FEED USA + Target launches with little fanfare...

It's a rare Sunday in which I not only avoid Target, but I sleep in until almost 11! This is one of those Sundays, so it's just now that I'm getting around to checking out how the FEED USA + Target collab is faring online. Racked.com is my source for Target collab-craziness, and since they haven't done a story yet today on any Target lines or website wipeouts, it looks like this line isn't causing the frenzy of Missoni or Jason Wu.

Doing my own digging, it looks like the only item to sell out so far is the 10-buck burlap bag, although the pricier (albeit larger and nicer) $35 version is still available. The other totes seem to all be in stock, except for this $7 reusable bag that I tried to put into my cart (shown) but got an error message no matter how many times I just put a quantity of "1" in my cart.  It kept defaulting to "0" and an error message, so I guess The Bullseye hasn't worked out all the kinks on their website yet.

I ended up just buying 2  t-shirts - one for me and one for my hubby - online.  It irked me, though, once I realized that the womens' tees were more expensive (at $18 each) than the mens' (at $15) which makes no sense since the mens' version takes more fabric.

What about you, readers?  Did you check out the FEED USA collab today, and if so, what were your thoughts?

Target launches full Cartwheel app...

Several weeks ago I alerted you that Target had launched their new digital savings program - Cartwheel - in beta form. The full app is now available for free download at GooglePlay and the Apple App Store. The app boasts faster loading, crisper product images and better browsing. Plus, the voice-activated search feature helps you find things when your hands are full. For more information, check out the Cartwheel page on Target.com.

Target Drops Deen...

Looks like Target didn't take long to make up their mind about Paula Deen. Late yesterday news broke that Target and Home Depot became the latest companies to distance themselves from the celebrity chef.

Home Depot - which sold Paula Deen-branded cooking and kitchen products online - actually went to the extent of immediately pulling her merchandise off their website on Wednesday. Target, on the other hand, said it plans to phase-out their Paula Deen cookware from both stores and their website. "Once the merchandise is sold out, we will not be replenishing inventory," said Molly Snyder, a Target spokeswoman.

Will Target cut ties with Paula Deen?

As the Paula Deen scandal rolls on, several news outlets (including The Huffington Post) have reported that Walmart is the latest partner to end their association with her.

Yesterday Walmart announced that it has ended its relationship with the Southern celebrity chef, as part of the continued fallout in the wake of revelations that she's used racial slurs in the past. The world's largest retailer, based in Bentonville Ark., currently carries a variety of products under her moniker, including food items, cookware, and health & wellness items, at all of its 4,000 U.S. stores.

This makes me wonder whether Target - who also carries Paula Deen merchandise, like the cookware set shown here - will also cut ties with Deen?  According to the HuffPro article, Target reiterated on Wednesday it was still "evaluating the situation."

Double-Take: Target vs. Overstock Silver

It's time for another double-take, where we take one item from Target and match it against a similar - albeit pricer - piece.  The sideways cross necklace has been a trend for a while now; I don't know about you, but I see them everywhere these days.  One of these pretty pendants is from Overstock Silver and is $36 - which isn't a bad price - but the other is from Target and will only set you back $19.99.  Which one is which?  The answer appears in the comments section below.

Target's "Bonus Black Friday"

Just as they've done in years past, Target is having a "Bonus Black Friday" in July. This year's sale is hitting a week earlier than last year's (starting July 12th) and you can click here to sign up for exclusive bonus deals.

Target "Kitty Haul" video...

Target has posted a hilarious "haul" video (from the cat's POV) on their Facebook page, which you can also view here on YouTube.  Watch cute kitties "Britney" and "Lizzie" fawn over the pet products their "human" bought them at Target.

The best of the bunch from FEED USA + Target...

Two of my fave bloggers posted their top picks today from the upcoming FEED USA + Target collab, hitting stores and Target.com this Sunday, June 30th.  The Recessionista is a fan of the burlap totes (shown here) but wonders about Target's motives, noting that "You can donate to many good causes to feed hungry children without buying merchandise from Target."

The Budget Babe , on the other hand, is mad for the baby onesies and bibs (although she's fond of these bags, the stoneware dishes and the women's wear as well).

