Minty Fresh

| Shirt | Shorts | Shoes | 

    It's official, I finally something that is off the shoulder. I have been very hesitant to buy anything that shows off the shoulder since I have always been self-conscious about how wide mine are (at least to me). I was at a store that sold Vineyard Vines and saw this top. It seemed like it could fit everything I wanted in an off the shoulder top: white, thin band on the shoulders, and could sit higher up. I tried it on and sure enough, it is the perfect off the shoulder top. 

    I love how summery the shirt is. The lace and white color makes it perfect for the hot summer days, but it also makes it versatile enough that I can wear it in the spring and fall. I know I will be getting a lot of use out of this top, and I can not wait to find different ways to wear it!

    One last thing about this amazing top. Vineyard Vines clearly messed up in terms of marketing the shirt. It can be worn two ways, worn on or off the shoulder. The picture online show it on the shoulder, but the shirt looks so much better off the shoulder. I can safely say just by looking online I would not have bought the shirt. Clearly I have learned lesson on the merits of shopping in store since I wouldn't have found this top if I had just been online.

xoxo,

Maddie

Thursday Three

This was a pretty good week since I got to spend a lot of time with my family and friends. I also worked a little less than last week, so I was able to finally have more free time. The best part of the week was having breakfast with my best friend and our moms (also good friends). Here is what else happened: 

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 My mom and I love going out for coffee together, but this week was the first time we could in quite a while. We did some college shopping and then checked out the cutest little place. The house made chai was so spicy and delicious. 

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This weekend I went sailing with my grandparents in Port Washington, WI. I hadn't sailed in a long time, but it was so fun to do it again. The weather wasn't nice enough to go out more than once, so I was also able to explore the town. 

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My best friends birthday was this week so I made her a surprise picnic. I made chocolate chip oatmeal cookies and we also had a bunch of fruit. It was really fun to make iced coffee in the mason jars (for me), while she had milk in hers. Picnics are never a bad idea. 

How was your week?

xoxo,

Maddie

Door County Travel Guide

Door County is my place. I have mentioned it countless times on this blog and I can never seem to be there enough. I have decided to share my favorite places to eat, shop, and explore. Since Fish Creek and Sister Bay are the two biggest towns, I will focus most of the information there and include some things from Ephraim and Egg Harbor as well. 

Eat

Fish Creek
White Gull Inn Restaurant- There is rarely a time when we don't come here for breakfast. The cherry stuffed french toast is what it is famous for, but everything on the menu is good. My favorite include cherry pancakes, coffee cake, french toast and hash browns. 

Craic Coffee- If you are looking for your morning coffee come here. They serve Collectivo coffee with some great variations of drinks. The bakery and lunch items are also really good. I love the cherry almond muffins. 

Singing Donut- Don't miss this place. You get to customize donuts that are fresh out of the fryer. I love vanilla glaze with raspberry drizzle. The coffee is very good as well and probably the least expensive I've ever bought. 

The Cookery- Be prepared for a wait if you go here. The food is very good and typical fare for Door County. (ie cherry or fish based) There is something on the menu for everyone and I love going on the weekdays so there is no wait. 

Dippy's Ice Cream Shop- Best ice cream around. They serve massive scoops of Chocolate Shoppe ice cream and don't charge insane prices. I love grabbing ice cream and then people watching in Founder's Square. 

Bayside Tavern- My family has been eating here since my dad was a kid. The food is always great. I would recommend the cheese curds to everyone, and my family really likes the chili as well. I've never had a bad thing here. 

Greenwood Supper Club- A classic supper club that only people who are local or have been going up for years know about. I love the fried perch, and the whitefish is know to be amazing as well. 

Sister Bay
Analog Ice Cream & Coffee- This place has amazing affagados with a twist. They don't use vanilla ice cream; they let you pick your flavor. I love picking a caramel based ice cream which compliments the espresso very nicely. 

Grasse's Grill- I went here for the first time this summer and loved it. I had a meatball sandwich which was surprisingly good. Everything on the menu looked appealing from the salads to the burgers. 

JJ's La Puerta- Go to JJ's if you have time in Sister Bay and want a bar food type of lunch. The cheese curds are amazing and so are the milkshakes. This is my favorite place to go after boating. (a word of warning: the last time I went it wasn't very good, but that was the first time it happened in over 5 years)

Other Locations 
The Chef's hat (Ephraim)- This a great place for lunch where you really get your money's worth. The servings are really big and all of the food is delicious. The chips were clearly homemade with amazing seasoning and the pies were worth saving room for. 

