Target Comes to Edmonton!

I was a little surprised this morning when a co-worker called and said "Did you know Target opened today?"   WWHHHHATTTT??

I mean, I had been talking about it for MONTHS!!  Pretty much mentioning to everyone who would listen, how excited I was to finally be able to snag the same sort of cute/gorgeous/fun/inexpensive

home décor/fashion/shoes etc.  that "all my blog friends" are always posting about!  We had signed up for the email notification and everything.  Then, of course I find out there was a launch last night.... a little disappointed we hadn't heard a thing!

So needless to say, I counted down the minutes til I could leave work and check it out.  Needless to say, it was packed! 

However, I have to say I was a little disappointed.  It's possible I had hyped things up too much in my head, and perhaps a lot of the types of things I was interested in (home décor mostly) had been snatched up, as there were many empty shelves, but it seemed to be lacking the "name brands" that I associated with Target.  Yes, there was a few Nate Berkus pieces and Simply Shabby Chic bedding, but that was pretty much it. 

Granted, I didn't tour the entire store just the two departments I was most interested in, as once I saw the line, I knew there was no way I was waiting around to buy anything.  But it felt very much like the now-gone Zellers.  Albeit, with a few fancier Target brands.

However, I did manage to snag a few shots of some pieces I AM interested in!  :)

 

They of course have a wonderful selection of glass lamp bases, but I knew that thanks to  

 

 

 

In addition the glass, they also had mercury glass and that gorgeous rusticy-wood base that was very men's-club/Restoration Hardware-y.  I am probably gonna go back and pick up a pair.  I don't know for where yet, but I like them enough to buy them without a plan!

 

 

 

Of course, they had the new honeycomb vases that everyone's been snatching up.  I didn't realize there were 3 different sizes, but I have more vases than I'll ever need, so none came home with me.

 

 

 

 

 

I absolutely LOVED these huge baskets with chalkboard labels (they also had a medium size), but I couldn't justify paying $49.99 for something I was just gonna put throw blankets in.  So I may need to knock-off my own...

 

 

 

I was quite taken with this huge white skeleton key and am kind of regretting not picking it up as they only had one.  I think it might be just what I've been looking for, in the front entrance.  I think it's kind of elegant and romantic but still rustic/French country, which sets a nice tone for the rest of the house.

 

 

 

Who doesn't love this cute grey chevron slipper chair?

I wish it hadn't been so high up on a shelf so I could have gotten a better picture and maybe even sat on it!

 

 

 

My happiest find was probably these dining chairs!  At $79.99 they are exactly the right price range I am looking for!  But I am not entirely sure they are the right colors, but I will definitely keep an eye out for fabrics betters suited to our space.   Especially in the tufted style!

  ( I can always add my own nailhead trim )  :)

 

 

 

I was also pretty pleased to find these Fieldcrest sheets.  They feel so smooth and soft, come in amazing colors like this moody chacoaly grey and deep teal color (my Blackberry camera did NOT capture the true colors at all).   The best part?  They say they fit up to a 20" mattress so we're hoping we might be able to squeeze them onto our 22" one.

 

 

The new Threshold line features the amazing Pintucked Duvet sets that everyone has, but in new (dark) colors like this gorgeous deep teal, grey and dark eggplant.  If I thought I could cram my ginormous duvet in one of these, I would have snatched it up then and there!

 

 

 

If quite taken with this mirror.  It's the perfect mix of Masculine (rustic wood and metal finish) and Feminine (curved edges and panes).  If I had a space that was in need of a mirror, this would have come home with me.... in fact, I'm not so sure it won't!

 

 

 

These Captain's mirrors are everywhere and again, I like the masculine vibe!

 

These are just a few things I was interested in.  Did any of you locals visit your nearest store?  How bout those of you who are Target regulars, any special pieces you recommend I try and track down?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Patio Loves

Since we finally had some nice weather this weekend, we spent Sunday cleaning up the yard and pretty-ing up the front porch.  Since we don't really have any greenery to speak of yet - the grass, tree and shrubs all still look a little DEAD....  I knew I'd have to bring in some accents to make things look more Welcoming.

 

 

 

  Our exterior is very beige and after a long winter (and all the dirt and dust that brings), things were pretty bleak looking, so first thing we did was pressure wash (someone was too lazy for that) hose off the front of the house. Which may not have looked that different, but I definitely took note of how much dirty water was coming down.... ewwww!

 

The only piece of furniture we had out there was the LINDVED side table in cream.   It's super handy when your hands are full, plus it adds some space and different height for creating a little display.  For example, last year's Halloween display

 

 

But, I really like having a chair out there and have been looking for a suitable option for the last 2 years but hadn't been able to find something nice looking that wasn't too expensive.  However, a quick peruse around the Ikea site, I found this lovely little option.

