field of dreams.

happy monday, friends! i hope you all had a yummy weekend and are as excited as i am for the longer days of spring ahead. 5:13 and the sun is still shining bright...what's not to love about that!? pretty soon it will be time for picnics and sunset walks, right...? right...?!

well, just when i thought i couldn't be more excited for summer, the roaming culinary experience known as outstanding in the field just announced their 2011 tour schedule - and once again, they are blessing vermont with what is sure to be a night unlike any other.

what do you get when you combine fresh food, local ingredients, a long simple table and a super cool vintage bus...um, pretty much the best night ever.

so friends, what do you think? august 11th, craftsbury, vermont - who's with me?!
click here for the full tour schedule.

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daydreaming...

well folks, another epic winter storm here. to top of the most epic winter ever. another 2 feet of snow was dumped on us today. and it was coupled with howling winds. now, i love a good snow day (especially when mr. frederickson gets to stay home too!) but really? aren't we about done??

so, instead of focusing on the winter wonderland that awaits us outside, i am staying inside and doing a lot of daydreaming. dreaming about bare feet and late afternoon swims. drives with the windows down and walks at sunset. sunburned cheeks and daylight happy hours. while here in vermont, we work hard to find the best in all seasons, sometimes the best part is looking ahead to the next. and i have a feeling this next one, is going to be pretty epic as well (-:

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DIY Marshmallows? Absolutely.

i love s'mores which means i have a special spot in my heart for marshmallows and therefore i just about died (and laughed outloud) when i saw these hysterical little diy numbers. how fun would these make your labor day bbq? who needs real watermelon when you can paint it on a little white puff of sugar?!

{dog 'n bird via the decorated cookie}

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ooey gooey goodness.

while the month of august brings so many tasty foods to the table (tomatoes, corn, peaches) i don't think there is a taste more symbolic of summer in vermont than the unmistakable combination of chocolate, marshmallow and graham crackers, otherwise known as the s'more. (seriously, they are so addicting that the name came from the contraction of the phrase "some more") and today, we as a country celebrate the brilliance of this invention by giving this campfire treat its very own national holiday.

and in homage to the gooey deliciousness, i present you with some mouth watering images. (can we talk for a minute about how cute that packaging is!?)

but i have to admit my favorite find in my cyber searching today was this lovely DIY s'mores bar. how much would you love to attend a wedding or party with this as the elegant dessert finale?! who needs cake when you have a little fire and the magical and oh so simple trifecta of ingredients?!

{via here & here}

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august is...

august knows the philosophy of beach balls.

she moves with the changing tide.

august loves to take it slow.

august's favorite poet is walt whitman.

she dances with the waves.

august invented the month long vacation.

she believes in the elements.

august understands how water meets the shore.

she sees beyond the horizon.

august sees the world in a grain of sand.

she is carefree.

august is a romantic at heart.

her strength is in her song.

august trademarked "the splash."

she hears history in a seashell.

august never wants to say goodbye.

she is a motion in your mind.

{image via vtpics & who is august courtesy of a 2006 KOCO NY calendar}

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VTuesday Shoesday

by far, one of the best thing about this time of year - aside from the alfresco dining, evening swims, and general gloriousness - is the sales. you know the season is upon us when every place in vermont has a clearance sign in the window, the church street sidewalk sale starts tomorrow and if you are like me, you wake up every morning to an email inbox full of coupons from cyberland! so, in celebration of this most frugally decadent season, this tuesday shoesday is all about stocking up on some summer favorites - all brought to us by the clearance section of piperlime! classic and fun summer sandals to give you a little extra hop in your step on these steamy days...and won't they be fun to unpack again next spring?!

{all these lovelies are via piperlime: 1/2/3/4/5}

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a day to perfect the nap.

it's national hammock day - a day all about relaxing, slowing down and perfecting the art of the nap. and in my book, that just might be the best day around. sorry, national junk food day and national spilled milk day, you just got trumped.

so, in honor of this great occassion...i bring you just a few of my favorites. more to come later, cause if you can't find a hammock to lounge in today, the next best thing is finding your dream one in cyberland!{1/2/3/4/5/6}

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button bay.

happy monday! i hope you all had a fun and relaxing weekend...and managed to stay cool on these dog days of summer. i didn't do a whole lot (or drive anywhere!!!) which was a lovely change. however the one thing i did manage to do was fall in love. yes, fall in love...with the most wonderful state park in all of vermont (ok, admittedly i haven't been to that many, but this one was just perfect!)

said love affair is with button bay state park in vergennes. i think the pictures (yes! i took them!) tell the story of it's wonder quite well. it's worth the drive and once you get there worth the walk down the nature trail...trust me. very well worth it.

what about you all? any one fall in love or make any life changing new discoveries?!!?

