The Art of the Tailgate

 Making a Tailgate “Tailgreat”!  

Football Season is Here! Is there anything more fun than the quintessential tailgate with family and friends…and the party crashers who show up along the way?  The idea of bundling up in college hats, scarfs, mittens and old fur coats on a chilly day for one of the season’s first outdoor sporting events, brings people together in a warm & cozy way in much the same way a good “hot toddy” does! 

Oh! BTW, Do you know what a “hot toddy” is? A New Englander through and through, it’s my favorite winter drink…It’s a hot drink with alcohol in it. I make it with apple cider, cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange or lemon slices, gingerbread brandy or bourbon and honey or maple syrup

My daughters and their mother-in-laws
2015

A martini for Jim! (plastic martini glasses!)
2015

A look back to the 2015 Yale-Harvard tailgate for 30 that evolved into something quite fabulous about a year before LyonsLifestyle was launched. It all began with “Oz”, my daughter’s father-in-law from Cincinnati, on whose bucket list it was to attend a YALE-HARVARD game. Since they were coming east to spend Thanksgiving with us on Nantucket and since our daughter is a Yale graduate, the plan was set in motion and our PARTY OF 8 TURNED INTO PARTY OF 30!  We were so excited so many were coming; children, in-laws, boyfriends, girlfriends, parents of boyfriend, lots of friends and family members and of course, the crashers! The word got out and the crowd grew. They hailed from Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Oklahoma, New York City, Orlando and CT, all en route to NEW HAVEN!

YALE-HARVARD at YALE Bowl

“Oz” the man who started it all

Our daughter Brooke who made it all happen
Yale Class of 2003

---

A look forward to a 2021 tailgate definitely more styled and tuned in! This is a tailgate for 8. It takes some organization and definitely some equipment to cook for and host a party of 8 or 30 at an outside venue! My experience hails from decades of Nantucket beach tailgates, and years of crew regatta tailgates on river banks up and down the east coast. It’s always a great deal of fun! The basics are FOOD, COCKTAILS, FLOWERS & MUSIC. If you’ve got that, you’re on your way no matter the place, no matter the year! But, if you want to make it fabulous and beautiful here is how to begin…

---

 The Tailgate Design

Begin by having a design in mind.  Be inspired by something….If it’s a football tailgate, you will likely select the colors of the team you are rooting for. If you’re not committed to a team, then the world is your oyster! For this tailgate, it was all about PLAID, the perfect choice for fall/winter as the colors tend to be primary bright!  

I’m just mad about plaids!

My inspiration came from my friends, Kim & Kim, co-founders of the award winning  Sailor-Sailor whom I had the pleasure of meeting this fall at the NE Coastal Creative conference in Newport! 

2021 Winners of the Preppy Podcast Award for Best Preppy Dresses, the clothing and accessories from Sailor-Sailor sent me over the PLAID EDGE! 

Green, blue and red were the colors I chose for this tailgate.  I tossed a couple of my large cozy pillows in the back of the car as a backdrop and set my matching blanket as the floor cover for in the tailgate. Adding more plaid to the plaid, I wore my blue plaid Sailor-Sailor fleece caftan , the blue addition to my primary palette and the perfect weight for a crisp, sunny and fairly mild day.

Plaid on plaid on plaid!

---

Add a touch of whimsy!

Yale Bear on the buffet guarding the martini shaker

Yale bear supervising the Vodka

A team blanket proudly displayed

Add some themey toothpicks to your food

---

A separate bar is always a good idea. It helps to spread people out. I used a 36 inch square card table which is easily transportable, and dressed it with my RED Plaid Blanket from Sailor-Sailor for my RED Bloody Mary bar!

Red Bloody Mary Bar on Card Table

Bloody Mary Bar in Car

Thread your Blood Mary Olives on skewers ahead of time for easy grab

---

TAILGREAT

How To Crush at Tailgating by  John Currence 
  Perched on my bar to add to the spirit of the day is a book I received from Kim & Kim! The recipes are easy to follow and the title…. well, it’s just perfect!

Begin by layering colors of pots, plants, disposable dishes and utensils. 

Note my Staub and my Crock Pot ….Fill with your favorite soup and chili, both easily heated on your portable grill.

Tips:

1. Arrive early to get a good space. This is key! It’s also great to have a bit of quiet time to empty your car so you can set up before the rowdies arrive!

2. Set up your folding buffet table and the back of your car with your blankets and linens. Then you can set up the rest at your leisure…

3. Arrange your flowers (Do this at home and just set the container/vase out)

4. Set out your glasses, cups and trays to receive your breakfast offerings. So you’re ready when the early birds arrive. 

5. Get your music going! It gets everyone excited!

6. Set out your receptacles for recyclables and trash

7. Don’t forget the paper towels!!!

---

A Tailgate Checklist:

Setting up the Tailgate. (Print this out!)

Having everything you need is the key. A simple check list is the best idea for not forgetting anything in the flurry of packing the car.  And here is why…you will not want to lose your great parking space by having to run out again!

• Table (folding)  for Buffet

• Tablecloths and/or Plaid Blankets for  buffet table and back of car

• Lawn Chairs (ask your guests to bring their own)

• Small Folding Tables (18 inch square are great!) 

• Coolers (good attractive bucket for beer)

• Cooler for Ice ( I know I’m obsessed with ice…but once parked you DON’T leave!)

• Ice bucket with tong for table

• Receptacles for morning juices

• Platters and trays

• Plastic Stemware  (wine, champagne and tall tumbler)

• Hot Cups for Coffee and Hot Chocolate

• Portable Grill (with enough propane!)

• Plastic trash bags for clean up! Toss everything in then get over to the game!

• Flowers/Plants

• Team Banner! 

• Team Blanket is great, too!

• Team Stuffed Animals (why not?). It’s a touch of whimsy!

• Serving Utensils Pre-wrapped for easy pick up

• Grill Utensils

• Wine Opener

• Paper Towels

• Thermal Container for Coffee and Hot Chocolate

YALE Banner!

Tailgate Banner!

Small Red Folding Tables. (I drag these everywhere!)

YALE Blanket

---

Morning Menu Ideas

You won’t have that many in the morning for breakfast, so keep it simple.

• Orange Juice (for Mimosas or plain)

• Bloody Marys

• Pumpkin Bread

• Zucchini Bread

• Assortment of Jams

• Fruit display

• Coffee (milk and sugar)

• Hot Chocolate!

---

Lunch Menu Ideas

Your guests will be getting hungry and your crowd will be growing, so fire up the grill on low and start warming anything that needs heating. We served all but the bottom two from the list below.

Seafood Paella

Assortment of Chips and Salsa
Featuring: Staub Round Cocotte

• Cheese platter with grapes and hummus served in carved out lettuce (good to start with)

• Assortment of Chips and Salsa

• Buffalo Chicken Salad mini-sandwiches

• Sausage and Peppers

• Seafood Paella (heat on your grill)

• Crock Pot filled with Chile (remove inside and place on grill to heat up)

• Ham and Cheese Mini Croissants grilled Panini style

• Hotdogs & hamburgers with all the fixin’s

• Shrimp cocktail

• Sandwiches wrapped in brown butcher paper

• Mason Jars filled pasta salad (see recipe)

---

Dessert Ideas 

By this time, everyone will be warmed and full. A little sweet they can grab before making their way over to the stadium is the perfect closure to your successful tailgate! 

• Chocolate Cupcakes with Football Jellies

• Rocky Road Brownies

---

Bloody Mary Bar!

• Bloody Mary Mixes in different flavors

• Vodka (Titos)

• Olives on skewers

• Celery stalks

• Cucumber slices or stalks

• Celery salt                                            

• Worcestershire sauce

• Array of hot sauces

• Lemons & Limes

• Hot peppers 

• Horseradish 

• Shrimp cocktail skewers

• Rim seasoning

Mimosas

• Orange Juice 

• Champagne
  

Hot Toddies

• Apple Cider (heated on the grill)

• Cinnamon Sticks

• Ginger Brandy or Bourbon

• Orange Peels

Wine

• Chardonnay

• Cabernet

• Assortment of beer

Non-Alcoholic Choices

• Bottled water (can do custom labels with your party theme or team)

IDEAS:

• College Banner or just a T A I L G A T E banner for the back of the car 

• College Banners

• Water with custom labels

• College pennant toothpicks for cupcakes

• Custom M&Ms in team’s colors

• Football toothpicks

• Cupcake gummy bear football toppers

---

HAVE FUN!
I hope I’ve help you to “crush” YOUR next tailgate!

RESOURCES:

Red Plaid Blanket and Blue Plaid Fleece Caftan; Sailor-Sailor, Southport, CT
Book: Tailgreat ~How to Crush at Tailgating , by John Currence (Courtesy of Sailor-Sailor, Southport, CT)
2021 Plaid Tailgate: Photography by Red Skies Photography
2015 Yale-Harvard Tailgate: Photography by Maximillian Osswald
Staub
Crockpot
Williams Sonoma
All Paper Products: Party City Norwalk, Ct
Green plaid pillows and blankets: Homegoods, Westport, CT
Yale Banner and Bears: Yale Bookstore, New Haven, CT

Finding Fall Across the USA, An Exquisite American Autumn

From Coast to Coast and From North to South, LyonsLifestyle has spent the past two months traveling  across the US, exploring the beauty and bounty of fall in foliage, landscape, art, architecture, sculpture, history and cuisine…

Miami ~ New Hampshire ~ Nantucket ~ Connecticut  

Newport ~ Los Angeles ~ New York City ~ San Francisco ~ Sonoma

Come along….Join me on my travel photo journey…and my miles and miles of adventures. Take a peek at some awe-inspiring scenes and flavors of an exquisite American autumn…

---

Miami

My travel to the tony and glamorous South Beach area of Miami Beach was for a conference. It was chock full of opulence, trendy shopping areas loaded with exotic marine life, upscale dining experiences, and the famously preserved art deco architecture Miami is known for.

The magical Casa Tua, an iconic culinary experience in a historic villa lit by twinkle lights,  and surrounded by walled gardens. The romance of candlelight dining and delicious food drew us in three nights of our seven night stay!

Just one of the many stunning dining areas that envelop you at Casa Tua

An unparalleled evening at the famous Mr. Chow’s! I love the old-school elegance of white dinner jackets and bow-ties, champagne trolleys, fine wine, exquisite ingredients and impeccable white-glove service.

Yes, being greeted by a champagne trolley is aways a good idea!

Marine life pervades art and architecture in Miami. I snapped this beautiful Koi pond at the elegant and opulent Bal Harbour Shops. Actually, I almost stepped into it!

---

New Hampshire

A Lakefront Wedding Brunch in Blue & White

We traveled within days of returning home from Florida to the beautiful state of New Hampshire, to share in the joy of our dear friend’s son’s wedding which took place at a gorgeous, quaint, quintessential New England inn. The three day event concluded with a wonderful brunch at the home of the groom’s mother which sits breathtakingly at edge of a gorgeous glistening lake. Honestly, it’s what movies are made of….The day was gorgeous and the brunch fabulous, complete with a custom s’mores bar which I just swooned over!

View fullsize

A charcuterie is always a great idea. Look at this presentation!

View fullsize

Dark chocolate, milk chocolate and even a gluten free option!

View fullsize

Custom made s’mores bar by the groom’s uncle and designed by the groom’s mother

---

 Nantucket Island

Pumpkins, gourds, fall decor and foliage abound on this magical island where residents and shopkeepers alike exude an abundance of spirit and enthusiasm for every season and every holiday…Home to our second home, we bask in the island’s beauty with year-round visits. 

Stay tuned for lots of photos from our fall photoshoot stepping up to the holidays!

The Nantucket Hotel, a island icon for over 120 years is named the #1 Hotel in the Country by Trip Adviser! That should sum it up. Historic, beautiful, inviting….and also filled with an abundance of spirit as you can see!

One of our absolute favorites on Nantucket for its restaurant and its superb catering is Island Kitchen. Talk about spirit!

---

Westport 

A Little Inspo for your Thanksgiving Decor Inside or Out!

A quintessential New England coastal town we call home is Westport. Here are scenes from a walk in our beautiful little village. I was struck by the juxtaposition of the casual bales of hay and the formality of the stone urn. It works!  Thanksgiving decor inspo for your home from just a storefront owner who loves what he does!

Purple Cabbage can be combined with cabbages in varying shades of green on your Thanksgiving table.

Bales of hay are so inexpensive yet so effective for fall decorating!

Pumpkins, mums, cabbages and dried florals

---

Newport

Kiel James Patrick at the famed Bowen’s Wharf

Had the great fortune to be attending another conference, the NE COASTAL CREATIVE in another historically iconic destination! Newport, RI, home to the famous Newport Mansions and Cliff Walk is often referred to as the “shining gem” in New England’s coastal crown. Our group was hosted by the owners of Kiel James Patrick who threw a beautiful cocktail party, which included a magnificent sunset!

