Anniversary Shopping Haul (Ikea and the Container Store)

While on our Anniversary get-away we made a couple of stops at The Container Store, Ikea, Sam's Club and Target. The blind duster was a recommendation from Clean Mama whom I have been following for a while on Instagram as well as her blog. The Clip is my second one and I love that it holds my earbuds neatly in place when I store them with my Ipod. The soap dish is self explanatory. LOL . The small blue thing is a laundry bag for when we are traveling. I had one from the Dollar Store but it didn't hold up well. I am hoping this one which was recommended by Jennifer Ross will do better. 

This was a complete impulse buy. Although I have looked at them every time that we go to Ikea I have never picked them up. I just thought this time they would be cute in my ice tea or lemonade. I can't tell you when the last time I used a ice tray! 

We already have these in navy blue, but most of the time I use them to pack Marc's toiletries and our meds (in the small one). Since I had already picked up a pink packing set (same as the one below) I thought I should go all the way in and buy and additional set so that now Marc and I each have a set of our own.

This may not be the famous packing cubes from The Container Store but they have been great for helping me organize our bags when we travel. 

This was the whole reason I wanted to go to Ikea in the first place. I have been wanting to switch out our bedding in the summer for something lighter in color as well as lighter in weight. 

These are from Target. Marc looked at me like I was crazy but how do you not buy plastic versions of the famous paper plate? I can't wait to put them in some wicker trays. LOL

These were at Sam's club and I had been debating back and forth on whether to buy them. I am slowly purging my wardrobe and have picked up some new things here and there. I finally bit the bullet and tried them on (they are very comfortable) and they will be a good change from sandals or tennis shoes. 

National Cathedral

In honor of our 32nd wedding anniversary Marc and I booked an overnight stay near Washington DC to do a bit of shopping and to visit The National Catherdral. Every since Marc's professor mentioned it as a place that everyone should visit he had talked about it so I started doing some research so that we could visit during our anniversary week! Of course since we were going to Northern VA I knew I would try to make a stop at my two favorite stores in the area. We don't have an Ikea or Container Store nearby so when I get a chance I have to drop in! lol

When we booked our hotel I didn't notice that the address was directly across the street from the Container Store. Funny thing is that I didn't actually notice until the next day when I looked out the window. 

We also did a bit of shopping at the local Target which was accessed from a garage and then from there you took escalators up to the 3rd floor. 

I will be doing an Ikea, Container Store and Target store haul within the next few days.

Marc's favorite part of the tour was the view from the observation tower.

Mine was the little garden area next door to the cafe and Bishops Garden.

If I didn't already know where I was I could have easily imagined I was in England! 

I also loved visiting the shops because each section had an area that also reminded me of England. I don't have a lot of things on my bucket list but a trip to England  and Paris is definitely at the top of my list! 

The last few weeks have been tough ministry wise and Marc and I have been reflecting on how much time we have actually got to spend as a couple and with family and friends. We are not getting any younger and we are starting to realize we have to start taking out some time for us or we will look up one day and life will have passed us by! 

The National Cathedral is breath taking and I would recommend visiting it at least once. In the next few days I should have a mini trip report up on my travel page along with the shopping haul. I also have an Ipsy bag due in the next few days! 

So where is anyone else headed for vacation?