Window Shopping: The Calm Before The Tour…: a house log

We are doing our best to keep our word to those who have requested more window shopping posts, so we chose we’d keep the lively going by trying to hit up some excellent boutiques and shops when we are traveling for our book tour in November. But lo and behold, before we have even left, we noticed that Target has some fairly excellent stuff out right now, so we thought we’d snoop around (and take you with us). For those who remember these things, we simply stroll around a store and take photos of all of the things we enjoy. Not for compensation or anything – these sprees are simply for lively. So let us all go skipping through Tar-jay together and see what is new, shall we?

Numero uno were these especially cool green glass vases. I enjoyed the rustic look of them and the old embossed letters. And I thought with Christmas coming up in a few months, they’d be fairly vivid modern-meets-industrial accents for the holidays on a mantel or tabletop too.

Target went Jersey. Simply like mah shiiiny gold bag (more on that here), they have embraced the gilded loveliness, with gold mirrors, vases, cups, and trays. I think they are excellent – especially for Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years.

This frame made me laugh so I had to toss it in there. So true. It is simply begging for a photo of Burger in there.

This $24.99 pillow is one of those special end-cap collections (The Shops At Target) and I thought that the combo of wood grain and glitzy gold was fairly “Domino” looking to me. Picture them on a big charcoal gray sofa upholstered in velvet. Me-ow.

These $44 lamps continued the gold theme, and I enjoy that they are sculptural and 3-D looking. They’d certainly add some interest on a side table or console (and they could be spray painted any color if you are looking for a pop of yellow or navy in a nursery for example…).

Lamp enjoy. I hoped these babies. Once again with the holidays coming up I was totally tempted to buy these along with the fairly green glass vases I showed you folks first, but I do not truly have a spot for either of them (although I am sure I could consistently make room…). Long story short, I took a picture so I could share them with you folks so someone else could take them home and enjoy them instead.

And then there was this sign with a quite $herdog-esque ceramic dog. I mean is he meant to be mine, or what? Sadly he was sold out. Womp-womp. Perhaps next time…

Here is another one of those Shops At Target collections from an end cap. And we in fact picked up something from this collection on an earlier trip a few weeks back. Can you guess what it was?

Yup, John was all over the United States of America cutting board- so we snagged it. Although we are not planning to use it as a cutting board. We will keep you posted when we in fact get our little project banged out.

Here is a $49 full/queen-sized duvet that I thought was cute. Kinda summery, but I bet it could even work all year round with a few white fur pillows and a big chocolate or charcoal throw at the foot of the bed.

How weird is it that a pot holder made my little list? But I thought this charming extra-chunky knitted pot holder was fairly darn cute. Might make a cute hostess gift with a yummy treat or a few other kitchen goodies.

Here is yet another Shops By Target end cap sporting bedding by Patch NYC. I thought it was moody and graphic and lively. I especially liked the stripey sheet set on the bottom right.

Clearance alert. These $5 baskets were a good time. I can picture a bunch of them in a mud room or bathroom closet. Heck, they’d even be sweet in the pantry holding boxes of pasta or cans of soup.

Cute notebook, right? I think arrows like this could be the new chevron. What do ya think?

These rugs might have been the most exciting thing I saw. For $129 in fairly large sizes they were cool, and I thought the modern/aztec-ish designs were truly neat. I know they might feel kinda weird to you, but I think in the right room they could be excellent. Sort of like this aztec-ish yellow Ikea rug that shows up in a bunch of vivid rooms.

They also had some strong nubby neutrals (some all tan, some tan & brown & gray, and some all a deep charcoal, which seemed softer and tufted, sort of like those more pricey West Elm and Crate & Barrel versions).

Then I saw this and laughed for a good 60 seconds. Who wants to be a “vampiress” for Halloween? Any takers? All it’ll apparently take is this little character kit complete with a choker, some red glasses, and a compact hat. Hilarious. Now I think someone should go as this character kit for Halloween. Simply wear a giant piece of white cardboard with these things painted or glued onto it.

Method’s consistently the cutest soap, and the Orla Kiely designs are charming. I know it sounds weird, but this soap is so cute it could make for a cute gift or stocking stuffer for someone you enjoy. Heck, I’d totally fight to end up with one at one of those at-work holiday gift exchanges.

These colorful shirts in the boys section (I have been known to snag things like this for Clara to pair with her go-to tulle skirt) had me smiling- even though the yellow one seems summery, I enjoyed seeing them all together like this with their sleeves rolled up.

So that is what I found on our latest whirlwind Target trip-a-roonie (yes, I simply typed out the word trip-a-roonie… it is official, I have become my dad). Have you folks been window-shopping lately? What caught your eye? Any go-tos from the items we shared above?

Psst- Once again for the people in the back, we were not paid or perked for this post, I simply like taking you folks shopping with me.