Nifty Gift: Mason Jar Cookie Mix

Looking for a fun hostess gift or yummy stocking stuffer this holiday season? Then head over to Target for these festive cookie mixes with all the dry ingredients packaged in a cute mason jar: all you do is add the wet ingredients and bake! Just $10.99 each (and I think there were a couple more flavors not shown here) in the Kitchen Section at Target.

Trend Spotting: Pom Pom Hats

Earlier this week The Today Show did a style segment on "Fall Essentials"  - one being the knit pom pom hat (as shown here on Jill Martin).  This is a trend I've seen all over Target in the accessories department, and you can also check out their selection online. This week Target has them on sale for buy 1/get 1 at 50% off, which is a pretty good deal. But I've also seen pom pom hats in the Dollar Aisle for just 5-bucks each!

Clearance Alert: Sonia Kashuk Exotic Artisan Brush Set

If you're in the market for new makeup brushes, check out this "Exotic Artisan" set from Sonia Kashuk. Boasting real wood handles with an intricate Indian-inspired pattern, this 12-piece set includes a Blush, Smudger, Concealer, Eyebrow Comb/Brush, Eyeliner Brush, Eyeshadow brush, Brush, Powder Brush. Best of all, it's on clearance on Target.com for 30% off - now just $27.98, regularly $39.99. And in stores, I've seen it marked even lower at 50% off!

Trend Spotting: Halloween Skeleton Pets

I'm starting a new feature here called Trend Spotting, where I call out a trend that can be replicated by a simple shopping trip to Target. I don't know about you, but this year I'm seeing these Skeleton Cats EVERYWHERE in front yard Halloween decor. These skeleton pets seem to have exploded on the scene, with the most popular being cat and dog varieties, but Target also carries a skeleton rat, lizard, fish and crow. Some even have sound and glowing eyes. If you want to create your own "pet cemetery" it's not too late; a quick check of Target.com shows many of these items available for store pickup.

Product Review: Beekman 1802 Farm Pantry Pot Roast Starter

As I blogged about earlier this month, the Beekman 1802 Farm Pantry line is being phased out of Target and is therefore now on clearance. One item I was able to get on sale was the Pot Roast Starter (jar shown far left) which I tried last night and it was delicious. Similar to cooking sauces offered by Williams-Sonoma - but at a fraction of the cost - I found the Beekman version to be far tastier with a lot less sodium. My local store is now sold out of it, but I'm hoping to find it at another nearby store this week. And the recipe couldn't be easier: all you do is sear a small (2-3 lb. pot roast), place it in a dutch over over chopped onions, carrots and potatoes, dump the sauce over it, and bake for 3 hours.

Coming this Spring: Victoria Beckham for Target

ABC News reports that Victoria Beckham will be bringing her fashion sense to the masses.

The designer, former Spice Girl and mother of four just announced that she is teaming up with Target to bring a new line of her clothes to the retailer next Spring.

"For a while now, I have been thinking how great it would be to work on clothes for a customer that either doesn’t want to pay or can’t pay designer prices," Beckham said in a statement on Target.com. "I loved the idea of opening the brand up to a wider audience and being able to share my vision with a broader customer base."

Victoria Beckham for Target will range in price from $6 to $70, with most items under $40. The collection will include more than 200 items for women including dresses, rompers, tops and bottoms -- as well as corresponding styles for girls, toddlers and babies. The new line marks Beckham's first foray into designing clothes for children.

"From the outset of my brand, I have always designed clothes that I want to wear, and that’s exactly what I have done here, but this time there are also clothes that my daughter would love to wear, too!" Beckham said. "Designing for children is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time."

The collection will be available April 9 through April 30 at all Target stores and on Target.com.

Double-Take: Restoration Hardware vs. Threshold

It's time for another double-take, where we take one item from Tar-shay and match it up against a lookalike - yet pricier - designer piece. Today we have two charming brass desk lamps. While they are strikingly similar in looks, that's where  the comparison ends, as one is from Restoration Hardware and will set you back $599, whereas the other is by Threshold (at Target) and costs just $29.99. Which one is which? The answer appears in the comments section below.

Target halts clown-mask sales...

The Washington Post reports that Target will stop selling clown masks amid a rash of reported clown attacks — real and fake — that have terrorized the United States in recent months.

All of the company’s stores have pulled the masks “out of sensitivity for the issue at hand,” Target spokesman Joshua Thomas told the newspaper. Target has 1,799 stores in the United States, according to its corporate site.

The company also has stopped selling masks on its website. On Monday morning, searches for “clown masks” on Target.com turned up nothing. Links from search engines to clown masks that Target previously stocked simply led to a message that said “product not available.” Shown here is one mask that was previously for sale on Target.com but has now been pulled.

Clown costumes for children, oversize clown suits and “sexy clown” outfits are, however, apparently still available for sale. The retail giant’s decision, just two weeks before Halloween, comes as the frenzy over “creepy clown” sightings and threats has reached a fever pitch. And across the country, scary-clown rumors have led to school lockdowns and arrests.

Clearance Alert: Fall Home Decor & Tabletop

Also while at Target yesterday I noticed that all of the new Fall home decor and tabletop items are already on clearance at 50% off. They only put this merchandise out on the store floor a couple of weeks ago, so they must be trying to move it quickly to make room for holiday decor. The selection includes decorative plates, mugs, servingware, vases, candle holders, napkins and linens.

