As I was perusing Target today (like I do every other day...), I came across a section of Target's clothing I'd never really looked at. Their work separates. I work from home so dressing up in suits and blazers pretty much don't happen anymore. The other day, my sister had a job interview and was scrambling for an outfit at the last minute. I'd never thought to have her look at Target!
The pieces feel well constructed and come in classic colors. For suit separates, I tried on a navy blazer, red and white ankle pants and gray bootcut slacks. I paired them with 3 of their blouses and loved the way they looked! They were really cute on and since each piece had a stretchy component, the outfits felt comfortable. Add your choice of shoe and jewelry and you're set!

Buying a complete look would cost you under $100!

Blazer was $34.99 // Ankle Pants were $27.99 // Bootcut trousers were $27.99 // Crepe shell blouses were $22.99

Here are more pieces and they even have them in plus sizes too! 

My fave look from this video:

Hat: Forever 21 // Sweater: Forever 21 // Riding Boots:  OLD- Audrey Brooke (similar here) //Moto skinnies: Target (sold out but similar found here) // Lip: Cherry Bomb by Wet n Wild 



(*this is not a sponsored post)

Its been a couple of years since I'd done a serious Target collection run. My last run was the Neiman Marcus collection released during Christmas and since I lived in a smaller city (San Luis Obispo) at the time, all of the items were still on the shelf by the time I arrived in the afternoon.

Not so much now!

I actually wasn't going to go to Target but when I had gone online and saw that the collection was available, I panicked! I really wanted the super cute jumper for Lily (Lily in Lilly... love it!) and everything was sold out online. So it was early enough (7:30am) where I dressed L, jumped in the car and went out!

Two random things:
1. My hubby must have thought I was nuts because i'm never that bright eyed and ready to go at 7:30am on a Sunday... and
2. I'd like to thank my precious Lily for waking up at 5:30am today because if it weren't for that wake-up call, I wouldn't have scored these goodies for her!

We got there in 10 minutes and as I was driving, I thought to myself that no one here in their right mind would be at Target this early for this stuff. Boy was I wrong!

When we walked in, there were probably 40 women with carts piled high in the Women's section. I panicked again and thought maybe this was the only end cap and I wouldn't get to my that precious jumpsuit. As I walked by these women, there were brightly colored bowls, umbrellas, towels... Clearly they hit up the housewares area before tackling women's.

After seeing the giant group, I made a beeline for what I thought was the toddler's area. I grabbed a jumpsuit in an XS but quickly realized I was in the girls section. So, I threw that down and quickly walked to the toddlers area. That endcap was FULLY STOCKED and not a soul around! I was able to grab the piece I wanted and a few more that I didn't even consider!

Who was a happy camper? This lady! L was pretty excited too... when we walked in, she was laughing and screaming! She could probably feel momma's endorphins kicking in!

Feeling high as a kite (i'm not ashamed to say that shopping gives me a rush lol), I decided to meander and check out the other areas to see what was left.



Housewares was pretty much empty except for a few pieces like candleholders, some string lights, a super cute platter which I should've picked up...

Girl's was mostly untouched when I got there but was starting to thin out when I had come back around.

Beauty still had its endcap intact!

Women's had a decent amount of product but mostly in L-XL.

I didn't get a chance to see the SHOE section either. 

I talked to quite a few ladies that said they had arrived at 6am. I spoke with more that arrived at 8am to find a line that snaked around to the back of the building. Online wasn't such a great experience after reading Twitter. With all the ruccus, the site had crashed and then after only a few minutes, everything online was gone!

I overheard a few tidbits for shopping during collection times and I thought i'd share them with you. Keep in mind, these are for shopping in stores only. Online is a whole other beast that I cannot speak to:

1. Do your HOMEWORK. I never thought school would condition me for shopping but it most certainly has! Make sure you check out the collection's lookbook before you go in or shop online. I don't prefer to blind shop and its good to know pricing of the pieces you want before you go. Also, make sure you know what time Target opens and maybe even study the layout of the store if you really want to be prepared.

2. Get in line...EARLY. This really can make or break whether or not you get the item you can't live without.

3. Be STRATEGIC. If you know your way around the store, be sure to take the quickest and most direct path to the area you want to get to first.

4. Grab a buddy and SHOP MULTIPLE STORES. Grab some friends or family (or your hubby if he's up for it) and split up! Choose a store and then follow steps 1 & 2.

5. Hang out by the DRESSING ROOM. As I was quickly heading to the toddler area, I noticed a large group by the dressing room. I thought they all had stuff to try on! As it turns out, half of them were there to try and snag what others wanted. One woman I talked to said she was there pretty much the whole time and gathered quite a bit of stuff!

6. Wander the STORE. As I was checking out other areas, there were pieces of LP here and there that were abandoned along the way. Coveted pieces! I didn't want to leave them behind but definitely wasn't down to have the hubby give me the eye when I pulled out a size 7-8 girl's dress when Lily is only 11 months old. 

7. Don't forget to watch the CHECK OUT areas! As I was checking out, I talked to the cashier who had been there since 8am. Her station was PILED HIGH with housewares stuff... towels, plates, a super cute blanket that I really should've snagged...and other stuff she said was under her station. Apparently two different women had rang up for $1000 and $770 and my guess was they didn't want the stinkeye from their husbands either, so they ditched some stuff. The registers are a great area to look for last minute ditched stuff!

Did you get out to Target for Lilly? What did you purchase?

Last week, I hit week 38 in my pregnancy. I've been reflecting on the different things that I'd experienced throughout this time: minor meltdowns, morning sickness, the first of many baby kicks... It seems like it went by slow and yet fast at the same time!

There are some products that I don't think I could have lived without during my pregnancy so for all you mamas-to-be, here are some items I think are worth a shot in trying!



1. Spanx Power Mama Shaper - Hands down, this was my favorite item (hell, i'm wearing them now!) to have. As your belly grows, all the weight can be a little much to handle when walking or doing simple chores. I tried maternity weight belts but the little lady in the belly didn't seem to like them and would wiggle and squirm when I put them on. She didn't mind the Spanx so much and they came in a full panty hose as well as the Super Power Panty (which is what I chose since its been so warm out). It smooths out panty lines and is pretty airy. The only downside is that the tummy panel does run if you're not careful since its made of nylon. It also helps support your back and waist. They come in two colors (nude and black).




2. Hydro Flask - I initially bought this because I was doing Bikram yoga but it was extremely helpful in keeping track of my water intake and since its double insulated, it keeps my water freezing cold (even up to 24 hours of pouring it in, ice cubes and all!)! I bought the 40 oz. bottle so I know that drinking 2 of these will give me 80 oz of water a day. They have fun colors too!



3. Confessions of a Scary Mommy by Jill Smokler - With all the reading and research I've been doing trying to prepare myself for baby's arrival, it was nice to find a funny book to unwind with. Jill is a blogger who started sharing her realities as a mother and connecting with other moms out there. Her book is real and funny and a short, great read!



4. Target Women's Favorite Tank -  I have lived in these tanks because they're great for layering and long enough to cover a giant belly! They come in so many colors and prints and are affordable! Now that the weather is warming up here in sunny California, they will definitely be a staple for my summer wardrobe!



5. Vitamin E oil - I have not been so lucky in the stretch mark department. I knew that eventually i'd succumb to stretch mark central but have done my best to stay hydrated and religiously lube up my bump. At first, I was solely using coconut oil but in the seventh month, I started to see stretch marks. Funny enough, I honestly don't believe it was from weight gain as I had gained it in a fairly steady manner. I attribute my stretch marks to my little one moving around. Since week 20, she has been a wiggling machine! At times, her kicks have been so hard and painful, I felt like my skin was tearing and when I would go to investigate it, the areas where she was kicking were red and irritated and eventually donned my lovely battle scars. I had started to combine coconut oil with Aveeno lotion to make a paste but that didn't seem to do much. While wandering around Target, I found a bottle of Vitamin E oil and have been lubing up 3 times a day. My scars are still reddish colored so I've been trying my best to make sure they heal (OR DISAPPEAR!!!). So far, this oil is much more viscous  and stays on the skin longer. Once I have my little lady, I'll look into other lotions to help aid this process.


I hope these items help you with your preggy-ness like they've helped me! What products have helped you along the way?

Looking for those last minute gifts to give your girlfriends? Here are a few suggestions that could help you!

I bought some of these socks from Tarjay and have been wearing them ALL WINTER! They're soooo warm and come in lots of colors to compliment your wardrobe! Infinity scarves are another great present! You can wear them doubled up or as a single loop and they're warm when paired with a slouchy sweater or jacket.
I helped my hubby shop for some of his staff and picked up a few wintery scarves and some really blingy Betsey Johnson pens.  I hope they enjoy their gifts! Lastly, I'm a giant fan of Archipelago candles and love the Bergamot Tobacco. It has a warm smell with Italian bergamot, lemongrass, patchouli, crushed nutmeg and its made of soy.

I haven't wandered around Target or HomeGoods much lately so when I found that I needed things from both stores, I happily jumped in the car and headed out that way.

Target had a variety of adorable nightstands to fit anyone's fancy!



I really liked this python fabric covered end table. We are currently trying to decide on how to decorate the master bedroom and I loved the cut, the color (its a gray/off white color)  and the adorable hardware on it.


I am looking for end tables for our office area and came across these lovelies as well.



After I galavanted around Target, I headed to HomeGoods. We received a Keurig Coffee Maker as a wedding gift and ever since we received it, I have not set foot in a coffee shop since...well, ok, maybe on special occasions or trips. With the individual coffees, milk and vanilla syrup (I drink vanilla lattes religiously), we clocked each cup at $1.45! HomeGoods sells the Green Mountain Iced Coffee in French Vanilla for $8.99 per box (of 16) so I purchased two!