(also please note the best street sign sighting ever...slow bad roads...to the point, just as they should be.)

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picnic in a box.

in my morning commute around blog land, i stopped by happiness is and came across these super cute and fully biodegradable picnic boxes by three blind ants.

you know i love a good picnic, and these goodie boxes just makes it all that much easier and all that much more fun! just whip open that cardboard briefcase and you have a complete set up for a picnic for two. it include all the tools and accesories needed - all you need to do is pack it with your favorite treats and find your favorite someone to share the evening with. done and done. picnic perfection in a box, what is not to love about that?

{images via the boxsal blog}

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VTuesday Shoesday

to make up for the fact that i was a terrible blogger last week (and seeing as 4th of july is one of my favorite holidays) i am going to keep the patriotic theme alive for the next few days and try to celebrate all the things i love about this hot, steamy, all american season...

on my travels last week i snuck in a trip (or 2...) to my favorite store in the world and snagged this pair of breezy summer espadrilles. wearing them with a red sundress might be overkill now that the holiday is behind us...but we'll see where the day takes us and just how festive i can make things!

{via target}

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happy canada day!

in an ode to my very close northern neighbors, i want to wish you all a very happy canada day. and to all my officially canadian friends (you know who you are) tell me more! i need to be more prepared next year....what is your favorite canada day tradition? what else do i need to know?

{via}

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july is...

july can melt like lemon drops.

she can see both sides.

july is an extrovert.

she believes in growth.

july goes barefoot most of the time.

her arms stretch to the sky.

july is the life of the party.

she is the woman on the moon.

july has a big crush on louis armstrong.

she writes her own songs. and sings them.

july is most graceful in hot weather.

she is an invincible summer.

she knows the secret of being happy.

july has one of everything in red.

july believes in long days and blue skies.

she dances barefoot.

july makes its own popsicles.

she wonders why.

{calendar via etsy & who is june courtesy of a 2006 KOCO NY calendar}

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one hot gypsy summer.

i am a gypsy. between work and all sorts of fun personal commitments (showers, weddings, parties, oh my!) i am on the road for much of the summer. which on one hand makes me really sad, as summer in vermont is the greatest, but on the other hand, the silver lining is that i get travel to all sorts of other fabulous places throughout new england. so, if it is ok with you all, i am going to take you along for the ride - hope you don't mind! and please, if you have any must see sights or must visit locations, or must eat meals, let me know. i need some help as i wander. and, while i do love vermont, i also love the vermont state of mind - and that, my friends, you can take anywhere!

so in the spirit of list making, here is some of what i am looking forward to this summer:

• spending many a beach day on nantucket, followed by sunburned trips to bartlett farm (rivaling those in vermont for the best farmstand of all time)
• getting my twirl on at one fabulous wedding here
• sporting this tote bag all summer as the official gypsy carryall
• getting my fill of microbrews at the vermont brewers festival
• stalking my girl crush, emerson made, at her portsmouth, nh hideaway - hopefully just in time for the august launch of her clothing line (eek!)
• discovering the best local ice cream every place i go. an excellent summer goal, if i may say so myself
• making these summery cocktails. new motto: have mason jars, will travel
• trying to get to maine for this, which just might be the tastiest festival of all time
• convincing mr. frederickson to hike mt washington with me and our fun and fabulous friends (i need a little help on this one)
• enjoy every second of this fleeting season here in new england...it will be september before we know it. although, i think fall is pretty fabulous too...

so, what about you? what are you looking forward to this summer?!

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wine wednesdays - sofia

i have a very soft spot in my heart for sofia champagne.

just about a year ago, mr. frederickson and i celebrated the end of a really great day by sitting on our favorite front porch and sipping this summer bubbly out of plastic cups. it had been a long day, but really one of the best ever and we celebrated our efforts and the beginning of something that we thought was going to be a really fun adventure (and trust me, it has been!)

so, i think, tonight in celebration of what has been the best year ever, i will pour myself a glass (or a plastic cup) and toast to us. we've done good. really good.

and perhaps a vermont picnic with the portable version (turquoise straws included, obviously) will be somewhere in our future as well. a girl can dream....

