Ikea Stockholm and why the classifieds are a goldmine.

It's been over a year since we got our very first couch together, and it's been very good to us. The dark brown fabric has been very forgiving of our food and drink spills, but the scratchy fabric acts as a magnet for pills from our blankets and clothes, and it's seriously a sonofabitch to get off. I think the couch cost us in the $250 range, which was really all we could afford at the time, and quite frankly, is still extremely reasonable for a shapely, livable couch.

Being that my insatiable vice is decorating, I've been searching for a more "grownup" couch for the last 6 months or so. I was ACTUALLY willing to save my pennies for a year and spend $1100 on the Ikea Stockholm couch because 1. I'm insane like that, and 2. It's a really fabulous design. To quote Remodelista: "Surprisingly more appealing in situ is the Stockholm 3 1/2 sofa (go to ikea.com for specs); comfortable, streamlined, nicely proportioned, down-filled cushions. At $1,399, an excellent value. Seemed more like a real couch and less like an Ikea placeholder piece you tolerate until you get your act together. "

Well said, Remodelista. Well, I'm done tolerating my "placeholder", and I'm getting the both of both worlds, because while perusing the classifieds on the internet one day at work, I came across an ad selling the Stockholm in beige for-- wait for it... $400.

A year old.

Spotless.

The catch? She's in Colorado until the end of January. Will I wait? she asks me.

Um... yeah?

Above is the Ikea Stockholm in action courtesy of a couple of fellow flickr members. Please click pictures for links.

Christmas 2010

This Christmas season was truly incredible. There was a lot of focus on love and family and just doing our best to not stress over anything so that we could go with the flow. Gift-wise, I've never felt more spoiled. I've got a lot to be grateful for.

Trent has been playing with his new iphone non-stop since he got it, and I've got to say that I'm blown away with its abilities.

For the New Year, my goal is to really start letting myself be me. I hope you guys enjoy the changes you see take place in this space in the upcoming months.

Happy Holidays, guys.

Pictures from my Pinterest to keep you warm and toasty tonight.

As always, click the pictures for links.