Showing posts with label target. Show all posts
Showing posts with label target. Show all posts

9/18/13

spend or save: target copycats


ORIGINAL: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8
TARGET COPY CAT: (pictured above) 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8
It's no secret that I have a love affair with Target.  It never fails that I will run into the store for a box of cereal or a birthday card and come out with 2-3 items to try in our house or in my closet.  (I know, I'm a marketers dream...)  My last trip to Target was no different, except that I saw about 10 things I wanted to take home with me that were NOT on my list.  

While Target has always been my go to for inexpensive, trendy items, Target has really outdone itself recently.  The shelves are stocked with tons of items that are copycats of some of my favorite pieces from other retailers.  With prices substantially lower than the original retailer, it's hard to turn down some of these Target copycats.  Can you guess who Target is copying with the items above?  

xo,





























9/13/13

help + phillip lim for target

 :: H E L P ::

Friends, I need your help!  I have been working diligently on our living room, and I am so happy with the fabrics I've found to round out the space.  Except...this beautiful navy and white pattern.  I broke the cardinal rule and fell in love with this fabric without looking at the price.  Needless to say, I have been on the hunt for a similar fabric for the better part of the week, and I am hoping someone out there can help.  I don't need much (only about 2 yds), but since I will be attempting a DIY with the fabric, I want the price point to be one that won't be too painful if I mess up.  Anyone out there have a good fabric source?  Or have a couple yards of this stuff lying around?

john robshaw for duralee bindi fabric

:: P H I L I P  L I M  F O R  T A R G E T ::

In other news, thanks to my friend TB for letting me in on the Philip Lim for Target event starting Sunday.  I had heard rumblings about this way back when I was studying for the bar, but it completely slipped my mind until yesterday when T reminded me that it was this weekend!  While I can't say I am enough of a die hard to shop online at midnight (and certainly not die hard enough to line up at the store before the doors open), I do think there are some pretty great pieces coming out.  Although I've been disappointed by Target collaborations in the past, don't be shocked if you see me at Target on Sunday (during normal daylight hours) checking this one out.  And, just to get you all inspired, here are a few of my favorites from the look book.  
Anything you have your eye on?  


Happy Friday!
xo,





5/8/13

wedding registry: bath towels

Good Morning!  Today we move from the more glamorous wedding registry items (kitchen tool what?!) to something a little less flashy but equally as important- bath towels.

horchow hotel towels
While bath towels might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of wedding registries, they are a very important part of your married home.  You (and your significant other) will use them everyday, guests in your home will use them, and it's good to have a little stockpile for those weeks when the laundry gets behind.

pottery barn 
I can safely say that we have had our share of bath towels in our five + years of marriage.  Though it took me a few years, I have finally found my absolute favorite...from Target no less.  The Fieldcrest Luxury line at Target is plush, dries quickly, and looks great in almost any style of bathroom.  I prefer the striped "accent" towel, but they also have solid options as well.

fieldcrest luxury

No matter which towels you choose, make sure to hang them in a place where they can dry completely after each use.  This will make them last longer and prevent them from getting a musty smell.  Also, it's a good idea to replace your bath towels every few years to make sure they are fresh and remain absorbent.  

xo,



5/1/13

wedding registry: essential baking tools

After a little break, today we are continuing on with more "kitchen essentials" for your wedding registry.  I titled this post "essential baking tools," but really you will likely use these items in your kitchen whether you bake or not.  I find that I use my mixing bowls to make salads or to toss veggies in olive oil before roasting, I use my oven mitts to remove ANYTHING from the oven, and I use my measuring cups for all types of cooking.  Really, you will want these tools in your kitchen if you like to bake, but you will also want them for daily meal preparation.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
1. Mixing Bowls: I love my set from Williams Sonoma.  I have a white set and I use them literally everyday.  I also have a set of nice glass bowls, but I predominately use these sturdy, plastic bowls.  A must have for any kitchen.

2. Collapsible Measuring Cups: These are one of my very favorite kitchen items.  My little sister gave these to me for one of my bridal showers when she was just 12- she had great taste even then.  They also make a smaller set for Tbs. and tsp. measurements.  These are perfect for a small kitchen where space is a premium.

