Frugal RI Mama

Through the magic of Facebook, I have recenty reconnected with lots of old friends. It's really fun catching up with everyone and seeing what people are up to.

Just tonight, I was talking with my friend Karen. Karen and I met sophomore year of high school. She was always the one we knew would turn out to be a great mother (she has); she always had that maternal instinct. She came from a great family was well liked in our circle of friends.

Right after high school, a group of us rented a beach house two summers in a row in Point Judith. It was a really fun time, and a great way to feel like adults and experience South County.

Karen is now all grown up and has a wonderful family. She also happens to be the author of two great blogs:

Frugal RI Mama

and

Karen Wilmes

Check them out when you get a chance!

Bob Black REALTOR Williams & Stuart Real Estate 870 Oaklawn Ave Cranston, RI, 02920	Work: 401.942.0200 ext 28 Mobile: 401.261.1599 Bob@BobBlackOnline.com www.BobBlackOnline.com
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Green Envy - Newport, RI

Newport’s annual Winter Festival is going on right now (Feb 13-22), and Melissa and I took advantage of this opportunity over the weekend. We didn’t really know what to expect, but we knew we wanted to see the ice sculpture demonstrations taking place at Brick Market. After driving around and almost throwing in the towel, I was lucky enough to grab a spot right on Thames, which never happens. This led us to the many shops of Brick Market - including perhaps the most amazing new shop in all of Newport.

Green Envy is the brainchild of Rachel Lessne, whose passion for sustainability, fashion and making a difference in the world are evident the second you walk into the store. Melissa and I were greeted with a kind smile and a welcoming hello and we both knew we had come to the right place. So often you walk into shops in Newport and because of the status of the area being a playground for the wealthy, you’re made to feel like they’re doing you a favor for allowing you to shop their store. This wasn’t the case with Rachel and Green Envy. Any hint of the pretentious side of Newport was checked at the door.

Her shop is filled with amazing products from around the world with one general theme…organic, fair trade, and eco-friendly. After looking throughout at the many clean burning soy candles (they happened to be Melissa's favorite- Soy Candles by Phebes - and we had never seen them in a store) and organic cotton t-shirts, we found a table of books made of leaves and bound with twigs and branches. Of course this piqued our interest and we immediately started looking at what turned out to be journals and date books made in the Philippines using fair trade practices and sustainable materials - which if left outside long enough would biodegrade. Very cool and perfect for our friends birthday.

Other hot new items that we loved included the solar powered tote bags and backpacks. That’s right, a tote bag or backpack that you can use to recharge your cell phone, iPod or camera and I’m sure that’s not all. Oh…did I mention that the materials used to make the tote bags are also biodegradable or can be reclaimed or reused? Given that Melissa and I love to hike and be out on the trail taking pictures, I’m sure it won’t be long before we have either one of these bags. We got the feeling that so much thought and care has gone into the opening of Green Envy, and I think it’s this attention to detail that makes the difference in the retail world.

We went in with the intention of looking for a birthday gift for a friend, which we found, and left feeling so thankful that people like Rachel Lessne care enough about putting a product out there that makes the world a better place.

Bob Black REALTOR Williams & Stuart Real Estate 870 Oaklawn Ave Cranston, RI, 02920	Work: 401.942.0200 ext 28 Mobile: 401.261.1599 Bob@BobBlackOnline.com www.BobBlackOnline.com
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Newport Winter Festival 2009

The Newport Winter Festival takes place February 13-22. We took advantage of the nice day and decided to check it out this weekend. We started out, as we often do, at Breton Point. We made our way to Cliff Walk and took a short stroll before heading down to the Festival. There are lots of fun activities going on:

· Chili Cook Off
· BeatleMania Concert Series
· Sand Sculptures
· City Wide Scavenger Hunt
· Ice Sculpting Competition
· Children’s Fair
· Pizza Cook Off
· Store and Restaurant Discounts
· · Children’s Art Contest
· Winter Swimming!
· Carriage Rides

The summer festival season (and weather) is still several months away, and when we have a nice day - along with an event like this, I like to take advantage of it. Make sure you stop in and check out the shops – we found a great birthday gift and a great shop that I’ll be writing about this week. Stay tuned!

Bob Black REALTOR Williams & Stuart Real Estate 870 Oaklawn Ave Cranston, RI, 02920	Work: 401.942.0200 ext 28 Mobile: 401.261.1599 Bob@BobBlackOnline.com www.BobBlackOnline.com
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Rasoi - Pawtucket, RI

Delicious is just one way to describe the food at what I feel is one of the biggest culinary secrets in the state. Rasoi, which is Hindi for kitchen, is located in a busy shopping plaza at 727 East Ave in Pawtucket. It’s just over the Providence line as you head north on either Hope St or Blackstone Blvd. Oddly enough, it’s located between The Garden Grill , which is one of our favorite vegetarian dining spots, and LJ’s BBQ - which I find incredibly ironic.

