Winsome Lass. A sweet little old-fashioned candy store on Western, between Petaluma Blvd. and Kentucky Street. They have a great variety of salt-water taffy, 10 cents each, so you can fill up a bag for $3 or $4. Try the vanilla-caramel (I'm hooked on it)! Please support this little shop -- it is feeling the pinch -- and I would hate to see yet another empty storefront in our downtown.

Here's my shopping tip. The fresh bruschetta sauce at Trader Joe's. Just pour it on sauted chicken or fish. Add some mushrooms. Simmer. Add a handful of arugula and some parmesan. It's like something you would order at a fancy restaurant.

Magic Key is great! Lots of unusual and clever gifts!

Watch out for the new "sale" prices at Safeway. It used to be BOGO (buy one, get one free). Now it is BTGO (buy two, get one free). No big savings, as the two you buy are fully priced and sometimes way over-priced.

Try the Meyer Lemon/Rosemary french bread loaf from Della Fattoria. It's reallllllllly good!

A healthy breakfast: Trader Joe's mango granola mixed with a handful of raw oatmeal, a spoon of flax seeds and a few dried cranberries. Soy milk is excellent on this. Bon appetit!

OK, this is not for the faint-hearted. K-Mart is remodeling and a huge portion of the store is clearance. LOTS of clothes for $2.99. Cheaper than Goodwill! And toys, household, etc. I picked up lots of socks to donate this winter. A three-pack for $1.49. Can't beat that. Oh, and good luck to K-Mart, and I appreciate the remodel. Needed it!

Yes, thanks. My friend bought 10 items of clothing and the bill came to $30. I purchased some toys to donate for the holidays. Great bargains! I hope they are making KMart more appealing to Petaluma shoppers.

Petaluma Farmer's Market has THE BEST yellow corn on the cob. Price was 3 for a $1. It was literally the freshest corn we have ever tasted!

Is Raley's still proceeding with their new store? I've been down in that corner of the shopping center and haven't seen any work going on lately.

darn, JEH, you let everyone in on the secret that Della Fatoria meyer lemon/rosemary bread is the greatest. now it'll be even harder to find a loaf. love it, though

Well, HM, maybe with all this free publicity, Della Fattoria will bake a few more loaves each day! I sometimes find it at Petaluma Market! Bon appetit, now we may eat.

The K-Mart remodel is very nice. Cleaner, and more organized. They have a large selection of washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators and microwaves. (Home Depot Yardbirds also stocks these). So now there are plenty of options for these items in Petaluma. We don't need a Lowe's. The Cotati Lowe's is seven minutes up 101.

I just want to say that Trader Joe's rules. I'm constantly amazed at the quantity of great food I can pick up there for $20-25. And the packaged frozen vegetables are a godsend if you're a lazy bachelor type like me who lately has been trying to eat healthier.

Hey have you guys been to Powells? I have been in before for gelato, but went in last night. It was packed with people but I found some really cool stuff.

Reindeer Poop'ers - where you push down on them and the poop out jelly bellys. They had coal that is actually chocolate. I my favorite (for my girlfriend) a stocking that looks like a high heel shoe!

I must say, they have some very different stuff, I think I am done with my Christmas Stocking Stuffers shopping now.