It’s time for the second installment of Alpaca Sweater, our weekly New England travel blog! This week, because I’m feeling rather academic, I’m going to take you on a tour of the best historical relics Maine has to offer. Starting in Portland and moving North, we’ll cover such famous landmarks as the Wadsworth-Longfellow house and end up at the very historical Fort Kent in Aroostook County, while hitting all of the great things in between. So buckle up, history nerds, and those who just want to take a nice trip around Maine in the fall and maybe soak up some trivia at the same time. Continue reading Alpaca Sweater: History Edition!
Author: Stacey
Alpaca Sweater: 4 Road Trips for A Fall Weekend
It’s the most beautiful time of the year. Bright oranges and yellows are seeping into the leaves, radiant reds are bleeding into green. Since we’re lucky enough to live in New England and experience the stunning colors that dominate fall, we thought we’d compile a list of road trips that you should take before autumn turns into winter and the foliage is gone. New England is home to some adorable little towns, some amazing mountain ranges, beautiful lakes and stunning sights. Don’t miss them. Here is your guide to hitting all the right spots this fall, as part of our new blog series, ‘Alpaca Sweater.’ As in: I’ll pack a sweater…Get it? Continue reading Alpaca Sweater: 4 Road Trips for A Fall Weekend
Fall Fashion Time! – Embracing the Cold Weather
Well, we may not have fully transitioned into fall quite yet, but the change is certainly coming. There is a crispness to the air that was not here a week ago, and the breeze feels a little less refreshing and a little more unwelcome. While the cooler weather may have you grumbling about those too-short New England summers, there is one thing that will cheer you up: it’s fall fashion season. Sure, summer has its cute tanktops and cutoff shorts; winter yields the opportunity to show off your LL Bean boots and Patagonia vests; spring calls for a shedding of layers. But here’s the truth: fall is the best season for fashion. We’re here to give you a few of our favorite fall fashion tips and to show off some of our favorite pieces from the PacaNaturals fall collection. Continue reading Fall Fashion Time! – Embracing the Cold Weather
Celebrate Green Living: Find Us At Portland’s Greenfest – This Saturday 9/13!
As green living continues to increase its popularity, Portland’s Greenfest, the first of what hopes to be an annual event, will slide into town this weekend. Guess who will be there? US! (Among many others.) More green events and displays are slated to appear at the Greenfest than you can probably even imagine, but we’re going to highlight a few of the most hypable. Before we start, though, what exactly is the Portland Greenfest?
Hosted by the Greater Portland Sustainability Council and their many partners, this first annual Greenfest will wear many hats. Whether you’re in the market to make your home or business more sustainable, find more eco-friendly fashion for your wardrobe, or just plain have fun, Greenfest has you covered. Live music will be happening all day long as acts like Johnny Fireseed & the Junkyard Dogs and Truth About Daisies take the main stage. When you want a change of scenery or media, an eco-film festival will be taking place, screening films from the lesser-known WASTE LAND to the wildly successful adaptation of Dr. Suess’s The Lorax. Think you have a handle on Greenfest? Read on for our picks on how to spend your day. Continue reading Celebrate Green Living: Find Us At Portland’s Greenfest – This Saturday 9/13!
Smart Women Wear Alpaca
Alpaca products are becoming increasingly popular among women who consider themselves to be smart consumers. As a society, we have become more and more focused on intelligent consumption and sustainability. Focusing on these things are important because, as our global climate shifts, many nations around the world look to the United States to spearhead a greener way of life. It is up to us to become more responsible consumers and to know that each of our purchases is a positive one. By and large, women are the consumers in our society. While women’s roles are changing and evolving and there are more women in the workforce than ever, it still seems that household matriarchs make the most purchasing decisions of any demographic in the United States. Women have recently discovered the benefits of alpaca fiber and products, and that is why smart women wear alpaca.
Think about your purchasing habits. Are you someone who makes most of the purchasing choices in your household? Are you concerned with being a smart and responsible consumer? Alpaca products are one of several ways to be this more intelligent buyer. As we’ve covered in previous blog posts, buying local is the most productive way to sustain your local economy and feel like a better consumer. Supporting your state’s businesses ensures that little money escapes the local economy and keeps jobs in your area. By shopping at PacaNaturals, you are supporting a local business with a goal of sustainability and environmental consciousness. This is reason number 1 that smart women wear alpaca.
Reason number 2 is that alpaca looks good. Not only is alpaca fiber one of the most functional fibers for durability and warmth, it is one of the most stylish fibers available. Dyed with care and spun with intention, alpaca goods are sure to make you a trendsetter among your friends. Wearing alpaca is an affordable way to improve your wardrobe and to let the world know that you are a conscious consumer who has married fashion and sustainability. Browse PacaNatuals’ online store or stop in to look at the ever-growing selection of premium alpacawear.
