Our Target Tradition

Saturdays are my favorite. We have a pretty "official" Saturday schedule going: wake up, Happy Donuts, Starbucks for mom (who is avoiding processed sugar and gets super grumpy after about 20 minutes at the donut shop), "The Target"/mall, sometimes lunch, and then home so Paul can head to church.

We always mindlessly wander Target, throwing things into our cart that we don't really need, browsing the toys with Porter, looking at the new clothes for both the boys, trying to find a good place or reason to buy a faux fur stool in the home decor section, stocking up on La Croix and coconut milk nog and peppermint white chocolate kettle corn... you know, the usual. We check out, I save 5% on my Red card, Paul panics about how much money we just spent on non-necessities, Porter gets a sticker, and then we're on our merry way.

This post sounds like an ad, but it's not. I just genuinely love it that much. What is it about Target that is just so... happy? Do they have subliminal messaging in their advertising? Is it because it literally has everything you need in one place and people always look much more sane than the local Walmart? I even love the Target brand, Archer Farms. I mean, I'm being serious: it's just ALL GOOD. Even the little things.

I mean, just today another mom and I, who was toting around a baby maybe a couple weeks old, laughed and joked around together as we searched through personalized ornaments for our kids' initials. So, ya know, it's really also about community.

I need to start documenting our weekend Target trips in pictures, so I can look back through them someday - when Porter is too busy on a Saturday morning to accompany us on our Target dates (sobs). Some of my favorite weekend memories are in our local Target, and it makes me oddly happy when Porter exclaims "THE TARGET!" as we drive up. Until he starts backseat driving and telling us to park the car, like that's not the one thing we're focused on at that very moment.

What are some of your favorite weekend traditions?

Pajama Party

Let's talk about more obsessions. Specifically, Target-fueled obsessions.

I cannot go to Target without buying a new haul of pajamas. The LAST thing my boys need are pajamas. I have drawers (plural) dedicated to pajamas. Onesies, cute sets of long sleeved shirts and pants, shorts and tank tops for summer... Paw Patrol, aliens, Minions, football, Star Wars, sailboats, camo, cowboy... you name it, we have it. There is something so cute about a little kid in adorable pajamas. When they start wearing raggedy t-shirts and basketball shorts to sleep, I'll cry.

And, I can't throw any away. Well, except for a pair I got at Nordstrom when Porter was a baby, I tossed those with no problem. Designer pajamas are not my thing. They're too serious, and kids need FUN pajamas. I need the cheap packs that come in sets of 2... with the cheesy designs and characters. Get outta here with those color-blocks, Tucker & Tate.

Paul has started to bargain with me: throw out a piece of clothing, or an old set of pajamas, for every new one you bring home. I agreed, but truth-be-told: I just started a new drawer and make sure I'm the one to dress the boys for bed each night. Sawry.

What can't you stop buying - from Target, or elsewhere? 

Current status:

dropping everything to run out and buy these, because Porter is loving Spiderman lately... and I have NOT seen these yet in my local Target.

I Don't Run, But I Like To Look Like I Do

Saturday almost always means Target runs with Paul and Porter. It's one of my favorite parts of the week. We usually always pick up a few necessities, like diapers and dog food, or we spend way too much time pouring over the home decor, debating on if we need a new rug for our living room. But, I also always get to peruse through my favorite areas: clothing. Cosmetics. Shoes. Holiday.

I mean, when don't I need another bag of Holiday Reese's, or a new wine-stained lip (made possible by this, in Bordeaux)? The answer you're looking for is never.

So, I bought a hot pink pullover last winter before I had Porter, and I am in love with it. It's fitted and soft and is a perfect go-to outfit for running errands with a 9 month old. I'm sure it's made for something like yoga or running, but HAHAHA.

Yeah right. If you see me, and you think to yourself "man, she must be going running!", I'm sad to disappoint you. I don't run... but I like to look like I do.

I found this year's version today -- which is even softer and stretchier. I'm in love! I bought one in black (but this purple one looks better in a photo, so you can see all the fun detail).

They have a ton of different variations of this jacket, so if you've never looked in the athletic section, I urge you to do so! If you're lucky, you may even find last season's version on the sale racks. 

Target Run & Saturday Fun

Paul was busy doing some home improvements and Porter was sleeping in, so I flew out the door by myself to make a Target run for a baby shower I was headed to later in the afternoon.

I flew out the door.

By myself.

Those are two phrases that I definitely don't say often. Ok, maybe ever, anymore. 

Leaving the house takes planning and preparation, two things I'm not awesome at as it is. And by myself is just highly unlikely, which I'm ok with. My husband is my best friend, so I honestly enjoy doing stuff with him. And I missed Porter's chubby little cheeks (two sets) in the front of my shopping cart, yelling at me for a drink of my Starbucks while I ignore him and kiss his little nose.

Of course, I detoured through the clothing section, and ended up with two new purchases that were calling to me (Yep. Bought the same sweater in grey and orange). Do these not scream fall? And also, youshouldbuynewwedgebootiestoobecauseiwouldlookawesomewithfauxleatherleggings?

