Christmas is just a week away and that can only mean one thing…time for the annual Pause With Mr. Claus at the Northwoods Mall!

But before we go there, let’s get a couple of gifts for old St. Nick at one of my favorite Peoria shops, Relics!

Ho, ho, ho and away we go!

Here we are at Relics, if you’ve never been here you need to stop by and check out all the unique gifts and merchandise in here! They have cool stuff that’s not available anywhere else in Peoria.

I think I’ll get Santa that Sea Salt Caramel Popcorn!

There was an in-store pop-up shop happening on this day in Relics. That’s Amy the owner of S’more Couture and she had a whole table of fabulous handmade items.

There was coin purses, jewelry, custom cuff bracelets, journals and notepads among other interesting items.

I found a note pad with “S” on it, how perfect is that for Santa!

Check out Amy’s S’more Couture facecrack page right here and here’s her Instagram page.

After I bought Santa’s gifts I got a photo with Relics owner Deb! Always great to see her and catch up! Now, let’s go see Santa!

The snow on Northwoods Mall is perfect for this Santa afternoon! That poster makes me think of Metallica and note the unplanned obligatory mirror shot on the door happening there, I love it when that happens! It’s a Christmas miracle!

We’re inside and I see the Christmas tree down the hallway. I went up to the second level to get a bird’s-eye-view shot of the Santaland!

Here we are back on ground level and it looks festive, as always. There’s the Santa schedule and Santa’s mailbox. There he is in the center of all the shiny and bright regalia, Santa Claus!