One year ago today, we closed on our first home.
That means it’s only been 365 days since I meant to write this post! But hey – what’s that old saying? Time flies when you’re going to Home Goods every other day, repainting all your rooms historically accurate colors from the Benjamin Moore Colonial Williamsburg collection, and getting excited at the thought of one day owning a power washer. Or is that just me?
But in all seriousness, after thirteen years and three very tiny apartments together, I don’t know if I ever truly thought this day would come. Owning a home seemed like this very unattainable goal that everyone around us seemed to be coming into with great ease. I know that a lot of that is social media and perception, and obviously, everyone’s situation is different, but sometimes it felt like this was never going to happen for us. For eight months, we spent almost every weekend going to open houses and showings and just being completely frustrated by what was out there in our price range. Our poor realtor always had a smile on her face when she saw us, but I very clearly remember saying to her one day “do you normally work with people for this long?” and she nicely said, “not this long usually…” 😂
And then it happened. I was sitting down to lunch one day with my mom and sister at a Mexican restaurant after we had spent the morning looking at linens for my sister’s wedding. I remember Steve said we should go to more open houses, and I begged and pleaded to be let out of house-hunter jail for a bit to do something, anything else because it had started to just completely consume our lives. He called me as I feverishly consumed chips and salsa at 11:15 A.M. (hey, they don’t have Mexican food on Nantucket, I was in withdrawal) and told me that he had just left an open house in… Rhode Island.
We had briefly looked at another house or two in the Ocean State, but I never thought we would seriously live there. “I really like this house,” he said, as I continued to devour what essentially became a brunch quesadilla (I mean, it’s noon somewhere, amirite?) and he rattled off the factoids: built in 1926 by a doctor, white with black shutters, recently flipped but had lots of original elements, and… tons of closet space. My spidey senses tingled. How could it be? A historic house with character + charm + storage solutions AND in our price range?! It didn’t seem possible.
“I really want you to come back here with me tomorrow,” he said and I wiped the salt and queso off my hands. I had trained myself at this point not to get overly excited about anything. In eight long months of searching, we had only put one offer in on a home that ended up having over fifty offers because it was drastically underpriced.
We drove down to Cumberland, RI the next day, bright and early so that we would be among the first people there for the open house. One of the things I hated the most about the house hunting process was the constant competition with eight zillion other people that look/think/talk exactly like you, especially where we were looking in Massachusetts. It just truly seemed like there was not enough to go around, and like we were all secretly fighting over these tiny little plots of land and second floors that Steve couldn’t even stand up straight in without whacking his head on ceiling tiles (yes, tiles). I’m not a confrontations person, and only competitive when it comes to really important things, like bowling or showbiz trivia, so having polite staredowns every weekend with other potential buyers while consuming tiny water bottles and crumby granola bars wasn’t exactly how I enjoyed spending my time.
Driving there, I remember thinking I don’t know what this house looks like, but I really don’t think I want to live in Rhode Island. And of course, the joke was on me, because when we arrived at the house, it was truly almost everything we could have wanted. Sure, it didn’t have central air (this doctor was ahead of his time with some things but I’m imagining that having a consistent stream of cool air running through your home was up there with flying cars in 1926) and it only had a one-car garage, but after you’ve lived with your spouse and dog in a one-room studio apartment, I felt like Annie the first time she enters Daddy Warbucks’ mansion.
I mean truly, no house is perfect, but there were just so many things we loved about it that we knew we needed to act on it. As we were exploring the upstairs (two floors?!?! gasp) I tried to gauge our realtor’s true feelings once we were out of earshot of the seller. “You guys are crazy if you don’t buy this house,” she muttered under her breath. We felt the same way, so that night we went back to Steve’s high school bedroom in his parent’s house that we had been shacking up in for the better half of a year and listed out our pros and cons. Eventually, we decided to make the offer, and shortly after, we got the call that it was accepted. After that, everything seemed to just move very quickly and go much faster than I anticipated. Maybe because there was so much build up, I assumed something had to go wrong. And yeah, there were a couple of little snafus here and there mostly centered around paperwork (like when Steve realized he had signed a bunch of legally binding documents with different versions of his name), but when we arrived at the real estate agent’s office on July 9, 2018, it actually happened. Like they gave us keys and everything.
And then, the real work began. But that’s another post (or twenty) for a different day. There’s so much that we want to do to our house to make it even more like the place we always dreamed of living. Don’t get me wrong – there truly is nothing “wrong” with it and everything about this home is completely livable (with the exception of a few paint color choices that the owner made in the flipping process that make absolutely no sense to me). We’re suffering from a case of handy husband + Pinterest obsessed wife ÷ lack of funds due to dropping the largest chunk of change in one fell sweep × the number of hours in a day, days in a week, weeks in a year… you get where I’m going this.
Truly, I’m not complaining and I can’t wait to show lots of before and afters of what we’re working on around here. While it’s taken me a bit to share more about the house on my blog, you can follow our most up-to-date progress on my Instagram (check out my story highlights for some of the projects we’ve already started tackling). But before we do that, please enjoy a small photoshoot that I made Steve and Schoon humor me with on the day we bought the house. I blame the internet.
There is so, so much more to share but I think this is enough all that my wannabe-HGTV self can handle for now. Let me know what kind of updates you most want to see! Me personally, that blue hallway would be my top choice but it seems like there are many other priorities on the list ahead of it, so it shall wait…
Domestically yours,
~L
When you wake up and it’s the BEST DAY OF THE YEAR – Oscar Sunday!!!
In addition to following along with yours truly, here’s the schedule where you can catch all of today’s broadcasts:
E!: 1 P.M.
Countdown to the Red Carpet
They say: “The inside scoop about the red carpet, with fun signature games, expert fashion predictions and an early look at the red carpet.”
