I absolutely love the Holiday Pop Up Shoppes at Westport Village this year! It's so convenient to…read morevisit this pop-up and get most, or even all, of your shopping done at once. Because they have so many shops, offering so many items, all in one spot it's super easy to shop for everyone on your list. And better yet, you're shopping local, which is awesome! If you're still working on your holiday shopping list, I definitely recommend checking out the Holiday Pop Up Shoppes!

We had a great time here for National Sesame Street Day! Coloring activities for kids and story…read moretime was fun for my littles. We enjoyed this outing. I had the s'mores sundae and the kids had Cookie Monster and grouch ice cream. They didn't eat much of theirs. It was cute overall but their ice cream is a little pricey.

This time of year I'm always on the hunt for a variety of pumpkins and gourds, mostly for display…read morepurposes but also for carving. Mainstream stores don't carry anything but standard orange, and grossly overcharge, for that matter. I don't necessarily want to invest the time - or money - in trekking out to an orchard either, although I'd always prefer to support a local business. This year I solicited help from Facebook to find roadside vendors, and two people made the following recommendation: "drive out Winchester Road past Man O'War," but that was enough - there they were! The folks from Holleran Farms were very friendly and fun to talk to while perusing the goods. They had a TON to choose from, and were stocking more the entire time I was there. They price based on size, which was more than fair. I ended up with 9 pumpkins and gourds for $40. This will be a MUST visit for me each fall from now on!

Over the last couple of years, I've visited The Flea off Market several times and it doesn't hold…read morethe same excitement for me as it once did. The vendors that come are diverse and great to shop, although I can't remember the last time I made a purchase. Due to a smaller number of vendors, today's excursion was short - maybe 30 minutes. Thankfully it was set up in the lot of a local brewery so we grabbed a beer and lingered there. If you're pointed in the direction of The Flea, definitely pull over and browse; however, I can't recommend it as the destination or reason for your outing.

The Flea Off Market continues to bring an eclectic array of artisans and sellers together, making…read morefor a purely Louisville shopping experience. I partook of the Flea Off Market most recently at its annual indoor holiday bazaar, this year held at Mellwood Art Center. This included a couple of food trucks plus vendors set up throughout the two outside buildings at the art center. I also appreciate how well the Flea sets the mood for their markets, with DJs in each building and a bar where you can buy drinks. The Flea has always been more of an experience, where it's fun to shop and also to hang out. During this most recent market, I found several creative vendors that I wished I could buy from. I said to my friend who accompanied me, "I wish I had people cool enough on my Christmas list to buy some of these things for." Alas, I just had family on my list. ;-P Some of my favorite finds, though, included Georgia's Sweet Potato Pie Co. (also has a spot in the Highlands that's worth a visit!), SnoWhat, Eichen Design, FLY Girl Candles and Eden & Kissi (also has a physical location that you should go to in Buechel). I was also struck by the idea that I really need to make it a point to go to more of the Flea's outdoor markets next year so I can shop these great vendors not just at the holidays. Thanks for continuing to bring some wonderful weirdness to Louisville, Flea Off Market!