Chic & easy: DIY Halloween costume

Seriously? Who knew a DIY Halloween costume could be so fashionable? Of course it helps that this woman looks like a model, but dare I say that this adorable is mushroom costume is...chic? It seriously couldn't get easier either - cover a wide-brimmed hat (grab one from Tar-jay - my favorite chic & cheap spot!) and adhere some felt spots to make it look like a mushroom top. Pair with an all-brown (or earth tone) outfit et voila! Mushroom.

If being a fun-guy (heh, fungi - get it? oy. sorry.) doesn't do it for you, here are a few other easy DIY options:


I'm loving this cute gnome costume. I highly doubt B would ever let me even suggest something like this for him/us, but maybe someday I'll be able to put a munchkin of my own in it. The whole thing could be accomplished with some basic clothes and felt pretty easily too.


Maybe B would rather be in a Polaroid. Paint box, adhere background, done. (Don't forget your "picture smile" to top it off!) Love it.


I've always toyed with donning a giant fruit-laden headdress and polka-dotted garb a la Carmen Miranda to be the Chiquita banana lady for Halloween, but this all-yellow banana costume seems much easier. Mind officially changed - peace out headdress (maybe one day when I'm a crazy old lady...), hellooo head-to-toe yellow! Now where to score yellow pants on the cheap?

All these brills ideas came directly from Kendra Smoot for Holidash - check out the link for even more DIY ideas. In the meantime, I'm off to shop for a floppy hat and some felt... can you guess what I'm going to be?

A gnome. Duh. (Kidding)

Photos by Seth Smoot. Mushroom costume originally spotted on {frolic!}.

Give me Liberty...of London

The one good thing about my slacking yesterday is that I got to check out the new Liberty of London collection for Target (which you can check out in its entirety here). I've been getting tweets and seeing blog posts all over the place about how the LoL goods have been sold out or totally picked over in Targets across the country in the one day since their debut on Sunday, but my Annapolis Target seemed to have a decent amount of stuff.

I wasn't too impressed with the stuff when I saw it online, but it all turned out to be a lot nicer in real life. I was super proud of myself for walking out with only one item in hand (woohoo, budget!) - this chemise in case you're interested - but I was tempted to scoop up a lot more.

This bedding was gorgeous and silky smooth:

My Target didn't have any of the bicycles, but I love this beach cruiser in floral:

More cute bedding, all styled up:

(Though I wouldn't make B sleep in something this girly...)

This little girl's romper is so stinkin' cute:




I know the print on this dress isn't looking too hot in the online photo, but it was pretty in real life. The cut was really flattering once the belt was cinched in, and I was totally into the neckline, which closed with a simple button on the left shoulder. Totally cute, but overall wasn't the best for me and my "strong" shoulders...

This blouse also looks hideous in this photo, but it was sweet and spring-y in real life. The fabric on the ruffled collar felt really thick and luxurious and I loved the playful, colorful print. Sadly, my shoulders were again just a bit too much to carry off such a fluttery neckline.

Last up, this bathing suit was really cute:


So what about you? Had you heard of the LoL arrival? Have you been to check it out, or have you found any Liberty of London goods that are not-to-be-missed at your Target? Do tell...

Reason to wake up on a snowy Friday morning: sale at Target!

Target is having a sale! Hooray! (Not that their stuff isn't normally [and gloriously] affordable, but this is great!)

Check out the fun stuff (aka needless but cool anyway stuff) currently on sale in the Red Hot Shop:

I've been eying this fun ikat skirt from Heidi Merrick since the spring!

This has got to be the prettiest dart board I've ever seen.



I love the idea of this growth chart. No more pencil marks needed on your walls!

Fancy-dancy lingerie bag, complete with lavender sachet - ooh la la!

This is the perfect tee for an old salt. I love the blue color and the pretty illustrated sea creatures.

And now for the drumroll please: The New Year Home Event means most of the home goods are 10-40% off, and there's still 10% off and free shipping for items over $100.

Annd, the sale includes the upholstered chairs I've been obsessing over for, like, ever. This one is still a touch too pricey for me to buy right now (see how responsible I'm being, B??) but I am drooling over the amazing deal.

So what does this mean? It means get out there (or go online) and snag yourself some sweet deals from the mothership Tar-jay! It's my Friday morning gift to you. Enjoy! :)

Robert Ryan screenprints

Aren't these prints, all from the brilliant artist Rob Ryan, drop-dead beautiful? Especially when you consider that he cuts them painstakingly and precisely from paper before making the screenprints?

The things in his Etsy shop are just gorgeous, although too pricey for me. If they were a bit more affordable, I'd snatch up one of each to dole out as the most gorgeous wedding gifts or to use as Valentine's sentiments.

Just reading the quotes (which I assume he wrote as well) makes me feel all mushy and romantic. So sweet. (Crap! I can't believe I'm getting sucked into the Valentine's Day spirit already! I blame you, Tar-jay! Lovely though.)

Is it sad that my next thought was of conversation hearts? Yum...

As originally found on SabbeSpot.

