Wine Shopping at Target

You can find some great deals in the wine aisle at Target. Not all Target stores carry wine, but those that do actually seem to have a decent selection at wallet-friendly prices. Here are some of my favorites:

7 Deadly Zins (2006, pictured at left): a bold, full-bodied Zinfandel perfect with steak or lamb dishes.

Gnarly Head Old Vine Zin (2006): a hearty Zinfandel which pairs well with heavier and/or spicy dishes like pasta, pizza and pork.

Menage a Trois California White Wine (2007): a light, delightful blend of three varietals - Chardonnay, Moscato and Chenin Blanc.

All 3 of these wines retail for under $16 each, and Target routinely puts them on sale. In fact, I can often find the Menage a Trois on sale for $8.99.

A word of caution, though: I would avoid the “Great Wines for under $12” bin at Target. I have tried numerous labels/brands from this display, and all have been very disappointing.

Food Shopping at Target

I’m doing more and more food shopping at my local Target these days, because 9 times out of 10 their prices are better. And not just by a few cents; we’re talking dollars here!

Case in point: pictured is my favorite jarred pasta sauce, Newman’s Own Sockarooni Sauce. Our local supermarket carries it for $3.69 a jar, while at Target it is only $2.76. Dry pasta – particularly Target’s Market Pantry brand – is also much cheaper than national brands like Barilla, so I buy all my pasta and sauce at Target.

I also buy Orowheat bread (either 12-grain, Active Health or Double-fiber varieties) at Target as well because it’s usually at least a dollar less than at the supermarket, and they routinely put it on sale saving me even more $$. Likewise, cereal is a LOT cheaper at Target; my favorite “flavor” a while back was Post’s Great Grains Raisins, Dates & Pecans and I swear it was $2 LESS a box at Target than at the supermarket!

And it seems like every other week Target has soft drinks on sale; this week they have 3 12-packs of Diet Coke on sale for $11. I also watch for Target to put their Gatorade drinks on sale (at $4 a six-pack vs. $4.79) so I can stock up on G2s for my hubby and boys.

Sowing the seeds of Spring

It’s time to start thinking about Spring planting in the garden. Now I’ve lamented before about the demise of Target’s Garden Place, and the fact that many of them have closed (at least in my area of California). But the good news is that all Target stores still offer Sean Conway’s line of vegetable and flower seeds in the patio/outdoor furniture aisle. The line carries your basic offerings of lettuce, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, etc., as well as a wide variety of flowers. And depending on your location, your store may also carry Sean’s organic & heirloom seeds (my local stores do not).

One thing to note, however; while it is very convenient for Target to carry these items, their seeds cost approx. $2.50 a pack, which is almost a dollar more than seeds found at Home Depot or local plant nurseries. Just something to keep in mind if you plan on buying LOTS of seeds.

Much love to The Budget Fashionista...

... for highlighting my Wednesday Rave from last week - the Mossimo Panya sandal - on her blog. Thanks TBF!

Wednesday’s Rave: this Sonia Kashuk perfume

I’ve been looking for a new signature scent for a while now. While I don’t wear perfume every day - I’m more of a scented lotion/powder kind of gal - the last perfume I bought was at least 5 years ago so it was definitely time for an update.

So you can imagine my surprise when I was perusing the Sonia Kashuk aisle at Target the other day and discovered that she has added perfumes to her offerings! I immediately took to Sonia's White Gardenia & Black Vetiver scent; it is lightly floral - with a hint of spice - without being overpowering. But I didn’t buy it right away; instead I spritzed some on and headed home to see if the hubby liked it. And lo and behold, he DID, very much so! Which was a relief because usually when I try on the department store brands I immediately get hit with “what is THAT you’re wearing?” [and not in a GOOD way, if you know what I mean!]. Needless to say, I headed back to Target the very next day to get a bottle of White Gardenia & Black Vetiver of my own.

PS: Sonia Kaschuk also offers two other perfume scents: Ginseng Blossom & Tuberose, and Citron & Pink Mandarin.

Tuesday's Rant: Target's Panty Raid

On Tuesdays I usually take the opportunity to rant about something I do NOT like about Target …because although I love them to death, they certainly ain’t perfect. Today's rant is about Target allegedly stealing someone else's design. And while this news story has a few holes in it, if Target did steal this woman's idea, they should be made to pay for it.