Kiel James Patrick at the famed Bowen’s Wharf

Figs and Champagne Grapes? Yes, please!

---

Los Angeles

We flew 3,008 miles to wrap our arms around these precious dolls, and just in time for pizza and ice cream!

Landed in LA and hit the ground running with our grand babies! First up pizza and ice cream! Next up a visit to the breathtakingly beautiful Underwood Family Farm in Moorpark, California in Simi Valley, where we roamed acres and acres on foot and on tractor drawn rides through sunflower fields, pumpkin patches and farm fields! The views of the Santa Susana Mountains surrounding this magical place are just awe-inspiring.

View fullsize

Grand babies and haystacks surrounded by a crystal clear sky

View fullsize

My daughter and grand babies on a magical tractor drawn ride 

View fullsize

Fields of Sunflowers

View fullsize

Haystack climbing 

View fullsize

Grandma and Grandpa arrive in LA just in time for pizza and ice cream!

View fullsize

Pumpkin patches for days…

View fullsize

Dahlias at our bedside picked for us by our grandson

View fullsize

This horse needs to go faster!

---

San Francisco

My son and I at Stanford University’s Rodin Garden

(Photo courtesy of my beautiful daughter-in-law)

My jet up the coast from LA took to me to San Francisco, home of our son and daughter-in-law who are surfers, outdoor enthusiasts, adventurers, world travelers and FOODIES to the core! So of course, FOOD EXULTATION it was with dinners at two Michelin star restaurants two nights in a row!

First up…

RASA, a Contemporary Indian restaurant serving food and cocktails that excite the palette and the eyes with their eclectic flavors and colorful artistry. We began with  their crafted cocktails “inspired from India’s vibrant coastal regions”

Aama sutra: mezcal, mango, cilantro, grilled jalapeno and kava salt. It had me at cilantro and jalapeno, two of my favorite flavors.  It was beyond….

Maharini: butterfly tea-infused gin, allessio blanco, line, tonic.

Next up ….

SPQR ( Senatus Populusque Romanus), or “The People and Senate of Rome”

This phenomenally indulgent Michelin star restaurant is led by the famed and talented Chef Matthew Accarino.

A few highlights from our 5 course tasting menu with wine-pairings….

“Torta al Formaggio” summer squash, savory granola and herb pesto

Ravioli Cloppio with winter squash and beef brisket

King Salmon and roe sampshire, romano bean and kale “stufato”

Beef Sirloin, Yukon potato, marsala mushroom and red wine “leather”

Standing in Alamo Square looking at the beautiful and famed PAINTED LADIES

---

Sonoma

We took a beautiful drive up north to Pedroncelli Wine Vineyards in Sonoma County, a family owned vineyard since 1929. Is there anything better than being in a gorgeous California valley with the muted color changes of late summer/early fall?  You could hear a pin drop! There was a quiet magnificence about the beauty of the hills and mountains, the vast, neatly planted open rows of grapes, the fruity aromas, the tour of the aged barrel room with whiffs of woody scents and of course the exquisitely delicious sips from the tasting flights we selected. We relaxed on the terrace, with a cool moody sky filled with storm clouds hovering above us as we sipped on the same flights, discussing and bantering the notes….something we love to do. My personal favorite is the 2015 Dry Creek Valley Vintage Port: aromas of blackberry, caramel, cinnamon and dark chocolate with warm spices and rich toffee….of course on their way to Nantucket for our Thanksgiving!

Sonoma County Wine Vineyard

Beautiful Vineyard Yield (Photo: Margot Lyons)

A Beautiful Sonoma Storefront Display

---

NewYork City

Fall wouldn’t be fall without a trip to NYC to see one of the many gorgeous brownstones dressed up in its fall finery! 

---

Thank you for joining my journey through Fall! 

Don’t go away…

Next up…The Holidays!

Celebrating Americana (Part 2)

Fashion

The Met Gala

In America: A Lexicon of Fashion 

(Part 1 September 18, 2021 - September 5, 2022)

The famed Met Gala is returning with gusto on September 18, 2021 with a tribute installation that will celebrate American design icons!

This epically successful and wildly colorful fundraiser which benefits the Costume Institute takes place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This year, the theme pays homage to all that has taken place in America during this past Covid year, culturally, sociologically and politically. Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute’s Wendy Yu Curator, came upon an interesting concept during the months of pandemic quiet, a concept inspired by Witold Rybcznski’s Home: A Short History of an Idea, (A highly recommend read).  

It’s a “Walk through five centuries of homes both great and small--from the smoke-filled manor halls of the Middle Ages to today's Ralph Lauren-designed environments”

~Goodreads~

Interestingly, this concept ultimately inspired the direction of the robust theme for this year’s Gala…

---

Celebrating Americana

“The exhibit will be organized to resemble a home, with intersecting walls and rooms that will establish what Bolton calls “a new vocabulary that’s more relevant and more reflective of the times in which we’re living.”

~Vogue~

---

Let’s get ready for “Fashion’s biggest night out! 

This got me thinking about how so much of what we all think and do is so heavily influenced by everything around us; a layered, multifaceted approach, consciously or subconsciously sparking our creating thinking with fireworks and flourish! Let’s take Ralph Lauren (my favorite) an icon among American fashion designers. If you watched the HBO documentary VERY RALPH you understand how the genius of his brilliant designs were inspired by vintage styles from yesteryear AND how this genius style influenced his even more brilliant American interior designs. I, for one, just drool into oblivion…

I remember my frequent visits to the top floor of the original mansion on Madison Avenue in NYC in the 80’s and gasping as I stepped off the elevator, at once removed from my everyday world. I was immediately transported into an interior design world of wonderment exploding with a mix of plaids and stripes, opulent fabrics of cashmere, linens, tapestries, rich velvets, animal skins so exotic it conjured up scenes from “Out of Africa” and colors so saturated and so gorgeous one could only think of manors, castles and English country homes. 

His designs transport you to another time and place. His interiors are inspired by his fashion and his fashion is inspired by his interiors.  Art at its very best.

I’m always amazed by how so much of what I do in my life is inspired by fashion! Fashion, fashion, fashion… the ultimate expression of one’s personal style and how one chooses to reveal themselves to the world.  It’s an expression of what one wants to say.  It pervades all aspects of lifestyle providing inspiration for interiors, tablescapes, parties and events.  Let’s take a look at some FUN pairings! 

Fashion is inspiration for LyonsLifestyle & for living life beautifully.

