Fougasse

Fresh Friday! Some olive studded Fougasse went in the oven today! 

Exploring Ogunquit

Shirt: J. Crew (similar)
Shorts: J. Crew Factory
Shoes: Timberland (similar)
Bag: J. Crew
Bracelets: J. Crew, Kiel James Patrick

Explored the lovely seaside town of Ogunquit, Maine yesterday! The Marginal Way was a lovely walk along the coast with a stop by the adorable Lobster Point Lighthouse, which is just too darling for words! 

Flower Arranging

"The earth laughs in flowers."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Touring New England: Part Two

I cannot wait to check some of these places off my list. They are all so intriguing and stunning!

Newport, Rhode Island

1.) Newport, RI

Newport, I feel, is one of the crown jewels of New England. It has elegance, style, and rich history. I would love to visit downtown for the authentic New England seaside-town experience, but I think the best part of visiting Newport would be the cliff walk. Three and a half miles of ocean views to one side, mansion views to the other. Not to mention touring said mansions when you're all done! I can't wait to make a day of this sometime in the future, sooner rather than later.

Wickford, Rhode Island

2.) Wickford, RI

Wickford, I have heard, is one of the most charming towns. It is by the ocean and has lovely historic houses and little shops that make up its center. 

Burlington, Vermont

3.) Burlington, VT

Right on the banks of Lake Champlain, Burlington, though a small city, is the largest city you can find in Vermont. The Church Street Marketplace is an attraction with shopping and dining. Burlington is also home to the Burton Snowboards Flagship Store, which means there is more than one reason for me to visit this city.

Manchester, Vermont

4.) Manchester, VT

As you can see, Manchester is just picture perfect when Autumn rolls around. It has been home to many notable people, including Robert Todd Lincoln (son of Abraham Lincoln), who's summer home, Hildene, you can tour! Manchester also has a small designer outlet mall. Definitely worth a trip during the Fall season.

Rockport, Massachusetts

5.) Rockport, MA

Located in northeastern Massachusetts, Rockport seems to be the quintessential seaside town. Visiting here for the photography opportunities alone would be enough, not to mention the cute downtown area with its shingle-sided shops and seafood dives. 

Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

6.) Martha's Vineyard, MA

Another of Massachusetts' amazing islands, Martha's Vineyard has been an attraction and vacation destination for years! Its towns even have charming names like Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, and Edgartown. With its "gingerbread houses", historic streets, endless beaches, and lighthouses, I'm starting to wonder why I've never been there before!

Lenox, Massachusetts

7.) Lenox, MA

Now here is a place that excites me! Lenox is the home of many large estates and historic mansions! Many famous people in history lived in Lenox at one point or another. I would love to visit this town, tour The Mount, and dine at Wheatleigh!

Touring New England: Part One

New England is so amazing, I hardly know where to start! I've been to so many places and done so many things in this part of the country, and yet no matter how many places I go, there is always more that needs to be explored! So here I have for you a list of my favorite places in New England. Tomorrow I will post a list of some of the places in New England I dream of going someday soon!

The Best Places in New England:

Chatham, Massachusetts

1.) Chatham, MA

This town is one of the most beautiful beach towns I've ever been. It's charm level is off the charts, and I love nothing better than walking through it's flower lined streets and popping into every little shop and cafe I see.

Concord, Massachusetts

2.) Concord, MA

If you are a writer or a romantic, or both, you will love this beautiful, old town. Concord was home to the likes of Emerson, Thoreau, and Louisa May Alcott. And if you aren't touring old houses and museums, stop in at Helen's on Main Street for lunch or one of their amazing desserts!

Nantucket, Nantucket Island, Massachusetts

3.) Nantucket, Nantucket Island, MA

The most bustling, yet peaceful places in the world is the town of Nantucket on Nantucket Island. Its another place of charm and shopping (one of the deadliest combinations in the world). If you are visiting Massachusetts, don't forget to put Nantucket on your list of places to see. But careful! Nantucket is a seasonal place. The best time of the year to go is mid-May-September, when all the stores and restaurants are open.

