Put this store in the category of your Garden Ridge/at home stores. This past weekend was the first…read moretime visiting this store. As I browsed the store & started picking up things to buy, I was sure that I wasn't going to get out of there for less than $50. My final bill was only $14! Some things are dirt cheap. Other things are cheap, but way too expensive for what they are. Other things are just expensive. My biggest advice for this store is to only go here when you're needing something for your home. If you go aimlessly looking, then you might come out with more than a few things that you didn't need at all. This store did seem more organized than at home. It's also much smaller. I still spent nearly 2 hours in the store looking at things, but that beats 3-5 hours in a larger comparable store. I'll most likely be back, but it'll be when I'm looking for something specific.

On a cold rainy evening after filling out belly we decided to stroll into OTP to see what we could…read morefind. After ooohing and aaahing over all the spring and summer lights and the great patio furniture we made our way to the wall decor. I believe we were there for what felt like an eternity. I still didn't have time to make it down every isle. There were paintings and candles and trinkets for days. You can buy linens and coffee mugs, a new broom or whatever you might need and the prices here are reasonable. There were a few isles that I'd noticed were clearance. I love a good sale. Then again who doesn't. This is a must browse even if you don't buy. There is so much to see.

My first thought when I saw the Christmas Tree Shops sign year's ago was that it was a store for…read morepeople who love Christmas all year long! It's not like that at all! I've still never understood why they named it that. :-/ Someone in Massachusetts thought it up because that's where the store originated. This particular location is located in Greenwood across from the Greenwood Park Mall. If I'm looking for decorations for any holiday this is where I go. They go all out on holiday and seasonal items and the prices are great! They have so many cute and unique decorations that you can't find anywhere. I enjoy summer and know "pumpkin season" is getting earlier and earlier every year. So, I wasn't surprised when I saw a lot of fall items walking in. They had an assortment of football themed items gearing up for football parties and tailgates. They have other items as well. They sell Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville and Girl Scout K-cups! Different varieties of each! Thin Mints, Trefoil, and Five 'O Clock Somewhere Dark Roast to name a few. I wish they had more locations around central Indiana. Now, when Christmas comes around you will find Christmas trees there! :-)

You never really know what you were going to find in this place and I always walk away with a fun…read moreand special surprise. Today I walked in with my son just to try to find some fun stocking stuffers for my family. I walked out to several organizational storage boxes, slippers, very inexpensive Albanese gummies, and various snacks. They really have some thing for everyone, including your pet. Treats. Sweaters. Dog bowls. They even have fun rugs and artwork for home Decour. Snacks for any pallet, including gluten-free options. They have tons of beauty supplies, including nail polishes and fake eyelashes and make up brushes and deodorant. Dishes and seasonal decor. Drinks. Jewelry. Shirts. Gag gifts. Go and enjoy yourself and make sure to walk down every aisle. There's always something fun to find at great prices! Oh... and if you sign up for their mailing list, you get really good coupons.

My family surprised me with a visit here because I had been wanting to try it for a while, and I'm…read moreso glad they did! They recently moved to a newer location not far from the old one, and the space is much larger, nicer, and able to accommodate more people comfortably. We all had a great time, and even my teenage boys enjoyed the experience, which says a lot! The candle making process starts by smelling a wide variety of fragrance candles and writing down the ones you like. I will admit this part can be a little overwhelming because there are so many scents to choose from, but they thoughtfully provide coffee grounds to help reset your sense of smell between fragrances. Once you've narrowed down your favorites, you choose a growler (the container for your candle). From there, a staff member guides you through the process. Sam was wonderful and helped us every step of the way. She also made sure I received my birthday perks, including $20 off, and helped me sign up for the rewards program, which gave me an additional $5 off. They were also running a buy three, get one free promotion which worked perfectly for our group of 4. After selecting your favorite scents, you blend them together to create a custom fragrance. Three scents seemed to be the sweet spot, although you can use more if you'd like. Once your fragrance is finalized, you're given warmed soy based wax to mix with your oils. I loved that the candles are made with soy wax. Sam let us know when everything was ready to be poured into our growlers, and the entire process was fun and easy to follow. One of my favorite parts was getting to name my candle and place the custom sticker on it. The candle takes about two hours to set, so we left and came back at the time they recommended to pick it up. Another thoughtful touch was that the restrooms were stocked with feminine hygiene products, which I always appreciate. If you're looking for a unique, fun experience that is perfect for a family outing, date night, girls' day, or special occasion, try it out. I loved that we came here on Mother's day. I would definitely come back and make another candle!

