FAMOUS FOOTWEAR OPENS IN SOUTH LEBANON

A lady's closet has endless room for shoes. Imagine my excitement when Famous Footwear reached out to me to check out their new store in Cincinnati. I've been a long-time fan of the retailer, as they always have a good variety of stylish, practical shoes in addition to sneakers and stilettos. Plus, the selection rotates frequently and they make it easy to stock up with sales and fantastic clearance deals.

Converse are my go-to sneakers, comfortable and versatile enough to pair with a sundress or a Casual Friday office outfit. Famous Footwear offers exclusive colors for their store, such as these two eye-catchers:

The rest of the workweek, you'll find me in flats. As an urban dweller, my commute involves a lot of walking, making comfort just as important as style. Enter Dr. Scholl's. Traditionally known as a brand for older folks and orthopedic inserts, Dr. Scholl's has quickly become one of my go-to brands for fashionable shoes that allow me to pound the pavement. Check out these adorable colors in their Frankie Ballet Flat.

If you're on the hunt for athletic shoes, Famous Footwear has plenty of those too. Other stores tend to carry only pastel or neon colors for ladies' running shoes, so I was pleased to find several options in black with a hint of color, making it easier to pair with an assortment of fitness clothes.

Famous Footwear has several locations around Cincinnati, most located in the northern suburbs. If you live near the river, check out their Northern Kentucky shop near Newport Kroger.

MARCH BUYING GUIDE

In with a lion full of savings, March mixes it up with a new selection of sales from the usual department store apparel discounts. Spring is one of the best times to stock up, especially if you're looking for a good price on a long-term item, such as jewelry, luggage, electronics, or even a place to live.


Things to wait on:

• Spring clothing (best deals are in April and May)
• Lingerie (best deals are during the semi-annual sale in June)
• Vacuums (best deals are in April and Black Friday)
• Thrift shopping (wait until spring cleaning begins, then hit stores in April for the largest selection of the year)
• Cookware and kitchen accessories (these go on sale during graduation season in May)

Things to buy in March:

Winter clothing (sweaters, leggings, fleece, scarves, gloves, coats, boots) - See more at: http://www.cincywhimsy.com/#sthash.NEoYiLPp.dpuf

Winter clothing (sweaters, leggings, fleece, scarves, gloves, coats, boots) - See more at: http://www.cincywhimsy.com/#sthash.NEoYiLPp.dpuf

Winter clothing (sweaters, leggings, fleece, scarves, gloves, coats, boots) - See more at: http://www.cincywhimsy.com/#sthash.NEoYiLPp.dpuf

Electronics (MP3 players, DVD players, tablets, laptops, smartphones, digital cameras): With the new products unveiled at January's annual Consumer Electronics Show now reaching store shelves, look for steep discounts on last year's models and some introductory deals on new products. The Japanese fiscal year also ends in March, and since that's where most of our gadgets are made, you'll see markdowns similar to our end-of-year sales in January.

Luggage: It's in between vacation seasons, so expect to find luggage markdowns before spring break (early April) and summer travel begins.

Frozen Foods:  March is unofficially known as National Frozen Foods Month in the industry, which champions some sleek deals for consumers. Look for specials pricing items 20-50% off.  The best part, since they're frozen, you can stock up all month!

Houses: According to Bankrate, spring is a great time to buy a house (or search for a new apartment, if you're a renter.)

Jewelry: Get a head start on Mothers' Day shopping and snag some great post-Valentine's Day deals on marked down jewelry.

FEBRUARY BUYING GUIDE

January may be the month for snagging the greatest post-holiday deals, but February offers up some hefty discounts as well. Deals at the beginning of the month will likely be slim-pickins' due to Valentines Day, but after February 14, expect to see sales bounce back again. Get your Washingtons and Lincolns ready for Presidents' Day Sales, the best time to shop this month.

