Adios, July.

Oh, July. How I will miss you.

You gave me so much sunshine.

And beach time.

And ice cream.

Thanks for being the best month of the year.

Until 2011,

XOXO

♥♥♥♥♥

aeb.

(prints from englishmuffinshop @ etsy.)

www.englishmuffinblog.blogspot.com

HAPPY WEEKEND

It's the weekend again and it's back to the beach for me!

Today I'm borrowing my sister's super precious bikini from j.crew. I love the little fabric flower on the top- and there's one on the bottom part too. A touch of loveliness to a simple suit. What are you up to this weekend?!

LOVE: all things before and after.

You know what I love? Seeing renovations happen. I am a h-UGE fan of before and after pictures. Mostly I look for room renovations, not because I'm looking to change my own room, but really for the fun of it. I love seeing a room go from messy, to organized. Or from blah, to VOILA. It's just so satisfying seeing the final product right next to the original. And it's so inspiring. The things you can do to an ordinary room, or an old chair or dresser! Jeeesh. Makes me want to start experimenting myself! Here are some really cool before and after's from design*sponge:

An super boring, fairly old, slightly ugly dresser....

Turned into a super adorable, very fun, chic chest of drawers. I LOVE!

(before and after from Kristen Fountain Davis of kfd designs)

And some totally 70's, not so attractive, gray circular chairs...

Turned into a totally FABULOUS, asian inspired toille, brilliantly blue chair. So awesome.

(before and after by Jamie Meares of Furbish Studio)

I just want to find a yard sale tomorrow and begin a project!

Here's my favorite before and after for the week:

OLD HOUSE

DREAM HOUSE.

A front porch and a garden. And a yard to last for days.

This house was featured on Country Living. It's located in Upstate New York (YEE-AH!)... Isn't it glorious?

Check out the full renovation project here.

Favorite Blog: Strawberry Lemonade

Strawberry Lemonade? Please and thank you.

http://strawberrylemonadeblog.blogspot.com/

Hope you're having a good Monday. Here's a fun retro blog to start your week off. This girl's quirky style and eye for color always makes me smile. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Nell :)

HAPPY BDAY NELL!

Here are some pics from our day at the beach...

Olive Bread...

Cucumbers from the garden...

BBQ chicken on the newspaper grill...

Zan and I enjoying the sunset...

Good times in the summertime.

Weekends at the North Shore

Isn't summer spectacular?
I'm so in love with it.

Yesterday we headed up to Gloucester to spend the afternoon at Good Harbor Beach. It was Zan's sister Nell's Birthday so we had dinner and cake while the sun was setting. Then we headed to historic Rockport (above) to walk Bearskin Neck while licking ice cream cones. I try to never forget it, but it's days like yesterday that make me remember why summer is my favorite.

Today we've decided to do it again! We're heading up soon, to the beaches of the North Shore, to have another glorious summer day.
Hope you're having a good weekend!

FIRE on the Hill: DeLuca's Market

My most faaaaavorite market had a fire last week! I have fond memories of this store (both locations) from when I used to live in Back Bay a couple of years back. I used to swing by the Charles Street shop on my way home from Charlestown and get the best egg salad in the WORLD. DeLuca's (which claims to be "Boston's Oldest Grocery Store") has been a Beacon Hill landmark for over 100 years. What terrible news. I hope the damage is repairable. Beacon Hill just isn't Beacon Hill without DeLuca's.

DeLuca's Market by Patrick Anderson

Fresh Paint 2007:

Copley Society of Art

DeLuca's Market on Charles Street by Marilyn Swift

Fresh Paint 2005:

Copley Society of Art

Life Happenings

I apologize for being a little spotty with my blogging these past couple of weeks. For awhile I was going strong, getting the little things in love and life out to you daily. But these weeks have been hectic and again, I apologize! I've gotten many messages from you letting me know how much you appreciate my blog, how you visit often (which is my hope!), and enjoy my musings. So thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for reading! And thank you for letting me know you like my writing and my postings-- it means A LOT to me!! ♥♥

A little life update: Right now I am in the midst of my reading specialist practicum, a requirement for my MA reading specialist license and part of my M.Ed. program. This basically means that I am highly skilled as a teacher :) and also, that I have paperwork coming out of my ears. Seriously. But also it means that I am in a school this summer, modeling lessons in a classroom, working one-on-one with struggling students and spending my days doing what I do best: Teaching! Gloooorious.

