About to begin my last yoga practice, it came to me that I was missing out on blogging something that is very important to me - NH Power Yoga - a studio practicing Baptiste Yoga to boot. Suddenly flashbacks of my past travel, when I yearned for a good sweat, in particular, a good sweat and whole body experience from yoga, was all I needed to make my travel more perfect. So for those of you traveling through, by and around New Hampshire...you will be forever changed by dropping into NH Power Yoga, a Baptiste Affiliate Studio, in Merrimack, NH.

NH Power Yoga caters to both novice and veteran yogis. I have experienced 3 of the 5 instructors, and each brings their own variety and passion to the practice. With classes every day of the week, and twice each day, you can surely find a time for practice. In 75 minutes, you will sweat, stretch, tone, invite peace unto you and leave uplifted to that place we all so want to be in all of our 24 hours each day.

So bring your mat, towel and water and a measly twelve bucks, and visit NH Power Yoga. And heck, if you forget all of that, you can rent or buy it anyway! Not to mention, you can outfit yourself in yoga wear as well! See, there is simply no reason not to make this your second home on the go...Namaste.

Last week we drove to the coast and then up glorious Route 1 to an equally glorious Portsmouth. Ooh, how sweet spring is...

Anyway, I got to thinking with Easter right around the corner that parents, um...er...I mean parents helping the Easter Bunny, might get a little bit creative this year. Why not forego most of the candy that the wee ones already get too much of, and fill their baskets with tiny trinkets and toys that revolve around the Easter holiday and all things it embodies? A basket that will spark those malleable imaginations to a full blown bonfire! Get inside G. Willikers! for origami, aliens, knights, kites and Easter trinkets galore!

This toy store is anyone's escape from reality. If I remember right, my husband was the last one to leave peacefully! I loved the assortment of items under $1, especially the tiny rubber red dragons for $.50! The selection of stuffed animals was unique and the games were some I have never heard of. And beyond the Made in China menagerie found at big box stores, G. Willikers! had so many toys with solid construction you knew they would not crumble after one day of play. Lastly, the store had the best selection of hand puppets I have seen around.

Get into G. Willikers! with no time frame, because any agenda in here will be blown in minutes! Have fun!

Kimberly -

I am trying to help my daughter out by purchasing used baby equipment. I am looking for a Fisher Price Ocean Aquarium Swing.

Thanks
Jean

Hi Jean...I guess I could make this question about NH travel! ;) Check this out...THE only place to go!!!!

Also, you won't believe their stock of winter clothing right now...head on in!

Happy Holidays!
Kimberly

With only 8 more days left till Christmas, you may need to start streamlining your shopping! Hit the strips that can cater to everyone on your list....

1. Settlers Green, North Conway, NH - 60 factory outlet stores all situated together and bouncing around them all is easy peasy...

2. Tanger Outlets, Tilton, NH - each store is easy to see in this U shaped strip, so hit only those you want and waste not those feet! Be sure to print out some valuable coupons from their website before you go!

3. LL Bean Factory Stores, Nashua, Manchester, Concord, and North Conway, NH - nothing to tell you, you don't already know. Love the Bean!

and

4. White Mountain Outlets, North Conway, NH - for those on your list who salivate for Polo, Brooks Brothers or Good ole dependable Liz Claiborne...

Don't forget something for me! :0)

For those ambitious wonders who have already begun, or are almost finished with their holiday shopping, don't forget to swing into Scontsas in Downtown Nashua...their gorgeous displays provide a unique avenue to purchase something truly special. French milled soaps, creamy linens, italian pottery and vintage inspired decor right at your finger tips. Look up and you'll find the best selection of chandeliers this side of the Mississippi.

I met the owner last time in, a charming fellow with quite an eye for this business, and he was alarmed by a past blog mention of the store's pricey nature. I quickly checked back in my archive, and sure enough that blogger was me! Well, I do stand by my statement, after all, pricey to me may be cheap to someone else - it's all a bit relative. That being said, it goes without saying that Scontsas makes sure to offer something for everyone's wallet size. Shop Scontsas this Holiday and someone on your list will be ecstatic!

Ever drive by strip malls, and other shopping plazas and notice the sign, "Jazzercise." I guess I had this image of a bunch of Jane Fondas in matching leg warmers and head bands jumping around in front of a mirror. And that when my boys were invited to a free Junior Jazzercise class, that they too should try and find some matching Bjorn Borg head and wrist bands. Wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. So while I haven't gone to an adult class yet, I certainly know that Junior Jazzercise was a 90 minute blast for boys and girls ages 5-12. So if you're local or driving on by, stop in to Amherst Jazzercise [in most any attire you wish by the way]!

