Tim

Walking to Great Point Lighthouse

August 20, 2013 By millyandgracegirls 2 Comments

I am kind of obsessed with lighthouses! I think its because I grew up in Wisconsin and had never seen a lighthouse before.

I saw cows and corn and cheese!

Last year I really wanted to see the third lighthouse on Nantucket, but it’s not easy to get there. Usually people rent a jeep and drive to it, but last June you were not able to do this because of birds or something. So, James and I went to Wauwinet to look around and on a whim, decided we would just start walking to Great Point!

4.2 miles there and 4.2 miles back! 8.5 miles round trip! On soft sand. In cheap sandals. With no water.

It started off fun! See – I was so happy to make it to mile marker 2!

Then the complaining started, “Are we there yet?” “I’m thirsty!” “My feet and back hurt!” I will let you guess who was doing the complaining. Finally, we saw it! Great Point in all its glory!

I felt like we were looking at the Emerald City! However, unlike Dorothy and the gang we still had a while to go. This lighthouse was like a mirage. You see it. You keep walking towards it, but is it even really there or is it just a figment of our imagination?

Keeping with the theme of the Wizard of Oz, remember, in the movie, when the Witch sent the flying monkeys to capture Dorothy? Well, the Wicked Witch of Nantucket, let’s call her the Grey Lady, sent birds for us! Hundreds and hundreds of birds that didn’t appreciate us trespassing on their land.

They started circling us, swooping down, making noises, (I swear I heard one say “LEAVE THIS PLACE!”) We tried to keep up conversation, but after awhile I noticed these birds did not like it when we talked. So, we ran! James jogged ahead, flailing his arms at the incoming birds; his only protection being his sandals!

I got this one picture before the intense dive bombing started and I screamed, “What am I going to do if a bird pecks me before my wedding?” (I know I tend to be a little dramatic, but it was actually scary!)

After what seemed like hours, the birds cleared and we had made it! Great Point Lighthouse!

We had to start walking back before the sun set. We dreaded getting past those birds again, but unless we wanted to walk in complete darkness we had to get going. On the way back, we met a baby seal sunbathing on the shore. I wanted to get closer, but James decided that since we were almost pecked by birds, we didn’t need to have this baby seal’s mother maul us for getting too close to its baby.

If it wasn’t for animal rights, I may have tried to capture these swans for our wedding. (Just kidding, or am I?)

We made it back just in the nick of time.

We enjoyed a nice dinner at Toppers afterward.

In closing, walking to Great Point was actually so much fun! I highly recommend it. However, bring some water, better shoes, and watch out for those birds!

In other news, “Tuesdays With Tim” is now going to feature a “Book of the Month” for a sort of online book club! I have always wanted to be a part of a book club! My choice for this month is the highly anticipated Night Film by, Marisha Pessl.

I am so excited for this book, but it’s not going to be for everybody! It’s supposed to be extremely scary (like birds dive bombing you as you walk to a lighthouse scary!) If you scare easily maybe give my first selection a pass and check back next month! I don’t want to give anyone nightmares! :) If you like a good scare though, join me in reading Night Film. It’s released today! Every month I will review the book and then pick a new one! Can’t wait to read and talk about this book that is being described as “A literary mystery that’s also a page turner…Night Film might be the most talked about novel this summer!” – Time Out New York

See you on Tuesdays!

Filed Under: Nantucket, Tim 2 Comments

Decorating a Nantucket House

August 13, 2013 By millyandgracegirls 6 Comments

Do you want to know why I was most excited to move to Nantucket? The beaches? The restaurants? The people? NOPE!

Sorry about it, but I was most excited to decorate a Nantucket house!!! (Actually, I am not this shallow, but it would make my Top 5.)

Come take the tour and get some tips for Do-it-Yourself decorating and also some great home decor items at our online boutique: www.millyandgrace.com

Welcome to our Nantucket Beach House!

The Kitchen

I love white kitchens! They are so bright and clean and it allows you to choose whatever accent color you want. Our kitchen aid mixer is Ice Blue so I got some blue mason jars and filled them with turquoise straws from Etsy. I have never liked clutter, so I tried to keep it simple. Sometimes, my husband will clutter up the kitchen because he is the chef in the family and I will say “Umm Did you forget everything you learned at orientation?”

D-I-Y: Use Pelligrino Bottles in your kitchen as decoration. It adds a distinctive pop of color without breaking the bank!

SHOP: I also love this grid flower jar from Milly & Grace. It’s the perfect place to put a fresh bouquet of hydrangeas from your garden.

The Living Room

This was probably my favorite room to decorate. My inspiration was the picture from our wedding above the fireplace. I love all of the ocean colors and had fun tying in different textures to match with the picture by Zofia and Co.

D-I-Y: If you want the feel and look of a fire during the summer months, get some candles of different heights and arrange them in your fireplace.

SHOP: Items at www.millyandgrace.com tied this whole room together. I love the marine hobnail candle, the filigree votives match perfectly, and the sweet tea candle and the willow vase give off that beach cottage feel.

The Library

If you read my blog post 13 Books for 2013, you know that I love to read, so you can imagine how much I enjoy our library.

D-I-Y: Take some of your favorite book jackets and get them framed! It makes the perfect decoration for your library or study. I recommend the Harry Potter books because of all the bright colors.

SHOP: I love libraries to the Moon & Back, so this square art from Milly & Grace was the perfect addition.

Guest Bedroom

If you read my blog post Groom-zilla Part I, you know that I love the color coral and I am very specific with the shade of coral that I like. I love our guest bedroom so much that sometimes I want to move into it.

