The Big Box Store

...And I don't mean just ANY big box store. I'm talkin' about a big blue box store with bright yellow lettering.  I'm talking about....

Awwww Yaaaaaa.

This monstrosity along the I-25 corridor has been in the works for who knows how long - a long time.  And when it opened, it had its own radio channel and police-escorted lanes on the interstate. 

It was kinda a big deal. 

Seeing as it opened just over a month ago, and it was a Wednesday morning, I thought I'd finally give it a go.  I asked my good friend Kelly (Slaughter) Berard to join me (she eagerly agreed :)

Livvie-Lou and Ellery gear up for their shopping adventure.

Truly, this place is A-MAZE-ING.  And not just for its fairly-priced goods, either.  It is amazing because it is a complete and total operation.  This store even has street signs - I'm not talkin' about some flimsy plastic things that blow in the wind, I'm talkin' about LEGIT street signs, on a pole, like that octagonal red one we briefly pause at every once in a while.  I'm talkin' about real signs three blocks from IKEA that say "no IKEA parking here."  I'm talkin' about a huge two-story parking garage that was FULL by the time I left at noon. 

And the marketers there?  They are genius (wonder if they are hiring??? :)   You are weaved through this maze of furniture and housewares that are displayed in a way that makes you think, "OMG, I have to have that and that and that, and that, and that and that and that."  And when you look at the price tag, you think, "well, if I really needed it, I could."

This is what you see when you get off the elevator.  The start of the maze, folks.  The best part is that you don't even care that you're a rat in a cage, you just love every particle-board minute of it.

But ya wanna know what's even better about this place?  THEY HAVE A KID DROP-OFF that only costs ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.  It is like the people there went into every mother's brain and asked, "what could we do to make you spend more money at our store?"  And we all collectively said, "let us shop without our annoying lovable toddlers getting in our way."  And so IKEA said, "Sure, here ya go (as long as they're potty trained)."  For an HOUR, y'all.  An HOUR.  For FREE.  (If Target could adopt this same modality, I'm fairly certain I would spend more in less time - and in the end, isn't that the goal of every big-box store?)  Just for signing up for IKEA's "family card," I can get an extra 30 minutes, if need be.  I'm just gonna start going when my kids are driving me batty.  IKEA 1, Shannon 0.

Honestly, I think this virgin trip to IKEA has changed my life.  Never again will I look at Bed Bath & Beyond or Target or any other big box store the same way - I will FOREVER think, "Hmmm...I wonder if I can get that cheaper at IKEA?"  Likely, the answer will be yes.  So you'd better watch out, other big-box stores.  My big-box allegiance is changing.

For now, I just want to go through my house and sell my stuff so I can go buy more at IKEA.  I'm ready to move to a new house so I can decorate with IKEA.  I can't WAIT to have a reason to spend money at IKEA.  That makes IKEA 2, Shannon 0.  You win, IKEA.  I give.

These are at every pole in the "loading area" in the parking garage.  I'm not really sure what for, but I canNOT wait to find out.

Today, however, I was reserved.  I only bought a few things and spent less than $30.  But now I know the joy and euphoria of IKEA, and that's the real blessing here.

Picture frames, plates for the kids, a splatter guard, two boxes for the loft, and a flower pot.  Oh ya, and the bag, since they don't offer disposable bags.  (good for them! :)

For now, John's credit card is safe, as we don't have any room to put one more piece of random shelving or furniture. 

It is safe, that is, until H&M opens this fall, downtown.  :)