Stay 

The White Gull Inn- My grandparents have stayed here and loved it. It is really only for couples as there are only rooms with queen/king beds. It is right in Fish Creek which is great and being above an amazing breakfast place helps. 

Applecreek Resort- I've stayed here once and remember it being nice. It is a typical hotel, but the rooms are cute and being close to town makes it easy access. 

Peninsula State Park- Camping at the park is really popular since you are right outside of Fish Creek. There are several other camping locations in the area so you can easily find one that fits your needs. 

VRBO- This is my favorite option. By renting a place, you can have a kitchen which allows you to save money for other activities. Also, many times there are pools if you rent a condo which are fun as there are no public pools around. 

Shopping 

Fish Creek
Trails End Clothing Company- A cute clothing store with some fun dresses and yoga clothes. The selection is a little random but I never fail to find something cute. 

Wilkins & Olander- If you are interested in Vera Bradley this is your place. There is a wall full of Vera, and a big sale section in the back where you can find deals up to 50% off!

On Deck Clothing- This is one of the few stores in WI that sell Vineyard Vines, Southern Tide and Lilly Pulitzer. The downside is that they only stock up once or twice so make sure you go early in the year if you want anything. 

Sister Bay
Bay Shore Outfitters- An outdoor based store with several brands such as North Face and Patagonia. They also sell/rent paddle boards, kayaks and ski gear. 

Egology Sports- Another outdoorsy store. You can find Patagonia and similar brands. They also have cute yoga apparel as well. 

Egg Harbor
Shartner's Farm Market- This is my favorite place. The owners are the nicest people. There fresh food is always delicious, but the best part is the pies. I love the three berry pie to the point that I buy extra to freeze for the winter!

Blacksmith Clothing- This a newer store with some cute clothes. It is a nice change from some of the older, unchanging places. 

To Do
Harbor Walks- Each town has a harbor and it is always fun to walk around, preferably with ice cream, and admire the water and the boats.

Beach- There are public beaches all over the place and it can be a great way to cool off on hot days. Some have kayak and paddle board rentals that can add to the experience. 

Peninsula State Park- If you enjoy hiking or biking, or even just pretty views, the park is the perfect place. There are several trails for hiking, and in the winter they are converted for skiing!

Water Sports- There are several places that you can rent kayaks and paddle boards for a day or two. With the water being so accessible, it is a great way to spend a nice day. 

Things to Skip 

Wilson's Restaurant & Ice Cream- This is a classic tourist location with overpriced ice cream and long waits. I had to wait 15 min to get my ice cream, and it wasn't homemade or anything special. It is not worth the time. 

Visit Lighthouses- A lighthouse is cool and maybe you want to see one, but they are all really similar so there are better uses of time if yours is limited. 

Let me know if you've visited Door County!

xoxo,

Maddie

My Go To Muffin Recipe

     Breakfast has always been my favorite meal of the day, so much so that I typically have breakfast food for lunch as well. Of breakfast food, muffins are some of the best. They are delicious, portable, and have many variations. 

    Due to the portable nature of muffins, I decided to make some in Florida for the plane ride home. I picked a recipe from the Cook's Illustrated cookbook The Best Recipe. I was hesitant about the yogurt but decided to make them anyways. Good thing I did since these have officially become my favorite an easiest muffins. They are so fluffy and light that they just can't be beaten. 

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup minus 1 tablespoon sugar
10 tablespoons butter
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups plain low-fat yogurt 

Instructions

Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees  Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.

Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in 1/2 of the dry ingredients. Beat in 1/3 of the yogurt. Beat in remaining dry ingredients in two batches, alternating with yogurt, until incorporated.

Spray a 12-cup muffin tin. Divide batter evenly among cups.  Bake until muffins are golden brown,  25-30 minutes. Set pan(s) on a wire rack to cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove muffins and serve warm.

Blueberry & Chocolate Chip Muffins

     I love blueberry muffins, but my sister and brother like chocolate chip so I make both in one batch. Split the batter into two bowls and add a 1/2 cup chocolate chips in one bowl as well as 1/2 cup blueberries in the other.  

     If only chocolate or blueberry muffins are desired, add 1 to 1 1/2 cups of the add in. 

Let me know if you try these!

xoxo,

Maddie

Thursday Three

This was a pretty solid week with a weekend in Door County and then a full week of work. I appreciate being able to finally work, primary because I want some new clothes. The weekend in Door County was the best part. More on that below!

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Last weekend was my triathlon! It was so fun to do, that is, other than having to swim in 63 degree water. That part sucked. I am glad that I was able to push myself and try something new, but I will be honest, I am not sure that I will do another one. 

