My mom and I have this tradition of driving up to Freeport, ME every year to do some outlet shopping. We’ve done it since I was a little girl. When we first started going, we stayed overnight at a cute little B&B that is no longer. We’ve watched the little town grow and seen stores come and go. Sometimes we stop in Kittery, sometimes Portland, and sometimes Ogunquit (can’t miss those lobster rolls!)

The drive is just over 2 hours from Boston, and while there are outlets now in Wrentham and at Assembly Row, I still like to go up to Maine because it’s such a cute little town.

So where do we start? Can’t start the trip without making a pit stop at L.L. Bean! Don’t forget to take a picture with the enormous boot! They have FREE concerts and events during the summer. Check out the schedule here. Did you know that L.L. Bean is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year?!? When I was younger, it was so much fun going into the store at midnight.

What are some of my favorite stops on Main Street (and off)?

Sea Bags I have a MAJOR addiction. In addition to their recycled sail bags, they have some cool jewelry from Lemon Line and some fun options for your home.

J. Crew I’m a sucker for the J. Crew outlet. I love all their kids clothes too.

Vineyard Vines They have an outlet store in Wrentham and at Foxwoods. This store is two floors of preppy heaven. Just note that there is no way to the second floor besides the stairs, so be prepared to leave your stroller. (Although they did offer to help carry my stroller all the way up, but that just seemed cruel )

When Pigs Fly I can’t get enough of this delicious bread. You can get it in the market, and they even have stores in MA. But this is a favorite stop for me – oh and did I mention that it smells delicious?

Fjällräven just opened a store in Boston. They have their only outlet location up in Freeport. They sell first quality merchandise at around 10% off. I picked up a “maxi Kånken” backpack and use it in place of a diaper bag on most days. It has an extra expandable compartment for a laptop if you want to use it for a commuter bag.

What else can you find in Freeport?

The Coach Factory Store, Coastal Maine Popcorn, Dooney and Bourke, Lindt, Sperry, The North Face, and Maine Woolens to name just a few.

Where to eat? To be honest, we usually eat somewhere else (like Ogunquit or Kittery) but I’ve always wanted to try the Harraseeket. We’ve had a few meals at Linda Bean’s Maine Kitchen. My first meal there was delicious, this past time, when we went for lunch it was just meh. Sort of disappointed when you pay for a lobster dish, especially in Maine, and it’s just meh.

For more information on Freeport, ME, check out their website here.

Have you been up to Freeport, ME lately? Where’s your favorite place to eat?

The post Day-tripping to Freeport, ME – Tuesday Water Cooler appeared first on A Little Bit About a Lot of Things.

For those of you who are doing a last mad dash for presents the week before Christmas, head over to the CambridgeSide Galleria. It’s super easy to get to: you can drive there and parking is WAY cheaper than most city malls, you can take the T or you can get a shuttle bus. Oh, did I mention that you can get your picture taken with santa FOR FREE? Yup, they’re the only mall I know of that’s doing free santa photos!

The CambridgeSide Galleria has some of my favorite shops: Banana Republic, GAP, J. Crew to name just a few. If you’re like me you’ll head over to TJ MAXX and Sephora and spend all your money on yourself when you SHOULD be buying gifts for your friends and family. And when you’re all done with shopping, head over to the Cheesecake Factory or PF Changs to fuel up for round 2! Not in the mood for a sit down meal and just want something quick, I have to admit that I am a sucker for Panda Express…For a full list of stores and restaurants, check out their directory here.

I headed out to the CambridgeSide Galleria for a fun night out with some fellow bloggers. We had a great time previewing all the holiday fashions and they showed us some great gift ideas. We even had a glamour swap!! I walked away with a gift card to the Cheesecake Factory. Perfect timing with the gift card because after the swap I did a little shopping (picked up that Banana Republic necklace from my gift guide) and then headed over to the Cheesecake Factory to meet my friend for dinner!

What are those last gifts that you need to cross off your list?

Disclaimer: I was invited to attend a glamour swap at the CambridgeSide Galleria. I won a gift card to the Cheesecake Factory. All opinions are my own.

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This holiday season has me feeling a little nostalgic. I was asked to participate in a campaign for Macy’s this year and it got me thinking back (WAY back) to when I was a kid and what shopping was like then. First, there was no Natick Collection. The Shopper’s World isn’t the one that you know now, although the old one was an outdoor mall too. I remember the OLD Natick Mall: getting our photos taken at Sears and having them made into necklaces, buying red pistachios from large barrels, going to the buffet (I can’t recall the name) with my grandparents and looking forward to the spinning dessert case. There was a store that pressed pictures onto t-shirts, I think my dad may still have one of them, and we always bought him one for his birthday or for the holidays (thanks for wearing the green rainbow sparkle shirt that I picked out dad!).

The OLD Shopper’s World was an outdoor mall with a cinema attached. Do you remember 5,7,9? Yup that was there. There was this stationary store on the top level in the corner near the theater where I would buy those troll dolls. At the holiday time the mall had these huge wooden toy soldiers (which you can still see around Framingham) and live reindeers. But maybe the most memorable thing about that mall was Jordan Marsh. Oh those blueberry muffins! Everyone claims to have the original recipe, but every time we try and make them, they just aren’t quite right, close but not the same. The store itself looked like a big flying saucer or a dome – I can remember when those hyper color shirts were in and I just HAD to have one. By the time we got there they only had one that was pink that changed to a darker shade of pink…so not cool, but I bought it anyway, just to have one.

Let’s fast forward. Jordan Marsh was converted into Macy’s and the Natick Collection is a sight to be seen. While I love to support local shops and makers whenever I can, sometimes (especially now that I have small children) it is just easier to go to a department store and do some one stop shopping. While holiday shopping I have good intentions of buying gifts for friends and family but usually end up seeing things I love and getting myself things instead.

