I didn't know it was possible to love a store so much...but I've found out that it is possible. IKEA is my favorite store ever. Even more than PBTeen (Gasp! Did I just say that?! I still love PBTeen to death, though). I was already in love with IKEA before I had ever really visited it (I went once when I was maybe 5, but I don't really remember it), but from what I had seen on the website...Someone help me before I faint. That one fatefully wonderful time I went to their page online, I knew I was going to need therapy. 

So, can you imagine how excited I was when we pulled into the parking lot? I would've been jumping up and down if the seatbelt hadn't restrained me. Squeal!!! Seeing this picture makes my heart go pitter patter all over again (I told you I need therapy...)

This whole dining set - a table with four chairs - was only $99.99. $99.99! I almost bought it. Kind of. I wouldn't have known where to put it anyway, though.

I fell in love with this poster, even though I don't live or have any connections to New York (except for my dad's cousin that I hardly know). I loved everything about it...but I didn't dare look at the price. I didn't want to tempt myself even more, as I knew I didn't have room...sadly I can't find it online.

Does this lamp look familiar? I loved it on the website, but I wasn't sure if I liked it in real life...ah well.

They had the most amazing fabrics, really more pieces of art than fabric. I should have gotten some...I don't know what I was thinking.

Here's what I ended up getting, though...

I got two of the same tables, one is a nightstand and the other a coffee table. I also got a lamp...can you see it on top of the books? I love it.

My new nightstand is so much better than the one I had (above)...excuse the dust.

(My coffee table)

I also got some of the vases I was raving about :) 

On the website it said they were $1.99 each, but when I got to the store they were $2.99 each. It wasn't a big deal, so I picked up a couple. As I was checking out, I asked the cashier if the $1.99 was an online only special, or if the prices just got raised. I figured I didn't have anything to lose. She said yes, it was an online only special...oh well. 

But as she was finishing up scanning my items, she said "Well, I'm not supposed to, but I'm going to anyway." When she gave me the receipt, I saw that she had given me the vases for $1.99! I was totally fine with paying $2.99 - it is only a dollar extra - but it was so nice of her to do that.

It just goes to show...it never hurts to ask :)

I digress.

So the grand total for the 6 items? $32.41. Man. I couldn't get one of the tables for that little anywhere else.

I love IKEA.

-carlotta

I'm going to try to show you some of the things we did in Texas in pictures...

IKEA! It needs another post of its own :)

Lilly at the German Fest in her lederhosen and braids :)

Also at the German Fest...

We drove to Kemah...it was so pretty.

On the tram at NASA.

Moon rocks...It was pretty cool.

On the way back yesterday, we stopped at Dealey Plaza. 

I could have written a lot more and posted tons of pictures, but I didn't want to go overboard! :)

Posts will be back to normal now...

-carlotta

I thought I'd check in...we found internet access here...yay! There would've been pictures with this post, but I left my camera connector at home as I thought I wouldn't be able to blog...ah well.

We arrived safely yesterday after a 8 1/2 hour drive...Sarge came with us. I thought it would be the longest car ride of my life, but he was really, really good. I was very (pleasantly) surprised...

Today we went to IKEA! It was amazing, even though part of it was under construction. I probably would've gotten more, but there is only so much room in our car... Pictures of the things I got coming soon!

-carlotta

As you may or may not know, we're heading to where we used to live, near Houston, Texas, on Thursday for a few days. There is a German festival and they ask my dad to come down every year to hold a German church service (he usually says one sentence in German, then translates it into English) I'm always happy for the excuse for us to head down there! :)

I digress.

The Houston IKEA not too far away from where we are going. Oklahoma doesn't have any IKEA stores (Boo! And we can't really have anything shipped as their shipping charges are ridiculous)...the nearest store is in Dallas, Texas. But as long as we're near Houston, my mom and I will probably head to the Houston store. I am so excited! (Um, yes. I think someone needs a little help getting over obsessing about decorating)

Last night my mom and I were looking at their website - big mistake. I'm going crazy over all their wonderful things...and their cheap prices. I love that all their pieces are so versatile...they fit with pretty much every style.

Here are some of my favorites...

FILLSTA table lamp

*Drool* Have you ever seen anything cuter?! This would go perfectly on my nightstand.

FARM vase

How amazing would a couple of these on a tray look? The price is even better - $1.99. Hold on a second while I buy a few hundred a couple.

DEKAD alarm clock

The nightstand essential. Everyone needs one of these!

FIGGJO mirror

I'm falling more in love with this mirror every second. This would look amazing in our soon-to-be-finished bathroom...

So, who's with me? Anyone else who is head over heels in love with IKEA?

-carlotta