I came home with Starbucks for my hub and our friend, who were busy sheet-rocking the downstairs bathroom. Porter went down for a nap as soon as I got home, so I got ready for the baby shower, put together the shower gift (I even had the time and motivation to write some fun advice in my friend's card... WHAT? Normally I forget to even buy a card), cleaned up living room, lit some winter-y candles for the guys (I know they secretly appreciate wintery candles while football is on TV, no matter how much they roll their eyes), and left on time.

New winter candle and some valuable advice for my expecting mom-friend!

I know this seems uneventful, and even boring, but new moms can totally appreciate this: those days when everything just goes according to plans -- no blowouts, no nap strikes, no blueberries ground into the white carpet -- are worthy of a post.

A day like yesterday deserves it's own post, for sure. If I show the day the honor it deserves, maybe it won't be so shy to come around again. 

Like, tomorrow.

It's Monday. Please be gentle.

Thursday Thoughts.

- Super soft crew neck sweaters. I would love to link to the Harvard University one I'm wearing right now from Target, but it's not online. WHAT? Anyway. It's super comfortable and cozy and makes me crave a hot latte in my hands.

- Thunderstorms. Except not at 5am, when today's rolled into town. If my child is sleeping, and anything other than his God-given inner alarm clock wakes him up, this mama is going loco. So, now that I am happily on my couch and sipping coffee... thunder on.

- Pumpkin Pie syrup. I bought some last night, so I can make my own PSL, at home. In the comfort of my super soft crew neck sweater.

- Matthew Barnett of The Dream Center is going to be on Kathie Lee and Hoda, today! Love that guy, and love that Jesus is gettin' some facetime on the Today Show. He sorta deserves it.

- A bag of S'Mores Candy Corn are sitting on my counter. I'm scared to open them, because I cannot cannot cannot devour the whole bag before 10am.

- This article made me a bit nauseous. Probably because I contribute a fair amount of this ridiculous daily income to the Candy Crush Saga.

Last Thing Thursday.

The Life of the Wife along with aunie SAUCE have begun this fun link-up party called The Last 13 Things. Be sure to join in and link up over on their blogs!

The Last Thing I:

ATE:

Kashi Go Lean cereal and vanilla almond milk.

BOUGHT:

An Emerald City Smoothie - Lean Body for Her w/a scoop of peanut butter and NO BANANA. Tastes like a PB&J in a cup. Delicious, and no gross like my desciption may lead you to believe. Ha!

READ:

Some beautiful posts on Facebook, for a man that went to Heaven far too soon for my liking. We love you, Joe.

LAUGHED AT:

COOKED:

A Chicken Pesto Melt. Just as delicious as it sounds. We served it "open-faced" (only one piece of bread), with provolone and pepperjack and roasted red peppers and fresh tomato. Absolutely amazing.

BAKED:

Haha. Bake? Me?

CRAFTED:

Haha. Craft? Me? I think I hot-glued some rhinestones to a ceramic picture frame, which I loved so much I BEGGED my family to get me my own hot glue gun for Christmas. They did. And I haven't even opened it. That was two years ago.

DROOLED OVER:

All of this loveliness from Target. Are you kidding me?

COVETED:

This, also from Target. Man. What is it with me and Target lately?

THOUGHT:

I cannot wait to get off work and go to the gym. (Weird.)

WORE:

A long-sleeved grey shirt from H&M, black leggings, brown Steve Madden boots and bedhead. I'm fancy.

CRAVED:

this smoothie that's I'm drinking. I'm telling you. Addicting!

WAS THANKFUL FOR:

Tomorrow. And with tomorrow... life. My family. My husband. My Jesus, and the gift of grace and peace.

Irony & The Ugly Truth

Today has been a great day.

No work. Woke up on my own at 8am (this is sleeping in), went to the gym with my work-out buddy (high-five for yet another perk of being married; live-in workout buddies!) and then proceeded to do nothing all day except for make lunch, get an evening coffee, hit up Target for nothing in particular, and spring-clean my closet.

And just like that, my much-anticipated Monday off, is over.

Why do these precious days fly by? And if I was at work today, the 8 hours would have been the longest, most painful chunk of time ever. I know this is nothing new. I know I'm not the first to observe this. But this is one of the many ironies that I just can't wrap my mind around.

Now, we're wrapping up the night with a delicious dinner - whole wheat pasta with tomato chunks, feta cheese and avocado - and watching The Ugly Truth. I seriously will watch anything that Katherine Heigl has a role in. It's pretty bad. I have no shame.

This movie, I loved. It's a tad inappropriate, but oddly charming. Maybe it's the combination of Gerard Butler and Katheine, or the witty dialogue, or the fact that any movie where the main actress plays the producer of a news channel/morning show is an automatic hit with me.

Ok, wrapping this up now - it's the dinner scene with the inappropriate undergarments (if you have seen this movie, you know exactly what I mean. I think I snort-laughed in the theatre the first time I saw it). Have I mentioned that I adore Katherine Heigl?