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Since the triathlon was in Door County, I was able to spend my whole weekend there with my family. Sunday was my favorite time since my siblings left early so the day was spent with my parents. I also really loved being able to get fresh cherries. Nothing is sweeter than Door County cherries. 

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With the cherries I bought in Door County I make a Cherry Clafouti. It is a classic french dessert with a custard base and cherries that rise to the top. I had read about it frequently in the french books I've read. It wasn't my favorite thing to eat, but at least it was a fun to make. 

How was your week?

xoxo,

Maddie

Reading Recently

Summer is my time to read. Between beach vacations and breaks at work, I have so much more time to read than in the school year. So far I must have read about 15 books so I figured it was time to share my favorites. Recently I have found a love of books based in foreign countries, particularly France. 

    The majority of these books can be placed in one of two groups: living abroad or historical/biographical fiction. These are probably my two favorite literary groupings so this is no surprise. See Me by Nicholas Sparks  is the only one that doesn't fall in these categories but it is still a good beach read. 
    Tout Sweet by Karen Wheeler, A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle, Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes, and Picnic in Provence by Elizabeth Bard all fall under living abroad. The focus is someone who is ready for something new in life and shares their experiences. All of these take place in France with the exception of Under the Tuscan Sun. My favorite of these novels would either be A Year in Provence  or Picnic in Provence. They are both such sweet novels that you want to read more and more. Peter Mayle has two other books about his time in France, and I would fully recommend those as well. It should be noted that Picnic in Provence is the second in the series so make sure you read Lunch in Paris first. 
     The Paris Wife by Paula McLain and The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin  are both biographies. The Paris Wife is about Hadley Hemingway (the wife of Ernest Hemingway) while The Aviator's Wife is about Anne Lindbergh. Both of these are fascinating reads that give insight into different ways of life and people we might not normally think about. 

Which of these sounds interesting to you?

xoxo,

Maddie

Longboat Key Dining Guide

Last year I created a guide to Longboat Key, Florida (here). This was a pretty basic guide that covered everything from where to stay, eating and entertainment. I only listed three places to eat, so after this past vacations dining experience, I knew I needed to share more. 

Breakfast & Coffee

C'est La Vie- This is a super cute french cafe in downtown Sarasota. They have the best pastries and a wide variety of breakfast selections. The coffee choices are limited to the classics, but pastries such as the almond croissant are to die for. 

Pastry Art- Pastry Art is just across the street from C'est La Vie, but totally different. This place has more of a coffee shop vibe. They have a wide variety of drink options, but the food is limited to the typical things like muffins and tarts. 

Lunch

C'est La Vie- Lunch is the true specialty of C'est La Vie. The menu is huge, but each item sounds so good. You can chose anything from savory crepes to baguette sandwiches to omelettes. Just make sure to save room for dessert because your choices are endless. 

The Old Salty Dog- Can anything be better than sitting on the water and eating lunch? A dock surrounds the Salty Dog so you can actually sit right over the water and watch Sarasota Bay. The food is always good. My favorites are the lobster roll, po' boy and Maui-wowi burger. 

Dry Dock Waterfront Grill- The Dry Dock is similar to the Salty Dog but with the option of sitting indoors. The food is great and a little nicer as well. Dinner or lunch is an option here. I love the lobster bisque and the lobster roll. (Can you tell I love lobster?)

Dinner

Rick's French Bistro- I found out about Rick's this year through Sarasota Magazine and knew my family needed to try it. The food is so good that we went back twice in two weeks. This is a really small restaurant with only 40 seats ran by Rick and his wife. Make sure you make reservations because you won't be able to just walk in!

Mediterraneo- This place has some of the best Italian food I've ever had. The lasagna is so good that I wish I could have it all of the time. It was a great change of pace from eating fish all of the time.  Everything I have eaten there was amazing so going with an empty stomach is essential.   

Desserts & Treats

The Haye loft- The Haye loft is part of a restaurant called Euphemia Haye. If all you are looking for is dessert, you can walk upstairs to the Haye Loft and have a wide selection of amazing desserts. My favorite are the coconut cream pie, cheesecake, and the pecan pie

Sarasota Fudge Factory- The homemade ice cream and fudge is so good here. If you are looking for a wide variety of flavors this is your place. Each day there are 30 ice cream flavors ranging from Trashcan to Turtle. The fudge is also really great with about 10 different choices. 

Big Olaf Creamery- This is the best ice cream on St. Armand's Circle. It is so creamy and flavorful. Both the waffle cones and ice cream is homemade so getting both is a must. This place might have the best ice cream I have ever eaten. Plantation Praline is my favorite flavor. 

