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!
Jamie G 12.03.2012
I love IKEA! I can’t wait for the store to open in Kansas City. Minneapolis is such a jaunt from Omaha. My husband just ordered me those boots last week, I hope they do break in!
We are talking about getting our daughters a computer for Christmas. They will be surprised!
Sarah G 12.03.2012
I am excited to give the handmade gifts I made for my family! This is the first year I am doing mostly handmade so I am hoping they like them!
Michelle W 12.03.2012
I’m most excited to give my girls a set of oil pastels. They love to color and draw and to show them something new will hopefully excite them.
Merry Christmas!!
Jessica 12.03.2012
I haven’t bought a single present yet…but maybe the Keurig starter kit would help!! :)
Kelly 12.03.2012
I am most excited to give my boyfriend a photo album with tons of pictures of his family from holiday events from this past year!!
Elisabeth 12.03.2012
My son (4) is finally old enough to have his first handheld gaming device, hopefully so he will stop stealing my phone to play Angry Birds. I bought him a 3DS. He saw an ad for one in the paper today and said that he probably won’t get one because it is too ‘spensive, but mama got a good deal on black Friday!
Johanna 12.03.2012
I’m excited to give a gift in our ritual game of dirty santa, we typically find the most ridiculous thing we can get for the pile =)
Lindsey Gifford 12.03.2012
Wow. I thought it was ambitious to spend three hours at the local mall! I think you win this time!
Best present this year- going back to AZ for Christmas!
Becky 12.03.2012
I am looking forward to giving the gift of family this Christmas We are going home for Christmas, and it is a surprise :)
Bree 12.03.2012
I can’t wait to give my husband a stocking full of his favorite treats!
Juli 12.03.2012
I actually was drawn to this post because my brother and I are going to give our mom one of these Keurig minis! :)
Denise T 12.03.2012
I am pumped to give my sister her kind of new dining room table set for her new house. She moved them to my place during her big move and I refinished them and reupholstered the chairs. Its big surprise and I can’t wait.
Kristin 12.03.2012
I am most excited to give my friend an ice cube mold that makes shot glasses out of ice, along with a bottle of Jack Daniels to go with it
Kellie 12.03.2012
I’m giving a Keurig machine to my parents! They’ll love it, and I will love not going out for coffee every time I visit since they don’t currently make coffee daily. #addicted. Yes, love Chai kcups!
Diana 12.03.2012
We pulled tags off the tree at our local elementary school. I enjoyed shopping for a child’s tool set and singing puppy. I hope they enjoy them!
Rachel 12.03.2012
I’m looking forward to giving my boyfriend’s family crocheted potholders and towels :) They’re always cooking delicious food and giving them something they can use and that’s homemade seems is the perfect gift for them!
Dee Lynch 12.03.2012
I’m looking forward to giving my Mom a photobook of the grandkids.
Ann K 12.03.2012
I am making a cook book for my college daughter as she is missing our home recipes
Jen M. 12.03.2012
Hey Iowa Girl! Greetings from Shanghai, China! I love your blog. I am a school teacher in Shanghai and this year I’ve requested that the parents of my students give me Kiva Cards; Kiva (kiva.org) is an organization that gives small loans to individuals in impoverished areas; I am so excited about this, because it shows just how something small can make a huge difference!
Sarah H.P. 12.03.2012
I’m most looking forward to giving my husband some new DVD’s, books, and techie goodies!