life’s a beach. and lobster is delicious.

July 2, 2012

Well, these pictures just scream summer, wouldn’t you say?

It was my very first day at the beach and it was heavenly to say the least. I can’t believe I waited until the first day of July to go, but it’s not as though I wasn’t doing other equally important things. Places to go! People to see! That’s going to be my motto all summer long.

Good Harbor Beach up in Gloucester on the North Shore is a beach that Zan has been going to ever since he was a kid. And now, it has become my favorite beach as well. The sand is super light and soft and the beach stretches long and wide. Yesterday we went up in the afternoon, around 3, which was nice because the sun wasn’t too scorching (although in general, this weekend was H.O.T.) and the crowds were starting to fade. We stopped at Five Guys on the way up and then I spent the rest of the time with my toes buried in the sand and nose in my book.

The night ended with lobsters and mussels, which I happily drenched in loads of butter.

You only live once, people.

You only live ONCE.

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From my experience, all of the North Shore beaches are wonderful. And they’re easy to get to, too! You can drive (about 45 minutes from Boston) or easily take the Commuter Rail up to many of the beaches along the North Shore of Massachusetts.

Below is a list of beaches I have been to in the North Shore, and I can attest that they are all terrific:

Beaches in Gloucester

Good Harbor Beach — good long stretch of white sand and there’s an island that you can walk out to on a sand bar at low tide. A personal favorite.

Wingaersheek Beach — soft sand and an area of very large rocks where puddles of water form that’s perfect for little kids. A beautiful spot.

Manchester By The Sea

Singing Beach — my friend just recently told me that the sand “sings” when you shuffle your feet across it, and it’s true, I tried it!

Newburyport

Plum Island — a quiet beach on the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, nice if you don’t want to deal with the crowds.

Ipswich

Crane’s Beach — gorgeous! Just totally and completely gorgeous.

Do you have a favorite beach that you like to go to around Boston? If so, let me know! I’d love to hear about your favorite spots.

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P.S. All of these images were filtered with a new iPhone camera app I just purchased, VSCO cam. I’m loving it, and maybe you will too. Click here for more details or type in VSCO cam at the app store.

13 Comments · Filed Under: food, life, summer, travel, vintage style ·

on top of the world.

June 29, 2012

24. A weekend in NH at the Farmhouse/ Hike Mt. Lafayette in the White Mountains

The first day of our trip up to New Hampshire we planned to hike the Franconia Ridge. We started at the falling waters trail, which brings you by a few beautiful waterfalls, and then we treked up what Zan’s brother likes to call “The Devils Staircase”, up to the first of three mountains, Little Haystack. From there we walked along the mountains edge to Mt. Lincoln and Mt. Lafayette. The ridge is known to have crazy weather in the summertime, and this day proved to be no different. We went from sunshine, to clouds and fog, to thunder and rain all in a matter of hours. For the majority of the time we were above tree line we had beautiful puffy-cloud skies, but right as we neared the top of the last mountain, the clouds were so thick you could hardly see a foot in front of you. And just as we began to head down… the rain started to fall.

Nevertheless, the day was a triumph.

Here are the pictures I took (before the weather took a turn for the worst!):

9 hours!

That’s how long the hike took from start to finish!

And truth be told I wanted to give up for approximately 75% of it. Maybe more because some of those uphill climbs were KILLER. But when we finally reached the summit? And I felt like I was on top of the world?

Well in that moment, it was all worth it.

All I could do was stretch my arms and think to myself, This. is. awesome.

And really, it was.

14 Comments · Filed Under: fitness, life, summer, travel ·

scenes from the farmhouse

June 28, 2012

This past weekend Zan and I went up to The Farmhouse in New Hampshire. We went up with one of Zan’s brothers and some of his work friends, too. It was the perfect weekend to go on a hike (intense) and enjoy the amazing views of the mountains (well worth the climb). These pictures were all taken at the place we stayed for the weekend, at the glorious farmhouse on the hill. It belongs to Zan’s father’s cousin, but is basically a stomping ground for anyone in the family to visit when they please. I’ve been up a few times now and besides the bugs (I am still itching mosquito bites!) I think the summer is my favorite time to go.

We spent Saturday on a day-long hike, made a pasta with veggies dinner, had ice cream and s’mores for dessert, and spent a lazy Sunday with pancakes and bacon straight from the old wood stove. I finished my first book of the summer while Zan fished in the nearby stream for some brook trout, and little Rue came along for the fun, too.

I loved it. The quiet and the simplicity. It’s so clear after trips like this that I just need a change of pace sometimes, to go somewhere different, away from the bustle of every day life and just slow down.

I’m so happy we went.

And my favorite part? There is nothing quite as peaceful as sitting on a front porch with the warm June light on your skin while you look out over the mountains. Do you have somewhere you can sit outside in the summertime? If you do I hope you know it’s special. There is just something about time spent on a porch that just makes me so glad to be alive.

22 Comments · Filed Under: life, summer, travel ·

heading to the mountains.

June 22, 2012

Tomorrow morning I’ll be off to the mountains of New Hampshire!!

We’re going to stay at “The Farmhouse”, an old white house in the Franconia Notch that’s been in Zan’s family for years. There’s an old wood stove and a bunk room, too. We’re going to hike Mt. Lafayette and give high fives at the summit. We’re going to go tubing down the river to the swimming hole where you can jump into the water from high up on the rocks. And we’re going to spend the morning drinking coffee on the white porch that overlooks a sea of hills and tress.

THIS IS SUMMER.

I am so excited.

So so excited.

Happy Friday, friends! Happy weekend!!

10 Comments · Filed Under: life, travel ·
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