Light the Way

 

I went to LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro last weekend because after the tradgedy in Connecticut I was seeking a way to process the unthinkable by putting some spiritual beauty into my life. I got there before dark and went to Mass in the Chapel. What a moving experience! There was standing room only, a glorious Philippine choir, a priest from India with a message of love and compassion and  a congregation of all varied  nationalities and religions worshiping together, sharing our pain and hopes  for the future.



 Outside the lights were on,  a celebration  of color, music and joy, childlike wonder and laughter. I sampled the hot chocolate, and walked the grounds snapping pictures that moved me. LaSalette will be open every night until Jan. 6th. My only suggestion is to get there early, well before dark, because the incoming traffic later on is unending. Remember, this is a free gift you can share with friends and loved ones. Happy Holidays to all of you.

 

 

 



Last Minute No Stress Gifting





Just a quick idea for last minute gifts for any females from 12 to 70 -  how about under $30 bracelets, now the rage in Southern New England.  Alex & Ami , a RI based company sells recycled metal finished in gold or silver that's environmentally friendly, great looking and offers a huge selection. Buy two or twenty, shop on-line or visit one of their stores. Since time is short until Christmas, I suggest a trip to their store in Wayland Square on the corner of Wayland and Angell Streets. Leisurely stroll  the area, stop at their cafe next door and just enjoy the experience without the mall madness.

First on my block to shop with Trader Joe's and Whole Food bags when there weren't any stores within thirty miles of my home . Now, as in my Market blog, they are more accessable. It just adds a little fun to the food shopping experience and useful as Holiday gift bags filled with food products and/or flowers. Small insulated Whole Food bags are great for lunches inside or out. I gave several last year for Christmas with a few choice goodies inside and they were a big hit. As you can see, I'm doing it again this year.

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

 

 

 

 

My shopping is done - the stockings are hung. I love the excitement of decorating, picking the perfect cards to send and going to glitzy  holiday events. However, about now there is a lull before Christmas, so it's time to take the gratitude for blessings  given ( we all have that list, be it large or small) and pay it forward.

 



 

No matter what my financial status is from year to year, nothing makes me feel richer than reaching out to others during the holidays. It can be as simple as donating a small toy to volunteering at a non-profit organization to help those in desperate need. It takes the focus off of me and what I don't have to how very lucky I am to have the ability to give back in the true spirit of Christmas.

 

We all have a favorite charity or organization and for me  My Brother's Keeper in Easton Ma. is a perfect example of love for fellow men in these hard times. It operates year round providing furniture and other assistance,  at this time of year takes care of Christmas for about 2500 families in need. Check it out on-line as well as other charitable orginazations if you are looking for a way to help out.  I can't think of a bigger and better return on the small investment of time or donations. It makes me truly appreciate what I have and I can't think of a better way to live large. Happy holidays to all.

 



Newport in Winter



 

I saved Newport for winter, because the tourist summer influx has died down, there are still lots of things to do during the winter months ,and there are great deals on hotels and B&B's.



For the Christmas holidays, take a tour of one of the decorated mansions, go to a concert, or take part in one of the activities that go on right up to and through Christmas. Best website to get the most information is www.christmasinnewport.org . Take special  note of music at the First Presbyterian  Church of Newport on Sun. Dec. 16. I have been several times and  it has given depth and special meaning to the holiday season. Don't miss it. I hope to be there again this year.

My favorite winter hotel is the Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina located downtown. I've been going at least once a year for the past 20 years. It's small enough for all the personal attention and special touches (love the monogramed bathrobes), the staff is charming and accomodating, and the restaurant is superb. I love the rooms with water views and sitting by the fireplace downstairs with dessert and coffee. Winter rates are very reasonable,  the hotel is less crowded and you can walk to the shops.

 

 

 



Gifts To Go





 

 

Time to think about holiday gifts. Here's one I gave that was talked about all year. Take a friend on a Holiday Tour instead of giving a traditional gift. It's usually a day long experience and lots of fun. My favorite was the Fall River tour, but it's not happening this year. However, the Historical Society, shown below, is open for viewing,  gift shopping and perhaps booking a tea next door at the Easton House.