3. Silpat Liners: Another must have in any kitchen.  Whether you are baking cookies or roasting veggies, or just heating up a sandwich in the oven- these keep your baking sheets in top condition.  Don't be fooled though- the square is the size for a standard cooking sheet and the one pictured here is for a jelly roll pan.

4. Rolling Pin: While this is a debatable essential, you will find that if you need one and you don't have one- there is no other kitchen tool that really does the job as effectively.  I have tried to use a water bottle or a big tervis tumbler, but take it from me, this doesn't work.  Moral of the story- add a rolling pin to your registry, when you need one, you will really need it!'

5. Baking Set: Even if you don't bake, I think it is still smart to have at least one cookie sheet, a muffin tin, and a cake pan (round or square.)  You never know when you will have a craving for a box of brownies and having the tools to whip up a batch will make life much easier.  I like the Williams Sonoma Gold Touch line- it's non-stick and bakes very evenly.

6. Oven Mitt: Invest in two!  I always wear them when I take things out of the oven and I love the mitt because it covers your whole hand and arm.  It is amazing how quickly you can burn your arm or hand on the door of the oven when you reach in to remove something with just the half mitts or a dish towel.  Grab a pair and keep them handy- I promise you will thank me.

Do you have any other baking tools that you think are essential?

xo,

3/25/13

weekend scenes

After my post last Friday about using the weekend to knock some things off the "to do" list, I am thrilled to report that I made a dent!  Worked on my bar application, almost finished my financial management project...check and check.

The best part of the weekend was that I had time to ENJOY it.  It was one of those weekends where you just take a deep exhale because you are staying home for the first time in a while.  It was one that I hope will recharge me for this week.  

Here are a few of the highlights:

Had to leave the house for a few hours for our buyer to come through with a contractor.  Perfect excuse to try out the new bakery in town...Rise.  It was delicious and as you can see, we had a tough time making a decision.  Since I am trying to "limit my sugar intake" (something I do such a great job of as you can tell), we literally tried a bite or two of each and then called it a day.  Worth the sugar rush for sure...but I still couldn't tell you which was my favorite!


chocolate pudding with toffee :: pineapple with basil cream and pistachios ::  apple turnover :: chocolate coffee cake
After we hit the bakery, we still had some time to kill so I ran into Target.  All I can say is run don't walk to your nearest store- they have these shirts in lots of colors- can we say splendid knockoff?  I got the yellow, but I am thinking I will go back for more- you know me and buying things I love in a variety of colors!
don't mind the look of intense concentration...still trying to master the art of photographing myself in a mirror!
Saturday night we headed to Raleigh for dinner with our newlywed friends Orla and Dara.  They just moved into an adorable house near downtown and we loved getting to see a little bit of their new life.  We had a delicious dinner and got caught up... AND we even found a new crowd-pleasing white wine- definitely worth a try.

orla and annie

kim crawford :: sauvignon blanc


Sunday after church it was cold and raining and Josh and I decided to treat ourselves to brunch.  We finally got to try the french restaurant we tried to go to a few weekends ago and it was excellent.  Sunday brunch is definitely the way to go- sweet and savory options, good coffee, and fresh french bread means you can't go wrong.

crepe breton with egg and goat cheese
All in all it was a great weekend.  My Barbri books did come in the mail and as I mentioned in an instagram post...no filter in the world can make these look better.  To temper my dismay at how high the books stack, I grabbed these chocolate bars at Fresh Market.  Chocolate makes everything better and these just might be some of the best I have had in a long time- snag some next time you are in the mood for a treat (and then email me to ask how my cutting back on sugar is going!)

no caption can make this look better either...

yum

How was your weekend?  Did you do anything to help you recharge for the week?

xo,





1/11/13

friday finds

 Happy Friday!  It has only been a "two day" week for me, but something about the transition from Christmas break to full time student again has been ROUGH.  I wish I could say we were taking baby steps back into the routine and schedule, but we are full steam ahead and going strong in the land of law school.  Oh well.

