Target In January

I recently went to Target. As I do. When I want to buy a mindless variety of unnecessary items.

The reason I had gone there was because in my rummaging cleaning, I found 4 gift cards totaling $100 to Target in my drawer. They were given to me over the last few months as my kids would get them as gifts and then order something off of Amazon and pay me with their Target gift cards. I didn’t mind. I knew I would use them. Or lose them. Whichever came first. I decided to get on using them before I forgot.

With the holidays just recently being over and it being the beginning of the year, a lot of us are not spending money. I wanted to show some inexpensive options Target is offering right now, in case you wanted something new, but did not want a high price tag to struggle with.

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I didn’t mean to go to the clothing section. Cross my heart. But that is where I ended up. And I saw the best shirt. Seriously. Run. Don’t walk. And go get yourself this shirt. The only sizes left in black at our Target were XS and Large. I bought a Large for myself (fits perfectly) and an XS for my daughter (now you see why they don’t mind paying me with their gift cards).

The shirt is $16.99 and so similar to the more expensive shirts in my wishlist. See here. And here. Plus, you get 5% off if you use their Target Red Debit Card. It also came in the prettiest seafoam green color. But I needed a black shirt. The back has the pretty key-hole.

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Does this remind you of anything? How about my Ruffled Hem Pullover? This was less than 1/4 of that price?! I do like my Anthropologie sweater better. The back is more detailed. But this Target sweater was a great price. At $20, this was a nobrainer and my daughter got one, too. I bought the medium in this although I think I could have even gotten a large. It matches my AG Stevies Cords perfectly.

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And this awesome poncho pullover is so cool! At $20, it is simple to throw on. It is the easiest black and white stripes. Goes with so much. It covers the bum. Another steal. Another win for Target. By the way, I have no idea what is on my thigh. I had put those pants on for the very first time five minutes prior to this pic.

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I did not buy either of these sweaters. Not at Anthropologie. Not at Target. I do not own a French Bulldog, so it wasn’t for me. There was a popback of this sweater at Anthropologie last week and I would have ended up paying the same amount as the Target price. But I didn’t need it. So I didn’t buy it.

I just have to say… Umm. I’m not sayin’ this is a blatant copy of Anthropologie’s sweater. What do you think? Wink. If you missed it at Anthropologie, Target’s copy is $20.

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Gnomes!!! Look at these little darlings. I love ’em. I want to marry them. I want to rub their cold little hard bodies all over my cheeks. I want to… Okay. Let’s quit there. $4 a piece (just the 4 crackled versions in the pot). Adorable.

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And a big one to greet folks at the door. I only wish they had two more of him.

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And a sad, sad little fellow. He looked so forlorn, I had to take him home to cheer him up. He still isn’t happy. I have a feeling he never will be. But he is a pretty color. Blue. Just like his heart.

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This awesome crockpot was marked down from $35 to $17.48. How cool is it? I cannot wait to use it!

Have you been to Target lately? Do you always walk away with more than you came for? The buyers there are doing it right!

* Some pictures shown here were taken from Target and Anthropologie’s websites.

Easy Christmas DIY Ideas

These Christmas projects I have completed around my house are so incredibly simple anyone can do them.

I see you are still skeptical.

Well, let me introduce myself.

“Hello. I’m Anyone.”

And if I can do these crafts, you can, too. I use the word “craft” very loosely here.

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First up, instead of spending money on flowers during the holidays, I load my vases with giant paper pom pom flowers. This is a fun project to do with tissue paper. I purchased mine from a seller on Etsy. However, I have also made my own by cutting tissue paper. Martha Stewart also sells a fun and easy kit.

I usually use red and pink during Christmastime. But this year I needed something more peaceful. I chose the taupe and white. I have reused all of my paper pom poms for years. I had these leftover from my sister’s baby shower. No, I never throw anything away. Yes, it’s a problem. Just don’t tell Anyone.

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I saw this project in a woman’s home many years ago in Country Living Magazine. It is just a cheap felted red tree skirt you can purchase anywhere. I believe I bought mine during an after Christmas sale for $2. Just take a black sharpie and trace your kid’s handprints on it every year. The first year will look pretty sad. But each year the skirt gets better and better. I have done this for four years and it is so much fun to see how they have grown. Make sure you put the name and age of the child under the handprints.

This could also be a fun couple’s project. Just trace your husband’s and your own handprints each year with the date.

When the children are grown and out of the house, I plan to embroider around each handprint. I’ll have more time then, right?

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I like twine. A lot. I kind of want to use it on everything. I see my kids running now.

Any time I see a set of ornaments all the same, I think garland. The owl and little bird garlands both started out as cheap ornament packages. I just cut the strings on the ornaments and tied them onto the twine. Then I made a loop at each end. Hang these wherever you desire. And done! This is such an inexpensive project.

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I have even made a mushroom garland for my little tree.

What are your fun and easy projects you have done during the holiday season? I would love to get some new ideas. I still have to make two gingerbread houses with the kids tomorrow. I hope your week is as peaceful as it can be.

And if you feel you are overwhelmed, well, you are not alone:

“Time stays long enough for Anyone who will use it.” (Leonardo da Vinci)

I hope that is true.

I could really use a visit from the temperamental fellow.

P.S. I shared this on My Romantic Home.

Kites In The Bedroom

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In both of my children’s bedrooms, I wanted to do something fun. In both cases, I simply took kites from World Market and hung them from the ceiling.

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The kites are sold at World Market. They are $24.99 for the large ones. I always look for a coupon when I shop there (either 10% off or $10 off $30 purchase). They also had this cool Chinese Dragon one that would be neat hanging from the ceiling.

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My son got the dragon kites. Two large ones. And one cute baby.

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My daughter has the butterfly kites. Two babies and one large one.

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They have held up remarkably well. I think they have been up for four years. I still think they look great.

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They add an element of fun and complete the room for a reasonable expense.

Have you decorated with something unexpected? Please tell!

I shared this on Savvy Southern Style