IKEA - My Kind of Shopping..

"Mom, I want to go to IKEA"....ahhhh, music to my ears. Actually for the past two weeks my six year old, K, has repeatedly asked me, "When can we go to IKEA?" This past Saturday, she asked again and I agreed, "Let's go, IKEA here we come". My daughter wanted to play in their fun supervised play area, Smaland, and then have dinner in the café (all her idea). While she played, I'd be able to shop. Sounds like a fun night to me.

We went on a Saturday night and pulled up to a full parking lot full of cars. The place was hopping. We headed straight for Smaland but we had to wait a few minutes before they accepted new kids (must be potty trained and be between 37"-54" tall). Normally my daughter might get a bit impatient waiting, but not this time, she was happy to wait her turn. Wow! The attendant was friendly and welcoming. They are very security minded and K and I both got matching number stamps and I had to sign a form to put her in Smaland and when I pick her up, I'd have to sign again so they make sure our signatures matched. She also got a wristband and a bin for her shoes and coat. I got a pager in case they needed to reach me.

Once she was settled and having fun, it was my turn. I had 65 minutes to shop and there's nothing like shopping without kiddos in tow! Yippee Yeah! First, I headed upstairs to peruse their showroom - you can see, touch, feel and sit on, couches, chairs, and beds. You can see all their cool room displays from bedrooms to kitchens to closets to living rooms and more. It's amazing how much they can put in a small space while making it look cool and uncluttered. Every time, I visit, I want to redecorate my house. Tonight I was specifically looking at ways to organize the mass amount of shoes in our foyer.

Eureka, there it was.....a shoe organizer that masquerades as a nice piece of furniture. I could put a mirror over the top of it and add some shelving - it would be a definite improvement to what we have now. So, there I was recording bin and aisle numbers just in case I wanted to pick up the items in their onsite warehouse on our way out.

After the second floor showroom, I still had 25 minutes so I headed downstairs to the marketplace. I started in dishes and didn't get too far. Since my Mom told me she'd buy me some new plates (I guess my 14 year old everyday dishes were getting a bit worn out), I was focused on another quest. I found an 18 piece set of dishes (service for 6) for only $21.95. I put two boxes in my cart. I also ended up with a set of steak knives ($2.99), new napkins ($1.99), placemats (on sale for $.49/each), a cutlery tray ($2.99) and then, ding ding, my time was up. Bummer for me, but good timing for my checkbook since you see so many great gadgets and deals that you just keep adding to your cart.

With my full cart of goodies, I returned to the play area to pick up K. She had a great time and can't wait to go back again (lucky for me). We then headed upstairs to the café. They have some great kids' meals and for $2.49 you can get a choice of 3 items. K picked pasta (no sauces, of course), yogurt and orange juice. I got a Buffalo chicken wrap ($3.99) and added chips and a drink ($1.79). K picked our dining spot near the kids' television area so we enjoyed some Sponge Bob while we dined. They have some delicious desserts but unfortunately I refrained since I knew there would be fresh hot cinnamon rolls tempting me after we checked out. Bonus - on Oct. 19-25 kids 12 and under eat free in the IKEA café.

IKEA is more than just a place to shop; it's a place to have a family day or night out. When your kids ask to go to IKEA, you know it's a winner. The café is an affordable place to have a meal out and letting your kids play while you shop is GENIUS! So, if you're ever in the West Chester, Ohio area, make sure you take the time to stop by IKEA - you can't miss the huge blue & yellow building!

IKEA

9500 Ikea Way
West Chester, OH 45069
(513) 779-7100