Another life update: Today I had an interview for a third grade teaching position in a really great school system. I did my very best and am happy with how things went. I was prepared, knowledgeable, and was myself! And now I have to wait and see if this job is meant for me.

You can cross your fingers for me if you want. Or say a prayer.

(Either will do just fine.)

Thanks for catching up on my life happenings. Hope you're well and enjoying summer! Sure has been HOT! Gotta find ways to beat the heat.

XOXO, aeb.

(p.s. check out this etsy site for the awesome artwork above!)

Food and Friends| a diary of dining out.

My mom bought me the most delicate book this weekend at anthropologie. It's so fun it makes me want to call up my girlfriends for some dinner and drinks! The book helps you keep a log of the restaurants you've visited, who you went with, what you ate, and what you thought about the meal. A cute idea for keeping dining memories! And it's really so true-- some of the best memories I've had with my friends are over a delicious meal. Food and Friends, the perfect pair.

Alright, who wants to go out to dinner?!!

Happy Birthday, BMW!!!

Happy Birthday, Becca!!

Have a great day on the cape! Hope to see you soon!

XOXO.

Favorite Blog: Piewacket

http://www.piewacketblog.com/

I've decided that once a week I am going to start introducing you to some of my favorite blogs. One blog will get featured every week (day to be determined) so that you may visit this blog and fall in love with it too.

These blogs are all exceptional in photography, layout and design, fashion, craft, and/or food, and are just plain fun to read.

The first blog I would like to bring to you is one that I've loved since the beginning. It's AMAZING vintage-esq photography and fresh ideas keep me coming back week after week. One visit to Lara's website and you'll instantly know what I'm talking about. Take a visit to the dream world of Piewacket... and have a great Saturday!!

Jamaica Pond

Last Sunday, after our Saturday of dealing with the rain (plus eating Five Guys), Zan and I went to Jamaica Pond to enjoy a beautiful walk around the pond on a beautiful (and HOT) summer day. This was my first experience actually walking around the pond, although not viewing the pond since I often babysit right up the street.

In a nut shell, Jamaica Pond is awesome.

And now for a little history:

"Jamaica Pond is a kettle pond, part of the Emerald Necklace of parks in Boston designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The pond and park are in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, close to the border of Brookline. It is the source of the Muddy River, which drains into the lower Charles River.

The pond has an area of about 68 acres, and is 53 feet deep at its center, making it the largest body of fresh water in Boston, and the largest natural freshwater body in the lower Charles River watershed. It is ringed by a walking path, and is an extremely popular destination for Bostonians for walking, fishing, and sailing."

-Thanks, Wikipedia

If you ever have the chance go and give the pond a look (and head over to Larz Anderson Park while you're at it). It'll give you another reason to L-O-V-E Boston!!

Sunflower Butter vs. Peanut Butter

Meet my new friend:

Sunflower Seed Butter

Although I do still have a [VERY] special place in my heart for peanut butter, I am forced to eat my beloved PB&J's with sunflower butter this summer, as my reading specialist internship is at a "peanut-free" school. Which I guess would now make it a SB&J. Which really, just sounds weird.

Truthfully, sunflower butter is actually pretty tasty and when slabbed on some bread with some extra delicious raspberry preserves I can barely tell the difference.

But still we should ask ourselves-- Which butter is better??

After doing a bit of research (my own taste tests and those of others) I have come to the conclusion that although peanut butter ultimately tastes better, it is not in fact better for you. For nutritional value sunflower butter takes the gold. It has lesser amounts of monosaturated fat and it is richer in vitamins, protein, and fiber. And although it might not taste as sweet or salty, it has less additives, and is more hearty in flavor.

And if you feel up to it-- go ahead and mix some of your own!

Click here for an easy recipe from Domesticfluff (a really awesome blog!):

Sunflower Seed Butter

Still I do wonder-- when my internship is over will I rejoin forces with Peanut Butter? We have, after all, been lovers for SO long-- a true connection that runs deep.

Only time will tell.

