Nestled in the great area of Valley Junction. This fun place is bright and full of smiles. Parking…read moreis like any place in Valley Junction. Street parking is available, or you can find a lot close by. You almost get knocked back when you walk in the door with all the smell. That is to be expected when you are making smelly things. LOL Happily they have coffee beans to help your nose along the way. Our friend set up the appointment for a Thursday evening. We got there on time minus one. It was just a girls night out of 4. We confirmed with the staff that we were not going to hold up anyone if we started late. There was no worry. Lots of room and time. The staff was great and walked us through the steps. You get to pick out your vessel. If you don't want a candle they also have room spray and diffuser options. Then you pick out your 4 favorite smells. Our 4th showed up around this time and we chilled while she got caught up. There was 2 candles and 2 room sprays being made. Our instructor was great help. We all started with the same basics. You get a little tray with all your needed items. She helps you combine 2 of your 4 scents that you liked. We giggled as we "huffed" the scents to make sure that was what we wanted. Then you get to color your sticker for your item. The sticker on your vessel will allow you to bring it back for discounted refills. With the room spray she brings out the distilled water and witch hazel. She walked us through the proportions to put into our bottles. Then to complete with the water and witch hazel. Simple and easy. It was ready to take home. A few extra steps for the candles. You put in the wicks, the mixing of the oils smells into the wax. It gets mixed and then it has to sit and get picked up the next day. Overall its a simple process but there are so many smells to choose from that are offered at the store. It was a fun girls evening activity. If you do a candle it can be $20 and up depending on your vessel. The room spray was just at $19. So you can have this fun without breaking the bank or go crazy and get multiple options.

We planned a great day of bachelorlette party adventures and Candle Bar was our first stop…read more Unfortunately there was a miscommunication with our reservation and we didn't get to participate. I, the bride got to make a beautiful candle for free and we were provided with gift cards to use when we are able to travel back to town. I enjoyed this experience even though it wasn't ideal that my bridal party didn't get to participate and we would love to come back and get to experience it together next time!

Stopped here over the weekend and it is such a sweet spot. It is a coffee shop/boutique crossover…read morefeaturing specialty drinks (coffee & energy drinks), local bakery treats, baby items, home decor, clothing, etc. It was packed but the staff were very welcoming, kind, and helpful. It did take quite awhile but I was in no rush and had no issue waiting; it seemed like they weren't expecting a rush so I'm glad they were busy with business! The specialty drinks were fun and tasted great. Definitely on the sweeter side if you're into that kind of thing. Our two drinks were $13 (they didn't ask what size I wanted but they were huge!). They also have a punch card club, buy 9 get the 10th free, so picked one of those up as well.

A darling little boutique on Main Street Panora!…read more I love shopping here when I'm back home during the summer and holiday season. They do a great job of rotating their products to pair with the season and current trends. What you'll find inside: - Mini cafe so you can sip coffee while you shop - Floral stand for bouquets - Sections for women's clothes, baby items, decor/lake themed items, and house decor - Basement that tends to rotate based on themes - it was Christmas decor and trinkets during the holidays! Expect boutique prices here but there are some awesome finds for gifts, lake souvenirs, and decor. I've purchased baby gifts, Christmas decor, and some lake-related swag here. The staff are very friendly and fun!

Went to east village Saturday the 13th just to do some browsing around with a few of my friends. We…read morestopped into petals and moss not expecting to buy anything because 1. We had parked so far away & 2. We had planned to do more browsing just enjoying what was around us. I needed a Mother's Day gift still and knew I wanted some plants/succulents but was going to stop by somewhere else, happy I did not! I was able to buy so many little to medium of a variety of plants/succulents to me seemed like a little price! I love supporting small business as I work for a small business! Stop by here if you are wanting to start a plant family or looking for a gift ! I promise you won't be disappointed!