Most Presidents' Day Sales begin on Friday and run through the three-day weekend. It's somewhat of a sweet spot to shop as some retailers are struggling to liquidate straggling merchandise from last year, while others have a handful of new items in for the spring. Expect to save up to 85% off on clearanced items and 20-30% off on new-this-year merchandise.

Things to wait on:

• Consumer electronics (MP3 players, DVD players, tablets, laptops) - on sale in March/April
• Jewelry (highest prices of the year due to Valentine's Day)
• Flowers and chocolates (highest prices of the year due to Valentine's Day)
• Lingerie (highest prices of the year due to Valentine's Day)
• Luggage (on sale in March)

Things to buy:

Winter clothing (sweaters, leggings, fleece, scarves, gloves, coats, boots) - See more at: http://www.cincywhimsy.com/#sthash.NEoYiLPp.dpuf

Winter clothing (sweaters, leggings, fleece, scarves, gloves, coats, boots) - See more at: http://www.cincywhimsy.com/#sthash.NEoYiLPp.dpuf

Winter clothing (sweaters, leggings, fleece, scarves, gloves, coats, boots) - See more at: http://www.cincywhimsy.com/#sthash.NEoYiLPp.dpuf

Winter clothing (sweaters, leggings, fleece, scarves, gloves, coats, boots): Presidents' Day will be your last chance at discounted winter apparel until next year. Come March, it all gets marked out of stock and shipped back to the warehouse to make way for spring break attire 

TVs: prior to Superbowl Sunday, search for television deals averaging $200 off


Indoor furniture (beds, couches, refrigerators and washer/dryers): Look for markdowns around Presidents' Day weekend

White Sale (towels, bed linens, pillows, blankets): Many white sales are continuing from January. These deals originated in department stores 1878 to entice customers to go shopping during slow retail months with discounts averaging 60-70% off.

Treadmills and ellipticals

Humidifiers

JANUARY BUYING GUIDE

The holidays may have exhausted your stamina for shopping, but don't get too comfy. A little-known secret of the retail industry is that January is the best time for consumers to find the greatest bargains. Most national retailers have a fiscal year that ends annually on January 31. That means it's time to clean house to make way for a whole new accounting period in addition to a whole new selection of wares for spring. The end of the fiscal year allows stores to deeply discount products to avoid taking a loss on any unsold merchandise.In short, that translates into "any money is better than no money." Consumers can find prices anywhere from 60-80% off during January, with substantial markdowns occurring during Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend.

While the majority of inventory is being ushered out the door, it's important to remember that not everything in a store may be on sale. Electronics, especially those released within a month or two of Christmas, will not be marked down. Wait until after new gadgets announced at the annual Consumer Electronics Show hit shelves in March for deep discounts on last year's models.

Things to wait on:

• Exercise equipment and fitness clothes (on sale in the spring)
• Luggage (on sale in September)
• Grills and patio furniture (on sale in autumn)
• Humidifiers (on sale in February)
• MP3 players, DVD players, or laptops (on sale in spring)

So, what things can you find the best deals on in January?

Winter clothing (sweaters, leggings, fleece, scarves, gloves, coats, boots): pretty much any type of cold-weather fashion must go!

Designer handbags: making way for their spring color collection, end-of-year colors are now at 50-80% off

TVs: Traditionally, televisions go on sale two weeks before the Superbowl in February, but consumers can expect to find the best deals of the year as early as Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend.

Storage: Look for two-for-one sales on Rubbermade bins and other storage devices as folks pack up their holiday decorations. Speaking of...

Holiday decorations (Christmas trees, twinkle lights, ornaments, greeting cards, wrapping paper): stock up for next year with items 70-90% off. A friend recently purchased a giant pre-lit tree for $17 and got next year's box of 50 Christmas cards for $0.49

White Sale (towels, bed linens, pillows, blankets): A department store tradition that dates back to 1878,  linens are at their lowest price of the year in January. These sales originated to entice customers to go shopping during the slowest retail month of the year. Discounts average 60-70% off.

