Aw Else Boutique, LLC

If you've read my earlier entries and my "about" information, you'll already know that I have not been a frequent patron of Greensburg's local retailers.  There are many, many GBG stores on my list of places to investigate, so this might be premature to say this, but: Aw Else Boutique (or AEB) is the cutest retailer in Greensburg I've visited.

Before I go any further, I have to mention that I once again do NOT have Greensburg Directions to Aw Else's location at 1020-4 Towne Square Drive, Greensburg - but it's not my fault this time!  The establishments on Towne Square are new.  The only thing that used to be there was a hillside! 

Next, I think it's important to address the adorable story of how the boutique got its name.  Partners Danielle Testa and Mark White live in Greensburg - she with her four-year-old daughter, Ella and he with his three girls Ashley, Amanda, and Ally.  They came up with a clever way to name the boutique after all four girls.  Specifically, Aw Else comes from the girls' initials: Ashley, Ally and Amanda White = “Aw” and “Else” Ella Louise Shaffer.

Picture of the girls I totally lifted from the AEB website

Personally, I think it's also aptly named because you walk into one area of the store and go, "AW! Look at this whimsical bracelet."  Then you stroll over to another corner and say, "Aw d@mn this is a hot pair of shoes!"  Plus, there you can find everything "else" you need to transform an ordinary ensemble into something uniquely you!

Aw Else Boutique is Danielle's and Mark's response to losing their j.o.b.s in 2009.  Danielle was interested in opening a boutique for women's accessories because she loves fashion and how having just the right accent piece can allow a woman turn a nice outfit into a fabulous outfit.  Ladies, you know it's true.  Those times when you have the perfect pairing of clothing and accessories - whether it's a handbag with a pop of color, a scarf tied just so, or an attention-grabbing cocktail ring - it's total fashion Zen, right?  (NOTE: I'm somewhat fashionably challenged, so this has happened to me on far too few occasions.  But I still know the feeling!)  The store just celebrated a year in business in August.

Now to the types of items you'll find at AEB!

I have sort of a hate-love relationship with the three-word descriptors of stores or products.  On one hand, it's kind of tired.  On the other, it can be a simple way to capture the essence of something.  I have many more words I could use, but I'm boiling my Aw Else labels down to Functional, Fun, and Flair.

The functional comes in the form of items that you need like umbrellas, shoes, gloves, luggage and other bags.  But many of the products are extra functional because Danielle places a special focus on offering styles of an interchangeable nature.  Aw Else carries the Transformers® of women's accessories, if you will.  It started with Danielle's past as a frequent, corporate traveler who found herself struggling to find luggage solutions that kept travel as light and convenient as possible.  The result is several interchangeable lines of accessories you'll find at Aw Else, including shoes and jewelry, which are geared toward minimizing the number of items you need and allowing you to swap out accessories and change your look as simply as possible.

You can change the "snaps" on these (hot!) Lindsay Phillips pumps
to modify the style to best suit your outfit!

Of course, the fun comes naturally because it's enjoyable to try out different accessories and to "play" with your fashions.  Aw Else carries all those "fun" types of accessories your outfit doesn't officially "need," but take getting dressed from something you just do to something creative that you really look forward to.  Beyond the boutique’s products, AEB makes shopping extra fun, too, with their AEB Bucks program.  Patrons who accumulate 250 AEB Bucks receive a $25 gift card to use in the store.  And although each dollar you spend at AEB earns you one AEB buck, bucks can be earned through other means, as well, such as customer referrals and instructions found in Aw Else's email newsletter.

Finally, Aw Else accessories have flair - and not in the Office Space sense.  You can find accessories in any old women's store, but you'll find something more interesting, more out of the ordinary at Aw Else Boutique.  At Aw Else, they're not mere accessories, they're adornments. If she lived around here, Fancy Nancy™ would shop at Aw Else (despite the fact that I didn't notice any feather boas...), as their assortment includes choices for every woman to add her own, truly personal touch to her wardrobe.  Aw Else's options are perfect for the woman who doesn't mind standing out from the crowd a bit.  And face it:  Shouldn't we all want to stand out, at least occasionally?

So that takes care of my three f-words, but let me add one more: aFFordable.  You'll find a variety of price ranges among the different lines of product at Aw Else, but none of them are super pricey by any means.  Not only will you find something to fit your style, but you can find goodies that will also fit your budget.

I love going to Aw Else to buy gifts because I know I'm likely to find a present the receiver hasn't seen before.  But I also have a personal Aw Else wish list that's longer than my arm (ahem, did you see those shoes?).  To anyone who intends to buy me a Christmas gift this year, you now know where to go to get me something I'll love at a reasonable price!

I almost forgot that I took this picture of my first-grader, Emily, with the sharp, new tote bag I got for her at Aw Else for carrying her books and papers to school:

No boring backpack for this kid!

