Rhode Island Restaurant Bucket List

It feels like we have not been out to eat in ages. I started this quarantine a bit earlier than everyone else, March 10th, since I was sick (unrelated to COVID-19). There is so much going on right now that I have been looking for the positives and trying to focus on the future knowing that we will get through this.

I thought I would start a Rhode Island bucket list of things I want to do when we get to return to “normal” life. I am going to start by sharing the restaurants that I want to try. I cannot believe how many places I have not had the chance to eat.

Without further adieu, here is my Rhode Island Restaurant Bucket List.

Newport

• Mission

• Winner Winner

• Cru

• Belle’s Cafe

• Pasta Beach

• TSK - Thames Street Kitchen

• Bar ‘Cino

Providence

• Plant City

• The River Social

• Birch

• Bayberry Beer Hall

• Blackie’s (Smithfield)

• Hometown Poké

• Bucktown

• Gracie’s

• Oberlin

East Greenwich

• Revival

• Greenwich Bay Oyster Bar

• Safehouse

• The Patio

• PB Bistro & Bar **Honorable mention since it is not opened yet! I am so excited for this plant-based restaurant to open.

Keep in mind that those lists are not in any specific order. They are all places that I have not tried but heard good things about! (I should probably be embarrassed that I haven’t tried some but it is what it is. haha)

The Chanler's Peanut Butter and Jelly Pop-up

I was fortunate enough to have a Wednesday off last week and my mom and sister came up to Rhode Island to visit. It was probably the best 3 days I have had in a long time. It was full of fun and laughing until we cried (or at least I was hysterical haha). Knowing that they would be making the trip, I had my mind set on going to the The Chanler’s Peanut Butter and Jelly Pop-up.

Quick background… I LOVE peanut butter and jelly. I have had PB+J burgers, fried PB+J, PB+J ice cream. I can’t say no to one. They are nostalgic, delicious, and I can’t burn them.

Convincing my sister, who does NOT like jelly, was the hardest part but once we got passed that, it was smooth sailing. Most New Englander’s know that we have been plagued with rain for weeks. Luckily, it was beautiful outside the entire time they were here so we headed into Newport.

I took them to see the daffodils since they were still out in full force and then we headed to Loren Hope’s beautiful new shop (I’ll share pictures of that later!). We shopped and worked up an appetite. It was time for my favorite!

The second I read the menu online, I knew I was going to get The Heavyweight and that my mom would get Sweet Tooth. Thankfully we decided to give each other a bite so I could have a taste. My sister also got The Heavyweight and let me tell you, both were absolutely incredible. We could not believe how absolutely delicious they were. The flavors were all there and it was definitely not a simple PB+J sandwich. I won’t lie to you though, we ended up not doing a wine pairing because my mom and I wanted Bloody Mary’s and my sister chose a margarita.

We sat outside and enjoyed our sandwiches while watching the waves crash onto the shore. I could not have been happier than I was in that moment.

You all must go check out The Chanler’s peanut butter and jelly pop-up before it closes on May 20th. You might even see me there testing out the other flavors. haha Who wants to go?!

Sweet Tooth - peanut butter, nutella, banana, strawberry, rolled in a fried flatbread

The Heavyweight - pretzel roll, crunchy peanut butter, bacon, cherry jam, and sliced apples

Newport, Rhode Island's Daffodil Days

Newport, Rhode Island’s Daffodil Days are the best kick off to spring.  I know its no Nantucket but it is as close as I’ll get this time of year. Discover Newport holds monthly marketing meetings for local businesses and the Daffy Days committee brought a map to show us the best spots to see all the blooms.  Naturally, I grabbed one so I could share with all of you where to find the best spot to take photos.

When you cross the bridge onto the island, you will immediately be greeted by blooming daffodils.  If you head towards downtown, they will be on your right when you come to the stop sign and if that kind of welcome doesn’t make you smile, I don’t know what will.  Every day when they are blooming, I am reminded how lucky I am to work on such a pretty little piece of land. Everyone in town has planted their own but the committee has clumped bulbs in specific locations for your viewing as well.  More than twenty-five thousand bulbs in each spot to be exact and 1,000,000 total. Holy smokes.

If you head to the daffy days' website, here, you will find the lay of the land as well as an entire calendar of events for the next two weeks (starting Friday, April 12, 2019).  I will highlight a few of my favorites here for you though.

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Daffodil Days Opening Ceremonies - Bannister’s and Bowen’s Wharf from 1:00 to 2:00 pm

Daffy Doggie Paw-rade (probably the best idea ever) - Queen Anne’s Square from 2:00 to 3:00 pm

Daffy Doggie Post Parade “Pawty” (again, amazing) - Hotel Viking from 3:30 to 4:30 pm

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Go Daffy at Green Animals Topiary Garden - Green Animals from 2:00 to 3:00 pm

Saturday, April 20, 2019

Beach Cleanup at the Cliff Walk (since you all know I’m pretty passionate about our oceans) - Cliff Walk from 12:00 to 2:00 pm

There are also parades, strolls, and races for you all to enjoy.  Seriously, check out their website. Don’t forget to show me your pictures if you take any!

The Best Place to Find Sea Glass in Rhode Island

Without fail, every time T and I walk Little Lady Dakota at a park near the house, I hunt (and usually find) sea glass.  I live for collecting little treasures along the coast. I thought it would be a good idea to round up some of the best places to find sea glass in Rhode Island.  A few I have not yet been to but I have been informed by a few trusted sources ;). Here it goes, in no particular order..

