I woke up Monday morning to breathtakingly perfect weather. The sky was a perfect shade of blue with not a cloud in the sky. The sun was shining but the sauna-like heat that we experienced over the weekend was surprisingly absent. To top if off, there was a cool breeze and I couldn’t help but close my eyes and smile.
I started off the beautiful day with a short run around the neighborhood. I ran 1.5 miles and walked 1.5 miles. Pre-workout, I had some of a TJ’s Carrot Ginger muffin with half caf coffee. Lauren even bought TJ’s decaf coffee for me!
Post workout I made a small parfait with two more of my favorites. Look at these familiar products–did I even leave home?!
I kept it light because we were heading out the door to brunch. Yogurt, kefir, berries and more crumbled muffin.
After brainstorming a whole bunch of possible things to do, we decided to visit Geneva, a cute town that reminded me of the South! I kept thinking I was in Charleston, SC.
Lauren insisted on eating at Egg Harbor Cafe, with good reason!!
There were a thousand cute signs hanging on the walls.
The menu had a plethora of healthy options. To give you an idea, these were the items that caught my eye: Portobello Benedict, Banana Bread French Toast, Swedish Fruit Roll-Up, Berry Granola Steel Cut Oats, Mediterranean Roll-Up, Key West Crepes, and the Dynamite Veggie Omelette.
Seriously? Seriously. Check out the menu for yourself!
I ordered the Chicken Pesto Egg White Frittata without pesto and cheese (allergic!!). It had artichokes, red peppers, and spinach. I subbed portobello mushrooms for the chicken.
The side of fruit was so elegantly displayed.
Whole wheat English muffin.
Lauren ordered The Harvest Salad, which we renamed ‘the hugh jass salad.’ It had chicken, dried cranberries, apple, avocado, Bleu cheese, slivered almonds, cucumber and raspberry vinaigrette.
Geneva has a bunch of old homes turned cute shops and bakeries. We started with The Little Traveler, a mansion filled with home goods and food.
Tea
I was worried about fitting the HLS swag into my suitcase, otherwise I would have bought one of everything!
We fell in love with the ginger snaps there.
We got to sample some candy too.
Fact: the pumpkin malt ball fell on the floor after I took a small nibble. I picked it right back up, blew on it for 2 seconds and finished it off. You know me…no shame.
I think I said “I want this!!” at least 956 times throughout the store. That is not an exaggeration.
LEAF PLATE!!!
Placemats galore!
The cutest tea spot, located in the courtyard of the house.
We stopped by Graham’s, a chocolate and ice cream shop just to take a peak.
A bunch of bakeries were closed since business is slower on Mondays 
. I guess I’ll just have to go back someday and check ‘em all out.
The “I want this!!” continued and continued…
Live LAUGH Eat 
All these blocks are so ME .
Bumble bumble
More cute shops…
This bag was made out of plastic grocery bags.
I had no idea broccoli grew like this.
With the perfect weather and lovely company, I felt like I was walking through Pleasantville. For the first time in a long time, there was absolutely nothing in the world that could wipe the smile off my face. Nothing at all.
***
A preview of The Princess Adventures Part III…
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I am convinced this stay was one of the best you’ve had. Carrot Ginger Muffins, this girl does know you!! Geneva seems like such an adorable town. Why don’t more people go out for brunch? It’s such a neglected meal but always so nice!
wow.. all the little places you went to were so cute !! love your little black dresssssss, where did you get it?! i have lots of those kind of dress – plaid, yellow, brown, red, bright pink, etc except black! i’ve been looking for black one!
Looks like SO much fun!
That town is so adorable! I love cute places with lots of knick-knacky stores like that! I especially love those signs with the childhood song lyrics on them.
Why is Geneva so close to me, yet I have never ever been there? This needs to change because it is SOOO CUTE!
These pics have such a laid back/ down to earth feel to them
they make me happy! never knew broccoli grew like that either–weird!
wow what an amazing brunch! they seriously jam packed that plate with goodies! i love when breakfast/brunch places give you a solid meal. it’s totally worth every penny
Great photos! And I am dying over “hugh jass”…..
What cute shops! You have incredible willpower to resist some of those adorable trinkets — anything related to kitchen-decorating totally sucks me in.
Keep seeing the blog world rave about AllieBars so hope all this publicity leads to something fab for you. 
That was seriously the first time you’ve ever been to Egg Harbor?! That is my faaaaavorite restaurant! And The Little Traveler rocks, doesn’t it? LOVED seeing your pictures – made me feel like I was there. I should look up your friend….I don’t live far from Geneva!
So cute love all the trinkets. Love those ice cream bowls.