 I've been treated to the New Bedford tour preceded by an elegant lunch at the Wamsutta Club and to the Providence tour on Benefit Street .but if you check either the Historical Society or Preservation Society in the city or town of your choice, I'm sure there are a lot more out there. Try the tea and tour at Blithewold in Bristol if that's closer.  Most are held at the beginning of December, so get tickets or make reservations soon!

Another big hit is the Festival of Lights at Edaville Railroad in Carver MA. Stay warm while you ride the train, and be dazzled by the more than seven million lights. Perfect for grown up young-at- hearts and well as the children. There is something so nostalgic and charming about the whole experience, including a visit with Santa.  I revisited this a few years back, and it brought back some great childhood memories.

TO MARKET, TO MARKET.....



   Remember when you could shop at the market of your choice, load up on appealing items and leave with enough money to feel satisfied?  With the economic downturn and rocketing product prices, it's time to get creative, hold down prices, but splurge where it counts.

 

Photo: S. Farmer

       

 Shop money saving stores like SuperWalmart, Price Rite, and Market Basket, to name a few,  for  produce, meats,  name brand staples and some of their own brands.  My favorite store is Hannefords an outfit out of Maine, which  is like a mid-priced Whole Foods that sells  and promotes locally grown products, but I can't afford to shop there for everything anymore. So where's the living large part? 

Trader Joe's just opened a new store in Patriot Place in Foxboro. Check it out, or try the Warwick or Hanover location. Food is awesome, prices are low and it really is the 'in ' place to shop now. All  you need are a few item from there, and a few goodies from Whole Foods to brighten up your menus. It's just learning to blend value with luxury.

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AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

   

            

  One of my misadventures landed me in North Carolina for a weekend, and to pass the time I rented a car and toured Duke University which filled me with awe and envy. Privileged students strolling the impressive Sarah Duke gardens,an acapella choir practicing in the stunning gothic cathedral, superb buildings and manicured lawns. It was an idealized version of a college campus making me wish I could have afforded something more than my state university degree. 

 

  The good news is I was able to take courses at Brown University for about the same price as 3 credit hours at a junior college. If you already have a Bachelor's Degree, and don't need the credits for a Masters,  but want to immerse yourself in the Ivy League experience, this is the way to go.  Continuing Studies offer a variety of courses from Writing to Applied Science. Just make sure the courses are on campus and not downtown.

 

       Other universities, such as Harvard and Yale, offer both on-line and campus courses  but the cost can be as high as $2000. However, if you want to punch up your resume, choosing one course may be the way to go.  The cachet associated with these schools far outweights the cost, and it may give you the edge for that high-paying job. In the big picture, an Ivy League degree can cost upwards of $150,000 so what I've suggested may be a viable alternative for you.

GOOD SPORTS

 

 

 While most of us in Southern New England would love to have season tickets to the Red Sox, Boston Bruins or New England Patriots, the ticket prices are prohibitive even for just one game. Add in the cost of bringing and feeding the kiddies, paying for parking and purchasing team souvenirs and you have now spent the equivalent of a new appliance!

 

 Here are some great alternatives, and I apologize for starting this blog so late in the season, but keep some of this in mind for next spring and summer. Try the PawSox at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, RI  which is one of the nicest venues around. Ticket prices are around $10, parking is only $2 and on special nights the game is followed by fireworks, so up close they are unforgettable. Just stay in your seats and watch the show. This is a kid friendly place, and now you can spring for  snacks and souvenirs for a reasonable price. 

 Another great place is the New England Patriots Training Camp, all free all summer. Great for getting team member autographs and seeing your favorite ball players an up close. For this fall and winter, college ball games are relatively inexpensive yet provide a high level of excitement. Look for the games  on-line. Last suggestion: try the Providence Bruins for an night of ice hockey. Remember, going to sporting events is supposed to be a feel-good source of entertainment, and I always feel better and have a better time if my wallet isn't emptied out by night's end. Go team!

