Happy July 4th Eve, friends!
If I’m ranking my favorite holidays (as you know I love to do!), July 4th ranks really darn high. Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving…and then July 4th!
I hope you get outside, eat something yummy, watch some fireworks, and celebrate America turning 250 this weekend.
Yes, yes, and YES!
This morning, bright and early, we are heading to the airport to pick up our sweet Kensington. Last night, she took the red eye from San Fransisco and is landing here in just a minute. We are so so excited to wrap up summer on Nantucket as a family of six.
After today, I am taking this weekend AND Monday off to fully enjoy my family and the holiday. I will be back here with you on Tuesday. In the meantime, I hope you have a WONDERFUL holiday weekend!
As always, I’m linking up with my friends Andrea and Erika and sharing my favorite things from this week!
Well this was certainly, certainly my favorite thing from this last week…
…our sweet friends Matt and Courtney came to visit!
These are some of our dearest and most favorite friends…who happen to live five doors down from us in McKinney. We were SO happy they came to visit!
We had the best three days showing them around Nantucket and taking them to all of our favorite places.
It was raining on the night we were heading to Galley Beach, and I even said in the car that I was bummed they wouldn’t get to see it in all its glory…but as soon as we arrived, the rain stopped and never came back. It was a spectacular evening! Because of the rain, they didn’t have anyone seated outside of the tent, but our table was right on the edge, so our views were spectacular.
And thanks to the rain, we even got a rainbow.
Such a sweet, sweet night with sweet friends.
We LOVE Galley Beach! If you want a little taste of it, read Elin Hilderbrand’s book The Blue Bistro, that is what she calls this restaurant in her book. It’s one of my faves!
A photo of the tent as we were walking back from taking pics.
We also took Matt and Courtney…
…out to Sconset too. If you missed yesterday’s post, I share details about this sweet little area, its market, and shops and the beautiful rose covered cottages.
All of the homes are especially amazing this time of year.
This week, I also shared my FIRST TIMER’S GUIDE TO NANTUCKET that you can catch too!
A few what I’ve been wearing from this week…
THESE CLIPS! Aren’t they so cute?! Lauren had one in her hair on a walk a few weeks ago, and I thought they were so much fun for summer, that I bought some too. I wear them around the house, walking the dogs…just cute and easy. My girls have been loving them too.
THIS STRIPED DRESS for running errands and heading to lunch. So cute!
THIS DRESS is so cute and so comfy!
I love the little print.
THIS DRESS I could live in! It is so so comfy and cool (because who wants to be hot?!).
Navy and white stripes? Yes, please!
THIS LINEN DRESS for the summertime win!
And finally…
THIS DRESS with the adorable…
…seashells at the bottom. So so cute!
MY EARRINGS have been a nice little pop this summer too 🙂 .
Mades and Ashby started watching this this week…
…and I was listening/watching while I worked. We have only watched the first three episodes so far, but it’s really cute!
I have shared The Road to Le Papillon with you many times before. I love the podcaster/blogger Shannon Ables and have read and loved all of her books.
This third book…
…consists of daily entries for living your best, most present, most inspiring life. I read each day’s entry at the end of my morning quiet time. I began it on June 26, 2022 and as you can see, I just finished it for the fourth year in a row!
This book was extra inspiring to me the first go around because she wrote it right after retiring from a 20 year teaching career to work full time as a writer. This was a huge accomplishment/dream/goal for her and this book weaves that story a bit throughout. It was summer of 2022 that we really started pursuing living a part time life on Nantucket and what that would look like/cost us/what sacrifices we would have to make/how it would impact us/etc.
This book was really encouraging to me, and I think it would be for many of you too. I’ve gifted it to my mom and to so many friends. I’m already reading it now for the fifth year in a row 🙂 .
Here’s a little life lately from Nantucket…
I went to the airport last week to pick up Andrew, Smith, Ashby, Mades, Frenchie, and CHARLIE! He was so excited to see me!
I mean…how perfect is my new Swig cup?!
I found a new (to me) place on island and had them put gel on my nails instead of my beloved dip (I’ve struggled to find a place here that does dip the way I’m used to it being done). It’s been a week and so far, so good. I prefer the dip (it’s a bit thicker and feels sturdier), but this is working well!
Frenchie settling back in to island life…
…can you believe this pup is about to turn 10?!
They’re such troublemakers 😉 .
This is our fourth year to be on Nantucket full-time and we’ve done things a little different each time. Poppy did so well with Andrew’s parents last year that this year, they asked if Yankee could come too so that she had a friend. Yankee and Poppy are good buddies and living their best summer life in Missouri. I can’t wait for them to tell me all about it 😉 .
Look what we spotted the other day…a mama and two brand new baby deer! They were so cute! These two were fresh ones…all spotted with wobbly legs. Adorable.
My roses are lookin’ pretty good if I do say so myself!
My neighbor’s house looks so lovely…flags and flowers are the theme right now here on Nantucket.
I probably have 400 photos from this one spot. It’s just so beautiful this time of year.
A snap from our backyard…
…and a snap of these two heading off to their first sailing lesson of the year.
Their sailing instructor sent me this photo. How sweet are my littlest girls?!
In town running errands and loving every minute of it.
My window boxes at their finest.
All of this sun, sand and sea is exhausting. 😉
Since it’s July 3rd, it’s time for my TOP TENS!
