SANTA’S ARRIVAL

When: Thursday, November 10
Time: 6 – 9 p.m.
Where: Rotunda – see on map
Parking: Park in East Ramp

Ho, Ho, Ho – The holiday season officially begins with Santa’s arrival ceremony on Thursday, November 10 at 6 p.m. Join Mall of America as Santa is greeted in grand holiday style with a festive parade through Nickelodeon Universe® and a special welcome from the lovable penguins from “Happy Feet Two”!

Following the arrival ceremony, Santa will be available for photos in Sears Court until 9 p.m. Erik and Mumble from “Happy Feet Two” will host a meet & greet in the Rotunda until 7:30 p.m. “Happy Feet Two” opens at Theatres at Mall of America Friday, November 18!

MORE WAYS TO VISIT SANTA

Schedule an appointment: Visit with Santa in an intimate setting – DVDs of your visit will be available for purchase, along with other premiums like 16×20 portraits printed on-site! Presented by Professor Bellows Specialty Photography. Appointments will be available daily from November 12 – December 24 and will be located on Level 2, South near the LEGO® Store (S225). To book your appointment, please visit www.professorbellows.com.

Or visit Santa at your convenience: Stop by to visit Santa in Sears Court, Level 1, from November 10 – December 24. No appointment necessary! See Santa’s schedule here. Share your holiday wishes with Santa and purchase great photos packages and other holiday merchandise. Visit Santa in Sears Court and also receive a treat from PEEPS & COMPANY® and a FREE “Snow Day Cinema” movie poster with a special offer to Theatres at Mall of America®!

Please note –Santa’s line will close for a period of time each day for Santa’s breaks. Please click here for the daily schedule, including breaks.

SWEETS AND STORIES WITH SANTA

Every Saturday at 10:30 a.m., kids can enjoy “Sweets and Stories with Santa” in Sears Court! Snuggle up for your favorite Christmas stories read by Santa’s friendly elves; enjoy a yummy holiday sweet; then hop in line to meet and greet the big, jolly fellow himself! Sweets provided by Cinnabon.

PET PHOTOS WITH SANTA

Located in S225 (same location as appointment Santa), you have two opportunities to have your pet’s snuggle up with Santa for a photo. More details to come.
Sunday, December 4^th, 7:30 – 9 p.m.
Sunday, December 11^th, 7:30 – 9 p.m.

Brand:
SOREL Shop @ Columbia {Level 1, West}

Bite:
SOREL, born from the desire to make a boot that would deliver explorers comfortably into the great unknown, has been warming feet (and hearts) since 1962. Columbia features an expansive selection of boots and shoes in their SOREL Shop. SOREL’s weather-defying designs and on-trend details make them the boot for harsh winters.

Columbia at MOA™ offers the largest selection of SOREL footwear in the Twin Cities. With oodles of men’s, women’s + children’s styles, it’s your one-stop-shop for keeping those toes toasty.

Right about now we’re all ready to be tip toeing through the tulips buying floral dresses and bright flip flops and for sure every time I pass one of those adorable windows filled with summer delectables I feel pulled like a magnet into the store to spring headlong into a new wardrobe!   And um, I would be, um, if I didn’t remember that I am supposed to be socking away money for the kids’ college fund.  So….I take in the ambience, squeeze my eyes shut and head to the nooks and crannies to load up on a treasure trove of awesome bargains.  The stores are clearing out their winter and spring stuff to make way for those summer frocks so why not take full advantage?!  And let’s face it, it’s not exactly feeling like summer here to me.

The Gap:  Women’s clothing here starts at $5?!  WHAT??????!!!  And double WHAT?!  I snatched up a ton of tops and lightweight sweaters most were under $10.  Open a Gap charge card and get an EXTRA 30% off.  

At Macy’s I found 80% off on their INC brand (one of my faves) and at Banana Republic everything is an additional 25% off so I paid under $7 for a cute pair of cords.  The list of stores offering sales here goes on and on. 