Designer: Ellie Saab

---

---

---

Designer: Teuta Matoshi

---

Designer: Oscar De La Renta

---

Sherri Hill Couture

---

Sweetheart Ball Gowns

---

Designer: Monique Lhuillier

---

Look for American design icons, Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan and Calvin Klein in part 1. Run, don’t walk!  I will see you there!

Dear Met Gala, We are so happy you are back!

ps Visit Americana celebrating Food (part 1) under Food & Cocktails

The Mediterranean Organic Towel

BY COYUCHI

Life in New England, where I split my time between the island of Nantucket, MA and the coastal community of Westport, CT, means cherishing every warm, sunshiny day of our short summer season. This means dining alfresco for most meals, taking a dip in the pool or hopping into my car at a moment’s notice for a picnic at the beach, a swim, a spur-of-the-moment cocktail gathering on the sand or simply a walk over the dunes or through the salt marsh at dawn or dusk. Wherever I go and for whatever I do, I need good towels! 

My obsession with beautiful linens began with my part-time job in the linen department of Bloomingdale’s during college. It was there I came to know “quality” at a very young age.

---

What I look for in a Beach Towel 

The quest for a good towel has always been, and remains today, at the very top of my list of must-have luxuries. My towels need to be light weight, absorbable, stylish, quick to dry, soft to the touch, 100% organic cotton and easy to be on the run with! They also need to be thin enough to fit comfortably into my linen closets in perfectly folded, neatly arranged piles. I have found just that towel in the Mediterranean Organic Towel by Coyuchi. This deliciously soft flat weave towel made in Turkey of 100% organic cotton satisfies all of the above. Its stylish chic weave in rich earth tones is edged in white hand-knotted fringe adding that perfect touch of whimsy I am always looking for in design.

Coyuchi, which means the naturally occurring brownish color of cotton, is a company that prides themselves in being ahead of their time as leaders in the organic community for almost 30 years now, striving to honor socially and ecologically responsible practices. Their approach to production takes into consideration “the cleanest, most sustainable methods…from the seed and soil through manufacturing and packaging”.

They’ve been awarded the GOTS certification, which stands for Global Organic Textile Standard. 

---

“GOTS is the worldwide leading textile processing standard for organic fibres, including ecological and social criteria…”

~ global-standard.org ~

It’s no small wonder these towels check off all the boxes!

---

Versatility is key for me I can use this towel as a poolside towel, a picnic blanket, a pareo, a tablecloth, a shawl or a bath towel. Its large 39 X 71 inches is slightly larger than a bath sheet and easily interchangeable, particularly because of its light weight.

Seaside

The most relaxing place to be, for me, is by the sea. And maybe that’s why we live in two coastal communities! I can spend the entire day at the beach often serving up two meals. On Nantucket we drive our Jeep right over the sand and down to the water’s edge. The versatility of this towel really shines here allowing me to use it as a tablecloth, a blanket, a pareo and a chair cover!

Pareo

This is one of my favorites! A pareo, as we know it, is a wrap around skirt whose origins began in Tahiti and the Cook Islands. Amazingly, this Mediterranean towel can be just that, too! I love to wrap myself in it and walk through the dunes or out to the jetty. Or you can just wrap yourself in it to dry off, to run to the car, or to just warm up after a swim. Its light weight and soft feel makes this towel the perfect choice for a fashionable and simply luxurious wrap.

Poolside

I must say, I do love an early morning dip in the pool. But my favorite is a late afternoon gathering often at the end of a long day of shooting. Cold pink lemonade and a warm pool is always on my summer agenda! These towels are great for this! I can carry five of them down to the pool in my beach bag. The color is quiet and blends in seamlessly with the landscape surround. And they are so comfortable to lay on. It all works for me!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Shawl

Our New England evenings can be a bit chilly, and our weather can also change in a heartbeat. I like to provide a shawl for my guests which I usually just neatly hang over the back of each dining chair. The smooth weave of this towel doesn’t compete with any tablescape design and simply makes the evening more comfortable for my guests providing warmth or even just a padded chair backing.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

“The spread of environmental accountability and organic farming is a sign of massive progress for the health and safety of the planet… “

~ COYUCHI ~

---

Treat yourself to Coyuchi. You deserve it!

---

RESOURCES

Towels: Coyuchi

Dishes: Williams Sonoma (Pacifica)

Mason Jars: Westport Hardware

Urns, Pots and Statuary: Colonial Gardens Fairfield

Sunflowers: Whole Foods

Soup Tureens + Placemats: Bed Bath and Beyond

Mule Cups + Ice Bucket: Cambridge Home

Faux Baby Boxwoods: Millie Raes

Pasta Bowls: Crate and Barrel

Stemware: Arland Veranda

Baskets: Personal Collection

Lanterns: Frontgate

Straw Hat: Peter Beaton Studio

Photography: Red Skies Photography

Miniclasix Children’s Clothes

One of the highlights of my post-vaccination, month long trip to LA this spring, was getting to spend Easter with my grand babies. What a breathtaking reunion it was after eight long grueling months of a 3,000 mile Covid separation from our two dolls, ages 11 months and 3! 

Joyfully, and in the knick of time…when we were not out in the world shopping yet, I was introduced to a NEW online baby clothier, Miniclasix. Lucky me! I selected some beautiful outfits for my new granddaughter, including what would be her very first Easter dress. This beautiful big box arrived shortly after I did and I’d love to show you what was in it…

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Here are some snippets  from my unboxing video with my daughter Brooke, a television and movie actor, produced by her husband Max, a television and movie producer! Whether you’re a new parent or grandparent, or just looking for that special gift, Miniclasix clothing is one-of-a-kind, which is what I look for! These stylish baby outfits create a fashion forward wardrobe of beautifully constructed clothes for your 0-24 months babes!

ps Miniclasix is not new to the baby game. They’ve has been selling to fine department stores and specialty shops for 25 years, but just launched their new website so you can shop directly from them now in the comfort of your own home! 

Lucky us!  Have Fun Shopping!

Penny

The Chic Lilibridge Bag

HIT THE WHITE ARROW (on my chest) FOR VIDEO FUN!

Every now and then a bag comes along that you can’t live without. The Lilibridge bag is just that bag for me! The brain-child of two spirited and talented friends from Boston, Vanessa Douglas and Abby Votto Belge, an artist and  business person respectively, the Lilibridge bag was born from a dream rooted in their shared love of summer, beaches, islands and all things coastal. Today, that dream has transformed into a reality; an extremely successful bag and accessory company knocking it out of the park around the world. 

“The look is sun, fun and sea inspired yet refined.”

