Last weekend my big brother got married in the best little beach town. We sang, we danced, we frosted cake and we clinked Cliquot. I got to see my whole family at once and dance with my dad sweetheart style. All of my best friends made it up for the occasion, and together we filled our beach house with belly laughs and bacon breath. It was the perfect exclamation point on a truly memorable summer.
Eighth photo by Michael Collins.
How was your Memorial Day weekend?
A (WHOLE) lot of friends and I trekked up to York, Maine for a healthy (this adjective is debatable) dose of sunshine and vodka. There were family breakfasts, countless word games, happy hour bites, chess tournaments, moscow mules, skeeball marathons, homemade tacos, swimming, fancy kettlecorn…are you sensing a theme yet?
Apparently we enjoy food and games. Of course none of us would be able to enjoy said food and games – or wake up in Vacationland – without the bravery of those for which Memorial Day stands. It feels inappropriate to wish someone a happy Memorial Day, but I do hope that you had the chance to steal at least one moment away for a game and a laugh, and when you did, I hope you were able to reflect on the price of that moment. Freedom is anything but free, and I am so very grateful to those far braver than I who defend it.
To one purple heart in particular, I am sending thanks and love always.
photo of guitar by Michael Collins.
proof of my existence as a child, photographer unknown. (but I’d be willing to bet it was Gma)
If you ever find yourself forced to cancel a weekend in Vegas per the recommendation of your doctors for the healing of 3 different itises, I highly recommend getting your generous* boyfriend to drive you to your happy place, pour a glass of wine**, and exhale.
In my case, that happy place is my family’s beach house in York, Maine. The spanning windows, sprawling couches and calming waves never cease to reset my conflicted soul. With a little help from the (gooftastic) powers of modern medicine, we explored a bit of downtown Portland (apparently putting mashed potatoes in donuts is a very good idea), had whisky drinks in a church-turned-bar (mine was called the Enlightenment, har har), and admired the city’s impeccable signage. Curious about potato donuts? Get the maple. Also the sweet potato ginger and/or the chai. It’s a Maine thing, go with it. Skeptical of pushing past the big red doors of what appears to be a fully functioning church when you’re simply seeking snacks? Go on in, the circular bar and original stained glass windows will astound you.
If donuts and drinks don’t cure your swollen toes, try a therapeutic walk in the sand. Collect some sea glass, find a heart-shaped rock, get some vitamin d. Still sore? Slip some chicory into your tea.***
Before heading home the next night, M and I watched the sun set over Portsmouth, New Hampshire, another little maze of businesses with notably attractive signs. It was cold, I was tired, we could not find a restaurant to sit down in…but we held hands the whole time so none of this mattered. Okay, this was my best attempt at writing a non-gushy post about what was, in reality, a mushy, gushy, swoon-worthy weekend during which my best friend became my best best friend. Is that a thing? Was this too much? Disclaimer: If you answered No then Yes, do not read on.
*bonus points if he’s also tall, handsome, and willing to piggyback you when need be ;)
**don’t forget to sniffy sniff, swish, and spit. Thanks Gary! (or is it Frank?)
***mix 1-2 shots with Trader Joe’s chai in a K cup mug. Sip, sip, kiss, repeat.
photos of me by Michael Collins
Indirect routes up my homestate, through towns I’ve never seen. 
A nostalgic first stop- witches, stitches, ships and caffeine. 
Salem in a sun shat, painted trees and paper signs- so many people packed in a little pig’s eye.
Up the colonial coast, now pig’s fly- through magic houses in my blue beach town.
A feast of fall, friends and euphoria steals the season’s final bow.
Up in Maine again for a little getaway with my two best friends. It’s all beach hair, books, frozen drinks, and girl talk. Happy Summer indeed.
