From the Front Porch: Summer Porch and Patio Edition

Hello from the front porch, sweet friends and welcome to the Summer Porch and Patio Edition of this weekly series.

Thanks so much for being here and for making us a part of your day.

How has your week been?

I hope it finds you off to a great start as we ease our way into June and begin to celebrate all things summer.

Several of you asked about the photo walks I mentioned in a recent summer bucket list post.

So, I thought I would tell you about how much fun they can be. 

A photo walk is basically where you wander the streets and explore a new city, play tourist in your hometown or spend time outdoors in nature taking pictures of anything you find interesting.

Honestly, you can complete a photo walk with family, friends, fellow photographers, your coworkers, or even by yourself!

Photo walks are a great way to hone your photography skills (even your phone photography skills), to challenge yourself to be more creative, to notice seemingly mundane things with a fresh perspective, to learn different photography techniques and to study new subjects too!

Another way to help document your summer season is by combining the things you’re grateful for with a photo walk.

That way, you’ll have a visual record of how you spent your summer, the things you’re grateful for and you get to practice new photography skills, lenses and equipment which could also be a summer goal.

There aren’t any rules, per se, when it comes to photo walks, but there are a few things to consider:

1. Wear comfortable shoes as you’ll be walking a lot.
2. Always, always, always be aware of your surroundings. It’s SO easy to get caught up taking pictures and trying to get the shot you’re after that you can quickly lose track of time and your surroundings. Use caution, care, and common sense when you’re out on any kind of photo walk. Also, be sure to tell someone (that’s not in your group) where you are going and how long you expect to be there.
3. Don’t bring a lot of extra camera bags, multiple lenses, or extra equipment (save for maybe an extra battery and a lens cleaning towel). Keeping it simple means, you can fully focus on gathering inspiration and detailed shots.
4. Avoid harsh sun and shadows by shooting during the golden hour which is just after sunrise and just before sunset. The lighting will be softer during that time and your pictures will be better, especially if you’re new to photography, or are trying to learn a new lens or hone your skills.

A Few of Our Favorite Posts from Around the Web this Week…

Beautiful Home and Garden Tours:

• If you love a mix of dark woods and pieces that look like they’ve been collected over time, you’ll love Germantown from Sean Anderson Design.
• The Glam Pad recently shared a feature on Gil Schafer’s Country Home and it’s really beautiful as well.
• Have you seen the gorgeous portfolio of Banchory Farm yet? I just added them to my travel bucket list!
• Speaking of gorgeous kitchens, wait until you see the kitchens in this post via Jacquelyn Clark.
• This Tory Burch interview via Moda Operandi was an interesting read.
• Chelsea in Bloom (All the creative displays from this year’s flower show via House Beautiful)
• How to Plant Potted Hydrangeas (via Real Simple)

Seasonal Project Ideas:

• This post, Repurposed Garden Decor: 20+ Unique Ideas for Your Outdoor Spaces from Rachel of the Ponds Farmhouse is creative and perfectly timed.
• Speaking of perfectly timed, have you seen the garden tool wall rack Anna from Sky Lark House made? It’s fantastic.
• Kim from Shiplap and Shells has the most gorgeous view of the water and garden. Don’t miss Your Guide to Creating the Perfect Serene Outdoor Spaces for Summer so you can enjoy it as well. It’s dreamy!

Health and Wellness Inspiration:

• 17 of the Easiest Ways to Get Healthy Right Now and they’re all totally doable. (via The Everygirl)
• This post via Glamour UK breaks down the vitamins you need and what they do.
• This post via Pure Wow Can Dogs Get Sunburned? is a *MUST READ* for pet owners.
• Cup of Jo is one of my favorite blogs because the editors share fabulous nuggets of wisdom and their readers do too. This post, Advice for Your Younger Self is one I’ve booked marked when I need a pep talk.

Makeup, Style and Travel Inspiration:

• 9 White Skirt Outfits You Can Style With Outfits You Already Have (honestly these ideas could work well with white pants, jeans, or short via My Chic Obsession)
• Budget Friendly Makeup To Try This Summer (via Stephanie Marie Blogs)
• If you’re planning a trip to Charleston this summer, here’s a guide to Charleston House Tours.

Quote of the Week…

If You’ve Missed Anything from the Blog or the Archives Lately, Here’s a Peek at What We’ve Been Up To…

A Cozy Bistro Set

Weekend DIY Projects for the Porch or Patio

How to Make a Summer Inspired Grapevine Wreath

How to Spray Paint Wicker Furniture

How to Easily Clean a Porch or Patio

Shopping Notes:

 **(Amazon affiliate links have been provided for your convenience. As an Amazon and Impact Media Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Any sales made through such links will support us with a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read our full disclosure policy here)

• Dress (33 colors to choose from and is easy to dress up or down)
• Dress (7 colors to choose from and would be great for vacation)
• Two Piece Set (12 colors to choose from, yeah for easy outfit ideas)
• Jeans (6 colors to choose from including white)
• Polo (29 colors to choose from and would be great with pants, shorts or skirts)
• Cable Knit (26 colors to choose from)
• Crewneck 2 colors to choose from)
• Earrings (great for vacation or every day)
• Bracelet (this budget friendly statement piece comes in 20 colors)
• Slip Ons (5 colors to choose from)
• Sandals (12 colors to choose from)
• Sneakers (so many of my friends and family wear this brand)
• Napkins (these will have you ready for the 4^th of July)
• Ice Bucket (same with this)
• Blanket (big enough to spread out, compact enough to make it easy)
• Toothbrushes (how chic are these?)
• Stationery (love the vintage design of this set)
• Makeup Bag (this immediately reminded me of my Vera Bradley days)
• Gelee (Speaking of blast from the past)
• Luggage Rack (5 colors/designs to choose from and always helpful to have on hand when guests arrive)

As always, we appreciate you sharing part of your day with us and we hope your weekend is peace-filled and relaxing. 

We can’t wait to share more with you next week!

Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Many blessings,

CoCo