In a desperate attempt to get in the holiday spirit, I ventured forth last week and did a little shopping. As the virus has crept up in Connecticut, I’ve mostly stayed home, but COVID fatigue has hit me, too. It seems like I haven’t seen the inside of a store in months, and it was so fun to actually look at lovely things. The shops I visited lacked the usual holiday bustle (mostly I was the only one), and precautions were in full effect. I checked almost everyone off my list and stashed a few extras in the gift closet. It felt good to support some of my favorite shops and gave me the lift I was after. As more local boutiques have launched ecommerce, you don’t have to leave your house to help keep your go-tos in business, but if you’re up for it, a couple of hours of browsing was just the retail therapy I needed. See below for our gift guides. Love, Erica

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