The Best Place to Find Sea Glass in Rhode Island

Colt State Park, Bristol

I read some articles of people spending just an hour here and finding over 20 pieces of stunning sea glass. One hunter said, “it has the most sea glass they have ever seen anywhere.” I’m guessing this person needs to get out more but for Rhode Island sea glass hunters, it must be good.

Goddard Park, East Greenwich

This was the park I was talking about!  There is a little trail we take Dakota on and it leads to a tiny back beach.  I am always able to find a piece or two when we go.

Compass Rose Beach, North Kingstown

This shoreline is often used to launch small boats but it is exposed from the south so often times the surf will wash up some great glass.

Easton’s Beach, Newport, Rhode Island

Conimicut Point Park, Warwick

At low tide, walk out along the sand bar.  Just make sure you make it back before the tide starts to rise.

Rocky Point, Warwick

Rocky Point used to be an amusement park but is now a great place to find sea glass in Rhode Island.  I would not consider it a beach, but if you walk along the small stretch of sand below the paved path, you will be sure to find something.

Block Island, Rhode Island - North Light

Block Island

Although you have to take a ferry to get there, Block Island is one of my favorite spots in the state.  I hear Crescent Beach is one of the island’s best places to find sea glass. I plan on going next time we head out to sea.  I was also told by a follower, Brooke, that North Light is a good place to look as well. The only time we ventured there, we had to quickly snap a few pictures and then jump on our mopeds to be back in time to return them but next time, I will for sure hop off and search for some glass.

Rose Island

My friend, Kayla, suggested I add this lovely little island to this list and I cannot believe I didn’t think of it.  I have still yet to go, but I am dying to spend the night in Rose Island Lighthouse. This island is in the middle of Newport Harbor/Narragansett Bay so I can only imagine the treasure that washes up here.

*Shell Hunting Bonus* Easton’s Beach, Newport

I have never gone sea glass hunting here but I am always able to find huge shells during the off season along this beach.  My work has a venue that sits right on the edge of Easton’s and there are always little treasures to take home at the end of the day.

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Post the Picture, Wear the Sweatshirt

I never would have thought that the picture I posted the other day on Instagram would garner so many comments and messages. There was no intention behind it other than I I want to be completely myself so that everyone here will feel safe to be completely themselves too. I wanted to share it here as well (in case Instagram ups and disappears one day because I think it is an important message).

Image via Emily Homonoff of Little Lion Communications

I was wicked hesitant to post this photo for all the wrong reasons. I always had in my head that if I bought a sweatshirt or shirt with a food quote or icon on it that people would see it and be like, “Yeah obviously, she loves that. Look at her.” I have battled with myself for years over what my weight is and how I think of myself. I am constantly over analyzing my reflection in the mirror and today I decided to say screw it. Not that I know those thoughts will suddenly stop but I wanted to post this picture. I think it’s fun and I love this sweatshirt.

We all know I’m obsessed with cheese fries but that doesn’t mean I eat them all the time or that I don’t eat healthy. I can post a picture of some cheesy goodness that I shared with a girlfriend while wearing an adorable sweatshirt and if people want to judge, so be it. I was the one with the fries and they weren’t.

Holy Cow, I'm a Homeowner.

Holy cow, I’m a homeowner! What?! Just when I got into a blogging groove, we went and bought a house. Casual, right? T and I closed on our first home on October 22nd and moved in on the 27th (again with the number 7, guys!). We are still getting settled and figuring out how to do this whole homeowner thing but fake it ‘til you make it, right?

I thought it would be fun to take you all on this crazy journey with us. If you know me at all, moving is not my strong suit. I panic, freeze, sit and stare, and don’t pack a damn thing. It is horrible but if you saw my story time on Instagram about it, I have a funny story to tell you all. It doesn’t have to do with this move but moving in general.

My sophomore year in college I had a single hour left to move out of my dorm and didn’t have a single thing packed. My sheets were still on my bed and my electronics still plugged in. I was in the midst of trying to break off a relationship and I called my besties. Kate and April arrived and had zero clue what to say. They were shocked but took on the task and packed my entire dorm for me. Talk about good friends. I am so thankful that they were there for me then and that T was there for me this time around because not much has changed. Hahaha I am working on it though!

For funsies, here are a few pictures of our home as it appeared online and for staging. Our furniture is obviously going to be different and I honestly am not sure who took these photos but I am assuming credit goes to the realtor?

Autumn in New England

Beautiful but fleeting is the best way to describe Autumn in New England. We get just a short amount of time to enjoy the firework leaf display before the temperature starts to drop and we are in hibernation (or skiing, either one really). I took advantage of the 70 degree day on Saturday and went to one of my favorite local Rhode Island farms, The Farmer’s Daughter.

I wasn’t alone in thinking that it was a great idea today, the entire place was buzzing with families and couples shopping for their homes. I loved seeing all the grandparents with their grandkids. It was absolutely adorable. They also had a ton of activities even if you weren’t planning on taking home any pumpkins. You could walk through the dahlia field, take a free wagon or train ride, head into the corn maze, or try out the pumpkin slingshot. There was also a ton of small activities and pumpkin painting. So. much. happening.

The Farmer’s Daughter also has these adorably styled greenhouses which I had only even seen in the winter. Their autumn display is just as good. They put so much thought into every bit of decor. It is amazing.

I shot entirely too many pictures of the flowers and the bees (#savethebees yah know?) so I’ll include a handful below. I also managed to find the only living hydrangea in all of Rhode Island, naturally.

You will have to tell me if you visit The Farmer’s Daughter this season or if there are any other farms I should visit!