Third, smart women wear alpaca to stay warm. It’s mid-March and our Maine winter shows no signs of relenting. It is becoming harder to stay warm as the season drags on, and more snow is in the forecast for this week. To get themselves and their families through the harsh conditions, mothers and fathers across the state are looking to alpaca. No fiber does more to keep you warm and insulated as the nor’easters rage on. Scarves, hats, gloves, vests, sweaters, and blankets are just some of the alpaca products sure to keep you nice and toasty until April when, presumably, some milder weather will roll in.
It would be impossible to list all of the benefits of alpacawear in one place, and these three reasons are just the tip of the iceberg. However, they are the three most important. Sustainability, fashion, and warmth are the most frequently cited benefits of alpaca products for a reason. No winter gear will make you as conscious a consumer as alpaca will and none will make you look as good doing it.
Sustainability, fashion, warmth. Just three of the many reasons that smart women wear alpaca.
International Women’s Day: 5 Women Who Rock
In honor of today, International Women’s Day, we’ve compiled a list of 5 women who rock. So, what does it mean to be a woman who rocks? We chose from a group of well-known celebrities who are using their platform to make a difference in the world. Women have made great strides in the world, proving over and over again that we are strong and unique, and capable of, well, everything. In a moment in time that often seems overwhelmed with struggles, let’s take a few minutes to honor some lovely ladies who matter. And, while you peruse our list, don’t forget to honor yourself, too. If you are a woman, you rock, and this is your day!
1. Amy Poehler. An extremely talented, extremely funny woman who has worked her way up the ranks of Hollywood, Amy Poehler is one of our favorite ladies. As the witty, determined Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation, Amy makes smart sexy. Poehler has also been reappearing on her alma mater, Saturday Night Live, quite a bit in the past few years, proving that she can still make us laugh just as hard as she did 5 years ago. And on her website, Smart Girls at the Party, Amy Poehler is celebrating women all over the world who are making a difference in their communities.
2. Arianna Huffington. Because I am a nerd, I have chosen to include one of the most famous journalists and writers of our time
(woman or man), the creator of the Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington. If you’re unfamiliar with HuffPost, it is most definitely worth your time to become acquainted. They have a fantastic Women’s section that is updated multiple times a day with important stories, videos, and news that relates to the lovely ladies of the world. In addition to being HuffPost’s creator, Huffington has written 14 books, the most recent of which is Thrive: The Third Metric, an acclaimed book about redefining success in life and the workplace. Through her books and website, Arianna Huffington is helping women everywhere reach their full potential and make a difference around them.
3. Bell Hooks. Bell Hooks is, and always will be, one of the most important people in women’s history. She is a feminist, an 
activist, and a writer who has made countless strides for women since she began her career of activism in college. Her most famous work, Ain’t I A Woman, examines feminism in depth as it pertains to women of minority races. At 61, Hooks still makes public appearances, speaking and campaigning for women’s rights. It is absolutely no understatement to say that Bell Hooks is someone to respect and admire, and I hope that, whether you’ve heard of her or not, you look into what makes her such a special lady.
4. Mindy Kaling. I love Mindy Kaling, okay? She is just wonderful. If you don’t already know, Kaling is the writer, creator, and star 
of FOX’s The Mindy Project, on which she examines the nuances of life as a woman. Before getting her own show, Kaling starred as Kelly on The Office, and she recently published a hilarious book called Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns)? I love Mindy Kaling because she is intelligent, witty, funny, gorgeous, and genuine. She seems to be one of the nicest celebrities in Hollywood and her Twitter account is hilarious. I think that the importance of women in the media cannot be overstated, as they are given the platform and resources to prove that women can be and already are as smart and hilarious as men, and that they should be given ample opportunity to do so.
5. YOU. I know, I know, so cliche. But I had to say it. You are a woman who deserves to be celebrated and honored (that is, if you are, in fact, a woman…and if you aren’t you STILL deserve it), so do just that. Take today, International Women’s Day, and use it to love yourself. Notice the things that you do for those around you and how many people love you for you. And, even once this most glorious holiday has ended, still take some time to honor yourself each and everyday! You deserve it!
So, that’s our list. The ladies who are on it are spectacular and we appreciate them for the grace and goodness that they bring to the public eye. If you don’t see your favorite female on the list, tweet us or comment on our Facebook page, we’d love to hear from you! And hop on over to our website to see what’s shakin’. Alpaca wear is always in when it’s time to celebrate the lovely women in your life. Happy International Women’s Day!
