Over The Top Mommy

Brea Mall

{Giveaway} Brea Mall Holiday Gift Guide + Enter to Win

I was invited to attend a holiday media event at Brea Mall in exchange for coverage. All opinions are my own. 

Brea Mall is one of my favorite shopping destinations in Southern California. With 5 major department stores, over 175 specialty shops, a variety of popular eateries and a full-service spa, it’s easy to spend an entire day there. brea-mall-signRight now, with all of the season’s hustle and bustle, Brea Mall is a great place to find something for everyone on your holiday shopping list. It’s also a great place to find something for yourself, while you’re there. I absolutely love their holiday decor this year. Everything looks so festive and really gets you in the holiday spirit and excited to shop! brea-mall-holiday-gift-guideI was invited to a special Holiday Gift Guide sneak peek event at Brea Mall, to get a closer look at some of the top gifts at Brea Mall this year. There were several retailers there, showcasing some of their most popular gifting items for this year year. It was a fun event and helped me put together this Brea Mall Holiday Gift Guide Light bites and sips for the event, were provided by Nordstrom Cafe and CPKbrea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-light-bitesbrea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-2017Williams-Sonoma – This is a great place to shop for the gourmet on your list. Offering a selection of professional-quality cookware, small kitchen appliances, cooking utensils, and decor to match your cooking and entertaining style. They also have a great selection of gourmet foods for purchase. I loved all of their holiday place settings and decor. They also offer the Insta-Pot at a great price! It’s the hottest item right now in the cooking world.brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-williams-sonoma-1Lululemon – As a top brand for workout wear, Lululemon is a “go-to” stop for men and women of all ages. Their workout attire is both quality and fashionable. They also have an entire line of “Athleisure” clothes that allow you to be fashionable and comfy at the same time. If you’re traveling, their new winter pieces, including warm jackets, offer warmth and comfort without being heavy. How perfect would they be for winter travel? brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-lululemon-1brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-lululemon-2Swarovski – Nothing shines like Swarovski crystals. They have some beautiful jewelry pieces as well as gifts for friends, colleagues, and teachers on your list. This year they even have several Star Wars-inspired pieces. brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-swarovskiKiehl’s – This year, Kiehl’s collaborated with Disney to create a collectible and adorable line of products together that you’ll want to get your hands on. This line of skin and body care is for men and women and benefits Feeding America. Together, Kiehl’s and Disney are working to raise 1.1 million meals for those in need through this collaboration. It’s a great line of products that came just in time for the holidays.brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-kiehls-1brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-kiehls-x-disneyGodiva – Chocolate and Christmas go hand in hand and Godiva has treats and gifts perfect for gift giving to family, friends, and colleagues. There are beautifully arranged gift baskets already wrapped up and ready to give. You can also have a hand-selected box of chocolates packed. There are so many beautiful collections in the store, you just have to stop by to see them. Be sure to grab a treat for yourself while you’re there, too. brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-godivaTypo – You can find a great range of gifts, stationery, art, craft, decor, cards, decorations, lighting and seasonal gifts and more at Typo. brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-typo-2

brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-typo-1Ben Bridge Jewelers – If you’re looking for a special piece of jewelry to give as a holiday gift, there are so many exquisite pieces in the store. Their Toscano Collection of handmade pieces is exclusive to Ben Bridge.  In addition to jewelry for all occasions, you can also select from beautiful time pieces by top brands for both men and women.  brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-ben-bridgeTommy Bahama – You can never go wrong with a gift that brings a little bit of the Island Life to someone. Tommy Bahama has a wonderful collection of island-inspired fragrances and candles that smell absolutely heavenly! They also offer fashions for men and women that are perfect for getting in that “Aloha” mood, even when you’re not on vacation. tommy-bahama-fragrancesbrea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-tommy-bahama-candleBoxLunch -This is another retailer I love because they give back to those in need.  BoxLunch is the destination to shop for pop culture-inspired gifts, accessories and apparel for men & women. brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-box-lunchMorphe – One of the Brea Mall’s newest retailers to open is Morphe, If yo haven’t caught wind of Morphe on social media, it’s an amazing cosmetic brand that offers the latest looks in makeup in an affordable price range. They will also help you achieve whatever look you’re envisioning for yourself this holiday season. In addition to the cosmetics, Morphe offers false eyelashes, brush sets, and other gifting options for the beauty lover on your list.brea-holiday-gift-guide-morpheMicrosoft Store – Right now, if you stop by the Microsoft Store in the mall, you can tell them your “wish” this holiday season and it might even be selected to come true! While you’re there, you can also  check out the full line of products fit for the tech needs in your life.brea-holiday-gift-guide-microsoftbrea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-microscoft-wishBe sure to stop by these retailers when you visit Brea Mall, in addition to all of the other specialty shops. I can assure you, you will knock out all of your holiday shopping in this great destination shopping location.brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-retailersbrea-mall-sign

