Today I made the terrible mistake of going to Ikea solo. Part of me felt like a woman on a mission as I battled crowds, (not so gracefully) lugged 55 pound boxes onto my push cart and withstood lines 100 deep to check out but the other part of me felt lonelier than I have in a long time…especially as I wheeled my cart out to the loading area and stared at my cart and then my car wondering how in the world I was going to get the giant boxes into the car. I was kind of angry that I couldn’t do it by myself but was so grateful for the help of an Ikea employee who spent 20 minutes arranging and rearranging boxes in my car to make it work.
What provoked this Ikea trip?
My family generously gave me a new television for Christmas and I had nothing to put it on. Poor Sullie had to make the four hour trip home with the TV taking up most of the backseat last night. She was not a happy camper. My dad and I had to rig the box with other boxes and my yoga mat to keep it from toppling over onto her. We made it back to Charlotte but I needed to get my new TV out of the car and into the house. Enter Ikea…because really…if I hadn’t gone today the TV would have sat unopened for weeks while I waited to have the time to go get a TV stand. That’s just how I operate. My new West Elm bed is still sitting disassembled in the master because I have yet to buy a new mattress. But I digress…
Ikea was a madhouse. I was not exaggerating when I said that the lines to check out were hundreds of people long. I stuck to a strategy and went into the shopping trip with a narrow focus. Rugs, coffee table and TV stand. I was still so overwhelmed but forced myself to stay on track and be decisive. I wanted to call someone so badly to debate whether to go with dark wood or white but went with my gut and decided to try white for a change.
Almost three hours later I was finally on my way home. And breathing a huge sigh of relief to be out of Ikea.
Sullie immediately staked claim over the new runner I got for the entryway. The girl loves rugs.
And I bundled up to try to run off some of my anxiety. I missed all of my favorite yoga classes due to my shopping trip so a dark, cold run was my only choice. This was my first run in gloves of the season. It was freezing! I ran 3 miles and never really warmed up. My fingers were ice cold when I finally finished up. I hopped in an extra hot shower and thanked god that it was time to relax.
I’ll be sure to post pictures when I get everything set up. The moral of this story is to take backup when you go to Ikea! 😉
Ikea…love it or hate it?
I hope you understand the real moral of the story — that it was hard and made you feel low, but that you didn’t let that stop you. Go Jen!
I honestly admire you and I am looking forward to seeing your all new furniture 🙂 I guess it was worth it in the end!
I am kind of itching for a snowy run. Haven’t done it yet but gonna soon. You are encouraging me! Although I am wondering what “freezing” is down there. Haha. Up here I would definitely have a stocking cap on.
I went to Ikea once by myself when I was 29. I just broke up with my boyfriend and decided I would get 2 bookcases by myself! Argh! I was sore for a week. We still have one of the bookcases and my husband (different guy) laughs because I put it together backwards!!’
I literally just got back from a solo trip to Ikea! Too funny. About an hour ago. And it was the most crowded I have ever seen it. Lines dozens of people deep. What is the deal?!? I thought I was so sneaky going late on a Sunday night, but that was definitely not the case. And I know what you mean about going solo. I was the girl awkwardly kicking part of her loot through the line b/c I couldn’t carry it all in my arms without burning out my biceps. Feels so good to be done with it though. I have a very strong love/hate relationship with that place.
We went to Ikea in ATL this weekend. Apparently it was Friends and Family weekend. Good for you for going out there on your own!
hahaha that is too funny. Im now very glad we don’t have an Ikea anywhere close to my house. I would be there fairly often i believe. I hate thhat you have to assemble everything from about 1000 pieces!! Hope you post a pic soon of the entertainment center 🙂
Ahhh you are brave! I can’t handle Ikea, the maze you have to go through gives me anxiety! Good for you for doing it and running after too. 🙂
I was thinking of running before work today, but ummmmm… brrrrrr! I think I’ll head out on my lunch break instead!
I try and go to Ikea on the weekdays when it’s not as busy. Weekends are a pain! But I try and go with a goal too. I haven’t bought any big furniture there yet; it’s usually small items. Which are the hardest to find too! 😛
Enjoy your new TV!
I feel you on the Ikea thing. I started living alone for the first time in August and got a BOATLOAD of stuff from Ikea: one girl loaded down with bed, dresser, nightstand, and room divider/bookcase. Embarrassing to move it all alone (I literally couldn’t steer the cart straight) and I felt a little weird eating Swedish meatballs solo, but it was soooo satisfying to look around after I’d put it all together.
I went to the IKEA in this area when it first opened (actually it was about 6 months after it opened). We didn’t buy a thing, and I have no desire to ever go back again. Maybe I need to give it another chance…
IKEA looks crazy in the pic! You rock for not leaving!
I haven’t gone to the Charlotte Ikea yet but when I told my friends in Raleigh I was moving to Charlotte a number of them were excited to be able to go to Ikea when they visit me 🙂
More power to you woman for going alone. I feel like that is just a mentally exhausting trip. I haven’t been in years. 1. Because it’s a drive 2. I feel like it is all day ordeal. So I guess I’m anti Ikea. Goldens love rugs! Kala sleeps on all of mine, even the small ones. Actually I think she likes those better!
As much as I am okay with being single, sometimes I really miss the husband. Like when the weather is a mess and I have to pump my own gas.
where is your reflective vest from? love it!