Coast 93.1’s Rescues on the Runway Event
This Saturday, March 8, PacaNaturals’ owners Tom & Stacey will be showcasing their animals at Coast 93.1’s Rescues on the Runway event at the Maine Mall. This is the 3rd annual rescues event and showcases adoptable animals as well as therapeutic animals. Stacey and Tom will be talking about the therapeutic qualities of alpacas (of which there are many) and the several reasons why they make a better pet than some may think. There is a growing field of therapy alpacas who are trained similarly to more traditional therapy animals like dogs and horses. Alpacas are naturally gentle and docile and spending time with them can be beneficial to all humans. Be sure to stop by on Saturday, March 8 to participate in the event and to see some beautiful animals from Abbott Farm Alpacas!
The Sustainability of Buying Local
As we learn more and more about the benefits of living a sustainable lifestyle, the focus on buying local has increased substantially. Whereas two decades ago, there may not have been much emphasis on where our products came from, there is great push now to buy domestically made goods. Within this push is the idea that the more local you buy, the better. Buying local products from local people supports your immediate economy and produces tangible results. For example, purchasing holiday gifts from a local farm stand or family-run business is a much more sustainable and rewarding practice than purchasing these same things from an online retailer would be. Not only do you get the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve purchased a premium product, but you can often see the effect of your purchase firsthand.
PacaNaturals is a local company, run by local people, with products made from local artisans from the fiber of local animals. Your purchases at our store are directly boosting the Maine economy by sustaining the demand for our alpaca products and keeping our local knitters and weavers in business. Additionally, your purchases are supporting the Maine alpaca farms whose fiber has gone into the items you have purchased.
Another wonderful reason to buy local is that you know exactly where your product is coming from and, because of this, you are getting a greater quality good. Mounted on the walls of our store are photos of our animals; on each shelf tag are the names of the local crafters responsible for making your item. It is these details that comfort the consumer by showing them exactly what their purchase means for them and for us.
The sustainability of buying local cannot be overstated, especially in the current economic situation. Fortunately, Portland is full of beautiful one-of-a-kind shops selling unique items and helping to bolster the Maine economy. We take pride in the fact that we are one of these shops and use this opportunity to bring you, the customer, the best products at the fairest prices.
When you buy from PacaNaturals, you can be sure that your purchase is a sustainable one! For more details about how buying local benefits the economy, see here.
20 Olympians Who Look Like They Could Use an Alpaca Scarf
It’s the most wonderful time of every fourth year. The Winter Olympics are in full swing–it is Day 10–and athletes from all over the world are making their nations proud. Some events are over, some have yet to start, but the action has been vast and there have been exciting wins and devastating upsets. Whether they’re from the good old US of A or hail from somewhere else, one thing is for sure: Most of the athletes in Sochi could use an alpaca scarf. After seeing their pink cheeks and Rudolph noses all over the news, it has become clear that some of Sochi’s athletes would benefit from a thick, warm alpaca scarf wrapped snugly around their necks for the duration of their stay in Russia. Here are the 20 athletes who look the coldest:
1. Hilary Knight, Women’s Hockey (USA). She’s been stuck in the ice rink throughout her stay in Sochi, and her ears are looking a bit red under that helmet. Knight already has a goal in these Olympics and no doubt hopes for a couple more.
2. Faye Gulini, Snowboard Cross (USA). Gulini is one of the USA’s snowboarding stars and has yet to compete. Given the late start for snowboard cross, Gulini must be awfully cold already.
3. Tora Berger, Biathlon (Norway). Already a medal winner in the women’s pursuit, Norway’s Berger will compete in the mass start on Monday and may need to warm up before she gets ready to cool down again in competition.
4. Anders Johnson, Ski Jumping (USA). Johnson has competed in several events thus far and has spent quite a lot of time in the mountains of Sochi. He probably needs a scarf.
5. Sage Kotsenburg, Snowboarder (USA). So Sage is already done. He took home the Gold in Slopestyle and headed to New
York the day after to make the interview rounds. I mostly put him on here because he’s adorable. But he definitely could have benefited from some extra warmth in Sochi.
6. Ariane Lavigne, Snowboarder (Canada). Lavigne, like her fellow snowboarders, has spent most of her time in Russia on the mountain and she has looked especially cold in pictures. Somebody get her some alpaca wear!
7. Jessica Smith, Speed Skating (USA). Smith hopes to recover after a nasty fall in the preliminaries, but her status as one of the USA’s favorites makes a comeback extremely probable. She may have some ice still stuck to her after the tumble, though, and might want to invest in some warmth.
