Our Atlanta Ikea experience!

Ikea, for us is a 3-4 hour drive.  We needed new bedroom furniture, but we aren't ready to get a king size bed yet.  We know when we build a house that we want a king size bed in our bedroom so we decided to get our bedroom furniture from ikea for now.  Eventually it will be used in a guest bedroom and we will get something a little more durable for our bedroom.  I had looked at the Hemnes line in the store last year and knew that I liked the way it looked.  One of my friends has the chest and she loves it.  I got online and read the reviews for it, most of them were pretty good.

I was scheduled to work Friday night, but I got put on call.  I knew I wasn't going to have another chance to go without having to risk missing one of Logan's races so I decided to go ahead and go.  I never thought much about it being Easter weekend and a Saturday.  Mom came down to go with me.  We took Alan's truck.  I had no idea if the whole bedroom suit would fit in the truck, but I was hopeful.

Once we got there, we looked through the whole store.  I had only been one other time and we didn't buy much and didn't purchase any large items, so I wasn't exactly prepared for the warehouse experience.  After shopping for quite a while and getting all the number/isles/bins wrote down we made our way to the warehouse.  I had checked the website before we left to make sure they had the items in stock.  They will ship, but it cost over $300.

As I got into the warehouse and started looking for the stuff we needed, we quickly found out most everything I wanted was sold out.  I asked several different employees if I had any other options since I had driven so far.  Basically all of them said "no."  They explained that Saturday was their busiest day and that all of their inventory was on the floor.  They told me to talk to customer service, see when the item would be back in stock, and then drive back to get it.  I was so frustrated.

We ended up finding the mirror, nightstands and the chest.  We just needed the dresser and the bed.  I found box 2 & 3 to the dresser but box 1 was no where to be found.  Mom suggested I got back and talk to customer service and ask if they would sell a display.  When I got to the desk, I explained the situation to the man who was working.  He quickly and polietly told me that they had put more beds out but there just weren't in the right spot.  He took me straight to them.  After that, I asked him about the dresser.  He told me to stand of to the side of the desk and wait.  I waited for a while.  He had went to help other customers and I was beginning to think he had forgot about me, went on break, left work, etc.  Then the other guy working got a phone call, looked at me, and told me to go to isle 25.

He had found the dresser!!!  They had a whole pallet of them but no one had gotten them down.  I was so relieved and excited!  I thanked him a million times and then went on to tell his boss how wonderful he was.  I'm not sure why everyone else told me the items were completely out of stock, but thankful I didn't get in and just kept asking.

So, here are my tips for shopping at Ikea....for 1st time shoppers!

1.  Don't go on SATURDAY.  They told me that was the worst day of the week.  It was very crowded while we are there.

2.  If you are making a long trip, call before you go to make sure they have the item in stock.  At that time, you can ask them to hold the item for you (if it's during the week.)

3.  If the store is crowded, don't spend too much time browsing or you may risk one of your items selling out.  You could also go as soon as they open if you want to spend a lot of time shopping.

4.  Take someone, preferably a man with you.  They do not have designated employees to assist you with loading.  Me and my mom managed okay, but it would have been nice to have some more muscles.

5.  Eat before you go into the store.  It is HUGE!  You will spend more time in the store than you think and will be starving while you shop.  They do have a cafeteria, but I haven't tried their food.

A LITTLE R&R

Sunday evening I went to Alabama to see the boy!  They have moved towns so I got to stay in a new, much nicer hotel.  That evening we went out to dinner at a Japanese restaurant, made a trip to Target, and drove through a couple of cars lots.  Monday, I slept way to late, went to the pool, came back to the room and napped, and then went back to the pool for a bit.  I ordered some room service and then started getting ready.  It was a nice, relaxing day!  The hotel has a spa and Alan told me to treat myself to whatever I wanted, but honestly all I wanted to do was lay by the pool and nap!

The pool is wonderful.  They have a slide and I cannot wait to bring Logan back with me so I will have an excuse to go down it!  There's also a little cave and some waterfalls, he will LOVE it!

I'm not so sure about this decor.  It reminds me of Christmas.  I love spending the night in hotels because I LOVE the king size beds.  I cannot wait until we have a house and can have a king size bed!

Monday evening we drove to Huntsville to look at rings shop!

Tuesday I headed home to get ready to come back to work!  Of course, I stopped at Cool Springs and did some shopping on my way!

Working Tues-Thursday and then its time for the lake!

Recap!

Mond-Wed work!

Rested Thursday during the day and then I got up and headed to Alabama to see Alan.  I got there around 9pm and we just relaxed.  Friday, I got up and went shopping while Alan was at work.  It's a good thing we don't leave near Huntsville.  I spent so much $ and there were lots of places that I didn't get to go.  I bought several dresses, some flip flops, bracelets, couple of shirts, Logan some clothes, and Maddy some clothes.  After shopping, Alan and I went to Logan's to eat with his crew.  While we were there, Mom called me to tell me Logan had broken him arm and was going to have to have surgery the next morning.  I was distraught, to say the least.  I wanted to drive up there, but when I typed in the address in my phone it said it was a 5 1/2 hour drive and I was already exhausted.  So, I decided to get in the bed and leave early the next morning.  I managed to get on the road around 5:45 and it ended up only being a 3 hour drive (probably b/c I drove 90 mph the whole way.)  I didn't get to see him before he went into surgery, they actually took him just a few minutes before I got there.

His surgery was pretty quick and he was still pretty drowsy after they brought him back to the room.  Initially, they had said he would have to spend the night to get some IV antibiotics but after surgery they decided he could go home after he woke up.  I expected him to be in a lot of pain, but he never complained.  He's one tough little boy!  I stayed at the hospital until he was discharged and then headed back home to get some rest.

Saturday night, I had to work again....overtime.  It was a rough night!  When I got off work, I went straight to Granny's.  This year, instead of having lunch, we had breakfast so Teresa could come.  I was worn out by the time I got there and after I ate I fell asleep for about 3 hours and then mom called to tell me Jamie, Tennille, and Maddy were at the house.  So, I ran to the house to see Maddy for a bit and then went to Paula's mom's to see the baby!  He's so stinkin' cute.  I spend a few hours out there loving on him before heading back home to see Maddy and spend the night with Logan.

Logan and I played Mario on the Wii before bed.  I slept on the couch in the living room and he wanted to sleep in there with me so mom made him a pallet in the floor and that's where he slept.

This morning, I had an infant shoot so I did that, stopped by Children's Place to exchange some flip flops, and then went to the house to get some rest before coming back to work!

I have been going non stop for the past couple of weeks and I can't even remember when the last time I got to sit down and watch TV.  I work 3 more nights after tonight and then we are going to Supertwang and I will be off Monday-Thursday for that!  I cannot wait to RELAX and maybe do some sewing!

Week Recap...

Work Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Sleep Thursday.
Friday, Brit and I went to Knoxville to do a little shopping and visit baby brother.

I got to hold him for the 1st time and he's so TINY!  He weighs 3 lbs, 7 oz but is doing great!  He is on room air (no oxygen) and doesn't have any IV's or a PICC line...He is being fed through a NG tube in his nose which is why it looks like he has a mustache.  He is so precious !  I bought his his 1st Harley shirt but the only size they had was 3-6 months, so it'll be a while before he will be able to wear it.  After we left the hospital we went out to eat with Daddy and Paula and then went shopping.

Later that evening we went to Woolys for a few drinks.  Brit, Thad, Jo, and Jo's new boy Noah were all there, too!  We stayed there for a bit and then all went to the house to play the Kinect and Just Dance on the Wii.  It was so much fun!  We didn't get in the bed until 4ish and Brit and Thad stayed the night...

Saturday we hung out at the house, went to the funeral home, and then decided to cook out.  Jamie, Josh, Brit, Jo, Noah, and Thad came over and then we decided to ride 4 wheelers down to the creek and built a bonfire...It was too much fun!  Once again, we didn't get in bed until 4ish.

The start of our campfire...

We've been back on the 4 wheelers today and rode down on the creek...the weather has been so nice and I've had such a great weekend.  I'm so thankful for all of my friends and I'm so glad we can just chill at home and still have a good time...

Jan 31st-Feb 6th Recap

Mond-Wedn WORK!

Thursday-Sleep!