If you’re like me, and you have a whole lot of holiday shopping left to do, don’t worry! Brea Mall is offering special extended holiday hours right now and is open extra late. For more information about the center’s hours, go here. Don’t forget to stop by and see Santa while you’re out holiday shopping. He’s awaiting your arrival and keepsake holiday photos are available for purchase.

brea-mall-holiday-gift-guide-santaBrea Mall has tons of great gifting options for your holiday needs! You can also purchase Simon gift cards, as well as many other kinds of gift cards at Customer Service, which is located in next to Starbucks. Have you finished your holiday shopping yet? If not, consider stopping by Brea Mall soon.

giveaway

I love hosting giveaways for my readers so stop by my Instagram HERE and enter to win a $50 Simon Mall Giftcard. How to enter and rules are listed on the post. Thanks for reading! Happy Holidays!

Connect with Brea Mall on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

 

Shop, Dine and Visit The Spa at the Glen at Brea Mall + Gift Card Giveaway

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 

Have you been to Brea Mall lately? It’s the perfect place to go for a day out. brea-mall-insideNot only can you shop but there are tons of dining options, including restaurants and an entire food court. The center features five major department stores including Nordstrom, Macy & Macy Men Children & Home, jcpenney, and Sears, and more than 175 specialty shops. It’s also home to a full-service day spa, The Spa at the Glen. the-spa-at-the-glen-5On my last trip to Brea Mall, I got an extra special treat: a pedicure! Who would’ve thought you could shop, dine AND go the to spa, all in one trip?the-spa-at-the-glen-4The Spa at the Glen is located inside Brea Mall and provides world class spa treatments performed with care and skillful touch Services include massage, body scrubs and wraps, facial treatments and professional skin care, manicures and pedicures.the-spa-at-the-glen-1the-spa-at-the-glen-2You can schedule an appointment for a service and enjoy the spa amenities either before or after your service. (Next time I’m going to go and spend the entire day inside the spa.)the-spa-at-the-glen-3Why not plan a relaxing day of shopping, dining, and a visit to The Spa at the Glen on your next trip to Brea Mall? It’s a beautiful facility and allows you to be pampered before, during, or after your shopping trip. the-spa-at-the-glen-6enter-to-win-a-50-brea-mall-gift-cardI’m hosting a giveaway on my Instagram page for one (1) of my readers to win a $50 Brea Mall Gift Card. You must enter on my Instagram where you see this photo. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents, 18 years of age and older. For more information about how to enter to win, please go here. Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on 11/23/17. One (1) winner will be chosen via Random Number Generator and announced on my Instagram post. Winner will be verified and contacted via DM on Instagram. Winner must be able to pick up gift card prize in person at Brea Mall. Good luck everyone! Thanks for reading!

To learn more about The Spa at the Glen, or to request an appointment, please visit their site here or call 714.990.2090. For more information about Brea Mall, please connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Some images may be property of Brea Mall and used with permission. 

Back to School Shopping at Brea Mall + Enter to Win a $5000 Shopping Spree

I was provided with a gift card in order to shop for this post. All opinions are 100% my own. 

