Good thing I'm a packing genius

Well, we're one day into our road trip vacation and I've already had to do a full up "unpack, repack." Good thing I'm a spacial thinker, aka packing genius. We stopped into IKEA in SLC because KC is not blessed with one. We had to buy another folder organizer because TWO bloggers in one household cannot share ONE organizer. Mandy also needed to pick up some magnet bars since the ones we bought in IKEA in Minneapolis a month ago apparently stuck to the shopping cart, because they never made it home with us.

It was a pretty good IKEA visit. We weren't able to drop the kids off in the play area since Abby was puking the night before (during the drive, a whole other topic about which I will NOT be posting, other than to state here that we had a good system going of puke in bucket, pull over, empty/rinse bucket, keep driving, repeat as needed).

You've seen those parents that let their kids walk around stores or in public with out shoes? Despicable. Except that was us in IKEA. Our three year old started to get a blister from his crocs, so he took off his shoes. I'm sure we raised some eyes with the Utah shoppers. We're the uncouth from Missouri.

After picking up the two items that were on our list and only about six other random odds and ends, I was feeling pretty good about what I would consider a "controlled" IKEA run. "Controlled", that is, until we decided to swing through the "as is" area. I should have known better; I'm married to a frugal shopper who can't pass up a good deal. I can't tell you how much money Mandy has "saved" over the years buying random things simply because they were a "fabulous deal."

In this case, however, I was the culprit. Having just finished our kitchen remodel, I've been thinking about a stainless steel above-range microwave. It's our only appliance that is original to the house and is still black. Mandy (frugal) didn't like the idea of getting a new microwave since ours works fine (funny how that rule didn't apply to the countertop, backsplash, sink, etc). So low and behold, while walking through the "as is" area I notice a nice stainless steel microwave, perfect size, for $125. Having already priced them out at a different furniture store back home, I knew it was a good deal. Another couple was eyeing it, so I wheeled it out of the area before they could snag it.

I looked it over and it was in excellent shape. It had some dings on the back side, but none that would be visible once installed. But did it work? I needed to plug it in and started looking for an outlet. IKEA does a pretty good job of hiding their outlets in the checkout area. I finally found one on a column that looked a little shady and plugged in the microwave. No power. Nada. Good thing I checked, I thought. I wheeled it back to the "as is" area to it's original spot next and guess what's on the wall in that exact location. Another outlet. I quickly plugged it in and voila, it worked! I tested several buttons, made sure that it actually microwaved, and pulled it back out of the area. 

I must have been pretty focused on the task at hand because I hadn't noticed a couple approaching me. They  started asking me some questions about some other items in the area. It dawned on me that they thought I worked there. How many IKEA workers have you seen that wear a t-shirt, athletic shorts, flip flops, and haven't shaved for two days? 

Now that we have a large microwave and several other bulky IKEA type items, we checked out and loaded up the van. Fitting it all in required skill and dexterity and the ability to defy the laws of mass, space and gravity. But I managed to get it all in. I just hope Mandy doesn't let our new microwave slide off her lap on the way home.