Girls' Weekend in Minnesota

You know that I'm a Paper Crafter. One of the ladies I craft with went to this big Paper Crafting event in Minneapolis last year and has not stopped talking about it. She invited the rest of us to go with her, but we didn't jump at the invitation. Ever since she returned, she has been raving about it. So of course we had to go this year. She was off with her husband and didn't come with us. She did leave us with plenty of instructions and suggestions though.

Our flight left at 6:00 AM!!!! Who knew there were flights at this time? 

The event is called Scrapfest 2013 and it's sponsored by Archiver's, a chain of stores that I would LOVE to have here locally...Dave, very happy they're across the country. They carry all the cool, hip, and happening items, and the displays are fabulous! Seriously, look at all this paper!

Did I tell you the event is at the Mall of America? This is the largest Mall....filled with plenty of stores, restaurants, and an entire amusement park!!!!!

There's a Lego store with all sorts of displays...made from Legos of course. There's even a section where anyone can wander in and build something

Archiver's is located in the Mall. They hold the event through out the Mall. There are displays galore, "Make and Takes" (I made two necklaces at a bead store that are so cool people stop and ask about them! and NO I will not be taking up beading and/or jewelry making), and all the paper crafting Rock Stars teaching classes....Tim Holtz, Becky Higgins, Teresa Collins, and plenty more.

We rode the light rail (the ticket machines give change in dollar coins! Very fun! a little heavy to carry around and then all the stores know where you've been when you pay in dollar coins!) to the downtown. This was Sunday and the Vikings were playing at home. The fans are about as hopeful as a Raider fan. They thought for sure they'd win.....they lost. Here's the Mary Tyler Moore statue in front of Macy's (which has the LARGEST inventory of scarves.....for winter....seriously, racks and racks, aisles and aisles).

There were plenty of interesting buildings....like this wall filled with music. We walked past the Dakota Club to see if anyone interesting was playing. The flyways that connect the buildings are very interesting. My photos didn't turn out too well. I may snag Teresa's later on to show you. They're definitely something you won't see in CA!

We had really good meals....except for the free breakfast which we only ate once. The restaurants in the Mall run from the usual McDonald's, A&W, Cinnabon and then to Grille's with old school wood panelling and linens, and then we even had Sushi. We did not starve. We discovered Minnesota's Wild Rice Corn Chowder which is seriously the best ever.

My favorite meal was meeting up with my brother, his wife, and son. They took us to their favorite family restaurant, "It's Greek to Me". I have no idea what we ate, but it was delicious. I mostly liked the company. We live so far apart that we hardly ever see one another. It was a real treat.

The weather was absolutely the best and the people are the nicest. All the jokes about the uber polite people? Yep, they're all true. I was startled the first time a child cut in front of us and the mom immediately corrected him and told him "that's not nice to do that to people". Now there's something you don't hear too often around here.

We did our part for the Minnesota economy. I even purchased a suitcase to bring home all my new loot. There's no sales tax on clothing and shoes, how could I resist? Teresa did introduce me to several new stores and we both discovered Flips. This is a store that sells nothing but......flip flops! Dave even has a new pair. I have no idea why this isn't in CA.

The sales people were all so nice (Minnesotans!) articulate and educated. Most of them had at least two jobs. Honestly, I don't know how the young people can make it.

Great time, glad we went, not sure that I'd go all this way again. Perhaps next time a long weekend to....?????