ikea again.

some of you are very lucky and you don't even know it. some of you have an ikea in your city. some of you have an ikea in a neighboring city. some of you even have an ikea in your own back yard (well, you few may not be that lucky--location, location, location!). and then there are people like me who are not so lucky. we unfortunates need to travel hours away to experience our adventures in cheap swedish design. and over spring break, i did just that. i traveled to illifreakingnois (even though the michigan location is 30 minutes closer) with emily to wander through that big blue and yellow building. emily had to pick up her husband, tony, from chicago and when you're that close to ikea, you're not going to not swing by.

i love this cute little red chair. yes, it would be easy to paint an old chair you have lying around, but i enjoy the clean lines of this little guy. pairing them with a traditional or antique table would be a fun, modern twist. or a lone chair in the corner of a nursery or playroom would be cute.

and speaking of fun chairs, this gray fellow is smokin' hot. love it. this chair is good looking and cheap. kind of how i like my men. i kid you.

hmmmm, it looks like someone had a slight obsession with seating on this trip. these seat cushions happened to catch my eye. i'm kicking myself for not buying them. oh well, just another excuse to go back. road trip anyone? i'll bring the corn nuts if you bring the yoohoo.

you know i how i feel about a map (pro). this sucker is giant. the picture doesn't really do it justice. again, it would be great in a kid's room. with that fun red chair in the corner. i'd like it for my den (am i the only one these days with a den? do they exist anymore?).

ikea has some great trays and this blue number does not disappoint. emily snagged this one and i bought one in white.

blue and white is ohsohot right now. i hope i didn't just make that up, but i think it is. these navy and white striped dish towels are great. so great that emily had to get a pair. i'd love to find some bed sheets that look just like this. hmmm...

ikea also sells these square shag rugs that would be really fun if you have the floor space. small spaces wouldn't work that well. i'm thinking a checkerboard pattern with the white and yellow with navy walls. again, probably in a kids' space. with that freaking red chair in the corner. at this point, why wouldn't you?

although i didn't take many/any picutres of my haul, i didn't leave empty handed. i got:

• lightbulbs for maskros


• ribba frames (hoarder)


• a pillow case for a future craft


• fabric for my dog crate topper


• more table runners for some more DIYing


• that cute white tray


• curtain rods and clips


• blisters from all of that walking

have any of you made any special ikea trips lately (jenn, i know you did--spill it!)? whatcha get?

on an unrelated note, a word of advice: don't listen to bruno mars' the lazy song on your way to work on a monday morning, which also happens to be the first day after spring break. ugh.