FINE DINE

 

 

Nothing makes me feel more run of the mill than eating at a chain restaurant, with too many pedestrian choices on the menu , dinner plates the size of sleds and the noise level of a  high school cafeteria.  OK for a night out with the family, but I want to go somewhere where I don't need two hands to lift my beverage and/or end up with a staggering bill at the end of the meal. Solution? Smart  lunches.

 

 Cafes, bistros, upscale restaurants,  indoors or out, waterside or city scapes are a perfect way to score an A for ambiance, feel pampered for an hour or so, and walk away having spent less than $20 per person. The servers are usually under less pressure than in a busy food chain, the kitchen has fewer orders so the food quality is top notch  and the other diners are low key.  Opt for water or a glass of wine instead of soda or a mixed drink, choose one or two appetizers instead of a a full meal or just go for dessert and coffee. The object is to enjoy gourmet food in a lovely atmosphere and still make it affordable. Also great for watching your weight!



MEMBERS ONLY

     

              Membership really does carry special privileges.  Any that I've purchased or been given as a gift  have brought me a great deal of pleasure in some of the most beautiful spots in southern New England. Blithewold, pictured above, in Bristol, RI, combines the best of outdoors and indoors. Check out the images online for the full picture of a stunning mansion, manicured lawn that rolls down  to the bay, flower gardens that vary from month to month, hundreds of exotic trees and a  Monet-worthy pond complete with irises and water lilies in season.  Where tourists pay by the day, a member can go anytime and also take advantage of planned events on the property, such as mah jongg lessons in the formal dining room or  perhaps have the opportunity to volunteer as a docent (look it up!).

   



            
   Blithewold is only practical if you live reasonably close, but these membership opportunities are everywhere. Find a place you love and sign up. A basic membership has always worked for me. It's cost-effective yet allows me to enjoy the properties to the fullest. As a sidebar, Blithewold is also featured in the Aug. 2012 edition of SOCO Magazine.

          Another favorite was for the Trustees of Reservations in Massachusetts which gave me access to almost a hundred properties I didn't know existed from wooded trails and beaches to, yes, more mansions. Besides the cachet associated with this type of membership, you're contributing toward the preservation of special places.  Do a little research, pick something you like and sign up or give it as a gift and really wow someone close.  

. M



A BLAST FROM THE PAST



              There are places and images that are so memorable  you can call them up years later and still be thrilled  by them. I'm a huge fan of museums, going back to the glass flower and fern display at the MIT museum in Cambridge  that I saw at age 7  and  was still wowed by when I revisited a few years ago. No matter where I'm traveling, I always make time to take a historical stroll. A few of the highlights have been the Nazca mummies in Ica, Peru still wrapped in 2,000 year old blankets, the Tiffany glass and little shrunken head at the Lightner museum in St. Augustine, Fl., the Hope Diamond in Washington and the  marble Bernini statues in Rome. Obviously, my tastes are eclectic, running from highbrow art to really bizzare oddities (kids love these!).

       

            Since this is not a travel feature, I'll get to the point. Having visited over a hundred museums worldwide,  it takes something pretty spectacular to impress me, so here it is. The Mashantucket Pequot located right next to the Foxwoods casino is a jaw dropper for both adults and kids. The modest ticket price buys you hours in the largest, no expense spared, Native American museum in the world. Trust me, it rivals UBC's First Nation museum in Vancouver, which is fantastic! Ride the glass tower for a panoramic view of the reservation, watch a feature movie on Pequot history, and tour the Indian village with it's lifelike wax figures (see photo). Try the restaurant with it's amazing views  or bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the grounds (yes, the spend less factor).  This is a perfect day trip that can only be made better by going during the fall foliage, which I just did (Oct. 18) I was treated to a storytelling session by one of the tribal elders after describing this blog and my continuing enthusiasm and attendence at the museum.

