There's No Place Like Home and Rats

We actually moved into our apartment in mid-August. Our stuff was put on a slow boat to, errr, Tokyo, so we had rental furniture for a month.  It was awful.  I could swear the sofa had bed bugs.  Russell expressly denied this. But if that's the case why did I keep itching?

It was gloomy.  See for yourself:

Not only was that blanket brown but it was like a military blanket - scratchy

I feel suicidal just looking at this picture.

Back in California our home was mediterranean style, a little eclectic, 

with gold walls, rustic tile floors and jewel tone furniture.

In Tokyo I wanted to have a completely different life.  So I convinced Russell, no easy feat, to buy all new furniture.  Well, not all new furniture but at least a living room full.  The majority of our furniture wouldn't fit into the apartment anyway.  Off to Ikea we went and bought a whole new ensemble.

And it's ALL WHITE and MODERN - completely different than what we're accustomed too.  And something you would never do if you own a D-O-G.  But hey, it's only for a couple of years, right?

What I love about the white palette is that you can customize it for every season.  

So here it is in costume for Halloween -  my favorite holiday.

The bedroom furniture is actually from one of our spare rooms in California.

But the bedding is new.

This is a futon.  It's actually quite comfortable.  

I know because I have napped on it several times.  

I had to make sure it was ok for guests!

When it rolls out it takes up the entire guest room.

Hey, it's like staying at the W on Lexington.  There's no room for your suitcase.

But with one big, ok small, difference.  This room comes with a sock monkey.

Every weekend I've been in Tokyo I've planned an excursion.  The week the furniture finally came I planned an excursion to Tokyo Ikea (apparently they have several and Costco too!).  Interestingly they sell EXACTLY the same furniture they do in the states but it is literally TWICE the cost.  No exaggeration.  I know because I printed out all the price sheets for the furniture we bought.   

We did note one exception. RATS!!!  In America, Ikea has bins of cuddly, lovable stuffed animals. I mean when you buy furniture you gotta have stuffed animals, right?  That and swedish meatballs.

And in Tokyo they do too.  All the usual suspects.  You've got your adorable puppies, hippos and kitty cats.  But more than anything you have your stuffed rats.  No kidding!! There were bins and bins of them - in all colors and sizes.   Crazy!

Just what every Japanese child longs for - their very own cuddly rat!!!