Clearance Alert: Beekman 1802 Farm Pantry

At Target this morning I noticed that all the Beekman 1802 Farm Pantry products were on clearance for 50-70%. I picked up a couple of things, like the Bean & Barley Soup Starter Mix and the Veggie Seasoning packs. I wonder, though, whether Target has discounted these items because they're phasing out the brand, or just to make room for more holiday food offerings - ?

Fab Find: Threshold Metal & Leather Mirror

Looking for a stylish wall accent? Look no further than this cool metal & leather mirror from Threshold (at Target). Part of Threshold's Harvest Collection, it's on sale this week for just $42.50 (regularly $50). And if you use the code COZYHOME online, you can get an extra 10% off.

Coming to Target: Modern by Dwell Magazine

Like modern - and affordable - modern design? Then you'll love Target's new collab with Fast Co. Design called Modern by Dwell Magazine.

Founded in 2000, Dwell is a design and technology brand with the mission is to bridge the gap between design professionals and enthusiasts. Dwell reaches the worldwide design community through its print publication, digital platform, live events and products.

Likewise, the Modern by Dwell Magazine collection features more than 120 items, including furniture, décor, tabletop and home accessories separated into indoor and outdoor collections.

Modern by Dwell Magazine will be available at select Target stores and on Target.com beginning Dec. 27. Prices will range from $49.99 to $399.99 for furniture and $16.99 to $99.99 for décor, tabletop and accessories.

Sale Alert: Joules Rain Boots

Target is having a 20% off sale this week on all women's boots. In addition, they have 25% off all Joules brand rain boots, like these adorable doggie-print wellies - this week just $52.50 (regularly $69.99). Regular readers of my blog know that I'm a huge fan of Joules, so I'll be taking advantage of the sale to order the cute honeybee-print ones I've had my eye on since last year.

Exclusive to Target: New Halloween Treats

Just in time for Halloween, here are nine wicked-good new candy flavors from national brands like M&M’s, Dove and Hershey's that you'll only find at Target:

Boo-tterscotch M&M’s
The little wizards at your door will love the butterscotch and white chocolate flavors of this treat.

Dove Milk Chocolate Ghosts
The delicious milk chocolate you love gets a spooky makeover with ghost-graced foil wraps.

Kit Kat Darkness
Go to the dark side with this dark chocolate twist on the classic Kit Kat.

Hershey’s Spooky Kisses
This mix of cute ghost, bat and spider-themed Kisses gives every candy dish a festive lift.

Hershey’s Caramel Pumpkins
Gooey caramel fills each chocolate pumpkin shape.

SweeTarts Skulls and Bones
Your favorite tart treats in a skulls and bones motif.

Jolly Rancher Spooky Shapes Gummies
Your favorite Jolly Rancher flavors, in softer, spookier form.

Brach’s Brunch favorites Candy Corn
All the best of brunch—French toast, strawberry waffles and chocolate chip pancakes—in classic Halloween candy corn.

Maple Brown Sugar Peeps
These new Peeps are the perfect fall-flavored treat.

Target plans more 'mini stores' aimed at millennials...

Although other retailers haven’t been able to lure shoppers with mini stores, Target is hoping to succeed where others have failed, and seems pretty confident about its plan to open a slew of mini stores in new markets geared towards millennials.

According to Consumerist, Target executives say they’ve shifted from the big box store model it’s used in the past with its new mini stores, which are putting down roots in college towns and urban areas with younger shoppers milling around, looking to spend money. This is in contrast to Walmart’s failed Walmart Express Stores, which were mainly located in suburban and rural areas.

“We had become really good at stamping out the same store in different markets,” Chief Operating Officer John Mulligan told The Wall Street Journal in a new interview. “For these formats, we are rethinking everything.”

Each store will cater to local tastes — so for example,  a mini store near the University of Minnesota will carry ping-pong balls and beer, with nary a stroller or teething toy in sight. In contrast, at a store in New York City’s Tribeca neighborhood, there will be baby items to appeal to all the families living nearby. Target has been fighting sluggish sales amid slowing traffic at its 1,800 or so stores, and these new stores are geared to help boost the company’s overall performance in the next two years.

New at Target: La-ta-da

Starting this week, Target is adding glitz and glam to your ‘do with La-ta-da—a new, exclusive line of hair accessories for women and children. The assortment includes chic pieces ranging from headbands and hair ties to clips and barrettes that’ll take your braids, buns and fishtails to a whole new level. You can check out a gallery of images from the collection here on A Bullseye View.

And thanks to La-ta-da, you won’t just get to look and feel good, you’ll get to do good too. That’s because with each product purchased, leadership development opportunities are donated through Girl Up, the United Nations Foundation’s campaign dedicated to empowering adolescent girls across the globe.

Fab Find: Threshold Wood Accent Table

Want to add a unique touch to your living room? Look no further than Threshold's Wood Accent Table at Target (shown here) for a look that's both modern and rustic. The metal hairpin legs and natural wood top complement each other perfectly. And best of all, right now it's on sale for just $59.49, plus you can get an extra 10% off by using the coupon code HOMESALE at checkout.