Saturday, October 15, 2016

The IKEA phenomenon & IKEA WOD





Photo source: House And Garden.





Going to IKEA is like coming home. I feel so comfortable there. I connect instantly. My Swedish roots makes me want to jump of joy. My heart skips a beat of pure happiness. I'm simply at home. I want to snuggle up in the beds and sofas (and sometimes I do and call a friend... totally bonkers, I know, but I just can't resist the urge of pretending I'm at home alone...). I want to indulge in dinner at the dinner set ups and craft away in their well organized craft rooms...

When living abroad, it is a blessing to live close to an IKEA. I go here when I have Swedish cravings. I go here when I am home sick. I go here when I want to reconnect with my own Swedish self. I go there to meet a friend.

It is surprising how a traditional shrimp sandwich with egg and mayonnaise can make me so happy, even if it is crappy compared to many I enjoy during my Swedish summer visits. How a coffee with a piece of Princess cake will make me feel SOOOO Swedish and all giggly inside. How the fabric with Scandinavian prints with influences from our folksy tradition can make me long for Swedish folk music, dance and anything homemade. Suddenly I want a rustic lodge home with lots of blankets, throws and cuddly fur to cuddle up into in front of a fire place.

IKEA is only 10 minutes away from where I live, still I don't visit that very often (what is often anyway?). Because it is SOOO popular and ALWAYS packed with people. And I'm not a big fan of crowds. But when facing a part in my life where I need to do some home make overs to really nest in this country where I now have lived for 9 years (!!! it is about time to put up roof lights and pictures on the walls. Seriously. What am I waiting for?), IKEA was my obvious choice of inspiration and shopping.

People (read male homo sapiens...) might not understand the joy and fulfillment a woman can feel by a visit to IKEA. But it is not just about having coffees, home decoration dreaming and spending unexpected cash coming home with a large blue IKEA bag full of - "nothing"??? Or in my eyes this "nothing" is a collection of SOOOO many essential things needed for our home, such as:

• New napkins with seasonal print - because it is only 1.50 USD - I take 4 packs!!!
• Candles - because we always need candles
• Maybe a fairy light to put up somewhere - because it is just sooo cute!
• A couple of new cushion covers - because it is a quick make over fix and so cheap!
• A smart organizing insert for a drawer - just because...
• Pot coasters - because one day I will crochet covers for them and give them away as gifts...
• A new whisk - no comment as we already have four...
• Some batteries - I mean the kids kind of EAT batteries in this house!!!
• A welcome rug for the entrance - can be the start of a much longed for hall make over... maybe...
• A flower with accompanied pot - always needed, will always die too...
• Some frames - because one day I WILL make that picture wall I see in every interior magazine
• Some gift bags, wrapping paper and fun party decorations - oh yes!
• A trash bin - because it was there. I stumbled over it on my IKEA stroll and I just remembered that I need one!
• A storage box for something... Or maybe two... Three... I'll take four. It is an even number. :)
• Some clever portable hooks - I promise they will make a huge difference somewhere in the house.
• Oh, and some pick and mix, cinnamon buns and Kalles Caviar - of course!

I mean, what can we do? Of course we need all these things. And everything is so cheap! And pretty! Until we reach the cash register and it chews up 200 dollars from your credit card. Well, many small ponds can create a big ocean. I don't mind an IKEA ocean. :) I'll dive in at any time!!!

And just to let you know. Even though my intention was to "look" at dressers for this particular visit, I did scrabble down some measurements to bring with me back home. The day after I did go back and did the IKEA stroll one more time, with blinders on, and I worked hard to pile up 13 big boxes of dresser pieces on my mega big trolley from 3 different loading zones a la "DIY"... And I did NOT buy anything else at this time (well, part from the hangers, rug-anti slip-mat, the new kitchen chair covers and some magazine collectors...!!!). I loaded my car - ALONE - I unloaded the car when hitting home - ALONE - and carried every single HEAVY box up the stairs. And afterwards, while sipping on a cold IKEA Pear drink at the kitchen table, wiping the sweat off my forehead, I thought to myself:

This was a hell of a WOD (workout of the day in CrossFit terms...). I'll call it the IKEA WOD. I walked 5000 steps through IKEA and up and down my stairs at home, the day before I walked another 3500 steps when taking measurements (huuhm...), I did at least 13 deep squats with 15 kilo weights and I feel like wonder woman after all that exercise. That, my friends, is a great workout. Never underestimate the fitness in an IKEA visit or purchase. Now time to assemble all those pieces... That will burn some serious brain calories I'm sure. Wish me luck. :)

Note: All photos taken with my iPhone if nothing else stated.




