@LodiStation Outlets is More Than Just Shopping!

A few weeks ago, or maybe a month ago I am really behind, the family and I headed out to Lodi Station Outlets for a jammed pack day of riding the train, shopping and touring the holiday rooms all part of a special Blogger Day. This is the second year that I was I invited and the whole family looked forward to this awesome day. All though I am still not a fan of shopping, I am a fan of having a good time with the family without spending a whole lot of money.

I am always amazed at what Lodi Station has to offer and that is on top of the amazing shopping. For instance, I learned on our trip this time that they have rooms dedicated to holidays! There is a Christmas room, where Santa visits with the kids and tells stories and they have an Easter room for the Bunny and Mother Goose to charm and delight the kiddies. Besides the rooms, at Easter time they do an Easter egg hunt and at Halloween time they have a pumpkin patch for the kids to ride the train to, get off and “pick” a pumpkin. I almost forgot to mention the Reverse Train Robbery where cowboys “rob” you by giving you goodies!

In addition to the special tour of the holiday rooms, the family got to take part in a special activity at Lots of Knots – Ceramics. This is the first time that the whole family sat down to paint ceramics together and sadly, we left without them! Luckily, Lodi is not that far so, fingers crossed, our little frogs will be waiting for us when we return.

While I was on the tour of Lodi Station, the Husband took the kids to get new shoes and ended up buying them something special from Toys r Us. The stuffed toy he got for Baby is ridiculously big! And, might I add, pretty poorly made because I have already had to sew the head and the back seam up. She takes that damn thing everywhere and it is as big as she is! He did not just shop for the kids; he also scored some great deals at the Polo store.

Of course, I could not go without picking up something as well and thanks to the fine ladies at L’eggs Hanes Bali Playtex, my girls are no longer “hanging there” as one of the saleswomen described my boobs in the bra I happened to be wearing that day. Can’t say she wasn’t right. Between being knocked up, nursing and just general old age it was time to be measured properly, again. I left with three lovely over the shoulder boulder holders as well as some thermal underwear for the Husband. Buy one get half off is my kind of sale!

It was a great day and I am so glad to be a part of this fun event. One of the great things about Lodi Station is that there are events happening all of the time! For instance this weekend you can meet Former Cleveland Browns Player, Eric Metcalf & NEWLY ADDED Joe Delamielluere at 4th & Goal, (September 22, 2012. 1:00pm - 2:00pm) and on September 29 Thomas the Train fans are in for a real treat! Finally, Pumpkin Junction is October 6 - 28, 2012 every Saturday and Sunday in October from 12:00pm - 4:00pm. You can learn all about upcoming events here and if you sign up for their email newsletter you will never miss a fun event.

I want to thank Lodi Station Outlet for including us in this blogger event and also: The Jockey Store, Auntie Anne’s Soft Pretzel,  Bath & Body Works Outlet,  totes ISOTONER Sunglass World, Kitchen Collection, Yankee Candle and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for their contributions.  I did not receive any payment to write this but I was give a gift card to shop at the mall.  The opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own.

How Do I Get Out of My Comfort Zone, Meet Other Moms and Have a Playdate? FONDUE!

Finally, a playdate!

With adults, specifically - other moms! 

More importantly - moms who blog! 

Roni and Chrissy (and me)

Last night, I had the opportunity to meet the ladies behind Mommy in Law and My Got Fam for dinner at the Melting Pot.  It was ladies night (aka spa night) which means that on top of the amazing dinner, dessert and cocktail we could also participate in a "spa" treatment from La Barberia Spa and Salon all for $35 (including tax and gratuity)!   Of course, I was last to arrive (late) but I made it and when the hostess took me to the table I immediately saw faces I knew!  I have read so much about these ladies lives online that they feel like they are all ready old friends and here they are in the flesh.

Between bites of cheesy goodness I got to hear about why they blog, what irks them (in real life and online), what makes them laugh and just connected with the women behind the blogs. We shared how we meet in the blogging world while sipping adult beverages and told the tales of how and why we call Cleveland home. I even learned that I can change my twitter name (which I did) with out losing followers, why you should not split an infinitive and there is peer pressure in the adult world, not just high school.  By the time our dessert came, I felt closer to these ladies and thrilled that I got to spend this time with them.

top right - half eaten spinach and artichoke fondu, top left - hard to see flambéed smore's fondu, bottom righ- the flame from flambéed smore's fondu, bottom left- dessert dippers

After dessert, we were ushered in to the "salon" for our "spa" treatment.  I was going to go for the paraffin treatment like my fellow bloggers, Chrissy and Roni, until Chrissy dared us to get... well she promised that she would blog about it so you will have to check out her blog to see what I got for my spa treatment.  I will say it could have been a massage, a feather in my hair or a mini makeover... but that is all I can say about that.