My first time trying authentic Indian was in Seattle with Melissa. Having never tried it, we had no idea what to order - but managed to put together a tasty meal that only furthered our interest in Indian cuisine. When we discovered Rasoi it was like finding the lost city of Atlantis. We knew it was there but never knew what was beyond the doors; in fact we had seen it often because we frequent The Garden Grill. What we didn’t know was how amazing the food is or how beautiful it is inside.

Recently, Melissa and I went for lunch and as can be expected they did not disappoint. We started with Masala Uttapam, which is a grilled rice and lentil pancake topped with onion, tomato and green chili served with multiple dipping sauces- oh, how I love dipping sauces. We didn’t realize that the green chili and onion were cooked into the pancakes so I ended up eating most of this tasty starter.

I love that Melissa doesn’t like some foods and that she only has a limited capacity because I always get to eat a little more. I know that sounds piggish but growing up my mother always told me that there were starving kids in Africa and I shouldn’t take food for granted. Thankfully, I was a very active kid and could burn those calories off, not so much now.

As lunch arrived, Melissa realized that she did in fact want the mango lassi that we spoke about all through the appetizer and judging by the look on her face, it was amazing. We both ordered a Satvic, which is a combination of four specific dishes served with either rice or naan. The four mini dishes that come standard are incredible on their own but when combined they work so well to compliment each other. I wouldn’t bother to change any of them.

Vegetable mango curry was the headliner of my Satvic. It’s a mouth-watering collection of fresh vegetables stewed in a mango curry infused with jaggery and garam masala. Next was saag with paneer, which is a creamy spinach puree that has out of this world flavor. The paneer is a homemade cheese that’s reminiscent of a high quality feta. The third dish is cauliflower 65, which is spicy, marinated cauliflower florets, golden fried and served steaming hot. This is my absolute favorite; I could eat this dish alone everyday for the rest of my life. Rounding out the collection is sprouted moong bean salad. It’s chopped cucumber, tomatoes, white radish and bean sprouts tossed with lemon juice and chaat masala, fantastic for cleansing the palette from the complex flavors that the other dishes provide.

Our server was more than attentive, being sure to keep our water filled and clearing any unnecessary plates or glasses. Because all of the food is prepared fresh for each meal, we always make sure to leave ourselves with a little extra time during lunch. The next time you are looking for something new... try Rasoi, it’s an absolute "must-try" in Rhode Island.

Bob Black REALTOR Williams & Stuart Real Estate 870 Oaklawn Ave Cranston, RI, 02920	Work: 401.942.0200 ext 28 Mobile: 401.261.1599 Bob@BobBlackOnline.com www.BobBlackOnline.com
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Oh Summer... How I Long for Thee...

As I sit here writing this, Old Man Winter is bearing down on Rhode Island and the Northeast with yet another winter “event”. I call it that because it’s not truly a snowstorm and it’s heavier than a flurry, but according to the weather report, it’s a fast mover that should only drop 2-4 inches when it’s done later tonight. As any true Rhode Islander knows, this is never the case… and we don’t really have any idea what’s going to happen until it does. I applaud our local weather reporters for at least letting us know something is coming our way. If anything, they help the local economies by boosting the sale of milk and bread with every approaching storm.

But with each winter that finds us cursing and wishing we lived anywhere but here, the thought of spring is in the back of our minds. In fact, Rhode Islanders typically start to curse winter just after the first frost, which makes for a long season of wishing. After we’ve dealt with what seems to be an increasing number of snow days (thanks, Global Warming) we reach the ever popular mid-date of winter. That’s right, Groundhog Day. Now I know it’s not numerically the mid-date of winter, but it’s the measuring stick that tells us what to look forward to, or what to dread - depending on your views. Of course Punxsutawney Phil saw his damned shadow and ran right back to bed. Personally I feel it had something to do with the skiing lobby in Washington, D.C. They’re a formidable bunch.

Being a Realtor, the majority of my time is spent in the car driving from home to home. So of course my work is affected by bad weather. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve driven in many snowstorms to show properties… but that doesn’t mean it’s fun. Besides, any self-respecting Rhode Islander knows how to handle themselves in a little snow. Generally speaking, I love the snow, but it’s the many consecutive weeks of extreme cold that makes me want to pack up the family and run to the Florida Keys to hang with Jimmy Buffet. The only way that I can rationalize the winter in RI is by thinking of what’s just around the corner-- spring.

Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth for the world around us. It’s also a time for all of us to get outside and scrape off the rust. With the final frost now six weeks away (thanks, Phil) I’m looking forward to planning the first hike of the season with Melissa. With any luck, that will happen sooner than later.

Bob Black REALTOR Williams & Stuart Real Estate 870 Oaklawn Ave Cranston, RI, 02920	Work: 401.942.0200 ext 28 Mobile: 401.261.1599 Bob@BobBlackOnline.com www.BobBlackOnline.com
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