The program's goal is to expose children to exercise in a fun, non-competitive environment. Instructor Beth Parenteau says, "Junior Jazzercise is a 50-60 minute class that combines aerobics with kickboxing, Pilates, yoga, and adding exercise games. The class is set to today's latest child appropriate, pop and dance music and utilizes fun props, such as hula hoops, jump ropes, balls, pom-poms, and much more. Children also learn about bones, muscles, and proper nutrition. Junior Jazzercise is also great for Scouting badges, after-school programs, physical education classes, home-school students, and birthday parties."

You know, sometimes pictures speak a thousand words. Just look at one of my favorite bookstores up in Meredith, NH. I have always said that Innisfree Bookshop is a must...the staff is friendly and knowledgeable, not to mention passionate about their place! And though the book and gift selections are obviously smaller than a Barnes & Noble, they are still as thorough...with a to-die-for children's section that's complemented by every creative toy possible, up to date new release section, and valued staff picks shelves. Heading to the Lakes? Pick up a good book!

Probably if you know anything about Meredith, NH, it's the Inns & Spa at Mills Falls. It's a gorgeous scene with a handful of Inns, all pronouncing many amenities, gorgeous bay views and enough spa services to tide over the Lenox crowd. But having lived nearby for a few years, its the eateries and shopping along its side streets that carry more character and surprise than any of the Inns.

There is no other diner in the world better than George's, at least that's what my good friend Harrison believes. If you like home cooking, and believe this trendy lifestyle of low carbs and no sugar is a bunch of baloney, then you'll fit right into the George's Diner crowd. I recommend their breakfast here to start your day, but by all means, consider them for dinner - their boiled dinner on Thursday and their all you can eat fish fry on Fridays are sure bets! And if it's simply coffee you crave, The Village Perk roasts some great beans! For lunch and dinner I would suggest Abondante, a sweet Italian shop offering seasonal specials and live Jazz on Thursday nights...Guiseppe's for some pizza by a waterfall...Camp for a burger and s'mores!... Mame's for some food from the sea...or the infamous Phu Jee Asian Cuisine...just when you thought you had to be in a city to get tofu!

When the belly is full, and shopping comes to mind, hit the following. Home Comfort and Once New offer the quintessential pieces needed in every home in order to call it a home. Both new and antiquated furnishings that can turn the ordinary into a Martha showcase. One of my favorite bookstores in the whole world is Innisfree, and even more so now that I have kids. The staff here is as good as it selections - informative, intriguing and idyllic! [So good it's going to have its own blog in the near future!] A great collections can be found at Oglethorpe, Vintage Diversions and The Great Northern Trading Company. And if you wander a bit east from the Mills, you will find yourself lost in one of the greatest thrift stores known to mankind, Etcetera - this one's for you Christy!

So yes, your lodging accomodations will surely be fine, but it's your side street experiences that will make your trip memorable! Have fun!

Let me give you some advice...when a brand spanking new resort invites you to visit their new spa in exchange for some blog exposure you answer, "When can I come?!" And absolutely glad I did! Sunapee New Hampshire's newest Spa resides within one of its newest resorts, the Mountain Edge Resort and Spa. A grand timberframe chiseled into the granite mountainside, with wide white birches littering its front lawn, the Mountain Edge Resort and Spa offers a unique get away for singles, couples and families.

My family visits Vermont quite often and over the past 2 years, we watched the enormous timberframe go up for the Mountain Edge Resort. It's a NH charm in architecture alone. Its golds, rusts, browns and olive greens parallel its surrounding nature, and beckons you to step inside for a peek. The rooms are spacious, seriously clean and offer luxuries such as kitchenettes, high speed internet, fireplaces and jacuzzis.

But wait, I'm losing focus here, I must get to the Spa, my reason for this visit. Sally, the Spa Manager, and Ashley, the Assistant, ushered me in like a queen. Locker rooms, sitting rooms and service rooms were all thoughtfully decorated in warm earth tones, soothing notes pouring out overheard speakers and of course, the terry white robe and slippers transport you to the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. The Dead Sea Mud wrap was recomended...why did I forsee a wrapped towel turban around my head and cucumbers over my eyes? NO such thing though,...Sally painted me with hot mud, wrapped me up in layers and layers, and then gave me a face massage that left me in a trance. After so many minutes, I was peeled away like an onion and into the hot shower I went to wash off the mud. The session ended with a hot moisturizing massage. Need I say more? The best part of all this is perhaps the price. I know typical swedish massages can run between $65-$100, but all you've just read costs only $85! A visit at the resort's Spa is essential! And it is set up perfectly for wedding parties, with the manicures, pedicure room and treatment rooms, I can't think of a better place to go - and ask for Sally...she was meant to do this.

