REI, Beach Cabanas, and NOT Glamping.

Me and Dee – August 2010

So when REI and BlogHer offered me the opportunity to go on a mini REI shopping spree in preparation for our family’s beach camp-out at the end of the summer, I jumped at the chance. The closest one is in the town of my youth (where my parents still live) so you know I was all psyched to drag Dee out there, hit the drive-thru car wash, and get in some hardcore, outdoor-style retail therapy. And boy did REI deliver.

HOLY OUTDOOR HEAVEN!

We’re beach people. But it’s not easy being beach people when you’ve got a trio of lily white skin-cancer-prone blondies running around (That’s me, Scott and Dee to be clear) to I used my opportunity for a personal tour of REI Northridge to stock up on gear for the camping trip we’re going to take up in *gasp* MALIBU later this summer, and general beach-y protectiveness in general. It still counts. There will be no “glamping”.

Anyway, REI, in case you haven’t heard, is the bomb. I know a lot of you know that because when I tweeted that I was taking a stroll through the mecca of outdoor gear and all things fun and awesome, a TON of folks tweeted back that they LOVED them some REI too.

Upon arrival, I was lucky enough to be greeted by Nate, the store manager who took me on a quick tour of the store (little did he know this was my hometown REI, just a stone’s throw from the house I grew up in, so I KNOW where the the women’s shoes are, and no you don’t have to mention the lounge pants.)

And then I was off…I had set aside an hour an a half for my shopping trip, but thanks to helpful employees waiting around every corner, I was able to find my items, figure out which ones were on sale, exercise my self control and not shoot my wad on a BOB Jogging Stroller (b/c who the EF jogs in this family?) and even select the right type of sun-cover to keep us safe in the California Sunshine.

Anyway, thanks to the kind and knowledgable folks at REI Dee, Scott and I are all ready for to rough it, Malibu style.

I can’t wait to share my goodies with you – REI has literally something for every hobby…I brought home stuff for my Pups, the Kiddo, and even some water-wear for me!

Not sure what kind of outdoors-er you are? REI’s got in-store classes to help you figure out your outdoor addiction. There’s even activities for the little ones.

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