Back to School shopping is no easy task for a mom like me. It usually involves several trips to get everything that’s on “the list”. Luckily, I live close to Brea Mall. There are 4 major department stores (JcPenney, Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Sears) at Brea Mall plus pretty much any other specialty store you can think of, so you know you’re going to find what you need there. (including a Starbucks for yourself!)brea-mall-back-to-school-starrbucksIt’s kind of funny to look at the fashion trends for back to school this year because they remind me of when was in high school! Lots of denim, including denim jackets and acid wash jeans, lace, plaids, chunky boots, preppy pieces, florals, and the best part is that they call a lot of it “vintage”.

Watch this hilarious clip about Moms and Back-to-School Shopping and see if you can relate?

Right now, Simon Malls, which includes Brea Mall, are having a “Throw Back to Back to School” contest. Here are the details:
Did you rock acid wash in the 80s? What about double denim before it was a trend again? Since there’s nothing we love more than a fashion flashback, we want to see your best back to school themed throwback photo from the 80’s and 90’s. To enter, just share your photo to Twitter or Instagram using #tbtbts and #contest for a chance to win a $1,000 gift card, plus a chance at our grand prize $5,000 shopping spree.You can also enter by commenting on your local Simon center’s Facebook contest post with your picture. Click here to go to the Brea Mall Facebook page contest. 

Some of the shops we hit up for Back-to-School shopping at Brea Mall include:

Vans – Right now they have a bunch of Nintendo merchandise including hats and backpacks that coordinate with tennis shoes. My daughter loves Princess Peach and was all over their collection. Word on the street is they can’t keep these items in stock. I guess we lucked out the day we went shopping!brea-mall-back-to-school-vans

Gymboree – I adore the collections at Gymboree because they always feature several pieces that you can mix and match to create different outfits. My niece was excited about the sign featuring Disney Channel’s Sofia Carson, and highlighting some of her favorite Gymboree picks. Everything kitty cat and sparkly gold, including a headband with cat ears on it. I couldn’t resist buying it all for her!  I also loved the superhero merchandise they had for both boys and girls, too! brea-mall-back-to-school-gymboree

Crazy 8 – My favorite thing in this store was the entire wall in both the boys and girls area, dedicated to “8 day denim…wear every day + more!” How clever! That’s exactly up my own alley except it’s just way too tiny. I also found more lunchboxes and backpacks that were matching. They have a ton of cute clothes at Crazy 8 including lots of navy/khaki and white school uniforms, all at great prices.brea-mall-back-to-school-crazy8Champs – Every kid needs tennis shoes. Some wear them every day as school shoes, some kids change into them for P.E. They have a huge selection of shoes in sizes ranging from toddler to adult. Champs also has t-shirts, shorts, workout wear, hats, athletic socks, and more. brea-mall-back-to-school-champs

Lush – Although this isn’t a typical store for shopping for “Back to School”, my daughter will tell you differently and insist it’s a “necessity”! She said we needed to get her all stocked up on these beautiful bath bombs and soaps and handmade cosmetics. I can see why all the girls want to shop here on mall trips. It smells amazing inside the store! brea-mall-back-toschool-lush

Hollister – You can find cute, trendy basics in here like denim jackets, t-shirts, skinny jeans, and cute summer tops. They also have shoes and purses. We’re so lucky to live in California and be able to dress like this pretty much year-round. brea-mall-back-to-school-hollister

Abercrombie – If you’re looking for “preppy” looks, this is the place to shop at. I found a lot of denim in here, as well as jackets, polos, and button-up shirts.brea-mall-back-to-school-abercrombieCharlotte Russe – The first thing that caught my daughter’s eye were the shoes! They had a big selection of the ankle boots that I used to wear. They also have a ton of denim choices and adorable tops and jackets. We found a lot of things to buy for school here. brea-mall-back-toschool-charlotte-russeClaire’s – If you’re a “girl mom” you probably already know about Claire’s. It’s more than just the place to get your ears pierced, it’s the ultimate accessory shop. They have a huge selection of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, hair accessories, backpacks and purses, phone cases and holders, tablet covers, stickers, nail polishes and lip glosses and more! The girls were all over the sparkly pineapple accessories!brea-mall-back-to-school-clairesWell, as you can see, we had a lot of luck during our back to school shopping! Have you finished all of yours yet?

Connect with Brea Mall on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram too.

