Sometimes I Get Distracted

It used to be that a trip to Target was reserved for those times when mundane but essential household items were needed. A big box of detergent, or a set of storage bins, or a Phillips-head screwdriver, and maybe a nice candle as a "treat". It was a safe place to shop because it was nothing but essentials. Now Target has coveted non-essentials by fantastic designers, and this simple errand is now fraught with dangerous temptations and pitfalls. These days when I plan a Target trip I start to get that panicky-stomach feeling in anticipation. Will I make it out on-budget? What if something is really cute, will I be able to walk away? These are the questions I ask when walking through the big red doors.

Yesterday I had a fool-proof plan: I would make a list! Hah! Temptation be gone. If I simply follow the list everything will be perfectly fine, or so I thought. Here is what I had to get:

Oxiclean (a must when trying to clean vintage fabric)
Clorox Cleanup (had totally run out)
Curling Iron (accidentally dropped mine in the toilet tank and heretofore silent curling iron began making noises - must replace)
Beads? (had a party to go to and I'm a sucker for junk jewelry - thought Target may have some)

Arriving at Target starts to make me feel like I'm living the old boardgame called "Life", except that instead of a little plastic car, you get a huge red plastic cart. Instead of going through the course, you shop the aisles and try to avoid all of the hazards thrown at you. If I made it through the Target course spending only the $25 I'd budgeted, I'd be the winner. But who could say what I would encounter along the way, how many points would get lost, or how many turns I would lose...

This is not a tub of Oxiclean.Charging ahead with my vivid red cart I kept saying "cleaning supplies, cleaning supplies..." Uh oh. What's that? Fifty feet to the left...the new display of handbags from Botkier.  An alarm should have gone off or a "danger" buzzer - something should have warned me. But no. Silver? Gold? Oh - I think the gold...perfect for the late-summer early-fall transition. $50? Wow. My last Botkier bag cost five times as much! Well, I really shouldn't, but maybe I'll just place it in the cart and think it over while I go find the Oxiclean.

Second pitfall came just afterward. The collection of jewelry from Subversive is now mostly marked down. The bracelet I've had my eye on for months was marked down to just $7.98! I'm no fool, so I grab it and put it in the cart. The jewelry assistant was at the other end of the counter, so I took this as a sign since I couldn't see any of the pieces in the case without her help. It's fine, I thought, I'm here for cleaning supplies.

I found the Oxiclean, the Clorox, and kept on to the hair-styling section to find my curling iron. It too was marked down to just under $20...score! I love my curling iron - it's from Conair and is both a flat iron and a curling iron in one with that whole ceramic thing you're supposed to have. It works perfectly, except for when you drop it in the toilet... I did also grab a set of elastics since all of mine are stretched and broken. 25 elastics for $2. I love Target.

Making my way toward the check-out I realize I haven't done too badly. Wait - the jewelry lady is right there with the Subversive jewelry...should I? After much discussion, I come away with a three-strand necklace of metal, beads, and pearls. And it's 50% off for only $25! Okay, so that was my whole budget when I walked in, but I'm still doing well - it's not like I'm doing any other shopping today. I'm justified, right? After all, beads were on the list...

So in the game of "Target" I did not win. I fell to a few of the hazards and walked away from some of the others. Does this make me a bad person or just a normal stylish girl with an eye for good deals? Does no one else fall victim to Target temptations?

Comments

[Pamela]

Oh no, now I want to go to target too. I have to say that I love the Rogan tops that I bought earlier this season. I always find some "treasure" to buy, when I go for detergent!

[Kelly R]

I picked up the same necklace! 50% off - how could you not?

I ALWAYS get distracted at Target.