Days Like This

by Megan Gilger

Days like This | The Fresh Exchange

Sunny mornings, cool breezes, warm patio, light dinners…It may be slowly becoming Summer around here. This week has felt good…really good as in I feel very blessed to do what I do, live where I do, work with the people I do, and have the projects I do. I always told myself I would not take it for granted but I think part of me has. I didn’t realize how precious the slow mornings on the porch in the sun and the early evenings eating with friends are. When it is cold and awful outside it makes everything seem harder and more full of shadows, doesn’t it? It makes you sad and it makes you feel more defeated than ever, so these warm days are bringing me out of those tough times of really feeling I was missing it or I was failing continually. Ugh Winter we are not friends.

That being said it is amazing to be here at this time of year in Traverse City, if you asked me a month and a half ago I would have told you I would have taken any chance to get out of here to have the sun on my skin and the grass under my toes. This place in the Summer is magic and I am getting so anxious to enjoy it thoroughly.

This weekend we are painting a logo on a food truck we designed here in Traverse City and we will be shooting some photos for a catalog for a catering company. We are really loving all our work right now, especially when it looks like that.

Over the next few weeks we will be sharing the finished pieces and brands that we have been working on. We have a total of 4 brands we want to share with you all. We are really excited to let them out of the bag and talk about them and about the process. Really exciting stuff!!!

Since it will be warm this weekend we also plan to enjoy some long nights on the deck and we hope to paint our sailboat so next weekend we can begin sailing. You all have no idea how excited I am about that. I miss the water and the sunsets on our little boat. It’s time to get out there even if it is a little chilly.

Watch our instagrams (Mike  |  Megan) over the weekend to see what we are up to! It’s going to be a good weekend!

What do you all have planned this weekend? What are you most looking forward to as Summer is approaching?

 

photo and type by me.

Hedge House Furniture

by Megan Gilger

Hedge House Furniture | The Fresh Exchange

You all know I am a sucker for the hand made and the handmade that is local. We are beginning to downsize and sell a lot of our stuff because we are ready to become big kids and actually have nice furniture, clothes, and all those awesome things that somehow adult hood makes you want. For us this means focusing more on the artisan and the made by hand. We are strong believers in supporting people who are doing what they love and so when I come across companies like Hedge House it makes my heart very happy. These pieces are not only beautiful and modern, but they are hand crafted in Indiana not far from where I went in High School.

Hedge House Furniture | The Fresh Exchange

Hedge House Furniture | The Fresh Exchange

Hedge House Furniture | The Fresh Exchange

Hedge House Furniture | The Fresh Exchange

Want to learn more about Hedge House and their awesome work, you can find them on Etsy or you can go to their website as well. They have much more than just these few items you see here.

Just 5 In The Kitchen With Passports and Pancakes

by Megan Gilger

Just 5: Strawberry Pecan Tart from Passports and Pancakes | The Fresh Exchange

Today for the Just 5 in the Kitchen with we have an awesome Summer dessert from Megan Fleiner of Passports and Pancakes. Megan actually wrote a comment a while ago and then I ended up falling in love with her recipes and her photography. She has the sweetest blog that I hope you all take the time to look at and check out!

Megan’s Summer dessert is a simple Strawberry Pecan Tart that takes very little time and is perfectly light for those hot Summer days that are coming our way. Thanks Megan for sharing!!

Just 5: Strawberry Pecan Tart from Passports and Pancakes | The Fresh Exchange

Here is what you will need to create this pretty treat:

1 ½ cups raw pecans
2 tablespoons salted butter, cold and cut into pieces
1-2 tablespoons honey
1 pound fresh strawberries, sliced
Half-pint heavy whipping cream

Just 5: Strawberry Pecan Tart from Passports and Pancakes | The Fresh Exchange

Begin by preheating the oven to 400 degrees.

Next in a food processor fitted with an S blade, pulse the pecans 20-30 times. You want them to be a course meal, but be careful not to blend too much as they will turn into pecan butter.

In a mixing bowl, mix together the pecans and honey (use 1-2 tablespoons depending on the desired sweetness.) Blend the butter into the pecan-honey mixture using your fingers.

Press the mixture into the bottom of a tart pan (14″x5″ rectangle or 9″ round will work) and bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from the oven and turn down heat to 350 degrees.

Just 5: Strawberry Pecan Tart from Passports and Pancakes | The Fresh Exchange

Place the strawberry slices on top of the crust and bake for another 10 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.

In the meantime, whip the cream in a chilled mixing bowl until stiff peaks form. Serve slices of the tart with a dollop of fresh whipped cream.

Just 5: Strawberry Pecan Tart from Passports and Pancakes | The Fresh Exchange

Thanks Megan for sharing this awesome recipe. Make sure to follow her blog, Passports and Pancakes for more awesome and easy recipes like this one!

Loving Now: His and Hers

by Megan Gilger

His and Hers | The Fresh Exchange

Did you all wonder where Mike went? Well I promise he didn’t disappear. Our work has been crazy and we needed to rely on me to stay strong here in this space and for him to help manage a lot of our design work. Now that our workload is more manageable we are ready to start bringing him back in. This really excites me because I think his manly style is needed back in this space. I am also excited for you all to get to know his style more. That being said, remember my Megan Fancies posts? Well now we are making a little adjustment, we are going to be doing a his and hers column where we each share what we are loving right now. I hope it gives you all a chance to get to know Mike a little better and see what is currently inspiring both of us. Here we go!

Loving Now: His | The Fresh Exchange

1. Swim Trunks   2. Griffin Sunnies  3. Vampire Weekend Vinyl  4. Camera Bag  5. Shaving Cream  6.Farmhand Tool

Mike: I missed you all. I really did. I have been held up in our studio working like crazy to keep up with our design work, which we are excited to show you quite soon! But the snow has melted and life is a bit more manageable so I’ve been dreaming of the sunny days on the sail boat, night swimming in the bay, getting my hands dirty in the garden, shaving the winter beard, hiking with the dogs, and listening to records on the porch. Thus my list represents each of those daydreams, and the new Vampire Weekend is the perfect soundtrack for it all. It’s on repeat.

 

Loving Now: His | The Fresh Exchange

1. Lauren Mofatt Top  2. Hearth Magazine  3. Triangle Necklace  4. Camper Heel  5. Neutral Tote  6. Self Watering Pot

Megan: I have been very inspired by green in the last few weeks. It has not infiltrated my design work yet, but I have a feeling it will sneak in soon. I think it is the sprouting of my plants and vibrancy of the dew speckled grass. It feels very refreshing and beautiful. Then pair that green with blocked neutrals and you have me in heaven for Spring. Currently I am on the hunt for the perfect heel and this one from Camper has my heart all a flutter. I may just have to pull the trigger on them for Summer, what do y’all think?