swedish flag proportions

Originally uploaded by georgeaye.
I went to IKEA this Sunday and completed one of my fastest Swedish adventures to date. In an unprecedented level of forward planning, my girlfriend and I went the weekend before on an IKEA reconnisence mission with the sole purpose of not buying anything. We wanted names, measurements and prices. I didn’t think we’d get out alive (ie, without a single purchase, not even those cute yellow AA batteries) but we did it.

Yesterday we executed our precision strike and it was sweet. Straight in, scoped out, aisle and bin numbers noted straight to check out. But somehow, despite the planning, we still ended up $100 over what we were expecting.

Why does IKEA creep always happen? Why is it impossible to leave IKEA without spending more than you expect?

What is it about those brightly coloured, under $10, psuedo swedish sounding named items that make their way into our crinkly yellow carryalls?

Damn you, Molger!
Damn you, Hovet!
Damn you Skyar!

I love IKEA, but damn that place adds up quick.