-Lilibridge-

“Chic” is what I love about these bags! And it is what makes me feel stylish when carrying them, whether it’s with a white sundress or a pair of jeans and tee shirt, it just works. What makes this bag unique is its original artwork by artist Vanessa Douglas whose sketches are transformed into digitized print designs. The refreshingly bright and bold colors are then applied to the canvas via a hand-screen technique in a playful and whimsical way giving the Lilibridge bag, complete with self handle, that extra something special which makes it a stylish stand out for me.

Day to Night for me!

They brilliantly created matching clutches adding to the ease of my island hopping suitcase which contains my Lilibridge bag, my Lilibridge clutch and my clothes for day to night dressing. I use my bags in the daytime to shop, tossing flowers or market items in it and then a quick repack for the beach filling its lofty size with towels, games, magazines, phone, and sunscreen. Visit their website and feast your eyes on their magnificent selection of colors and designs. It’s a walk through a happy museum of summer chic! It folds up for easy packing and !VOILA! It’s all I need for summer!

---

RESOURCES

Lilibridge Bag: Lilibridge

Belt and Bracelet: Hermes

Jeans: AG Jeans

Blouse: Theory

Shoes: Chanel

Hat Personal Collection (Vintage)

Location: @crunantucket

New Kitchen Trends to Accommodate Work from Home

As we come upon the four year mark of Covid-related “work from home”, it’s fascinating to see how our new work reality has changed the way we live in our homes. According to Forbes Advisor, as of 2023 12.7% of the workforce worked full-time from home while 28.2% worked a hybrid model. And according to Upwork, it’s estimated that by the end. of 2025, 22% of the workforce or 32.6 million will work from home full-time! Our homes have become the heartland of our existence and our kitchens have become the heartland of our homes, a place where we have learned not only to bake bread, but to break bread. This has sparked a major change in kitchen trends to accommodate more people at home during the day.

Today I am highlighting one of my favorite architectural firms, Stephen Mueller Architects in Greenwich, CT. whose work I love.

Make your home your sanctuary and surround yourself with the things you love. When we satisfy our five senses of sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste, our minds are in a better place, uncluttered and unencumbered. Kitchens are the epicentre of that sanctuary, a command central with many functions we don’t consciously think about…It’s a place from which familiar and comforting aromas (smell) emerge and bellow through the house conjuring up childhood memories. It feeds us food. (taste) It feeds our soul. It may give us a blazing fireplace to warm us up with an early morning coffee or late-night glass of wine. It's a place where we begin and end our waking hours, and most importantly, a place where our daily emotions begin and end...

Coastal English Manor Style, By SMA

Urban Shingle Style, By SMA

The Emotional Benefits Of Cooking Nowadays

“Happiness in a home can be found in many ways. And cooking or collaborating in the preparation of the menus is one of them. Psychologists and humanist therapists talk about the emotional benefits of cooking and consider their domestic space as an ideal environment to put the stress of frantic life at bay, foster positive feelings and much more.”

- LEVANTINA

The Kitchen is the room in our homes with the arms that wrap around us, providing us with warmth, relaxation and the universal sign of love, food. Eating all meals at home for that year was a challenge. With children home from school and college, young adults fleeing the cities, grandparents moving in….our families had grown in size! More food to cook! More people to feed! It forced us to pay attention to creatively infused quality as well as increased quantity of our ever-changing needs in our homes.

I have always loved making my homes (all 12 of them!) feel special by paying attention to the smallest details. There is always a bouquet of flowers in different places each week. They may come from the supermarket or the florist. Candles are lit for dinner every night just because, and the table is always beautifully set for dinner (sight). Why not pretend we are at a lovely restaurant every night? It makes cooking and serving a delight and definitely creates a more positive and happy environment for teamwork. Collaborative cooking always makes the dining experience more fun!

New Trends In Kitchens Are Helping Us To Coalesce
Our New And Suddenly Growing Needs With Form And Function. 

Hygiene, a priority trend emerging from necessity is giving way to the evolution and convenience of hands - free or touch tap faucets, and the much needed built-in dispensers for hand-sanitizer and hand cream. (touch)

Traditional Shingle Style, By SMA

Kitchens with large dual-purpose islands to accommodate the NEW family size, and to serve as another work space for your work-from-home selves, young adults staying at home longer and home-schooled children are on the rise. The original kitchen desk is expanding with a renewed sense of importance. Rather than it being a spot to drop your keys or toss your mail onto, it has become an enlarged, more elaborately defined and constructed workspace, complete with more storage and dedicated areas for charging the multiple devices that run our lives. The convenience of multiple charging stations throughout the house has been in urgent demand. Phones, watches iPads, computers X number of users = high demand!

French Normandy Style, By SMA

Cooking at home is now easier and faster with the advent of multiple not-so-small appliances like the Instant Pot and the Air Fryer! Time-saving cooking and delicious food served in a nano second (taste). These appliances take up counter space, valuable kitchen real estate, you may not have or may not want to give up. It is optimum to have these appliances easily accessible, but neatly tucked away in their own cabinets or on their own shelving.

Self-Sustaining Practices became a cruel reality, the result of experiencing empty shelves in markets across the US. Self-sustaining measures grew out of necessity, teaching us to how to rely on ourselves to provide for our families. We’ve learned to bake bread, to share our sour dough starter and to store loaves in the newly discovered built-in “bread box”, something old that has become new again. The practices of canning and freezing have given way to the need for more basement storage and shelving, and larger freezing capabilities. 

French Normandy Style, By SMA

Live Greenery of all Kinds we know has many therapeutic benefits that go beyond the oxygen it provides in our home. Plants are known to increase productivity levels, reduce stress and increase our concentration levels. Kitchen gardens have emerged to grow our own vegetables and fruits. Kitchen herb gardens are the newest actors on center stage, providing us with fresh, robust aromatics in window herb boxes or directly outside our kitchen doors, perhaps creating the need for new kitchen access to the outside. (sight & smell)

Organization is the Key that Unlocks Frenzy and puts our minds at ease. Closet organization or the addition of closets, cubbies and cabinets may be necessary for ever-changing needs. Now may be the time for the custom closets you’ve always dreamed about, or the easy glide, self-closing drawers. Organization boosts productivity.

“A Clean Working Area Is A More Productive Working Area”

State-of-the-Art Built-in Music Systems & Speakers for both interior and exterior enjoyment fuels your spirit. It provides a mood-changing calm which keeps creative juices flowing or keeps everyone dancing in the kitchen (hearing)! Quiet can be daunting, and even noisy. Find music that you can draw upon to reflect or create a mood. It can be peaceful and calming or upbeat and uplifting! This is the best investment you will make.

