Category Archives: Adventures

Lorien and I were in need of some retail therapy, and where better to go than Benny’s??  Their tagline is ‘your favorite store’, and I think they’re right.  We love Benny’s.  It’s got that old school hardware store feel, reminiscent of times before the giant Home Depots.  They have everything from paint supplies, to gardening tools, to kitchen supplies and camping gear…plus other more obscure knick knacks.  Just what we were looking for.

Joanna’s finds:  After much deliberation, and poking around, I settled on some awesome accessories for gardening this season (I had to have restraint to not fill my carriage).  I’ve done a fair amount of research on gardening hoses, and was so shocked to find out most of them contain lead that seeps into the water over time and grows into vegetables (gross).  After many unsuccessful searches for a ‘drinking water safe’ hose at the bigger garden centers, I found what I was looking for at Benny’s (this happens all the time – they have all the good brands).  This never-kink hose is made for boats and campers and is safe for watering veggies.  Plus – it never kinks…..or so it says.

I also found these replacement lids for Ball canning jars.  I suppose I could have ordered them online, but I kept forgetting to do it.  The lids always rust after being used, so you need to replace them each time you use the glass for pickling.  Of course they had them at Benny’s.  I finished of my shopping with some natural bamboo stakes for the garden.  Believe it or not the bigger garden center only had the died green stakes, which I think are kind of terrible looking, so score again at Benny’s.  I’m not exaggerating (and they’re not paying me) when I say that I always leave this place pleasantly surprised with their inventory.  Cheers to a successful shopping trip!

Lorien’s Finds: One can spend hours in Benny’s and find a million of reasons to buy pretty much everything in the store…. all of a sudden I found myself wanting a dart board, to paint my walls, to buy tons of tupperware, beach chairs, a grill….you really can find everything you want at Benny’s. But once I started to focus, I realized they had a lot of things for my kitchen, I’ve been needing to put the finishing touches on the corner that surrounds our large hutch…..

First up, I found a nice collection of frames that were the perfect size for two prints I’ve been wanting to hang up FOREVER, one from Craftland and the other from Jill Bliss. Most of the frames at Benny’s were black, but that worked out for me since most of the frames I have in my home are also black. And for $7.99 and $10.99, the prices are hard to beat ( We totally sound like Benny’s salespeople but it’s so easy to get on the Benny’s bandwagon once you’ve been).

Then I actually found a bicycle basket for $10 that I want to use for storage for knick knacks. It’s a little weird and unconventional, but it’s actually perfect size for my kitchen. The part that would go over the handles is perfect for hanging up, I just have to get a little handy and a little DIY. There is actually a larger basket that I want to go back for, it will be great to hold my magazines and books for the family room.

Who knew Benny’s would be the place to go for cutting boards? They have such a selection of sizes and prices of cutting boards… which was fantastic since I needed a large cutting board to cover the surface of our hutch, we basically needed something to act like a big coaster. Since it’s a good size, it will also act as tray when we eat outside on our porch…and as the perfect cheese platter.. gotta love Benny’s.

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We’re over the moon about this nice weather and we both are already planning warm weather adventures like the Brimfield Antique show and Newport Folk Festival. So for our second joint post, we decided to pick our top 5 day trips…Trips that you/we can easily do on Saturday or Sunday…

So here are our 5 top picks for day trips. Are we missing something? Share with us!

Jacob’s Pillow – Jacob’s Pillow is on my list because the Berkshires is great place to spend a day. The Berkshires is only two hours from Providence, so it’s an easy drive and everything in the Berkshires (Lee, Lenox, Great Barrington) is a half hour away from each other (or just about). You can visit numerous towns in one day – do some shopping, enjoy some fantastic food (The Dreamaway Lodge and Baba Louie’s are my favorites), all before visiting of my favorite places: Jacob’s Pillow. Dance companies from all around the world come to perform at Jacob’s Pillow to perform in their numerous theaters on their 220-acre property. Being surrounded by the talent of the dancers and watching them perform surrounded by such gorgeous scenery, the place is enchanting and really unique. Their Inside/Out Performances are free performances they perform on their outdoor stage. Tt seriously doesn’t’ get better than this in the summer.

Institute of Contemporary Art – I’ve never been to the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, but it’s a place that has been on my list for a while and making a day trip out of it seems like the perfect excuse to be in Boston (something that I don’t do often enough, even though it’s so easy to to get to). It’s only $15, or free every Thursday from 5 to 9pm and is located on Boston’s waterfront, only a short walk downtown.

Brooklyn Flea Market – The New York Times called the Brooklyn Flea Market “One of the greatest urban experiences in New York”, and I’ve heard more rave reviews about the Brooklyn Flea Market so I hope this summer is the summer that I finally make it there. While it would be a shame to visit Brooklyn and not do anything else, since there is so much to see the Brooklyn Flea Market it is possible. They have “hundreds of top vendors of antique and repurposed furniture, vintage clothing, collectibles and antiques, as well as a tightly curated selection of jewelry, art, and crafts by local artisans and designers, plus delicious fresh food”.

