If you’re someone who does NOT get excited about the back to school shopping season, you’re going to love what Target has going on right now.
Charlie loves Target.
Charlie, who recently celebrated her 3rd birthday, wasn’t totally sold on her mom’s idea for a Trolls theme for the big day.
Her choice? Target. And her mom, Emily, made it happen.
Are you creating a baby registry anytime soon? Did you already set one up over at Target.com after my last post about how AMAZING and easy it is to do so?
Okay, cool! Maybe you are totally confident in the stuff you’re putting on there, or maybe, like I was when I registered for my first baby, you are SUPER overwhelmed. Either way, I want to share 6 things I would totally put on a baby registry right this minute, in partnership with Target.
This post is sponsored by P&G but all opinions are my own.
So you’re going to have a baby! Welcome to parenthood! You have the next 19ish years to overcomplicate everything, and you probably will. I mean, you’re going to stress about what foods to feed your baby, how to get your toddler to sleep better, what to gift your preschooler’s teacher after she hands you a bag of poop-filled underwear when you swore your daughter was potty trained… and so on.
There’s plenty of time to stress over every. little. thing. So do yourself a favor and don’t start yet.
I’m going to guess maybe you’re a little excited to start nesting, getting things in order, and to create a baby registry. Am I right? I hope I am because that’s a pretty fun part of having a baby. You SHOULD have fun with that.
I rarely make it to local influencer events because I live in the burbs, and I have 4 kids, and it can be hard for me to find time to brush my hair most days. But something about an invite to come check out and shop at a newly redesigned Target screamed, “OMG your readers are going to want to see this and you get a free shopping trip out of it, childfree, on a Saturday!” So I made this happen today.
Target gave me some cool swag and a gift card, but they aren’t paying me for this post.
I also rarely blog on a Saturday, but this is a great excuse to hide in the office in silence with coffee while the rest of the family does laundry. (BETWEEN YOU AND ME.)
Enough about me, let’s get to Target. (Literally, you’re going to want to GET to a Target that’s been remodeled after you see this.)
One of the most noticeable differences is that home decor has been moved to the front of the store AND it’s displayed in a way that’s meant to inspire you and give you home decorating ideas. Pillows and vases and everything else is displayed at varying heights, and in a way that makes you have to hunt less for those gems we love to bring home even though they weren’t on our list in the first place. Good news… bad news? I’m not here to judge.
Clothing is also displayed in a more creative way, with mannequins showing off stylish combos, and now you can find coordinating pieces like shoes and accessories all in one spot, making it so much easier to run in with toddler in tow, grab an ENTIRE outfit, and head out in time for that event you totally didn’t have time to shop for.
The women’s plus collections are laid out similarly and have a variety of options as its own, separate section. That’s right! It’s no longer smooshed into a corner with maternity! (Junior’s plus size is still incorporated with other junior sizes because feedback from younger women showed they wanted to be able to shop in the same section as their peers.)
You’ll now find maternity around the corner, between loungewear and intimates.
That placement sounded odd to me at first until they explained that this way they were able to combine maternity clothes with maternity (and nursing) bras, camis, and underwear.
Hooray for pregnant women only having to visit one spot to get what they need! Maybe they can put an endcap here with pickles and Sour Patch Kids, too?
Across the way, in the Kids’ Room Decor section, you’ll find rows and rows of Target’s brilliant Pillowfort line. Again, the displays are no longer just plain shelving. They really want kids to be able to walk through and help put together their own room designs by grabbing what grabs their attention. Unfortunately, for us, I anticipate having to keep little hands from pulling off 10 pillows while I’m not looking. A fair tradeoff for the adorable options at amazing prices, though.
The Tech section takes on a Best Buy vibe, looking very legit, and serviced by employees who know their way in and out of all the tech stuff they have to offer.
Their Circo brand nursery line has been phased out, and in the Baby & Toddler section, Cloud Island is taking its place with on-trend, affordable, natural and/or organic pieces. BACK IN MY DAY 9 years ago when I had my first baby, you had to go to very expensive baby boutiques to get crib bedding this cute. I HOPE YOU KNOW HOW LUCKY YOU ARE, WHIPPERSNAPPER NEW PARENTS.
Also, let’s take a minute to slow clap for this.
All you need is a sheet, friends. Not only is Target not displaying all the unnecessary stuff (that they could make money off of selling you), they literally have a sign to tell you YOU DON’T NEED IT. Man, I just love Target. *sigh*
We dress our kids in Cat & Jack clothes nearly every day. I’m obsessed with their basics and their positive messaging. The quality is incredible for the price.
In the re-design, you’ll see more emphasis on the Cat & Jack line in baby, toddler, and big kids.
I couldn’t help but notice this female-looking mannequin rocking the Nasa tank top in a display between the boys and the girls section. Interesting considering this tweet that went viral this week.
In addition to the Cat & Jack line, you’ll also find Art Class in the big kid sections, which is the line for kids who want to dress and express themselves.
