The IKEA trip and it's consequences

So...for quite some time now-like over a year or so...I have been wanting to experience the IKEA store thang.  We have one about an hour or so from us, but to get the hubby to make a drive there just for that has been difficult.  So when we were on our "tag along" trip with him, the moment arrived. As we were driving to the hotel in Charlotte, for the nite (we were in a new one every night due to his needing to see folks all over NC) I spied with my little eye a HUGE IKEA store just mins. from the Holiday Inn Express.  SOOO, I made it clear, that under no circumstances, could my hubby deny me my experience.  I planned/looked up info on line, I even called the hotline to double check if the TROFAST shelving units and totes were at that store, then I waited....ever so patiently....fell asleep [barely-but that is another post] then we did our usual "get up and out the door" as he needed to check on a student/dog early...and then on the way back through the area on our way to Raleigh, we stopped. I almost quit breathing.  Then, like a kid in a giant candy store...my eyes the size of dinner plates..I entered the lower level area and just about passed out.  I literally could have bought up 1/2 the area of organizing stuff alone...like 5 mins. after entering....but I had to remember that we had scarcely enough room in the vehicle for the shelves/totes we were gonna get..and we needed to you know-pay bills/feed the fam, etc. too.

So, I did the circle (if you have been to an IKEA, then you know what I mean...if not-they have you walk the store in a circle....of course, so you walk by all the areas..kinda hard to "cut thru" to get to where you want) to get to the self-service area...which was like a giant Sams/Costco store....ever so gently...slowly, I made my way to the shelving unit isle [23 at that store] and about passed out again.  My longed for TROFAST system stared back at me begging to be plopped down into our very misdirected cart [the wheels would shimmy the pusher all over, like a cart on "Johnny HopUp" pills]...so...now the dilemma....

I have studied the online section of the  T.F. System for about a year straight, so I had it narrowed down to either the [white, as that is our color theme in our classroom area] 12 shelf unit or 2 of the 6 drawer units.  I didn't like that the 12 drawer one was so high, and wondered if the kid getting the drawer out would bop their noodle trying to get it down. But space is tight...hmmm.  Then I saw what I knew would work...the 6 drawer ones.  But that meant more floor space..oh wellers-at least we won't have frequent visits to the ER due to workbox bopping noodle moments.
Then I loaded up 12 white totes [was in a panic for a time...all I saw were the green ones, some pink and no white...til I re-examined the shelves and saw em there..right where they were all along] plus one big red one [for those bigger project moments].  Then hubby decided that red tote would make a good tub to rebuild carburetor and such in...NOT ON YOUR LIFE buddy! I think he said that to bug me.  Well, whatever-I finally have the system for my teen that I have wanted from the beginning.

We were short on time...so we didn't even step on the escalator to go upstairs...I have to save that eye popping moment for a day trip to the one by us.  I was actually laughing with the dude working there-that I had to come to NC to get my stuff/IKEA experience [and wouldn't cha know it?  He is from MI too-so he was like "there is one in Canton" and I am like "but where is the fun in that?"] so yes-I love Charlotte, NC.  I love that I was able to pack those puppies [shelving units and 13 totes] in the back of the rental car and still have room for our luggage and cooler.  I love that I found a new place to practically live at.  I love that they have decent prices!  I love that TF system...I love that my helpful son offered to "build em" for his old lady. And I love that I remembered to document the experience....

but what I don't love is the fact that I now have to rearrange the entire classroom area to accommodate the new TF shelves.  Hmmm...almost made me cry [and not in a good way].

 My assistant 

one down, one to go [ah they are sweet, and so is the assembly man]

Assistant helping unload the shelves...lots of the room already pulled out of there...

That's a lot of STUFF! [and one of 3 big shelves!!!]

Now here is where I want to cry...it was spread out over the dining area

and the front hall

and over into the family room area

ah, and this shows it near the beginning-it grew all around that area too.

Mind you tho-some of that stuff is for my new niece, the baby stuff on the couch...but gracious!

Over there on the one side of the couch is my 50 cent find [the mall game] from the garage sales a week ago last...figured it could be used as a "money management" item for math/life skills...and it looks cool [my older nieces had this when they were younger and I remembered they enjoyed it]...

So how is it possible to have so much stuff?  I know that I have 17 years worth of major HS materials here, and lots of stuff from reviewing for TOS...but I mean this is crazy. I will whittle down some of it, and I have to move some stuff down to the basement too-but I became so overwhelmed, I had to step away to try to regain some strength. Plus, with the help of my daughter-we had to shift the shelves/bookcases all over and back again, to find a way to do it [meaning back ache time-my son reminded us 1/2 way thru that we have those slider things that go under such heavy stuff and yes-could have saved ourselves some strained muscles] so that we could put the TF shelves in, and a new desk we're gonna get [and you guessed it..from IKEA]...and still have room to move about.  Now, it is not even close to being done.  We scooted all the stuff we didn't get to, back into the room, so we have living space again...and so yes...my project for the next couple days is to finish it.  

I have been wanting to move stuff around, kinda changes the mood and helps everyone feel like a new year is about to start [which it will soon], but not so soon after returning from being gone a week.  Guess the desire to  place those TF shelves into the room, all proper and such, put my better judgement on hold.  OH wellers, it needed to be done.  I will feel better when it is completed.  Will post after that happens. Til then pray for me...I am going to need it.

And there is my IKEA and it's consequences story.