Newburyport, Massachusetts

4.) Newburyport, MA

Newburyport reminds me so much of and English village! The streets are full of flowers, the shops are quaint, and the crowds are a mix of tourists and locals out walking their dogs. Everyone is friendly and the shopping is wonderful! The Best of British is my favorite store in town.

Newcastle, New Hampshire

5.) Newcastle, NH

This town is perfect for a quiet stroll through adorable old street lined with colonial homes and harbor views! It is also the home of the Wentworth by the Sea, a grand old hotel that is worth stopping at for a quick peak inside. Their Salt Kitchen and Bar has been ranked one of the best restaurants in the Portsmouth area, and the menu looks absolutely divine! 

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

6.) Portsmouth, NH

Right beside Newcastle is the city of Portsmouth, and one of my favorite places in New Hampshire. Great food, great shops, street entertainment, the works! It is very diverse in its activities. You can take a harbor cruise all the way to the Wentworth by the Sea, or you can stroll through the museum of old houses at Strawbery Banke. My favorite spot for eating is at Popovers, it is the best place to grab lunch or a delicious pastry!

Hanover, New Hampshire

7.) Hanover, NH

This is, hands down, my favorite town in New Hampshire! It is the home of Dartmouth, and has a wonderful college town feel. The main street has great shopping and cafes, and even a small little theater that is quite charming. But the reason for Hanover being on the top of my favorites list, by far, is the gelato! You can not go through this town without stopping at Morano Gelato! It is the best gelato in the United States. I recommend their dark chocolate gelato. If you are there in the winter, try their gelato in their hot chocolate. You'll thank me! 

Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

8.) Under the famous Mt. Washington, the highest peak in New England, sits the amazing Mount Washington Hotel. Stay there, dine there, golf there, sit on the wrap-around porch and admire the amazing views on all side of the hotel! The main lobby is spectacular with columns, fireplaces, and sitting areas that are the perfect place to put your feet up after a long day of exploring the beautiful surrounding countryside!

Kennebunkport, Maine

9.) Kennebunkport, ME

Summer keeps this place bustling and busy with tourists. But even with the crowds, its a great place to stop. The neighborhood streets are full of old and well kept houses and gardens. Dock Square has an array of shops and places to stop for a sweet treat! I had some of the most amazing fresh pressed lemonade at Aunt Marie's, an adorable hole-in-the-wall place just around the corner from the square.

Ogunquit, Maine

10.) Ogunquit, ME

Get pizza at Bread and Roses Bakery, get candy at the Harbor Candy Shoppe, and do the ocean walk. That's all I have to say on the subject.


I hope through these recommendations I have enticed some of you to visit our fair corner of the country! It is unique and charming all wrapped up in a bow of history! 

Along the Sea

Come walk with me
Along the sea
Where dusk sits on the land
And search with me
For shells are free,
And treasures hide in sand.

- Unknown

Memorial Day

O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

Mother-Daughter Outing

Ice Cream Break!

Some dear friends gifted my family with a waffle cone maker a few years back, and it is possibly the best thing ever! They are super fun to make, and you really just have to get a group of people together, set out the batter and press, and everyone can make and shape their own cone for an ice cream night. Just don't forget to dip the rim of the cones in melted chocolate and jimmies!

Nantucket Summers

This place is one of the most peaceful and inspiring places in all of New England! There is nothing better than strolling through the cobblestone streets, popping in and out of shops, and sitting down at a cafe for a pastry as you watch the people bustle by in the road. It seems that every resident knows how to decorate, as every house looks so perfect, and nothing is out of place. The beaches are peppered with bits of shells, and the harbor traffic is a mix of sailboats and ferries as they dash in and out atop the blue waters. And if that isn't enough to convince you to visit this amazing place, at practically every turn there is a golden retriever or Land Rover in sight! Be sure to stop by this summer!

Happy Monday!

Homemade Bagels

Spring is all about freshness! I'm taking this Spring as a time to try baking some new and amazing things! Bagels on the menu today!

Who's Ready for Summer?