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!
ann 12.04.2012
The gift I am excited about giving is a subscription to ESPN Magazine to my motherinlaw, yes, I said my MIL! She will love it!!!
Lindsay B 12.04.2012
I am so looking forward to some pay it forwards. Random gifts to people you don’t know, it’s really just the best feeling doing something kind for others!
Susie 12.04.2012
I’m looking forward to giving my husband whatever he wants. Now I just have to get him to tell me what that is.
Heidi 12.04.2012
I’m looking forward to giving the women in my life homemade lip balm and vanilla extract!
Jess 12.04.2012
I made stocking this year for my family. Each one is personalized and special for each of them. I a newbie sewer so this was an accomplishment for me in which I hope they love and enjoy each year! :)
Sandra 12.04.2012
I am looking forward to giving my one year old brother his toys just so I can see his little eyes light up and his chubby little cheeks at full force when he smiles :)
I am also looking forward to giving Barbie Dolls to these two little girls I’ve adopted for Christmas :) I hope to bring joy to them and their family.
Happy Holidays :)
Kristi 12.04.2012
I can’t wait to see my niece open her custom ABC book.
Eva @ Eva Bakes 12.04.2012
I am looking forward to giving my sister-in-law a new handbag. I hope she isn’t reading this right now!
Elisabeth 12.04.2012
I’m looking forward to giving my 3.5-year-old Candyland. :)
Meredith 12.04.2012
I am so excited to give my soon to be mother-in-law a wine fridge! She has been wanting one for so long and her husband always complains how she has too much wine stock piled in their refrigerator so I can’t wait to give this to her!! :)
Kacie 12.04.2012
I am most excited to give my husband a tool set he has been eyeing for awhile!
Grace Straus 12.04.2012
This is going to sound completely cliché but the only thing I honestly want is for my family to be together and healthy. I have a younger brother who has a rare genetic disability and it’s so rare that we don’t know his life expectancy. We are just taking it one year at a time. So, this Christmas, that is what I would love!
Alison 12.04.2012
A Kitchen Aid Mixer to my mom, she deserves only the best!!
Alexandra 12.04.2012
I am excited to give my husband something special this Christmas—just havent figured out what yet haha
Allison Miller 12.04.2012
I am most excited to give my grandma her gift! I’m taking her to the Nutcracker Ballet!!
Allison 12.04.2012
We are stocking up on a mini library of books for my niece and nephew. Loking forward to giving the books and reading a few to them as well. Half-price books here we come!
Ali 12.04.2012
Looks like you had a GREAT weekend! I secretly (or not so much) love Friday’s too :)
That peppermint mocha combination in the Keurig sounds awesome.
Heidi Pries 12.04.2012
I cannot wait to give my dad his new smoker for Christmas!!!
Julie 12.04.2012
I picked out gifts for family and friends from Heifer International this year. Honeybees, flocks, pigs . . . I can hardly wait to have them open the envelopes!
Michele Lose 12.04.2012
I am looking forward to giving everyone their presents this year as I look forward to it every year. My favorite part of the Holiday is spending time with all of my family in one place :) Hope you have a wonderful Christmas !!