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!
Meredith 12.04.2012
I haven’t bought a gift yet- I’m waiting on my dearly beloved’s christmas lists. I just can NOT do Christmas shopping semi-responsibly without lists. However, I just love giving gifts to my family and particularly when i find something that just screams them. So far, my top gift is for a friend- it’s a special coffee mug with a sweet saying on it and in her fav color. I’m going to add in some flavored coffee for her to brew too! Just as soon as i find a local place that sells flavored coffee. I had no idea it could be this difficult!?!?!?!
Harriet 12.04.2012
I am so excited to give my 15 year old daughter her Christmas gift which is a snowboard and boots. She has been begging for them since last winter and I keep telling her no way so she is going to be very surprised and excited. Can’t wait to see her on the slopes!
Raeann Frye 12.04.2012
I cannot wait to give my boyfriends daughter her Kindle for Christmas. I have a feeling she is going to love it.
Felicia 12.04.2012
I am most looking forward to giving my boyfriend a plane ticket to Munich! I am studying in London and he is coming to visit so I bought him a ticket to the one place he has always wanted to go Munich!
Tracy 12.04.2012
I’m looking forward to giving my parents a KEURIG!!! I’d love to have one of my own!
Candie 12.04.2012
I am looking forward to seeing my daughter find that Santa has brought her a new princess bike!
Erica 12.04.2012
This year I’m most excited to surprise my husband with a new work bag that he has been coveting for MONTHS and refused to buy for himself. He deserves it – and this will be a total surprise for him (I am NEVER able to surprise him)! Oh and a strong 2nd place is a “fur” crazy-looking hat for my mom to wear to take the dog out in cold Iowa. It is a strange treat to watch someone open a box and immediately think it is some animal (twisted, I know).
Kristin B 12.04.2012
I am expecting our first baby in a matter of weeks so I am looking forward to giving birth as my present for my hubby! Nothing says “I love you” like pushing out a baby right?? :)
Megan 12.04.2012
Looks like you had a fantastic trip. Can’t go wrong at the Mall of America!!!
I can’t wait to give my husband a custom sign and coasters for the bar that he’s building in our basement. Should be just the thing to keep him motivated.
Laura 12.04.2012
I am most looking forward to giving my boyfriend a GoPro camera— It’s a waterproof, shock proof camera that you can strap to yourself or your equipment when you’re doing sports or whatever! I’ve never EVER been a black friday shopper, but ventured out this year and stumbled across one for half price! I couldn’t resist!
Jamie S 12.04.2012
I am most looking forward to giving my son some board games made for his age! (3 yrs old) His father and I, and all of our family LOVE playing cards and board games, so we are ready to get his passion for it started as well.
Beverly 12.04.2012
Loved reading about your shopping trip!! So nice to be able to spend quality time like that with your mom. I hope to have that type of relationship with my daughter some day.
As for the entry for the give-away — I am most looking forward to giving “Just Dance 4” to my kids. It’s a combined gift for the Wii. Talk about some good family time!! I cannot wait to show them my moves. Ha!
Cheri K 12.04.2012
I am excited about giving my sister this ceramic elephant that I found months ago. I wanted to just give it to her everytime I see her but I have been forcing myself to wait until Christmas.
Meredith 12.04.2012
I am most looking forward to giving my mom’s boyfriend a new pair of sneakers. I know it might sound boring, but he has been wearing the same pair for as long as I can remember and they are so worn out! My mom can’t wait for Christmas so she can finally throw the old pair out :)
Megan 12.04.2012
I have the Joan of Acadia boots and you’re right, they aren’t super comfortable. For me it doesn’t matter because when I wear them it isn’t for very long. I wouldn’t say that they break in but I find that they bother me much less now than they did at first!
Nicole R 12.04.2012
I cannot wait to give my b/f his new Kindle! Although I’m dying to keep it for myself! :)
April Brown 12.04.2012
I am most excited to give my husband his annual Christmas Ornament! It may sound silly but he has been in Nursing School for the past 3 years and I have been the only one working in our home. So for the past 3 years we have not been able to buy each other anything else. We started a tradition when we got married that our Christmas tree would be decorated only in ornaments that we got while on a trip or one we get each other that symbolizes how our year has been. So every year we can see just how blessed we have been through the years and remember all our fun times. Even though we have had no gifts under the tree, we are blessed to know the best gift of all time, JESUS!
Erin Eichten 12.04.2012
My sister’s favorite movie is Elf, and I am surprising her with tickets to see Elf: The Musical at the Ordway in St. Paul!! She is going to totally freak :)
Lora Baumann 12.04.2012
So far, I am most excited to give my two daughters each a pair of Tom’s shoes!!
Rachel D 12.04.2012
The gift that I am most excited about giving this season, is the gift of my boyfriend and I traveling home, from New York to Mississippi, to surprise his family that we haven’t seen in over a year!! We plan to spend our time with them this season.