OOO #11: Outfits, Ohio, and Other Things I Like
My favorite one yet, an afternoon in Yellow Springs, and what's always on my shopping list.
Outfits
Ohio
My husband and I have recently agreed to visit all 88 counties in the great state of Ohio. We’ve been to 11 so far, including Knox during this weekend’s visit to Gambier, but I keep coming back to our visit to Greene County—Yellow Springs.
We visited Yellow Springs during the first snowfall of the season, which was back in November. We went on a whim for a day trip; I had never been before, and my husband had only been once.
A good day trip in a small town revolves around a strong Main Street; Xenia Avenue (and its side streets) did not disappoint. We started our day at Super-Fly Comics & Games, where I spent a good twenty minutes sifting through Pokemon cards while my husband searched for old Marvel Comics. Then, we went in search of brunch and ended up at Ellie’s in the Mill’s Park Hotel. I had the blueberry lemon French toast, which I really enjoyed (I have several times considered recreating it with Bonne Maman’s lemon curd. More on Bonne Maman later).
Next we walked around in the snow, saw a cool vulture chilling in someone’s yard (all mentions of birds are for you, mom) and retraced our steps back up Xenia Avenue to check out some of the local shops.
The first shop we loved was Dark Star Books & Comics. I am a sucker for a bookstore, and I will ALWAYS try to pet any bookstore cat in my path (the bookstore cat in Shakespeare & Company, for the record, looks grumpy, but does want the attention). I thoroughly enjoyed Dark Star’s used books section, including its shelf of those iconic yellow hardcover Nancy Drew novels, and walked away with three books for myself, a gift for a friend, and an old issue of Betty and Veronica. I also fell in love with a book of illustrated mystery puzzles that inexplicably made its way under the Christmas tree six weeks later.
The second shop we loved was Urban Handmade. Urban Handmade sells local and (you guessed it) handmade art, t-shirts, jewelry, and other fun things (stickers!). My favorite purchase: a print of a beetle, which I bought because 1) I once saw a stag beetle outside of the Book Loft and it was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen and 2) beetles remind me of the hours I spent playing Animal Crossing during the pandemic, and I now find them quite relaxing (I’m a weirdo, and I’m ok with it).
Yellow Springs is a lovely town with a Stars Hollow vibe, and we both really enjoyed our short visit. I want to return for some hikes/nature walks in the summer, followed by a beer at Yellow Springs Brewery.
Other Things I Like
I really need to go to the grocery store, and here are three things that aren’t ever really on my list but somehow will end up in my cart anyway.
Favorite Grocery Store Treat #1: Vermont Creamery Honey & Truffle Goat Cheese
This honey and truffle infused goat cheese is one of my favorite cheeses of all time. The infusions make it both sweet and earthy, which when mixed with the tangy goat cheese base gives it real depth. It’s not in stock often, so I always really look forward to my afternoon snack the weeks when I know there is some in my fridge (I find it’s best paired with a new episode of the Real Housewives and the apple slices I didn’t eat during lunch). If you see it, buy it. It really is that good.
Favorite Grocery Store Treat #2: Dark Chocolate Petit Beurre Biscuits
I love these little cookies… mostly because they are an entire square of dark chocolate on top of a butter cookie. They also soften so nicely when dipped in tea for dessert. I have been known to eat an entire sleeve of them for the pure joy of it; they really do just make me happy.
Favorite Grocery Store Treat #3: Bonne Maman’s Raspberry Preserves
I have talked about my love for jam more than once, and Bonne Maman’s Raspberry Preserves is my go-to jam purchase. I love Bonne Maman (my birthday is in April, and all I really want is a Bonne Maman sampler set), and we keep a couple jars of the raspberry preserves in the basement because it is one of those items I would be heartbroken to discover we were out of it. Recently, my go-to post workout treat or end-of-week dessert (after the all the aforementioned petit beurre cookies have been eaten) is plain whole milk Greek yogurt, a spoonful of the raspberry preserves (ok fine, it’s more like two-and-a-half spoonfuls), and dark chocolate chips. It’s heavenly.
I promise an occasional fruit or vegetable makes its way into my shopping cart too. I have yet to succumb to scurvy, if that’s any indication of my health.
That’s it! I hope you have a good rest of your week!
When visiting the 88 counties, try to visit each county seat. Many of the county courthouses are outstanding examples of period architecture, and several were featured in an OPERS Annual Report.