Blithewold Mansion – One of my friends just posted a picture of herself surrounded by daffodils, and I knew immediately that I have to check out the gardens of Blithewold Mansion. Located in Bristol, I can visit the gardens, then hit the beach and enjoy a seafood feast for dinner. Yes please!

Newport Vineyards - Visiting Newport Vineyard is one of the those obvious choices of things to do in Summer, that I have yet to do. What can be better than enjoying glasses of wine while be surrounded by the beauty of Newport Vineyard. This summer I hope to cross it off of ‘Rhode Island To-dos’. They’re open 7 days a week, with tours Sunday-Friday at 1 & 3pm and Saturday hourly from 11am-4pm.

Just thinking about all these day trips has me all excited to pack up the car and hit the road.  I’m ready for a little adventure, and these five trips seem simple enough to pull off on a weekend without having to take time off from work (boring I know, but I’m just to busy to take a long vacation).  There were so many places to consider.  It’s kind of amazing how far you can go in one day…but these five locales are top on my list this summer.

Brimfield Antique Show – I look forward to this massive antique show every year.  I’ve found most of my favorite home decor at Brimfield.  Last year was the absolute busiest I’ve ever seen it (it was a bit uncomfortable) so if you’re thinking about checking it out I’d say skip the weekend and go earlier in the week.  Wear comfortable shows, bring cash, and a wagon or cart on wheels.  It’s well worth the trip.

New England Aquarium – It’s so ridiculous that I’m always planing on visiting the New England Aquarium, but haven’t actually made it yet.  I’m excited to check out their Seadragon exhibit (there are two types – leafy and weedy).  I’ve heard of seahorses, but seadragons??  For $20 this sounds like a great day-trip.

B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill – This is more of a fall trip (they don’t open until September), but I’d recommend putting it on your calendar.  Clyde’s boasts the oldest cider mill in America – and they’ve set up viewing windows so you can watch the process.  Before visiting Clyde’s I’d never heard of cider wine, just hard cider, but Clyde’s has both (and many varieties of each).  They offer cider wine tastings while you’re there, and then you can leave with jugs of you’re favorites.  Plus – don’t miss out on the apple cider doughnuts – they’re the best I’ve had.

Block Island – As a Rhode Islander, Block Island is a regular stop each summer.  Just a short ferry ride away (bonus – the ferry has a bar), this tiny little island takes me away to a simpler time…no chain restaurants, no strip malls, just small shops and restaurants and plenty of beaches.  It’s hard to say what my favorite beach is (they’re all really top notch), but if you’ve never been I’d recommend bringing a bike and checking out a few.  The island has 17 miles of beach, and they’re all free.  This is the kind of day trip that only requires a bathing suit, sunblock, and some beer money.

Mass MoCA – With a focus on ‘new art’ the Mass MoCA is full of  talented artists I’ve never seen before.  Their site calls the museum, “the most fertile site in the country for new art. The museum thrives on making and presenting work that is fresh, surprising, and challenging.“  With an ever changing rotation of exhibits and live performances the Mass MoCA makes a perfect annual trip.  Plus it’s located in the heart of the Birkshires which is a beautiful trip on it’s own.

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I’ve been stuck in place for a while now.  Partially it’s having a needy dog (we’re leaving her behind for the first time this weekend – thanks Lorien!), and I think partially it’s putting in too many hours at work, and of course money, and all the other reasons people don’t travel.  I just haven’t in a very long time, and likely won’t go far in the near future.  It’s all about weekend get-aways in real life, but a girl can dream right?  When I decided to work on this Dream Get-Away post, the first challenge was where to first?  What pretend journey was on the top of my list?  After finding this amazing little apartment in Barcelona, and the choice was made.  It’s so quaint and crisp, with that perfect mix of natural materials and stark white.  This hidden dishwasher and refrigerator make it look so uncluttered.  The complete antithesis of my house.  I just love it and the video tour makes me want to leave today.

I’ve actually been to Barcelona before, but it was so long ago, and I’m sure much of it has changed.  I know that I have (I was 10 years old).  So this would be a perfectly new adventure for me.  I’ve had so much fun checking out Barcelona’s restaurants and shops (there are so many options!).  Muebles RAM looks like one of those places I could spend hours combing through, and from what I can see in the pictures, I’d likely have to buy another suitcase.  The Guardian says…’Muebles RAM is nostalgia distilled, packed into a warehouse‘.

In all this searching of Barcelona – I haven’t visited one site yet that didn’t have something to say about Tickets Bar…I guess that means it’s worth a visit.  Their website certainly looks spectacular, and all the reviews I’ve read highlight the creativity behind this trendy tapas bar.  I’m always up for a little flash with my food.

So the sad news is, I’m not going to Barcelona (not today anyhow) I’m just day dreaming….but if I ever get the opportunity to, I know just the place to stay.  That has to be worth something.

Have a wonderful weekend, happy Friday!