I say: This is a solid four hours of crap, but if you’re an addict like me you’ll watch anyways. It consists of poorly Photoshopping nominees heads onto runway photos and watching the E! hosts trying to navigate the very murky waters they’ve gotten themselves into on this year’s red carpets.
E!: 5 P.M.
Live from the Red Carpet
Will they or won’t they? It’s only taken seventeen million years, but apparently some people don’t want to talk to Ryan Seacrest (looking at you, J.Law). My guess is he will be wearing a white dinner jackets and avoiding making eye contact with any female actress sporting some kind of social justice pin.
E!: 7 P.M.
Red Carpet Rundown
I think this is the part where they expect that everyone will jump ship and go to the ABC official Oscar red carpet broadcast. Guiliana is finally allowed to weigh in from that sad skybox across the street, looking forlorn while this year’s alcohol sponsor slings overly-complex cocktails inspired by the event.
ABC: 1 P.M.
Countdown to the Oscars, Live! Part 1
They say: “Highlights of previous Oscar ceremonies; a look inside the new Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences museum; Paula Faris and Chris Connelly host.”
I say: HOLLYWOOD NERDS, UNITE! I am dying to go to this new museum, I have high expectations for this program. Also the first of approximately 2049823847 times we have to relive Bonnie & Clyde’s La La Land snafu from last year.
ABC: 2 P.M.
Countdown to the Oscars, Live! Part 2
Exact same description, so I’m guessing they just had to split this up for the sake of DVRs everywhere?
ABC: 6:30 P.M.
Oscars Opening Ceremony: Live From the Red Carpet
They say: “Interviews with nominees, presenters and performers arriving for the awards ceremony; Michael Strahan, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Sara Haines, Krista Smith and Dave Karger host.”.
I say: Does NBC have the exclusive rights to call something an “opening ceremony”? Do you think they’re hoping to trick people like my husband into watching under false pretenses that it’s some sort of Olympic re-run, and not in fact the Oscar red carpet? In actuality, this is where anyone who has ever worked on ABC gets the opportunity to ask stars the most cheeseball questions, but I’m excited they have Wendi McLendon-Covey. I also have a small award show crush on Dave Karger.
ABC: 8 P.M.
THE OSCARS!
You know what it is. WE MADE IT.
Remember to follow along with me today on your favorite social media platform. You can find me on Facebook at Lindsay’s Look, on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (@legallylinz).
Happy watching!
~L
Let me start off this post by saying that if you came here for one of my usual Golden Globes fashion recaps, you’re probably going to be disappointed. Here’s the thing: I love talking about what everyone wore the day after a big event like this. I have a tendency to have… let’s say, strong reactions to celebrity ensembles pretty immediately, which means that awards season has always brought me a great deal of joy. For me, it’s never been about making fun of people (I honestly don’t ever try to intentionally be mean, although you may disagree if you follow me on Twitter), it’s more about the conversation that it invokes and the little girl in me that just really still wants to dress up.
But this year is obviously different, and therefore, this post is different. It didn’t feel right to sit here after witnessing such a powerful display of support at the Golden Globes from so many different women (and a few men, although not as many as I would have hoped) on Sunday night and then mock someone for choosing what I believe the wrong shoe. And I will say it again: I love fashion, and I love talking about fashion and why someone chose to wear what they did, and how they wear them, things like that. I also don’t believe that you have to choose to either enjoy talking about clothes or what’s inside a woman’s brain – it is possible to appreciate both.
That’s why one of my favorite blogs is Go Fug Yourself, written by two women that I find to be so smart and witty, and who are able to comment on what celebrities are wearing without being vicious. This interview with them prior to the Golden Globes I think really captures my feelings much more eloquently than I can.
“The idea that being interested in clothing is somehow anti-woman is absurd to me. Men are allowed to be interested in all kinds of things which are patently unserious without it becoming a debate on whether or not their hobby is letting down their gender; fashion is an art form, and the red carpet is often where it gets the greatest amount of exposure to the masses.”
– Jessica Morgan, Go Fug Yourself
So as much as I want to sit back and talk about why Dakota Johnson looks like she doesn’t wash her hair or how Reese always kills it (except for that teal number last year at the Emmys, I literally could not), I also believe that this year, it’s time to do things a bit differently. It’s time to look, but then actually listen to the stories that people are telling and understand where they’re coming from.
So for my 2018 Golden Globes fashion recap, I have chosen to highlight some of the ensembles that I particularly enjoyed, which as you may know was a real stretch for me because of my aversion to wearing all black (my friend Molly literally texted me before the red carpet asking me how angry I was about it). Yes, I may be scarred from working in retail and being forbidden to ever come within ten feet of a pattern, but I’ll let it slide this year for the cause.
I actually think the color restriction made for kind of an interesting red carpet, because as we all know, and LBD is the most versatile thing a woman can wear. It’s one of the few looks that works for everyone but you can also truly make it your own. Also the jewelry designers and makeup artists came to play for this evening, given that these were some of the extra elements you could add to stand out a bit in a sea of black. Check out my own personal squad of women that I thought brought it, while also being totally respectful of the movement:
So thank you ladies, for being so inspiring and thoughtful and well spoken and powerful and just all around amazing, even with a wardrobe constraint. I’m not saying I would mind if we chose maybe another color for the next one (I haven’t heard any definitive plans on if this was for the entire season or just this particular event), but regardless, I will rally behind you with bells and whistles on.
Oh, and also, Time’s Up.
Peace, love, & fashion,
~L
*A small homage to what is possibly one of the greatest Christmas songs of all time.
It’s January 5! I know what you’re thinking – haven’t bloggers been posting holiday content since Halloween? I meant to get this post up just before Christmas, but the problem with that was I barely had my cards in the mail by December 25. Just not on my holiday correspondence game this year, you guys. Between moving off-island and seeing my husband pretty much only on weekends (and spending said weekends house hunting), not only did I not have a chance to schedule a festive family photo shoot for all of us, but I was just completely out of ideas this year for a theme. Unfortunately, we can’t always have the perfect concept that just comes to us out of nowhere one day and seamlessly fits into the pop culture ether a la 2015.
