Our ninth stop on the Nebraska Passport was Gallery 9. I didn’t do that on purpose. It just worked out that way!

This is a cute little gallery featuring local artists from Lincoln, Nebraska. I didn’t take pictures of the artwork out of respect for the artists. (The exception being the cards I purchased.) However, there were many pieces that were quite beautiful and are definitely worth viewing.

There was also this little guy who had quite the personality.

Hello, Puppers!

I purchased a couple cards with prints that I really liked. These are perfect for any occasion, as well as just saying hi! I’ve been trying to get better at sending cards and letters for no special reason other than it’s always nice to get something cute in the mail.

The gallery is small, so it doesn’t take much time to tour. However, it’s a cute little place and the artists are quite talented. I recommend stopping by and making a purchase to support these local artists.

Located in Greenwood, NE, Baker’s Candies is the largest candy shop in Nebraska and well worth every second spent there.

First and foremost, they make the best chocolate meltaways ever. Absolutely hands down. Ever. My favorites are the Scooters coffee and milk chocolate mint flavors, but I’ve never had a bad one.

As you can see, they have other types of candy, as well. Many of them you aren’t going to find in every store anymore. I must have said, “Oh! I haven’t seen these in forever!” at least ten times.

They also have different flavors of pop. We always get a few different kinds when we go, as my husband likes to make magnets out of the bottlecaps. Again, many of these aren’t going to be at your local grocery store or Walmart.

I love that they also carry many “from Nebraska” items, such as the Misty’s seasoning. That was a staple in our house growing up and I’m excited to use it again!

I was really surprised at the selection of barbecue sauces and seasonings that they had, as well. We grabbed this Uncle Earnie’s barbecue sauce, made in Cedar Creek, NE. I plan on using this to grill some BBQ chicken soon!

Overall, this is a great place to find some unique items made right here in the heartland. I definitely recommend that you stop by!

Our second stop on the Nebraska Passport was Mulhall’s. I was convinced that I had never seen this place until my husband showed me that I actually drive by it all the time. I’m not sure how I didn’t notice, as it is actually quite large. It had almost anything we could want in the way of plants, gardening, and outdoor living items. The staff was knowledgeable and courteous, and the selection was great.

I purchased these cute little chamomile and mint plants, hoping that they would fare better than last year’s plants. (I have something of a brown thumb.)

I’m happy to report the mint is alive and well. As for the chamomile, well….better luck next year.

Our first stop on the Nebraska Passport this year was The Next Chapter. Located at 25th & Farnam (right next to Zen Coffee), this quaint little shop is in one of my favorite parts of Omaha.

The owner greeted us immediately upon arrival, offered assistance, and answered any questions we had. I was so excited to visit this shop because my favorite place as a child was Prairie Books & Gifts located in Imperial Mall in Hastings, NE. My grandmother would take me there every weekend. I would head straight for the Babysitters Club books (and later, Christopher Pike novels) and burrow into a reading spot while Grandma shopped. I have a massive collection of their bookmarks, as they would give me one with every purchase. I can still remember how the store smelled. As my grandmother passed away almost five years ago, this is one of my most precious memories. Now, decades later, Prairie Books & Gifts is no longer, but the family has relocated the shop to Omaha as The Next Chapter.

So, in a nutshell, my all-time favorite childhood store has relocated from my hometown to my current city and is also right next to my favorite coffee shop.

WOOHOO!!

While nothing can replace my cozy moments at Prairie Books, the new shop certainly did not disappoint. It was well-stocked, the owner was knowledgeable and conversational (I was so excited that I probably rambled on for a good 20 minutes and she didn’t even act annoyed), and I’m pretty sure I’ve found my new favorite store.

Ultimately, we purchased this cute little book that we are hoping will encourage us to read more together (and apparently, drink more).

Overall, this is a delightful little place and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did!