Music Makes The World Go Round!

And Last, but Certainly not Least is Touch, so important to our psyche and well-being and the one sense that was very much challenged during Covid and even now with some. In the meantime, besides gleaning comfort from the hug of your furry pets, envelop yourself in a soft cashmere throw, sip a drink from a beautiful stemmed cut-crystal glass. Bring out your finest linens and commune with the earth in your new garden. But most importantly, hug those you hold near and dear and hold them tight (touch)!

Always Feed Your Soul With The
~ Beauty Of Your Home ~

This blog article originally appeared on Steven Mueller Architects website as a guest blog.

---

About Steven Mueller Architects

Steven Mueller Architects, LLC is a principal-based architectural firm located in the heart of Greenwich, Connecticut. The firm’s work exemplifies a personal commitment to achieving the finest architectural expression through a cooperative relationship with the client. Each project is designed to enhance the lives of the occupants by developing practical, dynamic, and creative solutions.

SMA is a full-service enterprise dedicated to design excellence specializing in Architecture, Planning, Interior Design, Construction and Building. There is a sincere commitment to work creatively and administratively with maximum efficiency on each project.

Notes on the Unexpected Table

Staying Home and Staying Safe 

At-home entertaining and dining have taken center stage in response to our Covid-19 pandemic. We have a new normal that is likely be around for awhile. Eating at home every night has been a challenge for us, just as it has been for most hyperbolically social beings.  So let’s think of how not to be boring. How to stay creative. How to remain fresh. How to make it easy. You can practice social distancing and remain connected with those in your bubble (once you determine that you are Covid free) in a fabulous, creative and unexpected way. Having FUN is more important now than ever! Let’s work at having FUN!

1. Who says you have to dine in the dining room at your dining room table or in the kitchen at your kitchen table?

Move your tables around the house! In one of my lectures, I speak of moving your tables to unexpected locations.  For instance, I’ve moved a kitchen table into the living room smack in front of the fireplace for a cozy dinner for four on a Connecticut snowy night.  I’ve moved a long cherry French dining table outside onto our terrace for an elegant candlelight dinner for 12, complete with white linens, crystal and silver.  This is fun!  Guests love it in a dismayed kind of whimsical way.  My favourite is dinner in the library/study/office. Keep the desk there if there’s room, or take it out if need be. Or, better yet, use your desk as your dining table! There is something magical about dining amongst bookcases filled with books (*more later on combining your library and dining into one space-saving elegant room with flexible use).  My winter mantra is to follow the warm glow of a raging fire!

2. Sometimes the most exquisite tabletops have absolutely nothing to do with what’s on the table, but rather where the table is!

Travel with your dinner! I recently posted a scene from my favourite Nantucket restaurant  showing tables on the sand almost at the water, mentioning that tables outdoors don’t need to be restricted to the patios!  For those of you in warm weather living, drag your tables to the water’s edge if you can. Bring a folding table in your car.  I love nothing more than dressing up to dine out beautifully, only to throw off my high heels upon arrival and bury my feet in the sand with a champagne in hand!  The post got a ton of feedback immediately from people sharing how they move their tables around, too. I was so happy to hear it! 

3. Dining al fresco at your home can be incredible!

As long as the weather permits, lets stay outdoors where the air flows freely. That said, it’s important to be sure it’s a reasonably comfortable environment for you and your guests. Here are some things to consider:

• Is the temp comfortable? Have some nice throws on each chair (Pottery Barn etc.) Heaters are terrific, if available.

• Is there enough light? Candlelight is always my go-to! Lots of it. I’ve also brought lamps outside with low-glow lighting, a lovely, soft way to relax. You can also use torches, which I like for the drama, the light and the efficacy of a bug deterrent. 

• Speaking of….do you need spray for bugs? And how do your guests feel about it?  Have some natural, safe and effective bug-repellant available. 

• Is there a canopy in the event of unexpected rain? An awning?

• Is your table level or tippy? How do your glasses stand on the table?

• Are your chairs comfortable enough for hours of leisurely dining? Or do you need a throw pillow on each of them?

• 4. Finally, how to make cooking all the time, easy?

• I purchased an Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus (a lot of words), which is pure magic!  Call for take out or delivery. Cook up on the weekends for the week. Freeze for future use. Have breakfast for dinner with deliciously creative omelettes. Utilize your outdoor grill all year to save on kitchen clean-up. Find a cooking website you love. This has worked for me! I’ve fallen in love with several. You will emerge from this crisis with new culinary skills!

5. Take a minute to “make the ordinary extraordinary”.

And it only takes a minute. Light a candle. Turn the lights down low. Play soft background music (Alexa! Play Billy Holiday!) Pour a glass of wine. Have a relaxing supper wherever that may be. My husband and I do this every night. It’s a much needed cleansing experience that’s so good for your soul. And maybe it only takes 45 seconds…Just sayin’

---

Happy dining wherever it may be!

And let’s have fun staying at home inside or outside! We have to….

The Nantucket Daffodil Festival

First Published in New England Fine Living Magazine

As the days become longer and the temperatures warmer, we close our eyes and take a deep breath in as the sweet smell of daffodils fills the air. The scent inspires us and fills us with hope as our thoughts turn to rebirth, and we bid adieu to winter. We celebrate the awakening of springtime on Nantucket with the Nantucket Daffodil Festival…

 The love affair between daffodils and Nantucket:

It all started in the early 1970s, when summer resident, Jean MacAusland, publisher of Gourmet magazine, joined forces with the Nantucket Garden Club and planted thousands of daffodil bulbs down Milestone Road all the way to Sconset. The very first Daffodil Festival came shortly thereafter. Starting out as a small celebration of spring, a mere 18 antique cars were displayed on Main Street, followed by a parade from town to Sconset where townspeople gathered for a picnic. In the 1980s, Mrs. MacAusland ordered an additional eight tons of bulbs (100,000) from the Netherlands to be delivered to Nantucket. Through fundraising efforts and contributions over the years, there are an estimated four million daffodil bulbs all over this magical island today. This year, 2017, we will be celebrating the 43rd Annual Nantucket Community Daffodil Flower Show, sponsored by The Nantucket Garden Club and held at Bartlett’s Farm.  It’s a not-to-be-missed pageantry of stunning daffodil species, daffodil arrangements and daffodil photography.  Nantucketers take their daffodils very seriously!