 

 

 

The Santa Photo Experience (Including Pet Photo Night) and Other Holiday Happenings at Brea Mall

Come experience the joy and magic of the holiday season at Brea Mall! Santa can’t wait to greet children bringing him their holiday wishes. The Simon® Santa Photo Experience is now open and children can visit and be photographed with Santa through December 24 in Fountain Court, on the Lower Level near JCPenney and Nordstrom.

sponsors

You can now save time and avoid the line with Santa by making an appointment! Just reserve your magical moment with Santa online by clicking here. For available hours, click here.

Noerr-Pet-photos-with-Santa

The popular Pet Photo Night will return to the Simon Santa Photo Experience at Brea Mall this year on Sunday, December 6 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Many pet owners view their pet as an integral member of the family and are just as committed in caring for their pets as their “human” family members. Pet Photo nights are hosted after regular mall closing and the set gets an extensive cleaning following the event to remove any potential risk to allergy sufferers. Reservations can be secured by clicking here.  sit-stay-pose

The Simon Santa Photo Experience is again sponsored by Gymboree and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. With the highly-anticipated release of “Minions,” available on Digital HD on November 24 and on Blu-ray and DVD December 8. Come visit the Simon Santa Photo Experience and receive a fun-filled activity sheet and custom Minion holiday headband, pose for photos with the colorful Minions standee, and watch highlights from the movie.

kidgits-brea

Simon’s theme for Holiday 2015 is “Spread Love.” From the love of giving to those who matter, to children’s love of Santa, to celebrating love through holiday festivities with family and friends. Join Simon to experience the season’s good cheer with the best of holiday shopping and entertainment.

In addition to extra festive hours throughout the season, Brea Mall will also feature:

  • a Giving Tree from December 4-13, near Guest Services
  • a holiday photo booth experience on select weekends in December
  • Kidgits Sunrise with Santa on December 5 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
  • giftwrapping from December 11-24 on the lower level near Macy’s Women’s store in support of the Simon Youth Foundation.  holiday-giftwrap

Guests to every Noerr set will have another opportunity to share Santa’s heart by making a donation via The Noerr Programs to Save the Children. For nearly 100 years, this non-profit has given underserved children in the U.S. a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. Since this program began four years ago, Noerr has collected over $978,000 largely due to the generosity of Simon shoppers. This season, Noerr will pass the $1,000,000 milestone.

For more information, visit Brea Mall on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images and logos property of Simon & Noerr. 

The Bunny Has Arrived at OC Simon Malls! Caring Bunny™ and Simon Kidgits Club Easter Events Are Coming, Too!

Spring has sprung! It’s my favorite time! One of the things that my daughtger and I enjoy doing together each spring is to go shopping for a special, new dress and then to visit the Bunny at The Shops at Mission Viejo for an annual photo! I love looking back at the photos from years past!
mvbunny-photo
The Bunny Photo Experience begins this year at Brea Mall and The Shops at Mission Viejo on March 7 and on March 14 at the Westminster Mall. It runs through April 4 at all 3 Orange County Simon Mall locations. The Bunny Photo Experience gives children the chance to visit with the Bunny and take home a treasured snapshot of the fun occasion. The presenting sponsor for 2015 is Gymboree.
easter-bunny-photos
 Hop on over for Bunny photos to the following locations:
  • Brea Mall: Begins Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and runs through Saturday, April 4, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the lower level near the JCPenney win. For a full list of dates and times, click here.
  • Westminster Mall: Begins Saturday, March 14 at 10 a.m. and runs through Saturday, April 4 at 7 p.m. in Macy’s Court. For the full list of dates and times, click here.
  • The Shops at Mission Viejo: Begins March 7 and runs through April 4 on the lower level near Nordstrom. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For the full list of dates and times, click here

Save time and avoid the line with Bunny by Appointment! Now you can reserve your magical moment with Bunny online at http://simon.noerrbunny.com.