A REALLY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE…read more My husband made us reservations for 6:30, which is highly recommended. If you've ever been to Bottleworks on the weekends, you know that parking can be a bit of a challenge so plan ahead (we were almost late). When we walked in we were greeted right away and we jumped right in. You start with going through a wall of different scents. And when I say wall, I mean a literal wall of scents. There must've been 100 to go through. Once you list your favorites and find your top 3, you pick your vessel and head back to your area. We were surprised to see they had beers, wines, and seltzers available. Our "helper", Gracie, was really fun to work with. She took a look at our scent lists and made some suggestions on scent pairings. She was very friendly and attentive. After a few drinks in us, we started mixing and pouring until we handed our candles in to start the two hour setting process. They were about to close so we decided to pick our candles up the next day. Overall, such an amazing and unique experience and we'll definitely head back with more friends!

Despite the rain, there was a lot of amazing vendors at this event and I was so happy that I ended…read moreup attending with some friends! I was really impressed that the venue was able to move outdoor vendors inside last minute and allow them use of their basement space. The selection was gigantic- clothing, actual bugs, jewelry, art... even a mobile yarn shop? There was definitely something for everyone. I do wish there were a few more food options but it was a small event and the ice cream and Thai I had for lunch was still really delicious! We will definitely have to attend again next year and hope the weather cooperates a little better the next time around. :)

You probably know about the big hulabaloo that is INDIEana Handicraft Exchange in June - a giant…read moreindoor/outdoor shopping fair. But did you know they host a smaller version in December, which just so happens to (smartly) fall on First Friday? The one in June can be very hot and very crowded, so I preferred the wintertime version, although there were not as many vendors. The crowd favorites were still there, like Newfangled Confections, Homespun, Crimson Tate, Farizula Designs, Silver Linings Jewelry, Hoosier Proud, USI, Revival Food Co...the list goes on. Don't forget to check out vendors down in the basement and explore the open studio spaces! I love this bi-annual celebration of all things local and will put it on my calendar for 2016!

How have I never written a review for Global Gifts?! I've been visiting this shop since well before…read moreI moved to Indy. I'd swing by almost every visit to Indianapolis I made for years. They offer beautiful gifts from around the world--everything from statues to wall hangings to scarves to musical instruments to jewelry to coffee and tea. I always love seeing what fair trade goodies they have in stock when I'm on Mass Ave! During holiday season, they have an array of ornaments that you don't want to miss. I saw a snowflake one on my last visit that was so stunning! Don't forget to grab a chocolate bar or two at checkout. Not only are they fair trade, some are also vegan (hooray for dairy free people like me!)... and all that I've tried are delicious! Global Gifts is definitely worth a stop during your time downtown! You won't find unique gifts quite like this anywhere else.

I don't want to say that I've been a fan of Global Gifts for a long time, but I remember when it…read morewas just one store on North Michigan Road. I lived only a few blocks away at the time and it was a kind of rough time in my life - I could slip into Global Gifts and experience both kindness and a wide array of prices that allowed me, even at the time on a fixed income, to find something that would make my home smile. Of course, Global Gifts has grown and my own life has changed dramatically. The North Michigan Road store gave way to Nora and eventually this location on Mass Avenue along with Bloomington, IN and Columbus, OH. Certain things haven't changed - Global Gifts is still mission minded and kind and devoted to creating sustainable economic opportunities and safe/equitable working conditions for artisans and farmers from over 40 countries. They have a website where you can actually shop by country, including a current special upgrade to Priority Mail until December 16th. They have a delightful rewards club. They definitely do not spam, though you will get periodic e-mails about specials and updates regarding the current respons to the health pandemic. All products, 100%, are fair trade verified and ethically made. They offer free standard shipping on orders over $60. This location has a definite Mass Avenue feeling. It's worth noting that while all the Global Gifts locations are related, they're not always the same. The Mass Avenue location is a little more narrow, consistent with Mass Avenue stores, though they do a nice job of keeping things accessible. The front door is level to the ground and easy to access. If you need help due to mobility - trust me, these folks will help. It's worth noting that Global Gifts is a non-profit organization - 501c3. An awful lot of the folks you see in the stores are actually volunteers and many of them have been volunteering for years. Global Gifts follows a JEDI Committee Charter - "Global Gifts is committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in principle and in action, in the way we operate our business and the way we further our mission and vision in line with the principles of Fair Trade." As I recall, they started life out of a Mennonite Church and I believe many of those involved continue to be associated, though it is actually it's own organization/business I believe. What can you find here? Clothing items, chocolate, coffee, tea, home decor, wall decor, jewelry, books, some music, and a whole lot more. I honestly can't imagine going through my holiday season without visiting Global Gifts. The original manager back in the day, Julie, was a compassionate supporter of some of my own early outreach events including early Tenderness Tour events. Truly, this has been a wonderful business with wonderful people for an awfully long time. Global Gifts is consistently wonderful at each location and continues to be one of Indy's true gems.

