Back to School Clothes

Here's what I will be wearing on the first day of school! This is the only day of school I am every really excited for, when you get to see people you have not seen in forever. Your only homework is normally to read your syllabus, or write about yourself. I could not find the actually jean jacket I have, which I bought from Urban Outfitters, and slightly DIYed. I am so excited that I finally found somewhere in my area to monogram my backpack! Everywhere in my town was having issues with their monogramming machines, so I had to go somewhere a little further than I would have liked. But, I'm glad I did it because it looks so cute!

First Day of School by kelswills featuring an opi nail color

Second Day of School! I love this outfit that I made online, but unfortunatley the jean jacket and black tank top in this are out of stock. So I will use my old gladiators,  Free People black tank top, and a jean jacket I got from Revolve Clothing. SO this is basically what my outfit will look like, but slightly different!

2nd school day by kelswills featuring a long white skirt

Hope y'all like it!

XOXOXO,
Kels

Summer Recap

Summer is basically over for me, and has been for the last week and a half because I have had volleyball basically all day and the weather has not been very nice. So, I have decided to do  summer recap (in preparation for the hoards of people at school who will ask me what I did this summer).

JUNE:
-I visited Wake Forest (blog post here) and Davidson (blog post here)
-I went to Duck, NC with kHr.

-I visited William and Mary (blog post here)

JULY:
-I got my drivers license!
-I had a French Exchange student, Maélia, which was a life-changing experience. Through this, my family became really close with the other Frenchie, Alizée, and her host mWd's family. Even though the exchange itself was so exhausting and at times I thought I could not take it anymore, it was nice that I made a new friend from my area, and I always had someone to empathize with me. I will never forget either sister who came to my hometown for two weeks. (blog posts here and here)

-I went to a volleyball camp that really kicked my butt! I am glad I went, though because it really helped me get through tryouts.
-I freaked out over the new royal baby, Prince George!

AUGUST:
-I obsessively watched Desiree on the Bachelorette.
-I had the time of my life in Nantucket, my favorite place on earth.

Brant Point Lighthouse

Excuse the weird editing, it was really dark!

Last Day

-Volleyball Tryouts and Practices

And that's my summer! I'm sad its over, but I am excited to get Junior year over with. I'm ready for college!!

XOXOXO,
Kelsey

Nantucket Shopping

Nantucket is honestly probably my favorite place on earth. Preppy people parade down the streets, and sometimes it feels like a runway show, where you can only dream of owning their clothes. Another fave is that literally every house has the most gorgeous hydrangeas (my all time favorite flower). Here are my family's favorite stores on the island.

STORES

Sunken Ship
Quick Description: Crowded souvenir shop
More Info: My brother loves this store. Me? Not so much, its just really crowded with stuff and with people. They sell Rainbows (probably the only thing that I have bought in the store), along with a random assortment of other items that appeal to tourists, like hats, shirts, and random electronics.
What We Bought: A new Nantucket sticker for our car, and a shirt for a family friend

Jack Wills
Quick Description: British clothes
More Info: I think I mainly like this store because of what the employees do when they are not selling clothes in the store. They throw the best parties where hand out free "party pants" (neon Jack Wills underwear), and hire college age kids who know how to have a good time. The clothes are pretty cute, but anything I love does not fit me well and the clothes that do are just kind of blah. However, every teen goes here at least once during their stay.
What We Bought: This year... nothing! Last year I got a floral shirt, underwear, nail "varnish", and makeup and my dad got a swimsuit

Murray's Toggery
Quick Description: Great for Guys, Blah for Girls
More Info: Have you been craving a Nantucket Red clothing item? If so, you can find one here. They have great preppy clothes for guys. My dad and brother can always find something good here. However, I find the women's clothing section geared towards older women. The only thing that I can ever find here are Jack Rogers sandals. My mom likes their driving shoes. They sell a little bit of Vineyard Vines clothing, but there is a VV on the island that I like better!
What We Bought: This year I got Jacks, my mom got sandals, my dad got a belt, and my brother got a shirt and a belt.

My new Jacks!

Vineyard Vines
Quick Description: Guys can get anything here
More Info: One of my favorite places to shop on the island. I recently got a "frocket" (front pocket) tee shirt from there and will soon get a hat. They have the best clothes for guys. BEST. Shorts in every color, ties in every print, and everything else a guy summering on Nantucket could possibly need, except for a sports coat! A great place to buy tunics for women, and everything is pretty cute, if not expensive.
What We Bought: I got a Tee Shirt and a hat, my mom got a cover up, and my brother got a sweater.

Lilly Pulitzer:
Quick Description: C'mon, its Lilly!
More Info: Yes, Nantucket has a Lilly! In August, they have huge sales. They have something for every amount of money you want to spend.
What We Bought: This year, we did not get any Lilly in Nantucket, because I already got some earlier in the summer, and didn't really want to dish out money for any more this time.

