Smile.
Another smile.
And another big old smile.
You’ve probably gathered that I did indeed make my trip to Trader Joe’s yesterday. Yes, I bought some food but the first thing I did was grab three bouquets of flowers. $3.99/each. You can’t beat their prices and the bouquets aren’t skimpy, like many I see. At this time of year around here, a bouquet like the one above would easily be $15.00 or more. Hello. It’s a no-brainer.
Driving to either of the Trader Joe’s that are closest to our house takes about an hour. This time I was adding in IKEA which is in the same area as TJ’s but a bit further south (both are in New Jersey.) So that means I have to calculate a driving time of 2 hours round-trip, Scout’s mealtimes and, ahem, elimination needs, and I have to move quickly once I’m in those stores. If Don was here, I would have been able to be quite a bit more leisurely about the whole thing. But…I did it. It was so good to get out of the cottage and on the road. And I clocked in at just over 4 hours. Excellent job if I do say so myself.
IKEA kept cropping up in my head because I had seen a lamp that I liked – you guessed it – on several blogs. I thought it would be perfect for my sewing table. I’ve never been thrilled with the one I’ve been using (also from IKEA) and I have plans to transfer that one to the desk in the guest room/studio/office. But I was unsure of the dimensions and, for some reason, IKEA didn’t include that information online. So I just bit the bullet and went there. I always have fun at IKEA, but there were the usually crying toddlers and big groups of people taking up the whole aisle so that I couldn’t get past them. And my eyes started to sting from the lighting.
I digress.
Here’s the lamp.
It’s powder coated in white with neat darkish brassy looking accents and a fabric covered cord. I really love the look of it and it seemed perfect for the sewing table. I figured that if I didn’t like it there, I would use it on my bedside table. (It’s called the Ranarp, if you’re interested.)
I really like it. And, like everything at IKEA, really inexpensive, which suits my budget rather nicely.
I suppose it would be a good idea for me to actually do some sewing after all of this work in the studio.
I also got a couple of cooking pots for the kitchen and two sets of these:
I need them and the color is self-explanatory, don’t you think?
Then I came home, accidentally knocked over Riley’s Dish Garden, which now needs some work, put something in the refrigerator overnight that should have been put in the freezer, and dealt with an insanely hyper Scout for about 4 hours. She pushed every last one of my buttons.
Ah well. If you play, you pay.
Or so they say.
Happy Saturday.
Love, love, love the lamp! I could use one of those.
It’s pretty nifty, Tana.
Love this post! Everything is beautiful. Such a fresh touch of Springtime.
And boy, do we need it!
So glad you took a day to go Play! Love the flowers, the lamp and the dish towels! The dreaded “S” stuff is expected here again tonight. Only 2-4 inches. I simply cannot say the S word anymore. I seem to want to put the F word in front of the S word these days. Getting too emotional in my old days!
I’ve been using that F-word quite a bit lately when talking about winter and snow, Dottie.
I love Trader Joes and our closest is over an hr away. But we heard one is coming and will be 20 min away by Sept. I cannot wait as I love the food, flowers and all the surprises I find there.
Lucky you! I wish we had one nearer – I’d be there all the time!
Claudia, I love the lamp and all the pretty flowers. We need to feel special some times. Blessings for a great weekend, xoxo,Susie
Thank you, Susie – have a wonderful weekend.
I see the trip did you good! Flowers..are gorgeous…and love the lamp! Now you’ve got me excited to check out Ikea! Enjoy your day, ;)
IKEA has some pretty neat things, Donna – you’d like it. Not everything is to my taste but there are always good deals.
Isn’t it wonderful to get out and about? We went into the big city on this past Monday when it reached 62*. It was glorious. I felt almost giddy. Today…….. more of the four-letter word. Aaarrrggghhh! Craziness.
The flowers are lovely and the lamp is great! Love the pretty soft colors of the towels. So spring-like. Just what is needed. Yes, our furry friends do make us pay when they are left behind. It has been a long winter for them, too, and they tend to get a bit grumpy, just as do we. We are all in this together, I guess.
Hope you have a great weekend, Claudia!
Yes we are! I look forward to the day that Scout can go outside with no mud (there’s tons of it right now) and play and feel the sun on her face. And we can get back to some short walks.
TULIPS!..I have been craving a big bunch of tulips to brighten things up around here..(including myself)..lol..also love the retro looking lamp..Glad to hear you got out and had a good day!
Gosh, tulips are beautiful, aren’t’ they? We all need some tulips right now.
I love you lamp! I wish we had IKEA within a reasonable distance…their shipping rates are very high! We do have a Trader Joe’s about 2 1/2 hours away and my sister & I go once or twice a year and stock up on things. We are planning an overnight shopping trip in May and hope to bring our Mom along. Love your flowers, they really look like Spring! We have another snowstorm forecast for tomorrow, but I’m hopeful it won’t last!
Yes, I’ve noticed that IKEA’s shipping costs are high – I wonder why? You’d think, since they are encouraging ordering online, that they would find a way to lower them.
Claudia, It is nice to see spring coming to your house, even if it is only inside for now!! Enjoy your day, Doris
Only inside, but the snow is melting, slowly but surely, Doris.
Love the lamp and the flowers. And am so glad you got to shop. My Motto: When the going gets (or has been) tough, the tough go shopping! ;-)
Have a great weekend!
xo
Sheila
It does wonders for the weary soul, Sheila!
I’ve been enjoying my bunch of tulips that I picked up just over a week ago. One nice thing about a small house is that 10 blooms can have a big impact. I’m glad you enjoyed your little getaway, Claudia.