Thank you for the great response to yesterday's post!  I must admit the "design" posts are some of the most exciting for me but they are also the most scary since I don't have any formal design training.  It was wonderful to know that so many of you liked the post and one of you even bought a rug!  Thank you for your support.

Today I have some fabulous "friday finds" for you.  I should note that the law student budget is pretty tight, so I promise I am only posting things that I ADORE and have either spent some of my precious budget on or am planning my next month's budget around!  How's that for a ringing endorsement?

1. Target's "Premium" Line of workout clothes.  Don't judge me, but I have this top...in three colors.   In my defense, not having a traditional desk job does allow me to spend a large portion of my time in less than formal attire.  AND every time I wear this top, someone asks me if it's from lululemon. (gotta love that!!)  In all seriousness though, this top let's me feel put together on days I am sporting my "workout" look, it's extra long in case you want to wear it with workout leggings, and it comes in lots of cute colors.  Go buy one...or three...seriously.
2. Target PJs.  While you are at Target picking up some fabulous workout tops, head on over to the PJ section and grab a pair of piped PJs.  Since we are confessing, I have these...in two colors.  They are super soft, warm (but not too warm) and look just like these eberjay pjs at a quarter of the price.  

pajamas
  
3. Green Man Gourmet's Creamed Honey.  Over break my mom and dad took me to their new favorite store- Green Man Gourmet.  It is a small shop in Jacksonville, Florida but they have amazing "foodie" picks from around the world.  Knowing how much Josh loves honey I thought I would pick up a jar.  Luckily for me, they ship anywhere...this jar of honey is almost gone!  I have used it on pork tenderloin and chicken as a marinade, on toast in the morning, and someone may or may not have just taken a spoonful every now and then.  



4. Green Man Gourmet's White Truffle Salt.  I LOVE white truffles.  I have to stop myself from putting truffle oil into almost any meal I make, so imagine my surprise (and delight) when Santa left some white truffle salt from Green Man Gourmet in my stocking!  It is the perfect way to add truffle flavor to food without overpowering it- and letting each diner chose whether or not they would like to enjoy the truffle flavor with their meal (right Josh?!)  I added some to microwave popcorn recently and it was knock your socks off.  Don't worry if truffles aren't your thing...Green Man has TONS of options (coffee steak blend, chardonnay smoked sea salt, and murray river finishing salt are some other favorites) that they would be happy to send your way.


Do you have any fabulous finds you want to share?  I love personal recommendations - they make spending on a tight budget so much easier!  Have a fabulous weekend and as always, thanks for reading and feel free to "follow" my blog by clicking the "join this site" button on the right hand sidebar.  

xo,

12/7/12

gift wrapping

Happy Friday!  
We are WELL into the gifting season and today I want to share my tips for making the process of wrapping your gifts a little easier.  Do you have any great tips to share?

wrapping station // wrapping supply storage box // ribbon box

photo sources:
pink and green // neutrals // green and red 

photo sources:
kraft paper // map // newspaper

plaid ribbon // gift tape // burlap ribbon

customized tags // metallic accent 
photo credits:
spoons // candy cane // greenery

PS: Please consider "following" my blog by clicking the "join this site" button on the right.  Thanks!

xo,




12/5/12

striking gold

As a little treat after my exam, I stopped by Target yesterday (yes, this is what life comes to during finals.)  Maybe it was the relief of being done with one final, maybe it was my desire to get dolled up after days of studying, or maybe it was just my natural tendency towards metallics, but everywhere I looked I saw GOLD...and I LOVED it!  

I know I am done with gift guides, but all of these pieces from Target are cute, affordable (everything under $50), and would make great gifts this season.  It was only the promise of Christmas coming soon that stopped me from buying ALL of these pieces for myself.  So, treat someone you love or just treat yourself, either way you'll be golden.

pillow // clutch // pjs // shoes // picture frame // tumblers // shaker // tray 



xo,
PS: Please consider "following" my blog by clicking the "join this site" button on the right.  Thanks!