The best of Avalon, via Instagram
First of all: hello! It’s been a while, and I feel like so many things have been happening behind-the-scenes over here. I’ll dish on all of it soon, but my current mantra is I can handle this situation with grace. I’m repeating it over and over again until I believe it, and I’m reminding myself that all glory comes from daring to begin. Changes, they are here and they are happening!
Mostly, I’m still daydreaming about the wonderful week that I spent in Avalon, New Jersey with my boyfriend and his family. I still can’t believe this little gem is only two and a half hours by car away from Manhattan: it seems like we hearkened back to a different place and time, one where only cash is accepted and the longest lines to be found are for sticky buns at 8 a.m. and ice cream cones at 8 p.m., and the best dinner is found on the backyard BBQ. I’m so grateful that I was able to experience this family tradition–they’ve been going for years and years, even before my boyfriend was born! It was the perfect way to wrap up such an excellent summer.
I woke up early every morning so that I could take a nice long walk on the beach by myself. 
The first morning I took headphones out of habit, but the rest of the mornings, I listened to the waves, smiled and said good morning to the (few) people I passed, wriggled my toes in the sand, watched the birds flutter by. There’s no better way to start the day! 
Kohler’s Bakery is the hot place in town: I arrived right on the dot of 8 a.m. when it opens, and I was still 29th in line one day and 51st the next! Even though the wait is a little bit nuts–and crowded with toddlers still in their pajamas–it’s totally worth it for the sticky buns, cream-filled donuts, cinnamon buns and donuts. Certainly not the healthiest start to the day, but definitely the most delicious–especially when you come home to a pot of hot coffee brewing.
Nothing I love more than a sandy beach and the sun shining and a fully-loaded Kindle. I tore through The Boys in the Boat this week, and can’t recommend it enough. 
This crew! My boyfriend’s sister and her boyfriend are so laid-back and such excellent cooks, and we had such a fun time carpooling down from the city. The three of them bodysurfed all of the waves while I read my book on the shore, and we spent the evenings BBQing and drinking beers and going to the arcade. 
Is it weird to say that one of the things I was most excited to do was laundry? It’s not every day that you have a sunny backyard line to hang your whites on, and I just bought a couple of crisp new Everlane white tees and tanks. So pleasing to see them all shining bright in the sunshine!
Backyard happy hour! The fridge was kept well-stocked with IPAs and sauvignon blanc, and whiskey for the boys.
One morning, I set my alarm especially early so that I could watch the sunrise over the ocean (#seemoresunrises, you guys!). Totally worth falling asleep at 9 p.m. that night.
This was my first experience with the “beach tag” concept: you have to pay a daily, weekly, monthly or all-summer fee to use the beaches. It’s a little foreign to us Californians and our belief in free public beaches BUT it did mean that the beaches were extraordinarily well-kept, mostly free of litter and regularly staffed with lifeguards. 
Thanks again to my boyfriend and his stellar family for introducing me to Avalon! It was the best ever!
What’s your favorite photo of Avalon?