Karen
I did, Karen – thank you!
OH, I understand, Claudia…I had to buy flowers this week, too! Yours are beautiful! IKEA is always full of goodies…love your new lamp…and the same towels are hanging in my kitchen! Great minds…
Have a lovely Saturday!
Great minds, indeed. I love the colors.
So nice that you had a chance to get out and pick up some lovely things. I want to hit IKEA too but it is a 2.5 hours drive one way for me. I normally do go once a year.
Me too – sometimes twice, but usually once.
Our TJ’s is about an hour from home, also. However, it is only about a mile from the hospital and physicians we use. Monday, J has an appointment with his neurologist. I hope for a quick stop at Trader Joe’s on the way home. It’s been since last Fall, the last time we were there.
Alstroemeria always last so wonderfully long. I buy them at Kroger in our town. They usually last a couple of weeks. The price there is around $3 to $4 for a nice size bundle.
Lucky you – our supermarket would charge a lot more than that, Pat! I love them for that very reason – they last a long time!
I feel an Ikea trip coming on soon! I love that lamp and it would be perfect in my guest/craft room. Love the flowers. I didn’t make it to TJ’s yesterday but will this week for sure. I’ve been playing a lot this week with Tiger! :)
hugs,
Linda
Well, Tiger trumps everything!
Beautiful flowers and textiles, Claudia. Food for the soul.
Good for you!
Yes, and my soul needed a little nosh.
Like the last 4 lines of that post most, honey. Have a better day today.
xoxo,
Connie ;-)
A little poem, Connie. xo
I have a TJ 15 minutes away from home and not much out of the way for my husband on his way home from work, if I know what I want him to pick up. (He likes their coffee beans and I like, amongst other things, their cheese.) Ikea, on the other hand, is nowhere near me and I have never been to one. Perhaps some day.
Some day. Lucky you to have a TJ’s so nearby, Laura! I’m jealous!
I’ve never been to Ikea. I think there is one about 45 minutes from me near the Portland Airport. I had a friend that told me he always went to Ikea for lunch. Say what? Do they have a cafeteria too? I guess I’ll have to check it out for myself.
My little pug, Phoebe gets very excited if I’m gone for even 30 minutes. She rubs her nose on my ankle all through the house until I pay special attention to her when I walk in the door. It’s worth it to me. I love her so much and I love it that she loves me. Scout is beautiful and she loves you too. I KNOW you love her.
I have one tiny little patch of daffodils that came up in my yard. I have drug them around with me through three moves. They used to be in my grandma’s yard. I went back to see her house years after she was gone, but her house was gone too. I was so distraught that the man next door who had purchased the property and torn the house down felt sorry for me. He let me amble around on the property and he gave me an old tobacco tin that “might” have been my grandpa’s. I also pulled up a few daffodils and they are still with me. That was about 20 years ago. I thought they would multiply, but so far they haven’t been very prolific. Sorry for the ramble.
Yes, they do have a cafeteria and they have good food!
I’m catching up on posts and see that you did get out. Little things like fresh dishtowels can make a big difference to one’s state of mind. And the flowers. Lovely.
Love the dishtowels, Lorrie.
REALLY love the tied-up bundle – are those kitchen towels? Love the colors and patterns. And the flowers! In my grocery store, those 3 bouquets would easily be $40-50 I think. Nice to Spring-up the house a little. I can’t wait to change out my burgundy and hunter green kitchen linens for Spring pastels. And then before you know it, green, yellow for Summer, and then orange and brown for Fall. The big circle of life… LOL! Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Yes, those are kitchen towels. Aren’t they pretty?
I was at Trader Joes again today, too! But mine’s only 20 min. away. I got another bouquet of flowers. :-) I like your IKEA lamp. It looks like a perfect task lamp.
It is, Melanie. I really like it.
Good job executing the trip! Love your purchases! I want those towels! They would be perfect in my kitchen! The gorgeous flowers were just the thing I needed to pick me up today. Enjoy!
Go to IKEA, Beth, and get those towels!
The nearest IKEA is many hours away, one way. They don’t sell them online or I’d get them. I’d pay you a “shoppers fee” and shipping ahead of your next trip! ;) Here is a new business for you: personal shopper!
Great find Claudia! I so wish we had an Ikea closer….I know I would get lots of stuff. I did order Owen’s crib from there because it was perfect for the look I wanted and not expensive! Hope you will consider coming to link up with my new weekly link party some time. It is called Sundays at Home and you can add links from the Saturday before (afternoon-ish) till Thursday. Would love to have the chance to feature something from you one day! Blessings~
I know. I wish IKEA was closer than it is, Alice.
Claudia, I love seeing your bunches of spring flowers and the vintage pottery I throughout your home Sounds as if you had a perfect day…Trader Joe’s and Ikea. We finally have a Trader Joe’s right here in Portland now so no longer have to drive to Massachusetts for goodies. ~Cheryl
Oh, lucky you!
That lamp is really gorgeous and stylish. I can see what drew you to it :)
Thanks, Emma!
I got the pink ones. :)
Pink is always a good choice, Erin!
where are you? I thought Mass., 2hrs. round trip to N.J.?
No, I don’t live in Massachusetts. I live in New York State.
Such beautiful flowers, Claudia! And that lamp looks terrific in your studio. It suits it perfectly. It must have felt wonderful to finally get out and about. Trader Joe’s and Ikea are such wonderful stores, and their prices are so reasonable. (Have you tried TJ’s Raisin Rosemary Crisps? Oh my gosh!) Sounds like you had a wonderful day! (Not counting broken dish gardens and hyper puppies…..)