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!
Gabby 12.03.2012
I am most excited to spend time with loved ones!
Kelly 12.03.2012
I have a three-year-old and this is the first Christmas she really understands it all. She told Santa she wanted accessories for her Dora dollhouse…which they no longer make. Well, Santa did not want to disappoint so a battle on Ebay took place. The item was won in the last two seconds of the auction and I can’t wait to see her face! Way to go, Santa!
Cara 12.03.2012
I am so excited to give my parents a weekend away because they deserve it so much!
Katie 12.03.2012
I’m excited to give my twin nephews some Transformers and Tonka trucks :) :)
Emily 12.03.2012
This month we moved out of state and we couldn’t move our elderly dog with us. That dog was my hubby’s baby, so for xmas I am getting him a custom made keychain molded from the dog’s nose. A little piece of his baby.
katie 12.03.2012
I am looking forward to giving my husband a print of Yankee stadium that he has been looking for and can’t seemto find on his own!
Emily R. 12.03.2012
I am so excited to get my husband some vintage records for the record player he just bought!
Erin 12.03.2012
I’m excited to give my parents an iPad. :)
Sue 12.03.2012
I can hardly wait to give my granddaughter her own tablet so I can finally get mine back!
Angela 12.03.2012
An iPhone for my sister!
Aimee Crow 12.03.2012
I am excited to see my 4 year olds face on Christmas when she opens the gift she has been talking about for months now….the Dora doll that does gymnastics.
Alyssa 12.03.2012
I’m looking forward to giving out homemade baked goods this season!
Angela Ten Clay 12.03.2012
My sister and I do an exchange each year, and I can’t wait to surprise her with her gifts this year!
Sue Gerth 12.03.2012
I always, always love getting a Barnes & Noble gift card. I cannot get enough of them! But I must say this year I am most looking forward to a gift that came very unexpectedly: a quick trip to Las Vegas over New Year’s with my boyfriend. It will be much appreciated and spending time together away from everyday stuff will be wonderful.
Natalie Jones 12.03.2012
I am excited to give my boys their first bicycle!
Sarah 12.03.2012
I can’t wait to give gifts that give back!!
Ann 12.03.2012
I got my husband some Templeton Rye. I told him our local BevMo here in CA have been out for months. Can’t wait to see his face when he opens it! :)
Jessie 12.03.2012
I’m excited to give my beer-loving dad some local Chicago beers that he can’t gt back in Texas!!
Caitlin 12.03.2012
I am most excited to give my mom the family photo shoot she has been asking for for the last 4 years
Dana 12.03.2012
I am looking forward to giving my mom some cool cooking gadgets!