Greeted when I walked in. I was asked if I needed help. Gladly I said yes. So I have Hallmarks app…read moreand you get a free card every month, but also earn hallmark coupons. Today I had $5.00 off. And the free card for the month of April. The employee helped me to find the cards that are free with the app. And then I picked out a couple other cards for the $5.00 coupon. When I went to cash out she scanned my app for both the free card and helped me to find the bar code for her to scan for the $5.00 off. Great experience. And just love that app. I have some friends out of state that I send cards to. Just basic thinking of you, or birthday. Try to send cards out at least once a month. The art of writing and sending a thinking of you is such a sweet way to stay in touch with miles apart.

I knew it was Valentine's Day this week and I went to the Trudy's Hallmark shop to buy other cards…read more Did I buy any Valentine's Day cards...nope! It was not until I decided to address my Valentine's Day cards that I realized I did not have any. Snappity snap snap!!! Put it in high gear girlie...get thee to Trudy's Hallmark Shop...quick...fast...and in a hurry! Valentine's Day is tomorrow!!! The store manager said you are back again...two times in one week. Don't remind me please. Well buying Valentine's Day cards the day before Valentine's Day was not an original idea as there was a long of folks with Valentine's Day cards along with gifts in their hands as they waited in line. The Hallmark store has cards in all price ranges starting at 99c to over $10. You pick your price level. Cards purchased...exhale!

They are located in the domain, near the park area. It's a cute gift shop type place. Greeting…read morecards, mugs, candles, other small gift items. Staff is so nice and helpful. I just needed a birthday card. But since I was there I had a little walk around. So many items to look at. Bath bombs, candies, wrapping paper, all sorts of different gifts.

My first time going into a paper source store and they did not disappoint with their high quality…read morenotebooks and their variety of cute things that would make fantastic gifts for people you care about. I ended up snagging a witty birthday card and a cute notebook! Perfect place to pick up some goodies like that.

There's not a lot of options around Austin when it comes to sustainable, climate-friendly products…read morefor your home, surprisingly. I was excited to find Parker and Scott during our transition to trying to make our home plastic-free with refillable soaps/detergents/etc and Earth-friendly cosmetics. I hope to never buy another plastic bottle again! The prices are not super marked up from the online prices of these items. They have a really nice set up for a local small business and have opened several similar stores in the area which is a great additional to the Austin community.

This has been a go-to spot for thoughtful and intentional gifts when I want to highlight a gift…read morefrom a local Texan artist or unique cards to accompany anything I'm handing out. I've also had the chance to use this location to pickup some items from Burlap & Twine which has made it super convenient. What I like most is the ample parking!

A few years later and I am still a big fan of Slow North and their candle arrangement and…read moreapothecary needs. I've been coming for a few years now and can't rave enough about their candle scents and store layout. The aromas that touch your nose will tingle your senses and have you ready to find that signature scent for whichever room you're looking to scent. From linen sprays to candles and oils, Slow North has you covered. Don't let the pricing be a deterrant as they are definitely well worth the investment. The burning time on their candles is really good and more of a slow burn. Take an opportunity to do a candle making class or participate in their other workshops!

The Hubs and I came for a midday date and we enjoyed every second of candle making. We learned so…read moremuch and were both wowed by the scents we created.

Whenever I get my nails done, I pop into to See's Candies to get myself a treat. Today, I was on…read morethe look out for candy for my niece. She recently had a major surgery and will be recovering at home for a few weeks. Candy always cheers me up, so hopefully, it will cheer her up as well. See's Candies had the Easter theme going with an assortment of candies.

Always a treat!…read more Friendly service and a great chocolate selection! Look forward to stepping in the store for my sample and my splurge purchase.

Great owner. I am excited she is finally opening a shop. I have purchased her soy candles and love…read morethe variety of vintage china she has and then there are the Tea parties yeah!!!

From the owner: Our business specializes in unique (Cadeaux) one of a kind gifts such as vintage tea cups,…read moreporcelain, replacement china and butterflies. We also host children's tea parties.

This hidden little shop/apothecary/art collective doesn't seem to belong in the Arboretum, until…read moreyou look at the prices. The art is amazing and I wish I could afford any of it! You should definitely go check it out even if you can't afford to buy it either. If you are looking for high end local art, this is the spot for you! The bathrooms are clean and have such cool sinks! The little shop/apothecary is cute and has lots of options. The staff person was really friendly and helpful. Her conversation was interestingly hilarious. Ask about Britney Spears and see what happens. Really cool spot with a diverse selection of local art plus more!