If you haven’t heard, Christmas cards are kind of a thing for me. For us. A staple of my childhood (and also, my adulthood). Years ago, I wrote a series of posts going through my family’s long history of holiday photo shoots, including a card deemed “inappropriate” by my grandmother and a special edition megacard for the 20th anniversary of our annual Christmas cards. Since Steve and I have been together, we have strived for the same level of festive excellence. I think we’ve done a pretty good job so far, none of which has been recorded on the internet because I have yet to digitally archive our own collection of holiday greetings. I’ll get around to it at some point (maybe for our own ten-year anniversary of sending Christmas cards – is that a thing?).
I was feeling a little down in the holiday dumps this year, especially once I ended up with a terrible cold mid-December. I was supposed to go to Nantucket and help Steve pack our apartment, and I figured while I was there I would enjoy a little bit of the classic Christmas spirit that the island does so well. Unfortunately I was so sick, I ended up staying at my in-laws in my pajamas and feeling sorry for myself. The most festive thing I did was watching the worst of the worst of Hallmark movies. Finally, after more than two days of the cold from hell, I came to my senses (maybe it was all the made-for-TV-movie inspiration) and decided I had to figure out our holiday card immediately (keep in mind it was December 17). But since I had no photo or witty tagline, I was kind of stuck.
One idea I had in my mind as a backup was to incorporate a painting that I had done of Schooner earlier this year by the uber-talented Meredith Hanson. Honestly, she is just about the sweetest human I have ever met, and like I said, so gifted in the art department. I had been following her on Instagram for awhile before I asked her to create a special picture done of Schoon for Steve’s birthday. We’ve been together for over twelve years now, and after a while, there are just only so many gifts you can get each other. This seemed like something way more personal that wasn’t just a “thing,” it’s something we can display in our home someday (and luckily, Steve temporarily loaned it to me to take with me to the mainland for when I was missing the little furry guy).
I decided for the sake of space to leave the boots out of this particular card, as that was more of an ode to Steve and his love of all things L.L. Bean. Luckily she had scanned it before framing, so when I reached out to her for a copy it was as easy at plunking the image in Photoshop, writing out a little message, and done.
Well not done done, of course, because it wouldn’t be the holiday season without a little drama. I could not figure out for the life of me where to get these suckers printed. I’ve used Snapfish in the past, and Vistaprint as well, but it was so late in the season that even with expedited shipping, I wasn’t going to get them until December 21 at the earliest. I know some of those companies will do a pickup in the store situation, but all the ones I researched would only print it on photo paper and I wanted something with a heavier weight to it (I know, beggars can’t be choosers, I get it).
After posting about my conundrum on my Insta story, low and behold, the internet came through. I don’t care what Steve says, they are my real friends! Multiple people responded to my story and said I should look into Staples which I was kind of like ehhh I don’t know… and then one special follower alerted me that there was a Groupon deal online for printing holiday cards there and I ended up getting 100 cards for $25. I don’t think even with all the deals I’ve done with Snapfish over the years have I ever gotten my cards for that cheap. I’ve always spent at least $75 and that’s not including stamps (and yes, I’m aware that it is crazy that I still send out one hundred cards, and you know what? I don’t care).
So I dragged myself off the couch and away from the television, shoved a few cough drops in my purse, and headed over to Staples with a flash drive and a dream (and tried not to touch anything). And that dream came true just four hours later – no shipping charges or time wasted. The paper wasn’t as heavy as I normally like to get, but it was definitely a step up from photo paper (and again, BEGGING). I sat down and banged out the first twenty-five or so that night, and each evening when I got home from work just addressed a few more, and then another couple, and eventually I was done!
And yes, I picked up a couple of metallic Sharpies for good measure. Also I couldn’t resist the new Hanson Christmas CD – their first one is SO GOOD (this one is okay).
As for the text? I literally Googled “holiday pet cards” and wrote down every tagline I liked, eventually picking the one that made Steve wince with embarrassment the least. “Paws & Enjoy the Season” was cute, but not predictably so, and just a general reminder that even though things aren’t perfect, and sometimes, you’re living in your husband’s high school bedroom amongst racks of your clothes while an ocean divides you from your two best guys and your future is completely uncertain, but there’s still good things out there in world and maybe you’re just too focused on what’s not going right to see them.
Or maybe it’s just an excuse to put a picture of a cute pup on something, I don’t know. Whatever it is, I’m happy with how they came out considering how rushed they were, and trust me – I am channeling all of this very important energy into next year’s edition.
A little disclaimer to everyone that received this card – I didn’t write anything on the back. Like not one personal message, not even to my parents. I was just so behind with getting them out, that I knew if I took the time to put something on each one, I would never get them done.
This holiday season just kind of reaffirmed for me that I was so ready for 2017 to be over. It definitely felt like a more stressful December than I’ve experienced in a while, and I am just really looking forward to the fresh start that a new year brings. Hopefully in December 2018, I’ll be writing this post from a home with a gargantuan tree and the most festive (but tasteful) holiday decor you ever did see.
Until then,
~L
I’m the first to admit that I’m not what you call… outdoorsy. I think I was the only person at Plymouth State who had never skied before (and I grew up in New Hampshire). As a result of my rather girlish upbringing, I was never a flannel gal, although my mother frequently dressed us in plaid (I believe there is a photo of my debut and consequent retirement from modeling at a 1994 Walmart back-to-school fashion show that proves this swimmingly, in which I took to the runway in a matching plaid vest and skirt set, most likely meant for one of those home-schooled jungle freaks).
