By Manda
It pains me to admit the following, but I need to share something with you: I'm short. Five feet and four and a half inches, to be exact. I have to buy the "short" jeans at Target. My husband (who is only six feet tall) towers over me. My daughter (who is only three, but is tall for her age) is already half as tall as I am. And yes, I have to keep a step stool in my kitchen to reach things up high in my cabinets.
I HATE IT.
For years I have been using this little square footstool that I found ages ago at TJ Maxx and my husband has always hated it. It has sharp corners and he always bashes his shins on it, it's covered in this weird old lady fabric, you can't sit on it comfortably ... but I NEED IT, so in the kitchen it stayed. That is, until last week!
You guys? I am so excited to share with you the best $14.99 I have ever spent at IKEA:
{photo via Ikea.com}
I saw it (flat packed of course) and tossed it onto my cart as an afterthought, thinking I'd probably ditch it before I got to the checkout. But then I had the brilliant idea that it would be a project my daughter and I could do that afternoon while her brother (hopefully) napped.
Which as it happens? Was a BRILLIANT idea! We assembled the stool together, I let her hand me screws and turn the allen wrench, and it only took about 25 minutes to complete (and that's with a squirrely three-year-old "helping" and one piece in the wrong place that required a partial un-assembly!).
Soon we put the stool to work in the kitchen. It's the perfect height for my daughter to stand on to wash her hands at the kitchen sink or to "help" me in the kitchen. It makes a great place to perch when I'm hiding from my kids and shotgunning coffee in the morning, and best of all, it's a (much safer) way for me to reach high places! Not to mention my husband doesn't mind stubbing his shins on it so much since it's made of a (totally BEGGING to be spray-painted!!) soft pine.
WIN!
What's your favorite IKEA score?
Advice/admission from another short chick: Long handled silicone ended tongs are also very helpful for reaching things on high shelves.
Posted by: Carla | December 16, 2011 at 11:08 PM
I predict the red spray paint can will make an appearance again.....
Posted by: Jenny | December 17, 2011 at 07:16 AM
A pretty big metal drying rack that folds (score for my tiny house) for $5.00. We got it 6 years ago and whenever I actually look at it I'm always impressed with what a deal it was.
Posted by: Julie | December 17, 2011 at 10:52 AM