The Southwest Voice

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Family of Four Vacation to Knotts Berry Farm and Soak City: $500+

Detour to "bargain" Hockey Gear and "discount" Dancewear Stores: $300+

Stumbling Onto the Set of Nickelodeon's Drake and Josh Christmas Movie: priceless (and free!)

First impressions are not always what they seem.  As we approached the Valencia Mall entrance, I was taken aback at the sight of... super-sized Christmas trees... everywhere!  Giant Nutcrackers greeted us at the escalator.  Balls of holly hung from the ceiling.  What was going on here?  Could they possibly be pushing the decorate-for-Christmas-just-after-Halloween routine forward even more?  Where could I send my complaint letter? How dare they!

I was so consumed with resentment that I even passed up the opportunity for a great zebra-print clutch bag, focusing my conversation with the salesgirl on the indignancy of the decorations instead.  It did not take long to learn, however,  that it truly was still August.  The decor was simply the remains of that day's interior shooting of Nickelodeon's Drake and Josh Christmas Movie!  Phew.  My faith in mankind had returned.

It took us even less time to track down the exterior filming location.  Here, our family of four was thoroughly entertained and somewhat educated in the fact that it takes FOREVER to film just one small scene.  Pity the actors in their wool sweaters and caps in the 90 degree heat.  As we propped ourselves against the nearest brick wall, sipping iced lattes in our flip flops, it became apparent that acting might not be all that it is cracked up to be.  A college education is still the more viable option.  Learn now, act later.  Now, time to do some Christmas shopping!