Here you go…
Top 10 Blog Posts from June:
#10: BEING NEIGHBORLY
#9: SHAY’S FRIDAY FAVES {06.19.26}
#8: SHAY’S FRIDAY FAVES {06.12.26}
#7: A {TRAVEL} SATURDAY IN THE LIFE
#6: 10 RANDOM THINGS: JUNE EDITION
#5: SHAY’S FRIDAY FAVES {06.05.26}
#4: HOW WE OPEN UP THE NANTUCKET HOUSE
#2: AMAZON LATELY + WEEKEND LATELY
#1: WHAT’S UP WEDNESDAY {JUNE 2026}
Top 10 Favorite Finds from June:
#10: MY LINEN SHORTS!
#9: THESE LEGGINGS!
#8: UNITE LEAVE IN CONDITIONER
#7: THIS DRESS!
#6: THESE SANDALS!
#5: THIS BRA!
#4: MY SKIRT!
#3: THIS DRESS!
#2: MY LULU SLIDES!
#1: THE BEST EVER SPORTS BRA 🙂
And finally, since it is July 4th Eve after all, don’t forget…
…I have 22 FESTIVE & EASY RED, WHITE & BLUE RECIPES for your 250th celebration!
From a breakfast ideas to a cocktail, ice cream cones, popsicles and so many desserts, I have simple and delish Patriotic treats for your week! You can see them all HERE 🙂 .
I hope you all have a wonderful, wonderful weekend celebrating Independence Day! I will see you back here on TUESDAY! Until then, God bless the USA! xx
Elspeth Mizner says
Such a fun roundup!
Thank you for sharing! Have a great holiday weekend!!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Rita Farlen says
Wondering if you can link the shoes that you are wearing with all of the blue dresses. The metallic ones are especially cute 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
I bought them at a shop here on Nantucket called Clorinda Antinori 🙂
S says
Hi Shay! Do you have any tips for jet lag with kids? We are flying from the East coast to the West coast with our 4-, 8- and 12-year-old later this month. I’m mostly concerned for our 4-year-old, who’s up at 6 am (EST) every day. Any tips would be great. Thank you!
Mix and Match Mama says
I have a post on this topic! https://mixandmatchmama.com/2023/10/shays-ways-13-keys-to-managing-jet-lag/
Beth Valenta says
Have a wonderful 4th! Celebrating big here in HOT VA!
Faith says
What is church like on the island? Curious about that aspect of life in a remote, unique place!
Mix and Match Mama says
We have been watching our home church on TV each week, but there are a variety of churches here on the island.
Susan P Fitzpatrick says
Beautiful pictures from Nantucket! We have had several sweet mama deer and little fawns in my backyard and street. Wishing you and your family a very Happy 4th of July! 🎆🇺🇸🧨
marianne Bianchi says
Looking for a similar shirt to the white one (that is tied).. it’s with the blue shorts, and you were linking the sandals.
Mix and Match Mama says
That’s my much beloved gauze top! It’s on sale now too! https://go.shopmy.us/p-65539418
Teresa Daly Noel says
I was a HUGE fan of a dip mani for years! Until my daughter begged me to try a builder gel mani. It’s much easier on your nail bed! And it lasts even longer than the dip. I’m never going back. My nails have grown out much stronger. You may have to wait until you get home to find a salon that offers builder gel. 🇺🇸
lee ann vicary says
Being nosey – Are you all having any family discussions about getting a boat of your own for Nantucket? I’m betting a certain young man would love to have it to go fishing. I also know keeping up a second property and cars in two locations is a lot and adding a boat to the mix may be the tipping point.
Mix and Match Mama says
Smith Shull brings it up at least 45 times a day.
Bren says
Happy 4th of July weekend, Shay! I have to tell you, if I could go back in time, I so would have a wall of my kids’ art like you have in McKinney! I absolutely love that idea!
So fun – you know how when you get to the bottom of your blog page under “You’ll also love” it shows some ideas for older posts of yours to read? Yesterday I clicked on the one that was you and Andrew’s 2018 trip to Nantucket. So fun to revisit that and be brought back to when the two of you were first traveling to Nantucket and to know where you are today! Very inspiring about living out your dreams!
Have a wonderful weekend and rest of your summer with your family all together! ❤️🤍💙
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh wow! What a perfect post for you to see yesterday! Thank YOU so much for the sweet comment! I hope you have the very, very, very best holiday with your family! xx
Karen in VA says
Shay…ugh…sorry to ask this again. But, can you provide the link to your Skechers one more time for me? I thought I had saved it and I’ve just looked through everything and I can’t find it! I want to order those this weekend.
Have a wonderful 4th of July!!!
Oh, and LOVE the pillows on your chairs in the back yard. So festive!
Mix and Match Mama says
Not a problem at all! They’re in this post here: https://mixandmatchmama.com/2026/06/my-top-10-favorite-prime-finds/
Have a Happy Fourth!
Court says
It was just the best weekend!!!! Loved every minute of it!!! Happy fourth!!!!!
Debra says
Love the print on that dress too! Will have to check that one out! Happy 4th of July weekend!
Tina Wiebers says
Do you happen to have a link for swig cup?
Mix and Match Mama says
I just looked at their website and it’s the “shoreline” print!
Katie says
That book is speaking directly into my heart+soul. I want to grab it {& now all of her books after looking at them} so badly!