I headed into Macy’s this past weekend and literally knocked off half of my holiday gift list. There is literally something for everyone:

For you: pick up that cute outfit you’ve been eyeing for your company holiday party (and don’t forget the shoes and something sparkly!)

For your bestie: grab her a Coach purse (that she will totally let you borrow)

For your coworker: some Godiva chocolates are always a crowd pleaser

For the techie in your life: a fashionable smart watch or those adorable cat headphones

For your mother in law: something Kate Spade for the home

For your mom: a Kitchenaid mini mixer in a cute color to match her kitchen

For your tween niece: MAC makeup is always a hit

For your siblings: some cozy pajamas (it’s supposed to be a COLD winter!!)

What are you buying at Macy’s this holiday season?

Disclaimer: I was invited to be a part of a blogger campaign for Macy’s. I was given a gift card in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.

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Every show brings something different. Artwork, stained glass, furniture, dishware, glassware, lighting, clothing, you name it, it’s here. Cash is the preferred method of payment, although some vendors take checks. Here are some of my suggestions if you plan to attend:

• arrive early
• wear comfortable clothing and closed toe shoes
• the event is rain or shine so make sure to check the weather before you go
• bring lots of sunscreen
• stay hydrated

There are food and beverage vendors everywhere, so don’t feel like you have to lug water around with you throughout the show. There are a number of porta potties scattered throughout the event.

There is something for everyone here.

It’s fun to walk around and talk to vendors: ask where they are from, have them tell you a story about a particular piece you may be interested in…

A fun shot of milk bottle tops for sale.

We didn’t buy anything major – we did find this great old box! Amy Cloud from North Bennington, VT hand paints hens onto antique boxes. You can check out her other goods at acloud.etsy.com or email her at acloudstudio@yahoo.com

We also walked away with this fun item – an old mailbox with working locks. I’m obsessed with it! What was your best find at Brimfield?

For more information about the show: http://www.brimfield.com/

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Plum Island Cookie Company Cookies, a bit on the pricey side, but they are really cute. Dawn Marie Shay, owner and baker, makes delicious hand designed butter cookies with only the best natural and organic ingredients.

Lillie’s Q makes a great gift set of sauces for that BBQ lover in your life.

For $30 you can get a three bottle sampler that comes in a cute wooden box – it’s a really great presentation. They also have 6 bottle gift sets.

Coasters made by Seabags are $40 for 4. How cute are these? They are made from recycled sails in Portland, Maine. Check out their website, they have lots of cool stuff.

Hotel Chocolat – I love this store, located on Newbury Street. This cute stocking stuffer ($6) was coffee and amaretto flavored, yum!

Central Bottle – Have yet to get to the actual store (196 Mass Ave in Cambridge), but friends of ours gave this to us for the holidays. Such a great gift!

Starting at the bottom and going counterclockwise is a Challerhocker thermalized cows milk cheese from Tufertschwil, Switzerland a semi hard cheese with a smooth flavor; next is  Hooligan raw cows milk cheese from Colchester, CT which was softer than the Challerhocker, creamy with a little bit of an aftertaste; and finally Claire’s Mandell Hill past goat from MA, I’m not a huge goat cheese fan myself, but this cheese, when you cut it open could have easily been mistaken for a brie.

NARS Penny Arcade Andy Warhol $26 larger than life lip gloss (limited edition), high shine and has a little bit lip enhancer to pump up your lips. The color is bright but when on looks more subtle. I wear it over the Afghan red lipstick ($24).

butter nail polish in “Artful Dodger” ($14). butter LONDON products are formulated without the use of the harmful ingredients like Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP or Parabens. Great color, it takes about 3 coats for the polish to really be opaque, but check out their website for all the amazing colors they offer.

Maine Float Rope Co. presents their Downeast Doormats handwoven from recycled lobster trap float rope. The medium size measures: 32”L x 18”W ($54.95). (picture courtesy of Maine Float Rope Co.)

Hotel Chocolat – love these little sampler packs at $7 each. I picked up Nibbly Pralines, Pistachio Pralines and Coffee & Walnut. Stop into their shop, they are always sampling something!

Vineyward Vines ornament ($22.50) How cute is this?

Alex and Ani Rendevous expandable bracelet in champagne ($58) visit their store on Newbury (cross street Clarendon) to see them up close and in person.  They are also sold at various department stores.

Alex and Ani Starlet wrap in burgundy ($38) Love this, can be worn alone or as a filler with the expandable bracelets.

Alex and Ani expandable bracelets at $28 a piece, show here with a nautical theme.

Kate Spade (Orig. $278 on sale for $139) bright spot collar necklace for a little bit of bling at your next party. 18″ long in crystal/rhodium.

J Crew  scarf ($68) chunky, soft and warm – a great addition to any outfit.

The Miansai hook bracelet at J.Crew ($55) (Photo courtesy of J.Crew) “Retro inspired and made completely by hand from a vintage fishhook cast and military-grade woven cord (sourced from an American company that supplies the U.S. Coast Guard), this bracelet adds a rugged utilitarian touch to whatever else you’re wearing.”

Chevron is so in this year, so I decided to brighten up my bathroom with a yellow chevron shower curtain made by Liz that I bought off of Etsy (photo courtesy of ElizabethMichael) ($119) Check out her shop on Etsy!

I met Theresita at the Christmas Craft Festival a few years ago, I LOVE her, what a great fun personality and she is SO talented. She works out of RI and has an amazing collection of pieces (prices will vary). I love her city platter, she customized one for me with all the details of our wedding. Check out Theresita Design on Etsy.

Leave me a note telling me what YOUR favorite thing was this year!

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