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!
Geri Salat 12.04.2012
My husband and I are looking forward to re-doing our nine-year-old granddaughter’s bedroom when we visit her at Christmas. The comforter set, fancy pillow and curtains with valances are already under her tree in Virginia.
April 12.04.2012
I’m most excited about giving all of my nieces Philosophy 3-1 shower gels. I get this for them every year but in a different fun scent. They get excited as they like to guess which yummy scent it will be this year. This year I’m giving pink frosted animal cracker, bubble gum, black cherry italian soda, and señorita margarita!!
Rachael {SimplyFreshCooking} 12.04.2012
The only thing I give for Christmas gifts is cash to my nieces and nephews… easy!! :)
Sara 12.04.2012
I’m looking forward to giving one of my daughters a iPhone and the other an iPod!
Jill E. 12.04.2012
Very excited to give my new daughter-in-law and Givenchy robe from the 70’s that she spotted on Etsy!
Tre Versteeg 12.04.2012
I am so excited for my fiance to get a bedside table and lamp from none other than, IKEA! No more using the window frame as an ad-hoc table and no more walking in the dark for him once he gets up to turn the bedroom light off! Merry Christmas!
Liz H. 12.04.2012
I’m excited to give my grandma a brag book filled with pictures of my 2 boys. She’s always showing pictures to her friends and it will be nice for her to have a mini “book” to pull out of her purse :)
Carrie 12.04.2012
So excited to give my boyfriend the photobook I made him from some good memories this year!
Betsi 12.04.2012
I’m just excited for Christmas in general. From our families White Elephant tradition to a yummy dinner to the first Christmas with my boyfriend…the gifts aren’t the important part, spending time with those I love most is what matters.
rachel 12.04.2012
I’m excited to give my parents a photo album full of photos from our trip my husband and I took with them this past summer.
Sara 12.04.2012
So excited to give our nephews their gifts – Monster Trucks, Transformers, Batman/Spiderman coloring books – the looks on their faces when they open them is priceless!
Sara 12.04.2012
Oops – sorry about this double post!
Sara 12.04.2012
I am looking forward to giving our nephews their gifts – Monster Trucks, Transformers, Batman/Spiderman coloring books – the looks on their faces when they open them are priceless!
Melissa Daniels 12.04.2012
The gift I am most looking forward to is a new sister-in-law. My brother is getting married and my whole family is gaining a wonderful addition.
Shaina M. 12.04.2012
I am very excited to give my good friend his holiday tie! He is going to love it and wear it in to work all the time.
Amy 12.04.2012
I’m excited to give my mother-in-law Ticket to Ride: Nodric Country. She is 100% Norwegian and just visited Norway. I think she will get a kick out of this game.
Danielle 12.04.2012
I am having my fiance’s favorite watch refurb-ed as a surprise present! He is going to love it! I can’t wait!
Debbie 12.04.2012
I am excited to give many homemade gifts this year. All my girls will be getting spa towels with homemade bath salts, scrubs and bubble bath mixes! I sure hope they enjoy them and think of their mom each time they use them!
Griselda 12.04.2012
Our annal toy donation to the Marine Corps Toys-for-Tots Drive, are the gifts I look forward to giving most each year. It warms our hearts and puts us in the Christmas spirit. Semper Fi… Thank you, Marines!
Cristy R 12.04.2012
What a great giveaway!! What I’m most looking forward to giving this Christmas is gifts to my kids’ teachers. I found some really fabulous things on etsy that I have no doubt they will each wear and love. And they are so great–they deserve the best of everything for all they do!
Maren 12.04.2012
I am most excited to give my two year old a little kitchen.