Aerosoles:  Let’s be honest, working at MOA and running around these 4.2 million square feet of retail space everyday in uncomfortable shoes puts my piggies in a pinch.  I’m all about comfort but of course a girl wants style to boot!  All boots are on clearance and check out these fab suede wedges I got for $39.99.  Some styles start as low as $19.99.

Francesca’s Collections:  It’s my new go-to store for bling on a budget.  Right now all jewelry is buy one, get one 50% off and most jewelry items are under $30. 

So think of it this way, come fall, you’re going to open your closets and have a whole new wardrobe and….btw, wait another month and those summer delectables you’re craving will be on sale too!

As you may have heard, “Scott” aka the “Human Do.ing” is living in a glass apartment in the West Market Square at Mall of America for 30 days as part of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota’s “Do” campaign. His goal is to learn to live healthier, eat better and lose weight during his time here. Mall guests can text-vote every day for each “Do” activity that he has to complete, and part of his exercise routine at Mall of America will be walking the Mayo Clinic Mile!

Walking is a low-impact exercise that is doable for just about everyone! Not only is walking a gentler exercise, walking can also heighten one’s fitness level, form fun communities and groups of people, and offer great health benefits. That is why Mayo Clinic has posted signs throughout Mall of America creating routes for people to walk various distances: one mile, 5k and 10k. Maps can be picked up at any of the Mall information desks, or you can view a video tour here.

The Walking Company, a Mall of America retailer, walked me through the process of finding the perfect walking shoe. The first thing they had me do when I stopped in was a scan of my feet. The scan, (my feet pictured below), shows where I put the most pressure on my feet indicating posture, arch and even measuring foot size. After running the scan, The Walking Company simply pressed “send,” and I received a copy of the image in my inbox! Then they used this information to find shoes that fit my feet specifically as well as align with the purpose of finding a shoe: in this case, for walking the Mayo Clinic Mile.

 The first two shoes she showed me were the Ecco Biom Walk 1.1 ($174.95) and the Ecco Biom Walk 1.2 ($194.95). The creators of these shoes scanned more than 2,500 different feet in an effort to create a shoe that moves with the foot bones. The result is shoes that offer great support for your feet while allowing your feet to move naturally. The main difference between the 1.1 and 1.2 is that the 1.2 are made with Yak leather which is three times stronger than cow hide, making the shoe much more durable!

Another brand, Abeo,  is unique to The Walking Company. The Abeo Smart System shoe ($139.95)  was created by a group of engineers from the Standford Center for Longevity and is designed to reduce stress on your knees. Another shoe, the Abeo B.I.O. System ($79.95) with built in orthotics (essentially a flip-flop style shoe), is one of The Walking Company’s shoes that is accepted by the American Podiatric Medical Association. If you are a flip-flop enthusiast, this is  the walking shoe for you.

Finally, she had me try on the MBT shoe ($249.95) which is the barefoot technology shoe. This shoe is designed for people who suffer from severe knee, toe, heel or back pain. The shoe works with pained areas, builds strength in your core and promotes better posture all around.

The Walking Company also sells custom cork in-soles. The store chooses an in-sole based on the scan of your feet to ensure that you get the right fit for you. The cork in-soles eventually form specifically to your foot and offer specialized support that promotes healthy feet, reduces pain and encourages good posture.

Stop in at The Walking Company to find the right shoe and fit for you and then lace up and join “Scott,” the Mall Walkers, or grab a friend and discover the benefits of walking right here at Mall of America’s Mayo Clinic Mile!

Now that the weather is getting colder, there’s nothing like a hot, steamy shower to help take away the winter chills.  I love to settle in to a nice long shower with a great body wash.  Here are a few of my favs.

Origins Ginger Burst Body Wash

$22 at Origins

Lather up to this amazing scent which is a cross between lemon, lime and ginger.  Smells refreshing, clean and luxurious – plus, it won’t dry out your skin.

