keep me closer {sailing part one}

SO, I'm back from my five-day sailing excursion! The trip was extremely fun but painful... I suffered from a number of injuries (bruises on the head, gashes on the leg, cuts on the feet) It is very easy to hit your head on just about anything on a boat. 


On the first day of the trip, we were in Camden (ME.) We mostly just walked around town, but while doing so, Olivia and I found the best little chocolate shop. It was called Chocolatier Blue, and it may have been the most amazing chocolate I have ever had. At first I didn't want to even eat the chocolates, because they were decorated so nicely. 

I was only going to get one chocolate, but they all looked so good so I sprung for the 5-piece box :)

 {espresso}

 {orange julius}

 {caramel with sea salt}

{pistachio}




Next we headed down to the water, where there was a group of 15 + ducks. On our way there, we got some bread crust from a small bakery. One duck ate right out of Olivia's hand. 

After a little while of being down there, we also saw some geese. The mother goose was on the look-out and kept on eyeing Olivia and I as we took pictures of her children.

After a night in the Camden harbor, we were off. The fog was incredible, I could barely see the islands around us.

While we were sailing, Olivia and I took some pictures from the bow. While we were sailing, we passed by and old ferry boat. As we passed it, Olivia said "Do you see that weird old ferry?" as if she was about to give me some interesting piece of information about it — after I said "yes?" she just said, "Well it's weird..."

collect call — metric

to the lonely seas

As you  guys may or may not know, Olivia's family is on a sailing trip right now. They have been sailing for one week, and I will be joining them on their second week of the trip. 

I do not have any guest posters, so there won't be any posts for a couple of days. But I'm sure I'll have a lot to post about when I get back! 

via

...so long...

hazelnut cookies

these cute little cookies make for a great snack, or dessert {this is the recipe I used in a guest post on Olivia's blog}

cookies:

1/2 cups hazelnuts	1/4 cups (+ 3 tbs) sugar
3/4 cups flour	1 stick butter

{toast hazelnuts in a shallow baking pan for about 6-7 minutes— using a towel, rub off hazelnut skins}

{pulse nuts and 1/4 cups sugar in a food processor, add flour and a little salt}

{add butter and blend until dough forms a ball (if the dough is too dry, add a bit of water)}

{mix in about 1/2 cup chopped bittersweet chocolate chips (optional)}

{split dough in two, and roll into this 11 inch logs — chill for 1 hour}

{cut logs into 1/2 inch slices, and place apart on a baking sheet}

{bake for 12-15 minutes — cool and dip in remaining 3 tbs sugar}

enjoy! :)

via

better near to you

  As you know, this past weekend (4th of July) I was in up at a lake house in Rangeley, Maine. I was there with my friends Gabi and Oceanna. It was so beautiful and sunny — most of the time. When it wasn't nice out, we went bowling! I hadn't been bowling in a while, and it showed because I lost to five other people by at least 15 points... It was fun anyways :)

p.s. sorry I haven't done an outfit post in a while — I have to take the pictures myself, and I haven't really had the time!

near to you — a fine frenzy

still young

still young — evenings

In my family, Independence Day is celebrated with a bonfire, strawberry shortcake, and of course fireworks :)

Every year, I go up to my family's lake house. It is right near the water, on which we ski, and tube, and swim. We also watch the fireworks (put on every year by the town of Rangeley)

I look forward to the fireworks all year. They are done in town, so we drive the boat across the lake to where we are situated right under them. For some reason (although they're loud) there is something relaxing about watching the fireworks from the boat, atop the calm lake.

{on the way to the fireworks}