According to The Virginian-Pilot, April Spring - creator of the Foxers line of women's lingerie (worn by celebrities such as Beyonce and Jordin Sparks) - has sued Target with the claim that they stole her design for BoyShorts, a pair of women's briefs with a waistband like men's boxer shorts. In her lawsuit, Spring says the retailer infringed on her patent for BoyShorts, part of her Foxers brand.

Spring said she has spent about $250,000 to launch Foxers and has yet to earn money from it, while Target's chief executive takes home millions in salary and bonuses. "I gave up everything for three years," Spring said, "all of my money, my discretionary income, my savings."

Spring claims that 18 months ago, a man stopped by her office and identified himself as an independent representative looking to sell Foxers to Target. He told her the wife of Target's chief executive already loved the idea, Spring said. She said that during the three-hour meeting, the man asked Spring how she would design Foxers, priced $20 to $26 a pair, to sell for less in the mass market. She told him she could do a simpler BoyShorts with a plaid waistband in Foxers' most-popular colors - pink, navy blue and green. "And that's exactly what they did," she said of the $4.99 Target version. The man never got back to Spring. The next summer, Spring said, her sister and niece were shopping and found the Foxers-looking lingerie on Target's racks. The suit does not name the man, Spring said, because she could not prove his involvement.

Target's spread across America

Want to see a cool little animation outlining Target's spread across America? Then click here. The pop-up animation traces the spread of Target stores across the American landscape over the past 5 decades, from 1962-2008.

Practicing restraint…

So I was in Target this past weekend with my hubby (yes, one of those rare occurrences when he tagged along!) and I walked past the Orla Keily endcap and started to “ooh” and “ah” at all the cute things. I started to pick up the dishtowel set (pictured at far left) when my husband stopped me and said “WHAT are you doing? You KNOW we don’t need those!” He was right, of course… and furthermore, although the patterns and colors are super-cute, I realized they do not fit in with our kitchen décor at all. So while they were only $5.99 (for a set of two) I realized that it was $6 I did not need to spend, and I practiced some consumer restraint. Which is hard to do at times at Target, believe me, but I’m glad that I did.

Pick of the Week

It's Pick of the Week time: each week I pick one great buy from Target's Weekly ad (in the Sunday newspaper) and highlight it here on my blog. Now today's pick was front and center on the cover of this week's ad, and although Target has a lot of great things on sale this week, I kept coming back to this: a great variety of almost-new DVD releases for just $10 a pop! Great titles for the kids like Enchanted, Wall-E and Kung Fu Panda, as well as chick-flicks like Mamma Mia and Sex and the City. And for both the adults and kids (who are old enough), action hit The Dark Knight. At this price, it totally makes sense to buy the DVD (especially if you plan on watching it repeatedly) vs. just renting the movie.

Milla hearts Target

Milla Jovovich was caught shopping at Target earlier this month along with fiancé Paul W.S. Anderson (not pictured) and daughter Ever Gabo at the West Hollywood store.

Fellow Target-Addicts might recall that the model, actress and fashion designer had her clothing line, Jovovich-Hawk, featured at the chain as one of their Go International capsule collections last year.

After the shopping spree, the family headed to Coldwater Canyon Park for some quality family time on the playground equipment.

Shaun White 4 Target to return this Fall

Target has announced the return of the Shaun White 4 Target collection. The clothing line will feature a compilation of new looks for young men and boys that will be available year-round beginning early this Fall.

“We are really happy to be continuing the line. It’s such a great relationship with Target and we’re excited about the direction we are going with the collection,” said Shaun.

After a successful limited edition run last Fall, the Olympic Gold Medalist decided to again collaborate with Target to produce a fashionable line of apparel inspired by Shaun’s life, along with his interest in music and travel. These influences will be reflected in the hand-drawn art and humor infused throughout the line and is epitomized by the return of the skate monster that debuted in the limited edition launch. The collection will be filled with reasonably-priced pieces including denim, sweatshirts, jackets, graphic tees and shorts.