 



          Most museums are worth the time to visit, and libraries carry free  passes for patrons. Bank of America offers a similar service.  Take advantage of these opportunities and, while the weather permits, plan on eating your picnic lunch (try a gourmet PBJ with designer bread, almond butter and raspberry jam) out of doors.

          While I have only been highlighting a few places in my blogs, be creative and find your own hot spots with some help from Google and magazines I've mentioned previously. Yankee magazine is another great source for ideas and events in New England.  Also, most cities and towns list upcoming events or places with historical significance on-line or on local cable channels. Let's keep enjoying the best for less!

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CAMP IN STYLE - GO MILD

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     Consider spending  two nights at a campground that has it all, instead of a week elsewhere or make it just a one-time event. Normandy Farms Family Campground, pictured above and located in Foxboro MA near Gillette Stadium and Bass Pro Shops,  is the ultimate camping experience in this area for the whole family, from tenting to RV hook-ups. Check it out on-line for a full description and a list of all the amenities. Don't forget to start with a list of everything you need to bring. This goes for any camping trip, because it's more cost-effective to go with what's you need rather than buying a lot of products at the camp stores.

GO WILD

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  How about a great adventure? One of my best trips was camping on one of the islands in Boston Harbor. Accessable only by boat or ferry, these drumlins are part of the National Recreation Area and  are in pristine condition.  You really need a master list here, because there are no stores around but the effort is well worth it. For all the information you need - Google it.

                                    GO EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN                                          

     If you can, go scout out the campground in person ahead of time. Remember -  location, location, location!  Here's some great suggestions to jazz up your campsite. Places like Walmart sell inexpensive hammocks, generous size campchairs and items like folding tables and headlamps for nite walking. Hit the Dollar Tree or Christmas Tree Shop for fancy paper goods. You don't need to spend top bucks to get the luxury items. Send away for an oilcloth (3 yards) to cover the picnic table. I had good luck with Oilcloth by the Yard. The cover stays put in the wind, looks great, cleans up really well and lasts for years. One last thing - fun food. Get the giant marshmallows, fill 8 oz water bottles with pink lemonade (the kids love them) and consider making chocolate-covered strawberries. Remember, even camping can be a living large experience with some planning and imagination.

MIDDLETOWN MARVELS

 

     OK, we've done Jamestown, put driving into Newport on hold.  What else is down that way that's special, yet price smart? Gather up the kids (or not) and take Rte 138 (West Main Road) to the Christmas Tree Shop in Middetown, load up on nice items for less,  then turn around and go to the Blue Plate Diner. Fabulous food in a slick upscale diner, waitstaff in black bow ties, and really reasonable prices make this a winning restaurant. Top off you meal with a great shake,  like one of  those pictured above, or a mouthwatering dessert, then while the kids are on the sugar slide ride,  burn off that energy either at  the Norman Bird Sanctuary or Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge.
       

     Norman Bird Sanctuary has 7 miles of trails on 300 acreas (check out their website for all the details) and I recommend for adventurous adults and older children a hike out to Hanging Rock with  panoramic sweep of St. George's school with it's imposing spire and an overview of Second Beach (great for a dip without the crowds). As a sidebar, just below St. Georges school, on Tuckerman Ave, is Purgatory Chasm but not for kids as there are areas with no protective rails but a really impressive site and great photo ops.   Sachuest Point Refuge is free and at the end of the road past Second Beach. Great walking and water views with spots all over the rocks to sit and eat, fish or just relax.

 

     I'd just like to mention a few more places to eat in the area. Try breakfast or lunch at Cindy's Country Cafe on 138, owned by Cindy and Lyle , Johnson & Wales Culinary grads. Sweet Berry Farm is on my list of places to try; has a cafe, food to go and picnic tables. It's been mentioned to on several occasions , so next time out that way I'll see what's cooking!    Everybody still hungry? Don't leave Middletown/Portsmouth without a stop in Island Park for clamcakes at Flo's. It's a clamshack, with affordable prices, outdoor tables and a free beach across the street.