 

 

At $45, the LACKO was more than I wanted to spend on a chair that really never got sat in and only sat out there for a few months of the year, but I figured it ticked off every mark on my wish list (black, plastic-rattan, have arms, comfortable, under $50) and I was hot and tired, so home it came!

 

Of course, with the main pieces taken care of (and neutral in color), it was time to add a little bit of fun and color to the space! 
A month ago, I picked up some fun outdoor toss cushions for the yet-to-be-furnished lower patio and figured that one wouldn't mind hanging out on the front porch until either:
a.) I get something completely new and different for the front porch OR
b.) I just admit that I am addicted to this print and get another one of the exact same

I mean, who doesn't love turquoise trellis??

I kept the black lantern on the table and just added a simple little bird garden figurine I snagged from the Dollarama  a couple weeks ago! 

I didn't really do any plant buying until the long weekend, but I wanted to brighten the space up so I popped over to Costco and grabbed 2 hanging baskets and a small pot to add a little color.

(I'm excited for these to bloom and really get full)

 

 

 

Obviously, it's just a start, but I think it's much improved.  However, I'm not mentioning the fact that yes, our Christmas lights are still up.  No, it's not on purpose - we don't keep them up year round.  Unfortunately, we don't currently have a ladder that reaches above the porch so we'll be borrowing one the next weekend Cory  has off.

 

I think it's the pretty little perch for when I need a break from weeding the front beds, don't you?

 

I just noticed I failed to get a shot from the street. 

That just means I'll need to get some shots once the flowers have really started to bloom!

 

Did you get any yard work done this weekend?

Book Club: Latest Reads

My library card has been getting quite the workout lately.  (I've never been someone who purchases books (since I never read them more than once.)   I've been stopping in probably once a week to pick up items from my queue.

Here are a few picks and a few of my thoughts:

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

 

I actually really liked this one!  I was surprised as it's a bit more "science fictiony" than I'm used to.  It had drama, suspense, romance and was a quick, light read so it got a lot of points!

 

 

 

Indiscretion by Charles Dubow

 

This made me think of The Great Gatsby (not sure why) and was a super easy read.  The ending is what makes it worth a mention!

 

 

 

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

 

I liked that the main character was a bit neurotic and the style of writing - told from the perspective of a collection of emails and correspondance the daughter obtains in her search.  Interesting and fun.

 

I'm always looking for new books to read, so if you have any suggestions, please let me know so I can add them to my library queue!

Got You Covered!

We recently re-started the bootcamp training at the work gym.. While I have been in consistently working out at the work gym since I started there, I am definitely someone who benefits from a group/teacher-led class.

Cory and I also committed to working out consistently this year.  I set myself a goal of 5 days a week, and while I haven't always been able to do the full 5, I am pretty happy if I get in 3-5 sessions a week. 

I know a lot of training experts advise to invest in some cute, well-fitting workout gear, to keep you motivated but I am much more a fan of weearing a great pair of yoga pants with one of Cory's loose fitting t-shirts.  (why are men's t-shirts always so much softer???)

However, I do find that wearing some great fitting underwear are key to a ensuring a workout won't be cut short!  For working out, I prefer a bikini style reminiscent of little boy's underoos and have long been a fan of the great little ones from Walmart.

Of course, I had to stop and grab a few pairs today when I spotted a little birdie!

(excuse the iphone photo)

At 3 for $9.00, these are a great little investment.  I like the bright colors and patterns, plus they have just the right amount of spandex in them to give them a perfect, comfy fit!

I chose the single birdie, a full print of flying birds and some cute turquoise polka dots to add to my collection.

Weekly Re-Cap and a Tweet Little Find!

Last Friday evening, I started getting a pretty bad sore throat.  Things got drastically worse over the course of the week.  I was having quite a hard time breathing, especially after taking the stairs (embarassing...), and every time I blew my nose, my ears popped and I was having a heck of a time hearing.  I also didn't have much of a voice left by the end of the week and ended up missing a few days of work. While I am feeling a bit better, I'm still pretty congested and am not sure if it's from this cold OR possibly allergies.

 

Regardless, I spent a lot of time sleeping and hanging out around the  house.  I was feeling well enough to hit up the dollarstore today after dropping my laptop off for repairs.  I needed a few little odds and ends for the house but of course couldn't pass up checking the "seasonal" section to see if I could find anything to perk up our outdoor spaces.

 

Low and behold, I came across these little cuties and couldn't help but smile:

 

Aren't they cute?

