Minnie Trip: Entry 6: the one where she returns home

We got to Fargo and had 2.5 hours to do as we pleased. I took the drop off at Wal-Mart and hiked it over to the liquor store on the same parking lot to pick up my two bottles of wine. I was hoping to get another bottle of J wine but settled instead for Cupcake (it's not only cutely named but tasty too) and a German Riesling that I picked purely for the label--Fünf 5. Fun and my lucky number, how perfect for upcoming birthday celebrating.

From there I carted my bag of liquor to Kohl's and then to the mall. After buying my brown printed skirt and my creamy white skirt at the MOA I had spent the rest of the weekend looking for white or cream coloured opaque tights. At the MOA the best I could do was some cream, polka-dotted nylons. At the mall in little ol' Fargo I found tights in every store I popped into. I bought them all which means I came home with about $25 worth of tights in various shades of beige.




Before heading home Amara and I got someone to snap this picture of us. Notice we are sporting the same t-shirts. These were $5 specials at Old Navy. It was Amara's idea for us to pick out identical items as mementos of the trip. The shirts say Hope in sparkly lettering and the O is made to look like a diamond ring.


 

For the ride home Amara and I snacked on the second bottle of $4.50 wine, $3.50 cheese from Ikea and some Naan bread and olive hummus. The border was mostly uneventful. I claimed $409.31 and passed. The second bus in our convoy had some problems though that delayed us a bit.

And now I am home. I loved this trip. I remember feeling so happy and relaxed (the mojitos may have helped, sure). I purposely ate my steak dinner slowly on Saturday night to help extend the evening a bit more. I am glad I paused to take those few pictures of holiday decorations in the mall, but I wish I'd stopped to enjoy the atmosphere a little longer. I remember at one point dodging shoppers on my way to Lady Footlocker, just past Godiva Chocolate where I'd sampled something scrumptious, and hearing a beautiful rendition of Ave Maria--one of my very favourite Christmas songs--and wishing I could stop to catch the singer perform on the stage a level below. Did anybody else realize how fortunate they were to be in the mall that day and have the opportunity to take in the sights and sounds of the season? I have most of my Christmas shopping done now, my baking done, perhaps that means I will get to pause, listen and see the season unwrap here at home. I hope so.

Minnie Trip: Entry 5: the one where she leaves America Shopping Mecca

Shhh! I think I'm stealing the bus driver's Internet. The disclaimer when I signed in said he was not to use this while driving the bus. I hope there isn't some tracking thing that will print out a report when he gets home that will tell his boss he was surfing and driving. He's got two little kids. I'd feel bad.

So we've left the hotel and are now embarking on a five hour trip (four? Amara and I can't agree. This is our first disagreement of the weekend. It was bound to happen) to Fargo where we will be let out to do--get this--more shopping. My grand total is already $459. Amara said she's going to make me eat some of my receipts (the limit is $400 for a weekend). Amara never claims her full amount and they still let her into the country.

We ended up at the back of the bus this time with the REAL trucker ladies. Woo-boy, when they aren't swearing and over-sharing they're whispering--how high school. (I know, that was so petty of me, I'm sorry Santa, I've been sleeping in a strange bed and shopping all weekend, a wee bit edgy.)

Minnie Trip: Entry 4: The one where she goes to the biggest mall in America and buys a lot

When Amara and I were talking about the itinerary for this trip we didn't think we'd spend much time at the mall. I figured I'd do all my shopping at the outlet shops and would have no money left for full-priced mall purchases. WRONG-OH! Um, it's Black Friday weekend, it's America, and specifically it's Minnesota, the land of zero sales tax on clothing, so yes, Jillian, there is a Santa Claus at the Mall of America. You know what else was a treat? Walking around sans jacket. Go figure, just eight hours south and you can find near tropical temperatures. Let me give you a visual of what we left behind in Winnipeg:



Today's high in Minneapolis was -3 Celsius.


Here is the Mall of America dressed up for the holidays. I've seen it on TV and always wanted to see it in person. This was a dream come true! Happy last days of 28 to me!





And here is Amara enjoying her custom made Freeziac frozen yogurt sundae, or as we called it, lunch.




Here are my treasures. Two skirts for about $30 a piece, a pair of $25 shoes, and yes, no trip to America would be complete without something from Abercrombie. Mmm.



Here's a better look at the cute white skirt and white nylons I picked up. Also included is the black sparkly sweater tank I got at the Gap outlet yesterday.



And another pair of runners. These are by Aisics. They were on sale for $60 cheaper than I could ever get them at home so I said yes.



After the day at the mall and a trip through Ikea, we came back to the room, cracked open a bottle of $4 wine and package $3.50 Ikea cheese (super yum).



We dined at the Outback restaurant attached to the hotel. Amara ordered another big beer.



I ordered another mojito. Today's was tastier than yesterday's.



