Preparing for our annual argument

[LunaLovesgood]

We're going to IKEA today

Naturally I'm very very excited and DH is so enthusiastic it currently sounds like he's trying to drown himself in the shower.

However, all I need are a couple of small things. What have you picked up recently that I really really need in my life?

@yogima

Best post ever

I think we must be the only family in the world who love a trip to ikea and are just in our euphoric bliss the whole way round
Even the children love it!

My favourite bit about going to ikea is walking through the car park watching people get to their vehicle (usually a Toyota Yaris or similar) and act totally surprised when the king sized mattress they just bought doesn’t get in the boot.

I live near an Ikea and I don’t even like driving on the roundabout it’s next to on a Saturday and Sunday. The queues to get in the car park are ridiculous.

I always go to bargain corner first.

Christmas biscuits in the red tin
Wrapping paper
If you have small children, gymnastics mats - my best Ikea purchase in years!

i went last week with dd2 aged 17 and dsd aged 17 and DP aged 53...

i had to take them all to the cafe on arrival and feed them cooked breakfast, then after an hour we had to detour back to caff for cake and coffee and after the second hour they went to caff for lunch...

i only wanted someone to look interested for a couple of hours in the new sofa for the new extension which is basically a huge family room off kitchen for my 4 young adult dds and dp to lounge about in while i retire to my graceful drawing room..but no ..they looked at one sofa and said ' yeh this is fine, whatever you want mummybean'...

me ' darling little beans and partner/oh love of my life bean ..what about we sit on some others to see which is most comfy ?'

family bean ' nah..lets go and get cake now, you can choose'

I have a feeling this trip is going to be just like yours @theredjellybean

Although plonking him in a wardrobe is looking like it could be a viable option...

Me and DP go with so much hope and always argue by the end. I wonder if people have divorced due to ikea..

Ziploc bags - they are v stong so can be reused for lunches and therefore last forever!

I'd love to be walking distance from an Ikea.
Loved the comment about selling the will to live half way round.

I have never set food in an Ikea. Never lived near one. Everything posters talk about buying in Ikea, I can think of ways to buy same thing for cheaper & less hassle elsewhere.

We have an Ikea bed or 2. Bought 2nd hand on Ebay. :)

I’ve only been to ikea once. By the time I’d queued up in the car park I turned around and came home without actually making it into the store Good luck!

I always think Ikea should have a large tv and a lot of sofas where you can deposit any member of your party who doesn't enjoy Ikea. Then collect them at the end, they could even flash up a message on the tv to tell said party member to meet you at the tills.

My Ikea is a mere 3 miles away, so I go and short list things then take Dh who actually loves shopping. My children want to come too, but mainly for the breakfast.

When friends visit they always say can we just pop into Ikea for something. I tell them to tell me what it is and I will lead them straight to it.

Could you just leave him in the car with a bottle of Panda Pops, a Ladybird book and a packet of crisps? Leave the radio on and crack a window, he'll be fine for an hour or so.

(Child of the 70's here, obvs)

Can't you leave him at home and go on your own?

Thank you for this thread LunaLovesgood.
I only read the first line, realised that my bloke would be driving past an Ikea on a trip he is making today and could pick up a item that I want but not enough to make a 2 hour round trip for. Messaged him, spoke and he is picking it up now 🙂.

I see your saturday afternoon ikea trip and i give you a Saturday afternoon ikea trip with a 2yo.

Im not sure if me and dp will still be together when we get back.

Ideally it goes -
Send dh to join the massive queue in the café.
Go round on my own to pick up bits I want.
Go and join dh who should just have the food.

Doesn't work if I need anything heavy of course. If I have to go round the shop with him and we have to bring the children, I just know it's going to be a shit show. I love Ikea, but they make it hell.

Our annual argument will be about positioning of Christmas tree lights

Pick & Mix, the little gingerbread house kits, ready to roll gingerbread biscuit mix, meatballs.

Stationary, chip clips, Christmas wrapping paper, sandwich bags.

YY to scissors and pillow protectors.

Also
Bevara bag clips (can never have enough of these)
Washing up brushes (especially the ones with the suction cup on the end)
A Kallax unit. I don't care if you don't think you have anywhere to put one. You do. You just need put more thought into it.
Packets of the cream sauce mix that goes with the meatballs.
An ice cream from the exit cafe.

I love Ikea. It's like a day out to me. In fact, back when I was single and living somewhere with few social connections. I used to go on a Friday evening for a browse and a slap-up meatball dinner

DH doesn't share my enthusiasm!

I love IKEA and so does DD. We always make a day of it. Cushion covers, storage boxes, stuffed toys! Meatballs and mash for lunch. Cheeky bit of cheesecake if we're feeling decadent. There's usually something going on for the kids. Perfect rainy day activity

Last time I went to Ikea we came back with norovirus...

Also got some great glass/bamboo storage pots for the fridge so it wasn’t all bad.

Be kind.

Leave the poor bloke at home and take yourself there.

Have you got a sister/mother/daughter/cousin/next door neighbour you can take in his place?

Failing that give him a 10m tape measure, a note book and a pocket calculator and challenge him to work out which PAX wardrobe will fit in the spare room and how much it will cost with all the must have fixtures and fittings.

Leave to simmer for 2 hours.

Buy him meatballs and coffee and leave him in the cafe to play Solitaire on his mobile phone for the next 4 hours.

Ensure you take a fully charged powerback with you.