There is something for everyone:

During this fun-filled, three-day weekend, one is able to enjoy parades, floral exhibitions, lectures, art shows, walking tours, live performances, music and dancing. There is a children’s parade with contests for best decorated bicycle, wagon, and stroller, followed by a family beach picnic at the children’s beach. Pets are coveted and honored too with their own parade, the Daffy Dog Parade, with a prize for the most “daffy” dog. There are contests for just about everything one can imagine.  For the athletically inclined, there is the 5K race with, of course, a “daffy” winner.  One of my favorites is the window-decorating contest, a contest for the most cleverly bedecked daffodil window, in which retailers from all over town participate.

Some in costume, some in couture:

As the number of daffodils has grown, so too has the number of visitors who take to the island each spring. Though boat slips lay in wait, the docks are filled with thousands (an estimated 9,000) who come from near and far, dressed in their yellow and green daffodil regalia, many in wildly decorated hats with daffodils dancing atop their heads.  It would not be unusual to see someone in a yellow ball gown, a yellow sweatshirt and jeans or even in yellow pajamas, but one thing is for sure, the fun attire is what you will see all over the island.

The Antique Car Show:

With the excitement beginning in Hyannis, over 100 cars are driven onto the ferries, many already adorned with hundreds of daffodils, eager to make their way thirty miles out sea, to show themselves on Nantucket’s cobblestoned Main Street. These vintage beauties are most often decorated with a fun theme, such as “Gatsby”, with owners in flapper costumes; or “Grease”, with owners decked out in hot pink poodle skirts with real black poodles on leashes. One year, a gorgeous “Smurf blue” antique car arrived with a Smurf theme. Even the owners of the car painted their faces Smurf blue! With clipboards in hand, judges meander through the rows of these jaw-dropping antique cars and trucks, studying each one, before awarding ribbons.

The Sconset Tailgate is the piece de resistance:

In a grand parade manner, the cars make their way through town, along the traditional Milestone Road route out to the eastern end of the island, to the famous Sconset Tailgate Picnic...and what an event it is!  Each car and truck has a coordinated theme from the very cute to the extraordinary. They park diagonally, on both sides of the road, throw open their doors, trunks and hatches, to reveal sensational creativity, color and humor, with themed tailgate food and cocktails and truck loads of joi de vive!  Some even have live bands as part of their entourage or rented furniture. One year, there was an actual cabaret set up on the lawn with bar stools, and patrons seated at bistro tables complete with linens and centerpieces. Patrons partake in the daffodil stroll, wandering up and down, cocktail in hand, cheerfully socializing and congratulating strangers with warm applause and lots of laughter. Children dance in the streets to the cheerful sound of bells echoing in the air from an English folkdance group, The Pine Woods Morris Dance group, the oldest Morris team in the Western hemisphere.   They perform in different locations throughout the day, joyfully wielding sticks and handkerchiefs as they perform their choreographed steps with bell pads on their shins. No festival would be complete without music and dancing!

The jam-packed days then melt into magical evenings:

Dinner parties are in full swing, complete with dining tables beautifully tablescaped in yellow and green. The magnificent island restaurants reopen to welcome islanders and visitors alike, with advance reservations a must, as many clamor to take advantage of the amazing culinary excursion for which Nantucket is known.  A late-night walk through the cobblestone streets, illuminated by cozy colonial lanterns, begs you to peer into the restaurant windows. You can hear the sounds of laughter and clinking glasses all over town; a scene reminiscent of a Renoir painting, with folks joyously happy to be out and about, reconnecting once again. The level of enthusiasm is infectious and bellows out to the world “spring has sprung and so have we!”

“And all the town folks and visitors are singing, dancing and clapping in celebration as if it were a scene from the Wizard of Oz.”
The 2017 Daffodil Festival on Nantucket Island, sponsored by the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce, runs April 28th through April 30th

Style Begins at Home

~ A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ~

1.     Molton Brown Eucalyptus shower gel

2.     Canopied Beds

3.     Animal Prints (furniture, wallpaper, shoes, dinnerware, faux skin rugs)

4.     Coffee Gelato with hot fudge

5.     Red Lipstick (“Arthur" by Chanel)

6.     Monograms (on everything)

7.     Breakfast at diners (a diner girl at heart!)

8.     Love in White, perfume by Creed 

9.     Pasta!

10. Louis Vuitton (been collecting since the 80’s)

11. Calla Lilies (My wedding flowers & my daughter's wedding flowers)

12. Summer

13. Veuve Clicquot

14. Book Cases filled with books, photos and memorabilia

15. Tailgates (summer and winter)

16.  Charlotte my Havanese

17. Drawers of ironed napkins

18. Chanel flats (been wearing them for 35 years)

19. Cartier LOVE bracelet (a gift from my husband, which has been on my wrist for 26 years)

20. Chinoiserie anything and everything

21. Dinner out

22. Fresh flowers in my home everyday

23. Ironed Bed Linens (always in white)

24. Diptyque Candle "Feu De Bois" by Bates

25. Grey Goose Martini with Saint Germaine (no fruit)

What Makes Someone A Lifestyle "Expert"?

Life! Experience! The desire to be one! Trials! Errors! Successes! Failures! People!  For me, it’s been about people, personally and professionally.  I am a “nurturer” by nature and thus glean tremendous satisfaction from serving, pleasing, doing, and making life as beautiful as I can for others, as well as for myself.  I think some people are naturally born with an innate desire to create "a story" for everything. That would be me. The stories are visions in my head waiting to be turned into realities. The "story" of a Lifestyle expert’s LIFE is usually swathed in a bit of drama, accompanied by an untamed exuberance for beauty and perfection, or STYLE,  as it may be. But the end goal is always about “making the ordinary extraordinary”.  It’s an unrelenting driving force that powers up each waking day.  The simplest thing, like neatly folding the edge of the toilet paper into a clever little point can say, “someone is going the extra step”.  Or piling snowy white, fluffy monogrammed towels, all folded the same way, neatly into the linen closet just says, “why not mimic the beauty of a fancy hotel in your own home?”  Take a minute to order personalized pencils for your desk. Design some monogramed paper cocktail napkins to place your morning cup of coffee on.  Style your at-home cooking with a sprig of parsley. Burn a candle for aromatherapy. Spend for good soap. You deserve it. Your guests deserve it. Figure out who you are and what your style is and become that!  It doesn't take money.  It takes effort. And a little love.