I went to Petals + Moss on a whim the other day as I was passing by. My mom has been whining she…read morewanted to go but she isn't really going into stores right now so we thought I could shop for her when she was in the car. The majority of their selection is outside. When I went they had a special going on. (see photos for details). We got quite a few plants and the lady who helped was more then happy to answer all the questions I had. She also was willing to help my mom even though she was sitting in the car the whole time. Overall it was a great experience. They seemed to have a diverse selection of plants - all of which looked pretty healthy. The inside was definitely cool although they are currently limiting it to two customers at a time due to social distancing. The lady who helped us was wearing a bandanna as a mask and the other person had a cloth mask on. The whole store, while going for that cluttered chic look was very clean. Masks are required per the mandate. I would definitely go back.

Heat Of Iowa is a cute store filled with many great gifts for yourself or others…read more Located on a bustling street filled with shops, this place offers a lot. Home decor, trinkets, chocolate cow patties and homemade fudge fill the room. My friend purchased a beautiful wooden cutting board in the shape of Iowa. The woman working did her job but wasn't too friendly. That's ok, it did not change our experience.

Okay, we fell for their sign "world's best fudge". I'm not sure it's the world's best, but it was…read morepretty good, see my fudge pic. I declined their discount pricing for large quantities of fudge. My single piece was super, and appropriately, sweet, thick, gooey and chocolatey - I enjoyed every bite. As you can see from my inside pics, they have tons of items from Iowa and about Iowa. We enjoyed looking at all the items from canned food to knickknacks.

This is one of the most adorable shops in all of Ankeny! It's become my go to for cute and special…read morehome finds! I always find the most adorable gifts, home decor, clothing and more! It's also the place I recommend it others looking to shop local. They have a great spot located in the District of Ankeny- the staff is always friendly and the owners are equally nice. I love a shop with a mission and heart behind it- and CLM is all of those things! If you're in the Ankeny area this is a must stop. Be sure to check their hours as they don't open till later in the week. You can find a little bit of everything here, they even have a few furniture prices for sale- we bought a beautiful refinished dresser from here.

Best shopping in Winterset! I absolutely adore Kylee and all the girls who have terrific style, are…read morequick to suggest on-trend items to flatter! Spoons Full of Sugar carries boutique style clothing, boots & shoes, unique leather faux leather bags and hand-crafted sterling silver and genuine stone jewelry. I never want to see my outfit coming at me down the street and Kylee only buys small quantities so be warned: when it's gone, it's gone! Jewelry is mostly one of a kind & definitely not your grandma's "spoon ring". Think Sundance meets Silpada. Most items customizable & definitely can be made to order. The boutique itself is chic and homey. Great ideas for your home including hand-crafted wood decorations. I can't say enough about SFOS. It's a must!!

I was ordering a necklace for someone and my friend told me about Spoons Full of Sugar. I highly…read morerecommend this store to everyone. Prices are great.

Cute name and cute clothes. I was in Ankeny and wanted to find a gift for a friend. Clothes that…read moreyou can't find at chain stores. Something original and with personality. I found that and more at this store. When I walked in I was immediately in awe and knew this was exactly what I was looking for. I will admit, I was almost certain that prices would be over the top, but that's not the case at all. The prices were more than reasonable for these original pieces and some made right here in Iowa! I believe the clothes size ranged from newborn to at least toddler, maybe a bit bigger, I didn't inquire. Besides clothes they had other fun gifts as well. I encourage you to support small businesses and this one is a definite must if you have a child or any children in your life.

Adorable clothes. Great for gifts even if you don't have a little one in your daily life. Awesome…read moreowners and service!

Although I'm not crafty, I agreed to give The Glitter Factory a try. We grabbed our tween girls and…read morebought the 2 hour unlimited package. Mosaic art, painting, vision boards, and clay are just a few of the stations. We had a great time. Left with many art pieces to display at home. Fun time without a mess at home.

What a cute new place! There are tons of different workshops and it is an extremely welcoming…read moreenvironment. With memberships and individual classes and open crafting hours, there are definitely tons of options for seasoned crafters! If you're a beginner like me, you may want to work on a few projects on your own before you sign up for a workshop or watch a few tutorials before you go. I have been to three and definitely felt frustrated and confused most of the time, but that's because I am a true beginner crafter! I think those who have a little art background would really enjoy themselves, and maybe I'll try again in the future when I have more experience!