I AM Casey: May 2007

Thursday, May 31, 2007

Brylee Watch 5/27...

Bubba's Sunday at the office.

(Not really, but this Brylee Watch sure turned out looking that way!)

I'm working, can't you see!?

"Let me just jot that down here."

Working hard on her blog.

Chattin' on the webcam.

Time to go home.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Name that Celebrity #2...

My second art project in my Illustrator class. Do you recognize her?

Monday, May 28, 2007

Summer Blockbuster...

Sorry Jeff, I couldn't resist. This is that happens when I avoid studying for a Psychology test.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

IKEA-MANIA! A Recap...

May 23, 2007... A day that will be forever remembered. Yes, this is real, it is not a dream!

Candace, Lisa, Jeff and myself arrived at IKEA about 8:30 am. The doors opened at 9:00 am and it took about 20 minutes us to walk through the front doors; to much fanfare mind you. It was crowded with fellow IKEA-lovers, but it wasn't unbearable. We put in a good full day worth of shopping and left around 3:00 pm.

For being four of the first 2,500 people in line we all got mystery prizes. Lisa and I both got $10 IKEA cards, Jeff got a free hot dog and Candace lucked out with a free frozen yogurt.

I spent the most, followed closely by Candace. Jeff and Lisa trailed spending a measly $50 and $40 respectively.

Enjoy the following pictures and recap of the Best Day Utah's ever had... well at least since a bunch of pioneers and their wives showed up in this valley.

IKEA-MANIA! Shop 'Til Ya Drop...

Shopping trumped taking pictures, but I did manage to get a few shots! However I did get Jeff to pose for a photo. Which if you know Jeff, is quite a feat in and of it self. IKEA has that effect on people! See below!

IKEA-MANIA! Jeff's Dilemma...

Before Jeff moved out to the boonies and became a rural boy, this would have been a non-issue.! We all know that IKEA's a pretty hip place. How do I put this? Let's just say that IKEA doesn't agree with his new small town style. This probably accounted to me spending three-times as much as him.

IKEA-MANIA! Uniquely Utahn...

I noticed a couple things (that I would guess) are unique about Utah's IKEA store.

1) The 'Big Love' Dining Room Table.

2) No description necessary.

IKEA-MANIA! The Food...

Of course we were starving by the time we got to the Cafe (the half way point!) And of course I went with the traditional IKEA Swedish Meatballs. If you thought I ate a lot, you should check out Lisa's cart(!!!)

HA!

IKEA-MANIA! The Goods...

Oh the restraint I displayed. I kept having to remind myself that IKEA isn't going anywhere (PHEW!) and that I didn't have to buy everything in one trip(!) I mostly bought stuff for my bedroom and several other decorative treasures. If you want a preview of my new bedroom scheme, look no farther than my outfit colors... as frumpy as it may appear!

P.S. Oh and I look OBESE in the top photo! I guess I had one-too-many meatballs!

IKEA-MANIA! Grand Opening...

YES, I was one of them. I got a $10 IKEA gift card as one of the first 2,500 people in line.

In swarm of fans, IKEA feel the love
From all-night campers to early birds, thousands partake in social fanfare
DRAPER - For pure atmosphere, the grand opening of IKEA's newest retail store resembled an NBA playoff game.

Just as Jazz players trot past a line of teammates exchanging high and low fives during player introductions, customers who entered the giant home furnishings store passed through a gantlet of hooting and hollering IKEA employees pounding sausage-shaped balloons together to amplify the decibel level.

The royal treatment was not reserved just for the die-hards who had camped out for a day or more in IKEA's large but still not completely paved parking lot. The welcoming fanfare lasted more than 1 1/2 hours as a steady queue of people - those who had camped, followed by those who arrived at the crack of dawn, then those who had showed up closer to the 9 a.m. grand opening time - wended their way in orderly fashion into the 311,000-square-foot, two-story facility.

"That was a show, for sure. It was a good capper to my extended 15 minutes of fame over the past two days," said Matt Juillerat, a 29-year-old Murray man who had the distinction of being the store's first customer, having set up camp in the IKEA parking lot at 8 a.m. Monday with his friend, Lisa Criswell. For 48 hours, Juillerat and Criswell read books, played cards, "met a lot of good people and just watched the party grow and grow."

And grow it did, attracting thousands of Wasatch Front residents. They had little trouble reaching or leaving the store near the intersection of Interstate 15 and Bangerter Highway, testimony to months of planning by Draper City, the Utah Highway Patrol and the Utah Department of Transportation.