I’m all about dressing in athleisure lately, and I’m sure I’ll be adding a lot more to my wardrobe before we take off in an RV for a year. There are now expanded active wear sections in both the mens and womens sections with a ton of high-quality options at wonderfully reasonable prices (says the girl who spent way too much money on her last pair of compression leggings from another store and is now in love with the ones on that mannequin in the blue top).
Also worth noting, their women’s swimwear section is HUGE! And it’s full of options that let you buy just a top by your specific cup size and whatever style of bottoms suit you best, including some high waisted options!
The grocery section is laid out and lit in a way that makes it feel like you’re shopping at a fancy grocery store, not just some other aisles in Target.
The produce section is expansive and specifically designed to make room to add more produce to the floor when it’s in season.
They are bringing in a lot of local food & drinks, the Starbucks is still there, and this grab and go area at the front is a super cool option for quick snacks and lunches. Also, let’s talk about those lights. They’ve replaced all the fluorescent with LED lighting, which means a 35% energy savings and also makes the store just… look better. I really don’t know how else to describe it.
Finally, I know what you all are worried about. “But Jill, what about the Dollar Spot?!” Friends fret not! Behold! It is still there.
What will probably not be there when you visit is the Target dog. He’s very busy. Sorry! (OMG how lucky am I?)
As of June, 2017 these North Texas/Dallas area stores are remodeled- North Dallas Coit Road, Plano West, Frisco North, McKinney, Fort Worth Central, Addison, Mansfield, Watauga
More Dallas area store remodels are expected to roll out as follows:
July 2017- Rockwall, Burleson, Waxahachie, Euless
August 2017- Love Field, Frisco, Dallas North East
October 2017- Medallion, North Richland Hills, Flower Mound, Mesquite, Hurst, Cityview, McKinney SW, Denton, Allen North, Lewisville
If you’re not in the Dallas area, I don’t have much info for you at this time, but I’ve reached out to see if corporate can provide me with more details about remodels around the country and will update if/when they get back to me.
Now that our house is officially under contract (again- we’re hopeful it will stick the 2nd time around), we can loosen up a little with keeping this place looking generic and pristine.
And that is fantastic because I do love decorating for Halloween. I don’t go all out (like my friend Jen who is just… a Halloween machine), but I have fun adding simple, whimsical touches throughout the house.
Of course, it all starts with THE Monster Wreath. Often recreated (or blatantly ripped off by Target, but whatevs)….
Totally adding this to my media kit. I mean, not everyone has their blog post turned into something for profit by the Bullseye, right? This is me being zen about this. Zennnnnnn….
This year, I also found the perfect spot for the tulle wreath that started it all. It’s been a while since I dusted it off, and it looks so lovely in our office.
Bixby the Black Cat wreath has taken up his old spot above the fire place again. His whiskers are looking a little raggedy this year. I think he’s been getting into mischief.
I was on The Broadcast yesterday (in DFW) showing off how to make him, but I tweaked his tutorial a bit to make it a little more simple, and a little more sophisticated. Here’s a tinier, less cartoony version hanging in our entry way.
I’ve added the updated tutorial ideas to the original Bixby tutorial.
That pumpkin (funkin? the foam kind from the craft store) was a quick little DIY that required one bunch of black embroidery thread, and a handful of nails.
I didn’t even need a hammer. Just pushed them in.
I had plans to get super creative with different colors of thread and crazy face shapes, but then my “good enough” spirit took hold and I embraced him and his simplicity as part of my plan. Yeah, we’ll go with that.
Minted sent me a fun surprise a couple weeks ago- a box full of Halloween paper decorations…
And even a fun Kiwi Crate for the kids to get crafty.
All the little touches have added up to just the right amount of holiday fun around here, without being a ton of stuff I’ll have to take down before we pack and move, which will hopefully be RIGHT after Halloween. Eeeek!
If you’re interested in making any of these, here are the links to the tutorials:
Monster Wreath
Original Tutu Cute Halloween Wreath
Bixby The Black Cat Wreath
Also, here’s last year’s post with some fun, last minute pumpkin decor ideas.
And if you’re in the market for some last-minute help, and simply don’t want to DIY anything, my friends from Ribbon Parties have a GREAT flash sale going on!
And this box is ideal if you’re planning a party! Only $34, stocked with stuff for a party of 8.
As I loaded up my groceries into my cart, the checker at Target did that thing where he just keeps right on scanning the next person in line. My keys and wallet were still by the card-reader, and I was balancing a baby on my hip, trying to hustle. I get that they have to serve everyone quickly but, HELLO, 10 seconds please? Literally 10 seconds. Please.
But the checker didn’t seem all that with-it to begin with. Probably the end of a long shift. He had that far-off look in his eyes, daydreaming. He was mostly silent as he scanned the items on the belt for the man behind me in line.
Beeep….. beep….beep….
I put that last bag in my cart.
Then, quietly, but loud enough for me and the man in line to hear, he sung out, almost as if in a trance and completely against his will….
“Trojan MAN!”
And then abruptly, I swear, stopped breathing.
We all did, all 3 of us. The awkward was painfully funny. Well, for me. I have no idea if it was just painful for the man obviously buying condoms. Hopefully it was funny, this rare peek into this checker’s inner dialogue.
