Aaand, we’re back!
Thankfully this year we didn’t have any freak snow storms to deal with, so Saturday morning we were able cruise from my house, where my Mom picked me up at 6:30am, to Starbucks for a hot cup o’ Joe, and pull up to the Mall of America at precisely 11am…just in time to inhale Chipotle burrito bowls to fuel us for, gulp, FIVE STRAIGHT HOURS OF SHOPPING!
(pic borrowed from last year’s post because it was super foggy in MSP this weekend!)
The mall was decorated to the nines, per usual, and after lunch we quickly got our shopping underway. 3 floors + 400 stores = a lot of road to cover!
In addition to crossing some gifts off my holiday shopping list, I couldn’t help but keep my eyes peeled for a few items I’ve been eyeing online, including my beloved Sorel Joan of Arctic boots, which I spotted from 50 yards away as we were coming down the escalator at Nordstrom’s! I couldn’t have been more jazzed to pull on a pair of the warm and fluffy boots, and was admiring them adoringly in the full-length mirror when, I took a step. And cringed.
They are so uncomfortable! There was this hard, ridge-like thingy that was stabbing me in the back of my heel/calf, and I couldn’t figure out what it was. I even tried on a couple of different sizes to make sure it wasn’t me or the boot, but no dice.
Fellow Joan of Arctic owners – do these break in at all? I hope so because they are SO cute, and SO warm. They’d be absolutely perfect for the brutal Midwest winters, though by the looks of today’s temps (63!) you’d never know it was December ’round here!
Anyways, later I consoled my sad tootsies with a rub in a foot/calf massager at Brookstone. I know. Gross. I hardly cared though. 5 hours of shopping in flats (what was I thinking?!) will convince you to give anything a try! Totally worth it.
A Coldstone Oreo Ice Cream with Brownie mix-in snack helped too. :)
After all the Christmas gifts had been bought we headed to our hotel to relax before heading off to dinner. We stayed at the Fairfield Inn by Marriott, which was less than a mile away (you could see it from the mall,) and had clean, nice rooms for a great rate. We’d definitely stay there again!
We had to nearly peel ourselves out of bed an hour later to go feed our grumbling stomachs. The beds were oh-so cozy, but our appetites were oh-so strong. I know some people pssht at this, but shopping seriously takes it out of you.
Not wanting to drive any further than necessary, we headed to a nearby Friday’s because it was close and, gosh darn it, I have a not-so-secret love for the chain. Once seated we proceeded to order everything on the menu…!
They have this 2 for $10 meal where you can get an app and entree for, well, $10, and of course we had to add a cup of Friday’s famous French Onion Soup (perhaps my favorite soup, ever?!) In the end, our eyes proved to be bigger than our stomachs and I bet we ate 1/3 of what we ordered. Luckily our hotel had a fridge!
We fell fast asleep back at the hotel circa 8pm while watching Inception, but it was probably for the best as we had one last stop to make on Sunday before heading home. IKEA! :D
IKEA might be my most favorite place ever. I love their designs, and wandering around their ingenious showrooms for dream-home ideas. This modern-yet-cozy kitchen with dark wood, and stainless steel accents had me drooling.
Nothing in the showroom gets me quite as excited as kitchen utensil alley though! I have had so many stainless steel IKEA utensils, gadgets, and gizmos last me for years. They really are of high quality – and for so cheap!
Including these DARLING mini stainless steel prep bowls. CAN YOU EVEN HANDLE THIS?! :D
After checking out at IKEA, we headed on home. Another year, another successful mother/daughter holiday shopping trip in the books!
Linda 12.04.2012
We are giving our son tools for his first job. He is working at a car mechanic shop and needs his own tools so we are giving him a box with his own new tools.
stephanie 12.04.2012
my favorite thing to give year round is my time to help someone in need.
Kristina 12.04.2012
Love your blog as I am a fellow Iowan! I made terrariums for my husbands grandparents and am excited to give it to them. And of course I am excited for my boys to open their gifts, but that’s just a given!
Katie C 12.04.2012
I am most excited to give the “pickle present” this year! We hid a pickle ornament in the tree each year and whoever finds it first gets the present! it’s always a silly gift, but it’s fun family tradition!!
Miriam 12.04.2012
I am most excited to give my kids’ their gifts. It is so fun giving them what they want most!
Danielle 12.04.2012
I am most looking forward to giving my mom a cashmere sweater she loved but didn’t want to spend the money!
Morgan L 12.04.2012
I’m most excited to give my mother-in-law her gift. She watches our 4-month-old son two days a week and we thought she deserved something special. So we’re giving her a “Family Tree.” It’s an iron three sculpture to hang on the wall with pictures of the whole family hanging all over it. I hope she will love it!
Linda Rittenhouse 12.04.2012
I am looking forward to helping my kids make their dreams come true. Dylan (25) is set on becoming a National Park Ranger (exciting!) and Claire (18) is heading to a big 12 school to study Agronomy (I know you’re all about the food:)) My gift is money for their educations.
Meghan 12.04.2012
I can’t wait to give my dad his Christmas gift. He’s a big fan of country music and is liking the show “Nashville,” so I’m hoping to get him the soundtrack. The only problem is that my mom hates country…so there will probably be some complaints ;)
Jillian 12.04.2012
I can’t wait to exchange gifts with my best friend. We decided to do homemade gifts this year!
Laura 12.04.2012
I’d love to be able to give this to my boyfriend’s mom! She’s asked for this exact model!
Karleen 12.04.2012
I’m looking forward to giving my nephew a monster bowling set.
Melissa 12.04.2012
I am looking forward to giving our gifts to our nieces, the looks on their faces when they open them is priceless and the hugs and kisses after don’t hurt either! :)
Looks like you had a great time! I need to convince my mom and sister about doing this every year too!
Becky Hewinson 12.04.2012
I am excited to give my father a photobook of his Mom & Dad!
Tracy 12.04.2012
I actually have a Keurig on my list! I really want one because I now stay at home with our son and I think it would be so easy to warm up with a quick cup instead of having to make a whole pot! :)
kristenb 12.04.2012
I am giving my green thumb husband his first terrarium kit with a giant bowl from Crate and Barrel! I hope he loves it!
Sally 12.04.2012
I am most excited to give my boyfriend one of the presents I bought for him – he is an avid golfer, and mentioned he can always use new golf balls. I found a website that will personalize them, so got him a set of 12 new golf balls with a sweet message inscribed :)
Lindsay 12.04.2012
I’m always most excited to give my niece and nephew their gifts. So fun to watch a kid’s eyes light up at Christmas!
KaySue 12.04.2012
Hand painted towels for my grandma.
Sarah R. 12.04.2012
I can’t wait to prepare dinner for my parents when they visit and give them their gift of a Sporting KC game next year!