10 stops, 7 hours, 2 ice creams…and a partridge in a pear tree!

Who needs Minneapolis?! My Mom and I took FULL advantage of our local resources, had ourselves one HECK of a mother/daughter day, and got nearly all our Christmas shopping done in one fell swoop. Girls gone wild!

Finn will have a very merry Christmas thanks to great deals at Gordman’s (nearly more toys then Toys-R-Us – who knew?!)

And our gifts will be wrapped all shiny and bright thanks to $1 wrapping paper and gift bags at the Dollar Tree.

I buy my gift wrap here every year – SUCH a steal.

We got some great, name-brand gifts for less at Marshall’s,

then hit up TJ Maxx…twice…

with a trip to the promised land in between. My Mom had NEVER been to our new location in town – can you even believe I’d allowed that happen?!

 

Stops at Bed, Bath & Beyond,

and Best Buy,

left me feeling a little like this. Notice the wide, wild, nearly-crossed eyes and disheveled hair…

Nothing a little caffeine,

and lunch can’t fix!

Whee!

Neither my Dad nor Ben like Bravo Cucina, for whatever crazy reason, so my Mom & I took the opportunity to dine at one of favorite lunch locales together.

Bravo serves super-fresh tasting Italian food, and the restaurant’s decor is like being in a chic, Tuscan farm house. 

Crumbling brick with white table clothes. You get it.

We were starrrrving!

Warm, herbed bread and tomato-basil oil never tasted so good!

Don’t you love when restaurants give you food before your food?

Totally takes the edge off.  

I knew we had more shopping ahead of us, and didn’t want to order something too heavy, so I got the Insalata & Zuppa – Salad & Soup, yo!

I ADORE Italian Wedding Soup and wanted to see how Bravo’s recipe measured up to my own. It was similar, actually, and the meatballs were really creamy…in a good way. 2 thumbs!

The Insalata Rustica – chopped greens, roasted tomatoes, dried cranberries, slivered green apple, candied pecans and warm prosciutto, tossed with balsamic vinaigrette – was DYNAMITE!

A burst of flavor in every bite. Especially loved the warm tomatoes. Total surprise in the there.

After lunch we reached civilization and the last leg of our journey, the mall! It’s kind of like the Mall of America…right?!

We shopped and shopped some more, and I wished myself a Merry Christmas with a pair of boots,

and sunglasses! (Marc by Marc Jacobs – great for kid sized narrow faces like mine!)

Don’t worry, I got some stuff for the loved ones on my list…but I can’t show you…they read the blog!

At this point it was nearly 5:00 and my Mom and I were all tuckered out. I gave her the option to pick out a sweet treat to end our day – my treat. Starbucks,  a cookie or Coldstone. I should have known what she would pick… Coldstone!

I got the classic Cake Batter with crushed Oreos, natch,

while Mom dined on a NEW flavor – Oreo Cookie Filling!!! I MEAN!

We devoured our sweet ending by the warm, flickering fire in the center of the mall and bid adieu to our wonderful day.

I’m actually really sad right now…we had a lot of fun! I love spending time with my Mom!!!

Alas, all good thing must come to an end. But alas, they must start back up again at some point. That point will be tonight…when I watch Eclipse!!!!!

This bad boy came out on RedBox today and I snatched up a copy bright and early this morning. TEAM EDWARD!

Twihards – can you believe we have to wait until NEXT November for the first installment of Breaking Dawn?! I die!!!

Oh boy.

Until tomorrow. See you!

ps Need something to do tonight? I’d love your vote for my holiday dishes in the Breakstone Blogger Challenge!!!