Here's what you need:

I've always been obsessed with maps. I can't for the life of me recall what sparked it, but for as long as I can remember, I've been interested in scouring maps, snooping around on Google Earth, and studying city layouts from satellite images. I can literally identify major cities based off of their unlabeled subway transit maps (embarrassing, but true.)

When it came time to think about decor for my new music room at the Surznick Ranch, I knew a large map would be an integral part. Sarah showed me a few pictures of these vintage style map hangers, and I immediately knew that's how I wanted to display my new map.

There are kits to make these out there online, or you can have it professionally hung like this. But seriously, why? This is such an easy project. Do It Yourself, amirite?
 

Here's what you need: (To frame a 50" map)
- Saw (I used a borrowed miter saw, but any kind will do!)
- Four 3/4x1/4" wood strips measuring 51.5" (We bought four 8' strips and cut each down to size)
- Wood glue
- Staple gun and 1/4" staples
- String
- Binder clips or small weights
- Polyurethane and brush

Here's what you do:
- Cut 4 wood strips to size with your saw. Since our wood strips were 3/4" wide, we wanted 3/4" overhang on each end of our map. The map is 50" wide, so we cut 4 strips at 51.5".
- Finish with 2 coats of polyurethane, allowing to dry completely in between.

- Apply wood glue to the insides of each of your wood strips and sandwich the map in between the wood. Be sure to flatten and stretch the map to the best of your ability. You don't want any bumps where the map meets the wood.
- Clean up any glue drips.
- Fasten with binder clips or weights, and allow to dry completely.

- Cut a piece of string your desired length and knot near each end.
- Staple the string to the back of your top wood strip. Be sure to staple above and below the knot so it doesn't slip out.
- Hang, make a funny face, show off muscles, admire!

It's been hard to photograph in the new music room, but I really love the combination of this natural wood look and the dark blue we chose for the walls.

If you're planning on something like this for you house or apartment, I hope this has convinced you to save the cash and just make it yourself. Be sure to let us know if you decide to give it a try!

Sarah & Nick

Whether you try to eat vegan, vegetarian, paleo, raw, no carb, gluten-free, liquid only (?), whatever, NO ONE can resist the pull of a thick, soft, delicious pancake. Pancakes may not fit into your diet plan, but they do fit on a plate... and in your mouth... and in your belly.


Here is our take on a classic, fluffy, pancake using vegan ingredients that is 900% amazing.

Here's what you need (Makes about 6-7 pancakes):
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or whole wheat)
- 3 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- 1 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 flax egg (1 tbsp. flax seed meal + 2.5 tbsp. water)
- 3 tbsp. melted vegan butter (we use Earth Balance)


Here's what you do:
- Prepare your flax egg in a small dish. Let sit to thicken about 3 minutes.
- Put all of your ingredients into a large bowl and mix it with a whisk. No need to get fancy with sifting your ingredients or a "well" in the middle or anything.
- Scoop the batter with a 1/4 cup measuring cup onto a hot, non-stick griddle or pan.
- This batter is really thick, so you won't be seeing the classic bubbles come up through the batter as it cooks. When the edges look dry, flip them over. (Or you could just peek, no points are lost for checking to see if it's brown enough for you.)
- Soak them in Earth Balance and syrup, and enjoy!


As a side note, I'll typically eat 2 or 3 with the classic vegan butter and syrup combo, then go all out with my 4th which I cover with peanut butter and syrup #treatyoself. Sarah usually eats her last pancake cold and with butter only #boring.

Enjoy!
Sarah & Nick