare time at the shop. Stay tuned for a round up of my favorites!

3. Lately I've been tempted to try my hand at photography. It seems like the logical next step in the blogging, styling, photography saga and I'm excited for the new challenge. I recently realized that although I've had a lot of fun working with talented creative types, when you want something done you have to do it yourself. It can be so hard to relay a feeling or vibe you want to capture and things would be much easier if I could be the one doing that capturing. Luckily, I'm the resident in-house photographer and videographer for Finery which gives me a lot of freedom to experiment and develop my style. Wish me luck!

4. I finally got around to hanging our wedding blanket from Morocco! This past weekend I busted out the hammer and tacked up my favorite Moroccan treasure right over our bed. I love being able to look around our home and see little pieces from our trip. Eyeing a handira of your own? We pick up a couple of extras and are selling them here!

5. On a more serious note, so many sad and terrible things have been happening in our world lately. A lot of things have made me fearful our our nation's future and the safety of my family. As a country, we're in an incredibly vulnerable place right now but I have seen such an outpouring of courage, love and goodness rise from the ashes of a devastating time. There are hope and big amounts of love and those things make me so happy!

Now it's your turn... what five good things are making you happy right now?

I'm not gonna lie, this weekend was a hard (and HOT) one. Although I planned for a pampering girls weekend while my husband was away, I had to do a bit more #adulting than I bargained for. Our AC has been on the fritz and we spent a few days in less than desirable temps (and even retreated to a hotel to escape the heat for a night). To make a long story short, I'm in need of some r&r... STAT!

Here's to keeping it cool with trusty shorts and breezy tops.

who what wear x target top | anthropologie shorts | target heels