For those of you who know me well, this post should come as no surprise to you.  You see, I have loved Target for YEARS.  I don’t want to date myself and tell you when I first fell in love with Target, but let’s just say…Target and I…we’ve been together a LOOOONG time.

Target…you’re one of my favs

Over the past few days, I’ve had two friends (Cheryl and Kathryn) send me the latest video going around.  They saw it and thought of me.  They know me too well. 🙂  It’s titled “Thoughts Every Woman Has In Target”.  And it. is. hilarious.

This got me thinking…maybe I should explain my reasons for loving Target sooooo much.

First of all, Target, you are a genius.  Putting a Starbucks right inside the door.  It’s like knowing that one of your BFF’s (Starbucks) is ALWAYS going to be waiting for you when you have to go and “pick up just a few things at Target”.

Bored?  Ah, go to Target, grab a Starbucks, and stroll around.  Need a quiet hour out of the house (aka…away from the kids)?  Go to Target, order your favorite Starbucks drink, and peruse the aisles in peace and quiet, at your own leisure.  Had a bad day?  Swing into Target, order a comfort drink from Starbucks, then shop and drink your worries away.  No matter how you look at it, Target and Starbucks are two great things that go hand in hand.  Literally.

But Target.  You didn’t stop there.  Our Target has a delicious Pizza Hut right inside their doors.  Need to grab groceries, but it’s soooo close to lunchtime?  Veer into the Pizza Hut and order up the kids some cheese pizza.  And maybe some breadsticks for you.  Boom.  You’ve got lunch and groceries accomplished in one stop.  Been at Target soooo long (shopping for necessities, of course) and you know that Hubby and the kids will be starving the minute you walk in the door?  Pick up some personal pan pizzas and breadsticks “to go” and waaaalaaa!  You’ve got a piping hot supper to deliver the minute you walk in the door.  (No.  You don’t begin to cook supper with all of those groceries you just bought.  That’d be silly.  You simply place the personal pan pizzas on the table and everyone is happy.)

Target is such a happy spot for so many of us.  It’s where your mind comes up with rational thoughts that CLEARLY, are for your family’s best interest.

For instance, this past week (yesterday), I was in Target and I had a very rational idea.  I could spend $35 every two or three weeks on a shellac manicure (which I do NOT do, but I pondered the idea.  You see, lately…I am liking pretty nails.  But shellac is soooo high maintenance and I don’t have the time or want to spend that kind of money on my nails.).  OR…why not BUY the nail items needed and DO IT MYSELF.  #savingmoneyrocks

Brilliant.  So, into the shopping cart went new nail polish, nail polish remover, emery boards, nail care/cuticle sticks, a buffer, a “really good” base coat to make the polish last longer (that’s what the sign said at Target, above the nail polishes), and a great top coat.  Yes, I had approximately $35 worth of nail products sitting in my cart, but anyone knows that this stuff will last a long time.  Yes.  This was a very rational idea indeed.  AND very economical (in the long run).  Which is what I’m all about.

Here’s another rational thought that just happened to me, in the aisles of Target.  A few years ago, I was so tired of all of the baskets of toys.  Baskets without lids only creates an eyesore…you have so many toys and books overflowing out of them.  So, as I was shopping (for groceries, I’m sure), I had a great thought.  ‘Why not go over and check out the organizational storage units?  I’m sure they’ll have some great idea of how I can better organize the kids’ toys and books!’

I walked to the storage aisle and low and behold.  There it was.  A storage system that would look GREAT in our den/computer room where the boys’ toys were strung out EVERYWHERE.  And.  Target even offered options of what wood color/stain would go best in my home!  Oh, Target.  How can I ever thank you enough??  PLUS.  They had great cloth baskets/fabric cubes that fit so perfectly into the compartments.  In a VARIETY of colors!  SOLD.

So, I was rational and able to come up with a brilliant solution to our messy books and toys  that were always scattered all about.  Thank you, Target.

The 8-cube organizer from Target with coordinating fabric cubes…so much nicer than baskets overflowing with toys!  (Yes, the top brown basket is missing a tag…oh well.)

This is what it generally looks like though…just keepin it real 🙂

advertisement

Yes, Target is a one stop shop.  Grab your prescriptions, some groceries, a bathroom rug that you DESPERATELY need because your current rug is looking rather trashy, pick up some darling Valentine decorations (maybe that wreath or heart garland?) because you need to make your home feel warm and cute and FUN and FESTIVE, a birthday card for your friend, some storage tubs for all of those Valentine decorations that will need to be put away in two weeks when Valentine’s Day is over, and maybe some canning jars for that inexpensive gift idea you saw on Pinterest (make Russian Tea and give away as little Valentine gifts).

Russian Tea project…yes, Target can help me make these little gifts!

Oh, and at the Dollar Spot, they have some really cute little ribbons and tags…those will look great on the Russian Tea jars that I plan to make for family and friends.  Maybe I should swing through the kitchen aisle and pick up cute little measuring spoons that I can tie to the Russian Tea jars…If I buy measuring spoons, then I better run back to the Dollar Spot and pick up that burlap twine…that would be a super cute way to tie the spoon to the little mason jar of Russian Tea.

Just when you think you are ready to check out, you remember that your whole idea of stopping at Target was because you needed to pick up some underwear for the boys (Man! They are growing out of all of their clothes!).  You make a detour and head straight for the little guys’ department, throw some Hanes boxer briefs into the cart, and then…something catches your eye.  Oh. MY. WORD.  Look at those CUTE Valentine shirts for the boys!?  They NEED a Valentine shirt to wear to school for their class party!  Throw two shirts in the cart, a small for Maxim and a medium for Nate.  Wait.  Max is REALLY growing.  Target has a great return policy.  Throw in a third shirt.  Because if you don’t, you know these Valentine shirts will be gone when you come back in two days next week.  Better safe than sorry.  You can return the shirt that he doesn’t need next time you go to Target.  (And when THAT happens, you will feel like you’re making money.  Getting paid to shop.  It’s a brilliant game plan.)

Here’s another thing that happens while you are at Target to buy groceries I mean pick up underwear for the boys because they are growing out of all of their current ones grab a prescription because the pharmacy sent you a text saying it was ready for pick up.  (Yes.  Target has your cell phone number.  Any best friend has your number and will text you when they need to get a hold of you!)  You JUST happen to run into a friend.  (Sidenote:  On average, you will run into two friends per Target visit.)  So, you spend a few minutes (average Target conversation per friend…7 minutes) chatting with her to see what she is up to and if the kids are feeling any better or to ask her if they got their son signed up for basketball yet because registration is due asap.  (And Hubby wonders why it’s hard to run into Target for just five minutes…)

You see.  Target is a great place to shop.  Target is soooo much like a BEST FRIEND.

Over the years, Target and I have been through a lot together.  Helping me furnish my first apartment when I got out of college.  Offering make-up and nail suggestions back when Hubby and I were dating.  The clothes, swimsuits, and shoes…so reasonably priced and always offering the latest fashions!  Being a part of our wedding when Hubby and I got married…Oh.  Making that Target wedding registry was so much FUN!  Then, when we were expecting our first child.  Ahhh…those were such precious memories.  Walking through the baby aisles, visioning all the things we’d like for the nursery.  Target…you are always helping me think of things our family needs.  How can I ever thank you?

Oh, yes.  Target.  Years and years ago…you had me at HELLO.

Here is the video I referred to earlier.  I hope you enjoy it!

And who knows?  Maybe I’ll run into you sometime at Target…