NEWPORT - DOING DOWNTOWN

         One of my favorite places can be impossible to enjoy in the summer because everyone wants to be there, so traffic and prices are at an all-time high.Yes, there are free concerts and events like 'Victorian Day' at one of the mansions, but I prefer off-season vacationing. I will do a 'Best for Less' on that subject at a later date.

   Do Newport by crosssing the bridge into Jamestown and taking the ferry(pictured above) intead. There's a $4 toll each way from the Middletown side.  Follow the signs to downtown and park anywhere that doesn't have 2 hour or less parking (not in the big lot). Office for the ferry is near the end of the row of shops near the water. Ticket prices are $20 or under. Of course, you already googled all this information, right?

     When I went, Captain Andy was piloting the boat, and Bill was the mate. Bill kept us entertained with historical tidbits and hilarious stories. The beauty part of taking this gorgeous little ferry is that you can get on and off all day long, stopping at several points downtown (try lunching at Panera), or going to the Rose Island lighthouse for a small additional fee and picnicing, touring or fishing for a few hours.

    
     When you're done cruising around,  if you haven't already eaten I suggest a walk up the hill opposite the ferry for some great food,shopping  or stop for a gelato. Don't leave Jamestown without a trip to the Beavertail Lighthouse at the end of the island. Sit on the rocks, take a museum tour or eat that picnic lunch you've been saving. You can't get lost on Jamestown, it's just a perfect size for a day trip.

Where The Elite Meet

 

While you may not own three polo ponies or a small monarchy, attending a match is a  great way to spend a few hours.The grounds are gorgeous and lawn seating is an inexpensive way to enjoy the day. Best way to go is bring camp chairs, a small folding table and food and drinks. Here's where you can really shine. A real tablecloth, stemmed glasses, good china and fancy appetizers will put you in the mood and gather admiring glances from the other party goers.

 You can find matches on line (e.g. www.newportinternationalpolo.com) for dates and times. Leave the kiddies home and have a great time with friends or a loved one.



LOCAL LIBRARIES - NOT JUST BOOKS

 

  

It's not just about books anymore. Looking for a great way to entertain the kids this summer? Most libraries have sections,, sometimes entire rooms, set aside for educating and amusing children,  filled with, yes, books, but also puzzles and games. They also put on special events, such as ice cream making day, movie nights and story readings. If there are any fees for materials, they are nominal.

If you don't already have one, get a library card. In southeastern Mass. it gives you access to the Sails system which is connected to numerous libraries. Go on-line and order any CD, DVD or book listed, and it will be sent to the location of your choice. I've watched all of the British murder mystery series that PBS carried and listened to all types of music. Add up the cost if you had to buy and it would run into hundreds of dollars  Need to use a computer with Internet access? No problem and if you need any help, librarians are delighted to provide quick tutorials ( I love these people)!

 

Libraries host events for grownups like cooking classes, craft lessons and author lectures. Don't pass up this great resource to enhance the quality of your life for a minimum cost to you. I took the photos above at the Millicent Library in Fairhaven, MA, an  architectural jewel with a fascinating history.

Free Publications

Photo: S. Farmer

 

Let's start with some free publications. Favorite is SOCO Magazine. Available in restaurants, business establishments and supermarkets in southern New England, it's a slick, glossy mag featuring fashion, food, events in the area and newsworthy stories.





 Another good one is 'The Bay' filled with happenings around the East Bay and South Coast. Both are excellent sources for things to do for the month.  Other giveaways are Providence, The Insider and the 'Phoenix' (ditch the insert if you have kids). If you know of any others, pass it on.

Local libraries sometimes have stacks of older issues of magazines they carry. I love getting back issues of 'The New Yorker' for free .Also, piles of glossies like 'Oprah' and 'Architectural Digest' around the house give the feel of luxury without a high price tag. Next time I'll talk about a great source for free events and entertainment. We all know it's there,  it's just a matter of utilizing it.



My Welcoming Speech

This blog has been created for anyone looking to do more for less - whether it's finding somewhere fun to go for a day, planning longer vacations, wowing friends with great gifts, getting good freebies and anything else I can think of that I've experienced myself.