Friday-I got up cleaned the house, ran some errands, done a little shopping, and then went back to the house to start packing for Chattanooga!  Brandon, Blake, Jonathan, Brittany, Thad, and Joanna met us at the house and we headed out.  I napped on the way down.  We got to our hotel, checked in, and then Brit and Jo started getting ready.  I had been up since 1am Friday ( right now, I'm having a horrible time getting back on a normal schedule after my 3 nights at work) so I didn't wanna get dressed up and really didn't wanna do anything.  I was just a bit....grumpy!  Anyhow, we called a taxi/van to come get all of us.  We went to Taco Mac to have dinner.  I got a kids meal with corn dogs but someone ordered chips and cheese dip and it was the best cheese dip EVER!  After dinner we decided to go to the Electric Cowboy.  I'm not sure whose idea it was to go to go this place but it was HORRIBLE.  Seriously it was one of the shadiest places I've ever been.  After a few minutes we called the taxi to come back and get us.  So after we wasted over $40 on taxis we ended up back downtown, right where we started.  I can't remember the 1st place we went downtown but there was some horrible HARD rock group playing and no one (except Alan) was really into it.  We ended the night at Sing It or Wing It which was the best place we went all night!  I was soooo tired and so ready to get in the bed once we got back to the hotel.

Saturday we all slept in and laid around for most of the morning.  Joanna needed to get something to wear and Brandon needed some white shirts to we went to the mall.  Joanna and I took off to get the shopping quickly done.  I'm a quick shopper and she's a SLOW shopper so I have to keep her on track.....ha!  We stopped at a random sunglasses store and I fell IN LOVE with some Tiffany sunglasses!  Sadly the were $450 and I just can't see spending that much on sunglasses, especially when at least 5 pair of mine end up at the bottom of the lake each summer.

After shopping, we went back to the room and started drinking and getting ready for dinner and the concert!  Margaux and Brook stayed at the same hotel and they came to the room a few minutes before we headed out.  We had to have to two taxi vans to get all of us.  Kelsie and Lewey were already downtown and had tried to get us a table at Chili's but the wait was crazy so they walked into Sing it or Wing it and got us a table.  We (all 12 of us) had dinner there and then called a taxi to come get us.  Downtown was so crazy, the taxi was taking forever, and we were getting close to time for the concert SO........when the taxi got there........all 12 of us piled in!!!  Yes 13 people in one taxi van!  Jonathan was setting on Blake's lap...it was hilarious.  But we made it to the concert in time for Eric Church.  He put on a great show!!!  I wasn't too impressed with Jason Aldean though!  He sang way to many slow songs!  After the concert the boys (blake, brandon, and jonathan) left with some girls and we all went to Mellow Mushroom.  We ate a little and had a few drinks and then went back to the room.  When we got there the 3 boys were all in their room in the bed.......hahahahahha!  Everyone hung out in the room for a while and then went to bed.  It was a great trip and I love when we all get together! 

Sunday was the Super Bowl.  Brandon had a get together at his house and we went for a while.  I was worn out so we left after 1/2 time. 

ANOTHER GREAT WEEKEND!

Randomness...

I've got nothing exciting to say....

This is what last week looked like for me...Work @ hospital Monday and Tuesday night, come home, sleep, get up, drive to clarksville to spend night with alan.  We did a little shopping and had dinner at O' Charleys and then went back to the hotel to get some rest.  Woke up Thursday morning, headed home, made a pit stop at Green Hills to do some more shopping, ended up getting mostly things for myself (2 pair of jeans and a shirt from express and some urban decay foundation), got home, slept for a couple hours, got up, went to work at the hospital, came home Friday, slept, got up and got ready for our Christmas Party!

This year we had it at Brandon and Blakes.  We had appetizers and desserts and everything was delish.  We played dirty santa.  I ended up with some cute Tennessee socks and an air freshener for my car.  We decided to go out after the party and all headed to Rodeo Bob's.  This was the 1st time I've been there and I was quite disappointed.  I've heard so much hype about it so maybe it was just a bad night.  We payed $7 a piece to get in and stayed...........maybe 5 minutes.  We then headed to Wooly's.  Always a good time there.  Had some drinks and stayed until last call then headed home!