GapKids and Stella-ella-ella

Did you know Stella McCartney has a line for GapKids? An uber-designer doing mainstream, mid-market kids' clothes? I guess it was bound to happen...I mean, Target basically pioneered that movement with their designers' series, so why not hit the kids market too (and also take a shot at Crew Cuts from J. Crew while they're at it)?

I have to say, I really wanted to hate the line. It seems really overindulgent to offer $78 cashmere sweaters to kids who probably don't care and will likely drip ketchup on said sweater post haste. But, before I could get too judge-y, I realized I actually like the stuff!

With that being said, here are some pics of the collection for your perusal:


The cute animals help, of course.


Love the boots.


People - grown women - are clamoring over this jacket and wondering if they can fit it. It's been sold out for weeks. Stella, I'd say you're doing okay.

And my fave look (because how could you not love a frothy tutu?):


Pretty good, Stella. Daddy Paul will be proud. To see more photos and shop the collection, go here.

Clean up your act

Photo by Rodney Smith

Well, after the Veterans Day sentiments and the chicken-wing eating how-tos from earlier today (wow, that sounds super crazy), I need to head out and run some errands. We have to go to a birthday party this weekend, plus we'll be seeing friends who have a new baby, and there is no food in the homestead, so I think I see a Target trip coming on!

And, after my cleaning frenzy earlier this week, a serious replenishment of cleaning products is in order (and Target's got 'em cheap!). I've been thinking about what route to go with my cleaning accoutrement - I know there has been a lot of clamoring out there to switch to homemade products, but I don't see myself mixing up batches of my own cleaning solutions at this point. First of all, we don't have a laundry room, mud room, basement or utility sink in our house, so all this mixology would need to occur in our bathtub. Ick. Also, bleach makes me gag (honestly, the smell makes my throat close up) and I wouldn't even know what to do with baking soda other than stick it in my fridge. But, B and I of course want to do our part to be green, so we always try to at least buy the more organic, "green" products.

I'm a huge lover of the Method products, mostly because I'm a sucker for good packaging and theirs is awesome, but also because they have great business practices and solid stuff. Plus, the sweet water scent they have smells so good and all of their products are very non-chemical-y, so that's a bonus.

Here are a few of my favorites from Method - and no, they are not paying me or giving me free products to endorse their stuff (but if they want to, please feel free!):

I have their soap at every sink in the house. I think bars of soap are gross, so these are the perfect alternative (and cute to boot!).


This foaming soap is really cool. As the Method website says, "[this hand wash is like] those crazy spring break parties where they fill the dance floor with foam and everyone gets freaky." You can't contest with that, right?


This moisturizing hand soap is awesome. It really keeps your hands from getting dry from washing. Our Target doesn't have this almond flower scent but I bet it's good - I love almond-y smell!


These non-toxic dishwasher tablets are just as easy as the more major brands' but I swear our dishes feel and smell cleaner. Is that weird that I can tell what our dishes smell like after they're washed?


I haven't tried these dryer sheets yet, but after reading on the Method site that most dryer sheets are made with animal fat, I will definitely be switching. And yeah yeah, we could skip dryer sheets altogether, but I have a total fear and hatred of static, and dryer sheets really help with that. These Method sheets have no animal by-products, which sounds much more appealing.

So what about you? I have a friend loves Mrs. Meyers' stuff and I like Seventh Generation for laundry detergent. Any other must-have "green" cleaners?

And with that, I'm off to Tar-jay... See you back here tomorrow?

Crystal Barlow designs / Minneapolis mama

There must be something in the water in Minneapolis. I mean, we're talking way north, frozen tundra Minnesota here, and yet these folks keep cranking out amazingly fresh design work. It is, after all, the land from whence Target came. That alone makes it exciting to me.

I was recently perusing The Dieline and came upon this work from Crystal Barlow, a Minneapolis-based designer and illustrator. Here are her adorable designs for Eenie Meenie, an all-in-one soap for kids:





And how could I resist showing the sea horse that goes with the Eenie Meenie suite?


I had to take down her work for Yoplait due to the company's copyright rules, but you can take a look at Crystal's site for other projects she's done.

Still waiting... (alternately titled "crazy for ikat")

Listen, Target, I don't want to complain - and don't get me wrong, we all know I love me some Tar-jay - but I'm ready for your fab, fab slipcovered chairs to go on sale. At only $299.99, they're already a steal, but I don't know how thrilled B would be if I brought home an (only slightly possibly needed) ikat slipper chair. Given my current job status, I might need to wait a bit...or just until these go on sale...if ever. I've been eying up these puppies for several months now, waiting for a great sale (beyond the 15% off orders over $125 that Target already has going on), but to no avail. Isn't it time to knock these down a bit, Target? How does $150 sound? $200?

Give me a call if you want to chat, Tarj. I'd be happy to hop on a plane to Minneapolis anytime you want. I hear it's lovely in the Spring (and amend that last sentence - let's limit trips to non-winter months please).

Regardless, I'm love, love, loving Target's home goods (check out the similarly fab headboards here) and, as always, their uncanny ability to knock off the best stuff and do it really well. Take a look at similar fabric samples from Calico Corners - look familiar?



That green bird print in the middle is a dead ringer for Target's rendition (I guess it's actually the other way around though):


Love it. Keep up the good work, Target. xoxo -r.