do.

do what you do, because it matters.
|olympics commercial| 

it goes without saying that we are in an olympics coma over here. in the best possible way. but in between serious watching of swimming + gymnastics this commercial turned out to be a gem.

do what you do. because it matters.

brilliant. so so spot on and perfect. clearly, my olympic coma and obsession with this quote distracted me from catching what the commercial was for. my apologies, but i am sure the youtube gods can find it for you.

but do what you do, do what makes you fall in love, do what gets you out of bed in the morning, do what makes you passionate, do your thing and embrace it with all you got. 

and if you need some inspiration for guys doing what they do because it matters. check out Hyde Expedition Co. a lifestyle company that is very close to my heart. 

dock talks

life talks on the dock, because really what better place is there to talk big life things. mermaid diet, why downward dog is called downward dog, if the tide changed huge amounts last night because of the rain, if there are whales out by the lobster boats...

and then there's this---

did it rain last night? - belle

                                                yeah, i think...the dock is wet. - karin

yeah guys, it's part of the circle of life. - conor

nothing like a little reminder, right. 

love list: maine roadtrip

the best part of summer is here. i flew out east to my summer gypsy crew a few days ago to join the annual summer vaca' to maine. pretty lucky to be back with these people yet again. new jersey doesn't just feel like home, new jersey is home. hence my love for 32 old chester road.

so begins this series of love lists. two weeks in maine is an epic adventure of sorts, so this love list is featuring solely the loves we have during our road trip from New Jersey to our heavenly oasis in Midcoast Maine.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire; the cutest east coast village ever is our halfway point, break in driving, overnight stay. 8+ hour drive with kiddos (myself included) is no joke, it is not happening without stopping. and i mean, portsmouth is dreamy, it definitely doesn't suck. it's the best

| Gus & Ruby- Portsmouth, New Hampshire |

paper and lifestyle stores. they kill me. this one as displayed by the pictures has some pretty ridiculous windows. and first summer we strolled into this hidden gem, they had a huge collection of emersonmade original collection flowers. 

| Ceres Street Bakery- Portsmouth, NH |

off the beaten path, really awesome bread, strong and ridiculous coffee, cool people working, inhabited by the locals. basically fits all the requirements the gypsies are looking for. happened to run into our favorite shop owner from the night before the morning we were at ceres. at that point, we knew we belonged at ceres street bakery.

                                          | 158 Pickett Street Cafe- Portland, Maine | 

road tripping and traveling with caroline is awesome for many reasons. one of them being her amazing discovery and knowledge of ever artisanal, cool, and off the beaten path people doing awesome things with food in their locale. case in point, 158 pickett street. cool story behind this little gem, boyfriend/girlfriend duo (no longer, they had to split the starter) who created artisanal bagels with a sourdough starter of sorts. and then went to a whole new level of crazy by crafting a menu with killer sandwiches. i had 'the hippie'- sesame bagel loaded with hummus, carrots, cucumbers, greens.. and then  i added pesto and eggs. i landed in bagel heaven, and i didn't even know that was possible. not to mention their killer back courtyard, local kombucha, cold press and whimsical bathroom that conor and belle spent half a lifetime in. 

| Standard Baking Company- Portland, Maine |

another hotspot i have been introduced to thanks to caroline. the first time i came was right before i was catching a bus to head to Boston. this place is magical, old warehouse building, you walk in to a counter facing rows of beautiful bread. i believe i carried a classic french baguette and chocolate sea salt cookie onto my bus ride to boston. gypsy travel snacks. and their peach iced tea is heavenly.

 | Rock Paper Scissors- Wiscasset, Maine | 

this may or may not be one of the most dangerous stops on our way to the beach cottage in maine. it is across the street from the most renowned lobster roll joint in maine. never mind the lobster rolls, in the town of Wiscasset Rock, Paper, Scissors has all of our hearts. it is the most beautiful designed, displayed, selected paper store I have ever come across. each year we lose our minds in this store. is now a good time to admit that both of these photos are from two summers ago, the past two summers I have been so entranced and committed to this store that I have not been able to take out my phone to snap any pictures, too focused on the paper. this year I scored some killer new colors/designs of washi tape, a beautifully simple lower case stamp set, kraft paper envelopes. a lot of crafting takes place on stormy maine mornings. pictures to come of rock, paper, scissors inspired creations. 

that's the way to live...

cliffs at the river.  [photo credit: kenny b]

"happy. just in my swim shorts, barefooted, wild-haired, in the red fire dark, singing, swigging wine, spitting, jumping, running- that's the way to live. 

all alone by the sigh of the sea out there" 

jack kerouac

i love people who can remind me to remember this. kenny b. case in point. my cousin who comes in last minute on spontaneous adventure trips to visit me in the city. gives the best hug at the pick-up line at the airport. and lives the way he lives and wants to share in the living. he gets you to remember the simple, free adventure that is in creating every moment of the day. 

impromptu workouts at the farmer's market after picking up our csa. my arms were literally on fire. no gym, no machine, no weights. just good old fashioned work. 

playing down at the cliffs at the mississippi. like little kids trying to do tricks and crazy yoga things with our bodies. 

talking. real conversation. in the sculpture gardens at night with the skyline doing it's thing.

i love people who remind me of these things. so kerouac, you nailed this so so so spot on...

but maybe my way to live isn't 'all alone by the sigh of the sea'..... i want to listen to the sea, play in it, swim in it, adventure along it's coasts with my people. not alone. i don't dig alone when there is carefree, summer adventures that are out there. 

ritual

rituals. not habits. rituals should feel good, have a hint of nostalgia perhaps.


whenever i head back to the lake i enter my own little ritual heaven. one of my favorites, my go-to's, my ritual that i will hold on to for dear life - reading a magazine on the dock, deck, or porch depending on time of day and sun situation.


case in point, this weekend. after a day on the lake i retreated to my ritual; my fort. let's be real, we are essentially calling our rituals our down dogs of life. where we go to recover. my body had that sun tired high. la vida was full. and i got to read food & wine and drink ice cold lemon water out of my favorite water bottle. 


rituals. they can root us. they can restore us. they can let us savor moments of sun-tired, lake hair, non-showered, dirty barefeet. they are pretty awesome, huh.


i could go on for days on rituals. what's yours? 

summer house

i really do not know how to properly introduce this movie. that is how good it is. and coming from me, that is saying alot. i find it impossible to listen to a song in it's entirety before skipping to the next and any youtube clip someone sends me that is over 30 seconds is probably not happening. so this is good. really good.


scott schuman + garance dore are behind this lovely little j.crew video. their work is unbelievable. i have actually used this video of scott schumans' for my capstone entrepreneurship class. they both have the ability to captivate through their lens. this will take you places. i can smell the salty ocean air.
i mean it is just everything; the bracelets on his wrist, the red rugged jeep, the big chunky sweater.


fall in love for yourself. go somewhere with it. 

 video: courtesy of j.crew

my people

i am lucky to be surrounded with a good crew. i love my people. they speak to me in endless ways. think of it as a the gypsy soul's own version of 'overheard.' i want to share the words, the shenanigans, the messages that my people give me on a daily basis. 

'it is important to question. and keep asking. the answers will change'

austin