Good afternoon and hello, July! It seems fitting that those of us here in New England would be welcoming a new month with the beginning of what is shaping up to be an absolute doozy of a heatwave, but here we are! I’m presently sitting in my air conditioned apartment with the shades drawn and some chilled water loaded up with watermelon-flavored electrolytes within reach so I can stay hydrated while taking a quick break from working remotely before the upcoming holiday weekend.
But I would be remiss if I didn’t share some highlights from the past few days leading up to the conclusion of June since they were pretty much perfect all the way around, and I got some spectacular photos along the way!
On Saturday afternoon, I headed up towards Wilmington, Vermont to meet up with my childhood BFF Sean and our mutual friends Paulo and Chris, who were helping Sean unload some equipment/materials since he’s in the process of constructing a cabin in the middle of the woods after purchasing an incredibly beautiful and peaceful plot of land last year. While he’s still got a ways to go before he’s got his walls and roof set up, I was so happy to see the foundation and flooring underway when I stopped by to check it out for the first time.
After scoping out the land and the plans for his future home, we all headed into nearby West Dover to grab dinner at the 1846 Inn & Tavern where we enjoyed some oysters ad burgers, and saw one of the most gorgeous and vibrant rainbows stretching across the sky after an unexpected torrential downpour.
Sean is going to be in the area, not far from me at all!, for the next few months and I’m so looking forward to seeing his cabin once it’s completed!
On Sunday, I was up bright and early to head down to Hyannis with my friend Dan so we could get an early look at the beautiful hydrangeas along the coast in preparation for the area’s annual Hydrangea Festival, which takes place between July 10th – 19th this year. We started our morning with breakfast and the best lattes ever at Mariner Café before making our way over to some of the shops along Main Street and eventually the waterfront to check out the artist shacks and a lot of Americana fanfare as we prepare for the country’s 250th celebration this coming weekend.
I love the artist shack series this time of year, since it rotates every week so new artists can display their work/products for a few days at a time. There are so many talented painters, jewelers, designers, etc. and there really was something for everyone the more I looked around!
Dan and I eventually made our way out to Chatham to check out more hydrangeas and hit the beach just as the fog was rolling in for a brief period of time. Although I found quite a great selection of shells and sea glass to take home with me, I also had to watch my step to avoid jellyfish and horseshoe crabs that had washed ashore – as well as what remained of a seal that looked like it had a fatal run-in with a Great White Shark. They’re all over the Cape this time of year, which was eerie to think about since I saw more than one person venture kind of far out into the water!
Back in town, and with the Sun reappearing again, we did some more shopping, checked out some local galleries and the Chatham “Art In The Park” event on Main Street, which was so neat. Local artists and businesses painted/carved a series of wooden sharks and whales in such beautiful and intricate ways to put on display in the local park, and people can bid on them to keep, with a portion of the proceeds going to local charities.
I definitely saw more than one I wanted to bid on and display in my apartment!
Finally, to close out the day/evening, we literally stumbled on – completely by accident! – one of the best tiki bars and Filipino restaurants tucked away right off of Main Street! Aplaya is a literal hidden gem with a really cool aesthetic and an extensive food and drink menu. Dan and I tried a few different things, like their BBQ chicken skewers, lumpia, and pork ribs – but it was the spicy lobster roll and Chee-hoo macaroni salad that stole the show. Everything tasted amazing – and the staff is seriously the coolest and friendliest group around.
We had such an absolute blast there, and I can’t wait to go back to try a few more things!
Overall, this past weekend was phenomenal, and I’m so happy I got to spend so much time in the woods, by the sea, with friends, and enjoying such great views and delicious food. I’m hoping my upcoming Independence Day is just as fun!
This coming Friday, I’m going to be sharing the Summertime additions to my makeup collection (including swatches!) so stay tuned!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 