Land's End Canvas

Through some recent mailings and also one of my go-to blogs, j.crew aficionada, I've been introduced to a new clothing line from Land's End. It's called Canvas and by the looks of it the clothes are meant for a slightly preppy, 20's something crowd. How absolutely perfect seeing as I am a slightly preppy, 20's something girl. They also resemble some very classic jcrew pieces (cardigans, button-downs, etc) which are my favorite. This past week I took advantage of a sale they were having and snagged some new clothes for summer. Take a look at what I bought and then head to the LE Canvas website to grab your own summer goodies. Sale's still good!

Boyfriend V-neck Cardigan Sweater in Turquoise Sea

Simply precious and what a great look with skinny jeans and a basic white tee.

Cotton Lawn Campshirt in True Navy Mini Dot

Can't wait to wear this with white shorts/jeans. LOVE the polka dots.

The Heritage Cardigan in Bold Sun

So bright and happy. A classic cardigan in a bold, delightful color.

Cotton Headband in True Navy Check

A summer staple for my whispy hair!

Five Guys in Boston!!

Today Zan and I had big plans for the beach. It was going to be awesome. I slathered on some SPF, packed the cooler full of snacks, and grabbed my towels from the closet. We even put the top down on Zan's convertible. The sun was shining and life was good.

Then, it started to rain.

Should we go? We debated. Probably just a sprinkle.

Onward we went. Out of the city and up to the shore.

And the sky got darker. And darker. And the Heavens opened up.

Dang. Double Dang.

How disappointing. BUMMER. Until we spotted this:

And life was good again!

Five Guys in Boston (or technically the North Shore).... DREAM!!!!!

Five guys is one of the best burger joints in the country.

(only 2nd to In-N-Out in Cali)

Simple food and simply delicious.

Burgers. Fries. Shakes.

This photo is of the regular bacon cheese burger.

I prefer to get the little burger (one patty) because it's really all my stomach can handle.

The burgers are SUPER delicious and you're allowed to get as many toppings as you want FREE. Incredible.

Thanks Five Guys. You made my day.

After some research, it turns out there are several FG around the Boston area. Super sweet. Click here to find the one closest to you!

Dakota Alert!

Dakota Fanning graces the cover of Marie Claire in next month's issue (out on newstands July 13). She looks GORGEOUS. Simply stunning. As you may remember I love Dakota Fanning. Loved her when she was missing her two front teeth and love her today, hair blowin' in the wind. She's just so classic and natural and simple. I hope she stays that way. God only knows what happened to Lindsay Lohan. I used to like her too. Dakota's different though, better. WAY BETTER. I have a sense about these things.

Seriously though, she's so gorgeous.

Did I already say that? I totally have a girl crush.

Bakerella's Peach Crunch Cake

Photo from Bakerella.com

HOLY popsicle sticks.

This incredible dessert is so sweet and scrumptious it nearly killed me.

It is made with brown sugar and vanilla cake mix.

And peaches.

oh, and also-

an entire stick of butter.

Go ahead, you can think it: Heart attack in a dish.

OR Heaven in a dish.

Heaven with vanilla ice cream on top.

YUM.

Get the recipe!!

Party Bus!

I am still trying to wrap my head around last saturday night. WHAT a blast-- A wonderfully fun time celebrating our lovely friend Hannah Montgomery (soon to be Magee!).

This much I know is true:

I took 225 pictures (for serious).

I ate AMAZING lobster bisque for dinner.

I was in the company of 8 super ladies from Maine (and one seriously fabulous chick from NY).

AND I sang karaoke to Michael Jackson on a party bus.

Here are [a few] pics to recap the event:

I love this one of Hannah and her mom...

the ladies after the bridal shower lunch...

Ferry to Peaks Island:

(YUM.)

pleasantly full and ready for...

the PARTY BUS!

(I am censoring photos here due to inappropriate "bachelorette" paraphernalia. My grammy reads this.)

We brought Han down memory lane on a very clever scavenger hunt through Maine and Yarmouth, with stops including Hobart Rd:

The next road bares the name of a place some call Camp...

Dunking balls into solo cups made you the Beruit champ.

You drank rum and coke and sang to "Josie" many nights,

danced at the Holiday and threw back red light/green lights.

This place brought you across the world and to a house made of bricks...

And it all started with some lil' friends and a SWEET pair of kicks.

and finally ending at RiRa's

Now on to our last stop on this game,

To a place where your friends and family came.

To celebrate you and the love of your life,

The place where Todd asked you to be his wife.

So glad I was there to celebrate!!

Love you, Han... Can't wait for September!