I don’t think I even stepped foot into an L.L. Bean store until I was an adult and needed actual boots, both of the rain and snow variety. Also once I met my bearded, pine-tree loving lumberjack of a husband it was all over – I had to give in to the call of the fuzzy flannels.
I bought my first “real” flannel last year (apparently the fake ones I got at Marshalls don’t count). I didn’t even have one the year of our first infamous humongo Christmas tree – I had to borrow one from my friend Sarah because I assumed I would never ever wear it again. Cut to a couple years later, and between the world of blogging and the resurgence of L.L. Bean (I know everyone’s been shopping there for years for high-quality outdoor wear, but let’s be honest – it’s not until the Bean boots started selling out every year that the words “L.L. Bean” and “fashion” could be used in the same sentence.
I debated over the color, fit, and style of my potential flannel purchase for a unnecessary length of time and finally settled on the Relaxed Scotch Plaid shirt in the Prince Charles Edward color – the perfect shade of holiday red (I’m kind of wanting the Stewart Victoria one too…). I actually ordered both the regular and the petite so that I could decide which fit I liked best. Even though I’m small on top, I ended up with the regular flannel because the only difference I saw was it was about half an inch longer than the petite. I like my shirts a bit long, I prefer when they cover my butt as much as possible (too-long sleeves on the other hand? Major pet peeve). Steve has the L.L. Bean credit card, so you get free shipping and free returns, which makes it super-convenient if you’re like me and can only make up your mind after trying things on in person.
It’s safe to say that my plaid obsession is now on overload. Literally over half of my Christmas list features a tartan print. And it is just the best pattern to wear around the holidays. I wear this shirt all the time – I have sported it at work, for Christmas parties, in last year’s holiday card… I can’t stop. I have a problem. I especially enjoy dressing it up with sparkly jewelry, as seen here, or pairing it with a fun skirt and tights. And Steve? Well, he has at least 17 more flannels than I do and he pretty much wears them all the same, with jeans, Bean boots, a puffy vest, and a knit hat (it’s a real departure from his wardrobe the rest of the year – jeans, boat shoes, a t-shirts, and a baseball hat).
viaIsn’t there some saying, the couple who wears Bean boots together stays together? No? (I would think it would be the state slogan in Maine or something.) My Bean boots were another purchase that I considered for a very long time, but I absolutely love the pair I ended up with. I have many more thoughts on selecting the right pair of Bean boots for yourself that I’m thinking of doing a whole separate post on. Steve’s are a special edition pair that aren’t available anymore (note the red soles… like Christian Louboutin, I always say).
Thanks to Molly of Trust in Your Wanderlust for snapping these photos!
Guys, tomorrow is December 1. IT’S DECEMBER. I know people say something to that effect every single year, but seriously, 2017 – where you at? Maybe I shouldn’t complain. Perhaps it’s the universe’s way of telling us that this year was a dumpster fire and we’d all be a lot better off if it quietly showed itself out. But I’m not here to remind of us of the current state of things, instead for #ThrowbackThursday, I’m taking a little stroll down memory lane… literally.
If you caught up on my most recent post, you know that I am no longer residing on the island of Nantucket and instead now have planted my feet firmly in the continental U.S. (If you’re like hey girl, I have no idea what you’re talking about, you can read more about it here.) Even though it was totally the right decision and there is really is no good time to make a major life change like that, one of the things I will really miss about the island is Stroll Weekend, which happens to be starting in oh, less than 24 hours. In case you don’t know, Stroll is this amazing time of the year when the island is transformed into what can only be described as a Norman Rockwell painting, Hallmark Christmas movie, and an episode of Gilmore Girls on peppermint-flavored crack. It’s busy and amazing and expensive and the most festive thing you will ever experience in your life. Dare I say, it’s downright magical.
Last year, my friend Molly and I (the social media-savvy lady seen above) decided to get up early before the crowds and hit downtown to fully experience Stroll before it becomes a madhouse of silly Christmas hats, off-islanders, and just sheer holiday madness. Despite the fact that both of us had lived on-island for a few years, we hadn’t really gotten to take it all in and we wanted to snap some photos of the scene.
Ah, bloggers. Who else would indulge your need to take so many photos not looking at the camera? (If you don’t recall, Molly captured some amazing outfit photos for me last year, like this one and also these. I miss her so much since she moved back to the West Coast and I swear it’s not just because she takes awesome pics of me “looking at the ground” as Steve says of blog photoshoots.) Also in case you haven’t had enough of reading about people’s experiences moving off the island, Molly has a great post about it here too.
Any good morning for us on Nantucket started at Petticoat Row. Between the sweets (the secret ingredient in everything? BUTTER), the proximity to our office, and the inviting interior, Petticoat was always like Visa – everywhere you wanted to be.
With no real schedule for the day, we explored all the streets and storefronts with displays that I snapped not only to capture the moment, but to remember for any and all future homes I might be able to decorate. I mean, the window boxes at Greydon House are my kryptonite. This updated inn was across the street from my office, and I can’t tell you how many times I hung out in front of the building in all seasons, taking pictures of their most recent window displays when I was supposed to be checking my mail. Hey, if it’s good enough for AD… well then it’s probably way too good for me. But a girl can dream.
I know, more window boxes. It’s worth mentioning that I don’t care for greenery or plants or anything that I have to keep alive without a pulse. But man, Nantucket changes you in a lot of ways, and for me? It made me want to have a green thumb (or, enough money to pay other people with those thumbs to do this for me).
Anyone who knows me knows that I love a good theme. One of my other favorite places on Nantucket, The Corner Table (I swear we did more than just eat) incorporated actual food into their outdoor decorations. FOOD. Get it? Because they’re a culinary center? I can’t, it’s just too good.
Since my dog cannot be trusted to walk around downtown or wear accessories no matter how much I bribe him, I had to settle for getting a shot of this cutie instead.
