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!
Carla 12.04.2012
I am so excited to spend Christmas with our our first new granddaughter. She has stolen our hearts! My daughter reads your blog so I cant tell you what we are giving her but the best present of all will be spending it together!
Ashley 12.04.2012
I bought my 11 year old daughter tickets for her and I to go see Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley in January when they are here in Columbia, SC. I am SO excited! I cannot wait to see her excitement when she opens the tickets! My daughter is so much fun to hang out with and I look forward to starting our own Mother/Daughter shopping traditions when she gets a little older. (Right now, shopping with her isn’t always the most fun time!)
Nicole 12.04.2012
I’m looking forward to a family vacation with my mom and sister, we decided to save and getaway this year rather than exchange gifts.
Laura 12.04.2012
I am most looking forward to giving my daughter a new pair of Nike running shoes and clothes so we can begin training for Track try outs next Spring! =)
Ellen S. 12.04.2012
I’m most looking forward to giving my little sister in law her gift! It’s a DIY kind of thing I’m making that I saw on Pinterest!
Rachelle 12.04.2012
I am most excited to not have work!!!! Free time is the best gift of all. Woohoo!
Kate 12.04.2012
I am looking forward to giving my sister a photography backdrop!
LISA C PARSONS 12.04.2012
I am giving away framed pics of family to my family.
Kristin Gauthier 12.04.2012
I am so excited for my daughter to get her dollhouse from Santa. She is 3 and so excited about Christmas this year and all of our family traditions. The only stranger she will talk to is Santa right now!
Lisa Kajihara 12.04.2012
I can’t wait to give my mom an overnight stay and dinner with all of her kids and grandkids. I think experience type gifts are way better than material gifts.
Michelle C 12.04.2012
I am most excited to give my grandma and grandpa a “certificate” for dinner over at my house of plank grilled salmon and sides. She has NEVER had fresh salmon before!
Mary B 12.04.2012
I am most looking forward to giving extra food and help to the local food pantry. God is good to us.
Carrie 12.04.2012
I am so excited to give my mom Lady Gaga tickets! We are 10 rows up from the stage!!!!
Terri 12.04.2012
What an awesome experience for you and your mom to share. She is a wonderful woman!!
The gift I am looking forward to giving is for my husband, Dean. It’s something that took me hours to put together. I can’t tell you what it is though because he sometimes reads your blog.
Melissa Johnson 12.04.2012
I”m looking forward to a quiet and low-key Christmas with my family. We’re exchanging small gifts that have meaning to us. As long as we’re together it’ll be my dream come true. I hope everyone has a wonderful CHRISTmas!
Kelly 12.04.2012
I am most excited about my just-turned-2 year old daughter being able to experience holiday traditions that I always looked forward to – baking cookies, walking the neighborhood to see Christmas lights and creating handmade gifts for family!
Kelley 12.04.2012
Can’t wait to give my Mom some new serving dishes!
Katy 12.04.2012
We got my daughter an American Girl vintage washday set for her dolls. It’s too cute and comes with a mini iron and ironing board. My son wanted the lego winter village complete with little Christmas lights. I can’t wait to help him put it together!
Kelli 12.04.2012
I am so pleased this year to be able to get my mom a nice gift! She does so much for all of us, but rarely does anything for herself. My siblings and I are pitching in to get her a brand new kitchen set – pots, pans, skillets, knives, etc. She loves to cook, but she has been using the same stuff for years and years, and it’s time for a replacement! Can’t wait to share some meals with the family cooked in her new set!
Lisa 12.04.2012
Can’t wait to give our little boy his personal workbench, just like Daddy’s!