Oh J.Crew, You so Cool

I have resorted back to ripping things out of catalogues old school style, then photographing them with my iPhone.  A little ass backwards I realize, but sometimes it just works.  Especially for J.Crew.  They really seem to knock it out of the styling park when it comes to their catalogue, now called a style guide.  I usually do a quick flip through the print copy on the kitchen island as the hubs plops down the mail.  The most recent issue was chalk-full of styling ideas for shorts.  For some reason, outside of the athletic arena, shorts are always a challenge for me but I am loving these ideas.  Now bring on the beach!

Last Days of Summer

As we are nearing the official end of summer and kids are going back to school, I realized I hadn’t shared these images from my dinner party a few weeks ago.  My building seriously has the city’s best roof deck and I wanted get some of Lawrence McRae’s new line of votives in action.  They come in an array of gorgeous colors: mint, sapphire, chartreuse, and saffron, and they make the most gorgeous shadows when lit.  He will be selling them on his website soon, but I was lucky enough to get to borrow some.  I wanted to try and setup a proper photo shoot, but ended up having too much fun with my friends.  Nothing says summer more than evening cocktails outside.

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Vacation all I ever wanted.

You know you have had a good vacation when you return home rejuvenated and excited to dive back into things.  Our week at the beach did just that.  Our days were filled with morning walks on the beach, afternoons in the pool, water activities (I tried paddle boarding for the first time), naps, barbequing, and loads of family time.  It was probably one of the best vacations I have every had.

Morning walk on a quiet beach

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Paddle boarding

The seas were a little rough and the wind was up, but it made for some fun wave riding.  I love, love, loved paddle boarding.  My thighs are still sore.

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Sea oats

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Oh, and did I mention the one and only Tibi Outlet is nearby…needless to say a little shopping spree occurred.

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Until next time, I love you Sea Island.

Summer solstice

It is the longest day of the year and the official start of summer.  With a whooping 15 hours and 16 minutes of day light today in Boston and temperatures in the 90′s, summer has certainly decided to arrive.  The summer of my youth was spent with endless days at the pool, my hair turning green from the chlorine, bare feet, popsicles, and catching lighting bugs.  It was my favorite time of year.  I felt such freedom.

Summer Vacation

With the temperatures slated to creep into the triple digits today I am longing once again for the beach and ocean breeze.  Although I can’t complain much.  Last week the hubs and I took the whole week off and rented a house on Cape Cod.  It felt so gown-up to rent our own home and get away for an entire week!  The weather could not have been better as we spent our days on the beach adn exploring every inch of the Cape from the trip of the arm in Provincetown to Buzzards Bay and Woodshole.  I just love summer.

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Inspired by the scenic beach photographs by Massimo Vitali and Jen Bekman

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Bombs away!  Wish I could be doing this right now.

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Fishing boats in Woodshole

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Cooling down at The Beachcomber on the National Seashore

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Taking in a Cape Cod league baseball game.

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The week flew by as all great vacations seem to do.  I hope everyone has a great weekend and stays cool.

Summer on Nantucket

After living in Boston for almost two years, I am convinced that there is no better place to celebrate summer than New England.  With bright blue skies, the smell of the sea and the sun on your face, those dark, cold January days seem like a distant memory.  I recently took a little jaunt over to Nantucket to photograph, take in a concert and soak up a lot of sun, and I am officially in love.  The history along Nantucket’s cobble stone streets, mixed with a laid back island feel and gorgeous sandy beaches, makes the foggy island one magical place.  It is right up my alley.

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Aside from the sun and surf, you get some world class shopping and dinning.  I spied some beautiful Dunes and Duchess candelabras at the gorgeous shop Trillium.

Secret garden walkway to Trillium

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I walked up and found all this splendor inside

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Another lovely shop,  Belongings.

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Back in October, Stacy Kunstel and Michael Parternio let sit in on this photo shoot featured in this month’s New England Home!  A Nantucket full circle for me from my trip in October.

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Of course no trip to Nantucket would be complete with out a visit to Cisco Brewers.  They asked me to photograph their new wine tasting room and distillery room.  Wine and vodka…two of my favorite things.

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I have said this before, but their bloody mary mix is the best on the planet!

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Goodbye Nantucket.  I promise to be back soon.

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