Chrissy and Roni being treated to a paraffin wax dip

You can say that mommy bloggers or moms who blog share to much online and maybe you think that friends online are not really friends but I feel pretty confident that these funny moms (they really are funny - check them out in my blog roll) are truly the nicest women I've meet in a long time and I am honored to call them friends. And, we did this all over the cheesy goodness of fondue!  Even if one of them splits the infinitive from time to time - it's called artistic license.

All Aboard! Lodi Station Outlet Mall

I am not a mall person.

I know... someone take away my suburb card away.  I was never a mall rat (though I love the movie) and the idea of going to an outlet mall was right there on my 'not to do list'.  I just never saw the point of driving, way down to the middle of nowhere - to shop. At least, not when there is Craigslist and eBay.  Don't care how good the deals are or how much I can save - not going to go.  I should also note that I also don't do Black Friday but I am all over Cyber Monday.

The Husband, on the other hand... quite the opposite and has, on one occasion, shared his appreciation for the outlet mall.  It was okay.  Had some great deals.  Bought Goffy's first pair of Crocs there and a pair for myself.  Other then that... eh.  If we were not all ready out there I would not have made a special trip but it was our anniversary and we went to a day spa near there...

It is because I am just not a shopper.  I do like a good destination spot thought and if it happens to be at an outlet mall... with a train... and it happens to be a blogging meet up... well, what is the harm of checking it out?

So, this past Saturday, the Husband and I took the kids to Lodi Station Outlet for a fun filled day of riding the train, shopping and lunch.  We also invited a friend of the first grader and his mom to really make the outing something special. 

@Nikki_S

We were greeted by the organizer of the day, @Nikki_S (of the Guilty Parent and other things) and she gave us the run down for the day and then we where off and running riding... the train!  There was no way the boys were going to let us do a thing until we rode the train!  It went around (and through) the entire outlet as well as out to the playground (which looks like so much fun) and an open air theater!

The train ride was more then just a ride but a chance to learn a little about the history of the outlet and the trains but to check out the mall before we shopped!  I only wish that they could let us off at a stop to shop and catch the next train.

First Grader's Friend & the First Grader

On a side note...  Chugga Chugga Charlie (the mall's mascot) scared the dickens out of the baby who would jump into my arms when ever she saw him.  I only wish he could have gone shopping with me to keep her in one place so I could shop and not chase her - ha!

Anyway... Back at the station, the Husband checked in at customer service and got a free t-shirt and coupons for Father's Day.  The women who work the counter exceed the customer service standard!  They are welcoming, sweet and super helpful.  We even ended up with balloons for everyone and we bought a t-shirt for the First Grader.  

The Husband took the boys and they went off to look at Pro Tools Clearance Outlet and Black & Decker Outlet [insert manly grunting].  He also managed to stop at Tommy Hilfiger while we ladies (read: me and the other mom) checked out Lane Bryant Outlet and The Children’s Place.  Eventually we met back up for lunch at the Steam Café and ended the day with another train ride!

We got there at noon and did not start heading home until after 4:00 PM.  I would never normally spend that much time in a mall.  Never.  Ever.  But... the day flew by and before I knew I spent a little over $100 and everybody got something.  T-shirts galore for the First Grader, an outfit for baby, some new clothes for work for me... it was a very fruitful day of shopping and everybody had fun.

I am actually looking forward to going back... soon.  Have that new house to buy for and I plan on spending a lot in Kitchen Collection.

Here are a few more pics from the day...

 

I want to especially thank Lodi Station Outlet for including us in this blogger event and also: Carter’s, The Jockey Store, Auntie Anne’s Soft Pretzel, Steam Café, Bath & Body Works Outlet, Caboose Corner, Kitchen Collection, Pro Tools Clearance Outlet, Black & Decker Outlet and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for their contributions.  I did not receive any payment to write this but I was give a gift card to shop at the mall.  The opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own.

In case you are wondering where you can get the t-shirt the First Grader is wearing... here.