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Lorien and I see each other every day.  We publish two blogs together, and that makes for plenty of time spent sharing lunch, dinner, music, fashion likes and dislikes, gossip, and ideas for our projects…we’re almost completing each others sentences at this point.  It seemed natural that a new series would be a joint one.  We’ve never posted together – but why not, it’s the natural next step.  This is the first in a series of posts where Lorien and I will tag-team a recap of our outings out and about.

Joanna says: I couldn’t be happier that Lorien and I decided to splurge a bit and take ourselves out to a ‘fancy’ dinner at Bacaro last week.  We totally deserved it after a long day of working on InDowncity (our other project) we both needed to indulge a bit.  Bacaro is one of those great restaurants where the food is top notch, but the relaxed environment doesn’t require you change your outfit or wait in a long line.  The weekends may be a different story, but on a given week day you can get seated without much fuss.  Big plus.

My absolute favorite menu item is the artichoke crudo & celery salad with truffled sea salt, shaved parmigiano-reggiano, micro celery, lemon, and capezzana olive oil.  Honestly – it may be the best salad I’ve ever had.  No exaggeration.  If you go there you have to try it.  Bad news – my picture came out so terrible I can’t share it.  The restaurant is dimly lit, which makes for a nice dining experience, but not so great for photos.  The combo of truffle oil, shaved artichokes and celery is unusual, but really works.  I need to try this one at home, but I’m intimidated by the shaved artichokes.  I just need to get over it.

Lucky me – I ordered another Bacaro specialty -  grilled pizza!  I’ve never eaten there and not ordered one.  It’s kind of their unofficial trademark.  While pizza isn’t necessarily Lorien’s thing (she cheats on the gluten-free at times) I could live off of pizza.  Bacaro’s pizza may be one of the best I’ve ever had.  This one was a dressed up margarita with the addition of garlicy kale pesto.  Wow! It was fantastic.  Ben and I were happily eating the leftovers for lunch the next day.  Pizza makes the perfect leftovers.

Note to self – treat yourself more often.  Cheers to the occasional indulgences and dinner out with good friends.  Stay tuned for our next outing.

Lorien says: First off, so sorry for the quality pictures, they do not the food and atmosphere at Bacaro justice. This is my second time at Bacaro, my first time was actually with Joanna, and once again I was blown away by how amazing everything was.

With each dish, each bite, I was surprised at how delicate and well balanced all the flavors were; from my drink (The Riviera Cocktail was sweet and refreshing, so good I had two), to the salad (Joanna is right, it may be the best salad ever), to the pizza (the pesto was so fresh and the thing crust did not get soggy from the sauce – it’s magical ), and the risotto with scallops (my favorite dish).

The minute I saw the risotto with the peas, mint and scallops on the menu, I knew we had to try it. The dish was creamy but not heavy. The buttery scallops were cooked to perfection. The peas, pea sprouts and mint added the perfect, bright seasonal note that I wanted/needed/was looking forward to. Since we ordered so much food, I was able to bring the risotto home and it was soooo hard to not eat the leftovers and save them for Chris, but I did. I’m still thinking about all the delicious food we ate, which means we will have to go back very soon.

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It’s amazing what one week can do. After taking one week off, we’re feeling inspired and we’re ready to start blogging again. Expect a few more personal posts, more joint posts from Joanna and I, more interviews, more recipes…. For today’s post, it seemed only fitting, to do our first post back with my new monthly series: In Season. Things that I’m doing, eating, looking forward to, all inspired by the current season.

I think with loving the warmer weather that Spring is bringing, I’m craving everything green. We had the most amazing pea risotto last week with mint and scallops, it was the perfect seasonal dish. We’re sharing it in our first joint point on Thursday.

I’m on the hunt for a backup pair of sunglasses, which sounds silly, but my current ones are pretty scratched up and I would hate to be without sunglasses, it’s like the feeling you have when you forget your cellphone at home. I’m feeling inspired by Elise’s (from Pennyweight) pair and am loving Warby Parker’s selection

This summer will be my first time going camping, we’re headed to Maine to catch a lobster boat race. I would love to get this backpack for Chris before we go. I know he was eyeing it as we were looking for briefcases/attaches/messenger bags for guys, which is surprisingly hard to find nice and affordable ones. Recommendations?

French 75 my new favorite drink. Light and refreshing (and strong), it’s the perfect match for this Spring weather. French 75′s are usually a mix of gin, lemon juice, sugar and sparkling wine. Justine’s (if you haven’t been already, definitely go already) makes the perfect one and Esquire also has a recipe for the ‘Perfect French 75′. I’ll have to try and compare.

Even though it’s only April, I’ve already had my first trip to the beach and my first seafood feast. We walked the beach with no shoes but definitely were bundled up. We watched people surf and paddle board, then headed to Aunt Carrie’s in Narragansett to feast on clam chowder and clam cakes. There has to be a way to balance the upcoming bathing suit season with eating as much fried seafood as possible? Right? Delicious.

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