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!
Jessica 12.03.2012
I am so looking forward to surprising my husband with his first cruise this Christmas!
Jacque 12.03.2012
Can’t wait to give my little brother a cheese board identical to the one I have that he’s envied for years!
Jenni R 12.03.2012
I’m looking forward to giving my brand new Mommy friend, hand knit booties for her baby girl.
SherryC 12.03.2012
My son wants the Blue Bird Passenger train set. He’s going to be sooo excited.
Sarah 12.03.2012
I am excited about giving my husband a subway art about the University of Arizona for his “man cave” that I found on One Kings Lane. Love your blog, Kristin!
Joanna 12.03.2012
I am looking forward to giving my nieces their gifts. I am making each of them crochet crowns and then I am going to add all kinds of little sparkles. I also have a t-shirt that says Princess in training on it. I love their faces when they open gifts. It just makes me smile.
Kristen 12.03.2012
I am most looking forward to going to the lighting of the National Christmas Tree in DC on Thursday! I have been trying to win tickets for years and am finally able to go this year.
I am also looking forward to having a big chunk of my out of town family here for Christmas – grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, oh my!
Jessie 12.03.2012
Excited to give my Dad an iPad mini!
Erin 12.03.2012
Im looking forward to giving my fiance 12 days of Christmas presents :)
Lacey Bean 12.03.2012
I’m most looking forward to giving my daughter her first Christmas/Hanukkah gifts! Granted she’ll be just 8 months old and will probably enjoy the boxes/wrapping paper more than anything, but I can’t wait!
Lyndsay 12.03.2012
“Choo-choos” are currently my 1 year old son’s favorite thing, so I can’t wait to give him a wooden train set.
Christine 12.03.2012
Love your blog!! I’m most looking forward to giving my boyfriend his gift this year. His birthday is three days after christmas, so I got him a combined gift of a weekend away at a bed and breakfast, skiing which we’ve never done together!! It’s a total surprise – can’t wait to see his face :-)
MaryB 12.03.2012
I am most looking forward to giving our dear friends a KEURIG!
Caroline A 12.03.2012
I am most looking forward to a vacation with my family– no presents this year!
Eric 12.03.2012
I am most looking forward to giving the gift of time, but volunteering at the local soup kitchen.
Kim @ Wonderings 12.03.2012
A photo book of our family vacation to my inlaws!
Hilary 12.03.2012
I am most looking forward to giving my fiance our upgraded plane tickets for when we go to Scotland in March!
Abbie 12.03.2012
I am most looking forward to giving my sister her boots that she casually mentioned she wanted a month ago!
Amanda K 12.03.2012
A play kitchen for my daughter…I really hopes she loves it.
Danielle A 12.03.2012
I am looking forward to giving my mom a spa gift certificate! she deserves a relaxing day