A Girls Day on ACK — Parker the Prepster

Whenever I'm asked the question: "Sarah, what's your idea of a perfect day?" - I always answer, "shopping and eating in a coastal town with beautiful 70 degree weather". Basically, I've been describing last Wednesday my entire life...

Elissa and I traveled together from Quincy to Hyannis, where we met Lei Ann, Kara, Martha, Sovann, Thida, and Savath. These beautiful Boston bloggers kept me laughing the whole time, which made the hour ferry ride with Hy-Line Cruises seem extra fast! Before we knew it, we were setting foot on the charming cobblestone streets of Nantucket...

Once arriving to Nantucket we met the adorable Bekah, our NIR Retail ambassador for the day, and began our adventure around the island: weaving in and out of restaurants and bopping around boutiques. It was like the weekend came early!

Johnston's of Elgin: Our first stop was cashmere heaven. This quaint shop and its prime location sells luxurious cashmere and knitwear for both men and women. I can't wait to wear my plaid scarf on repeat this fall/winter. Their sweaters are also perfect for those chilly summer nights!

Salt Boutique: Our second stop gave me so much inspiration for both style and home decor - do you see that pink pouf and those brass glass display boxes?! Besides making me want to redecorate our home, Salt Boutique has a fantastic selection of bathing suits, denim shorts, dresses, cover-ups.. the list goes on. I walked away with a fringe kimono - perfect for the beach and the city in the heat!

The Tavern: We stopped at this local favorite for lunch. With great indoor seating and a large outdoor dining area - you can't go wrong with this spot and their fresh Nantucket seafood. I ordered one of their specials that day: a massive turkey and pepperjack cheese sandwich with a cup of chowder (yum!) and side salad. I would take Cam back here in a heartbeat. The girls' lobster rolls and seafood platters looked delicious!

Beauty Counter: The lovely arrangement of hydrangeas initially lured us into this pop-up shop, but we were even more intrigued when we realized their emphasis on safe skincare and beauty products. This company has banned over 1500 ingredients and has set a new standard for safer products. We had the pleasure of trying their Lustro Face Oil - it smells incredible!

The Skinny Dip: I love unique, one-of-a-kind items - items that are so special that you are constantly questioned: "where did you get that?" This gorgeous space boasts these items and more! What started as a place for local artists to share their creations has turned into a stunning boutique with the same hand crafted pieces, chic clothing, Serena & Lily home decor, and more (including events such as Yoga and Trunk Shows)! I could've purchased the whole store, but walked away with a signature t-shirt and an adorable planter, which I later named "Marge".

Love Shack: This little "shack" may not look like a lot from the outside, but inside is the sweetest shop owner and founder (Lilith Guerrera), meaningful pendants, and yummy smelling candles. Each pendant is engraved with a quote that will stick with you throughout your life. I selected a small sand dollar that says, "my heart is in the sands" as I will forever be a coastal girl. You must check out this lovely little shop and find a pendant that speaks to you!

Best of the Beach: Growing up in coastal NC, I often frequented stores that offered a little bit of everything when shopping for gifts. Best of the Beach is exactly that, a collection of items from home decor to bright beach cover-ups, Nantucket essentials to their signature tote bags.

Aunt Leah's Fudge: This place is famous for fudge and rightfully so... they also offer equally as good chocolate covered cranberries in both dark and milk chocolate. I had to try the Green Monster Mint & Chips (after living in the Fenway for 2 years) and could've eaten the whole block. A tiny place with the best vibe, all brought to you by Aunt Leah herself!

Oath Pizza: ...it may appear that we ate all day and had fudge prior to pizza, but YOLO! Cam and I are pizza connoisseurs and this may just be the best pizza I've ever had. The crust is PERFECT and the ingredient selection is creative. I ordered their special (clearly I always go with the specials) - the Porky Fig. Can you say figs, bacon, and balsamic - oh my?! I had to send a picture of my pizza to Cam and even he said that looks like the most amazing pizza. Eating cheesy goodness on the water has a special touch, so visit their Nantucket location, but... you're in luck, they also have locations in Chestnut Hill, Davis Square, and South Station.

After eating WAY too much pizza (did I mention that it was the best?), we piled ourselves and our purchases on to the Hy-line ferry, already making plans to return...