D-I-Y: I wanted picture frames in specific colors to hang on the walls, but I could not find coral or turquoise or navy blue picture frames. So, I bought white ones at Michaels and then painted them myself with acrylic paint that is sold in almost every color imaginable.

SHOP: I love this coral hobnail candle from Milly & Grace. It matches so well, but adds a different texture to the room! It smells really great too, even when it’s not burning. I am also thinking about tying in this coral pillow that we just added to the online store!

Yoga Room

Yes, we have a yoga room! This usually results in an eye roll from people, but let me tell you WHY we have a yoga room. I wanted so many things for the new house that my husband decided to put a stop to it and say “No more furniture!” I asked myself, “What can I do with a room that would not require any furniture?” Enter Yoga Room! LED candles around the room, a couple of your favorite sunset pictures on the wall, a Namaste sign from Etsy, a peace lily and you have yourself your own Yoga studio! Now I just have to find the time to use it! ;)

D-I-Y: Design your own Yoga Room for that extra bedroom and for when your spouse is being a party-pooper because of your spending habits!

SHOP: You can find a place for these white unscented votive candles in any yoga room!

Master Bedroom

Gray and white stripes with pops of yellow is what I decided for our master bedroom and it doesn’t get any more Nantucket than that!

D-I-Y: I love the look of everything gray and white with just one pop of color. All the pictures, frames, furniture, etc are gray and white to make the yellow really stand out! After all, nothing says Rise-and-Shine like yellow!

SHOP: Washing your hands has never been so fun than with this all-natural hand soap! It’s available in 4 colors/scents to match with your master suite and tie the bathroom and bedroom together.

Every Nantucket table should have the latest copy of N Magazine on it and these Nantucket inspired tin candles are the perfect pairing with it. I love these tins because they can be reused after the candle is gone as a special keepsake of your favorite island. Collect all four designs/scents!

I hope you enjoyed the tour!

Sometimes I think I fulfill every stereotype out there and do you know what I will say to that,

“See you next Tues-Gay!” :)

Filed Under: Nantucket, Tim Tagged With: decorating, home decor, nautical 6 Comments

The Godfather

August 6, 2013 By millyandgracegirls 6 Comments

“Tuesday’s With Tim” is reporting LIVE on location this week in his home state of Wisconsin! It has been a while since the last time I was off island, so the first thing I did was get my Venti Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks and a cheeseburger with no mustard from McDonalds! I am curious, if you lived on Nantucket, a place without any popular franchises, what would you miss the most?

I am here in Wisconsin for a very special occasion. My best friends welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the world and his baptism was this past Sunday! I was honored when they asked me to be his godfather a couple months ago. So, everybody, I would like you to meet my godson:

PARKER DAVID CULLEN

What in the world do godparents give for baptism gifts? You know how some people have phobias of being in crowds or of spiders, I have two very specific phobias. 1 – Will I get good pictures of the event? (My husband used to say that I only went places for the pictures!) and 2 -Can I come up with a creative gift idea?

I racked my brain what to get Parker for his baptism and I was stumped! After searching the internet, I realized that I would have to come up with my own idea because all the traditional gifts were not quite what I was looking to do. I decided to write Parker a letter. In the letter, I give him some advice as he grows up! I would like to share it with you all, just in case you have been at a loss for a baptism gift for your godson or goddaughter.

Dear Parker,

I was truly honored when your parents asked me to your godfather. I met your mom 12 years ago in college and we have been friends ever since. I watched your mom marry your dad 3 years ago and now, here I am today at your baptism. My gifts to you on this special day have a lot of meaning for me and I hope someday they mean something to you. Ever since I was young, I loved to read and maybe someday you will too. So, here are some of my favorite books that I have read through out my life.

Dear Zoo and Dr. Seuss’s ABC – These were my favorite books when I was a baby. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – This was one of the first books I read all by myself and I still love it. It taught me to dream, but that there was no place like home. Harry Potter – Even though I read this in college, I hope someday you enjoy Harry Potter and his adventures as much as I did. Pillars of the Earth – This is one of my favorite books as an adult. I thought it was appropriate today because its all about building a church!

You may not know this, but one of my favorite things about your Dad is that he likes to write letters. Your Dad is a great writer and maybe someday, you will like to write too… So, here are some crayons to scribble with, here are some markers you can use when you first learn to write your name, here are some pencils to take to your first day of school, and lastly, here is a special pen with your initials on it. Maybe, when you are all grown up, you can write me a letter with it, just like your Dad!

The third thing I want you to try and do as you grow up is to always plan for your future. Here is a piggy bank to save your quarters when you help your Mom and Dad out around the house. Here is a wallet to put your cash in when you get your first job, and here is a savings bond to use for college. Saving money is important, but also treat yourself every once in awhile. I put some quarters in your piggy bank for some candy and I put some cash in your wallet to maybe use on your first date.

Lastly, I give you this cross to put in your room as a symbol for many things. First, as a symbol of today and your baptism. Also, I hope this cross reminds you to always love and respect others, no matter their differences, to never judge anyone for those differences and to always be yourself!

I can’t wait to watch you grow up Parker. I will always be here for you if you need anything and I hope every time you pick up one of these books, or color with your crayons or count your quarters or look at the cross in your room, you know how much you are loved..

Love Always,

Uncle Tim

If Parker could talk he would probably say “Dude with the bowtie! – What do you expect me to do with any of these gifts?” I am only three months old and I still soil myself 10 times a day!” What I liked about this gift idea though was that it represents Parker’s whole life.

For Parker as a baby: