A Maid Marian Made Migration ~ Target

Located in downtown Minneapolis is the flagship Target store.  This is a mecca for all you Target lovers like moi.  It is two stories tall and has an escalator that not only carries you between floors but also your shopping cart.  How cool!  I spent about two hours browsing.  Seriously.  I found an adorable dress and this beautiful Liberty of London reusable tote bag.

I love how the bag folds up neatly so that you can carry it in your purse.  The bag was only $1.99!  Tres cute!!! I bought several to use as gift bags for birthdays, baby showers, etc.  Thanks to The Pink Chick for the idea.

MOA ~ OMG!

Continuing my escapades in Minneapolis, I took the LRT to the Mall of America.  It's a 30 minute ride from downtown Minneapolis.  I was not prepared for this monolithic mall.  I spent approximately FIVE hours at the MOA and barely got through the first level.  And there are four levels.  Being from Middle Georgia, we have to travel to Atlanta to shop at certain stores.  So this was a real treat to shop (or at least window shop) at some of them at the MOA.  Arden B, Burberry, For Love 21, Lucky Brand Jeans, Betsey Johnson...I could go on and on and on. 

I found some incredible sales ($2 tank tops at Old Navy) and made some purchases.  I even splurged on this jean romper I found at the GAP.  I rarely buy anything at full retail price but this was an exception.  I couldn't leave Minneapolis without it!

The pure vastness of the space allows for a Nickelodeon Universe amusement park and larger than life Lego sculptures.  There's even a roller coaster inside the mall.  How insane is that?  My son would have loved that Diego was there as well as The Backyardigans.  This mall definitely has something for everybody.

I would love to go back but I would have to take out a loan or either win the lottery to fund my shopping spree.  Have you ever been to the MOA?  What was your favorite thing about it? 

Thrifting Twin Cities Style

I'm heading to Minneapolis in a couple of weeks.  I would love to do some off-the-beaten-path shopping while I'm there.  Does anyone know of any great antique or thrift stores in the Twin Cities area?  Please let me know.  I would so, so appreciate it!

Thrifty Thursday

I'm a little late in posting this week's Thrifty Thursday find.  Here it is.  I found this plaque at T.J. Maxx for $1.50 and have the picture to prove it.  I'm not really fond of the design but the plaque is made of MDF.  I will likely transform it into something I can live with.  Not bad.  What do you think?  Stay tuned for the transformation.

What I Am Giving Up For Lent

As a child I grew up with a Catholic mother and a Southern Baptist father, so I tell people I am religiously confused. Do I drink or not? Do I dance or not? These two religions are about as far apart as the North and South poles. I have found that I tend to like certain things about both religions. There are songs, prayers and rituals that bring comfort to me. Though I am more of a practicing Baptist than Catholic, I give up something for Lent each year.

In years past I have given up mostly food items. One year it was drinking sodas. It was tough the first few days because of the caffeine withdrawals but I made it through. That first sip of a soda after 40 days was heaven. Or at least I thought so at the time. Another year I gave up french fries. That was even more difficult because french fries are the most offered side dish for most meals. Then the next year I got more ambitious. I gave up potatoes all together. Stupid, stupid move. 40 DAYS without potatoes. Do you know how many delicious things are made from POTATOES? French fries, baked potatoes, potato salad, hash browns, potato soup, mashed potatoes, potato pancakes...you get the picture. I thought I would die before Easter came that year. I didn't (amazingly) and I lived to tell the tale.

In other years, I've given up on material things like not buying celebrity gossip magazines or shoes. Needless to say, I try to sacrifice something in my life as a small penance for what Jesus did for saving my life. I read earlier in the year that a family of four saved about $10,000 by doing one thing. This year I decided I too am going to do this one thing.

I'm going to give up impulse buying. For the next 40 days (give or take), I will be resisting the urge to buy unnecessary items. I'm going to try to purchase only edibles and depletables (gasoline for my car or shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper). I will try to use up what I have. Wear it out. Make it do. Or do without. If it's not on the necessary items shopping list, I will have to resist the temptation of buying it. Wish me luck. Are you giving up for Lent? If so, what? I would like to know.

Thrifty Thursday

Go. Now. To. Target. They are having their winter clearance. Select toys 75% off. Select home decor 30-75% off. Select shoes 30-75% off. Select items in every dept. are 30-75% off. I picked up a cute pair of raspberry colored flats for $6.24!!! Yes, I know. Another pair of shoes. I can't wait to wear them. They were too cute and too cheap to pass up. Don't you think? Any ideas on what I should wear them with?

Thrifty Thursday

This just in...the Kristin Davis line of clothes and accessories found at Belk is being discontinued according to one of their sales associates. Everything is marked down 75% off. See the previous post for a peek at a pair of flats that I picked up.

GNO in DC

Tuesday night I was still in DC when my friends Megan, Chellie and new friend Cynthia went to Constitution Hall for Shecky's Girls Night Out. This event was the best girls night out I have ever had! First, the event was ladies only. No boys allowed. (Like my six-year-old stepdaughter says, "Girls rule, boys drool.") With the price of your admission ticket, each lady received an awesome gift bag, unlimited cocktails and an exclusive shopping experience. What more could a girl want?

Each Shecky's Famous Goodie Bag was stuffed full of beauty products and other items from romance novels to CDs. Each goodie bag was different. Our little entourage dug through our bags evaluating all the loot we just scored. Then like little boys trading baseball cards we swapped items to personalize our bounty to suit each lady's taste. Cynthia received a Jesse McCartney CD in hers but traded with Chellie for a romance novel. I traded my teeth whitening trays with Megan for a great eyeshadow. Megan didn't like the color of the eyeshadow and I couldn't use the whitening trays because of my braces. It was definitely a win-win situation for us all.

On top of the goodie bag, the shopping was fantastic. Shecky's gets all types of vendors from all over the US to sell their goods at their Girls Night Out events. There was everything from jewelry to handbags, to beauty products, clothing and so much more. The selection was from a variety of indie designers and boutiques. You definitely can't find these things in Middle GA. I picked up a great necklace from Eda & Betty Heirloom Couture's Vintage Raindrop Collection at a SUPER discount and the cutest hand-crocheted cloche in green with purple trim from Volang. All my friends also bought a hat from Volang. They are all so unique and stylish!

The best part of the evening was being with just the girls. There is nothing like having good friends to enjoy life with. Good times. Good times.