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Life is too short to eat bad food! Sharing great recipes, farm life, stories and photography from our Northern California dairy farm.

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September 23, 2010

My Trip to Ikea

I think Wednesdays are my new favorite day.  Paige is now in preschool until 2:30 on Wednesdays and with Bryce going to school for a full day now, until 2:45, I have almost the entire day to myself!  No babysitters needed!  So what did I do on my very first Wednesday to myself?  Took a trip to Ikea.

But first, I must cross a bridge.  Is it just me that has a phobia of driving over bridges?  Okay, not just any bridge but the Richmond/San Rafael bridge in particular.  Every time I drive to the east bay, upon arriving at the bridge entrance, I think awful thoughts like what if the bridge collapses while I'm on it?  What if I'm in a accident and my vehicle is somehow launched over the side rail to the water below?  It's terrible, these thoughts I have.  I don't know if the reason behind my thoughts is that this bridge is a narrow two lane, double decker bridge or what?  The Golden Gate bridge certainly doesn't bring on thoughts like this for me.

So, if I want to go to Ikea, I must cross the bridge.....anything for shopping I guess.  Snapping photos of the bridge while driving across it actually helped my anxiety.  I know, I know, such a smart thing to do right?







Thirty minutes later I have reached my destination.

My goal was to find organization tools that would work for my home. 


I recycle most of my magazines but I do keep every single cooking magazine I have and right now they are stored in various stacks throughout my house.  This needs to change.


I searched, I found, I bought magazine holders.


I wanted to buy some of these, but I didn't.
















I did buy a few of these CD/DVD holders.  One for each of the kids for their story books on CD.  They were only $2.99 each!  What a deal!



I only go to Ikea once or twice a year and when I do venture across the bridge to go, I look through every section of the store.  You never know what great ideas you can pick up just by browsing.

Bedding section.


Lighting section.  Isn't this hanging light cool?  I think it's made out of bamboo or some sort of wood.








This I had never seen at Ikea before.  Cow hide rugs.  Yep, that's right, real cow hide.
The rugs are backed with a suede leather.



I kind of wanted one but believe it or not, they don't really go with the decor of our house.


Ikea is like a MAZE.  It took me a good 20 minutes to find my way out....no kidding!  Of course I believe it's designed this way purposely because you must walk through EVERY section of the store while following the arrows announcing Exit & Checkout.

Well their design plan worked because I left the store with a few items I wasn't planning on purchasing.  Like these neat little bead projects for the kids.  They're going to love creating different colored hearts and the watermelon could be a lemon or lime if one uses yellow or green beads.  How fun!


When I saw these, I HAD to buy them for the kids.  My kids love putting on puppet shows so I bought them each a package of 10 finger puppets for only $4.99.....that's 50 cents per puppet!


I finally found my way to the checkout counter, finger puppets in tow.


Back over the bridge again, the upper deck this time, which is even scarier than the bottom deck for me.

















But I made it.  With time to spare before pick up time at preschool.

Happy Thursday!
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9 comments:

Pat Tillett said...

I also have a little problem with bridges. Also tunnels...

My favorite thing at IKEA is those FUNKY little meatballs in the cafe...I don't know why, but I love them...

Nancy Grossi ~ Churned In Cali ~ The Wife of a Dairyman said...

Pat, I haven't tried the food at Ikea and I failed to mention that all I could smell while shopping was the delicious aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls. Maybe next time I'll give the food a try....they definitely had a ton of customers in the cafeteria.

Katie said...

Okay I want to see your IKEA purchases at home! And I never thought I was scared of driving across bridges but your pictures did freak me out a bit!

The Lucky Cowgirl said...

I hate that bridge. I think it's a combination of not being an ocean person and the city traffic and the thought, like you, of plunging off the side if I were to get in an accident in that traffic. My Stetson Man farms in Northern California so we sometimes take that dreaded bridge to get to the city and I just hate it. But Ikea is worth it! Good finds!

Ren- Lady Of The Arts said...

Mmm- Ikea meatballs! I love them.

Jenn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) said...

I've never been to Ikea being we don't have one close by, but I'm dying to visit one about 75 miles away! It's probably for the best that it is that far away; I can see myself becoming addicted, LOL.

Jenn

Debbie said...

Love your photos of the bridge! Grew up in Terra Linda and later, when living in Berkeley commuted to TL across that bridge every day! Once, during the bad winter storms of 1980/1981, I was the last car (a Rabbit) across the bridge before they closed it! Watched a truck blow over on its side – oh so scary. I, too, have always been intimidated by THAT bridge but could walk across the GG bridge every day! Now that I live in North Texas I soak up photos of home - thanks.
Debbie R.

Genesis said...

wow, i never considered magazine organizers. i should go see if walmart has some since we dont have an ikea.

Car Mama said...

I'm not a fan of the Richmond/San Rafael bridge or the Bay Bridge. Sort of like open-tread stairs for me -- I'm going to slip through! But I do love IKEA and need to get over there soon. Thanks for the photos to give me more incentive to get my walking shoes on and head over!