Ikea Haul- That Place Is Like Heaven On Earth

    Some of you may know that I have to live through the tragic hardship that is living in a city with no Ikea. It’s tough, but the support group meetings really help. A few weekends ago I went home to Tampa, a civilized city equipped with this Swedish Heaven. Now, I’m always up for a trip to Ikea. 30 Rock really loses me as a viewer when they talk about the dangers of being lost and getting into a fight with your significant other in the labrinth of Ikea’s hallowed halls. I love it! It’s a great escape and kind of reminds me of an Ikea “Dream Home” Pinterest board come to life.

 

    Obviously I couldn’t walk out empty handed. Here is what I managed to snag before the boyfriend started ripping me away from the best place on Earth…

 

 

(Lack side table on casters- $34.99 a piece)

 

    We’ve been thinking about getting a new coffee table for a while now. Our old table felt really cheap and flimsy (it was from Walmart). We know we aren’t going to be in this apartment forever so, we wanted something that worked for us now but would also work in future apartments. Even though these are actually side tables, we put them together when we want a coffee table look, then we can pull them apart and roll them to use wherever we’re sitting! Ever get annoying that your coffee table really only works for one couch, and not the other? Yea, that was our problem and these babies were the perfect solution.

 

    This awesome hanging lantern was super cheap (I think around $15 for the lantern and the chord) and exactly what I was looking for! Our living area is rectangle shaped with the kitchen at one end, some space for kitchen bar stools, living room and a solarium where the windows are located. Lighting is an issue. We have the kitchen lights and lamps at the far end of the living room. That lead to this no mans land area where both lights reached but it just wasn’t bright enough. One of these great lanterns was the perfect solution.

 

 

    I think it’s safe to say that I am OBSESSED with this mirror. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it. As you can see, I have a lot of jewelry (this isn’t even all of it) and I’m always looking for a good way to store it. This mirror is similar to the simple ones you can get from Walmart or Target for about $10-$15 but it’s longer and has a better quality frame around it. You have the option to hang it statically, like a normal mirror, or to use “L” shaped hinges. These let it swing out to show the wall behind the mirror. It comes with the two small metal bars on the back. I used it to hang my bracelets but you could use the small “s” shaped hooks to hang more necklaces or other types of accessories. I just used simple, clear thumbtacks to hangs my necklaces on the wall behind the mirror. Yea, this is basically the most amazing home good I have ever purchased. (Stave Mirror $39.99)

 

    All in all, it was a very successful trip! Although I think my boyfriend may never allow me in an Ikea again for fear of me trying to live there forever. Come on, you would live in those “My 840 square foot home”s too!

 

    What are some of your favorite Ikea scores?