Winter sports equipment

Home furnishings: sofas, bed frames, bookshelves, storage

Mattresses: averaging 70% off

Tax preparation software: buy it now for discounts of up to 40% off; this deal won't be around in February

Take advantage of 25% off gift cards at GiftcardGranny.com (or sell your own unwanted gift cards from the holidays for cash.)

Another tip is to start searching for Valentine's Day gifts for your sweetheart amongst the Christmas sale leftovers. Jewelry, fragrances, and chocolate prices skyrocket during February due to the demand for the holiday, but right now, you can still find occasion-appropriate gifts at a fraction of the price. There's nothing more romantic than scoring the perfect present at a quarter of the cost... just as long as it's not a Santa Claus charm bracelet.


What are the best deals you've found this month? Leave a comment below!

 

BACK TO SCHOOL BARGAINS

It's hard to believe that the hours of summer on are the decline, with just a few weeks lingering before Labor Day. Feels like we just shared our Summer Bucket List and started our season of adventures! Soon, Greater Cincinnati students will be returning to the classroom. No matter if it's grade school or university, everyone is looking to get the best bargain for their buck when purchasing for back-to-school. While most flock to the big box stores, we rounded up a list of our favorite unique shops to find a deal:

1.) Glass Barn

Taking "bargain barn" literally, this no-frills overstock shop in Reading is an actual barn is filled with kitchenware, candles, and homegoods perfect for a college student shopping for their dorm. Dishware comes with many choices to complete a set, plus the option to buy as few or many individual plates and glasses as you need, with pricing averaging around 25 cents a piece. Bath & Body Works-esque 14oz. candles are available in a wide palate of scents, as well as bathmats, dishtowels, and decorative silk flowers, all ranging under $10. An adjoining room is filled with a selection of office supplies and doubles as a hardware store, for customers to grab any discounted large Rubbermaid bins, a spare flashlight or plunger in one simple stop.


2.) Dollar Tree

The Dollar Tree brand is one of the only chain stores that truly honors the moniker, "Everything is $1.00." With several locations around the tri-state, stock up on popular items from writing utensils, three-ring binders, notebook paper, art supplies, lunch box accessories, mailing supplies and much, much more. I easily save $3-$5 per supply by shopping here in comparison to the supermarket.


3.) Dollar Depot

via Dollar Depot Facebook

An urban oasis, Dollar Depot is an independently run dollar store in Downtown Cincinnati, located near the library at Vine and Court Street. It's perfect if you're working in the city and are in need of supplies in a pinch, but don't want the hassle of getting the car out of the parking garage and driving out to a store in the suburbs. It's also perfect to run and pick up that last minute item on your child's list after work. Highlighters, manilla folders, greeting cards and even party supplies (for that impromptu office surprise), Dollar Depot is a welcome time-saver.


4.) John R. Green Company

via John R. Green Facebook

Family-owned since 1950, this Covington shop is packed wall-to-colorful-wall of all the back-to-school essentials for younger students, from PreSchool to 8th Grade. Teachers can stock up at John R. Green as well, which carries plenty of classroom decorations and early education materials. Homeschoolers or parents looking for some supplemental materials for after school tutoring can find everything they need inside this long-time learning landmark.


5.) Community Yard Sales

A great way to stock up on dorm or home essentials is by browsing through yard sales. For shoppers with young children, there are plenty of like-new fashions for your child's back-to-school wardrobe as well. Early August hosts the World's Longest Yard Sale, which spans along Route 127 from Alabama to Michigan. Some of the best local neighborhoods to shop are Mainstrasse in Covington, Hamilton, Ohio, and Union, Kentucky. Of course, if you can't make it out for this 4-day extravaganza, there are plenty of community-wide yard sales throughout August and early September, such as the City of Southgate sale where folks find working TVs and computers for $20.

Church and school yard sales offer a flea market sized selection in one convenient location, plus anything you buy benefits the organization. Earlier this year, we found a brand new bathmat, a six-socket outlet expander, and a business card holder from Prince of Peace's sale in Covington. The best part -- all three items only cost us $1.50.