Hi Allie! So many times I would end reading your blog from google search of something or reading from someelse’s blog. I think that’s a good thing so I need to bookmark it from now on:) I love your pictures and it’s true from Wendy@seriously sassy what she said about makes you feel like your there. I love kitchen stuff too and those shops are a killer!
Diana–
The dress was actually Lauren’s! She got it from H&M. Don’t you love it!?
Wendy–
I don’t live in Chicago and had only been twice before (many years ago). I will be going to Egg Harbor every time I visit Chicago from now on
SO much fuuuuuuuuun! Egg Harbor looks so perfect, and I want to visit Geneva SO badly now! Geneva is also a city in Switzerland, so at first I didn’t quite understand (”What? She’s in Switzerland?”) but heh. I imagine that one of your famous parfaits would look great in that ice cream cone bowl. I would have bought it anyway
What a fun day. A delicious brunch and adorable shops – sounds perfect to me:)
How cute are these pics!! Oh my…I love old houses and shops like that! I have always wanted to buy a super old, but full of character house and redo it. That is my mission!
I would have rocked the Swedish fruit roll up for breakfast….YUMMMM
Half caf….I hear ya doll. I am down to decaf and can’t give it up cause I love the taste so freaking much!
xxoo
Omgsh that egg harbor place looks divine! It makes me wanna hop in bed so that breakfast will come sooner ha. Also I am almost convinced a road trip to tennessee (closest tjs to texas) would be worth it to get some of those carrot muffins. I love ginger!! And muffins, of course.
I LOVE all of the quaint little shops that you visited!! It looks like you are having a blast!
Have a fantastic day, Allie!
Die hard NYer I may be, but I do love the South. Perhaps it’s in the blood–Dad is from Missouri. Anyway, these are awesome travel recaps. And I love when food is served in individual skillets like that!
That’s such a cute town!! I love lil country places like that.
You’ll never find houses or little trinkets like that anywhere else in the world.
What a CUTE little town! I totally would have eaten that malted milk ball too. I really to work on not picking things up and eating thing them off the floor in public… ha!
I would totally crap my pants if I woke up in Pleasantville, ha, but it’s a great movie!
Oh my gosh, that town looks like the cutest place in the entire world!! I LOVE- and it looks like you had perfect weather too. It really does look like you’re in a fairy tale with all the adorable kiddy things and picturesque surroundings. Can’t wait for part 3!!
Allie-What a fun day! I love visiting little towns and shops like that. How could you pass up those ice cream bowls — or will they be making an appearance on the blog?
So adorable.
Enjoy your mini vacation!
looks like a really fun time! I love little stores like those! YOu can find the most interesting stuff in them! That frittata looks amazing! Everything on the menu in-fact sounds amazing!
Holly–
No, sadly I had to leave them behind. Although, I am totally kicking myself right now since they were pretty reasonably priced!!
Oh my god that town looks uber-cute – so quaint.
Every time I see those carrot muffins I really want one, they look so good and I am sucker for carrot-flavoured baked goods. Carrot cake is one of my faves!!
Egg Harbor is one of my favorite breakfast spots! I love those Trader Joe’s carrot ginger muffins-the berry mango ones are great too!
Thanks for sharing all the fun pictures.
The Dark Chocolate Gran Marnier Pecans sounds luxurious, well the name does. Hope the chocolate tasted as great as it’s name.
I like the baby clothing that said 100% Potential. Do you know if the store has an online store? I’ll check it out.
Do I see Marie cookies there?! I didn’t know you could get them somewhere else too, how cool!
Looks like the cutest little town
Kind of in love with all the cute dishes in this post…and that frittata.
Allie, I love how you captured totally different details and cute store items than me-so fun to see those! And your descriptions always make your readers feel like they are there. Which is why I’m emailing you with some ideas up my sleeve…
Hi Allie,
This is Lauren’s Aunt Sharon! Wow, your blog is so awesome and it was fun to see how you and Lauren captured different elements of your first meeting!! I feel like I was there with the two of you! How fun! I love the picture of Joe waiting for dinner while you all take pics of the food! Too cute! Also, the M&Ms on the bed “takes the cake”, or maybe it was the pics of Joe’s “Wasabi Challenge” . HA! I loved the sign in the ice cream shop written by that sweet child. I’m so happy you took the time to visit Lauren, Joe, and Katie who happen to be three of my FAVORITE people on this earth! Your blog is so fun and inspiring! Keep it up…….Who knows, maybe I’ll meet you someday. I live in NC!!!
Lea–
They have a website…not sure if you can buy it off the site. Here’s the link http://peacefulparlour.com/
Allie!! Oh my goodness!! Egg Harbor Cafe is where I used to work!!! I LOVED it there and sometimes wish I took up their offer to go into management!! The food is DELICIOUS and the company is great as well. Ahhhh!!
(Note: I didn’t work at the one in Geneva.)
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