More Culinary Center goodness. Every year during Stroll, they have live free demos that just any ragamuffin off the street like me can walk in and watch (and more importantly, try the food). This is Sarah Leah Chase, who has a very well-known Nantucket cookbook that I have personally tried things from that she has made and oh my God is it like heaven in your mouth. I mean, not enough to make me actually want to cook anything, but enough to get me to show up at things when I hear she’s in town.
And how much was I coveting one of these N.TUC Marché bags depicting the story of Moby-Dick? (It doesn’t seem to be available anymore on their website but OHMYGOD THERE’S A DRESS VERSION.)
I kid you not, I had basically no knowledge of Jeep Wagoneers before I moved to Nantucket. Now of course I’m obsessed and I want one and I see them everywhere I go, like on these adorable ornaments at Vineyard Vines.
Fun fact: My husband wired these lights at Beauty Counter on the wharf. All I got out of it was him yelling at me when he realized I was buying their lip balm that costs $10 a tube (but seriously, it is the best).
Later we headed down to the Easy Street basin to see the annual Christmas tree floating in a tiny boat. For those of you on my Christmas card list, you may recognize this from our first year on Nantucket, as well as in pretty much any tourist’s photo during the month of December.
It was there we stumbled upon a mother trying to capture a photo of her toddler on her iPhone for a Christmas card that he was having no part of. Molly helped distract him and I snapped a couple shots of him with my Canon and assured his mom that I would send them to her to use for her card. She thanked us by promising to send me a copy and taking the only photo of Molly and I together the entire day.
I told you – craziness. This is literally how the streets look from the time when Santa is about to arrive until people head to their dinner reservations.
Speaking of Santa, he arrives by boat with the Coast Guard, and it led up the wharf by an actual town crier. For those that think I say this in jest, see Exhibit A (above) and Exhibit B (below).
I mean, after all that excitement, where does one go?
To a party in the back of bike shop, of course. (Again, I couldn’t make any of this up.)
And of course, we always take advantage of when our favorite stores that were closed for the season open back up again, so we would make a point to visit Follain any time they opened their doors.
As day turns to night, the island becomes even more of a movie set when you see all the community-decorated trees that line Main Street (and all the people are pretty much gone, either at one of the restaurants that are only open again for the weekend or at fancy holiday parties).
All joking aside, Stroll Weekend is one of the best times to be on the island, if for nothing else than that there doesn’t seem to be anything like it anywhere. I know lots of vacation towns do their own version of a holiday festival, but this one is really unlike anything else I’ve seen in any New England town ever.
I’m so glad that we did this last year, because 2017 is definitely going to be less festive for the Scouras’s. With the move, and me living in America and Steve still coming back and forth from Nantucket, it just doesn’t make sense to get a tree or decorate for the holidays this year when we’re actually trying to pack all of our belongings (don’t even get me started on my Christmas card or lack thereof right now). If you need me, I’ll be reliving all the holiday hubbub with these photos and sustaining myself on the Buddy the Elf diet.
Happy Strolling,
~L
My outfit details:
Old Navy coat [sim] & scarf (mine’s old, but they have some newer colors here)
Nautica jeans [sim] via the Lightship Basket Museum Yard Sale
L.L. Bean socks & boots
The Lovely hat [sim] (I have no idea what brand it is but it came with a second interchangeable pom pom in another hue)
Kate Spade purse & earrings (these are both old but there’s sometimes similar styles at the outlet)
Molly’s outfit:
Primark scarf [sim] (I know because we both bought the same one last year – they don’t have it on their website but I feel like that pattern is everywhere now)
Gap pea coat [sim] (Disclaimer: I lent Molly this jacket because she is from California and therefore doesn’t exactly have a rotating wardrobe of wool coats. I have to tell you that I have had this coat since my freshman year of high school. I still don’t even know how that’s possible)
Hunter boots
Yikes. It’s certainly been awhile since we caught up, hasn’t it? The last we chatted I was still reveling in the glow of birthday gifts and sunny beach days. And now, here we are – living in a perpetual state of oversized sweaters and nonstop Hallmark movies where no doubt a big city curmudgeon learns the true meaning of Christmas (usually on a tree farm – big ups to Canada and their tax breaks for the film industry).
The biggest news ’round these parts is that I am writing to you from the continental U.S. Yes, that’s right – after four and a half years on a little elbow of sand called Nantucket (or ACK depending on how freely you like to throw around abbreviations), I booked a one-way ticket on the slow boat headed for America. There were so many reasons for this move, and it was definitely a long-time coming. I don’t want to bore you with all the specifics, but the underlying issue that Steve and I had been aware of for quite some time is that life on Nantucket (for us, at least) wasn’t sustainable for the long-term.
Some people make it work for years, they do the shuffle – move in and out of housing they can (sort of) afford depending on the season, or like us, live in a very small space (a friend once told me he would have murdered his wife if he had to live in our studio apartment with her) with no stove and no hopes of ever being able to afford anything else. For us, it just wasn’t the life we wanted to live anymore, and having an ocean in between you and most of the things you love (like TARGET… I mean, my friends and family) gets old eventually.
People refer to certain life situations as bittersweet, and that is 100% what I can say this decision was. There were a lot of great things about that island, from the beautiful sunsets to the opportunities to do things that you could never do in the “real” world (Steve was a DJ on the radio and I got to be on TV – things we probably would never have been able to do anywhere else). And depending on how you feel about it, the local community vibe, complete with town meetings, people that know your name on the streets – it was all very Stars Hollow-ish (including the lack of privacy). Not to mention it’s freaking gorgeous. Seriously, an Instagrammer’s dream. The blogger in me fears I will never ever get as many “likes” as I did living on Nantucket.
