IKEA Getaway!

I can't believe I've been to IKEA twice now and not taken any pictures. Really, if you've seen one you've seen them all. This IKEA trip was much more exciting, however, because I got to go with a friend without grumbling husbands and whiney kids. We talked with ease the entire 3 hour trip there and perused every nook and cranny without the sounds of sighs and shadow of raised eyebrows. I was able to get the final items on my wish list to get the kids' toys organized in their rooms and some decorative items to finish off some of the plain spaces at last in the house. Just in time to give me something to do the first week Chris was gone.

After we exhausted every aisle of IKEA, listening, ironically, to American patriotic music while there, we headed down the street for a Starbucks pick-me-up. The barista was so friendly and very interested about us being in Fukuoka. Being that there aren't any bases close by, they likely don't often see a ton of foreigners and she was so nice in welcoming me to the city and was surprised to hear we lived in Japan. I've learned that telling people we live in Iwakuni is comparable to telling them we live in some armpit town of Kansas or somewhere nobody has ever heard of (sorry Kansas!). While I didn't get any pictures of our IKEA adventure, here is a picture of my Starbucks cup that the sweet barista took the time to personalize. Also, there's a new drink that sounds anything but appealing! I don't think that's one I'll be trying- ever.