Blue Beetle
Quick Description: Preppy clothing and cute jewelry and monograms
More Info: Some of the stuff in this store I really liked, but some of it was that stretchy and plastic-y feeling material (I don't remember what it is called specifically)
What We Bought: My mom bought a striped sweatshirt and a Nantucket keychain and I bought a cute pair of starfish earrings!

Current Vintage
Quick Description: Wine Shop that sells clothes
More Info: I feel like I always am in here with my dad, while he is buying wine, I am looking at their rack of vintage Lilly dresses. They also sell other random vintage clothing. I think the only new clothes they sell are Genetic Denim jeans! They actually were the store that introduced me to this brand a few years back. I did not buy my Genetic Denim here though, because a pair of jeans normally costs around $170 from them, which I do not like to shell out for denim. I bought them on sale online for around $100 instead!
What We Bought: My dad bought wine.

C Wonder
Quick Description: Expensive, cute clothing not the best quality
More Info: I first heard about C Wonder about two years ago in the style section of the New York Times (my addiction!!). C Wonder opened their Nantucket location last year, but I never had a chance to stop in. This year I finally did, and it was kind of disappointing for me in the clothing department, but I absolutely loved their jewelry.
What We Bought: My mom purchased a pretty navy v-neck dress that was on sale, and I bought the most adorable neon and gold bracelet (shown below).

I am now in the process of getting ready for school. I will miss my time this summer in Nantucket every second, and I look forward to returning soon to my favorite place on Earth!

XOXOXO,
Kelsey

Nantucket Guide: Part Two Food

Here is my second installment of my Nantucket Guide! It's all about food, and my favorite restaurants on the island. I did not name all of them, as I will say a few times, because I love so many restaurants here, that it is hard to name all of them!

FOOD

Petticoat Bakery

Location: Town

Info: Great bakery, its the best bread on the island! It can get packed in the morning.

What I Get: I like the baguettes, my mom likes the chocolate croissant, my dad likes the scones, and my brother likes the ham and cheese croissant.

Millies

Location: Madaket

Info: They serve a Mexican cuisine inside, and outside they sell salads and sandwiches. Upstairs there are great views of the ocean. They also own a small market next door where they sell ice cream, pastries from Petticoat Bakery (located in town), ping pong balls, smoothies, chips, prepared lunches, milkshakes, water toys, and other random items!

What I Order: Cheese Quesadillas with no sour cream, a side of yellow rice, and the chips and salsa as an appetizer!

Juice Bar
Location: Broad Street
Info: The best ice cream on the island. They make their own waffle cones daily. This is also one of the most popular attractions on the island, and there is almost always a line stretching out the door! Unless you are fine with waiting, I would avoid trekking over here around dinner time!
What I Order: Cake Batter ice cream in a waffle cone

Dune
Location: Town
Info: I went here for the first time this year. I was EXTREMELY skeptical at first because I am such a picky eater, but my meal actually turned out to be good.
What I Ordered: Vegetable Risotto and the Cinnamon Donut

The Vegetable Risotto: Before

After!

Cinnamon donut with a fried apple and chocolate and caramel sauces

Lobster Trap
Location: Town (Near Wharf)
Info: This is one place my family always goes when we are in Nantucket. If you go early you are sure to get a table but once it's around 6:30-7:30 you will probably have to wait 30++ minutes.
What We Order: My mom, dad, and brother all get the 1 and a half pound boiled lobster, and I get three sides, normally corn, asparagus, and the amazing sweet potato fries.

Lobster from the Lobster Trap

Pi Pizzeria
Location: Outside of Town
Info: This has been a favorite of mine for many years now. They serve really good pizza (with really good pepperoni) that I ate all the time when I was not a vegetarian. Depending on when you come in, it might be really empty or extremely packed! On the side of the restaurant they also have a deli shop where you can buy Italian cookies, pastas, sauces, tee shirts, and house made desserts!
What We Order: my brother gets a caesar salad (note that they are TINY!), and he shares a pepporoni pizza with my mom and dad. This time I got the tuscan white bean soup and penne with marinara sauce. The soup was really good, and I don't even like spinach!

Tuscan White Bean Soup

Brant Point Grill
Location: Brant Point (on the Harbor)
Info: This restaurant is owned and operated by the luxury Nantucket resort "the White Elephant". Its a pretty nice restaurant with great views and equally great food. My family loves to come here and take pictures!
What I order: I get three sides (I basically order sides at every restaurant that is not Japanese or Italian), asparagus, edamame succotash, and sweet potato fries.