Some customers were eager to collect free gifts offered to early arrivers by IKEA. Others wanted to buy the company's distinctive home furnishings. Still others were there simply to be part of a social extravaganza not unlike the middle-of-the-night shopping sprees after Thanksgiving. "I came down just for kicks," said Carol De Silva of Cedar Hills, a veteran IKEA shopper while growing up in Barcelona, Spain. "It's like the Olympics of shopping," added Renee Wright of West Jordan.

Trina Fatani of North Salt Lake helped her sister, Kuuipo Malungahu, secure the No. 8 spot in line, taking turns holding the position they staked out Monday morning. Fatani eventually was joined by her children, 6-year-old Abish and 4-year-old Amelia, who passed the time playing with other kids and throwing a bright yellow Frisbee handed out by IKEA.

"It was actually quite fun, with a radio station here [playing music] and hours of just talking to neighbors. It was like a day camp. I'd do it again," said Fatani, proudly wearing her "I Slept with IKEA" T-shirt, also yellow in keeping with the dominant color in the flag of IKEA's home country, Sweden.

Observers included American Fork's Jamie Dalsing who, being a good daughter, had been at the store since midnight with her cousin, Ashley Fletcher of Orem. Dalsing was reserving a spot for her mother, Kathy Davis, a SkyWest Airlines flight attendant who tries to serve only on flights to cities where IKEA has stores - Oakland, Tempe, Minneapolis, Burbank.

"I've been waiting for IKEA to come here forever," Davis said. "I've always said that if I had a brand new house, I'd have it bare inside and have IKEA come out and do it up completely."

The Parkins of Sugar House, Jeremy and Kalli, are essentially doing what Davis dreamed of. After buying a house last fall, they intended to drive to the IKEA in Tempe to buy their home furnishings, but shelved that idea upon learning the company would open its 30th U.S. store in Draper. For the past nine months, they have been waiting - using furniture from Deseret Industries.

"We're going to redo our kitchen, all the appliances and, most importantly, get a couch and a high chair," Jeremy said, bending down to peek into a stroller at his 7-month-old daughter, Isadora.

Strollers were everywhere Wednesday. Singles and doubles, bare-bone units and top-flight models. The IKEA store even has an elevator capable of holding at least 10 strollers and accompanying parents at one time. "I was thinking [the opening] might be scary for the kids," said one mom, Lisa Gee of Salt Lake City, "but it was fun."

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Name that Celebrity...

Q: WHO IS THIS?

A: David Beckham... And I drew him as my first major project in my Illustrator class. Feel free to cut him out and hang it on your fridge. I know I will!

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Life (Here) is Good...

As you are well aware, we're just hours away from the opening of my favorite store. I to the K to the E to the A! I couldn't be a happier camper... or could I?!

I just found out that my second favorite store-- Urban Outfitters-- will be opening a location in the Gateway this Summer. Just the thing my pocket book needed. IKEA AND Urban Outfitters within driving distance!? Throw Target (my third favorite store) in the mix for good measure... I sense a shopping addiction looming.

So if I'm not at work or school, you have a pretty good short list of where to find me!

Salt Lake's finally getting hip. It's about time!

Monday, May 21, 2007

It's raining alright!...

It's funny how the second I start going back to school (on top of working full time) the social flood gates have opened.

I used to have all the free time in the world. Chances were that after 5:00 p.m. I was free. The odds of being able to hang out with me were in your favor. Now I have two days out of seven to be social, while reserving enough time for studying and resting for the week ahead. And of course NOW everyone wants a piece of me. (Can you blame them?!) Wow. Anyway, I know that the lack of play time is well worth the greater cause and I can handle it for the next 18 months. The question is-- can you? Book early because apparently I'm Mr. Popular 2007!?

I guess it can be explained this way. The energy I'm putting out is far more appealing as a guy that is taking on his life, going to school and working towards a career than a cute boy that sits at home watching DVDs, eating ice cream. That's the only thing I can think of! :) Makes sense to me and I'm slowly getting used to it!

This is my Crib!...

So I've lived in my current place for a year. Can you believe it?! My how time flies. Anyway I thought I'd show ya around my home sweet home. Admit it, you are curious what it's like in the Casa de Casey. Also, I acknowledge that it's May and ninety degrees out but the only pictures I have were at Christmas, please either disregard, overlook, or simply enjoy the holiday decor. It's not this festive all the time! (And note the fridge was freshly stocked after a trip to the grocery store. It doesn't look that full all the time either!)