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!
Tessa @ Amazing Asset 12.03.2012
I am most excited about my family (mom, me and other brother!) pooling our money to give my older brother a new laptop! He lives out in LA and unfortunately someone broke into his car via smashing the passenger side window and stole his computer :( He is having some financial issues as it is and can’t really afford the new laptop he needs… hence family coming in to help him out :) I know he will love it
Jess @ Spool and Spoon 12.03.2012
As silly as it is, i’m really looking forward to surprising my husband with some of his favorite toys from the 80s and 90s that I tracked down on Ebay. Nothing big or anything but I know he’ll be thrilled
mary s/ne 12.03.2012
a beach towel for my birthday vacation.
Kimberly Berry 12.03.2012
I am excited about my daughters gifts this year since she actually sat on Santa’s lap and told him what she wanted. It will be so much fun :)
Traci Evett 12.03.2012
I am looking forward to giving gifts to children in Haiti. Some people from our church went on a mission trip this summer and we are sending toys for those children.
Rhonda 12.03.2012
The gift I most look forward to giving this year is a very special book to my husband. Happy Holidays everyone!
Karie @ The HoB 12.03.2012
I cannot wait to give my boys their bikes :)
Jennifer 12.03.2012
my mom is in dire need of new knives. i am so excited to give her a new set.
Lindsay 12.03.2012
I am most excited to send a box full of craft supplies to my only nieces who are stationed thousands of miles away in Guam for the next 6 years. They only have a Kmart there with little craft supplies so I can’t wait to give them hours of fun and see all their beautiful creations!
Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!
Denise 12.03.2012
I am looking forward to giving gifts for an anonymous needy family in our community.
Karen Suen 12.03.2012
I love Keurig
Karen
Ed 12.03.2012
Wow I would love to win this!
Ali 12.03.2012
I am excited to give my mom patio furniture that she really wants:)
Hillary 12.03.2012
I’m most excited to give my mom a few gift cards to spend on herself. She doesn’t get to splurge a lot, and I think giving someone an excuse to is perfect :)
Lindsey 12.03.2012
This year I can’t wait to give my nephew a chemistry set! I’m a biologist so I’m psyched he loves science!
nicky 12.03.2012
I’m excited to see my kids faces when they see “Elfie” (Elf on the Shelf) brought them new pjs while they were at Christmas Eve mass….again! I know, kind of silly, but they just thought it was SO cool how he did that while they were at church last year!! “How did he do that?!”
Jack 12.03.2012
My mom will hide “I love you” notes throughout a house when she visits, and we will run across them for weeks afterwards. In my version, I hide cash in the pockets of out-of-season jackets, or in tackleboxes and picnic baskets that won’t be used for months, or with the tire iron to counterbalance the fact that you need to use the tire iron. Unexpected little hidden treasures to be found over time.
Jen 12.03.2012
I am most looking forward to giving all of the grandparents handprint canvases that my son (2) and I worked on this weekend.
Susan Herrin 12.03.2012
I’m excited about spending time with my grandchildren as they open their gifts
Ashley 12.03.2012
I am most excited to give my Dad the “perfect” pair of jeans…making sure he’s in style!!