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!
Kris 12.03.2012
I’m looking forward to spoiling our baby boy for his first Christmas. I’m also looking forward to doing “12 days of Christmas” for my hubby.
Lynne 12.03.2012
I am most excited to give my Pop-Pop a new camouflage West Virginia University hat. I gave him a plain WVU hat a few years ago, and he wears the hat every day that WVU plays football and basketball. It’s about time for an upgrade!
Anita Stafford 12.03.2012
I’m excited to give my husband a light for the grill so he doesn’t have to use a flashlight to see if the steak is done!
Nicole 12.03.2012
I am looking forward to giving my nephew his gift. Nothing like seeing a toddler light up with new toys!
Danielle D. 12.03.2012
I’m looking forward to giving my adorable little nieces their presents because they always get so excited!
Michelle 12.03.2012
I got a set of custom coasters from etsy for my newlywed brother. Each coaster has a map, one for where he’s from, where she’s from, where they met, & where they married.
Kristin 12.03.2012
I’m excited to give my boys a joyful Christmas that’s in our budget!
Laura A Lambrecht 12.03.2012
A LeapPad2 for my first (and only) grandson!
Madge 12.03.2012
The hot chocolate this machine makes is amazing. I can’t drink most hot chocolate because it is to sweet and to thick. This is so right…..love it!
Jenny Woolums 12.03.2012
The gift I’m most excited about giving this year is revealing the gender of our baby to our families! A Keurig will come in handy in the next few months ;)
Melanie 12.03.2012
I am looking forward to giving my fiance a new mug and coffee. Coffee is his new addiction:l
Melissa 12.03.2012
I’m most looking forward to new boots!
Sara 12.03.2012
I am looking forward to giving my dad a brand new video camera!
Jamie 12.03.2012
I’m excited to give my grandparents a picture of all of their grandchildren we took on this Thanksgiving. It has been over 5 years since they have had all of their grandchildren together at the same time!
Misty Simms 12.03.2012
My sister recently got married so I made coasters for her and my mom with candid pictures from the wedding day. I can’t wait to see their faces!
Stephanie Jeffreys 12.03.2012
I am most excited to give my family members the hand embroidered towels and pillow cases I have been working on all year!
Heather 12.03.2012
I’m most excited for my parents gifts. All things that they will be able to use on their vacation in the spring!
Jackie 12.03.2012
I’m looking forward to giving my Pollyanna gift at my annual girls christmas party! I was very clevar this year!
Megan S. 12.03.2012
I’m most looking forward to a polar heart rate monitor I had picked out but I know I’ll be unwrapping on Christmas :)
Elyssa 12.03.2012
I’m excited to give a gift to my boyfriend this year – our first Christmas together! I’m pretty confident in what I picked out for him :)
About the boots – I have Sorel Caribous, and they took a while to break in. I put bandages on my heels the first two or so weeks that I wore them. (But they’re wonderful boots! I live in the U.P. and definitely need them to get through the winter!)