I just…. walked away. I could not allow myself to look up and make eye-contact with either of them. I shop there way too much to pee my pants at checkout.
I’m lucky, so so lucky to have Scott as my parenting partner. He is truly my equal when it comes to this gig, always picking up his fair share (and many times, I’d say more than that).
Is there anything sweeter and sexier than a man who says, “Babe, relax. Take a break. I’ll take the kids grocery shopping. What do you need me to get?” If you’re young, hip, single with no kids, don’t answer that, m’kay?
He says that to me about twice a week. I know. LUCKY! Try not to hate me.
And they’re always gone long enough for me to collect myself, get a little work done, pick up a little, and pour a glass of wine.
Well, except for tonight when I was obviously that weird mom following them around the store with my camera.
I’m so fortunate that this is the way I view fatherhood.
This was June’s assignment for the Clickin Moms The Way I View monthly photo project.
Last Friday I thought it would be fun to have a couple kids over for a play date (sisters) and have a little photo shoot. I’m at the point in my photography journey that I feel I have enough of a grasp of the technical stuff to exercise a little creativity, and I’m at a place where I’m really excited to exercise that creativity whenever I can.
Unfortunately, my kids are over it. Well, that, and also I’m their mom so there’s that whole, “Really, mom? REALLY?” ‘tude they have going on. Other people’s children, however, find my camera novel and listen like little sweethearts when I tell them to stand there and look here… but DON’T say “cheese!”
So I commandeered my friend’s children and made it sound like she’d be getting a great deal by letting me take their pictures, when really, I was the one who was having all the fun.
Aren’t they the sweetest?!
I was inspired to do (okay, basically stole the idea of) the baking themed shoot from the amazing Ariana from Becoming Mom (who was inspired by Sandy Wagerman of Lucky Ladybug Photography).
I got all the supplies I needed at Target (but of course). The baking supplies and “LOVE” wooden blocks were all found in their dollar section, and the colorful heart backdrop is a vinyl tablecloth from a Valentines end cap in housewares. We didn’t have time to find or make aprons, so we just folded a hand towel (also found in the dollar section) in half and ran a ribbon through it, then tied it around the child’s waist. Though, you really can’t see the apron much in these pictures.
I was glad I got some great pictures of my friend’s children with this set up because I knew mine wouldn’t cooperate with the idea. All is not lost, though. I managed to score this beauty of Kendall, which I turned into a wallet sized card for him to exchange at school.
Fitting, what with his love for all things sports.
Leyna did manage to model her pretty Tea Collection dress.
Have you entered to win that $100 shopping spree yet?
And, overall, she just had a grand time licking and chewing all the new photo props and hanging out with her little bestie.
Oh, and these pictures were taken in front of the floor to ceiling window in our newly enclosed home office. I never realized what beautiful light comes in there most of the day until we put a wall in front of it. Scott doesn’t know this yet, but I’m brainstorming ways to turn it into a home office SLASH mini studio. He’s going to rue the day he ever bought me that camera.
Kendall is 3.5 and Leyna is 1… annnnd they already get annoyed at the sight of my camera.
Sorry to leave you folks hanging. I had a hot date with Satan this morning and had to run 7 miles in 250 degree weather with 1000% humidity. Now that I’m coming close to rehydration (thank you Sangria and a cup or two of water) and I got a good afternoon nap in (THANK YOU, lovely son of mine, for working with me on that), I’ve come to tell you all about the boxy, personal size goodness that is the wine juice box because, really, I see myself as a messenger of all things good and intoxicating.
Behold!
Mmmmm… Peeknot GreeGeeOh (just watched Bride Wars, funny, funny)
How perfect were these instead of beers that totally make me all bloaty and burpy when floating down the river? Umh, so perfect. Perfection. I actually enjoyed a few White Sangria ones, and they stayed nice and cool in my beer koozie. I am so Klassy. I am, I know. I have a few on standby in the refrigerator, totally taking them to July 4th fireworks.
And, not that I’m a huge wine snob, because really I’m not. I’m a fan of 2 buck (which is really more like 3 buck and some change now) Chuck, and don’t care if bottles have plastic corks or twist off caps, it all does the same job, but I didn’t have big expectations from a wine that comes in a personal size box. It’s GOOD, though! Maybe not like pour it in a fancy Riedel glass, swirl, sniff, sip, spit, cleanse the pallet good, but it’s totally good enough to drink with some summer BBQ, or just, you know, by itself whenever the mood strikes, like after a long day of nap strikes and meltdowns in Target.
Speaking of Target, my love/hate relationship now sways way more toward love since, you guessed it, that’s where I got these beauties. They come in a four pack and are part of the Wine Cube brand. To my knowledge, they are only available at Target. I think they are a little less than $8 for 4 little juice boxes. And, let me just be clear that Target did not send me the wine to review. I sought these out all on my own and am spreading the good word. Not that I wouldn’t be interested in a working relationship where Target sends me free wine to try! Gah… would that not be the pinnacle of mommy blogging?
Kendall is nearly 14 months old and better keep his hands off my juice boxes