The Fourth

Happy 4th, everyone!

I am back in the good ole US of A after a perfect week in Central America. Any guesses as to where I might have been? If you follow my Instagram, you probably already know. More on that very soon.

Today is a day for rest {because it's a well-known fact that you need a vacation to recover from vacation}, reading, writing, and soaking up the beautiful sunshine. It also includes packing for my move {!!!} in two weeks. I'm excited to share my new town with you next week, and also the most perfect little apartment that ever did exist. 

So for today, enjoy all the barbecues, beaches and cool beverages until your heart and tummy are full. Remember to give a moment or two of thanks for the wonderful country that we can call our own. We might not always agree with the laws, politics and decisions of our leaders. However, the fact that we can initiate change, share our opinions freely, and fight for our beliefs is, unfortunately, still a rare thing in our world today.  So many are silenced and oppressed because their color, creed, race, sex and religion. We should not take our freedom lightly, and today of all days is a time to be thankful that we have the liberties that so many have fought to give our nation.  

Sentimental and Sweet

{Why yes, that is another cupcake from Something Sweet. Every time I see their adorable Sweety bus, I can't resist. Lemon blueberry, anyone?}

I don't really know where the last week has gone. It's been fun, emotional, up and down. A roller coaster, if you will. But it's been that great kind of roller coaster feeling. You know, that feeling when you're climbing to the top of the first drop and you have this nervous excitement that the best is yet to come? That's exactly how I feel.

This week, I found out where I will be moving in three short weeks. I also enjoyed some time watching the Red Sox {in the rain} with my little brother. I also had the privilege of watching my brother's commissioning into the Navy on a beautiful summer evening aboard the USS Constitution. Today, he graduates from college. It's hard to believe he's a grown up man. Most people think I have a toddler sibling when I refer to my baby brother, but he's anything but that. I'm so proud of him and all he has done in his 22 years. He has a tough attitude and a beautiful heart. I know he will go to amazing places.

That being said, I'm going to disappear for a week or so to enjoy some time off with my family. The next month has a lot in store, so it's only appropriate to relax and rejuvenate, right? Take care this week, friends!

Oh....and since google reader will be kaput by the time I return to the bloggersphere, you can CLICK HERE {hint, hint} to follow CTE via Bloglovin. You can also click those cute little buttons on the right to find me on Twitter and Instagram. Trust me, you won't want to miss out on what's coming. Think a beautiful new design and pictures from a tropical paradise :)

{NY} City Love

Wandering the streets of a city is one of my favorite pastimes. Whether it's a new city or your home city, there are always streets unexplored and gems waiting to be discovered. I did a lot of wandering in NYC a few weeks ago, and am always amazed by the beauty around each new corner. New York is one of the places I think I could stay forever and be constantly excited, engaged, and amazed. There is something so tangible about the energy there that I have yet to find anywhere else in my travels. So many nooks and crannies of the city have so much to offer the unsuspecting passerby. How does anyone ever tire of being here? New York, I love you.

Searching for the Sun

It's been a rainy, dreary week in New England. It's the kind of weather that makes you wish you could spend days snuggled up with a cup of tea. The sun is supposed to show up this weekend, but I thought I'd share some sunshine from a few weekends ago at the Cape. Perhaps tomorrow morning, I will wake up to cloudless skies and a calm ocean? Here's to hoping!

Have a beautiful weekend!

Mouzon House - Saratoga

I had  the enormous pleasure of dining at Mouzon House in Saratoga Springs for lunch a few weekends ago. This place absolutely blew me away with their cozy, elegant atmosphere and scrumptious fare. My aunt, uncle, cousin and I enjoyed a lovely brunch to end a ridiculously perfect weekend. 

Saratoga is blessed with so many locally owned restaurants in which you will find first class cuisine, but of all the places I ate over the weekend, this was my favorite. Their corn bread and biscuits were perfectly moist and proportioned. And, oh, the chicken and waffles! To. Die. For. I'm not a believer that chicken and waffles is one of the most satisfying comfort meals. Ever. Another little treat was that we had out own little dining room on the second floor that couldn't have been more cozy for the rainy, dreary morning.

If you are ever in the Saratoga area, be sure to stop by for brunch/dinner/evening cocktail. Mouzon House also has the prettiest outdoor bar that would be a lovely place to pass a summer evening. 

Brooklyn Bridge

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge has been on my bucket list for years. 

Years. 

I finally took the walk from Brooklyn to Manhattan a few weeks ago. It blew me away. My expectations were that I would see the river and the truly amazing architecture of the bridge itself, but the views of the city were breathtaking. Walking across the bridge must teach scores of people about perspective in innumerable ways.

The NYC skyline is something that amazes me every time I see it, but it really struck me from this vantage point. I could have stayed up there all day. That is not an exaggeration. It would just have to be a day when it's not 95 degrees at 10 in the morning. Melting into the bridge would be a problem for me.

All photos © Michaela Fowler