Hello faithful readers--I am sorry that I myself have not been so faithful to this blog. I appreciate the encouragement from those of you who urged me to continue updating in my time of apathy and sluggishness. *Shout-outs to Linds Pinds and also E Hemingway (no, that's not Ernest, you crazy lit. majors)* I promise you, I will never again neglect my blog for that kind of duration. I also promise to never flood the earth again, and, um, no more taxes. Right. Ok.
That said, a lot has happened in the three weeks since I last left you. I bought a new pair of jeans at the Gap (just to feel like an American again), I tried British beer, and I went to...IKEA!!!!!!
Let me begin by telling you that at a recent IKEA opening in London last month, two people were stabbed. That's right, Britons love their cost-efficient, sleek and stylish furniture--so much that they will kill for it!
Cardiff's IKEA is located in the scenic Bay Area on the other side of town. It's really a beautiful location, and the sea can be quite calming. Perhaps that is why Cardiff's IKEA scene is less violent. I was quite fortunate to be invited by my new friend Liz, who HAS A CAR. We were at IKEA in less that twenty minutes, whereas the bus would have taken about an hour, depending on the time of day. (On a side note, Liz has also taken me to Tesco's--think British super walmart--where I spent 65 quid on things like picture frames, a potted plant, and a yoga mat, in addition to numerous groceries. Liz=not a good shopping influence. She finds a need for everything.)
We arrived at IKEA and parked in a ridiculously expansive parking lot that was also packed. We then noticed the IKEA shuttle dropping people off at the front stairs. I can't properly explain the vastness of IKEA in this blog. The entrance ushers you right into the showroom, which can take more than an hour to go through. It's truly amazing--each exhibit is like a real apartment completely decked out with IKEA furniture and accessories. There are examples of country homes and city flats, student houses and studio apartments. Furniture is selected appropriately for the home of a new working professional or a middle-aged bachelor. There are bedrooms decorated in that urban minimalist chic sort of way (kind of reminds me of Apple like that) and there are bedrooms that look lush and relaxing, in that naturalist spa sort of way. IKEA knows no limits--the bedrooms lead to living spaces with couches, TVs, books and movies (all props for the IKEA experience--IKEA does not actually sell electronics or literature), which then lead to bathrooms.
Oh, the bathrooms! IKEA has the coolest bathrooms you've ever seen. And I can't seem to stress enough how the showroom feels just like you are walking through a person's home. No matter what your tastes are, each example is flawlessly planned and laid out.
What is sad about IKEA? While I was walking through, I kept thinking to myself that I can't wait until I am finally at the stage of my life where I can afford my own furniture and I actually have a place to furnish and decorate, and that I too could plan rooms just like these. And upon expressing this to Liz, we both realized that the fabulously dazzling IKEA examples lacked one thing: clutter! They don't take into account the piles of schoolwork that Liz has at home covering her tiny office space. There is literally no place to put it. And IKEA doesn't account for the ugly filing cabinet you have to buy for all the sheet music you need, and all the articles you have to keep on random subjects that you might use again someday but probably not but you can't bring yourself to throw it away because it was useful once. And the cool little baskets we saw on the bathroom counter we were just passing by? It would be full of hair bands or tampons or something, and then you would accidentally knock the basket onto the floor as you rush out the door, and it would probably stay there for the next week or so.
It's so easy to be swept up into IKEA's fairy tale world of interior design.
But to complete the IKEA experience, Liz and I decided to have lunch before hitting the warehouse section. I know what you're thinking. Shelley, how could you eat crappy shopping center food and pay astronomical prices for it? Well, at IKEA the prices are never unreasonable! And let me tell you, I had salmon, potatoes, and green beans for lunch! Mmmmm. Liz had the meatballs. She said they were yummy as well.
Ok, so the warehouse. I spent no more than 19 pounds, and here is a rough list of what I bought:
-4 candle holders for those short little tea candles
-a cool lamp for 2 quid!
-two fleece blankets
-a silver looking metal paper tray for my desk that has three levels and the baskets slide out (it's super cool)
-matching pencil jar (same silver looking metal) and small pencil jar
-frog notecards to send to people in America!
So now my room looks like someone lives in it. It feels much more like home as well, especially with my 9-photo picture frame full of pics of my old roomies *shout-out to Mushpuff and Liz-Biz* and my potted plant that I have named Cornelius *shout-out to Patrick and his Grandma, and also to Laura, who had to deal with CJ the Frog's untimely death*
So now my room is full of light, thanks to four candles, a lamp, and the over-arching theme of this entry: IKEA.
Well, dear readers, that is all for tonight. I promise I will add something new again within the next couple of days.
Sleep well!
