summer

two days in lake placid…

September 15, 2013

While I was home in August for a week, my mom, sister, and I decided to take a last minute girls trip up to Lake Placid, New York. Some family in Syracuse had been talking about taking the trip up for a summer lacrosse tournament (lacrosse is VERY BIG in our family— my sister and I are the only ones who never played!), and the mention of the Adirondacks suddenly got us nostalgic for it. We used to spend summers up in Lake Placid, back in our figure skating days. Did you know I used to be a figure skater? For real, I was! Spins and jumps and costumes and all. OH, the good old days.

This town is one of the prettiest places around. So much to see and do! Here are some photos from our two days in Lake Placid and Keene…

lake placid-7

Seriously beautiful, right? Every time I visit I love it even more…

The lucky part for us is that a few of our cousins live in Lake Placid currently (I have a lot of cousins, in case you’re wondering! 15 first cousins on my dad’s side alone!), and my Aunt Holly lives in a town a few miles down the road called Keene. She owns the most gorgeous house looking over the mountains AND has additional land with cabins for guests. Really, the most amazing thing! We had such a nice time staying with her–she’s a fabulous cook (she co-owns a few restaurants in town with my cousin Phoebe) and we enjoyed drinks and dinner with some of her close friends the night we stayed over. The perfect getaway.

Below are a list of some of my favorite things to see and do in Lake Placid should you ever plan a trip! {Also, I got your email, Lauren! THIS IS FOR YOU!}

To eat:

Big Mountain Deli and Creperie
Simply Gourmet

{the above places are run by my aunt and cousin—
both are amazing, and not just because they’re my family!}

Liquids and Solids
Steak and Seafood

To stay:

Golden Arrow {affordable, right in town, on the water!}
Schultes Family Lodge {cabins!}
Mirror Lake Inn {fancy!}

To play:

Walk Main Street {lots of shops and the creperie is here!}
Visit the Olympic Rinks {Miracle on ICE!}
Walk around Mirror Lake
Take a bobsled ride
Go on a gondola to the top of Little Whiteface

And SO MUCH MORE here.

14 Comments · Filed Under: family, life, nostalia, summer, travel ·

holding onto summer.

September 14, 2013

Today is a near perfect end of summer/beginning of fall day. It’s sunny, and warm, but with just enough chill that jeans are in the “to wear” pile. I like that. All summer long I can’t even imagine the thought of putting on jeans— too hot, too uncomfortable. Hot and uncomfortable is kind of my favorite, though, so I like that, too. I like the idea of walking around in short shorts and a loose tank, sweat dripping from the creases of my arms and legs. There’s something glorious about it, even if a bit uncomfortable.

Jeans are also my favorite. And a coolish breeze on a warmish day.

So I’m in flux. Stuck between my goodbye to summer and my hello to fall. And right now, I’m okay with it. It’s a good place to be, I’ve realized.

These photos have little to do with this post, except for the fact that they are my tie to summer, my tie to home. I was lucky enough to spend a whole 10 days in New York this August. 10 DAYS of blue skies and puffy white clouds over shining waters. I’ll be posting more photos of my time on vacation over the next few days– they’ve been sitting on my computer for awhile and it’s about high time I share them. Also, I think in a way I’m holding onto summer through them— I’m living in the fall but keep peaking back. A fine way to ease into the season, I say. A fine way indeed.

8 Comments · Filed Under: family, life, nostalia, summer ·

{more} summer snapshots.

August 8, 2013

snapshots 1

Just popping in to say hello! It’s been quite the eventful August so far and there is nothing to do about it but be thankful. The end of the summer has always been the busiest for me, and this one proves no different. I’m in the midst of this adoration of summer, but the teacher in me is starting to get the itch. It’s one part pre-nostalgic and one part nervously excited.

I LOVE summer {the most}, but gosh darnit, I love a new school year, too.

Oh, life!

I read this quote from Bonnie Tsang on instagram this morning that made me smile… “First blessing, woke up to a 5am alarm clock. Second blessing, got off the bed for a life worth attending. Third blessing, THIS {in which she posted a glorious picture of the sunrise}.” I loved it and felt like I could connect instantly, especially now in this time of adventure and freedom. I feel especially blessed this summer with all I have done {and still have yet to do}! I want to tuck these moments away into my blankets for a reminder when days are short and the winds start to get cold. Luckily, I have this blog to look back on, and next summer to look forward to, and hopefully lots of happenings in the in-between… may life’s adventures always be aplenty. I wish this for me, but I also most sincerely wish this for all of you! ♥

I finished up my summer gig in Charlestown last Friday and Zanner and I headed straight to the thruway for the long drive to Syracuse. We spent the weekend dancing at my cousin’s wedding {the last of the bunch!}, spending time with family, and thoroughly enjoying the Skaneateles water. There really is nothing better than home. Zan had to drive back for work Monday, but I’ve been enjoying Syracuse/Skan-town to the nines {my sister’s here, too!} and we even took a mid-week trip up to Lake Placid, New York, which, if you know me, is a major favorite— and absolutely a place worth visiting if you’ve never been!

I’ll be back next week with some Nikon photos to share {I’ve been doing a little practicing with my new lens, which is, in a word, DELICIOUS}.

Have a happy weekend! And LONG LIVE SUMMER!

{Elizabeth! I’m so glad you love
Joy Prouty’s instagram
as much as I do!
Such a treat, right?}

Some more of my favorite
instagrammers to follow:

Mary | Lauren | Sean | Jenn

10 Comments · Filed Under: celebrations, instagram, life, summer ·

for the love

July 24, 2013

Oh, the lake. You precious body of water, you. I’d like to live by you forever.

Growing up in Upstate New York, we didn’t really have ready access to the ocean. Not like we do in Boston, anyway. If you wanted to go to the beach, the real live beach, you had to go on vacation for it. We may not have had the sand, the salt water, or the sea, but I liked what we had even better. We had a lake. A fresh water, breezy air, glorious, most beautiful lake.

I believe all people are either ocean people or lake people. You might like both {I do}, but one or the other stands out as your favorite. I am most definitely a lake person, so imagine my happiness when this is where we ended up after Zan’s cousin’s wedding last weekend. Here, at this perfect little lake tucked inside Connecticut…

Crystal Lake

I got to spend the whole weekend with Zan’s extended family some of whom I’ve met before, some of who I was meeting for the very first time, all of which I LOVE. We kayaked and swam and swam and swam. We ate hot dogs and drank beer and swam some more. The sun was shining and the temperature was just right and everything about it all just made me smile inside. Still smiling now even. I just loved it.

The wedding was fun {hooray, love!}, but the lake was even better. The highlight of my weekend, for sure.