As for me, I'm going to wait to see this line in person to form my opinions.  Target's current TV ads show a cute throw blanket in addition to the all-American fashions and functional totes.  Those will probably be the items I go for vs. the bike, kitchenware, jewelry or accessories.

What about you, readers? Is this a collab you're excited for, or could you care less?

BTS merchandise hits Target shelves...

We're barely into the first few days of summer, yet Target is trading it's regular merchandise for Back-to-School (BTS) supplies.  Look for bargains in the Home Decor Dept. as Target clears that space for extra-long sheet sets, desk lamps, and other dorm essentials aimed at the college set. You can also check out The Bullseye's "Back to College 2013" section here on Target.com.

New at Target: Watermelon Oreos

What will they think of next? The folks over at Oreo Cookies have developed a new summer flavor: Watermelon. The snacks debuted earlier this month and available exclusively at Target stores nationwide for a limited-time only.

The blogger behind Junk Food Guy is clearly a fan, writing in a complimentary post that he "liked these. A LOT. These DIDN’T overwhelm me with artificial (well, overly artificial) watermelon flavor. Instead the immediate taste I got was a watermelon taste that tasted like, frankly, it had been blended with creme."

The wafers on these are vanilla-favored, with the watermelon-frosting centers tinted red and green.  For a closer look at the actual cookies, check out this post on Consumerist.

Fab Find: Merona Sequin Pocket Tee

At home I'm mainly a tee and jeans girl, so I'm always on the lookout for cute, affordable tees that look at bit nicer/dressier than your average t-shirt.  That's why I was thrilled to find this Merona Sequin Pocket Tee at Target today.  The cut is great; it drapes well, hanging longer in back, and is made of a supersoft combo of poly/cotton on the front and rayon on the back. I scored it in blue (shown here) marked down to just $13.98 (regularly $19.99) but I may go back to try to get it in this light aqua color as well.

Clearance Alert: Nate Berkus Spring Collection

While in Target this past weekend, I noticed that the Nate Berkus for Target Spring Collection of Home Decor is on clearance already.  While only select  items are on clearance online, the entire collection seemed marked down at my local store, including everything you see here. 

Double-Take: Mossimo vs. J. Crew

It's time for another double-take, where we take one item from Target and match it against a similar - yet pricer - piece.  Today we have two tankini swim tops in vibrant blue, both with a detachable halter strap .  But one of them is from J. Crew and costs $60, whereas the other is from Mossimo (at Target) and is on sale for just $17.99 (down from $19.99).  Which one is which?  The answer appears in the comments section below.

Repeat Rant: Rushing the Seasons...

To further expand on my rant from last week, over the weekend I went to my local Target to look for a cute sundress to wear to a BBQ. Instead, I found tights and turtlenecks (as shown here).   This is getting really annoying!

Target rolling out new organic grocery brand...

According to the Wall St. Cheat Sheet, Target is rolling out a new organic and natural store brand called Simply Balanced.  As Target works to boost its grocery business and become a “one-stop” shopping destination, the company is increasing its number of food lines available to customers. Simply Balanced will join two existing lines, Archer Farms and Market Pantry. While Market Pantry is fashioned to appeal to customers seeking a cheaper alternative, usually setting prices about 10 to 30 percent cheaper than national name brands, Archer Farms is positioned as a premium alternative.

The new Simply Balanced alternative comes amid a time when organic foods are growing in popularity, posting sales at twice the rate of conventional groceries. The brand will start rolling out drinks and snacks to stores today (Sunday) but will eventually include about 250 products over the next five months. About half of its items will be organic, and the other three-fourths will be free of genetically modified ingredients — a percent that will only grow as Target promises to eliminate all genetically modified ingredients from the line by the end of 2014.

As an aside: I find the name "Simply Balanced" a bit ironic, seeing that it used to be the tagline for the Archer Farms brand.

Phillip Lim wins CFDA Award...

Designers, celebrities and various luminaries from Anna Wintour to Hillary Clinton were out in force the other night for the 2013 CFDA Fashion Awards. Hosted by Bravo’s Andy Cohen at New York’s Lincoln Center, the annual ceremony honored some of the most talented designers of the year... including upcoming Target collaborator Phillip Lim, who took home the award for Accessories Designer of the Year. Australian actress Rose Byrne (shown here with Lim) presented him with the award.  This is the third time Lim has won a CFDA; previously, he won the 2007 CFDA Swarovski Award for Womenswear and the 2012 Swarovski Award for Menswear. Phillip Lim for Target debuts in stores and online on September 15th.

