Vive La France!

We are off! I haven't talked about our trip to Paris much on the blog, but tomorrow we set out for another summer journey to the City of Love.
I've been dreaming about Paris for years. There's such a stigma that comes with the city. The romance, the excitement, the lights, the food (ooh la la, the cuisine!), the sights, the history. All of it appeals to all of me, and I can't wait to turn my dream into a reality. 

We've gone a bit mad (read: I've gone crazy) about traveling recently. I think it's the thought of our someday future of children and careers and other responsibilities that has us wanting to wander all around the world while we're young and full of life (I start my dream job the day after we get back, details to come!).

Our apartment is right in the heart of the 7th arrondissement (neighborhood), with an incredible view of the Eiffel Tower from our windows.

So, Paris, be prepared for me. I'm coming to take advantage of everything you have to offer. I am giddy with excitement and cannot wait to spend a week taking french macaron baking courses and strolling the Musee d'Orsay, picnicing on the Champ de Mars and viewing Paris at night from the Sacre Coeur. And most of all, I can't wait to spend a week in the most romantic city in the world with Christian.

 

"There are only two places in the world where we can live happy: at home and in Paris."

 -Ernest Hemingway

Nantucket & Cape Cod

During our trip to New England, we got out of the city for a couple days to explore the cape and Nantucket. 

On the first day we took a ferry over to Nantucket to spend the day and explore the island. The day started out a little rainy and we were kind of worried our day would be spoiled by the weather, but about 10 minutes after we got there the rain cleared up and the weather ended up being perfect the rest of the trip. It was cool enough to enjoy riding our bikes around the island, but warm enough to visit the beach and stay in shorts.

Nantucket is incredibly beautiful and I couldn't help feeling like I didn't fit in at all. I spent the day with my hair in a huge curly mess on top of my head, and my makeup was smeared from the humidity and drizzling rain. The people visiting there are beautiful and the shear wealth of the place was a little overwhelming. I didn't really mind not fitting in, and seeing how the other half lives (eg not forever college students) was fascinating. 

We spent the day riding bikes around the island, stopping at different beaches and landmarks. We shopped around Main Street and ate dinner at a small pub, and naturally ended the day with incredible ice cream (Um hello salted caramel coconut with toffee! Chocolate with peanut butter cookie dough! Rainbow sprinkles! Handmade waffle cones!) before heading back on the ferry.

I can't wait to go back there someday.

The next day we began with a huge breakfast at a local diner, and then a stop at the Cape Cod Potato Chip factory. We got to see how their kettle chips are made and try some free samples (which were delicious). Then we drove up the cape all the way to the very tip of Cape Cod to a small town called Provincetown. It was quintessential New England, with narrow cobblestone streets and old buildings. It had shops filled with salt water taffy and a pier with a pirate ship at the end. The weather was sunny and warm and the little town was about as eccentric and lively as they come. We walked down the pier and explored the shops, and found more ice cream and a delicious mexican restaurant.

Maren and I matched not on purpose. Our outfits are flipped!

Relaxing on Jetties Beach

Nantucket is filled with hydrangeas with deep color hues. They were absolutely stunning

Paths made out of seashells? Yes please.

Provincetown, MA

Do you see those nachos?

Thanks for reading along on our adventure to the most beautiful place in the U.S.A! New England, I love you.

Berry Picking

There's nothing like picking raspberries and enjoying berry shortcake on a muggy night in summer. We took a little family outing (my sister Maren and her husband and baby were in town) to Chase Farms, a local favorite, to pick some ripe berries and enjoy the evening. The timing was uncanny; the rain held off long enough to let us finish our berry shortcakes and ice cream, and then we were greeted with a torrential downpour on our way to the car. You'll never hear me complaining about summer thunderstorms though. They're quite common in Rochester and I grew up falling asleep to summer rain, so I enjoy the nostalgia and familiarity of it all. My sweet niece loved the berry patch and couldn't wait to start eating the raspberries straight out of the freshly-picked pint (I couldn't blame her!). Rochester summer, you are magnificent.

Look at that face!

The Dickens women, minus my oldest sister Les and my sister in law, Amber.

 

 

Come to me, fresh raspberry shortcake.

Lake Michigan

A couple of weeks ago, on our way out to New York, we stopped in South Haven, MI to spend a week on the lake with Chin's family.

It was the first time we had seen his family for a long time, and it was great to get together and see everyone (especially a brand new small little baby bundle of joy!).

I had never been to Michigan... and honestly I was hesitant if not extremely skeptical. 

However, I was pleasantly surprised. We were on the southeast side of Lake Michigan (so the west side of MI), and the town where we vacationed was quaint, quiet, and one of those small towns with lots of character and hidden gems. 

We ended up spending a LOT of time at the lake, which felt like the ocean because the beach was huge and sandy. We took walks on the water and jet skied and paddle boarded and had a blast on the water.

The rest of the time we spent eating. I mean the Pingrees just love to eat so I feel great about that. We ate ice cream twice a day and chowed down on slathered up ribs and picked 10 pounds (for real) of blueberries and snacked to our hearts' content. 

I felt as though we were right in the heart of small-town America, a feeling that you don't get a lot out west or east, and I really liked being in the midwest, in the heart of it all. 

Did I mention South Haven is the blueberry capital of the world?

Timbo in berry heaven

I think we ended up going to Sherman's about 4 times throughout the week. It was THE place to go for ice cream in South Haven, and I have to say it was just downright amazing. Give me a waffle cone and some sprinkles or give me death.

Golfing pros

 

Doesn't this look like the ocean? A view of the sunset from our lakehouse

 

A local bakery in town with cafeteria-style dining and so many pastries I thought I had gone to donut heaven

The little theatre "downtown"

I have such great in-laws. I feel so spoiled to have gone on so many wonderful trips this summer. Whether it was Rome or Midwest America, we've had such a blast this summer.