6.) Christmas Tree Shops

Whoa, we're not jumping that far ahead on the calendar! Located in Florence, Christmas Tree Shops is open year round and sells much more than the expected holiday paraphernalia. Part Hobby Lobby, part Dollar Tree, and part Whole Foods, this store carries Target-like styles of school supplies and dorm decor at a fraction of the cost. While many things are found for $1.29 or less, most items average around $5.99, with barely anything being more than $10.00.



No need for school shopping? Consider stocking up for your home office as prices and selections are optimum this time of year. You never know when you'll need more pens, folders, storage, or correction tape! For more on what particular items to put on your list, check out the Ultimate Back-To-School checklist on Organize365.com.

UNROLL.ME - SIMPLIFY YOUR INBOX

Making its rounds through social media is the new website, Unroll.me, which greets users with one relatable message: Let us help you clean up your inbox. A universal problem, people are trying everything to keep order in their inbox, from sorting subscriptions into folders to setting up a separate email account for coupons. Sometimes, those subscriptions slip through the cracks and when you think you've unsubscribed from one, two new solicitations show up.

As a savvy shopper, I find myself combing through about 20 advertisements a day, whether it be for Groupon offers, newsletters, or a clothing sale, so I decided to give Unroll.me a try. It's straightforward. Put in your email address, it reads your subscriptions, then populates a list of sites you are enrolled in. It discovered 127 subscriptions in my inbox - about four times the amount I remember signing up for.  With a click of one button, I reduced my subscriptions to 45. That's right - no pop-up browser wanting you to fill out a questionnaire on why you're unsubscribing, no validating your email address, just one click and the spam is gone!

Unroll.me also has as feature called Rollup, where you can select certain subscriptions to be emailed to you in a daily digest. This is a great tool if you find your inbox cluttered with newsletters but don't want to miss any of the content.

The icing on the cake is Unroll.me Awards, which features the Top 10 most unsubscribed (spam) and the Top 10 Rolledup (clutter that's still worth a read). Leading the list:

Top Unsubscribes: 1800Flowers, TicketWeb, and ProFlowers each averaging around a 50% unsubscribe rate

Most Rolledup: Hulu, AmazonLocal, and GoDaddy

If you're looking to clean up your inbox in one easy step, definitely give Unroll.me a try!

FROTHY FRIDAY: BOOKSELLERS

Another weekend, another Polar Vortex. Why not curl up with a good book and sip on some hot chocolate? Stop by The Booksellers at Fountain Square to pick up a new read and grab a hot beverage from their cafe. Blended with dark chocolate and any milk or non-milk alternative of your choice, Booksellers's cocoa has a thin consistency with a smooth finish and comes with or without whipped cream. A crowd favorite is the Peppermint Hot Chocolate, but you can add any flavor of your choosing from their selection of coffee syrups.

OTR RETAIL THERAPY

Going stir crazy with all this winter weather? Break the monotony of being a shut in and shop local this weekend! Over-the-Rhine businesses have shoved their walks, warmed their storefronts and compiled some clever shopping and culinary tips just for you! Check out new products and menu items just in time for Valentine's Day.

The Anchor OTR
Try the Lobster Roll or the Sting Ray, a specialty drink.

Another Part of the Forest
10% off Blues and Classical vinyl

Art Beyond Boundaries
Find compelling original art by incredibly talented local artists, Mary Barr Rhodes, Will Wiley, Jeremy Lewis and many more.

Below Zero Lounge
Sip on an Irish Coffee with Boru Irish Vodka.

Coffee Emporium
Their Aztec Spiced Mocha has luscious chocolate, invigorating spices, special espresso blend and creamy steamed milk.  It's topped with whip cream and a dash of freshly ground cinnamon.  Also, try the new Berry & Flaxseed Muffin.

Couture Couture

Mint green Maxi dresses that would brighten up anyone's day!