Tuesday's Rant: Rushing from season to season

On Tuesdays I sometimes take the opportunity to rant about something I do not like about Target… because although I love ‘em to death, they ain’t perfect.  Now I've ranted about this before: retailers - Target in particular - rushing thru the seasons.  The last time I ranted about this, it was early July 2010, when I lamented that my local Target store was already phasing out swimsuits in favor of wooly wraps.  Now it's gotten even more out of hand: on June 2nd, I saw an entire rack of heavy cable knit sweater leggings by Mossimo in the Juniors' section neatly hanging near the swimsuits. I didn't have my camera phone with me at the time to snap a pic, but I found this stock photo online from similar Target leggings from 2011 (shown here). Now I realize that before we know it, Target will be stocking back-to-school stuff.  But sweater leggings at the start of June is a bit extreme, IMO.

Target's Gigi Guerra named one of Ad Age's "Women to Watch"

Perusing the AdAge list of 2013's Women to Watch, one name stood out to me: Gigi Guerra.  But not because she’s now at Target.  Magazine fans out there (like me) will recognize her name from titles like the now defunct Jane and the fashion pages of Lucky.

Ms. Guerra’s first staff job was actually assisting future celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe in the fashion closet of YM. She went on to become a senior editor at Jane, as well as the executive editor of Lucky under founding editor Kim France, where she led the reporting and scouting for the mag’s famous city shopping guides. “She is a visionary who doesn't just spot trends - she makes them up and makes them happen,” says former boss Jane Pratt, who now runs XOJane.com.

In 2008, Guerra was plucked from Condé Nast by Mickey Drexler, who hired her as the marketing director of fashion retailer Madewell. “Editorial to marketing is not a typical shift - I credit Madewell with letting me jump into it and learn as I went,” Ms. Guerra says of her time working under Mr. Drexler.

Five years and a VP title later, Ms. Guerra left to join Target as design partnerships curator. The new role requires the exec to travel the country - and often the entire world - searching for new designers, stores and brands for The Bulleye’s steady stream of collaborations. For someone whose greatest gift is knowing what’s new and next, Target is a dream gig. “It’s a great progression and combines a lot of what I’ve done in the past,” she said.

New at Target: Evol Frozen Entrees

While perusing my local Target store this past weekend, I saw something new in the frozen food aisle: evol.  Yes, the name is "love" spelled backwards.  The endcap I saw only had the entrees, although it sounds like evol Foods got their start in the burrito business; you can read more about the company here on their website. Besides burritos and entrees, they've also expanded to pizza and flatbreads.  But like I said, I only saw the entrees... and since Target had them on sale 2 for $6, I decided to try the Truffle Parmesan Mac & Cheese and the Teriyaki Chicken.  The Mac & Cheese is described as "tubetti pasta and creamy truffle parmesan cheddar cheese sauce,  topped with insanely tasty panko breadcrumbs".  Besides being vegetarian, it boasts 15G of protein; it also, however, has 480 calories.  I had it for lunch today and have to admit, it was pretty good!   Good  enough for me to plan to seek out their flatbread varieties, which hopefully Target also carries.  I was also impressed by the section their website for cooking methods, wine pairings and salad ideas to complement the flatbreads, making a whole meal out of it.

How about you, readers?  Have you tried the evol brand of frozen foods before, and if so, what are some of your favorites?

Fab Find: Mossimo Hi-Low Knit Dress

This Mossimo knit dress is a "fab find" that not only do I personally own (in the color shown here) but I also plan to go back and get another one in black. I actually wore this to a Mother's Day brunch and got tons of compliments on it.  While it takes on the "hi-low"  hemline trend, it isn't as an extreme as on some dresses.

This hue is dubbed "Baritone Blue Stripe", but the color is actually a deep teal with what looks like navy threads running through it. While I love the orange color as well (which they call "Hot Lips Red") I found it to be a tad too sheer in the dressing room, which is why I'll opt for basic black instead.

PS: Regarding fit, the sizing is generous on this dress, and I actually had to go down a size.