8. Jonathan Quick, Men’s Hockey (USA). The USA’s goaltender, Quick is coming off of a fiery preliminary round against Russia, won by our boys in a long shootout. He’s been spending a lot of time in that chilly ice rink climate…Just saying…
9. Niels Kerstholt, Speed Skating (Netherlands). Niels has done a lot thus far in Sochi, but is still waiting for the Short Track 500m Qualification round. He might need to warm up with a thick scarf while he waits.
10. Noelle Pikus-Pace, Skeleton (USA). Pikus-Pace ended her Olympic career with a hard-won silver medal on Valentine’s Day. After long and turbulent runs in Turin and Vancouver, Pikus-Pace really deserved this one and was just as happy with her Silver as she would have been with Gold.
11. Evan Bates, Figure Skating (USA). One of the USA’s more famous skaters, Bates spent the second weekend of the Olympics competing in both the Short and Free Dances. With all of that time spent on the rink, I’m sure he could use some extra insulation once he finishes each event.
12. Julia Mancuso, Alpine Skiing (USA). Mancuso earned a Bronze on the 10th in the Ladies’ Super Combined Slalom and competed in several other events. Now that she’s done with her events, she’s going to be even chillier and might want to invest in a big alpaca scarf for warmth.
13. Jonathan Toews, Men’s Hockey (Canada). A favorite from the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, Toews led his team to a Stanley Cup in 2013. Now, he’s leading Team Canada throughout their turn in Sochi and is hoping to leave Russia with a gold medal.
14. Kristan Bromley, Skeleton (UK). Bromley is a super foxy racer for the UK and looks super cold between each run on the skeleton sled. If he had a scarf, he could watch his competitors without distraction.
15. Torah Bright, Snowboarder (Australia). Torah Bright is pretty awesome, that’s why I wanted to include her on this list. She got a Silver in the Ladies’ Halfpipe which is excellent and she seems pretty stylish. She could probably rock an alpaca scarf or hat with a lot of flair.
16. Erika Brown, Curling (USA). While most of the USA doesn’t exactly know what curling is, I spent some time researching it and learned that it’s actually really difficult. And while Brown can burn up to 500 calories per match, all of that sweat and hard work will just make her colder once the game is all said and done. She’ll need some alpaca wear to help her out.
17. Patrick Kane, Men’s Hockey (USA). Another star of the Stanley Cup winning Chicago Blackhawks (Bruins fans like myself are still upset…), Kane is using his skills to try and upset Toews and Team Canada for a gold medal in Sochi.
18. Florence Schelling, Women’s Hockey (Switzerland). Coming off of an exciting win against Russia, Switzerland’s goalie is one of the world’s best. She is looking to lead her team to a medal and has a very good chance. Her extensive time on the ice likely makes her a bit chilly if she’s not super busy fighting off pucks, so she could use some warm gear as well.
19. Christopher Fogt, Bobsled (USA). Bogt and his teammate, Cory Butner, both look pretty chilly as they glide down these tremendous hills on their 2-man bobsleigh. They also look pretty focused. Let’s hope they can channel it into a medal!
20. Alex Harvey, Cross Country Skiing (Canada). Harvey is a cross-country skier. He had to trek really far on a pair of skis in Russia, I think it goes without saying that he could use an alpaca scarf.
So there you have it. Twenty of Sochi’s finest who could really, really use some extra insulation. And where can they find a wide selection of warm, stylish alpaca scarves? Why, at PacaNaturals of course. Do you think they have time to jaunt from Sochi to Portland and back before their next events? And if you’re spending a lot of time outside in this cool New England winter, pretending to be an Olympian as you race down your backyard hill in a toboggan, you could use a scarf, too. So come see us! And be sure to check us out on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and more for weekly and monthly deals!
Valentines Day Special: Kissing Alpacas!
In honor of Valentines Day, here are a few photos of some alpacas kissing and snuggling. See, even alpacas get mushy on V Day. Remember to show your loved ones how much you care this Valentines Day. And, if you’re looking for the perfect gift, check out our selection of fine alpaca items at PacaNaturals!
Just because the holiday has arrived, doesn’t mean it’s too late to buy a last minute gift for that special someone, or for yourself! Hey, you deserve to celebrate your own awesomeness on Valentines Day! If you’re in need of some last minute gift ideas, see our posts from earlier in the week: Gifts for Her and Gifts for Him for ideas!
Have a safe and happy Valentines Day and be sure to share the link to this post on Facebook so that your friends can enjoy the cuteness of Abbott Farms Alpaca’s kissing animals!