Wednesday’s Rave: this Mossimo sandal

If you haven’t already heard, gladiator sandals (both the flat and heeled variety) are hot for Spring 09. So you can imagine my delight when I found this absolutely AMAZING pair of Panya sandals by Mossimo for just $29.99 at Target. The ruffled-front make it fashion-forward, while the wedge-heel make it feet-friendly. Compare it to this similar “Deborah” sandal by Betsey Johnson… which at a whopping $190 is over 6-times the price of the Mossimo pair!

Tuesday's Rant: Solicitors at Target

On Tuesdays I usually take the opportunity to rant about something I do NOT like about Target …because although I love them to death, they certainly ain’t perfect. Today's rant is about pandhandlers and solicitors in Target's parking lot... which, according Target's web site, is against their company policy. However, I have noticed that at several stores, this policy seems to be loosely - if ever - enforced. Target's official policy is as follows:
Target has a long-standing solicitation policy at our stores nationwide. In order to provide a distraction-free shopping environment for our guests, we do not allow solicitation or petitioning at our stores regardless of the cause being represented.

Now Target got a lot of flack when they decided to ban Salvation Army bell-ringers and their red kettles from its store entrances several years ago. But what irks me is, either they need to enforce the ban across the board, or not. This haphazard ruling is not only confusing, it's annoying as well. Again, according to the details of their policy:
We ask all solicitors and petitioners to respect our policy by ceasing their activities and leaving our property. However, frequently they refuse to comply.(Therefore we) partner with local law enforcement agencies to assist us in having unwanted solicitors and petitioners removed from our property.

Huh? To me, this just doesn't make sense. If they're truly against it, why doesn't Target use their own store security officers to remove the offenders? I just don't get it.

Gretchen Mol hearts Target

Actress Gretchen Mol, currently featured in the hit ABC TV series Life on Mars, is a Target fan. Ms. Mol, along with fellow actresses Michele Trachtenberg and Brittany Snow, were spotted Saturday at the McQ (Alexander McQueen) for Target preview party during New York's Fashion Week. Racked.com cites this event as "one of the best Fashion Week parties we've ever experienced!"; you can read the full account here.

More on Erickson Beamon...

To follow up from yesterday's post: Target now has the Erickson Beamon jewelry collection available on their web site. And as you will see for yourself, most of it is very over the top. Take this Jeweled Pink Flower Bracelet, for example; it takes glitz to a whole new level. Although the same bracelet in Black could be ok for evening wear, if it were the standout piece next to a little black dress.

The collection seems to be broken into 7 "themes": Great Balls of Fire, Hawaiin Punch, Technicolor, Surreal Bubble, To the Beach, Idol, and Happy Fun Action Time (the most garish of the bunch, IMO).

Erickson Beamon = Over the Top!

The title of my blog post says it all... and when I say over the top, I do not mean it in a good way! True to Target's word, they debuted the Erickson Beamon jewelry line today (Valentine's Day) in stores (as I wrote about back in November). If you check that post, you see a very plain necklace previewed in comparison to the actual items in this new line. Likewise, the preview pics from the Stylist blog (back from October) show very tame offerings vs. what I saw in store (and apologies, but for some reason, Target doesn't yet have the jewelry line up on their web site yet).

Let me break this down for you: know why I've posted a picture of rapper M.I.A. with this post? Because, my friends, in addition to the cuckoo-crazy outfit she wore to the recent Grammy Awards, she also chose to accessorize herself with Erickson Beamon jewelry. Sorry you can't see the earrings and cocktail ring better in this pic, but trust me, they're big, blingy, and garish.

Now in this era of new conservatism, where we're all trying to save our money and be less flashy, and where even wealthly people are asking for their Hermes purchases to be wrapped in unmarked totes (vs. logo shopping bags), is this really what we need? Even Anna Wintour, the legendary editor of Vogue, was recently quoted by the Wall St. Journal as saying that her magazine is toning down the "glitz" a bit, and avoiding anything that is - in her words - "too Dubai". And the Erickson Beamon collection is, I'm afraid, much "too Dubai".

New Go International Collection at Target

While we all patiently wait for the McQ line to debut next month, Target has introduced their next in-house designed Go International collection which we can shop in the interim. The offerings seem a bit sparse at the moment, but knowing Target they will probably add more pieces in the next few days. Right now, I'm digging this Side-ruffle top in Chroma Grey for just $16.99... which reminds me a bit of Banana Republic's Tiered Sweater top in Sculpture Grey (which is triple the price, even on sale).

