Who's up for one last road trip before the end of summer?? Me and Rachael!
I think I literally heard IKEA calling my name when I asked Rachael if she wanted to take a day trip there before school begins. I "needed" some things for my craft room and for my classroom. And when you "need" something cool and cheap, there's no where else to go but IKEA.
When we looked at the map and realized it was near Ann Arbor, we decided to go there and look around before hitting the store of all stores. I found out that it's the home of U of M and we got to drive around that big and really nice looking campus. The downtown area of AA is really fun! There are TONS of little shops and cafes all over a many block area...trust me, we saw most of them twice, some three times while driving around looking for a cafe (Ziegler's) that was recommended by our friend, Lisa. We literally drove all over downtown AA looking for it. Finally we stopped to ask a mail-lady. It was then that we realized we were looking for Zingerman's (whatever, close enough--how do we get there???) After finally finding it, I dropped Rachael off to go stand in line (which was out the door). I drove around a few blocks looking for parking and then called Rach to see if we were going to be eating there. She said it was cool, and while trying to describe it to me, with me telling her there was no open parking, one of the workers at Zingerman's told her to have me drive around to the front of the store and she would go out and direct me to parking. As I finally make it around to the front and roll down my window for the worker girl who is approaching my car, she opens the door, hops in, and introduces herself as she begins giving me directions. It was kind of bizarre! Well, anyway it worked. Lunch was an adventure, as this place was packed...obviously a local favorite. The whole staff there were very kind and helpful (not just car direction girl). They give free samples of any of their food. We had heard that they have large helpings, so we decided to share a reuben and a side of mac & cheese (half a pound!).
Here's our lunch...and let me tell you, it was great! That was the best mac & cheese I have ever had! It had two cheeses and some secret ingredient that gave it a little kick. YUM! And we ate outside, which I totally love to do!
Also this place is named one of the Top 25 Food Markets in the World by
Food and Wine magazine. Wow!
Well, as if that weren't enough excitement for the day... we headed on to the real reason for gas money to the Great Lakes state...everyone's favorite Swedish four letter word...IKEA!
Now, to me, IKEA isn't just shopping. It's more like an amusement park. There's so much to do and see (and buy!). We spent several hours in that big blue and yellow box, and came out only slightly poorer. I've decided that I need to make this trip a semi-annual event. Maybe that way I can spread out the spending...or does that just mean I'll be spending twice as often, so twice as much?! Oh well. I got some fun stuff--organizational things for the craft room, and a fun rug for my reading corner at school. I used a gift card I had received and actually only went over by $1.75! Not bad, I'd say!
Gilmore Girls (seasons 1 & 2). I began watching last night and by tonight I have so far viewed at least 10 episodes. I stopped long enough to see Rachael off at the airport for her trip to Africa today (but not before calling her to tell her that I needed her to bring seasons 3-5...remember I said addiction!) It's quite frightening. Good thing I didn't discover the show at the beginning of summer!!
Rachael let me borrow. I saw it on her shelf at school and asked to borrow it (because it had "dog" in the title). I am really enjoying it and will probably finish it tonight. It's called the curious incident of the dog in the night-time. It's an interesting book (although after reading the first page and finding out that the dog is dead--killed by a garden fork, I was unsure if I wanted to continue). Check it out!
I began stripping and hit the shower (maybe TMI). So, all that to say, I'm excited to get to see the floor in my craft room again. And I'm taking a trip to IKEA this weekend!! I'm soooooo excited to see what cool things I can find for both the craft room and my classroom!
My writing workstation is going to ROCK! I even got as far as putting some books on student desks. When I have a more up to date class list I will need to begin making labels for folders for students.
Today I took a trip with the parents up to Auburn to meet Wilson, my possibly-in-the-near-future cousin. He is from the Philippines and is here for a 4 week "summer camp" to meet and stay with a possible adoptive family (my aunt and uncle). It's an interesting way to get to try out a kid before you decide to adopt. I'm sure it will be hard to say goodbye when the time is up, knowing it will probably be several months before they can get to adopt him and bring him home. He seems like a sweet kid, and is very close in age to Mikalyn, my cousin who was adopted from China. They already get along like brother and sister, and it is a big adjustment to Mikalyn who has been the only child (and only young grandchild).
Here are pics of before and after. Just so you know, the before looked worse at the real beginning, but I forgot to take a picture before we began uncovering and moving things around. Everything was basically covered up and piled on top of each other in one half of the room.
d obviously someplace to use it. It is one of the best ways I can think of to unwind and enjoy the great outdoors.
I finished the required assignments and met with my mentor today to have her check things and sign off on the last few sections. I still have to have to turn it in on Sept. 15, but as far as I'm concerned, it's done. And to think that a year ago April I was totally freaked out about doing this...ha!