I got a great deal on it, as the parent company that sells the line is phasing it out (stop in NOW if you want to get in on the clearance sale!).  The other good news is that it reminded me of something else about important about Aw Else: They are truly interactive with their clientele - through their blog, Facebook, and Pinterest - and value feedback.  Hop over to their latest blog post to see how they're engaging customers to help them select a new line of bags to add to their lines.

Nature's Way Market

Proud as I am of our little city, I've never thought of Greensburg as being a particularly cutting-edge type place.  But, consider this: although Trader Joe's traces its roots to 1967 in Pasadena, California, Whole Foods wasn't even born until 1980 in Austin, Texas.  Yet Nature's Way Market has been around  since 1977.  In little old Greensburg, PA. 

That's right.  We were Crunchy, When Crunchy Wasn't Cool.  (Does anyone get that reference?)  Clearly, owner Kitty Tuscano was way ahead of her time.

Nature's Way Market is located at 796 Highland Avenue, next to Schaller's Bakery.  For the life of me, I cannot think of what used to be near the location of this market.  So I'm sad to report that I have NO Greensburg Directions to Nature's Way.  [Hangs head in shame.]  If you can think of a reference point that used to be near there, PLEASE let me know. 

WHAT on earth used to be around here???

I've been in Nature's Way on many occasions over the years, stopping in now and again to pick up bulk spices (hello, cheaper!), a natural skin care product, or a new food to try.  But lately I'm attempting to step it up with the weight loss and wellness journey that I have been on for the past two years.  I'm working on moving my family toward eating more of a whole foods, plant-based diet.  (Yeah, they're totally not on board with this.  But I try.)  So I am becoming more of a 'regular' Nature's Way shopper.

I never cease to be amazed at what they manage to hold in that little store.  I'll go in their with a list of esoteric ingredients for a recipe I want to try and attempt to find them on my own.  After about 20 minutes of searching, I'll finally admit to myself that I'm hopelessly lost and ask for help.  Not only do all the employees know exactly where everything is in the market, but they always have what I need, no matter how foreign it intially sounds to me.  It's hard for me to imagine how they can seemingly have "everything" in such a modest space. 

Whether you're looking for meat-free, gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, organic or other healthy food options, Nature's Way Market is sure to have what you need.  On top of their edible offerings, the market carries a host of supplements, natural and organic personal care products, environmentally-friendly cleaning products, and just about everything else you can imagine to support a healthier lifestyle for you and your family. 

Furthermore, their website includes several helpful features, including the product showcase that allows you to search for specific items or brands in over 30 categories.  On the left navigation bar, you'll also find references, news, and other useful tools.

Nature's Way often hosts events and invites their partners into the store.  Several times a month, you can visit during "Pam's Cooking" sessions and enjoy a yummy treat while you shop.  On one of my recent visits, Edible Kneads and Palmer's Farm were also both on site. 

Malinda of Edible Kneads was offering samples of her "savory" treats - freshly baked bagels with flavored cream cheeses and hummus.  I picked up two for myself, and I have to say that a toasted "everything" bagel topped with hummus makes an excellent lunch.  (I asked Malinda what was the everything in the everything bagel and she replied, "Everything important."  No argument here.)  Edible Kneads is a bake shop in Ligonier and their items can also be found at a few other local establishments like DV8 Espresso Bar & Gallery in Greensburg and Connections Cafe in Ligonier.

Neil Palmer of Palmer's Farm was offering some beautiful produce items.  (I bought a tomato as big as my face and a couple of other veggies.)  Palmer's Farm is one of many vendors that Nature's Way has partnered with to bring local, sustainable products to Greensburg.  Palmer's is a fourth generation, local farm committed to promoting biodiversity through natural fertilization and intensive crop rotation.  Their organic farming techniques allow them to keep their crops healthy while minimizing - or even eliminating - the use of chemicals.

I think the best thing about Nature's Way is that they are clearly committed to the beliefs they espouse on their website.  They are not merely jumping on the latest trends in healthy living and environmental science to make a buck.  Nature's Way Market is not only committed to providing high-quality products and superior customer service, they also financially support the organizations that work toward the initiatives they believe in.  Nature's Way supports non-GMO* efforts and local conservation groups.  For the past seven years, they have been a 1% For the Planet member, donating over $150,000 toward local conservation efforts.

Finally, I always enjoy my trips to Nature's Way because it's so positive and friendly - and I typically run into someone I know there and it turns into a social outing as well as a shopping trip.  The next time I go there, maybe I'll see you!

*GMO = genetically modified organism = frankenfood.  If you don't know about GMOs, you don't know what you're eating.  Eek!  Seriously, look into it before your next trip to purchase groceries.