Fiberge Yarn Shop
Find new locally hand dyed yarn and roving.

Findlay Market
Try Mimi's Gourmet Eggrolls & Curry, Drinking Hot Chocolate from Dojo Gelato, or pho from Pho Lang Thang.


Fresh Table
Try the Bison Chili made with local bison, or the Pompeii Brussels Sprout Slaw made with raw, thinly shaved Brussel sprouts, whole roasted garlic cloves, sun dried tomato and kalamata olives to keep you healthy!

Iris Book Café
Settle in with a steamy chai and a bowl of chili chorizo or vegan chili; keep your to-go drinks warm all day in an OTR/Iris logo Klean Kanteen. Plus, get a complimentary cafe cap with Kanteen purchase!

Mannequin Boutique
Chase away winter blues with vintage fur coats and cashmere sweaters from Mannequin!

Park + Vine
Uplifting Kombucha Kits. Feel the lift. Make your own kombucha with Oregon Kombucha starter kits. Try the Spring Craft Beers from Deschutes Brewery now available at Park + Vine (Black Butte, Porter, Inversion IPA, Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Red Chair NWPA)

Rock PaperScissors
Enjoy “The Cincinnati Sound," a compilation of local music guaranteed to get you dancing (or at the very least put an extra bounce in your step); or, start a new journal or art project with locally made (and brightly colored!) journals and sketchbooks.

Rookwood Pottery Co.
New Spring colors now at Rookwood Pottery in their new shop on Jackson Street, enter from Twelfth and Vine parking lot.

Steam Whistle Letterpress and Design
Have you seen The Cincinnati Streetcard?  Can't wait 3 more years for the streetcar to start running? Scratch that itch with their pop-out paper postcard!  Letterpress-printed Valentines are now available too. True love never goes out of style, handmade right here on Main Street OTR.

Substance Boutique
Discover three new styles in the softest organic cotton tees from Los Angeles brand Groceries, plus loads of new dress styles perfect for Valentine's date night.
 

Symphony Hotel and Restaurant
Try the new martini "Lost in OTR" with Crown Royal, Kahlua, Cherry Juice & a splash of root beer! Plus, Sunday brunches at the Symphony Hotel are a must try.

Taste of Belgium
Try the brand new Belgian Corndog (merguez – spicy lamb sausage, sweet batter, whole grain mustard and curry ketchup), or the new popular Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Enjoy their beer cheese now offered on the lunch menu, plus their crêpe bar is now open all day long, so people can savory crêpes for $7. Even more, Taste of Belgium OTR has a new sign, new menu, and new plate ware to start the new year with a bang.

  
Urban Eden
Curl up with an Arcadia local history book! Special price $3 off.

JANUARY BUYING GUIDE

The holidays may have exhausted your stamina for shopping, but don't get too comfy. A little-known secret of the retail industry is that January is the best time for consumers to find the greatest bargains. Most national retailers have a fiscal year that ends annually on January 31. That means it's time to clean house to make way for a whole new accounting period in addition to a whole new selection of wares for spring. The end of the fiscal year allows stores to deeply discount products to avoid taking a loss on any unsold merchandise.In short, that translates into "any money is better than no money." Consumers can find prices anywhere from 60-80% off during January, with substantial markdowns occurring during Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend.

While the majority of inventory is being ushered out the door, it's important to remember that not everything in a store may be on sale. Electronics, especially those released within a month or two of Christmas, will not be marked down. Wait until after new gadgets announced at the annual Consumer Electronics Show hit shelves in March for deep discounts on last year's models.

Other things to wait on:

• Exercise equipment and fitness clothes (on sale in the spring)
• Luggage (on sale in September)
• Grills and patio furniture (on sale in autumn)
• Humidifiers (on sale in February)
• Consumer electronics, such as MP3 players, DVD players, or laptops (on sale in spring)

So, what things can you find the best deals on in January?

Winter clothing (sweaters, leggings, fleece, scarves, gloves, coats, boots): pretty much any type of cold-weather fashion must go!

