Friday Favorites 48

Well, that was just the fastest summer ever! Even though I’m still fully in summer mode, Labor Day weekend always feels like the end of my favorite time in Scituate. This Sunday we’re moving John into college at RISD as well…

It’s time for Friday Favorites and I have lots to share this month! August was full of new adventures for all of us – summer camp for Conor and a visit to USCG Sector Boston, college shopping for John and we took a wood fired cooking class at Holly Hill. I can’t wait to share it all with you!

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In Celebration of National Lighthouse Day

Scituate Lighthouse underwent a major renovation over the last year or so. Extensive work was done on the lighthouse and the lantern room was rebuilt. On National Lighthouse Day the light was finally relit and it now stands proudly at the end of Cedar Point shining its light brightly. It makes me so happy that it was lovingly restored and we can all enjoy its beauty once again.

Favorite Summer Tradition

Three years ago Conor started going to sleep-away camp on Cape Cod.

Camp Burgess and Hayward is run by the South Shore YMCA and it is a wonderful camp experience. Think old school – no phones or technology, but lots of time outdoors, swimming in the lake, enjoying camp fires and he even got to spend one session sleeping in a tent!

He has made wonderful friends at camp and absolutely loves all the counselors. He’s already looking forward to returning next summer.

Favorite New Paint

This week I just took part in a Vendor Event at Newslink in Boston at Logan Airport. Newslink and Booklink are carrying my products. On Monday Booklink hosted a variety of local vendors including me, Jess Hurley Scott (see our creativity over coffee interview here), and Taza Chocolates (read the interview here) in Terminal C. It was so much fun to do painting demos and meet such interesting people at Logan.

For the event I brought a new hand poured paint set from Daniel Smith which came in a metal box. I usually use Daniel Smith tubes of watercolors but I thought pans would be easier for at the airport. This set comes with 24 half pan colors and an additional free empty metal box which I think I’ll give to John. There are so many new colors to me in this set and I love that the vibrancy and saturation level is the same as using tubes. You can see a bit of me painting with it here.

Favorite Cooking Class

Luke and I enjoyed a wonderful wood fired cooking class that our friend Sally taught at Holly Hill Farm. Sally is an amazing cook and knows so much about nature and science. It was a wonderful evening on the farm taking in all of Sally’s knowledge of cooking and foraging but also unbelievably filling. If you’re interested in learning more about Sally’s events you can do so here.

I actually made the vegetable curry with Chicken of the Woods that Sally foraged for us. I will be sharing that on here on the blog soon.

See more images of the wonderful night in Cohasset.

College Shopping & Home Inspiration

I think you all know how much we love Ikea. We enjoy mixing affordable pieces in with vintage and antique finds. It was a wonderful spot to shop to get everything John needed for college – bedding, towels, desk light, hamper etc.

We, of course, enjoyed a meal in the cafe and also got some home inspiration while we were there. How fabulous is this kitchen?

I love the deep navy cabinets, with the marble effect counters, classic subway tiles, and pretty blue and white wallpaper. I actually discovered the blue and white wallpaper is by the Novogratz and it is stick on. Shop the wallpaper here.

I’m now busy doing lots of laundry and we’re trying to figure out how everything is going to fit in the car to take John this weekend.

Favorite Books

The 10 Day Detox Diet Cookbook has been our go-to for meal planning and prep this summer. We are trying hard to stick to this new way of eating and since starting the eating plan last month, I’ve lost 7 pounds and Luke has lost 14. We just feel better and have more energy!

I love Taylor Jenkins Reid’s books and have read most of them! Now I’m going back to some of her older books and I just started reading Forever, Interrupted which they’re turning into a movie with Laura Dern and Margaret Qualley.

Favorite Day in Boston

Conor is very interested in attending the Coast Guard Academy. We still have some time as he’s just going into his Sophomore year but we had a fun day learning about the academy at USCG Sector Boston.

Conor loved touring the cutter and we got to see the entire boat – from engine room to the galley to the sleeping quarters.

It was a real treat to see the USCG’s Eagle Tall ship. It is such a majestic ship:

Conor loves the idea of living aboard both vessels and helping people.

Favorite TV / Films

TV Programs

Bad Monkey on Apple TV+ – it’s so much fun to see Vince Vaughn again! This show has comedy, mystery, and lots of twists and turns. So far we’re loving it.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder on Netflix – this series is based on a series of books by the same name which we haven’t read yet, but I’m tempted to. Let me know if you’ve read them. Think sleepy English village, a murder / suicide, but did they get it all wrong? One student thinks so and is trying to find the real killer.

Getting Lost with Erin French on Magnolia Network – I love folding laundry while watching this show. Erin French, founder of the Lost Kitchen, decides to travel and seek food inspiration on a cross country trip with her husband. Lovely show!

Films

The Instigators on Apple TV + – My New England friends will love this film. It has Matt Damon and Casey Affleck and it’s set in Boston. Star studded cast in cameos.

IF on Paramount + – Whimsical film about Imaginary friends or IFs. Directed by John Krasinski and starring Ryan Reynolds. The premise is what if imaginary friends are real? This film must have been so much fun to make!

Wicked Little Letters on Netflix – Very quirky film with a wonderful cast. I can’t believe it’s actually based on a true life story!

Favorite New Products

This month we launched two different products lines and thought I’d share them in case you missed either.

Our lobster collection has been a big hit and we nearly sold out of tea towels and list pads in the first week!

John just launched the On the Water collection and he’s getting such wonderful feedback on his art.

We just chatted live on Instagram together and you can watch the full chat here if you missed it.

Favorite Walk in the Woods

We love to spend time at the beaches and in the woods. For us, time in nature is just so relaxing. We decided to spend a quiet morning in the woods looking for mushrooms.

We hoped to find Chicken of the Woods but didn’t really find any on this trip. We saw so many different and beautiful mushrooms.

On this tree were loads of oyster mushrooms. We didn’t pick them because there were loads of bugs already enjoying them.

Favorite PJs

Okay, I know this has been a very long Friday Favorites! Last one! Favorite PJs! I went to the Ella Alden sample sale in Hingham on Saturday and scooped up some of the cutest pjs. Perfect for the coastal lover!

Well, I think that covers all my favorites! Hope you enjoyed this installment of Friday Favorites! You can see all of them here. Now, it’s your turn! What are the things you’re loving right now?

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