On site is the Tavern offering lite fare - a few apps, few sandwiches, few dinners and basic kids fare. The tavern's atmosphere is still incomplete as the boxes of puzzles, games, and books still line the walls, but when unpacked this is a tavern to be reckoned with. The tables are huge squares of group fun, leather couches flanking the fireplace and large screen TVs, which today were airing the Sox game...major points for that selection. The Resort also hosts a huge Rosewood General Store on its campus that allows for basic shopping needs, gift shopping needs and even scooter rentals.

Before today, all I've really ever done in Sunapee is frequent the League of NH Craftsman fair in August [which by the way runs this August 5-13th, and is an amazing showcase of local artisans works for show and sale AND the Mountain Edge Resort and Spa offers a package deal for visiting this fabulous fair!]. But now I have a new and perhaps better reason for visiting Sunapee...the Mountain Edge Resort and Spa has arrived and it is truly a NH escape.

So what do we have....Father's Day is fast approaching, and so are multitudes of school graduations. For me I have Nicole's birthday today, Kelley's and a few anniversaries. Whether it be a birthday, an engagement or a 'just because' occasion, do yourself a favor and familiarize yourself with downtown Nashua...it's a charming Main Street Community.

Start your morning off like the locals and feed on some classic diner fare at Joanne's Kitchen right on Main Street. It's one of those dives that patrons happily wait in a line out the door. It's tiny so expect to be pleasantly cramped! Then grab your wallet and head to Scontsas Home Furnishings where shabby chic is celebrated with style! Even though some items are noticeably overpriced, you can find great variety in function and cost...from chandeliers to rustic garden pots. If your wallets a bit bigger, step in next door to Scontsas Jewelers!

For the lady on the list, step into handbag heaven at the Handbag Boutique. Just when you thought a shop could not survive on handbags alone, think again! Black Thorne Antiques down the way also offers a unique selection - definitely an easier pick for Father's Day in here [though I am not sure why he wants an antique reel or mallard lamp?]. For lunch check out the American menu of Martha's exchange, even though their beer list tops their menu, al fresco dining and atmosphere make it worth the stop. And for dessert, Patisserie Bleu is a MUST. Every choice is a taste bud celebration. And after some more shopping at Beckonings, Cooking Matters, Swan Chocolates and Absolutely NH, step into the strangest dining experience I have had in a long time...Fody’s Great American Tavern. Even the entrance seems surreal, and the waitstaff appears to have no idea how different their place is. The goat cheese fondue is wonderful with fresh roasted vegetable dippers, and you'll have to try the duck. A perfect ending to a delightful day. Let me know what your favorite downtown Nashua stop is!

On a two hour jaunt this past weekend, the smoke stacks were at full steam in all the sugar shacks, so I just have to highlight one last Maple tale - the specialty store of New Hampshire Gold. You'd never expect to find such a well done place in the obscure town of New Hampton, NH. It's Exit, 23, is just another gateway to the beloved Lakes Region. But ah, almost 1 mile off the exit lies treasure in the mask of Maple Syrup products - NH Gold, but don't let that fool ya!

A few birthdays back, my friend Jenny showed up with armloads of dried chiles, artichokes and pomegranates tied in brown paper and rafia. Absolutely gorgeous and right up my alley,...I had to ask where she got them from. "Oh, New Hampshire Gold," she said, as if I should have known. SO the next time I went north, I stopped in, and to my surprise I had found a slice of heaven. The store fronts itself as a Maple Sugar supplier, which is indeed true. Maple syrup, maple candy, maple sugar, and maple cream lies about every where. But they sell themselves short by not barking about their pancake mixes, bread mixes, mustards, coffees, gift baskets, honey, preserves, handmade soaps, tea, spice mixes, pottery, and shaker boxes to name but a few items!

So join the Maple brigade and visit a unique Maple shop, while also delighting yourself with surprising accompaniments too!

My son is still chanting the catchy phrase, and it's been almost 2 weeks since we saw the Manchester Monarchs play at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, NH. At 6 and 4, we weren't sure how long the kids would last at the game, how often we would have to 'take a walk', or what my son would eat seeing he is allergic to everything. But alas, the game was fantastic on many levels. The security let me tote in my bag full of gluten, wheat, dairy, egg and peanut free snacks [well, with little argument anyway], the kids sat in their seats for 3 hours [and let me assure you, that has never happened, nor come close to happening], and we all stayed until the last shot was fired, and even 45 minutes after for a post-game fireworks display. I highly recommend bringing the whole family to one of the last remaining Manchester Monarch games!