McQueen's Muse

Although the Blythe dolls are the models for the upcoming McQ Collection for Target, they were not the inspiration for the line. Alexander McQueen apparantly used rocker Leila Moss, lead singer for the British rock band The Duke Spirit (pictured here, and whose music is included on the McQ for Target microsite) to get his creative juices flowing. Serving as his muse, she inspired a color palette for his collection of predominately blacks, grays and white along with shocks of bright blue and magenta to generate visual pops.

Wednesday's Rave: David Kirk's Sunny Patch

David Kirk, the author of the Miss Spider series of children's books, has lent his name to a new line of children's outdoor accessories at Target called Sunny Patch. And let me tell you, this line is just TOO cute for words! Target's web site only has a very limited selection of the offerings, so head to your local store to see the entire line. At the Target near my work, a whole asile was set up for Sunny Patch - all with a garden/barnyard theme - with items such as children's gardening tools, lawn chairs, rain slickers/umbrellas/boots, and tote bags. With adorable characters such as Barley Cow and Aurora Songbird ,these products are pretty hard to resist. And most seemed to be $10 or less, making them perfect Valentine's Day or Easter presents for the wee-ones in your life.

Tuesday's Rant: Toby Keith, Fashion Icon??

On Tuesdays I usually take the opportunity to rant about something I do NOT like about Target …because although I love them to death, they certainly ain’t perfect. Today's rant is about the fact that ANYONE and EVERYONE seems to think they're qualified to become a fashion designer these days. Hot on the heels of the announcement that Taylor Swift has designed a line of sundresses for Walmart comes the news that country star Toby Keith is crafting his own clothing line, coming soon to a Target near you (as well as to Walmart, Macy’s and Kohl’s). His signature line, TK Steelman, will feature long-sleeve shirts, t-shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts, jeans, cowboy hats, baseball caps, bandanas, belts, and leather wrist straps… yeah, things all men need. But I pose the question to Target: with celebrity fashion lines on the decline, why hire Toby Keith (of all people) as a designer?

I think the StyleList blog sarcastically sums it up best:

“Do you constantly find yourself searching to the ends of the Earth for styles that fit your "part rocker and part biker with a 'country sexy' aesthetic?" Well, your prayers may soon be answered. That's because 'part country star, part fashion designer with a fetish for t-shirts with the sleeves torn off' Toby Keith will be launching his own celebrity line dubbed TK Steelman. The long awaited collection -- chock full of flannel and oilfield imagery -- will be hitting stores February 18th.”

More McQ Blythe pics surface

Ok, ok... after looking at the latest pics posted on Nitrolicious, I'm now a convert. Alexander McQueen's models for his McQ Go International collection for Target - also known as the Blythe dolls - look less creepy here when combined with his hip fashions and trendy hairdos. Which begs the question: did they use actual vintage Blythe dolls (which can fetch thousands of dollars on eBay) or the more modern Korean knockoffs? I'm guessing the latter, since I doubt that the original Blythe offerings included any dolls of color.

Pick of the Week

It's Pick of the Week time: each week I pick one great buy from Target's Weekly ad (in the Sunday newspaper) and highlight it here on my blog. Now Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and I realize that candy is still a popular gift option for this holiday. If you have a local candy shop where you live, that’s probably your best bet; the delectables there will most likely be fresher and more unique than mass-produced budget chocolates (like Hershey’s or Nestle brands). And you could also opt for See’s Candy – a classic to be sure – but See’s always reminds me of my grandmother and is a little too “old school” for my tastes. Instead, I’d go for Choxie from Target. I’ve tried them and Choxie’s chocolates are surprisingly good, and come in brightly-patterned attractive packaging, perfect for gift-giving. And this week, all Choxie is on sale, including the 8-piece signature collection and 16-piece dessert cup box (both shown) for just $12 each, as well as their espresso caramels and chocolate-covered fruit for only $4.49 each.

Zac Efron hearts Target

In this economy, no job is safe.

