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!!!!!
![eclipse-poster1[1]](http://iowagirleats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/eclipseposter11.jpg "eclipse-poster1[1]")
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!!!
looks like a fun day – I LOVE spending days like that with my mom <3
awesome boots!
i lovelovelove the blog!
crazy question….in the pics from the car….do you use eyeliner on your eyelids?! this is probably the most crazy comment/question ever but it looks great! what brand do you use?!?!
Not crazy at all – in fact, I’ve even addressed it in the past!
http://iowagirleats.com/2010/09/22/my-favorite-new-improved-makeup-pick/
thank you! i know what i’ll be picking up while going shopping today!
THEY DON’T LIKE BRAVO?!?!?! Complete blasphemy. I always, always, always get the Wood Grilled Salmon Salad. In fact, perhaps when I return home I could talk the parents into it for a finals week treat
I LOVE doing Christmas shopping with my mom. I asked her to hold off on doing it until I came home this year, but I’m not arriving until the 18th. She doesn’t procrastinate like I do so I don’t think she can wait that long. Oh well, we will get in some shopping I’m sure!
awww how fun! your mom looks so cute
I voted! I live away from my fam right now and miss days like that with my mom…glad you both enjoyed it!
My mom’s not much of a shopper, but I wish I could spend a day shopping with my sister. Except for a few stocking stuffers for my son, I’ve been done with my Christmas shopping for a couple weeks now.
Now I’m off to vote for your menu!
So jealous that you get to go to Gordman’s AND Trader Joe’s!!!! I LOVE Gordman’s!
I dont know how you were able to go to so many places all in one day. BTW I love your pink peacoat, where is it from?
Thanks! It’s from the Gap.
this is definitely one of my favorite posts you’ve ever done; ever. i love it. sounds like an amazing day you had & i can’t wait to try the new coldstone flavor!
saw the post a few days back- thought it was super sweet what your husband did for you (decorating for xmas).
enjoy the rest of your weekend!!
What?! Eclipse is out on DVD!…I had no idea! I am on it!
I went to Trader’s Joe’s for the first time today. Loved, loved, loved the store itself. I got some exciting new stuff to try – TJ pita chips, TJ lentil/vegetable soup, TJ chicken enchiladas, etc. It was awfully crowded, though; now Des Moines needs a SECOND Trader Joe’s! I don’t think I would be willing to shop there on a regular basis given the crowd and distance from my house, but it will be a fun place to go once in awhile.
Way to get all the Xmas shopping done. That’s one BUSY day. You guys hit up a lot of stores!!
I freaking LOVE bravo!! We have one and don’t visit nearly enough… I love their bread
Those boots are gorgeous!!!! what brand are they?
They’re Ralph Lauren – the “Stara Style”!
You and your mum are so cute! Luckily, the roads were tolerable this mornin’ so we made the 2-3 hour drive to MOA and IT WAS A ZOO! We had fun but every dressing room, every checkout line, and even the entrance to lego land had a huge line! Alas, we got what we needed! I also brought my hubby to Trader Joe’s for the first time and he was like a kid in a candy store – he loves cooking too! Also, we made our first trip ever to Ikea and it was VERY COOL! You are lucky to have such good shopping in your city!
You kill me- love that you titled this “Girls Gone Wild.”
i love the pic of you in the car (the first one). such a great day! I’m shopping at H&M, Urban & Anthro and wherever else we wander into with my mom and sis tomorrow
What a great day! Also, I love Coldstone – it’s my treat when I go cross-border shopping.
So jealous of your awesome shopping day with your Mom! TJ Maxx and Marshalls are two of my favorite stores!
Great post! Thanks for the field trip! I had one of my own!
My tween was dying to watch Twilight, so she got to see it last night while I worked! I will watch it soon. I think I might buy her the DVDs, I mean, I think Santa…
Voted again!
Looks like you are having a great weekend with mom! I think it’s time for a trip to Cold Stone on my part.
Enjoy your Sunday!
Moms are the BEST. Glad you got to spend time with yours… I’m just excited to be home from school in two weeks and have some quality time with mine!
I always buy myself a Christmas gift when out shopping! It may be big…it may be small. Last year it was Dr.Hook’s Greatest Hits CD!!! Ha! Not sure what it will be this year. Love your boots! I’d really like a pair of Frye Harness Boots, in the nice brown (not the already worn out looking brown!)…pretty expensive tho. Right now I just fondle them in the store & drool!
Wow, what a fantastic day. Shopping all day can be more exhausting than any workout. Ice Cream is definitely mandatory as a way to end this great endeavor.
Wow! It looks like you guys had a blast!! I love your new boots and sunnies!