Disclosure: I was a guest of The Shoppes at Farmington Valley and A Little Bird Told Me for a complimentary blogger event they held recently, at which all attendees received a swag bag full of goodies and a gift card. All opinions–as always–remain my own.
I am a lucky girl. It’s easy to take for granted that which lies in my backyard. Carry out my regular shopping; take the kids out for a casual family dinner; check off the boxes on the back-to-school lists–without even taking a moment to realize that my favorite place to achieve this all is a destination. And that others who don’t have the benefit of driving by daily would want to make a trip exclusively to go there. But why not? The Shoppes at Farmington Valley have everything you could need on one downtown-like parcel, with the added benefit of a beautiful setting, boosted by the bountiful floral plantings overflowing with petunias in shades of pink, purple, and white, distributed throughout the property. Yes, there is a reason to drive to Canton, Connecticut, and The Shoppes is a big part of that!
My evening reacquainting myself with my backyard began at Feng Asian Bistro & Hibachi, a restaurant I had not yet had the privilege of sampling because my husband does not eat fish. In fact–aside from one piece of salmon sashimi in Mexico last year–this was my first real experience eating sushi. It couldn’t have been a better introduction.
My favorites included the Asian Peach martini–refreshing on a hot summer’s night–and the spicy tuna wontons with guacamole. Of course, anything fried tastes great, but I did not expect to find such on the menu at a place known for sushi. So many flavors going on here–sweet and savory combined, with fresh and fried elements–that it was difficult limiting myself to only 2 servings. In fact, I can’t think of anything I tasted that turned me off, which made me quite happy, indeed. Looks like I can’t say I don’t like sushi now, because it appears I do!
Next stop was LOFT, where we browsed women’s fashions. This was the ideal shop to make a work wardrobe redo! So many professional and business casual pieces under one roof! And the staff were extremely helpful, too!
I’m all about the dresses. Either of these pieces would happily find a place in my closet, for sure!
J. Crew was the next stop on the itinerary, and all the girls had a great time in here! I really loved their accessories, but the current wanderlusty/travel themed outfits also caught my eye. You could get a dress, skirt, and capris all in the same coordinating fabric–I love anything that simplifies my life!
These dresses here, though? Oh, my! A Pinterest-lover’s dream come true! (And since I don’t have any tropical destinations coming up any time soon, they’re a great mental escape, too!)
We crossed the way to Simply Mac next, an Apple Specialist store certified by Apple to service their products.
Basically, anything they can do in an Apple store can be done here, as well–without the wait for an appointment or the drive to West Hartford. Plus, they sell Apple products and accessories and are very happy to show you how to use them, too! The boys showed me some macro iPhone lenses this evening. I’m still not sure I need them, but they certainly put the idea back in my head…
Last stop: O’Live A Little! And, despite driving by the Shoppes nearly-daily and shopping there frequently–AND receiving numerous recommendations to pop my head into this shop–I somehow had never been through their doors before. Shame on me!
I really did not know what to expect in O’Live A Little. I knew they sold olive oil, but the idea of that alone wasn’t hugely impressive–heck, I sold grapeseed oil when I was one of those party-plan consultants! But saying they sell olive oil is a little like saying there’s salt in the ocean. You cannot even imagine the vastness of their offerings until you see it all for yourself!
Sample the dozens of olive oils, vinegars, and salt blends on site before making your selection. Walk up to the honey bar and get a taste of them all to find the perfect honey for you. The cheese! Oh my gosh, the cheese–I had no idea they offered such a variety! Plus there are homemade pastas, jellies and jams, housewares, and more. I didn’t have much time to browse, given they were my last stop of the evening, but I must return soon to get the full picture. To help me out, they sent me home with a lovely gift bag with the items below–a great introduction to what is sure to be a staple in my shopping in the future!
The Shoppes at Farmington Valley are such a pretty place to visit. In the summer, they offer movies under the stars and live entertainment on Friday nights. And the shops, oh! There are so many more we didn’t pop into on this evening–Old Navy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Barnes & Noble, Sur la Table, Sephora… Add to that Green Tangerine Salon & Spa, barre3 studio, 8 different eateries–it’s not just a place to buy what you need, it’s where you go to spend some time slowing down and taking it all in. It’s an experience, and you really need to be a part of it to truly understand. This is just scratching the tip of the iceberg–you’ll see for yourself!