Thanks for the Thyme is a cute little antique and vintage shop in downtown Franklin. The shop is in…read morean old converted house with floors that squeak and talk to you. I visited as part of a special Christmas open house sponsored by the downtown merchants. So, of course, the small shop was filled with interesting Christmas items such as vintage blow molds and ornaments. The clerk was friendly in this independently owned shop. The prices were on the high side, so I reluctantly left empty handed. I parked on about a block north and walked as there was no nearby parking.

Cute little shop in Franklin, Indiana. I was shopping in Franklin as part of their annual holiday…read moreshopping affair. I love thrifting and antique shopping. I picked a nice old 12 pane window in this shop about 2 years ago. I like digging through the treasures to be had here. This is not a huge shop but still fun. This time I found a small bundle of old recipes and newspaper clippings. It was do much fun digging through them when I got home! Some recipes I will try and some there was absolutely no way I would try lol. The gal that runs this shop is always so friendly and seems to get joy from speaking to every person who comes in. I will stop in this shop every year during the holidays.

A super cute store with lots of fun items! They have a wide variety of clothes and gift items as…read morewell as kid items. Worth a visit!

Cute but pricey stuff…read more We stopped in when we were walking around this cute area of Bloomington. Very welcoming and inviting. We were greeted immediately by the employee at the counter. We browsed and chatted with her. I touched all the luxe looking items and wished my bank account was fatter. We left without buying anything but having feasted our eyes and certainly *wanting* things! I am sure to stop in again when I am back for my semi-annual trek to the town!

This is a cozy little bookstore with barely enough room for a person to navigate the racks but I…read morelike it. It feels so intimate especially with the books laying on the shelves flat instead of standing up. This way you can read the titles easier instead of having to lean your head over to read the spines. This bookstore is well organized. Our old friend Ken said it best! The books are grouped by genre first, then alphabetical by author within the individual genre sections. I had no problem finding my favorite authors, Lee Child, Michael Connelly and Harlan Coben. For Karen Marie Moning, I had to ask, but the staff knew exactly where she was without having use a computer. She was on the very bottom and we had to get down to the floor to see her books. No wonder I couldn't find her selections. But fortunately the staff is very knowledgeable about their shop and very willing to help you. I was pressed for time so I didn't get to shop for as long as I would have liked to, but I found one gem for only $5. I had to rely on Books In Series Order dot com slash "Author's Name" instead of my usual typed lists (they were not as up to date as I would have liked). I'm near the end of reading all the Reacher novels and Harry Bosch novels have been completed. I'm beginning to buy all the Harlan Coben stand alone books I've skipped over in the past. I'm finding the newer Moning books to be very rare finds in her Fae series. I gotta come back here when I have more time. I just know there are more treasures hiding from me but I'll find them because I am determined.

This is an adorable shop! It's tucked into a small strip mall surrounded by several strip malls…read more(behind PNC, and to the north of the new Starbucks). I've always wanted to go, but didn't know what to expect so I waited. How silly of me! It's bright and clean and is full of books - both new and used (mostly used, of course). The prices are very fair and there were some great deals. Even new bestseller books were a dollar or more cheaper than the manufacturer price. A great deal of: - romance (historical romance paperbacks, especially) - children's books (used and new!) - westerns - Young Adult - Large Print - and basically everything you can think of! The woman worker provided great customer service - she explained how everything is set up and the multiple sales that were going on. I told her she had an adorable store and she told me it was her mother's! How awesome to have a family owned local bookstore in the neighborhood! I will definitely come back. Today I got some pirate bookmarks as a gift but there's a lot more to check out. You could be in here for hours looking at all the books.