Lyman Homestead - 11:00 AM Pick
Wesleyan R.J. Julia Bookstore - 1:00 PM Pick
The Giggling Pig Milford - 9:30 AM
Bradley Mountain Farm - 11:30 AM
Danbury Fair Mall - various times
Cabela's - various times
Westfarms Mall - various times
SoNo Collection - 10:00 AM
Mattatuck Museum - 1:00 PM
Danbury Public Library - 4:30 PM
Danbury Public Library - 5:30 PM
Danbury Fair Mall - various times
Danbury Public Library - 4:00 PM Pick
Mattatuck Museum - 2:30 PM
Stew Leonard's Danbury - 4:00 PM
The Little Green Tambourine - 10:00 AM
Lyman Allyn Art Museum - 10:00 AM
Essex Steam Train - various times
Wakeman Town Farm - 4:15 PM Pick
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Back to School Shopping in Fairfield County, CT
I am a terrible, terrible shopper. By which I mean I can’t pass a mall without breaking into a cold sweat. Department stores give me the shakes (do they REALLY have to be that big?), and malls at Christmastime? My worst nightmare.
But sadly, after trying to squeeze my 8 year old into 5T jeans (for the 3rd year in a row), I realize that I can no longer avoid back to school shopping this year. Nope…it’s got to be done, and as right now is tax-free week, it has to be done now. Right now. I can do this!!!! (This is me giving myself a pep talk).
As a horrible shopper, I can’t be unleashed without both a very specific list of items and stores. And as a horrible spender, I also like to have a list of current sales. Here’s my list for local back to school shopping in Fairfield County:
OUR LATEST VIDEOS
Patagonia, Westport, CT: Patagonia is holding their pre-season sale now through August 26th. Visit their store in Westport for the current deals…I’ll be heading there for some fall fleeces.
87 Post Road East, Westport, CT, 06880, 203.226.8778
Gap, Wilton, CT: I always, always buy a few navy blue cardigans for my girls. They go with everything, don’t show dirt, and aren’t super expensive. I’ve found that the Gap carries ones I like. And I always, always check online for Gap coupon codes before I shop.
21 River Road, Wilton, CT, 06897, 203.762.2740
Wiggles and Giggles, Darien and Design Solutions, New Canaan, CT: When I’m in the market for lunch boxes – for the younger kids – I head to Wiggles and Giggles and Design Solutions. They carry some of my favorite little kid brands, like Beatrix New York. For my oldest child, I must admit that I defer to Pottery Barn Teen and L.L. Bean.
Wiggles and Giggles, 1074 Post Road, Darien, CT, 06820, 203.309.5109
Design Solutions, 146 Elm Street, New Canaan, CT, 06840, 203.966.3116
Our Green House, Newtown, CT: Speaking of lunch, I always, always need a fresh batch of insulated water bottles and food containers. My absolute favorite water bottles are Kleen Kanteens, which you can find at REI in Norwalk, and for lunch containers I really like the Lunchbots stainless steel containers and Itzy Ritzy’s reusable bags, both of which you’ll find at Our Green House in Newtown.
83 South Main Street, Newtown, CT, 06470, 203.270.3797
Papyrus, Greenwich CT: When shopping for notebooks, highlighters, etc., I always go to Staples and Target for the basics, and I then I hit Greenwich’s Papyrus for a super cute Jonathan Adler pen. It never hurts to start the year off in style!
268 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, CT, 06830, 203.869.1888
Jacadi, Greenwich, CT: I must admit, back to school shoes usually stump me. Amazing, really, since you’ve already learned what a stellar shopper I am. So for shoes, I often default to ordering from Zappos, but I also visit Jacadi in Greenwich for casual boots. Because they are so expensive, I only buy them on sale, but I’ve found that they last through 3 girls – you can’t argue with that kind of quality!
22 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, CT, 06830, 203.422.2202
Good luck...I hope your shopping adventure is trauma free!
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