Designer handbags: making way for their spring color collection, end-of-year colors are now at 50-80% off

TVs: Traditionally, televisions go on sale two weeks before the Superbowl in February, but consumers can expect to find the best deals of the year as early as Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend.

Holiday decorations (Christmas trees, twinkle lights, ornaments, greeting cards, wrapping paper): stock up for next year with items 70-90% off. A friend recently purchased a giant pre-lit tree for $17 and got next year's box of 50 Christmas cards for $0.49

White Sale (towels, bed linens, pillows, blankets): A department store tradition that dates back to 1878,  linens are at their lowest price of the year in January. These sales originated to entice customers to go shopping during the slowest retail month of the year. Discounts average 60-70% off.

Winter sports equipment

Home furnishings: sofas, bed frames, bookshelves, storage

Mattresses: averaging 70% off

Tax preparation software: buy it now for discounts of up to 40% off; this deal won't be around in February

Take advantage of 25% off gift cards at GiftcardGranny.com (or sell your own unwanted gift cards from the holidays for cash.)

Another tip is to start searching for Valentine's Day gifts for your sweetheart amongst the Christmas sale leftovers. Jewelry, fragrances, and chocolate prices skyrocket during February due to the demand for the holiday, but right now, you can still find occasion-appropriate gifts at a fraction of the price. There's nothing more romantic than scoring the perfect present at a quarter of the cost... just as long as it's not a Santa Claus charm bracelet.


What are the best deals you've found this month? Leave a comment below!

  

BEST OF CRAFTY SUPERMARKET

Local holiday shopping kicked off on Saturday with the Crafty Supermarket Holiday Show hosted inside Music Hall. With over 90 vendors and hundreds of new items, shoppers were sure to find something for everyone on their list.

 
Of course, considering that this year was also Crafty Supermarket's largest-ever turnout at 4,000+, attendees may have missed an item or two. Worry not! CincyWhimsy perused every aisle and created a collection of 15 favorite finds, many of which are available online from the retailer.

THE BEST OF CRAFTY SUPERMARKET

1.) AROMI BEAUTY

Formerly a chemist for Bath & Body Works, Hannah Follis has developed a line of fragrances, eye shadows, and lipsticks that are cruelty-free and look and smell amazing. Unlike standard vegan-friendly cosmetics, which tend to be crude or have limited appeal beyond the environmentalist crowd, Aromi is a beauty line that everyone can love. With a dozen luscious scents, 15 bold shades of lipstick, and even a line of colognes for men, Aromi provides a polished look with the quality of a national store, but with your dollar instead going straight to an entrepreneur.

2.) STEAM WHISTLE LETTERPRESS

Not one, but two unique gifts caught my attention at Steam Whistle Letterpress: a customizable leather notebook and a rubber stamp set featuring Cincinnati landmarks, like Music Hall, Union Terminal or historic row houses. Located in Over-The-Rhine, owner Brian Stuparyk prints everything using old-fashioned letterpress machines, giving everything from greeting cards to book covers a crisp, historic finish. For the event, Brian used a foil press to create lettering on the leather notebooks.

3.) JESIIII

Capturing nostalgia and the imagination, artist Jesiiii uses wood (sometimes with bark attached) as her canvas. Bright colors and darling characters compliment the punny phrases scribed around them, such as "To gnome you is to love you," or "It's meow or never." Cheer up any room with one of her portraits, or make friends with a Pocket Pal: a quarter-sized, egg-shaped wooden charater that slips right into your pocket.

4.) KATE FUNK

Kate Funk loves to dress up her cat, in a way that takes "crazy cat lady" to a new level. From iPhone covers to throw pillows and holiday cards, her feline muse, AC, shows off his personality on every form of medium that Kate can think of. Forget the birds; let's put a cat on it.

5.) BURNING RIVER CANDLE CO.

