September 17, 2016 - Shopping Day Trips Near Long Island AND SoCal

Elisa's Daily Scoop

Get Ready for Shopping Day Trips!

It's Saturday and I'm out east at my favorite shopping center hang-out - TANGER OUTLETS!!

Well, as you know, I have made this place my make- shift office and hangout as it's only a hop, skip and a jump from where my girlies ride horses on Saturdays.

And considering how much outdoor seating - and comfortable, I might add - donned with cushions and outdoor fireplaces - it has become quite an enjoyable way for me to spend a  number of hours each Saturday.

What's more, they have a terrific food court and free wifi throughout the entire shopping complex.

I suggested to Tanya that we do our blog today on Shopping Day Trips!  It is after all, Shoppin' Saturday here on T.C. 

But, first, let me tell you about last night...
Our family dinner for Kelsey's 10th birthday got pushed back to last night.  Weeknights are just difficult, in general, so Friday made more sense.

Of course, nothing can ever go off without a hitch.
I had originally told my parents and sister that I was planning it for Thursday night, since Wednesday evening the girls were with their father for their mid-week visitation - and that was Kelsey's official birthday.

Then, it turned out to be open school night for my sister and so I shifted things to Friday.  Unfortunately, my sister had committed already to a party for one of her friends.  I even tried to make it for earlier, but, she said it would be too much rushing for her.

My Ten Year Old Birthday Girl (c)travelincousins.com

My parents confirmed, however and I thought at least it would be the five of us.

Well, 30 minutes before we were supposed to meet, my mom called to tell me that they were both sick with gum/mouth infections.   

It often feels like I'm planning a Safari trip whenever I try to make plans.  But, in any case, it wound up being me and the two girls and it was a great evening!!

We had a most delicious meal at Rustica Brick Oven Pizza Cafe, one of our favorite nearby restaurants, which marked the third Happy Birthday celebration for my little girl...one with her Dad, another at school this week and then last night with her sissy and mommy.

It was the perfect way to spend a Foodie Friday!! 

The start of the weekend had us all pretty famished and our table was a colorful array of Italian specialties!....

Rigatoni Bolognese (c)travelincousins.com

Rigatoni with broccoli rage & cannellini beans (c)travelincousins.com

Chicken Cutlet with Lemon Sauce & Fries (c)travelincousins.com

We decided to order dessert to go- zeppoles for Kelsey and a large slice of scrumptious Oreo Cheesecake for Gianna.

Unfortunately, while I was getting Punkin and taking her outside upon returning home, the kids had eaten their desserts before I got a chance to take a photo of these sweet treats!!

Kelsey indulged in two big, fluffy zeppoles 

Our trio celebrating Kelsey's 10th! (c)travelincousins.com

Another silly face by Gianna (c)travelincousins.com

Kelsey with her new phone! (c)travelincousins.com

Back to the blog topic of the day...
Shopping Day Trips Near Long Island...

I haven't found a woman yet who doesn't enjoy shopping!  In fact, I know a number of men (and boys) who enjoy hunting for new wears as well!

Who says you can't make this necessary evil a fun event and day-long excursion.

Here are three places that are on the top of my list for turning shopping into a mini vacay near Long Island.

Tanger Outlets
Riverhead, NY (Long Island)

There is no question that this is definitely one of my favorite shopping experiences on Long Island!

LOcated in the town of Riverhead, off of exit 72 on the Long Island Expressway, Tanger is the perfect destination for a day of shopping, eating and being outside!

Located 1.5 hours east of New York, 20 minutes west of Southampton, 20 minutes east of Long Island, Tanger is home to 118 outlet stores.

It contains two distinct mall areas - Tanger 1 and Tanger 2, for which there is a trolley to escort shoppers between the two shopping areas, which each contain its own food court with clean, well-kept indoor and outdoor seating.

Tanger Outlets, Riverhead, Long Island (c)travelincousins.com

Inside the Food Court - seating with IPAD stations. (c)travelincousins.com

The stores include apparel, accessories, home and house wears &  home furnishings, jewelry, footwear and specialty. Some of the brand outlet stores include Puma, Vince Camuto, Old Navy, Gap, UGG, Starbucks, West Elm, Pottery Barn and Ralph Lauren. 

Local Hotels also offer coupon books for guests.

Woodbury Commons
Central Valley,NY (Rockland County)

Woodbury Common Premium Outlets features 220 stores which feature savings of 25% to 65% every day.

It also contains Market Hall offering a variety of dining options including Chipotle, Pret A Manger, Pinkberry, and more.

​Additional amenities are also offered such as free WIFI and more seating. ​

(tripadvisor.com)

Some of the featured stores include Armani Outlet, Banana Republic Factory Store, Burberry, Christian Dior, Coach Outlet, Dolce & Gabbana, Neiman Marcus Last Call, NIKE Factory Store, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, Tory Burch, Nike, Celine, Bottega Veneta, Polo Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Burberry, Coach, The North Face and more.

The center is owned by Premium Outlets, a subsidiary of Simon Property Group, and takes its name from the town in which it is located.​
​

Shop Gotham NYC Shopping Tours
Manhattan, New York (NYC)

Shop Gotham shopping tours explores NYC’s best-kept shopping secrets. (shopgotham.com)

Who says you cannot be a tourist in your own town OR add shopping to your list of must-do tours, if you are visiting NYC?

How fun does this sound????

Shop Gotham shopping tours deliver
exciting perks not available to the independent
visitor. Guests will gain Special Access to Wholesale Designer Showrooms, Exclusive Store Discounts,
and rare opportunities to Meet Designers. An introduction to new stores and brands. 

