Thank You Ikea!

Yesterday, we took a trip to Ikea to finally purchase some shelving for our living room. I am so sad (though saved of embarrassment) that I don't have before pictures of our "behind the couch/office/storage" area. It had become the catch-all area in our living room where we could "hide" unsightly cardboard boxes full of who-knows-what, the litter box, my dead plant, and basically any number of stacks of papers that I just couldn't be bothered with shredding. We've been looking at shelving options for months, and I do mean many months...I believe it began when I was still at work! We never found anything that felt right, until last night. Thank you to Ikea for having a new, updated line of mix and match shelving with doors. We chose one that would fit under our window and would hide whatever was behind it. This is what we chose:

It does has a glass panel, so you can some things, and hopefully I clean up the right hand side. I like that my books are protected from dust now. And those boxes to the right of the cabinet we bought to be placed in the glass panel part, but unfortunately....they were too long. :(

We picked up these square mirrors (4 for $5!) and some votive candle holders, along with matching vases to decorate the top of the cabinet (and hopefully deter from just stacking things in that corner again). I added some pictures and things as well. I love the way it looks!

We also picked up a tall shelf (right) to put our gaming things, and between everything that fit in the two shelves, the desk/storage area can actually be used! Before you had to navigate around random things just to access the printer.

I also picked up this drawer organizer for my sewing cabinet. It is full, BUT it is organized and neat and I won't accidentally stick myself on pins or needles trying to dig out ribbon. Hooray! And because Ikea is so cheap, it was all very affordable. The tall shelf was from the As-Is section, and when we opened the bottom door, there was a full bathroom set in there! $83 worth of toothbrush holders, soap dispensers, toilet paper stand, toilet brush and soap dishes! I love free stuff!

In other news, it looks like I got a full time job! Still waiting for official confirmation, but I should start on Monday! I will work as a permanent sub in the school I had mentioned last. This position opened up and it was a way better option than the part-time position, even though the part-time was more related to what I want to do in the future. With the full time job, I can afford to go back to school, so this week I met with admissions at a local university to talk about applying to their Specialist Teacher in Reading graduate program. It would fit into my work schedule and I really think it is time. Lots going on! So, as you can imagine, no new projects this week. But I did make diet banana bread this evening...no eggs, Brummel and Brown instead of butter and Splenda. Can't wait to taste it! I've been motivated to start a second blog, where I will try to lose 52 lbs in 52 Weeks...I haven't started it yet, but I plan to track my progress and include recipes that I try along the way. I'll let you know when it is up and ready.

Oh! There's my bread beeping! Have a great evening everyone!