So, IKEA. That's some place. I could move in there, couldn't you? When we first walked in (after some very aggressive parking-lot maneuvering) there were women tap-dancing to the right of the front door, welcoming us in style, and I sort of paused, looked at Crystal (who served as our seasoned tour guide) and said, "That overwhelms me a little bit." But after only a few minor freak-outs -- "Baby! You have to stay close! You can't wander off like that! Wait, should we have a meeting place if we get separated?" -- Mike and I felt like regulars, making notes of what things we liked, easily navigating the lighting section. It also wasn't long before we were elbowing our way through the display rooms like pros, oohing and ahhing over the spice racks! And the funky place settings! And the slow, self-closing cabinets! We didn't buy much -- giving us a nice reason to go back -- but we did wrap up our trip with a cinnamon bun from the bistro. (I'm not sure if you'll agree, but food just tastes better when it comes from a bistro.) Can I mention, for just a moment, that those gooey, sticky, DELIGHTFUL cinnamon buns were only $1 a piece. THAT'S ALL. One. Measly. Dollar. Why I didn't buy eight six-packs is beyond me. Oh! Yes! Because they're 400 calories. Each. I'd also like to mention that Mike was such a sport. He didn't say a word about anything I picked up and shoved into our hefty yellow IKEA bag -- that he somehow got stuck carrying -- because he is just that supportive of me putting together my "writing room" (fancy name for nap room slash office slash where I keep my shoes), and he's also just a really good man. I've been known to give him a hard time because he's sort of a crappy listener and he farts a lot and also our DVR is spilling over with horribly boring Discovery channel shows, but I'm really, ridiculously lucky to have him. And just in case the Internet is fuzzy about it, I hit the jackpot with him. I really did.
So, moving along, I also saw Sex and the City this weekend. I was so excited I shook Natalie right before it started. She appreciated that, trust me. Now, I've read some of the ho-hum reviews out there, and I could see the validity in a whole mess of points they've all made but I still kind of loved it. I laughed. I cried. And, look, if I do both in the same movie, I can't walk out saying it was bad. There was this one emotionally charged scene where one of the four women screamed at someone else in defense of one of the other four women (the vagueness is painful, I know) and it just sort of beautifully occurred to me that a team of writers created some of the best friendships we'll ever see on television or the big screen. And it made me awfully sad to see them go when the credits rolled.
And that's really all I have to tell you from this weekend. Sure, I could mention all the laziness and the naps and the dirty house that stayed dirty because of all the laziness and the naps, but that wouldn't interest you, would it? So I'll skip all that and go right to the winner from this post. I didn't document the selecting because I didn't have a camera with me (NEED THE NEW IPHONE, BABY) and also let's revisit all the laziness one more time. WAS. LAZY. But I promise it was legit and fair. I'll pinky-promise even.
So, the winner of ten whole Amazon dollars -- you can buy at least one used book with that amount -- is Ali from Cheaper Than Therapy*. I'll send the gift card to you by Friday, Ali. If you haven't gotten it by then (via e-mail) please let me know.
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*Her children! How freaking cute are they?!