Bliss Lemon + Sage Soapy Suds Body Wash

$18 at Nordstrom & Sephora

This cult favorite is a lovely citrus-scented liquid soap that makes turning on the tap a treat!  It conditions with glycerin, aloe and vitamin E, plus the lemon-y scent is to die for!

C.O Bigelow Mentha Body Vitamin Body Wash

$12 at Bath & Body Works

This is a mint-infused body wash that provides an invigorating, tingling sensation.  The wake-you-up wash will fill your bathroom with a fresh minty scent, leaving you feeling clean and fresh.

Two of the “Fashion Must-Haves for 2011,” featured on “Oprah” are available at Mall of America and are perfect for chilly January weather.

Erica has written about the wonders of Sorels before, and my own beloved “Helen of Tundras” have gotten quite the workout this winter. Toasty, warm and waterproof, Sorel’s “Cate the Greats” were one of Oprah’s “Fashion Must-Haves for 2011.” You can pick them up for $200 at the Columbia store.

Another pick from the list is Eddie Bauer’s Slope Side down parka. Adding warmth without bulk, this down coat is sleek, with a removable belt and cozy faux-fur trimmed hood. It’s available for $179 at the Eddie Bauer store.

With temps in the single digits, it’s crucial to stay warm here in MN.  However, true fashionistas don’t let their style slip ‘n slide while keeping their tush toasty.  Thank you, Forever 21, for making this not-so-easy feat possible.

Date:  Now-??
Location:  Forever 21 {Level 2, East}
Deets:  Select outerwear + sweaters 50% off!  See store for details.  Hurry – offer valid only while supplies last.  With a sale like this this you might as well pick up 3 or 4.  Just sayin’…

The cold weather is upon us and one look at my dry, flakey face a few weeks ago told me it was time to switch to a heavier moisturizer.  My favorite of the moment is Fresh Soy Face Cream ($38 at Sephora).  This moisturizer is enriched with soy proteins, rose water, cucumber extract and jojoba seed oils.  It’s a heavier moisturizer, but won’t leave your skin feeling greasy and for me it seems to have a soothing effect.  I’ve been slathering this on at bedtime and when I wake up, my face looks clear, moisturized, and bright.  A great one to try if you want to eliminate dry patches or if your face feels like it needs a little extra moisture.

While December style is all about sparkle, sheen, and trying to stand out –  January means cozy, comfy, and blending in. Fellow Minnesota tundra dwellers know that now is the time to hunker down and hibernate until the bright spring florals reappear on the racks. I know, I know – a girl still needs to hit the grocery store or ATM once in a while. So when you do have to venture out, choose a look that is functional and weather-appropriate, but still chic. Enter striped sweater, skinny jeans, and casual boots in the most perfect shade of camel. Add a few fun and budget-friendly accessories and you’re ready to rock this month’s $100 and under look.

P.S. – sunglasses add instant cool to any look and are just as functional in the winter. That snow is bright on the eyes!

1. Hat – Forever 21, $5.80

2. Sunglasses – Forever 2 1, $5.80

3. Ring – H&M, $3.99

4. Shirt – Forever 21, $17.80

5. Jeans – Forever 21, $9.50

6. Boots – Old Navy, $49.99

Total: $92.88

A few staples for survival

Another day, another inch of snow – ah, winter is relentless. If we receive another 5 inches of white stuff we will move into the number two slot for record snowfall in Minnesota and, while breaking records is something to be proud of, I would love to have left this record untouched. To prepare ourselves for the flakes, a newcomer to the style scene acts as a scarf and a hood. Behold the snood…or eternity scarf, circle scarf, or whatever other name you can come up with. For less confusion, I will stick with snood. This essential winter survival item adds warmth to your neck, protects your head and hair from harsh winter elements, and is ever-so chic. See below for a few styles of the snood found at Bloomingdale’s.

Diane Von Furstenberg “Alyssa” Snood 

Echo “Chunk Twist” Snood   

Portolano “Chunky Marled Loop Scarf”                                                  

Staying warm and stylish during winter = priceless.

Stay tuned for more survival staples!