New at Target: Summer Wonderpacks

Target has just launched 6 new product collections made up of the hottest summer activity stuff called Wonderpacks. If they sound familiar, I guess Target originally launched holiday versions last December, but I completely missed them at the time.

Now, Wonderpacks are back, just as you’re looking for fun family activities to keep the dreaded “I’m so bored” kid comments at bay. You can find Wonderpacks on Target.com—all packaged up in a handy travel tote for $25 or less. But hurry: two of the selections (including this Super Spash Bash shown here - filled with poolside or beach water activities) are already sold out!

Free With Purchase: Oh Joy! First Aid Bag

Target is running a "free with purchase promo" this week: buy 3 select health care products and get this Oh Joy! limited-edition first aid bag (a $5.99 value) for free. Target is also selling Oh Joy!-designed Band-Aid adhesive bandages. In doing some research online, I guess Target offered a similar promotion last year, but I completely missed that one. IMO, the design of this year's bag is cuter, so get 'em while you can because quantities are limited and there are no rain checks.

Coming Soon to Target: Blueberry Pie Oreos

Attention Oreo cookie fans: Target is about to stock another exclusive, limited-edition summer flavor! A couple of summers ago they rolled out Watermelon, and this year they're pushing Blueberry Pie. According to Consumerist, this limited-time-only flavor will roll out in stores the week of June 6th, so get 'em while you can.

Clearance Alert: Select Home Decor

I popped into my local Target store this morning before work and there was a whole crew of employees marking down a ton of home decor (as shown here) for 30-50% off. The funny thing is that this seems to be all the NEW stuff they only recently put out on the floor. The sale merchandise included offerings from the brands
Threshold, Nate Berkus and MIA glassware. There were some really nice things marked down, so when I have more time to browse this weekend I'm definitely going to check it out!

Target's "This Just In"...

Target has a new weekly YouTube series called "This Just In", featuring new products you might not realize are carried by The Bullseye. The best part of these videos is that they are "shoppable", in that you can click the icon in the upper right corner to instantly shop what you see on screen. The host, Erin (shown here) is your guide to all the fab, fresh finds.

The Look for Less: Ballard Designs vs. Target.com

Plaid still seems to be having a fashion "moment", be it buffalo checks or gingham print. Now it's making its way into home decor, as seen in these two examples of neutral gray/white checked drapes. The big difference is in the cost, as the drapes on the left are by Ballard Designs, and will set you back $89 per panel, whereas the drapes on the right are by Achim (on Target.com) and cost only $19.99 per panel.

Dollar Aisle Diving...

A couple of weeks ago I featured cute patriotic scarves, and now the Dollar Aisle is absolutely bursting at the seams with red, white and blue - just in time for Memorial Day (and in preparation for Independence Day). Items include the cute mini paper boat craft kit (shown upper right), pens, pencils, notepads, invitations, party ware, fun paper lanterns, and a boatload of other patriotic home decor.

It also seems like Target has expanded their Dollar Aisle Section. They've probably added two more aisles to the overall section. One bummer, though, is that part of the section is now devoted to candy, which I'm sure is hard on moms toting kids around (as that's one thing they'll surely gravitate towards).

Clearance Alert: Select Joy Mangano Products

While Joy Mangano products seem to still be at full price on Target.com, in stores I've seen some items put on clearance for 50% off. Products include her iconic Miracle Mop, Buckets, Memory Cloud Pillows and Garment Steamers. I'm sure that Target will continue to carry Joy's Huggable Hangers, but perhaps they're clearing out the larger items to make room in the stores for other merchandise.

The Look for Less: Banana Republic vs. Knox Rose

This morning I got an email from Banana Republic touting their new "flutter tee", so I headed over to Target.com to see if I could find a comparable look. And sure enough, I did! On the left is BR's version with tonal stripes in Pink Blush for $49.50. But you can get a similar look - at half the price - at Target with the Knox Rose Flutter Sleeve Banded Top in Pink (shown at right) for just $22.99.

Sale Alert: BOGO 50% off Dresses

Target is having a buy one/get one 50% off deal this week on all womens and girls dresses. Now IMO, Target's in-store selection is pretty underwhelming these days. So my advice is to head over to Target.com for a much bigger (and better) collection of dress options - like this pretty blue chevon-striped option from Merona.

The Look for Less: Crate & Barrel vs. Target.com

Today I thought we'd look at two very similar wood serving trays. Both of these rustic trays feature a "wedge" of acacia tree with a vibrant interior grain and are handcrafted with a realistic bark "rim". But the one shown on top is from Crate & Barrel and will set you back almost $25, whereas the one on the bottom is from Lipper International (on Target.com) and only costs $19.99 (with an extra 15% off right now if you use the discount code MAYSAVE).

Fab Find: Dollar Aisle Patriotic Scarves

This week at Target I spied these fun fashion scarves in the Dollar Aisle for just $3 each. Done up in patriotic red, white & blue, styles include red/white chevron stripes, white with blue stars and blue with white stars. The Dollar Aisle is getting in more festive red/white/blue merchandise, too, in preparation for Summer and Independence Day

Coming to Target: Beautycounter

Beauty and skincare brand Beautycounter is coming to a Target near you later this  year. Who's "Beautycounter", you ask? Yeah, I hadn't heard of the brand either, but their mission is “to get safer products into the hands of everyone,” which kind of sounds similar to the philosophy behind Honest Beauty.

