I love when that happens

I hate shopping. Hate, Hate, Hate. Especially if it is for clothes. Nothing ever fits, or is the right color, or the right price or... And it all takes so long.

Friday Jess asked me to go shopping with her for a skirt. We went to Kohl's. I got tired of standing around watching her so I started browsing the clearance racks. I found a dress and a pair of pants that I liked. Then I looked at the price tags. Dress=$15, Pants=$8 Kohl's gift card in my purse=$10, making the pants free and the dress $13.

When that happens, I like shopping.

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Indeed.

Virtual Shopping Spree

It's been kind of a crazy busy day at work today. But I did have some downtime and I used it for some constructive online shopping. I shopped as if money were no object and I could have whatever I wanted.
Here is some of what I would have bought today if my bank account were a happy account and money grew on trees.

Because it's been that kind of day and virtual cheesecake is better for me than real cheesecake

Plants for the backyard

The Dancer by Lladro For my patio Something to wear for my niece's summer wedding (how the shopping trip got started)

I actually have this pattern
Maybe I'll keep looking because I don't know if I feel like sewing this summer.

Shoes from DSW Shoes. Which means the pink dress. Unless I decide to go with a yellow dress. Or maybe I'll go with something entirely different.

But with prices being what they are these days, this is probablywhat I'll end up with!

A budding idea

This past holiday weekend I was able to spend a day at my sister's house with family. (thanks for letting us invade your house for the day, hope we didn't leave chaos behind). My mom, 3 of my sisters, and one niece took a "fieldtrip" to the best store around- Real Deals.
Now, I am absolutely NOT a shopper. I hate taking the time to go shopping. Don't even think about asking me to go to the mall just to "shop". If I am shopping, I have to have what I need/want in mind and know who has it and then I get in the car, go to that one place, get what I need and go home. The end. But Sharon sent me the link and I just redid my living room and am getting ready to redo my downstairs, so I was up for shopping here. After all, can't pass up a good bargain.

So we got into two cars and headed to the store. I fell in love. So many things to see. So many things that wanted to make my home their permanant home. So many great deals. I'm gonna have to go back. And the best part is this- there is one in American Fork!

Yesterday I was looking around on their website and that is how I found out that Sharon was right, there is one in AF. Then I noticed that the store is owned by franchisees. That is when the idea budded in my head- owning a store is something I would love to do and this one would be great. It is only open 2 days a week, it has fabulous products at an affordable price and Utah county is the fastest growing county in the state and there is only 1 store in that county! There are at least 5 in the northern part of the state. Now I just have to figure out the feasability of an SBL, as well as all the other start up costs, where would I locate it and is this really what I want to do when I grow up?

Now I Get It

I am decoratively challenged. I always have been. You could give me and my sisters as well as my sister in law, Tammy the same room, same furnishings and knick-knacks, pictures, what have you and theirs would be gorgous and mine would be usable- sort of.

I had an appointment with my rheumatologist in Sandy this morning. Since Ikea is on the way home, I thought I would stop and see what all the fuss is about. Especially since every time I asked my sister, Sharon, where she got this cool knick-knack, that piece of furniture etc she always said, "Ikea". So I stopped.

Now I need to say this, I HATE, HATE, HATE shopping. I will do anything to advoid shopping. Most women like it. I don't. If I have to go shopping, take me to Home Depot and let me get some new tool, or paint or something that I can fix up or plant or redo. That is what I like. Well, after 2 hours in Ikea, I decided that I needed to get home. And I have already planned to go back and what I want to get when I am there.

Today I spent less than $40 and I got:
2 mesh hanging things for my girls to put their stuffed animals/toys in
1 curtain for my kitchen pantry door way + rings to hang it from a rod
1 wooden crate with dividers to set on my kitchen counter to corral all of the pencils and paper and chore list
1 set of small cups for small children
5 small baby toys for when Hunter comes over
1 tub to hold the baby toys when Hunter is not here

Now, I am more of a crystal chandelier and marble tile type of gal, but I did find some furniture there that I liked.
I will be getting a small bookcase and some magazine holders to replace the filing cabinets (and large tub under the piano) in my living room that hold the piano, tuba, saxaphone, trumpet, drum music.

I also have a thing for dishes and chairs. I am proud that I didn't come home with a single dish. It was really hard, though. I am going to clear out my cupboards again this week to make room for those cute purple glass bowls and those small goblets that would be great for orange juice, and they had some mixing bowls, mine are about shot after 22 years of cookie and cakes and bread, and those plates, oh and I need some new trivits and.......

Well, let's just say that I finally get why all the fuss about Ikea and I will be having my sister's go shopping with me and coming to my house to put everything where it should go. And then I will have a beautifuly decorated home, just like they do.