After dinner we dressed down in our jeans and t-shirts again and hiked over to Wal-Mart where I found the birthday cakes I wish I could cart home and toss into the freezer until Sunday (my birthday).

Minnie Trip: Entry 3. The one where she goes to a big outlet mall but only spends $155

First day of shopping. I was left feeling uninspired mostly, but I did pick up a few things I had on my wish list. My first purchase? Underwear. How guy-ish of me.



At the Adidas store I found the runners I needed along with a new workout top and the traditional Adidas sports bra. I am Sporty Spice for a cool $77.



And at Nine West Amara gave me a nudge to go ahead and buy these black boots for $53. I just realized now that I forgot to capture a photo of the sparkly sweater/tank I picked up at the Gap. It wasn't a bargain, but it looked good.

For dinner we went to Chevys for Mexican. Yum! Amara and I ordered drinks and got ID'd.

Here's Amara and the $4.50 beer that was the size of her head:



And here's me and my not so bargain-priced mojito:




Okay, my eyes are drying up like raisins so that's all I'm posting on today.

Minnie Trip: Entry 2. The one where she's had 4 hours of sleep

3:59 a.m. That's what the clock read when Amara and I got into our room. We'd spent 12 hours on the bus.

I spent Wednesday night at my parents' so that when I was done work for the day on Thursday they could pick me up with all my luggage already loaded. When I packed on Wednesday I failed to recognize that my last workday for the week would only feel like Friday, but not actually be Friday--casual day. I got dressed in my jeans and Abercrombie t-shirt at six a.m. and then realized my error. (My mom is shaking her head right now and saying,"you little kapusta".) What were my options? Driving to my house to pick up dress pants was out--the city was under a fresh dumping of snow. Cruise into the office in my denim and shrug it off as a minor oops? Not cool on a day when I had a 10 a.m. with the manager of HR. I opened up the folding door on my old bedroom closet and browsed options there--my college grad dress? My mom's winter formal pants? My sister's first lab coat? I scored when I landed on a mandarin style satin dress--two sizes two big for me, but passable. I'd packed some black heels for the trip that would go with. I wore the jeans and t-shirt to catch the bus but did a quick change in the bathroom when I got to the office. No one was any the wiser.

In a few minutes now Amara and I will join the rest of the ladies back on that damn bus and take the 40 minute or so trip to the outlet mall. We're kind of scared. The parking lots as we drove by them at 3:30 this morning were packed like it was a Saturday afternoon. Are the stores even going to have anything left for us? Will report to you later. Wish me luck!

Minnie Trip: Entry 1

 It’s ten pm*. We are on the bus, just past Grand Forks and due to arrive at the hotel at four am. Just thinking about that makes me cranky so let’s move on. In about an hour we’ll stop in Fargo at a truck stop for a gas and go—the third stop of the evening already. I’m pretty sure there will be free Wi-Fi which will allow me to post this entry.

Amara and I have cracked open a bottle of wine and snacked on cheese and chocolate and have not yet run out of topics of conversation.

Tomorrow the bus will leave at 10 am for the outlet mall. We’ll have about six hours there—not enough for me, but Amara is confident we can do it. I need new runners, a brown skirt and Christmas presents for the family. People would be disappointed if I did not bring home at least one pair of shoes so I am hoping Nine West has something.

We are on the old people bus. Wow. These ladies don’t get out much. They talk like truckers when away from the hubbies.

*It's 11:26. We got off at the trucker stop so the driver could gas up. People were instructed to grab food and go, but most people are pretty leisurely. I anticipate further delays. Boo. 

Point me to the shoe sales

Over the river and thru the woods to the Minneapolis area I go...

I've got my clothes packed, my American money bought and snacks for the ride. Tomorrow my Fashionista Friend Amara and I are getting on a bus and travelling to America for the Good-Wooden Leg Ladies' Shopping Trip. Outlet Mall. Mall of America. Black Friday. Bring it on, America, show me your discounts.

I may not sleep tonight. I doubt I'll be able to sleep even on the 8+ hour bus ride. I'm bringing Mac and my unreliable camera in case I have the time and energy for some blogging updates on the super buys. Also, I may pretend it is my birthday on Saturday so I can get a free piece of cake when we go out for dinner. Let the countdown to 29 begin!

Fridge-worthy

Remember I said I was going to a painting class? I was supposed to paint this:



in 5.5 hours?

How do you think I did?

First of all, let me tell you the story. I got there and I was the only person to not have her own caddy of brushes. The instructor said not to worry, that I could borrow hers. She was a wonderful teacher. She was a restaurant owner by day--a Greek diner, and she had the heavy accent to match. During the class she went around to everyone to see how they were doing and help them out as needed. I needed her a lot. I haven't painted since junior high school. But she was very kind to me and patient. She praised my work and when she saw me sitting there, not sure what to do next, she'd say, "Jill, honey, I will be there in a minute". So with her help and my willingness to try, I ended up taking home this:




I'm so proud of myself!