 

We still haven't cleaned any of our outdoor spaces or taken any of our patio stuff out of storage yet, so things are pretty ugly and bleak outside.  But for now, I can't help but smile everytime I let the dog out!

High v.s Low: Turquoise Trellis Outdoor Rug

So one of the reasons I decided to start this new feature was simply, because I'm cheap!! 

 I love what I love, but a lot of the time, just honestly can't justify spending the amount of money that even "mainstream" stores seem to charge for things. 

Today's item is a prime example of that!

The other day, I was tootling around online, you know, as I do and came across this beauty:

If you know me, you know I am a huge fan of both turquoise, as well as this pretty moorish patern (I mean, I did spend an entire weekend stenciling it on our Master Bedroom wall

Of course, when I looked at the price  Pier 1 was charging, I let out a little "WHHHHHHAAAATT?" 

And then I realized that the price I was looking at was US and that I'd be paying even MORE than that!!! 

 

Cause would you believe it, but I bought a very similar rug last month:

Except I only paid $30 for mine!  At Jysk  of all places!

For those of you unfamiliar, you have to check them out! I've found a bunch of real gems there at UNBELIEVABLE PRICES!!

 

Oh, and the best part?

Yeah, mine is REVERSIBLE!

 

Sure, they aren't exactly the same and mine appears to be made out of significantly less fancy fabric, but considering the weather here, I prefer the plasticy-fabric for the 3-4 months it's going to be used, so I can just hose it off whenever needed and before I put it away for the colder months.

 

Besides, if I decide to change my color scheme up next year, I won't feel so put out!

 

What do you think?  Would you rather go the cheap route or shell out a little more for your outdoor space?

Housewarming Gift for my Bestie!

What do you get a trendy interior designer bestie, who's pretty particular and shops for a living as a housewarming gift?

Yeah, I was stumped too.  Since I've already been to her place a few times, I already knew what her "look" was:  glam, sexy, modern, eclectic, fun (with the tiniest hint of slightly vintage in there as well)  Was that specific enough for you?  Ha ha, me neither!

The problem was also that her place was fully furnished already and she doesn't have a lot of room for accessories or tchotkes, nor is that really her style.  She's not much of a plant girl either, so I really had to think out of the box.  Or should I say "out of the condo??"

The only space that wasn't touched yet (save for a few gnomes) was her balcony.  It's a reasonably large size, considering the size of the whole condo.  She did mention that she was looking to get either a sectional or conversation set out there, in addition to a bbq.  Since I know she likes to cook and entertain, I knew the patio would most definitely see some action. 

Located right off major nightlife area, Whyte Avenue, the condo is going to be a major place for us this summer, so why not get her something to help decorate THAT space?

My first thought was a nice, modern planter.  I even thought of including a gift card for a greenhouse for her to get some bedding plants, but figured she'd never do it herself.  I then thought of including a card that said I would come by when the weather warmed up to plant it for her, but figured it might still never get done.

I thought about getting her an owl something or other since they're her favorite, but she already got a ton of owl gifts from everyone, plus she's got a funny little collection of gnomes that used to be her grandma's so I didn't want it to be too figuriney out there.

Next idea was the best!  What about a lantern?  The balcony faces a back alley, so she could definitely use a little extra lighting. Plus, a lantern could help set a theme and is a great accessory!

Of course, this was the tricky part, I wanted it to be glam and modern and not too themey, since she hasn't purchased her furniture yet.  I had just about given up when I turned the corner at HomeSense  and found the perfect one!

Apparently, I deleted the photos without the candles, but this lantern is (in my mind at least) absolutely PERFECT! 

 

First of all, it's HUGE.  It's kind of deceiving in these pics, but it's a nice big size.  It was super simple, chrome and glass so it had a pretty bling effect and the light kind of bounces off of it like mirror.

It would work hanging or even on a table or the floor.

My favorite part and the reason I chose this one over some similar versions they had?  The handle!!

 

Yup, it's got a rustic/nautical rope handle.  Which I thought was absolutely amazing and really "Jill".

 

 

 

I originally wanted to get a ginormous three wick candle, since I think real candles are always better.  But I couldn't find one a reasonable price, plus I reasoned that since it's for someone else, they might not want to bother with the mess of cleaning drippy wax from the inside.  Plus, I stumbled upon a pack of 6 flamless candles (with timers) 2 small, 2 medium, 2 large for an amazing price at HomeSense.  Since I wanted a few more for myself, it was a great deal!

 

Of course, just for kicks, I also threw in an owl shaped wine opener that I found for something cutesy!

 

I'm hoping to spend some time on the balcony enjoying some frozen margaritas as soon as the weather warms up and think this will be the perfect starting place to complement whatever decor she chooses.