Millies

The best spot to watch the sunset on Nantucket is Madaket beach. Anyone who has been on Nantucket would agree it is breath taking.

Millies is located right on the beach with the most amazing view of the beach and houses surrounding it. The prime time to go there is of course at sunset, but I decided to go on a rainy Monday afternoon. Strangely enough I loved watching the rain while enjoying my fish taco.

Last year I never made it to Millies, so this year it was constantly in the front of my mind to go.

 I ordered the Arkansas Rd, which is grilled salmon, cucumber, tomato, feta, and I added guacamole. I am not lying when I say it was the best fish taco/ lunch I have ever had on the island.

Madaket Beach at sunset

Millies is a must-go for ANYONE. They offer tacos, quesadillas, po boys, and salads. I cannot wait to go back this week.

All of my friends from home will be coming to celebrate fourth of july week with me here. I am so happy to see them and enjoy this week that only comes every seven years.

Moving Forward

The reason I haven't been able to post these past few days is because my best friend came to visit me this weekend, and my friends from Ireland have all arrived for the summer.

I was so happy when all of the guys walked into Toby's for the first time this season. My summer is only just beginning and I am excited for what it brings.

Having my best friend here helped me out a lot. Since she lived with me here on Nantucket last year, she was the perfect person to visit during a weekend that may have been hard for me.

Dinner at Oran Mor

at the Chicken Box

This summer is much different than last summer. This summer the island is more familiar, I feel much more comfortable. I have been making a bigger effort to be spontaneous. Don't get me wrong, I love planning, but I realized it was a little too much. So I have decided to live with intentions but never get upset if it doesn't always go according to plan. I am off to a pretty good start.

It is one of the best feelings in the world to live somewhere where you have absolutely zero enemies... You are able to know exactly who you are in the present and in the future as well. Being able to have a positive outlook everyday is something I will never take for granted here.

I miss my family and friends back at home, but I know that I was supposed to come back here to clear my mind, and to make sense of some decisions and relationships with people, that may have gone off track while I was home.

I definitely feel like a different person, a much happier and confident person.

Centre Street Bistro

Nantucket is known for many things; one being the food. My favorite meal is breakfast, and my friend Kat suggested that we try Centre Street Bistro.

They are affordable, have great service, and of course great food. I had tried all the usual breakfast spots like Downey Flake, Hen House, Black Eyed Susans, and Fog Island Cafe, so I was eager to try something different.

Centre Street Bistro is located right in the middle of town. The morning greeted us with amazing weather so we decided to eat outside. I ordered the "Nantucket Breakfast", which is a blueberry pancake, scrambled eggs, and a potato cake. IT WAS PHENOMENAL and only $10.00!!!! Kat (who knows her food) suggested we split the goat cheese bagette. I was beyond impressed.

Everything about this breakfast experience was amazing. It is now my favorite regular "to do" on Sunday mornings.

Thrift Thursday

This summer I got into the routine early to check out the Nantucket Thrift Shop at least once a week. I have had some good luck when it comes to finding designer clothes and bags. 

The past few weeks I have found an amazing white long sleeve silk shirt from Banana Republic, a few button ups that are great for running errands, a few J Crew tank tops (one will be perfect for July 4th weekend) , and some wonderful woman kindly donated her Fendi bag that I immediately saw and snatched. 

Prices are EXTREMELY reasonable and it has become one of my favorite places to shop.

Each week I will post about my findings!

wall art

My first DIY project is one that I will be doing through out the summer. Just like every girl, I am addicted to Pinterest.

I found this cute idea that would be fabulous once I have my massive closet (some day)

The stores on Nantucket are all one of a kind. I love how creative store owners get with their names. I decided that I would cut my shopping bags from previous purchases and frame them so I can always keep a piece of the nantucket shopping in what will one day be my favorite room; my closet.

Here is where I found my inspiration

I always enjoy the time, design, and creativity that stores put into their shopping bags and now I can appreciate them.

french BBQ

One of the best things about living on Nantucket is that I meet people from all over the world. I love learning about their culture and traditions.

Yesterday I went to my first french BBQ. Right when I walked into the back yard I was impressed. Wine glasses were set to be filled with your choice of red or rose. Baskets were filled with all sorts of baguettes, breads, and almonds. Cheeses spread across the platter. Bowls were filled with grapes and cherries.