Jetties Beach Restaurant
Location: Jetties Beach
Info: I kind of mentioned this place in the Beaches post, but it's so fun! Very family and kid friendly. Sometimes they have live musicians playing while you eat. A wide range of foods are offered. Mainly families come here, but I have scene twenty-somethings all hanging out for a good drink and bite to eat, as well!
What I Ordered: Pasta with Marinara sauce

LoLa 41
Location: Edge of Brant Point
Info: They serve a wide variety of different foods. They have a sushi chef, but also serve burgers. Their philosophy is that they are serving food from all over the Longitude and Latitude 41... (I think I got that right?). The only way to get a reservation (unless you have a coveted "in", as much of the elite on this island seem to have) is to wait in line in front of the restuarant when they open their doors for reservations at 4:00. You can also call at 4, but they take people who are waiting outside first. Very hip, you'll see all different types of people here!
What I Ordered: Miso Soup, Edamame, and a side of French Fries (which is huge! I shared with my mom and dad, and we barely finished it!)

Brotherhood of Thieves
Location: Town
Info: Great laid-back lunch spot. One of my favorite stops! Right near the Juice bar and Nantucket Bookworks, my favorite bookstore. Its really cool because it is actually located the the basement of one of the buildings!
What I Order: The nachos! (With no guac, sour cream, and jalepenos)

Sea Dog Brew Pub
Location: South Water Street (Town)
Info: This restaurant has changed many times. This year, it's Sea Dog, which serves various kinds of beers and spirits. The food was okay. My mom, dad, and I thought it was fine, but my brother did not care for it.
What We Ordered: My mom ordered a cheeseburger, my dad got a burger, I had a black bean veggie burger (it was alright, I do not normally like veggie burgers) with really good sweet potato fries! My brother ordered BBQ I think? He did not like it, but he did like the homemade chips!

Easy Street Cantina
Location: Corner of Broad Street and Easy Street
Info: A few years ago, there were two restaurants on Broad Street that are no longer there, one was a Mexican place called Tacos Tacos and the other one (I think) was called Broad Street Grill. They merged, and now there is Easy Street Cantina. It serves mexican food, and run of the mill New Orleans-inspired fast food. Although it is fast food, this is Nantucket, so prices can be kind of steep. Depending on what you order, the food can be good, or not-so-good.
What We Order: I get a side of the Rice & Beans Mix and tacos, and my brother normally gets something with chicken, or tacos as well.

Other restaurants that I did not write about include Steamboat Pizza (Broad Street), CRU (Wharf, in Town), Sophie T's Pizza, Fog Island Cafe (Town), among many others. Just because I did not list a restaurant does not mean that I did not like it or have not gone there. I have been going to Nantucket for so long that I have been to a lot of restaurants on the island!

My parent's favorite restaurant is Oran Mor, but I have never been there! Its fancy and French. I have been to many many more restaurants than this in Nantucket, but these are some of my favorites. I am sure that after reading this you can see just how much of a picky eater I am. Do you have any questions, or things to add? Please let me know in a comment below!

XOXOXO,
Kels

Nantucket Guide: Part One Beaches

Because I have been to Nantucket so many times and love it so much, I thought it would be fun to do kind of my own guide to Nantucket. Here is my quick guide to Nantucket's beaches! I did not include all of them but these are the most memorable to me! In past years I have biked to all of them, but this year my family either walked, drove (we rented a Jeep), or took the "Wave" (Nantucket's inexpensive bus).

BEACHES

Children's Beach

Quick Description: On the harbor, food and playground for kids.

More Info: They used to sell amazing donuts at the restaurant, but that was a few years back and since then it has changed hands a few times. They have a playground that I went to when I was little. The beach is not actually on the ocean but on the little harbor so there are basically no waves, so thats why it is perfect for small kids. There is also a park attached where there is a stage that occasionally has concerts. I went to one concert here last year and it was full of young families looking for some downtime.

Jetties Beach

Quick Description: Tourist friendly, everyone knows it.

More Info: I go here a few times during my stay on the island. They have a restaurant on the beach that serves food throughout the day. It's nice because its the closest beach to town, and very convenient for people staying at Brant Point. At night, its a great place for some cheap-ish food, where many teenagers, young adults, and families go. Its not too fancy and a great place to show off your new Vineyard Vines shorts/tee shirts.

Steps Beach

Quick Description: Pretty quiet beach, same strip as Jetties

More Info: This is the more quiet version of Jetties Beach, simply because it is along the same strip of sand! It is named for the steps that you have to walk down to get to it. There is not a bathroom or any food sold here.

Surfside Beach

Quick Description: Crowded beach with big waves

More Info: Great for people watching, and if you like pretty big waves I would definitely check this one out! There are lifeguards and a place to buy food, as well.

Madaket Beach

Quick Description: Not too crowded, but pretty crowded beach. My fave!

More Info: The water here is gorgeous! They have bathrooms, and the waves are not really big, but do exist. There are lifeguards. I love this beach!

Side Note: Something else my family does is rent a boat from Brant Point Marine and go to the points! We also go around the harbor and look at some of the gorgeous homes.

Brant Point Marine

Look out for posts about Nantucket's food and shopping!

XOXOXO,

Kelsey