Caring-Bunny-graphicIn addition to regular mall hours for Bunny photos, Simon’s Caring Bunny™ event will offer families that have children with special needs a subdued environment to participate in the Bunny Photo Experience. Caring Bunny has been developed by Simon and is guided by AbilityPath.org, a national online resource hub and special needs community. Over 90 Simon properties will host the Caring Bunny this season. Promotional assistance for Caring Bunny has been provided by Autism Speaks.

logoThe Caring Bunny program will be offered at Westminster Mall on Sunday, March 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Bunny Photo Experience. Many steps will be taken to reduce sensory triggers, creating a more comforting environment for the children’s cherished visit with the Bunny. Reservations are required and can be made here for the Westminster Mall Caring Bunny event.

The subdued environment is likely to include (specific elements or aesthetics may vary):

  • Turning off in-mall music, stopping escalators located near the photo set, dimming the lights and shutting down fountains for the duration of the event.
  • Eliminating queue lines through the use of a numbering system whereby guests approach the set when their number is called.
  • Special activities geared toward the needs of the child during the ‘wait’ period to help the child understand what activities will occur during the visit.

kidgits-hop-into-springKidgits Club Easter Events

The Simon Kidgits Club® will also host special events, where kids can participate in various Easter activities and games. Participants will receive a special Easter keepsake to take home.

The egg-citing celebrations will take place at the following centers:

  • Brea Mall: Hosting Kidgits Easter Hop Into Spring event on March 14 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Bunny Photo Experience set, on the lower level near JCPenney.
  • Westminster Mall: Hosting Kidgits Eggcellent Easter Extravaganza event on March 28 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Target Court.
  • The Shops at Mission Viejo: Hosting Kidgits Easter Eggstravaganza event on March 21 from 10 a.m. to noon on the lower level near Old Navy and H & M, where kids can participate in various activities, and spring-themed crafts, including special entertainment by Nick The Music Man and Jen The Fairy Dancer at 10:45 a.m.
The Simon Kidgits Club is a fun and informative program that focuses on health, wellness, education, safety and entertainment for children agees 3-8.  The Simon Kidgits Club has kept children and parents alike amused for over a decade with various events and activities while providing incentives for club members, such as special offers, rewards, and games.
For more information about the Simon Kidgits Club, visit http://www.simon.com/kidgits/.
*some images provided by Simon.
 

Orange County Simon Malls Will Make Books Come to Life at Their Annual Simon Kidgits Club Book Blast Event on February 28!

book-blast-at-simon-malls

On Saturday, February 28, the Simon Kidgits Club® at Brea Mall, Westminster Mall and The Shops at Mission Viejo are welcoming families to experience the magic of reading at the mall.  Each of these Orange County Simon® malls is hosting an annual Book Blast event and inviting parents and children to bring books to life through special read-aloud sessions, giveaways and story-inspired activities. The events will be taking place at the following times and locations:

  • The Shops at Mission Viejo: Event runs from 10 a.m. to noon on the center’s upper level near the Play Area. Book Blast event activities will kick off with an exciting read-aloud session of the “Olivia” book series, followed by a character appearance from “Olivia” herself, who will pose for photos with families. Children’s crafts and special retailer activities will be available as well.
  • Westminster Mall: Event runs from 10 a.m. to noon on the center’s lower level in Target Court.
  • Brea Mall: Event runs from noon to 2 p.m. in Center Court.

Simon is also teaming up with Better World Books to provide Kidgits Club members who attend the event with a pre-loved book and Kidgits seat cushion to take home, while supplies last. In addition, families are encouraged to bring a gently used book to the event at The Shops at Mission Viejo, to be donated to a local charity.

Simon Kidgits Club’s Book Blast will provide families the chance to make reading a fun, social experience with various kid-focused offerings. Book Blast event activities will kick off with an exciting read-aloud session presented by surprise guests from the community.

simon-kidgits-cardThe Simon Kidgits Club is a fun and informative program that focuses on health, wellness, education, safety and entertainment for children ages 3-8. Since 2003, the Simon Kidgits Club has kept children and parents alike amused with various events and activities while providing incentives for club members, such as special offers, rewards and games. Kidgits Club members receive a variety of goodies, including a Kidgits Club T-shirt, membership card, birthday card and gift, discounts and scheduled activities. For more information about the Simon Kidgits Club, click here.