The Nantucket Girl – Sarah

I am constantly asked, “What is it like to live on Nantucket year-round?”  Well, I decided to answer this question in a series of blog posts called, “The Nantucket Girl.”  Every few weeks, I will feature a friend who calls this beautiful island home.  She will share with you some of her favorite things about Nantucket and also her favorite picks at Milly & Grace!  I hope this will give everyone a glimpse of what it’s like to be a girl living 30 miles out to sea.

So, I present to you..

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Meet Nantucket Girl: Sarah Felch

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Tell us a little about yourself:  I am the mother of 3 spirited children, Virginia, Lillian & Hutton (all of which were born here on Nantucket) I’m a lover of travel, gourmet food, wine, art, movies, sports, good books, long walks on the beach and good friends. I think there is nothing better in this world than laughing until you stomach hurts and tears are streaming down your face and not being able to stop.

How long have you called Nantucket home?: My whole life I’ve thought of it as my home, but technically speaking, I’ve only lived out here for 10 years year-round. So, yes that makes me a “wash ashore.” I have spent every single summer of my life on this lovely little island though, and I’ve never missed a 4th of July.

What do you do in Nantucket?:  Well, I am a mom first and foremost but I also substitute teach at the Nantucket New School, which is a wonderful (preschool through 8th grade) private school on island.

Relationship Status: I am actually engaged to Carl Lindvall. I know we are doing things a bit backwards but hey it works for us.

Hobbies:  I’m definitely a food and wine enthusiast! (Does eating and drinking count as a hobby?) I love art even though I don’t have much time for it with the kids. I also love to read, garden and travel.

Guilty Pleasure:  Wine, romantic comedies, fine foods and Pinterest

Favorite BloggerWellnessMama.com and of course the Milly & Grace Girls (& Tuesdays With Tim)

Favorite Quote:  Every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another  AND Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut. – both by Ernest Hemingway

Tell us about your life on Nantucket:  My family has enjoyed Nantucket going back many generations, so I feel like the island is in my blood. My parents even met out here, even though they grew up in the same hometown in New York. Both my parents and Carl’s live out here, so the kids get to see the grandparents regularly, which is nice for them to be so close. My kids keep me busy year-round, but I try to make sure I have time to let loose and have fun as an adult too. Girls night with my book club gals, a night out on the town with Carl or just having a group of friends over for dinner & drinks helps me to stay sane.

Favorite time of year:  Hands down the fall! September can’t be beat and not just because my birthday month! It is still warm enough to go to the beach but the air is nice and crisp. The crowds leave, but there is still plenty going on. And best of all you can get into any restaurant whenever you want.

What’s your perfect day on Nantucket?:  Breakfast at Black Eyed Susan’s (you have to have the blueberry pancakes & Santa Fe hashbrowns! Sweat & spicy…yum!) Then pick up sandwiches at Henry’s Jr or Something Natural & maybe a bottle of Rosé to bring to the beach. Enjoy the day playing in the water followed by a sunset BBQ on the beach. Stop by the Jucie Bar for ice cream on our way home, and since it is my perfect day there wouldn’t be a line. (I can dream right?) Go home put the kids to bed with a sitter and go out on the town for drinks and dancing with Carl.

Favorite: 

Shops:  Of course Milly & Grace! I also love the Lovely, Current Vintage and Best of the Beach

Restaurants:  Galley, Cru, Chanticleer, Pearl, Black Eyed Susan’s, Oran Mor & American Seasons but they are all spectacular!

Beach:  40th Pole for North Shore. It’s great for the kids because it is nice and calm and it’s great for me because I can drive on so I don’t have to lug all the beach gear. Or what I call Invisible beach on the South Shore. My older kids can play in the waves (I’m including Carl) and my parents and other family friends go there, so I always have extra help with the kiddos.

Nantucket Event:  Wine Festival is awesome for obvious reasons! (Did I mention I love wine?) I also really love Daffodil Weekend too. It is so fun to get all dress up in silly daffodil colored outfit, check out the antique cars and tailgate in Sconset.

Tell us an interesting fact about living on Nantucket:  The Nantucket Cottage Hospital is a wonderful place to give birth. (I’ve done it 3 times) Their staff and maternity facilities are top-notch!

What’s the hardest part about living on Nantucket?:  January though March! Most things close, everything turns a sepia color, most people pretty much hibernate, and it is really hard to get on and off island because of bad weather. I also miss having easy access to cultural things like museums, sports events & shows. Everything on island is also extremely expensive!

Tell us something others may not know about this little island:  Many of the older houses are haunted. I know this sounds crazy, but it’s true!

Top Picks at Milly & Grace

Day Look:  Sarah loves this Rebecca Taylor Sweater Coat with Leather Belt Detail!  The perfect throw-on-and-Go option for a mom of 3!

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Night Look:  She looks stunning in the Rebecca Taylor Black Embroidered Dress for a night out with friends!  What girl doesn’t need a new “Little Black Dress?”

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She paired it with these eye-catching DanniJo Earrings from our online store!

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And lastly, she adores these Lace bowls and plates from Sugarboo that we feature right when you walk in the door!

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Thanks Sarah for being a Milly & Grace Nantucket Girl! :)

Miss Ivy Sleeps…Everywhere!

It’s been 4 weeks since we went to fetch little Miss Ivy.  She’s quickly made herself comfortable in her new home.  In fact, she sleeps just about anywhere.  Here she is sleeping in my lap her first night home…
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If you are at the table…She’s under your feet!

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You can find her sleeping in the shower or under the bed.

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Ivy loves her spot under the coffee table.  There used to be magazines under there but she likes to chew them so they had to go.  This was actually very convenient because it helped me check off #24 on my list of 30 things to do before I’m 30!

Falling asleep with her head hanging off the edge doesn’t look very comfortable.

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She sleeps at the beach and on the threshold of the door.

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She even fell asleep with her head resting on the table stretcher. (I  know you can’t really tell but she is totally asleep!)

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She’s cute while she sleeps but she’s even cuter when she’s up and about.  She’s very busy and follows me around wherever I go.  She is the best company and well…she’s my little buddy.

photo-8 copy 2I love my pup!  I love my pup! I love my pup!

The Moscow Mule

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I love a good cocktail.  I even enjoy making them!  We are always mixing something new at the Hollister house.  This summer we are especially loving the Moscow Mule.  They are really “on trend” at the moment.  You can read a little history on it here – it’s actually quite interesting.

Traditionally the MM is just vodka, ginger beer and lime.  I think adding mint & and a little simple syrup is what makes it.

Here are the ingredients:

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In your cocktail shaker combine the following ingredients:

2 parts Vodka

1 part simple syrup

Juice of  1/2 a lime

5 large Mint Leaves (rip them up a bit)

 

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Add a handful of ice and shake it like a polaroid picture.  I tend to bounce when I am shaking that cocktail shaker.  Try it… it totally helps.

“Shake it” from The Milly & Grace Girls on Vimeo.

Fill a glass full of ice and pour in the contents of the cocktail shaker.

Finish the Moscow Mule by topping it off with Ginger Beer – about 1/3 cup.  ALWAYS taste test before you serve!

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Note:

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Whenever I host large get togethers I find that serving cocktails is one of the more challenging things to keep up with as they require so much time.  Mixing up a signature cocktail ahead of time makes the party run so much smoother and  you aren’t playing bartender all night!  It makes it even easier to serve your signature drink in a drink dispenser.  Above is the Moscow Mules we served as the signature drink for Tim & Santi’s Welcome Party !