Favourite Snacks of the Great Writers

Featured in this week's book section of the NY Times are Wendy MacNaughton's illustrations of the foods that fueled some of the great writers while they wrote. Some of them are pretty zany, and also revealing - I had no idea Byron went to such extremes to stay slim. For me it was always dried mangoes and jasmine tea while I wrote/did school work, although now I'm thinking that Capote's drinking ritual would have been a tad more inspirational.

In Maine

I'm already so nostalgic about our brief sojourn through Maine. It might have everything to do with the 'heat dome' and record highs in Boston (and everywhere else). We really soaked up the coastal breezes though (especially at night - it even got a bit chilly), and so we're going to the Cape tomorrow in hopes of finding some relief (and more seafood). 

morning swim at old orchard beach

beach umbrellas at old orchard beach

the lobster roll at bayley's in scarborough

On the Road

After an unexpected weekend in the country (which included a feast of oysters we plucked from the waters ourselves and swimming in the ocean for the first time this year), now I'm gearing up for a road trip to Boston and all that that entails.

First things first: to avoid eating at truck stops along the highway I'm going to do some serious baking tomorrow and then dash to the market for some car picnic essentials. I'm thinking blueberry muffins, fresh bread for sandwiches, and something sweet like chocolate ginger cookies or these spicy brownies.

At least now that it's July the weather in New England is fairly predictable (hot & humid), but it would be irresponsible not to bring at least a light sweater - and what if it rains? Ideally my suitcase would be as minimal as possible (but it's more like wishful thinking):

left: asos leather watch. anchor earrings, elizabeth and james. madison sunglasses, elizabeth and james. oversize ikat wrap, bird. pleated crepe sleeveless blouse, chloe. vintage navy dots skirt, modcloth. haven wedges, cole haan. rope bucket bag, barneys. 

right: sheilu cotton and silk check scarf, bird. straw fedora, rag and bone. summer sisters by judy blume. university black rope sole classics, tom's. classic tote, w.m.j. mills. navy rope triangle bikini, topshop. 

Coco + James

I've definitely got weddings on my mind. Today I (unsuccessfully) went in search of a dress to wear to one next month, I'm trying on bridesmaid dresses next week for a 2012 wedding, and then this evening I came across this video of Coco Rocha's wedding last year to James Conran. The styling is unbelievable - so chic but not too ostentatious or over-the-top. Who wouldn't love a Chateau destination wedding?

What I'm most into (aside from the Chateau setting) is the dress Coco wore to the rehearsal dinner. The tulle skirt and pearl buttons? Yes, please.

Wearable Scotch

Scotch Naturals Nail Polish

I came across this nail polish line in a salon last week and am so intrigued (and really loving the colours!).  They're a non-toxic, water-based formula and contain only 3 ingredients plus colorants. 

The formula (which is vegan, paraben free, cruelty-free, toxin free, fragrance free, biodegradable, and hypoallergenic) originated as a polish for kids, fittingly called 'Hopscotch', but they've now adapted the line to include a grown-up version: hopScotch. The colours for adults are strikingly vibrant and on-trend: 

scotch naturals nail polish in: hot toddy, leprechaun lynch, stiletto, whisper, ceasefire, flying scotsman

Maison Scotch Collection (from Scotch & Soda) 

This collection from Scotch & Soda has more than a few items that I want to live in come Fall. I love the chunky knit of this sweater and that most of the tailoring leans towards clean lines and mens-wear simplicity.

images via scotch & soda 

Black + Sheer

A good example of how more can sometimes be less:

anja rubik (source)

anne hathaway (source)

monika jagaciak (source)

Valentino

Looks like elegant, effortless dresses and long strides are in for 2012. 

I'm all over these looks from Valentino's Resort 2012 collection:

images via style.com

Crazy For One-Piece Swimsuits

Bathing suits seem decidedly more demure these days what with all the one-piece options available. The extra fabric would not only make a dip in the frigid ocean waters more tolerable, but would also allow you to make more of a statement on the beach. I'm especially loving the strapless options. J. Crew has some really nice ones in various prints on their website right now, the stripes (not surprisingly sold-out) run a close second to the polka dots, but the "retro dots" are not available in a strapless option. 

Interesting to see that some of the styles are mimicking the lower (less revealing) cut at the leg that was more popular in the 1940s and 1950s.

h&m

rosamosario

topshop

j. crew

j. crew

3.1 philip lim

Lobster Rolls (or: The Perks Of Living On The East Coast)

Saturday's visit to the multicultural festival was surprisingly met not only with the usual thai/indian/jamaican bbq fare, but with a food truck boasting scallop tacos and local lobster rolls. These need to happen more often.

In two weeks I'm joining friends on a road trip to Boston. This means the beautiful (and Target-laden) drive through Maine, which inevitably means a stop or two at some seaside towns, beaches, and lobster shacks! Not one to fool around with mediocre beaches or (worse) mediocre lobster rolls, I've been doing some research to find the creme de la creme of Maine's offerings.

So far, it looks like Red's Eats in Wiscasset is the hands-down winner for the authentic lobster shack experience and the best lobster roll (with a side of fried zucchini? yes, please).

And for those lucky enough to be an east-coaster, there's always the McLobster:

images: roll, red's eats, mclobster