But by far, the best thing that Nantucket gave us was the people. Most of my friends I met through my job, because when you live on an island and you work your ass off, they’re the ones you spend the most time with. They become family when you feel like you’re alone, drifting out in the middle of the ocean. Unfortunately, most of us knew that the way we were living wasn’t forever, with a lot of us residing in dorm-style staff housing due to the lack of affordable options on Nantucket. In a lot of ways, it was awesome. The people you loved the most were just always there, kind of like on Friends. We often spent all day at the office together, then worked after hours for programs, and we would still choose to have dinner with each other or go out for a drink later. Many weekends I would roll myself up the stairs at the duplex I lived in, still in my pajamas, to recount our stories from the night before and make plans for the day. Schooner was the one really living the high-life, man. He had more dog moms than he could count.
With all of us being vaguely around the same age, this thing started to happen where we all realized that as strong as our bond was, it would never be enough to keep us all in a lifestyle that wasn’t attainable for us. No matter what stage we were at, all of us wanted more. Houses, better jobs, kids, the ability to travel – things that couldn’t happen here.
So for the last year, every few months or so, we lost one of our “group.” Our favorite off-season activity was this thing called Fight Night at Backyard Barbeque, one of our favorite restaurants. They partnered with Cisco Brewers and every Wednesday night, it was a challenge of beer vs. wine, wine vs. spirits, etc., with four courses to accompany each round of beverages (rest assured, they were small pours. But we still often had to hang out a bit before we drove home!). Steve was their best customer – the first year they offered it, he attended every single one. Seriously, they gave him a t-shirt at the end.
At the height of our time on Nantucket, we had a standing reservation for fifteen people practically every single week. The first deflectors left in September. Then there was the holidays, and we lost a few more in the months after. By the time that season of Fight Nights finished, we were down to four of us at a table. Don’t get me wrong – we were so happy for those who figured out their exit strategy, who found a good enough reason to finally make the jump, book the boat, take a chance on something new. But boy did it suck to lose those people that became woven in the fabric of your life every day. Things like this don’t happen other places. You know why? Because your friends move a town, or even a state away – and you can still drive to see them! In addition, part of the cache of Nantucket is that it attracts really interesting people from all over the world. From our “group,” there are now people living in Indiana, California, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Shang freaking Hai – not exactly places you can easily get to.
Losing our tribe wasn’t everything, but it sure made all the other parts of life that weren’t perfect a lot more obvious once they were gone. These people were an amazing distraction from the things about Nantucket that we didn’t enjoy. So this fall, Steve and I became some of the last people in our “group” to leave… well, correction. I left.
Yes, you read correctly. After all this, Steve is still on Nantucket, and I’m well… I’m hanging out in the good old U.S.A. Steve has a great gig there with his boss and still lots of work, therefore $$$ happening, so it’s hard to give that up. I got a job in the South Shore in an industry I’m super passionate about, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. So we packed up my stuff, and I left my guy and my pup behind on the rock. My inlaws were nice enough to take me in, and for the last month I’ve just been working, getting used to having a forty-five minute commute (I drove just over a mile to work everyday before), and figuring out our next steps so our little family can be reunited on land.
We’re trying to make the best of it. Steve has come to visit a few times with Schooner and I’ve been back once so far. There’s still an apartment to be packed and lots of loose ends to tie up, but we’re going to make it work. And of course, we’re already planning our next Nantucket reunion 🙂 #TribeTrip2018
All in all, I am so grateful for the time I spent on Nantucket. When I interviewed there, following the Nemo blizzard and getting on the first boat that had run in days, I had no idea what was in store for me. I was convinced that I was unqualified to work in a museum (which to be honest, I really kind of was) but the great thing about Nantucketers is they’re willing to take a chance on people. And trust me, the people and the island will test you. There were so many times I cried or I wanted to give up, thinking that Nantucket was going to chew me up and spit me back out the sea. But it didn’t. I spent four and a half years at an amazing institution that taught me what it truly means to be a professional. I stretched my creativity in new ways. I experienced so much joy and a bit of heartache too. But most of all, I grew up. And now I’m ready to grow some more, but in a new place where there’s a bit more opportunity to have some of those real-life experiences.
So thank you to everyone who in some way, shaped this experience for us. Not many people get to say “I lived on Nantucket year-round” – seriously, it is quite the conversation starter.
Speaking of words, there really aren’t enough to describe our lives the past few years. So of course, I avoided gathering up all my earthly belongings and instead spent hours making this video of as many of the high points as I could squeeze into four minutes. This could have gone on for hours, but I know we’ve all got things to do. Like packing.
~L
P.S. There’s so much more I could say about the island than would fit in one post. I’m going to do some follow ups on my favorite experiences, shops and restaurants, and more post-Nantucket life updates. Stay tuned!
Okay, so I know it’s been awhile since I’ve done one of these posts (which again, was created by my mother’s suggestion that I pay homage to/rip off Pinterest), but I celebrated my 32nd birthday last week, which seems like an excellent time to share some of my current favorite things that I was lucky enough to receive.
I think I’ve said this before, but I love birthdays – both my own and others. I literally can’t understand people who don’t enjoy celebrating (like those people that get annoyed when waiters sing to them in restaurants – uh, hello, if four people at an Applebee’s take time out of their crappy shift to sing you “Happy Birthday” at your table with a brownie earthquake, you better be appreciative). I know as adults, we’re supposed to like, go to work and act all cool like it’s just another day, but I just can’t. Chock it up to having a summer birthday and basically never having to be in school on your special day, but even as a grown-up, I’m definitely more like this:
And yes, as with Christmas, I still make a list (which my husband still makes fun of me for). Okay, so it’s more of a Pinterest board that is viewed basically only by my mother and sister, but it works. So let’s get right into things I’m loving this week: birthday edition!