This Fall, the brand will make its mass-market debut with a limited-edition collection called Beautycounter for Target. The line features fan-favorite products (like rosewater mist and a purifying charcoal mask), special sets and a brand new nourishing oil that’s launching only at Target.

“We know our guests are on the lookout for high-quality products that contain safer, cleaner ingredients, and Beautycounter is an up-and-coming brand that’s made a big splash in this area,” said Dawn Block, senior vice president, beauty and essentials, at Target. “We’ve worked together to curate a special collection that includes the best of what Beautycounter has to offer, and we hope guests will love finding the line at Target this Fall.”

To prove just how safe Beautycounter products really are, its team put together “The Never List,” a compilation of 1,500 ingredients, including parabens, formaldehyde and mercury, that the brand will never use when making it’s products. Let's just hope that Beautycounter for Target is more price-friendly than their regular retail line, where a mascara is $29 and a lip gloss will run you $30.

New at Target: Who What Wear Summer Collection

Who What Wear just released their latest capsule collection at Target, and you can check out the goods here on Target.com. But color me confused, readers, because I'm not seeing much of a difference between their Target collab and the new Banana Republic collection that Who What Wear is hyping on their blog. Just look at how similar the WWW skirt at Target (on the left) is to the BR floral dress on the right! Of course, there is a huge price difference... the skirt at Target is only $29.99 (actually on clearance now for 15% off) whereas the dress at Banana Republic is a whopping $178.

So lesson learned: if you like the looks of BR this season, you might want to check out Who What Wear offerings at Tar-jay first. In fact, you may want to register for Banana Republic's Who What Wear Style Event (coming to select cities) in order to source similar - and cheaper - looks at Target.

New at Target: Nate Berkus Spring/Summer Collection

With outdoor entertaining in mind, Nate Berkus has dropped his latest home collection at Target. According to A Bullseye View, “It’s all about enjoying quality time with the people you love,” says Nate. "Nothing needs to feel fussy or overdone."

Nate’s current collection embodies that exact laid-back spirit. “The gold accents and finishes feel elevated and timeless—especially when paired with wovens, sculpted ceramics and leather,” says Nate, commenting on the gilded vases, trays and side tables decorating the space. “There’s really no room that a well-placed gold or brass accessory doesn’t work, year round.”

Nate’s top picks from the new collection include the Embroidered Frame Mirror, Equestrian Side Table and the Moroccan Woven Wall Art. “They feel unusual and well traveled, like you could’ve picked them up from a local flea market in Mexico or Peru,” says Nate, referencing past trips that inspired the line. “And there are so many places they can live in your home for the summer and beyond.”

Better yet, these pieces weren’t only designed to live exclusively inside the home. “Since it’s the summer and we’ll be spending time outdoors, why not bring indoor pieces out, like the Etched Wood Table and loads of Metal Wire Hurricanes and Pottery Tea Lights,” says Nate, reminiscing about late nights in Mexico, the ocean just a few steps away. “Grouped together, they’ll immediately set the mood for any evening soiree you’re hosting, outside or in.

Clearance Alert: Select Marimekko on Target.com

I had an intense week, so I haven't blogged as much as I would have liked to lately. And when a friend texted me the other day asking whether some of the Marimekko for Target collab had already gone on clearance, I shrugged it off as misinformation. Guess I was the one who was misinformed, as a check of Target.com shows that some items are already on clearance for 30% off!

The sale stuff seems to be confined to home and outdoor goods for now, like this colorful pouf now on sale for $34.98 (formerly $49.99). Keep in mind that some of the items marked "on sale" online aren't available in stores anymore, so unless you find them in store, you're out of luck. I'm actually amazed the clothing isn't on sale yet, as there have been tons of returns to my local store - especially of the kaftans, wide pants and swimsuits - so I'm surprised the stores have discounted them to try to clear them out.

The Look for Less: Restoration Hardware vs. Threshold

The Threshold brand (at Target) was the focus of my last Look for Less post, and they continue to churn out affordable alternatives to trendy home decor items. Case in point: the Yountville Polished Nickel Lantern shown at far left from Restoration Hardware retailed for $45 (although it is now sold out). But you could get the look for much less with the Threshold Stainless Steel Lantern (shown at right) for only $24.99 (on sale this week for $21.24).

New at Target: S’ip by S’well

Thanks to reader 'januarysix' for alerting me to this. Target has partnered with the folks at S'well beverage bottles for a new collab called S’ip by S’well. Fans of S'well know their bottles are beautifully crafted and composed of non-leaching and non-toxic 18/8 stainless steel, keeping your drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12.

Likewise, S’ip by S’well's water bottle lets you quench your thirst from dusk till dawn. Using authentic S’well® technology, it will keep beverages cold and hot longer than your average bottle. S’ip by S’well™ is made from BPA-free double-walled food-grade 304 18/8 stainless steel, and comes in a bunch of fun colors and patterns, like the cute Honey Bee Print shown here. And best of all, S’ip by S’well is on sale at Target this week for just $23 a bottle (regularly ($24.99).