Jersey Girl

{Me at our Jersey Shore home in a Free People dress available here, Chloé two-tone sandals available here}

{Mom’s hydrangeas}

Here I am — sans makeup, a pro blow, accessories  — on my parent’s front porch in Cape May, NJ. Because in Cape May, that’s how I roll. And let me tell you, it’s a wonderful change of pace from Miami. There’s something to be said about the simple life in a sleepy town. From walking barefoot on mom’s lawn peppered with hydrangeas to visiting my favorite restaurants to showing my own kids my favorite Victorian homes — it’s always nice for this City Mouse to go Small Seashore Town Mouse.

If you didn’t know by now, both of my parents are Greek (opa!) and I was raised in the Victorian, suspended-in-time city of Cape May, NJ. I often tell friends that this is one of the Universe’s greatest gifts to me because growing up in small town instills certain traits in an individual which big city living will never afford.

I grew up in a seaside town where we left the doors unlocked. Where it’s safe and close enough to saunter to and from elementary school alone. Where seasons truly change. Where bicycle riding is the transportation of choice. Where people are in no hurry and are genuinely kind to one another. Where all the businesses are mom-and-pop run. Where lobsters are the size of boogie boards. Where cheese steak hoagies are really cheese steak hoagies, for chrissakes!

So what I’m saying is: I’ll always be a Jersey Girl at heart. And I’m so happy to be here if for only two sweet weeks — sans makeup and all that other fussy stuff.