The french do BBQ's a little different, and I loved every minute of it.

We started with the cheese to remain somewhat American. Usually the French will enjoy their breads and cheeses after a meal. Then we had little appetizers like fried risotto balls and sliced salami. For the main course we had the choice of chicken, sausage, and steak. I had a little of everything. Eggplant accompanied the main course as a side dish (it was delicious). For dessert we had an amazing key lime pie (my favorite). I ate the pie so fast I forgot to take a picture of it..oops! To finish we had a shot of some sort that helps digest your food (from France).

It was so nice and relaxing to just enjoy everyone's company, live in that moment, and talk about things such as life growing up in France and what is different here in the states.

This BBQ made me want to travel to France even more than before. Hopefully it is sooner rather than later!

jack in the box

A new season/summer on Nantucket hasn't fully started for me until tonight.

The face of Jack Wills Nantucket, and an amazing friend of mine, Red Rainey has done it again. jACK in the BOX is finally back for the 2012 season!

Every Monday night at the Chicken Box, Jack Wills Seasonnaires host a great party filled with house music and plenty of party pants to go around.

Party pants cannot be bought, they must be earned.

I would like to say last year my friends Brittany, Alex and I set a standard for just how hard you need to party.

I would try and explain just how incredible this night is... but I'd rather you go and see for yourself.

fLoCk

I have always wanted to learn how to knit since I was a little girl. My mom and aunts all know how to knit or crochet, so I really wanted to be able to as well. And to be honest I needed to pick up another hobby to keep myself busy.

I haven't ever really had the time to sit down and have someone teach me until I came back to Nantucket. My friend Heather offered to teach me, and I have to say I picked it up pretty quickly.

The other day Heather and I went to fLoCk, a yarn and craft store on island, right near Stop and Shop. When I walked in I was in awe of the colors, the set up, and how passionate Sheila, the owner of the store, was about this particular craft.

Sheila was extremely helpful when it came to picking my first starting yarn, and how I should go about knitting my first project; a scarf. She is also the owner of 'Something Natural', which I will post about later on in 'food and drink'.

fLoCk offers classes that focus on certain knitting techniques and projects. Make sure to stop in if you are ever in the center of the island. It's even nice to just sit in there with your cup of coffee and just chat about crafty things.

I have to say I really enjoy knitting so far. I have a few projects in mind, but for now my first project will be an infinity scarf.

ACK-vantage

Nantucket has become so many things to me. It is the most incredible island I could ever imagine. I came back for a second season because I knew I had to. One thing I regretted last year, was that I never truly documented my first summer on Nantucket, and this year I am going to change that.

I knew that I had to come back here because something was missing from my life, something I once had and thought I always would have; a lasting relationship. Distance is in fact the greatest test of a relationship.  Distance can make you realize how much you love that person, which was my case... or it can make you fall out of love, which was his case.

There is only so much a person, and relationship can take until you finally realize it just isn't working. I tried up until the very day I left to come back here, and even weeks after when I was back on island. After a few weeks back on island I left to go back home for the weekend. I went back for what I thought was the new start for him and I.. at least that was what he promised me.

He still felt distant despite all the immediate effort I gave. I was back at square one. Devastated, heart broken, lost.

I can try to look at this as a horrific thing that I never wanted.. or I can look around me and see all the faces that do care about me, that always enjoy being around me, that I can trust to never just leave. So many people have reached out to me in these past few days. It showed me that people did care whether or not him and I made it, and when it came to an end they would be right there.

I don't think I will ever get an actual answer to why he couldn't figure things out, and there is nothing I can do about it.

Perfect place to sit and reflect- Stones Beach

I took a day to reflect on what I have ultimately put myself through for a long time now. I have decided that I am going to accept this loss with the notion that I am going to have some great days and some really bad days. But they are all days that I will never get back, so I need to act positive starting immediately.

Being on Nantucket is the best thing for me. It gives a peace of mind I have never been able to find anywhere else. It has become my little island. Nantucket is where I can reflect, knowing that the decisions I make are the right ones. I have just 3 months left on this island, and I refuse to not make every single one of them count.

So here's the start of the blog I always wanted to write, but never did.