All Things Scandi

I have long been enamored with all thingsScandinavian. From furniture to books, films and food there is something unique and distinctive that I'm drawn too. The easiest way to get my Swedish fix is with a trip to my localIkea where I went prop shopping and found these fun serving pieces from theFÄRGRIK TROLSK series. 

I always plan it so I can have lunch in their cafeteria. This open faced shrimp sandwich is surprisingly good and I had to try theprincess cake. A light sponge cake with a layer of raspberry and an icy cream top, also very tasty and my whole lunch was less than $5!Ikea is all about cheap!

I always pick up these handy staples; 49¢ tea towells that also work great forwrapping gifts and these durable 99¢ dish scrubbers.

It really is a bargain shoppers paradise, I'm amazed at all you can get for very little money. My haul totaled $79.71 with tax and included; bath tub matt, duvet cover and pillow case set (biggest ticket item at 14.99), tupperware type storage container set, flatware set, 2 trays, napkins, 2 micro wave cooking covers, salad fork set, 2 bowl sets, batteries, two dish scrubbers, two tea towels, place matt and dish.

From a foodie perspective, I find the selection of swedish foods pretty fascinating. 

I decided to try theseSingoalla lemon cookies...so good!

My Ikea Shopping Tips 

• Skip the showroom area, unless you are shopping for furniture, this is a waste of time.
• Eat before you shop, you can't bring in your cart into the dining room and it is never good to shop on an empty stomach.
• Bring your iPod, for some reason kids like to cry/scream a lot in this place.
• Grab a cart, even if you don't think you will need it...because you will.
• Try to avoid shopping on the weekends, it is much nicer when they are not too busy.
• Bring shopping bags to cart away your items. They charge you for theirs and that is if they even have any, they often don't. 

Two excellent films to check out include a recent wondrous find,Kinamand and a long time, all time favorite from Denmark,Babette's Feast. Another I loved, both as abook andmovie isLet the Right One In, a nice alternative to the conventional vampire tale.

 While on the subject of books there is of course the fantastic and popularMillennium series byStieg Larsson (ie: The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo...). Another more obscure gem you may not have heard of isTroll:A Love Story by Finnish writerJohanna Sinisalo. Maybe not everyones cup of tea, it is an odd little story but I loved it. I also especially love the illustration for the french cover version below.

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol