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!
MaryG 12.03.2012
My middle school daughter is getting riding boots this Christmas – she’ll be so thrilled!
Kierstan @ Life {and running} in Iowa 12.03.2012
We gave the gift of a holiday party to all of our friends last night – it was a blast. Especially sending them home with little gifts of baked goods. So fun.
Ryann 12.03.2012
This year I’m most excited to give a gift to our “adopted” Head Start child! My employer’s goal is to give thirty-two local and low-income children a new coat, scarf, hat, pair of gloves, and book to read.
I volunteered to buy all of these items for a three year old girl named Olivia. We bought her a fabulous hot pink coat with matching purple polka dot accessories and a hard copy of “The Night Before Christmas”!
Virginia Wilson 12.03.2012
I’m looking forward to giving my dad his first Saints jersey! He’s been a long time fan, but never took the time to buy a real jersey. He just has tshirts.
Rachael 12.03.2012
I surprised my hubby with a full car detailing! He had no idea!
Kristy 12.03.2012
I am most looking forward to giving my parents tickets to a show – it will be nice to give them the gift of spending time together!
Kristin 12.03.2012
I am most looking forward to giving my mom the new wine fridge she has been wanting for some time. I know she will love it!
Diane 12.03.2012
Look most forward to giving the new outfit to the 16 yr old girl whose name we took from the giving tree! That’s the best.
Made the molten choc lava cakes Sat. night and hubby LOVED them! Me, too!
Beth 12.03.2012
I haven’t done any Christmas shopping yet, but I will be optimistic and say that I am looking forward to giving the awesome things I’ll find soon!
Kristen 12.03.2012
I’m excited to give my boyfriend a homemade gift. He loves the St. Louis Cardinals; basically, obsessed with them. I found a vintage pennant, and matted it in a white frame. it looks great, I can’t wait for him to open it!
Natasha 12.03.2012
The dinosaur blanket I made for my 4 yo nephew!
Jill 12.03.2012
I am most excited about giving my best friend this gorgeous set of champagne flutes- we were at a funky bar in New Orleans and she fell in love with the flutes they were using so i found a great deal on them online- She’s going to FREAK out!
Erika 12.03.2012
I am looking forward to giving my dad software to convert our family home videos from VHS to DVD to preserve those memories and so we can all have a copy!
Allison 12.03.2012
I’m super excited to give my parents apple TV! Thanks for the giveaway :)
Frankie O'Brien 12.03.2012
I am really excited to give my sisters their gifts!!
Erin 12.03.2012
Can’t wait to give my mom Birchbox!
Erin R 12.03.2012
I cannot wait to give my husband a canvas I had ordered.. it’s a picture from our honeymoon – hopefully it’ll be inspiration to plan another trip away soon!
Amy 12.03.2012
I’m looking forward to giving my husband the sound bar I bought him earlier this year. It’s been a hard one to deter him from buying for himself!
Julie 12.03.2012
I LOVE Fridays!! Was SO bummed when ours closed! Literally sat in the parking lot in disbelief like maybe the longer I sat there, they’d realize the error of their ways & open back up!
Heidi 12.03.2012
I am looking forward to giving my 99-year-old Grandmother some Florida grapefruits…because she says they remind her of all the years that she and my Grandfather spent the winters in Florida. They are like little bits of Florida sunshine delivered to my special Grandma.