While walking around, I noticed the horse trend. There were horses EVERYWHERE!





Have you noticed any trends in your furniture decorating adventures?

Neiman Marcus has been reduced even further to 70% off. Go buy that Alice + Olivia bike NOWWWW!

Hello lovelies! Its been about a week and a half since I've blogged = BAD BLOGGER!  I have mixed emotions about the holidays this year. My family is scattered around the country (sadface) for Christmas and I hadn't seen them at Thanksgiving either (my parents were out of the country) although we had spent it with Mister Special's family (they are always a fun bunch and the food is DEEEELISH!). This year for Christmas, we decided to stay home and celebrate Christmas together. While I do love hanging out with my Mister, I am missing my family a bunch. :(

A giant storm had rolled in on Friday (last night) as one of my closest friends was coming to visit. Unfortunately, when she arrived, she was also came down with the flu. Reluctantly this morning, she had to drive home and cancel our weekend. Double boo.

The rain is steady here but that didn't stop the Mister and I from bundling up and walking downtown to get a coffee and watch all the Christmas shoppers dash to and fro in their giant colorful umbrellas (and some parents scrunched under their children's tiny Power Rangers or Hello Kitty ones) as the rain blew in sideways and pouring at certain times.

I do have a shopping tip if you haven't already been into Target. The Neiman Marcus collection is HALF OFF ladies! Since the collection has come out, the biggest complaint among customers I've talked to in the store and my friends say that they simply wouldn't pay the full price for those items because Target has a reputation for providing "reasonable prices," despite the fact that they are selling luxury items. With the 50% reduction, that Jason Wu dress you've been eyeing  or that Alice + Olivia bicycle (which is now $249.99) is now attainable.

Here is the link to the Neiman Marcus for Target shop: http://www.target.com/c/target-neiman-marcus-collection/-/N-5ouwb%20%20#?lnk=lnav_t_spc_x_x&intc=910053|null

Happy Shopping ladies!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin As I finished my post, I stumbled upon the Target ad for the Neiman Marcus campaign that features Karlie Kloss. Too adorable! Check it out!

Happy Sunday! I hope your weekend has been drier than mine. It's rained all weekend here in San Luis Obispo and it was even worse today than Friday or Saturday combined! Here is what went down this weekend:

Saturday, I was up bright and early (4am to be exact) to put on my Department's Reindeer Run. About 150 people ran the race and we were lucky to only have had a light sprinkling when the runners started at 8am. Afterward, the mister and I grabbed lunch and headed to a City planning open house. This was a chance to provide input on a 30 year plan to improve the City. Then, we headed to the bookstore so I could by Blog, Inc. by an awesome blogger, Joy Cho. I'm about 20 pages in and am really liking the format of the book. I hope some of these tips will help me as I set-up and continue to blog. Mister Special had a BNO (boys night out) and I had decided to stay in by the fire to catch up and read and prepare for my next video blog (which will come out tomorrow...stay tuned!).

Have you seen the new Neiman Marcus goodies that have come out at Target? Just in time for the holidays too! I like that designers such as DVF, Tory Burch and Derek Lam have partnered with heavenly Target and give the normal Suzie shopper a chance to indulge in their reasonably price pointed products. My favorite pieces come from the home decor section if you can't already tell... I'm really loving the gold accented Altuzarra shaker and glasses. The Eddie Borro box would look lovely next to my other collection of silvery boxes on my nightstand. If only the girl's Marchesa dress came in grown-up sizes... the color and the ruffles are my favorite! And the Lela Rose black lace top with the nude underlay...ooooh...so classic!



Comparing at the inspiration board I just created and the items I can see online, I notice that I haven't picked the lushest items such as the Alice + Olivia bike which retails at $499

 or this adorably lacey dress by Robert Rodriguez for only $99.99

I'll be heading to Target tomorrow to check out the collection...with the way these collections have been released in the past and how quickly they sell out in-store and online, I hope some of these items will be in stock to look at!

As I was on my way to SF from SLO last week, I stopped in at the Target in Morgan Hill (its usually the spot where I take a break from driving and stretch my legs). WELL, I wanted to share with you the lovely blouse I bought since it was such a bargain at $19.99! I purchased a lovely navy blue blouse with pink chevron stripes all over it. BEEEEAUTIFUL! And (i'll say it again) its only $19.99! Its a little shorter than I prefer but it lays nicely and doesn't ride up.
Isn't it adorable? I wore it to a girlfriend's going away party this past weekend. As warm as it was, this shirt kept me cool! I have other sheer blouses which I'm more conscious of since I feel like I have no shirt on when I wear them but this shirt and the coloring disguised the sheerness!

Here I am with it on. :)



Target always releases some key items that are a must-have for every season! Its a purchase I definitely recommend!
 Here is the link for it:http://www.target.com/p/xhilaration-juniors-pleated-chiffon-top-waves/-/A-14181739