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!
Cathy 12.03.2012
I am excited to give some local gourmet chocolate to my family. Chocolate Decadence has a nice variety of sugar free choc. also. My 16 year old niece went a year without choc. after being diagnosed with JDiabetes, and she adored the piece of sugar free choc. I sent her for her birthday last month.
Jennifer 12.03.2012
I can’t wait for my 3 year old daughter to see her new bicycle on Christmas morning (Santa is bringing a Disney Princess bike; she sat on his lap and asked him for one). The best part of Christmas is seeing the joy on my kids’ faces.
Cheryl Inga 12.03.2012
I’m looking forward to giving the requested baskets of homemade cookies and candies to my friends and family members that don’t bake.
Ann 12.03.2012
Your 15 minute puppy chow to my co-workers!!
Chelsea Z 12.03.2012
I am looking forward to giving away home-made aprons!
Brandy T. 12.03.2012
I can’t wait to give my boyfriend the new electric/acoustic guitar he’s been wanting for months! I’ve been wanting to get my mom a Keurig, we’ll see what happens there lol.
Amanda Estroff 12.03.2012
The gift I’m looking forward to giving this year is to my parents from both my brother and myself. We are getting a family portrait package of all the grandkids for them :)
Katie 12.03.2012
I am looking forward to giving my mom this dress from Anthropologie that she has been eyeing.
Christina 12.03.2012
My kids made a remembrance montage of my dad in his Army uniform (he’s a WWII vet) to give to my mom. I’m looking forward to seeing her face when she opens it. And when she finds out her grandkids made it, grab the box of kleenex!
tara jersey 12.03.2012
I am definitely looking forward to giving my father his gift. My siblings and i bought him a new leather recliner and he has NO idea!!! He does so much for my brother, sister and i that this is the least we can do. He is recently retired and our mother got rid of his favorite chair and deserves something bigger and better. He asks for nothing so this will be the best gift ever!!!
Sheila Melle 12.03.2012
I am looking forward to giving my mom a day of pampering with me! Mani/pedi, lunch & a movie just the two of us & maybe my nieces too. Can’t wait!
Teri Pastorino 12.03.2012
I am most excited to give kids this wii thing they have been wanting. i would say what but i don’t really understand what it is. LOL
thatShortchick 12.03.2012
I’m most looking forward to a low-key Christmas Day breakfast/brunch with my parents.
Miriam 12.03.2012
I am most excited to take my baby sister to Disney! It will be her first time there.
Katie 12.03.2012
A necklace from Etsy for my little sis.
Alaina @ Fabtastic Eats 12.03.2012
Im looking forward to giving a really heartfelt gift to my fiance this year..usually we go for practical or things we want..but this year, I thought Id give him something more thoughtful!
Allison 12.03.2012
I’m excited to give our annual photo calendar to my parents and grandmother. They love the pictures and it’s so easy to put together!
Hayley 12.03.2012
I am looking forward to my son’s first Christmas and giving him his first ornament and a personalized name puzzle just like one I had growing up!
Kim 12.03.2012
I am making my nieces a 12 days of christmas gift with a story and candy for each day! Gotta love pinterest :)
Angela Butler 12.03.2012
We are getting our son an iPod touch and I cannot wait to see his reaction!