The 3 hour game was littered with fresh ideas, eye-popping eye candy and hip swinging music that brought my kids to their dancing feet. When staff weren't firing Monarch t-shirts into the stands with their rocket launchers, they were picking people from the crowd to win prizes. The team mascot and giant Crash skater moved around the entire arena, drawing laughs from toddlers to their grandpas. And who can resist the Monarch 'Chuck-a-Puck', where you buy an orange puck for a buck and huck it into the rink to win prizes during half time!

And if you go to Manchester, you will find some of my favorite spots to dine in, and visit...

Where to eat:
Without kids...Hanover Chop House or Cotton

With kids...Red Arrow Diner, or Margaritas

Making it a day trip? Visit the currier Museum or Art, the SEE Science Museum or Charmingfare Farm, before the game.

There are many years I wake on the 22nd of the month and think, who is left on my list? This year is no different. Rest assured, it's pretty easy shopping this close to Christmas. The difficulty may only be in finding something that has not been torn to bits by the hounds. Shop local and personal, and have yourself a very Merry Christmas.

1. Swan Chocolates, Merrimack or Nashua, NH - Spectacular chocolates yes! But also, chocolate covered champagne bottles, coffees, gelatos, and even chocolate fountain rentals - now there's a hostess gift! If it's bought at Swan, it is special.

2. Absolutely NH, Main Street, Nashua, NH - Clothing, baking goods, spices, bath and body, and New Hampshire spun pots or knitted throws...local done well.

3. Antiques at Mayfair, Route 101A, Amherst, NH of course...refer to November's blog about this favorite place. Really and truly, something for everyone here. And not an ounce of character left behind.

4. Cooking Matters, Main Street Nashua NH - How can anyone disregard a wall of oils! Never mind the pate, the cheese, the coffee and every herb, rub or vinegar to top that special holiday dish. It's the kind of place where you can spend a day in, and leave with something you have never heard of!

5. Cool Jewels, Keene and Portsmouth, NH - an October's blog, but again, such a great place to hunker down and come up with a Thailand or Bali delight or jewels for the Queen in your life.

The infamous they told me that ice skating was like riding a bike...you know how the saying goes. Well, they lie. I grew up with a small pond in my back yard, and in the winter months, it became the treasured neighborhood hockey rink and ice arena for the Dorothy Hamill wannabes. Years ago, when I was teaching and the opportunity arose to play in a student/faculty hockey game, I jumped at the chance. I fell 36 times - 37 times if you count when I first stood up after lacing them up! All that being said, I am getting on ice skates this year, and will not stop trying, until I can easily execute a triple axle or a triple Lutz. [ok, true goal being to turn a corner without bruising the bottom...I would even settle on being able to stop without grabbing someone]

New Hampshire may not be as known for skating or hockey as Canada or even neighboring Massachusetts, but we do it well enough to call several great ice rinks our own. Got a first date in mind? How romantic would couples skating be! Holding hands, keeping warm, laughing at yourself...not to mention it would be a real great ice breaker. [ok forgive me for that.] Can't decide on what to do with the kids? Littles ones with skates or sneakers can proudly slide their feet and push a milk crate around, and around and around...imagine how they'll sleep! Take the family for a free skate. Or have the holiday pounds become a problem before we've even started? Skating is fantastic exercise. Rinks are in every corner of our great state - make a date to skate!

The Rinks at Exeter, Exeter, NH

Tri-Town Ice Arena, Hooksett, NH

Conway Ice Arena
8 Riverside Street
Nashua, NH 03062
Phone: (603) 595-2400

Campion Ice Skating Rink
Route 10
Hanover, NH 03755
Phone: (603) 643-1222

Dover Ice Arena
110 Portland Avenue
Dover, NH 03820
Phone: (603) 743-6060

Ham Arena
87 West Main Street
Conway, NH 03818
Phone: (603) 447-5886

On paper, New Hampshire is perhaps best known for its Antique Trail running along Route 4. But others are getting the picture that Route 101A is in the running for the state's best Antique Trail - with Antiques at Mayfair most often drawing the biggest crowds and most far away guests. I love to browse in antique shops, get ideas for my home and buy unique gifts, and Mayfair is my favorite spot in the state. Two giant red barns are filled with tens of dealers who care to turn over their stock, present gorgeous displays, and offer very fair prices. It's a place to find vintage clothing, fiestaware or Limoges, and full dining room sets made of mahogany. There is no telling what you'll find at Mayfair, every experience is truly one of a kind!