Kärlek
Annette


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26 comments :

  1. Your post re IKEA made me smile - so true of my visits! I have an IKEA dresser , bought many years ago now. My very best friend ( who died nearly three years ago now from ovarian cancer) was Danish - there is a lot of Scandinavian touches in my home. Love visits to IKEA. X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Anne
      Happy to hear this blog post made you smile. And thank you for sharing about your IKEA dresser. Every home needs a touch of Scandinavia, if so just a napkin or coffee mug. :)
      Thanks for visiting.
      Xxx

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  2. Ha ha, what a brilliant post! It's all so true. I too have had many an Ikea WOD lately and those other little things do just find a way of coming home with you too don't they? Thank you for a good giggle!

    S x

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    Replies
    1. Ha ha ha sweetie. Keep on doing those WODs and you will get in fabulous shape sooner than you think! Thanks Sandra.
      Xxx

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  3. The closest IKEA I have is 150 miles away :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is faaaaar away. You should write them and tell them to open up one more close to you. It is essential for a happy life. ;)\
      Xxx

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  4. Our closest IKEA is across our state. I think I'm happy about this! (or my checking account would be trembling!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, sometimes that is a good thing isn't it? If you don't have cookies at home in the cupboard you won't eat any. Right? Same thing if you don't have an IKEA nearby you won't spend money on it. :)
      Thanks for visiting.
      Xxx

      Delete
  5. IKEA is the best! Nothing else to say! The place and vibes just speak of home, family & friends! Thanks for the pics!

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  6. The closest Ikea to us is a four hour drive to Houston. The last time I went was with my husband's cousin. I thought she was going to chaperone my wallet and, evidently, she thought I was going to chaperone hers. The husbands got together after that trip and compared notes. We're not allowed to "chaperone" each other at Ikea any more, lol!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. :D :D :D

      If we only could hid the receipts. ;)
      Xxx

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    2. Indeed! I have fond memories of the days before there was such a thing as online banking. Now, all of our "misdeeds" can be be pulled up on a computer screen in a heartbeat, lol!

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  7. Oh what a lovely blogpost you've written about IKEA.
    I'm so lucky to have an IKEA in my hometown Zwolle.
    Every now and then I go there, and I'm coming home with all sorts of things just like you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jeanette
      Glad you liked it! We are lucky both you and me to be so close to IKEA stores. I knew I wasn't alone in the IKEA phenomenon... Comforting to know it is not only me coming home with bits and bobs.
      Xxx

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  8. That was so funny to read!!! Glad to hear you have a wee bit (a big wee bit) of sweeden so close. I think I may have to go for a visit some time soon, not to spend lots of money or anything but just for some christmas deco inspiration......!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! Christmas is up and running - full on. A little bit too early in my opinion, but always a delight to browse through that section just before the cash out. Enjoy!
      Xxx

      Delete
  9. I have this home coming feeling you describe also with other Scandinavian shops such as Sosterne Grene, Flying Tiger even though I'm not a Scandinavian girl. Haha.

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  10. Its a good job I don't drive, as our nearest Ikea is just 17 miles away... Who is in the photo with Sarah Jessica Parker please? It looks like John Cusack, but I don't think it can be...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi
      I think it is Mr Big form Sex in the city? Not sure... ;) Thanks for popping in today.
      Xxx
      Annette

      Delete
  11. Sounds like the best kind of workout! ; )) Sadly no Ikea near me. boo hoo But I do have the Raskog in turquoise in my craft room.(Mail order is a wonderful thing!) The sofa in the above photo looks just like mine except is denim blue. Love those removable slip covers.

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  12. Beautiful and heartwarming! :)

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  13. När jag bodde i London representerade IKEA Sverige på precis det sättet du beskriver! För mig blev det dock en dagsutflykt för det tog mig över 2 timmar att ta mig till IKEA-affären i London. Men vad ljuvligt det var att köpa svensk mat och insupa den SVENSKA andan; det var högtidsdagar när jag kunde ta mig dit!!!
    Kram och tack och lov för IKEA när man är svensk och bor utomlands!

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  14. Hi Annette, sorry I haven't been commenting lately had some major family issues going on over the last few months. So glad to read this post, my daughter would laugh so much at this!!! We always try not to spend too much on our Ikea visits but we always have a near heart attack when we get to the checkout!!! And of course we have to eat those gorgeous meatballs, so yummy. Hugs Julie

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Thank you so much for visiting my world. I love reading your comments and I do my utterly best to respond to questions and sweet messages. Thank you again for popping by.

Kärlek
Annette

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