Versona Store Now in New Market

*The following post is a paid review. I was compensated with a gift card. All opinions are mine.
 

Fall is definitely here, and I'm shifting through my closet to pull out the scarves and sweaters. (but keeping the shorts handy for afternoon - it's a Kansas thing.)
Sadly, my fall clothing selection is quite the disappointment, and could use some updating.

Versona asked for Wichita City Moms to review the new location at New Market Square on the North West side of Wichita off of Maize Road. This is a little bit of a trip for me in Andover, but I was all for it, because I love accessories, shoes, and bags, and Versona is known for all of those.

You may have seen my previous post on the Versona that opened in Bradley Fair. This was the first Versona to land in Wichita, the New Market location is the second. (Read about it here.)

If you have never been in a Versona store before, don't be intimidated by the upscale, department store feel. I'm talking sparkling chandeliers and Marble floors. It is pretty. This west side location is no exception. It just glows from the front windows! The good news is that there are no chandelier, marble floor prices: just great quality, selection, helpful service and prices you will love! My favorite place hands down for sunglasses, and any time I need just the right piece(s) of jewelry for an outfit or occasion this is my go-to place. (I am still carrying the wallet I bought on my first visit! See it on my previous post.)

The obsessive-compulsive, neurotic freak that I am loves that the store is color grouped, meaning all items in the same color family are in sections together. The biggest decision is do I start with black? Or white?

They also have lots of cute home accessory items and accessories for your accessories. (Something for anyone on your Christmas shopping list.) Head over to the markdowns for even better deals, and see the great variety of scarves I think I've seen anywhere! From lightweight to wool!

I picked up a light weight aztec styled fringe sweater and plaid flannel infinity scarf. (Got the sweater in the mark down section for $19.99 cause that's how I roll). I went over my $25 budget by about $9 with tax. Thanks Versona for the opportunity to review the new location, and if you have a chance to check it out they are located in New Market Square off of 21st street West and Maize Road. The store is next to the Michael's just South of Target. See a mall directory here.

Can't make it to either store location? They now have online shopping available at their website. See that here, shopversona.com


*I received compensation for my review, all opinions and shopping selections are my own.

Whole Foods for Fall and Halloween treats (gluten free and Organic) *sponsorpost

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Fall means pumpkins, the changing colors of leaves and one of our favorite holidays: Halloween! In the west, this is prime season for apple picking, delicious squash and, at Whole Foods Market, the arrival of delicious Icelandic lamb. Check out our ideas this month on how to make the most of what is many people’s favorite time of the year!

Apples:

Smell that? The air is crisp, leaves crunch beneath your feet. It must be fall, which means it’s prime time for some of our favorite varieties of apples. Below are some tips to help you choose the best ones, whether at Whole Foods Market or your favorite local orchard:

·         Don’t wash your apples until you are ready to eat them—unwashed apples store longer than washed ones

·         Store your apples in a cool, dark place to extend their shelf life until you’re ready to use them

·         While “one bad apple can spoil the bunch,” you can use bruised apples in delicious recipes, from applesauce and apple butter to smoothies and apple chips baked in the oven

Winter Squash:

Fall also heralds fresh squash season. With so many varieties, it can be intimidating to incorporate squash and pumpkins into your menu, but once you learn a few key techniques to cut and cook squash, you’ll want to add them into all your dishes through the New Year.

Exploring the wide variety of squash available at Whole Foods Market and farmer’s markets is one of the most rewarding culinary adventures you can take this fall. Butternut, Delicata, Spaghetti, Acorn, Kabocha, Hubbard, or Buttercup squash are just a few of the varieties to try, along with pie pumpkins. Most are grown locally in each state, so look for the local sign at your grocery to support farms near you.

Most people are intimidated by cutting squash—the key first step to preparing it for soups, casseroles, and entrees. These veggies can be large, unwieldy, and seem dangerous to the uninitiated! Here are some failsafe tips and techniques to get these cut down to size for use in your favorite dish:

·         Choosing the right knife is key to getting the job done—it should be long, heavy and extremely sharp—a flimsy or dull knife can be dangerous when cutting squash because it can slip and cause cuts

·         Stabilize the squash so it doesn’t roll out from under you and use the “claw” technique with your fingers to hold the veggie, should your knife slip (so no fingers are exposed to the blade)

·         Cut off both ends of the squash from where the “neck” ends and the body begins

·         Take the “body” of the squash in half from top to bottom and scoop out the seeds—you can dry or bake these for a delicious fall snack with a little sea salt later!

·         Begin to cut rings in the squash in the size you want the cubes to be—similar to cutting a cantaloupe

·         Cube out the remaining pieces around the same size (typically 1” or so)

Some people microwave their squash for 2 minutes prior to cutting to make it a little easier

Experimenting with fun varietals like Spaghetti Squash opens up great crock pot, oven and even microwave options to get vibrant fall fare on your table in a short amount of time.

 Recipes:

·         Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Herbs

·         Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Cardamom

·         Winter Squash and Apple Soup

·         Raw Apple Crisp

·         Sweet Potato Apple Cake

·         Apple Cheddar Quesadillas

Squash Cooking Tutorials:

·         Spaghetti Squash

·         Butternut Squash

Also check out Whole Foods for gluten free and organic Halloween treats for your school and home parties. We love Annie's and Justin's product, get them now at Whole Foods.

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