Fortunately, Zac Efron appears to recognize that fact, as the High School Musical star is making sure to save every last penny these days.

Here's a pic of the actor spotted just last month at Target, wheeling around his shopping cart and looking as adorable as ever dressed down in jeans, flip-flops and a plain white tee.

McQ for Target Pop-up Shop

Racked.com reports that Target has picked the massive St. John's Center at 330 West Street to throw a preview party for its McQ Alexander McQueen collection. The temporary pop-up shop, called the Target McQ Market, will be open to the public during Fashion Week from February 14th and 15th from noon to 10pm, meaning that native New Yorkers will get to shop the collection weeks before it debuts nationwide in Target stores on March 4th. More info from the press release:

“The Target McQ Market will feature booths made of chain link fence, distressed plywood and graffiti covered grates evoking the gritty ambience of Camden Market and nostalgia of a rock ‘n roll club. The Target McQ Market will also feature young NYC artists who will be creating one-of-a-kind pieces using prints, fabrics and embellishments from the McQ Alexander McQueen for Target line.”

Clearance Alert: Home Design Event

Although Target’s website still lists their Home Design Event wares at 30% off, some stores have already discounted the collection by 50%. As of yesterday, the store near my work had a great selection of merchandise left, all at half off. But it looks like Target will clear out the leftovers soon to make way for new Spring outdoor/patio offerings, so snap it up soon before it’s all gone.

Wednesday’s Rave: this Converse One Star scarf

Today’s rave is about this AWESOME scarf I just got at Target from Converse One Star (yes....Converse!). Now I don’t usually look to the Converse One Star brand for accessories. For clothing, definitely, but I didn’t realize that Converse branched out beyond clothes and shoes. So the other day when this dip-dyed scarf caught my eye, I was shocked to see the Converse label on it. I loved the feel (super soft and drapey rayon) as well as the price (just $16.99). My only complaint? That it doesn’t come in other solid colors. The pearl-gray to deep-black is the only ombre-hued one of the bunch, although it does come in a couple of prints.

McQ for Target Microsite

This just in (via Racked.com): Target has launched a microsite for it’s McQ (Alexander McQueen) Go International collection, complete with a countdown clock, a googly-eyed Blythe doll, and a soundtrack by The Duke Spirit. You can also preview three looks: the Liela-print top with the zigzag leggings, the tattoo-print strapless dress with the studded denim jacket, and the tiger print silk shift dress. You can check out the microsite here, but IMO, I stand by my previous take that the Blythe-doll thing is all a bit creepy.

Tuesday’s Rant: Sloppy Debut Dates

On Tuesdays I usually take the opportunity to rant about something I do NOT like about Target …because although I love them to death, they certainly ain’t perfect. Today’s rant is courtesy of the decor8blog, who complains about something that’s bugged me for a long time. From their site:

Some Target’s have a few Orla pieces out, others do not. Thank goodness they JUST POSTED word on their website that Orla’s collection is confirmed to be in stores not today (as I was informed by their ‘people’) but on the 15th. I wanted to let everyone know ASAP since so many of you are excited to get your hands on this collection.

Now this has happened numerous times before: Target announces an introduction date for a capsule collection, and then it shows up sporadically… as if whenever the Target employees decide to unpack it and put it out on the floor, then it "arrives". It happened with John Derian, it happened with Hayden-Harnett, as well as with numerous Go International lines. Why can’t Target just announce a debut date and stick to it??

Hidden Home Storage

Many homeowners say they don't have enough storage space at home, but there's more than most think. Consider the storage potential of every space in your home -- even if it wasn't designed with storage in mind.

Look under every work surface for extra open space. An under-sink shelf expands from 18 to 30 inches wide ($19.99 at Target). Dual-tier chrome basket storage drawers can fit inside cabinet or pantry ($37.99 at Target).

If your closets are the old-fashioned kind with a single rod for hanging clothes and a shelf so high you can't reach it, get ready to reorganize. Rubbermaid's Configurations Starter Closet Kit is customizable to fit your closet and needs ($69.99 at Target and target.com).

And when it's time for new furniture, replace chairs with benches (like the one shown) whose seats open to double as storage chests or ottomans with hollow centers for hiding magazines (Metro storage bench, $139.99 at Target or target.com).