Quirky Powercurl Pop Cable Organizer & Powercurl Mini
I don’t know where it comes from, but I swear I have an undiagnosed version of OCD only pertaining to insignificant things. Like my bed could be unmade with clean, unfolded laundry strewn across it, but I literally have to line up all my shoes by the front door to feel at peace. I feel the same way about wires. Like why are they always EVERYWHERE?! In the past, I had ordered these colorful velcro wraps from Amazon, and used them for every possible cord, both in my drawers and in my purse. But I’ve always hated the way Apple cords are so heavy, and finally, my neurotic prayers have been answered. I don’t know where I first saw Quirky’s Powercurl products, but when I found they had one for both your computer AND phone cord, I knew they had to be mine. Living on an island means a lot of travel, so these are way more convenient to throw in your bag, plus they come in an array of shades like this vibrant pink.
Old Navy White Denim Jacket
I know what you’re thinking – Clarissa Darling called, and she wants her jacket back (which I would take as a compliment in which I assume it was intended). But seriously, my denim jacket is one of the most-worn piece in my wardrobe. My only complaint is that I can’t wear it with jeans (because I refuse to go full-on Canadian tuxedo). When I saw this one from Old Navy, I thought it seemed like a great value for a piece that could be super transitional as I defy my mother and wear white past Labor Day. It has a bit of stretch to it, so I could see myself wearing it well into September with a light sweater on those cool Nantucket nights when you’re still just not ready to give up on summer yet. Also it has “Stay-White” technology that supposedly repels stains, which I have yet to experience but am sure that I will soon. You can’t walk more than twenty feet on this island in August without getting at least a half a glass of rosé spilled on you.
BECCA X Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette
Contouring doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon, and while I don’t plan on adding an extra forty-five steps to my makeup routine, I yearn for a J.Lo glow just like any other basic chick in 2017. Chrissy Teigen is one of my favorite celebs to follow on Snapchat, and when I saw her promoting this special edition palette she created with contour-queen BECCA, I was dying to try it. First of all, there’s only four colors, so right off the bat it seemed easier for a newbie (I literally wear the same five types of makeup every day and buy the same colors year after year, with the exception of a statement lip color every now and then). Plus it’s supposed to be some of the most universally flattering colors. While I have owned this for a full week, I have yet to use it, as I have no idea what I’m doing and feel like none of my Target makeup brushes are worthy of such fine products. My makeup-loving sister (who literally bought me every cool palette that I own) suggested looking up some YouTube tutorials to guide me along the way, so I plan on getting into that ASAP.
Tweexy Wearable Nail Polish Holder
Let’s call my thirty-second trip around the sun “the year of random inventions I never knew I needed but can’t live without.” I think I found Tweexy’s nail polish holder on one of those Buzfeed lists of products meant to make your life easier. I know this is a total #firstworld issue, but don’t you hate knocking over your polish bottles when you’re just trying to treat yo self to an at-home mani? As someone who has both stained carpets with nail polish in addition to accidentally flicking some into my eye when I was a teenager (which resulted in my mother phoning poison control, only to somehow figure out that she knew the person answering the call), yes, I do need this. I’ve only used it once so far, but it was very convenient for giving myself a pedicure at the coffee table, a true measure of a night of luxury.
Vineyard Vines Gingham Baseball Hat
The irony of falling in love with a gingham Vineyard Vines hat while visiting Vermont when you live in the preppiest place on the planet is not lost on me, but that’s exactly what happened. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen me refusing to take it off on my story during our Green Mountain escape last month. I literally squealed when it showed up in my mailbox, perfectly packaged in a gift box that I refuse to throw out from my friend Sarah. Between the hot pink whale and the checkered navy pattern, it’s the perfect hat for when dry shampoo just ain’t cutting it anymore but you still want to look cute.
23andMe DNA Genetic Testing & Analysis
What, you were expecting another article of clothing? When my husband presented this to me at my birthday dinner (at the beautiful Chanticleer, no less), I screamed out out “oh my God, a saliva collection kit?!” (That’s what it says on the box, P.S.) In case you were confused, that was an excited scream, not like a “I can’t believe you gave me something for my birthday with the word saliva on it” scream. The thing about Steve that is so great is that he never looks at the Pinterest board – he doesn’t need to. I don’t know how he remembers things that I want that I don’t even remember that I said I wanted, but he does. Lately, I’ve been kind of obsessed with doing my genealogy, and by that I mean I keep talking about it but haven’t actually done anything. My mom’s side is very super documented (it’s white, white, and more white, in case you were wondering, like next boat after the Mayflower white), but I personally don’t know as much about my dad’s side, my Italian roots. My dream is to totally map out our family trees and then go on a trip to Greece and Italy and find the places our respective family members are from. Also a goal: save exorbitant amount of dollars to pay for said trip. Anyway, this seemed like a good first step to figure out what kind of chromosomes I’m working with here.
So that’s a sampling of some of the awesome gifts I received this year, not including lots of wonderful cards, baked goods, gift certificates, and one unprecedented public display at the office:
Thanks to everyone that called or texted or even just left a one-line note on Facebook (times like these make you realize that the internet can be a nice place occasionally) – I’m not one for the sappy stuff but it truly does mean a lot to a birthday fanatic like myself.
Until next year,
~L
I know the term “fomo” is relatively new as far as the English language goes, but I’ve been suffering with this affliction since grade school. It’s not that I was a spoiled kid, but often I was so intrigued by things that I wasn’t a part of, which only made me more desperate to be included (we’ll call it more of an obsessive curiosity). In second grade, I didn’t understand why all the girls in my class were wearing white dresses and veils at their First Communions and I wasn’t (we weren’t Catholic, so that may have been the cause), and I used to gaze longingly at the kids in daycare on my way out of school and feel like I was totally missing out on some cool club where they got to play games in the cafeteria (my mom had to explain to me that not all kids had parents who worked at home).
But the biggest “club” that I have never been a part of and was desperate to join was, once again, not something that most kids wished for themselves: I wanted to wear glasses.
