Swedish meatballs and attempting to not panic

Some of you were puzzled by Jen's last comment about Swedish meatballs.

Loosely translated, Swedish meatballs means I recently experienced IKEA.

{cue Hallelujah chorus in the background}

Of course, I knew about IKEA before. I knew I like it and requested to receive the catalog years ago. With every issue, I call out to Joe, "Ooooh, look at this! I like this!" about 20 times while I peruse the contents.

But I hadn't experienced IKEA. Big difference. Because if you've gone to the store, you understand me when I say it's an Experience, not just a shopping trip.

It was an Experience I chose to punctuate by ordering a big plate of Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes and lingonberry sauce.

{wiping drool away at the memory of that beautiful lunch}

The purpose of the Experience was to buy Madeline a new bedding set for her new big girl bed. And a few items to redecorate her room.

I carefully analyzed the IKEA Web site for what I needed to get and priced everything out. In the end, I figured could do an entire new room for her for just $40.

So I withdrew $40 in cash before I left, not wanting to be tempted to buy anything else. $40 for Madeline's room and that. was. it.

Truth be told, I just wasn't prepared for how much I would love IKEA. I mean, I knew I liked it but I didn't know I would love it. Like, head-over-heels in love.

Because, sweet mercy, I am.

At one point during the Experience, I called Joe to let him know I would be coming home with...um...slightly more than a bedding set and lamp for Madeline.

Like, maybe, a new bedding set for us because I found a king-size duvet cover for FORTY DOLLARS! And new drinking glasses which were only 60 CENTS! And alarm clocks that were 90 CENTS!

By the time I finished my first full loop of the store, I realized something. If I were to spend more than $40 at IKEA, I was actually saving money in the long run.

Yes, it's true. Don't laugh.

We needed new drinking glasses because I've recently earned the nickname "Shaky-Hands Katie" after breaking six glasses in one year.

And we needed those alarm clocks because they were just too cute to pass up. (And have I already mentioned THEY WERE 90 CENTS?!)

And since I picked up several Christmas presents for Madeline, I definitely only bought stuff we needed.

The only possible maybe-we-really-don't-need-this items were some new candle holders. I know I have about thirteenish million candle holders already but I didn't have these certain ones. And since they were only EIGHTY CENTS!, they hardly contributed to the total.

Although, when I arrived home and was proudly showing Joe my glorious plunder, he had the audacity to laugh at my frequent use of "need."

Joe: "It's fine that you spent more and got some other stuff. But I wouldn't really say we needed it."

OK, maybe, just maybe, that point goes to Joe.

But in case you think IKEA turned me into a crazed, shopping monster, I'll give you an example of restraint.

While in the Dishes area, I found myself chanting out loud, "Don't panic, don't panic." Desperately wanting to buy everything in sight, I reminded myself that plain white but beautiful dishes would probably always be available at IKEA and I didn't have to buy that six-setting set even though it was only NINETEEN DOLLARS!!!

Needless to say, in the end,I had to whip out the debit card since my little "Ooooh, I'll only bring cash" plan was an epic fail.

But those alarm clocks, glasses and more were definitely worth it.

I'm already trying to plan when I can go back and get those white dishes. And some more Swedish meatballs.