Settimi's Gelato- If you prefer gelato to ice cream look no further. The choices are great here with both gelato and sorbet. I had the cappuccino gelato and it was amazing. 

Have you been to Longboat?

xoxo,

Maddie

Thursday Three

I got back from Florida on Tuesday but I wouldn't have minded spending another couple of weeks there. Working and being at the beach just aren't the same level of enjoyment. It had been two really great weeks and I can't wait to share more about it soon. Here was my week:

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 I ate so much seafood this week and it was amazing. There is nothing better than fresh fish in my opinion. This meal was a shrimp and oyster po' boy from one of my favorite dock side restaurants. 

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It is always fun to go shopping in Florida since the stores aren't any that are near my house. Lilly Pulitzer, J. Crew, and Lush are just a few of my favorite places to visit. I love to save my money for this trip so I can treat myself. 

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The water in Florida tastes so weird to me so I have always struggled with finding ways to stay hydrated. This year I "discovered" Perrier and it is now my go to drink.  This is a great replacement for soda or lemonade when trying to think of something to drink. 

How was your week?

xoxo,

Maddie

What's in My Beach Bag?

The best part of Florida is the beach, but forgetting to bring something can make the whole time less enjoyable. When I go to the beach with my family, our bag is bursting. Each of us has a list of items that we must bring. I have figured out exactly what I should bring in order to make for a perfect day at the beach. 

| Bag | Book | Sunscreen | Sunglasses | Water Bottle | Hair Ties | Lip Balm | Hat | 

Land's End tote bags are probably the best beach bags since they are so sturdy and easy to clean. It is also helpful that you can customize them, so you never have to worry about someone accidentally taking your bag. Of the items shown above, the most important things to bring would have to be the sun protection and a book. There is nothing quite like reading on the beach, but even that can become miserable if the sun is in your eyes and you're getting a sunburn. I adore the beach, and with this beach bag, a day at the beach can not be beat. 

What is in your beach bag?

xoxo,

Maddie

Thursday Three

This has been the best week of the summer. What could be better than spending days all of your days in a swimsuit, and doing nothing? I am in the midst of my yearly summer vacation and it has probably been on of my all time favorites. Here's what's been going on.

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I can safely say I have spent more time at the beach than doing anything else. There is nothing quite like listening to the waves and reading a good book. I've read at least six books so far, which means a book round up will be coming soon. 

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Some of my family was tired of the beach (I know... crazy) so we went to an the Ringling Art Museum. This isn't the biggest or best I've been to, but it is always fun to talk a stroll through the grounds and exhibits. 

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I finally got back to my favorite french restaurant and it did not disappoint. I had a great sandwich (forgot to take a picture of course) and then the best opera cake. The layers were a perfect mix of coffee and caramel mousse. I so hope I can get back there sometime again. 

How was your week?

xoxo,

Maddie

Cold Brew Coffee

Iced coffee is the perfect summer drink. The only issue is that I don't want to pay a lot of money for a drink I finish in 10 seconds. Cold brew is the perfect solution. It is really easy to make, and barely costs anything. Once it is made, all you have to do is add milk or creamer and volia, the perfect iced coffee. 

Ingredients

I cup whole coffee beans

4 cups water

Equipment 

Coffee grinder

1 1/2 quart container 

small strainer

cheesecloth or similar (I use a coffee filter)

bottle or jar (storage)

Instructions

- coarsely grand the coffee. The grinder should be on the coarsest settings and should look like coarse cornmeal

- Combine the coffee and water. Put in grounds in the container and add the water. Stir to make sure the grounds are fully saturated. 

- Steep Overnight 

- Strain the coffee. Line a small strainer with a cheesecloth or coffee filter and place over a larger container. Pour the coffee through the strainer. 

- Store the coffee by transferring to a small bottle or jar and place in the fridge for up to one week. 

Never pay $5 for cold brew again!

xoxo,

Maddie

What I'm Packing for Florida

     It is finally that time of year again where I can start thinking about my families vacation to Florida. We do the same thing every year, so it is like going to a second home. It is so much more relaxing this way. I am so looking forward to it, to the point that I have already read the menus for where we will go out for dinner. 

      Packing is always the hardest part for me since I know I will be spending most of the time at the beach, but I still like to look nice for when I wander into town. My suitcase will be filled with Lilly Pulitzer because there is no better place for it than the Sunshine State. I have below what I know I will be bring with me. I didn't link anything since most of it is old, but feel free to ask where anything is from. For what I will be bringing with me on the plane, check it out here. 

I can't wait to be in Florida!

xoxo,

Maddie