It's the candle shop that will catch even a man's attention. Outfitted in you favorite craft beer bottle, Burning River Candle Company features uniquely scented soy candles use natural wax and their own hand-cut and polished recycled glass bottles.

6.) JODI LYNN'S EMPORIUM OF DOODLES

Scientists and Motown; two topics rarely to be crafted, and even more rare to find as a combination in one shop. Jodi Lynn's Emporium of Doodles has all your nerdy obscurities covered, including hand-etched magnets and keyrings of anything from Smokey Robinson to Schrodinger's Cat.

 

7.) STATE OF SHOCK

Pop art sensation Darin Shock not only draws; he also creates hand-carvings of his illustrations. This weekend he showed off his Cincinnati Flying Pig and Pete Rose figures. With many other sports stars and music icons in his collection, State of Shock is the place to snag that special gift for the collector who thinks he has everything.

8.) BEARMOJO

Pillows, plush toys, and even wallets, the Bearmojo factory is cranking out the cutest monsters in the world. Bright and furry, these creatures immediately caught my eye from across the room. Crafted for the "UnGrownup" yet perfectly suitable for children, any present from Bearmojo is guaranteed to steal the show this holiday season.

9.) WHOLLY CRAFT!

A real-life Etsy storefront in Columbus, Wholly Craft! is a retail shop for all Cbus creatives who need a place to sell their wares. Some of the selection was brought to Crafty Supermarket, including this little gem, a "Killer Nightlight" which features a kitten holding a gun. That will keep the monsters away!

10.) ALISON ROSE

Speaking of cats, we fell in love with vendor Alison Rose for a second year in a row after spotting this shirt: a cat created out of many miniature cats! You may remember CincyWhimsy swooning over her fortune holder wallets during the previous holiday season, and yes, she still has those available too.

11.) FABRICATE

But wait...there's even more cat stuff!  Located in Northside, Fabricate is Cincinnati's version of a retail Etsy store, selling the wares of many crafters in a brick-and-mortar shop. One of their many selections includes these knitted caps with kitten ears. There are many different breeds of hats, such as black cat, Siamese, orange tabby, or grey tabby. Super soft and warm, these hats are the next best thing to having a cat on your lap to stay cozy.

11.) BROADHOPE ART COLLECTIVE

Looking for a retail Etsy store on the West Side? Broadhope Art Collective has you covered! Located across the street from Westwood Town Hall, Broadhope features dozens of local artists and crafters merchandise with convenient parking and shopping hours. They also host crafting classes, like the make-your-own-button demonstration at Crafty Supermarket.

12.) ART 2 THE EXTREME

Long before Pinterest, Nicole Lewis was recycling her own crayons. Melting down old nubs of Crayolas to make a new, big rainbow crayon became her passion. Her business, Art 2 The Extreme is the original creator of the recycled crayon, and offers over 100 shapes and sizes of her colorful creations, including icons ranging from fortune cookies to Lego bricks.

13.) SARAH HORN CERAMICS

Making another exciting return to the blog are the Cincinnati neighborhood ornaments by Sarah Horn Ceramics. These charming dangles of hometown pride topped CincyWhimsy's list last year as our favorite holiday present. Now they're back and in more variety than ever, featuring all 52 neighborhoods plus your favorite places in Northern Kentucky and Indiana.

14.) MUSIC HALL BAR

Taking a different approach to the word "craft," the Music Hall Ballroom Bar was serving up cocktails all day during Crafty Supermarket. From mimosas to martinis, the jovial bartenders kept everyone in good spirits throughout the afternoon.

15.) INNAD

One of the most practical and much-welcomed gifts of the season is that of a new wallet. Let's face it; they wear out every year or so and as the owner, we get so attached to our comfortable, familar wallet that it's challenging to find a replacement that matches up. When gifted from a friend, however, the new wallet comes with sentiment; a fond memory of a loved one every time you reach for your credit card. To help with your transition, Innad designed a series of sleek, durable wallets and check book covers, such as the always-handy transit map.