Saturday night and Sunday morning I worked at Nick's.  It's nice to be back there.  I miss seeing everyone.  I came home Sunday and it started snowing!  Alan and I had to run to town to go to Electronics Express and Wal-Mart.  After we got home we sat on the couch and played Donkey Kong on the Wii and then watched a couple of episodes of One Tree Hill we had on DVR.  

Alan didn't go to work on Monday b/c of the snow and so he was here all day.  He made me breakfast which was super sweet and I laid around most of the day b/c I had to work Monday night.  It is now Thursday morning and I have worked the past 3 nights.  I am usually in bed by now on nights I've worked but I came home and cut squares for a rag quilt I'm helping Kim make for Eli.

So tonight I'm working at Nick's, shopping with Sam in the morning, then working at Nick's, hopefully going to Logan's game on Saturday and then CHRISTMAS AT THE HOUSE Saturday evening.  I'm so excited.  Logan LOVES Christmas and this is Maddy's 1st Christmas!

I'm off to bed...and hoping my Victoria Secret package comes in soon.  It was shipped 4 days ago but the tracking info still isn't showing up on USPS website....so frustrating!

Monday is GARTH BROOKS...

and we got tickets to see Jason Aldean and Eric Church in February.  I'm so excited.

As you can tell, I LOVE ME SOME COUNTRY MUSIC!!!

Just wanted to write about Thanksgiving weekend so I wouldn't forget...

I worked Monday-Wednesday again.  So I didn't get home until Thursday morning about 8 a.m.  I slept until 10 a.m. then I got up, took a shower, got ready and headed to my Granny's.  We had a wonderful family dinner complete with Chicken 'N Dumplins.  Granny's Chicken 'N Dumplins are the best and they are the staple for pretty much ever family dinner.  I think that everyone was there these year except Trish (she was working) and of course, Luke and his family.

I really can't even begin to describe how much I love my family.  I feel so lucky to have them and I truly believe I have some of the best family in the world.  This Thanksgiving was also Lilly's birthday.  I thought about her off and on all day.  I miss her so much and just hope and pray that we will get to be a part of her life again someday.


I stayed at Granny's until everyone had left and then laid down for a nap before I went back to Cookeville.  Friday, I slept in and Alan went hunting.  Later on we headed to Knoxville to do some shopping.  The rest of the crew (Brit, Thad, Jo, Blake, and Brandon) got there a few hours after us and we all went to eat at TGI Fridays.  It was delish...as always.  After dinner we went to our hotel room, got ready and then called a cab to go to the Tin Roof.  There was an awesome band named Clayton Anderson playing and we had a great night and too much fun!  The best part of the night was when we ICED the boys.  We did this on the cruise so we weren't sure that they would fall for it but they did and it was awesome.  Since there were only 3 girls we could only get 3 of the guys so Blake, Brandon, and Thad were the lucky ones.  It took all of them a minute to realize what was going on...then they got down on one knee and chugged their smirnoff.  It was AWESOME!  We stayed until last call and then headed home...after practically dragging Blake and Jo out of the bar.



Once the cab dropped us off at our hotel me, Brit, Jo, and Blake decided it would be a good idea to go swimming.  So we hopped in...we were swimming away when they came and kicked us out of the pool, so to the hot tub in the room we went....all 4 of us.  SO.MUCH.FUN.

Saturday, Jo and I got up and went to the mall for a quick trip, came back to the hotel, got ready and headed to the game.  We had pretty good seats and Tennessee beat Kentucky.  I love, love, love UT football and I especially love going to the games.  The atmosphere at Neyland Stadium on gameday is something everyone should experience.

After the game, Alan and I headed to the house (in D.L) for Thanksgiving dinner there.  Dinner was great and after that we put up the Christmas tree.  I love spending time with everyone at the house together!  And of course, spending time with Maddy.  She is oh so sweet!

Tot and BMay came over for a bit later on.  It was good to see her and catch up.  I'm hoping to make a trip to Birmingham to see her soon.  After they left we headed back to home.  I can't even remember what we did on Sunday but I'm guessing we didn't do much.

Overall, it was a GREAT weekend.  Thanksgiving always makes me super excited for Christmas because I love having all of our family together!!!