Really cool art gallery of local Austin artists! They host events here sometimes which are also…read morereally cool whether it's to mark a change to the gallery's theme or a music video release party it's all very interesting. The gift shop is also a great place to get cool artsy gifts for people and support local artists.

This was such a sweet find. Today is Independent Bookstore Day and we were in Austin and decided to…read morecheck out Birdhouse Books. We absolutely loved our time there. My kids and I spent a considerable amount of time in the children's section. I particularly appreciate the book categories they have, from graphic books to books about inclusivity. There is a limited selection of parenting books, which was surprising to me. I half expected a wider range of parenting books considering the selection of children's books they had. And the parenting books were shelved right at the back of the store instead of being closer to the children's section, which I thought was an odd choice. I also particularly appreciate that they have banned books here, and book recommendations. When we went there today, it looks like there was an event going on and from their calendar in the store, it seems that they hosted events every now and then, which is great. Staff are incredibly helpful and welcoming. We plan to come back again. Parking was easy and when you have kids, that is an important factor to consider. And tip: When you are done here, walk to the Japanese grocery store in the same block and get yourself some delicious snack.

I love this adorable female/veteran/queer owned book & gift shop…read more Supporting Indy bookstores is so important especially in today's climate. Mae Mae the Yorkie is by far the best shopkeeper in town. She'd even got portraits on the wall to prove it. Lots of thought provoking reading materials available for purchase. Great selection for kids, adults, and young adults. Nice gift items like puzzles and candles also available. Amazing service! Highly recommend.

So many cute Disney, Sanrio items and so much more! Novelties for all ages and for all genders!…read moreThey even have scents and skincare and make up! Not to compare but much better quality items than Daiso.

Came here with some friends and we had a great time!! I love the k beauty selection and they had a…read moregood variety of blind boxes.

I was in the middle of a full on fashion emergency for a gala, and Nordstrom Rack may have saved…read morethe day. The dress I originally planned to wear did not work out, so I ordered another one. It's technically floor length, but I'm 5'10" so it stops at the ankle instead of covering my feet. So now the shoes have to be stunning enough that no one will even notice the hemline. I ordered a pair on Amazon that were supposed to arrive Friday. Then I got the dreaded update that they were delayed to Saturday... at 10 PM. Well, that's not going to work. So I made the mad dash to Nordstrom Rack Saturday morning. I walked in with low expectations, fully prepared to hit multiple stores before finding anything close to what I needed. Instead, I found the most gorgeous Badgley Mischka crystal pumps. They're slightly bigger than my normal size, but that actually works in my favor. They're comfortable, my toes can move, and I can already tell I won't be plotting my escape from them halfway through the evening. While I was there I grabbed a strapless bra and even found a formal bag that works better than the clutch I originally planned to carry. Sibyl at checkout was the perfect finishing touch to my morning. Friendly, outgoing, and genuinely helpful. The whole experience felt like the Nordstrom culture of service I studied back in graduate school.

Nordstrom Rack (NR) is the discounted, off season, & overstock-selling little sister to the iconic…read moredepartment store known for its high quality fashion brands and top tier customer service. This NR has been around at Gateway between Container Store and Whole Foods in North Austin since 2009, the first to arrive in our region. The focus is apparel, accessories, and shoes, with a little bit of cosmetics, body care, and travel supplies on the floor. Our family has been shopping here for years as a reliable, low-hassle source of decent wardrobe staples for the business casual office, last minute travel, or special events. I personally loathe the mall and massive department stores, so NR is my choice when I need to get in, get what I need, and get out with no distraction or delay. My husband loves coming in here for high quality dress shirts & shoes, and he especially likes the speedy on-site alteration service. If you enter the Fitting Rooms area, at the back of the men's aisle on the right, you'll see someone sitting at a sewing machine, hemming away. Be sure to join the Nordy Club to "rack" up rewards for purchases. See what I did there? Lately I've been preparing for a summer trip to a cool climate destination, and I wanted to refresh some well-worn capsule wardrobe staples with some durable new items that I'll be able to wear for the next 20 years. It was so nice to be able to do this shopping confidently from the comfort of my home using the NR app on my phone, having access to the entire NR retail inventory, then having my items shipped for free to my local store for pick up (suck it, porch pirates!). If you do ship to store for pickup, skip the checkout line, and follow the big stickers on the floor paths that direct you to the Fitting Rooms for pickup. A team member will scan the code from your phone & go retrieve your items, which will be carefully packaged & wrinkle-free.