Currently, two of the tours they offer focus on two world-famous NYC shopping districts, depending on your fashion sense and style.

1. Garment District Special Access Shopping Tour

(shopgotham.com)

The Garment Center “Insider” Shopping Tour takes you on a “behind-the-scenes” expedition to Private Appointment-Only Designer Showrooms (not accessible to the public) to shop exactly where store buyers, fashion editors and stylists shop. And
at the same prices: WHOLESALE.

Shopping is for current season “better” Apparel & Accessories at 50-70% BELOW RETAIL. Each tour has a mix of classic and more fashion forward options, suitable to a variety of ages.

2. SoHo & NoLita Chic Boutiques Shopping Tour

(shopgotham.com)

The enormous array of options for retail therapy in soHo and Nolita can satisfy all budgets and tastes
​targets a special selection of INDEPENDENT or RARELY FOUND clothing & accessory boutiques (ones you won’t find at your local mall): hidden gems that range from chic bargain to trendy luxury.

Your fashion savvy guide will update you on current season Fashion Trends, point out some of the New York’s most beautiful and historical Cast Iron Architecture and blow your mind with other local
history and trivia.

Several shops will extend EXCLUSIVE STORE
DISCOUNTS (10- 20%) which are usable ALL DAY.

WOW - Shop Gotham really blew my mind - what a way to spend a day!! To me, this is not only a perfect outing for the "adult girls" but what a nice way to bond with teenage daughters and nieces!

As a native New Yorker, I wasn't even aware of this super cool excursion. Private tours are also available!

Tanya also has shared some enlightening shopping information on our blog today so be sure to check it out!!


Tomorrow is going to be a fun and festive day.  It's Kelsey's "Official" birthday party at Adventureland with a bunch of her horseback riding buds. 

You know I'll be sure to take lots of pics and I cannot wait to jump on the rides with my kiddies!!

Have a phenomenal Saturday!!!

-E
xoxo

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 7 DAYS

There's always time for Retail Therapy

Well folks only 1 more week to go and then we'll be heading out once again!

​How exciting!!

The only problem is that for the past few nights I've been back to keeping my really late hours. Gonna need to adjust to the east coast time zone - which for me is a piece of cake!
The kids definitely have a more difficult time with it and unlike their mom, they do experience Jet Lag. 

Yesterday was pretty darn jam packed from going here and there, the styles included and all that I had to get done on the computer and phone - at this point it all rather seems like a BLUR!

Cosette with Dream and Star (c)travelincousins.com

(c)travelincousins.com

Dream (c)travelincousins.com

Cosette & Dream (c)travelincousins.com

But one very cool and exciting thing that I did manage to take care of late last night was getting something BOOKED!
Come back on TRAVELIN' TUESDAY to find out what it is ;)

Today I'll be spending most of the day in a really LONG Board Meeting.
So far it has been fairly easy sailing and things have been pretty drama free with the IPC and for me as the Board President.
Well this might not be the case after today's meeting.. Based on the agenda that I created and one particular item that will be discussed, I'm not sure how well things are going to go over.
​
More on this after the meeting. I sure hope that it goes well, and that I'm just blowing this potential situation up in my head!

And on another subject, based more on Elisa's issues with trying to get her family to follow through with plans...UGH

I know the feeling. You just CAN'T make plans with certain people (and our family falls into that category). I simply do not understand. And they see no issue. Whatever. 

Last night is a good example. I happened to mention an upcoming camping trip that supposedly Jet, Andrew and Chaplin want to come on.
Well I've told them and reminded them over and over that they need to make their reservations.

I don't see this happening, nor do I really see them coming. I don't know why I even continue to entertain the thought of them actually coming on getaways with us?!

Of course I then decided to remind my sister that she also showed strong interest in coming to Park City this coming winter...Chaplin has never been to the snow. And well...again, I don't see that is gonna happen either.

But get this, my mom who happened to be sitting there as we had the conversation had to put in her 2 cents (she put in a lot more, but the most it was worth was 2 cents). 

Why do you have to go that far? What's over there? Blah Blah Blah.

This carried on up to the dinner table and she (the woman who issists she doesn't thrive on arguing) just wouldn't shut the heck up - even when I was no longer talking to her and just sitting there in peace! I literally had to take my dinner to the family room and eat solo just to get away from her and all of her negativity.

But for now let's talk about something positive and something that I love - SHOPPING!

​Or sometimes better known as Retail Therapy.

Which by the way, I did manage to take Cosette to Kohl's last night as promised and she found a dress to her liking. Yay! I also can't say that I walked out of the store empty handed, as I found a cute pair of Capris that I'll soon be packing up for our trip.

So do you wanna know my all time favorite mall in California?

It's SOUTH COAST PLAZA, and from the very first time that I stepped foot into this mall I was addicted. I could just inhale the luxury - and I seriously do. It's not quite the same as a breath of fresh air, but it is quite fabulous!!

SOUTH COAST PLAZA

South Coast Plaza defines the luxury shopping experience with boutiques, personal service, and upscale amenities. Home to more than 250 boutiques, restaurants and the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
It is not only the largest mall on the West Coast of the United States, but has sales of over $1.5 billion annually which is highest in the United States.

All making for one very fabulous shopping experience!

​While I had plans of sharing a couple more delightful SoCal shopping locations, I've found that I'm very short on time this morning and need to get over to my meeting.

Hopefully I'll be able to bop back on here later and continue.

Until then or until tomorrow, have a marvelous day!
​-T