Antiques at Mayfair is so diverse due to its many dealers and their many interests, that holiday shopping here is truly one stop shopping! If there's a gardener on your list, come to Mayfair for its garden art, benches and old watering cans. Do you have an avid reader on your list? Great, find many vintage books, antiquated magazines and scrolls at Mayfair. Do you wish you knew where to find an antique, cherry red cooler? Come to Mayfair - it's about 3 booths down on the right when you enter Building #1! And it's in pristine condition!

And as I like to report, there is icing on the cake when shopping at Mayfair. The owners are quite community oriented, collecting items and donations for the local pantry and church thrift stores, as well as delivering news and good wishes to the troops overseas. Antiques at Mayfair is always a drop spot for the area's SHARE food pantry during the holidays.

New this summer was the opening of a second Antiques at Mayfair, located in Salzburg Square, Route 101 Amherst, NH. On December 10th, the shop invites you to a Christmas Party and Fashion Show featuring vintage clothing. Join on in from noon to 4pm...refreshments will be served.

The striking teal blue of a caribbean sea. The emblazoned golds of iconography. The deep brown of earth after a rain. If for no reason at all, groove on down to Cool Jewels in Keene, NH for all that color and more.

Co-owners Barb Bradford and George Russell travel to Mexico two to four times a year and Bali/Thailand for a month once a year, to search out the ideal crafts for their store. In Mexico, they buy directly from families making the crafts and travel to some of the smaller villages for more unique items such as Catrinas.

In Bali, there are many families who create beautiful crafts and jewelry in their homes. Their jewelry maker, Ketut, is their guide and driver when touring Bali. A driver is a must in a country that has recently been a target for terrorism. It takes long days of walking the craft and jewelry village to find the right mix of gifts for their store.

Cool Jewels is full of fun and unusual art, crafts and jewelry. The cases gleam with sterling silver jewelry from Mexico, Bali, Thailand and India. Solid silver pieces and beautiful stonework of turquoise, moonstone, malachite, amber, lapis, coral, onyx, and dichroic glass line the walls and shelves. The crafts range from unusual tin and copper wall art from Mexico; to candles, dresses and sarongs from Bali and Thailand, and in between you'll find unique hand painted fish, lizards, and exquisite wood carvings.

Cool Jewels inventory changes all the time, as they search out new crafts people with different styles in order to bring a fresh store to their customers. As the holiday season approaches, not to mention the cool white of winter, travel to Cool Jewels for some warmth and specialty buying.

Cool Jewels
84 Main Street
Keene, NH 03431
Store# 603-357-1743

Is everything in a name? Sometimes, yes. One of my favorite places to visit year round, is the House by the Side of the Road. It's almost too difficult to say, but to my knowledge, no one local has even tried to shorten it...House by the Side of the Road...House by the Side of the Road. It does eventually grow on you. Anyway, for any green thumb, Martha wanna-be or addict of Victory Garden, this is one House by the side of the road that you must visit.

This place is surely missed by many, who drive by and believe they see nothing more than a run-down, sprawling home, crawling with summer impatiens, 2 gallon perennials, or drying bunches of bittersweet hanging from the eave. But please, oh please, open Doctor Who's door and experience the seemingly infinite rows of blossoms, gurgling ponds and clever gifts inside.

Even if you kill the most un-killable spider plants or lillies, or grow tomatoes the size of peas, there will be a bamboo plant or container garden at this place to inspire you to try again. And while the prices might be a tad higher than the big box retailers, the reliable, courteous service and expert staff knowledge is why you won't buy your plants at Home Depot any more.

While the horticulture is spectacular, the ability to shop for everyone here is easily managed as well. Popular brands such as Burt's Bees, Faerie Glen, KamaSutra, Lait de Chévre, and Leanin' Tree are stocked year round. Holidays bring changing stock and gorgeous displays so that any shopper can re-invent gift-giving. Uncle Brian needs a new chimnea, Aunt Kelley a gardening knee pad and hand rake, while folky Aunty Betsy needs a wooden, hand painted cow on wheels, with a sign reading, "Simplify." Hate to tell you all, but the holidays are here, and shopping can be fun. Start at House by the Side of the Road...House by the Side of the Road...House by the...growing on you yet?...

House by the Side of the Road
Route 101
Wilton, NH
654-9888
Open 8am-6pm Every Day