5 totally (not) essential IKEA items

I missed out on writing a hump-day post this week as i've been mega busy, but it's not all sad news as it means that we are another day closer to the weekend! Wooooo. Anyway, happy Thursday everyone! I hope it's been fabulouso so far.

So, last weekend, Jamie came down to visit me at uni and we actually found ourselves to be pretty bored (we'd already watched too much Netflix and eaten too much food to sit around any longer). The weather outside wasn't great and apart from going to West Quay, or a pub, there actually isn't really a ton of things to do late on a miserable Saturday afternoon in Southampton...or so i thought.

I had a brainwave...IKEA! It's indoors, it's huge & it has a million cool things to mess around with. The showrooms are probably my favourite thing about the place, well, besides the fact that you can buy quite nice cups and plates for only 50p each!!! Absolutely mental.

But to cut to the chase, i've put together a little list of things that i found during my trip to IKEA that are absolutely (not) essential, but things you'll end up buying anyway.

Let's begin...

1. Tea lights

Everyone needs a tealight or two in their life, or 100 for that matter as that's how many is in a pack. They'll also show the world that you're sensible, organised and super ready for an apocalypse, or a power cut.

2. A big, blue IKEA carrier bag

Nothing says 'I've been to IKEA' like a big blue bag with bright yellow IKEA logos pasted all over the handles. (They could also be really handy when food shopping as they're huge and would save you about £4000 in carrier bag charges.)

3. A (very professional) table lamp

I think the name speaks for itself when it comes to this one...

4. Diam bars

When you finally find your way out of the maze that is IKEA and come to terms with the fact that you're buying about 27 completely pointless items that you're never going to use, you'll get to the till. You've made it, you're finished. But wait...these little buggers have caught your eye and you can't not buy them. It's a trap. Even if you've survived IKEA and magically managed to buy nothing, you'll end up buying these. You'll need all the sugar you can get after the 10 mile walk to find your way out, and they know this. They know you need them.

5. A hotdog

Even when you've paid and are walking to leave the store you're not safe. Aside from the IKEA restaurant that is slap bang in the middle of the store, there is also another one as you're trying to leave. The worst part? It sells 60p hotdogs! 60p!!! How can you not have one? The answer... You have to. There isn't any other place that sells a hotdog for the price of 3 Freddos, so of course you have to get yourself one (or five).  

I hope you enjoyed this little post, and yes... you can thank me later for letting you in on the 60p hotdog secret.