{images via here, here & here}

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summer in vermont means...

...that it's officially creemee season. yup, you heard right, creemee season.

so what is a creemee, (or kreemee or creamie or creame) you ask? well simply put it's just the most wonderful summer treat in the world. some may think it is just soft serve ice cream (silly flatlanders) but here in vermont, a creemee is so much more than that - it's an institution. a frozen ice cream treat of an institution. a tradition unlike any other. and one of the few things we know for certain is that when the creemee stands open their doors in june - you know, without a doubt that summer is officially here.

click here for a list of creemee stands, and to read about the creemee back story (yes there is a backstory) click here. oh it is going to be a long, but oh so educational, summer! and i can't wait!

{image via weheartit}

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balloon festival.

i am spending this dreary thursday morning dreaming about balloons and lots of them. normally this would be a bit weird, but since tomorrow is opening night at the 31st annual quechee balloon festival, it's just a little less awkward (or atleast i hope it is)

so i hope the skies are clear this weekend - because spending an evening watching hundreds of balloons ascend from the sky sounds pretty spectacular to me. whether or not we are brave enough to go for a ride, that's another story...but even with two feet on the ground, this festival has plenty to offer. i promise, it will not disappoint. hope to see you there!

{images via vt dark star}

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crossing my crossables...

{leap of faith via weheartit}

the sun is just beginning to shine up here in vermont and i am crossing all my crossables that it stays out all weekend! so, i am taking a leap of faith that the weather might cooperate and that i will be able to cross a few (just a few) things off my summer to do list, including the following:

• take advantage of vermont days and enjoy a free visit to one of the 52 of state parks
• make these yummy treats for saturday's barbeque, or if time gets away from me, i might just bring ice cream sandwiches from this magical little spot.
• pick some strawberries. 'tis the season (-:
• pretend i am a music buff and listen to some jazz at the closing night of the discover burlington jazz festival.
• drive around looking for some curbside treasures like the vintage ladder this lucky lady found.
• drag mr. frederickson to the waitsfield farmer's market. my pitch will go a little something like this: c'mon, honey, it will be fun. i even promise to buy something and not just waste time looking at all the tasty treats and perfectly ripe vegetables. and then i will take you to an even tastier brunch at red hen bakery before we head home to for beers and world cup soccer watching...ppllleeeaasssee! what do you think? will it work?

so here's to making the best of what we get this weekend! i hope yours is all you wish it to be.

XOXO

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wine wednesdays - summer chill.

being that it is picnic season and all, i just fell in love with this mini version of vermont ice - a locally made (obviously) dessert wine. the pocket sized bottle comes in a cute and protective carrying case, so you can be sure it makes it to the picnic destination in one piece.

vermont ice is the signature varietal from boyden valley winery. it is crafted from the le crescent grape and "maintains a liveliness that is unsurpassed. the unique mountain climate - early november freezes and loamy glacial soil - give vermont ice a higher sugar and alcohol content than most ice wines, as it delivers concentrated flavors of apricot, green apple, and pears." can you say yum!?

i think i just might have to scoot out of work just a few minutes early today, pick up a few mini bottles and head on home to trick someone into a surprise picnic dinner (shh! i don't want mr. frederickson or my boss to know my little plan!)

happy summer! XOXO

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VTuesday Shoesday

over the past few weeks i have been searching for the perfect pair of cute summer sneakers. because, as much as it pains me to say this, there are some days that flip flops just don't cut it. whether it be a weather related (a summer cold front or rain storm), an activity (strawberry picking or frisbee throwing) or pure vanity (dirty, achy feet or unpainted toes) sometimes you just need a little more substance below your ankles.

so, needless to say, i was thrilled to discover the current giveaway of these beauties (frye does sneakers too?! who knew) over at unruly things. just leave a comment and tell them which color you would choose and why. frye is also hosting a giveaway on their facebook page to win 6 pairs of shoes for summer! check out the details here.

if you aren't lucky enough to win these precious little sneaks (or just can't wait till another minute!) swing by the shoe shop on church street to purchase a pair.

{image via frye}

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