 The art of being a LIFESTYLE EXPERT can come from on-the-job training, as well.  Much of my own "training" has come from decades of experience in community involvement, volunteerism and fundraising efforts of grand proportions, which trained me in schedules, timeframes, how to calculate food for numbers of guests, teamwork and advance prep work. I often found myself thrown into the middle of party planning venues, table designs, gourmet food presentations and tent and table design, working with the most talented people, from whom I learned so much and who continually, knocked my socks off! 

On a professional level, my passion for beautiful homes and lifestyles continued on a bit of a more serious note, as I became a top-producing real estate agent, and President of the Premier Homes Collection for my company.  As an Exceptional Property Specialist I represented multi-million dollar properties on Connecticut’s Gold Coast and in the countryside.  I learned how to stage homes, magnificent homes, from the absolute best in the industry, and worked with designers from all walks of life to present these grand estates in all their brilliance.

It’s the learning that never stops.  It’s a thirst for inspiration that grows everyday.  It’s a never-ending quest for beauty.  It's what keeps me awake at night and what gets me out of bed in the morning…

"I’m going to make everything around me Beautiful – that will be my life."
- Elsie de Wolfe

My Life Experiences Tell My Story

• Live on Martha Stewart Sirius radio presenting my famous “Lobsta’ Bloody Merry” (Christmas specialty up on the blog)

• Social Chairperson for the New Haven Junior League of CT

• Co-Chair of New Haven Symphony Orchestra black tie events

• Chair of the annual New Haven Symphony Orchestra's "Picnic in the Park" ( A Gatsby fabulousness)

• Co-Chair of the New Haven Historical Society black tie balls

• Board member and Events Co-Chair of the British Art Museum and Yale Art Galley

• Co-Chair of Tent and Table Design for 800 guests at the home of Martha Stewart to benefit Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and honor Designer Mario Buatta

• Co-Chair black-tie fundraising events at Hopkins School, Greens Farm Academy and Fairfield Country Day School

• House Captain for Fairfield County’s Annual Near and Far House Tour

• Exceptional Property Real Estate Specialist for over a decade, representing multi-million dollar client owners of grand estates on CT Gold Coast and in the Countryside

• President of Premier Homes Collection , Al Filippone Associates/William Raveis Real Estate

• Award for the Real Estate Agent who most utilized the home staging process!

• Lifestyle Contributor for New England Fine Living Magazine

• Stylist for Nantucket Magazine’s holiday shoot

• Tastemaker Instagram Takeover for 41 Madison NY NOW, the premier address with 23 floors of tabletop design

• Lifestyle Expert public speaker Next up: Light Up the Season at the Four Season’s Hotel Georgetown to benefit the National Children’s Hospital

Our Summer Love

~Nantucket Island~

The always fun journey over the dunes... to get to the ocean.

Magnificent Nantucket

Nothing in this world beats an early morning run on the beach before breakfast.

Peace. Calm. Quiet. Nature.

People often ask me what kinds of things we DO on Nantucket, where we like to DINE and most definitely, what we EAT! So here is an instant recall of this summer, in no particular order!

• Wagyu beef hotdogs grilled on the beach #Cowboysmeatmarket (split dogs and bun of course!)

• Kobe burgers w/works, grilled on the beach #Cowboysmeatmarket (medium rare, delicious!)

• Endless bottles of Rose’ from #epernaywines @epernaywines

• 12 Changes of bed linens

• 7 Trips to the airport

• 18 Fun-loving family members and friends

• 110 visits to our organic markets @Annyeswholefoods #annyeswholefoods @BartlettsFarm #BartlettsFarm

• 110 visits to the wonderful people at #Holdgatesislandlaundry @Holdgatesislandlaundry

• July 4th epic 1950s-like Main Street USA event w/ water fights!

• July 4th fireworks #Straightwharf followed by candlelight dinner at @Straightwharf

• Pop’s Concert picnic dinner for 10 on the sand (August!) #Jettiesbeach (my personal favorite)

• Endless bottles of #VeuveClicquot @VeuveClicquot

• Fried clams (bellies of course) & fried shrimp #Saylesfishmarket @Saylesfishmarket

• Coffee ice cream w/ hot fudge #NantucketJuiceBar @NantucketJuiceBar

• Boating on the #LadyWauwinet @toppersrestaurant

• Lobster roll lunch at #Wauwinet @toppersrestaurant

• Visits to #CiscoBrewers for beer tasting and live music ( love that they ask for my ID!)

• Lavender martinis #AmericanSeasonsNantucket (oh boy) @americanseasonsnantucket

• Tempura figs #AmericanSeasonsNantucket (crazy good!) @americanseasonsnantucket

• Lola burgers #Lola41Nantucket @lola41nantucket @lolaburgernantucket (an iconic must have!)

• Pasta Pomodoro & Nanna Jean’s meatballs @Fusaros (my go-to) @fusarosnantucket

• Fun w/ bartenders Melissa @Fusaros, David @Atlasnantucket and Jimmy @Lelanqueduc

• Cozy dark dining at the bar #Atlasnantucket

• Tennis #Naushop

• Sailing #Endeaver with Captain Jim (who likes to tip till we’re soaked!)

• Night Bocci Ball with illuminated balls for midnight cocktail fun in the yard!

• S’mores with Reese’s peanut butter cups! Late-night in the yard! Gotta!

• Stuffed lobsters (shrimp and crab) at home by candlelight

• Sunset dinner w/toes in sand at #GalleyNantucket @galleynantucket (most magnificent in the world!)

• Hours in the hammock reading

• Stargazing midnight blue velvet sky with millions of sparkling diamonds

• Beaches that will take your breath away #SmithsPoint #Madaket #Miacomet

• Drive-on beaches #SmithsPoint (when #PipingPlovers aren’t nesting!), #40thPole

• Biking to Sconcet for lunch at #Claudettes

• Biking to Madaket for lunch at #Milliesnantucket @Milliesnantucket

• Golf lessons #Miacomet with best Pro #Meghan

• Alfresco breakfast #Islandkitchen

• Piano bar at #summerhousenantucket @summerhousenantucket #Jaime (I’m thinking Gatsby’s hangout at one time)

• Outrageously unusual lobster w/ polenta #LeLanquedoc @Lelanquedoc (5 stars!)

• Authors visits to the book stores for signings

• Art gallery tours

• Walks on the docks

• Full-on take home raw bar #straightwharffishmarket

• After beach drinks #Cru (in the bar, surrounded by docks & yachts on three sides)

• Breakfast alfresco most mornings in the yard after a drive or run on the beach

• Best snack #bluefishpate' & crackers #Straightwharffishmarket

• Most FUN staff #lola41nantucket

• Our heaven on earth #Nantucket