Why? I have no idea. I’m going to chalk it up to a young Lindsay wanting to express herself with as many accessories as possible. I thought kids that had glasses were just the coolest. I mean, when superheroes wear them, no one knows who they are! You cannot deny the power of a good pair of specs, amirite?
Slight snafu here: I was cursed with “better than perfect” vision (20/15 to be exact), discovered after I accidentally walked into the side of my house when I was 8, resulting in a large goose egg and a trip to the eye doctor. When the optometrist ensured my mother that I was not in fact, blind, but rather clumsy, my four-eyed dreams were dashed.
That is, until now. That’s right – I, Lindsay Scouras, am finally getting… glasses ?
I know what you’re thinking. Lindsay, glasses are a sign of aging! Why celebrate the fact that your once perfect eyesight slowly going down the drain? This is just the first of many ailments to come that show you are no longer a spring chicken, lady! True, but I am looking at this at more of a preventative measure that happens to be sanctioned by a medical professional. Botox for the eyes, if you will.
You see, for the past couple of months, I had started to feel like my once-perfect vision wasn’t so perfect anymore. During the day, my eyes would start to go blurry at work, and I would have trouble getting them to focus again. I started feeling way more sensitive to fluorescent light and colors, sometimes having to go off into a dark room and allow my eyes to “reset” before I went back to work (super productive, no?). It was an unfamiliar and completely disruptive feeling that was really throwing me off my game at the office, and also causing me to turn into bed way early when I wasn’t even tired because I just wanted to be in the dark.
But let’s call a spade a spade – I work in an office and spend at least 60 hours a week staring at a computer. I enjoy blogging and editing photos, which adds more screen time after-hours. I do social media for my job (and okay, also for fun) and treat my iPhone like it’s my tiny tech child – never too far out of sight. And yes, I’m turning thirty-two next week, so there’s that.
All these factors combined lead me to take a trip to the eye doctor. And let me tell you, I have never had a better medical appointment in my entire life. If you are on Nantucket and need to go to the eye doctor, do yourself a favor and hightail it over to Dr. Gage at ACK Eye. I almost asked her if she had any other specialities, because I would seriously let her poke and prod me any day.
Have you guys been to the eye doctor lately? I mean, I know I haven’t been seen about 1993, but these people have gone full-on Jetsons futuristic. The thing you use to read with all the different-sized letters? It’s on an iMac now. They change the letters with a remote (apparently, people who chose to deny themselves the opportunity to wear glasses would memorize them). Also they had the best waiting room magazine selection I’ve come across in some time.
So anyway, what I gleaned from my new BFF Dr. Gage is that my eyesight is still good. I’m far-sighted and still see very well at great distances, however, my close-up skills need a bit of work. Blame it on age, the computer, whatever – but I need to keep these girls in check (and yes, I have chosen to start referring to my eyes in the way that other women talk about their breasts). She found that my right eye is slightly stronger than the left, which she said was ironic because I’m left-handed, and most people’s dominant eye is also their dominant hand.
She wrote me a very low prescription, and encouraged me not to wear my glasses all day (so I don’t become completely dependent on them prematurely) and to wear them starting at say, 2 P.M. when my eyes start to feel a little tired from looking at a screen for a prolonged period of time. Dr. Gage said it should not only help with focusing and reading, but would probably help wake me up a bit more in the afternoon, which for someone like me who doesn’t drink coffee, is always helpful.
She gave me a few other helpful (and obvious) tips, like giving your eyes a break at least once every hour – getting up and changing scenery for a few minutes is best, but even blinking strongly for a bit when you can’t escape the clutches of your desk is helpful.
Even though I had to get back to work, I couldn’t resist trying on at least a few pairs of glasses before I left the office, though I knew I was in no place to decide on a pair that day. The women in the retail area were so helpful and nice even when I nervously exclaimed that I couldn’t possibly make a decision today at least three times during my visit. Of course I immediately fell in love with a $300 Zac Posen pair, even though though I tried on an almost-identical no-name brand (I’m such a sucker).
Side note: Can we talk about how difficult it is to take a quality selfie in glasses?! I am so not used to having this thing on my face, I had no idea where to look, which angle to turn my head at – not to mention there’s a glare no matter where you go. Four-eyed ladies (and gentlemen, I’m not fussed), please give a girl some tips! It’s also really hard to tell what these actually looked like in person. I tried on numerous pairs that I thought sort of suited my face, only to find them to be gargantuan in photos.
Anyway, this brings me to today, kids. It’s time for me to get glasses but I have no idea where to start. I was told by numerous Nantucketers not to buy glasses from the eye doctor directly, because like produce or housewares, the upcharge just for being on a island is bonkers. Everyone said take your prescription the next time you go off island to a BJ’s or somewhere that sells glasses on the cheap. I don’t think your first pair of spectacles can be picked out online anyway (also, do the kids still say spectacles?) – this is definitely a try-on in person scenario.
The other advice I got was to go with a service like Warby Parker, where you can try them on at home and pay a nominal price for the lenses and frames. I know you get what you pay for, but I’m basically getting a slightly better pair of the readers your mother buys from CVS and always loses at the bottom of her purse. In less than twenty-four hours after my appointment, I already sent away for the Warby Parker “At Home Try-On” and am anxiously stalking the mailman for my package.
Is there anywhere else I should be looking? Kate Spade is one of my favorite brands, so I was slightly curious about their offerings in this department, however I’m such a novice here that I’m literally running around helpless wondering how to purchase a set of frames and a prescription separately and have them fit together. Send help!
~L
**This post is not sponsored in any way (duh, it’s like, a medical appointment – although in the blogging world, who knows what’s next for #ad content), I just had a really great experience with this doctor and wanted to share the completely ridiculous excitement that I feel over having to get glasses!
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