time at the beach

friends of ours were kind enough to gift my family a few days at their gorgeous beach house in avalon, nj.  despite the fact that the wind kept us from lounging on the beach, we enjoyed long walks, exploring town, and quite a bit of poolside relaxing!  below are just a few images of our time in avalon.

avalon beach

spiked arnold palmers -- the beach is better with cocktails

gorgeous bay house that we spotted while walking

ash & han before their bike ride (my friend and my sis)

coffees while waiting for breakfast at uncle bill's pancake house

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last beach weekend

this past weekend craig & i took our good friends (cate & chad) up on their offer to enjoy a final beach weekend at chad’s parents’ beach house.

we headed down early saturday – and after a bit of traffic – arrived in seaville (outside of ocean city, nj) around 11am.

after a quick change into bathing suits, we headed to the beach.  we spent the afternoon enjoying some sun, sand and delicious sandwiches cate had prepared.  turkey, tomato, baby greens and cheddar on whole grain bread smeared with mayo & grainy mustard.  sandwiches on the beach always taste great, but this one was particularly good.  and, we even had the privilege of watching an ocean-front wedding ceremony when we first arrived!

saturday evening found us back at the house for grilled turkey burgers and a garden-fresh salad.  after a few vodka cocktails, card games and a few rounds of “never have I ever…” ensued.  fun and very college-esque : )

sunday morning, we played tennis.  boys vs. girls.  cate and i are sad to report we lost our one set match 8-6…

early afternoon, we headed to downtown ocean city for lunch at a quaint sidewalk café.  we laughed as we placed our orders, realizing that both cate & i and both guys ordered the same things.

cate and i opted for the veggie-bomb sandwich on pumpernickel bread.  the sandwich was overwhelming huge…and delicious.  homemade bread piled high with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, mixed greens, sprouts and avocado.  finished off with a bit of pesto mayo and provolone cheese.  omg.  amazing.  the guys opted for grilled chicken quesadillas, which did not disappoint, either.

the veggie bomb : )

after lunch, a long walk down the board walk reminded me of childhood summers.  the cool ocean breeze masked the hotness of the sun, and we had fun people watching before wrapping up our day.

once back at the house, craig and i quickly packed up, hoping to beat the impending rain which was threatening to slow our drive.  despite our best efforts, the rain won, and we slowly made our way back home.

it was almost fitting that our glorious (last) beach weekend was washed away by cold rain, reminding us that summer’s drawing to a close. 

craig & me

but…summer’s not over quite yet…i have my bachelorette extravaganza next weekend!!!  and i cannot wait!

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farmers market & a waffle

coffees at meil's

so yesterday, craig, hannah (my sister) and i ventured down to a local (indoor) farmers market near my parents’ house.  this awesome little foodie haven is only open fridays through sundays, but it does not disappoint.  fair trade coffee.  fresh baked croissants.  local cheeses.  homemade pies.  organic veggies.  gourmet truffles.  i could go on…and on…

farmers markets are just delightful.  not only do they give lots of tasty free samples (hello, cheesecake), they also offer a chance to meet (and support) local purveyors.  i had the pleasure of chatting with a girl working “the painted truffle” booth.  she gave us lots of yummy treats (like a taste of an apricot-cognac french macaroon and some sipping chocolate i.e. dark chocolate melted into milk, swiss miss will never suffice again…) and told us all about the owner & head chocolatier.  a local guy who used to be a graphic designer and now makes amazingly delicious (and unique) chocolate treats.  very cool.  anyone care for a s’mores truffle?  umm…yes, please.

the painted truffle's lovely boxes

french-style maccaroons

but i have to admit, the whole reason for our trip yesterday was not (solely) out of the goodness of my heart to support the local community.  i went for a waffle.  not just any waffle.  an exquisite, life-changing waffle.  made with dough, not batter, nina’s waffles are divine.  unlike their airy belgian cousins, these waffles are dense and have an almost gooey, buttery center.  their sweet exterior “crust” is perfection…they need no toppings (though, of course, you can get them with nutella, whipped cream, fruit or pb&j).  they are unlike any waffle i’ve ever eaten.  ever.  i ordered it plain.  craig ordered one smeared with nutella.  i ate mine and ½ of his…

nina's waffles

me & my waffle

if you’re ever in hunterdon county, nj near the small town of stockton on a friday, saturday or sunday, i highly recommend that you stop by said charming farmers market and hunt down the waffle lady (fyi she’s in the back).  you’ll be hooked for life.  (if waffles traveled better, i would have totally turned this post into a giveaway…).

The Best Tastes-Like-Mom-Made-It Breakfast

For the absolute best home-style breakfast, head down to Meil's (pronounced "Meals") in Stockton, NJ. Situated on the corner of Bridge Street and Main Street in this quaint river town, Meil's has been keeping patrons full and happy with their delicious baked goods, hearty egg dishes, fresh-squeezed orange juice and to-die-for potato pancakes for 18 years. They offer generous portions of mouth-watering favorites as well as some welcome twists. Croissant French toast, anyone? Whatever you order, be sure to save room for one of their delectable, buttery biscuits topped with their homemade raspberry jam. There's nothing better!

The décor harkens back to a 1950s Mom and Pop diner. The mismatched fiesta ware and eclectic art set a comfortable, homey tone for this charming, family restaurant. If you have children in tow, order them Meil's "famous" hot chocolate topped with homemade marshmallows – it's sure to please adult taste buds as well! Though I prefer their scrumptious breakfasts above all else, Meil's also offers tasty lunch options and delicious dinners. All meals at Meil's are reasonably priced and big enough for two! So bring your appetite and enjoy!

Oh, and if you're hoping to enjoy a breakfast there on the weekends, be forewarned, they do not accept reservations and get very busy! So, head there ahead of time, give your name to the hostess and enjoy wandering around adorable Stockton. Trust me; your breakfast will be well worth the wait.

Main & Bridge Streets, Stockton, NJ 08559, 609-397-8033, www.MeilsRestaurant.com

For more information about Cailen Ascher Design or my book, Well-Designed Living, visit http://www.cailenascher.bravehost.com/ or email CailenAscher@gmail.com.

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