Labor Day Weekend In St. Louis

Hey there, party people! This past weekend was a Labor Day extravaganza with Amanda from Blissful Gal. We vlogged, shopped and ate amazing food. I was so excited to have her stay with me. We’ve been blog friends for a long time now, so becoming real life friends was even better!!! I was SO sad when she had to leave me Monday afternoon. Our two big activities were going to the Treetop Adventure at Go Ape and making homemade candles at The Candle Fusion — so let’s recap, shall we?

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Labor Day Weekend In St. Louis

Let’s start off with our vlog. I compiled all the videos we took from the weekend into a fun little 5 minute clip. It’s super cute, and showcases a lot of the fun we had together. Take a peek here:

Go Ape:

We had the BEST time at Go Ape. They have located in several places in the United States — so odds are, you will have one near by! We did the Treetop Adventure:

Go Ape Treetop Adventures in Creve Coeur park offers guests much more than just a zip line canopy tour. This exhilarating outdoor adventure course features 5 sections of treetop obstacles, each leading you higher into the forest canopy. Guests will navigate 24 unique crossings such as Talloires Crossing, 2 Tarzan swings and 5 thrilling zip lines, all with amazing views. Go Ape Treetop Adventures will provide a one of a kind outdoor experience worth talking about!

The five sections were uniquely different, with several difficulty levels. I chose extreme difficulty and Amanda went for the regular levels. Both are a lot of fun and each have their challenges! Be sure to check out the vlog above to see video clips of us swinging through the trees.

If you are in the St. Louis OR Kansas City areas, I have a unique discount code JUST for you. It’s 15% off and valid through 12/31/17. Click HERE to sign up to swing through the course!

COUPON CODE: BAZIPS

The Candle Fusion Studio:

I actually fell in LOVE with this adorable candle-making studio this weekend. We were able to go into this sweet location and create a candle and take a peek around. This is one of the most unique experiences I’ve ever had. The idea is that you go around to all of their candles in the front room, write down the scents you like the best. After that, you go to the bar where you choose the size of the candle you want to make and they hand you the essential oils you need to create your candles. Mix it up, and let it set!

I made a candle I called “Hint of Autumn”. It had Chai Tea, Cinnamon, Vanilla and Smoke essential oils in it and it basically smells like actually heaven and fall in a jar. 

If you are looking for a fun, evening activity with girlfriends this is the perfect thing to put on your must-do list in the city. It’s located in the Central West End, so there is a TON of food and shopping to do while you wait for your candle to set. Plus, the shop owner is a DOLL, so you’ll definitely be treated like family.

The Gateway Arch:

I had never done this before — but it’s St. Louis’ claim to fame: the Arch! You are actually able to ride up to the very top, where you look out over the city below. It’s beautiful, and we went at sunset, so it was especially gorgeous to see the sitting surrounded by orange and pink.

It’s only $13 to get to the top, which is super affordable. They tell you to plan for about 45 minutes for this activity — but honestly, I’d plan for at least 2 hours depending on the time of day you go. They were 30 minutes behind when we got there, so it took us at least 90 minutes start to finish. It’s totally worth the wait — just plan accordingly. 

Also be aware that it is VERY crowded, and the pods are very tiny. Amanda and I were NOT expecting such little pods to rid up to the top in. It felt almost futuristic, like something you’d find in Tomorrowland at Disney World. If you are very claustrophobic, it may not be the best thing for you to do but the view from the top is stunning.

Outlet Mall Shopping:

We went to the St. Louis Premium Outlets to do some shopping this weekend and spent ALL the $$$$$. I didn’t really understand outlet mall shopping until  I moved to St. Louis. Now I am obsessed. It’s SUPER dangerous for me to have a Kate Spade outlet that’s almost always 60% off retail price. SOS – RIP my wallet. Here are my top tips for outlet mall shopping:

Compare Prices

The only way to know if it’s REALLY a deal (or if they marked up items so the discount seems better) is to cross check online. See what that item is going for in real life, or what something similar is going for, and make sure it matches up. You want to get the BEST possible deals. 

Find Out If It Was Made For The Outlet

Some stores (like J.Crew and Banana Republic) make clothing specifically for their outlet stores. That means they are usually a little lower in quality to match their price. If the label is what is super important to you, it may not matter that the quality is lower. Some items are still in great condition, and to the naked eye, you probably won’t even be able to tell!

Download Coupons Beforehand.

Make sure you visit the online website before going to the stores. They will often have additional coupons or sale information you can download and bring with you on your phones. It’s all about a bargain, amiright?? Get all the steals you can by mapping out the coupons and deciding where you’re going ahead of time.

Decide On A Budget And Bring It In Cash.

I did NOT to this and my wallet is feeling it. Typically, when shopping, I always advocate to giving yourself a very specific budget to stick to and then taking that money out in cash. Once the cash is gone, you have to go home with what you’ve got. I usually leave all cards at home to get rid of the urge to spend just a little bit more. It’s tough — but if you are on a budget, it’s key to making sure you don’t spend more than you have.

PIN THIS FOR LATER:

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Well there you have it! My quick (LOL) recap of my amazing weekend with Amanda! I can’t wait for our next trip in November in Cincinnati. It’s going to be amazing (plus more of our awesome blogging squad will be there, too). 

What did you do this Labor Day weekend? Let me know in the comments below!!