Good morning, dears! Just thought I would share a few photos of the views I’ve been soaking in lately…
Last night’s sunset was too gorgeous to go undocumented. And where are these pastel-colored skies, you ask? Right over the flat waves of Short Sands in the one and only York Beach, Maine- my favorite little beach town! I’m here with my family for a quick little weekend getaway, enjoying the views, the wine, and some R&R. Hope you’re all having as wonderful a weekend as I am! Ciao!
Now that our Aurora’s have been awoken for the last time (for this season, at least), it’s time to start enjoying summer. Luckily, we’ve been graced with some beautiful weather so far! A few friends and I decided to spontaneously head to my family’s beach house in York, Maine for a few days of much needed R & R (read: cheese plates, cocktails, long walks and early bedtimes). We had SO much fun and can’t wait to go back! Highlights of the trip? The invention of our own new drink (vodka, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, seltzer and basil…my mouth is watering already), and our courageous rescue of this baby duck we found on the side of a busy road. He was equal parts cold, scared, adorable and fuzzy, so I scooped him up, carried him to a nearby pond and set him into the water to find his parents (who were swimming confusedly just a short distance away).
Hope you’re doing okay out there, Ducklass! (Yes, I named him. We bonded, okay?!)
Are you guys getting tired of my sunset pictures of Shorts Sands beach yet? I really hope not. Because this is one view I will never get sick of. My favorite kind of weekend begins with a day at the beach (preferably with a delicious NY state peach), is followed by lounging by the pool and pie and thumbprint cookie baking, and rounds off with a quick trip to the most relaxing little town in New England. York Beach. It’s quaint, it’s cute, it’s beachy, warm, happy, calm…there’s seafood and happy hour and fresh tomato and mozzarella salads…there are boat rides and movie nights and long walks to the lighthouse…it’s my favorite place to fall asleep at night and I can’t help but smile when the first thing I see in the morning is the Atlantic Ocean. It’s safe to say this location will have a special little place in my heart for the rest of my life. I mean who wouldn’t love a place where the basil plants are nearly the size of small trees?!
This particular weekend happened to be my dad’s 55th birthday (happy birthday, wabs!), which of course required desserts of many varieties, singing, family, presents, and even fireworks! (Okay, maybe they weren’t exactly for his birthday, but they happen to light them off of a barge in the middle of the water, directly outside our house! The rocking chairs on our porch could not be better seats.)
We also took the little boat tour from Perkin’s Cove, Ogunquit into York, past our house and around the Nubble Lighthouse. Safe to say my mom and I definitely got a little seasick, but visiting the adorable Perkin’s Cove made it all worthwhile. I thought the “Buoys” and “Gulls” bathroom signs were too funny not to document.
I hope you all had as wonderful a weekend as me! And if you’re anywhere near New England and ever have the chance to visit York Beach, I (obviously) highly recommend you do.
The birthday boy himself, on our Perkin’s Cove boatride…always posing!
This past weekend in york beach, maine could not have been any better. It was a girls-only retreat, and we certainly made the most of it; There was unbridled girl talk, swapping of secrets, fruity frozen cocktails, incessant fifty shades of grey reading and discussion (any fellow christian grey-obsessors out there?!), acting like crazy fools, and an unhealthy perfectly normal amount of beach time (even though I had to wear a sock on one foot to protect the wound). We came back yesterday afternoon (after driving through what felt like world’s worst thunder storm- scary!), and I’m already missing the rich, woody interior of our home and the sound of waves lulling me to sleep at night and whispering their salutation in the morning.
ahh, the internal restoration found through a weekend by the shore cannot be matched. now to begin using the mind-makeover to influence the physical one…
[all photos via my instagram- follow me @ keeksevans]
This is not a bad view to wake up to in the morning. There’s something about hearing the waves, smelling the blueberry pancakes, and feeling the salty air on your face before opening your eyes that sets the tone for a relaxing summer day. And then you open your eyes. And it’s calm blue water as far as you can see. Say it with me now, ahhh. Happy Tuesday, lovelies!
Setting The Barre 