Target Week: Megan

"Ok, here is my Target story, well, my sisters target story actually. I thought it was quite appropriate, and funny, that you had written about Target and that same day she calls to tell me this deal!

I LOVE Target- bought 2 packages of Luvs diapers, 2 boxes of Target brand wipes, 2 Johnson and Johnson baby wash, and 12 jars of baby food all for.... $8.68!! All about the coupons...

My sister has turned me into a couponer and I am about to go cash in on this same deal that she got at target! She lives in Colorado and there aren't nearly as many couponers out there. So wish me luck that all the shelves are still stocked, waiting for me to bring some mighty fine loot home!"

Good luck, Megan! Share your coupon wisdom with us...

Target Week: Ally

Here's something cool I want to buy from Target.

This summer I borrowed an umbrella from my generous cousin Nancy because it looked like rain. Welllll let's just say the umbrella and I got separated. Yes, it was kidnapped. Umbrellanapped. I hate it when that happens. Nothing is worse then having to go back to someone and say, "Uhhh you know that thing you so generously lent me? A-hem. Uhhhh..." So I needed to buy a replacement umbrella to return to Nancy. I wanted a cute one so I looked at Target online and then at the store. We ended up getting a way cute polka dot one (right Nancy? I forget.) but in the process of all this umbrella shopping I fell in love with this little beauty:So cute. So poetic. I still haven't bought it but I think I will because I keep salivating over it. Is it crazy to be so in love with an umbrella? I just really want to carry it down the street and sing "I got sunshiiiine, on a clouuudy day."

Oh and hey, thanks everyone for your Target stories! I will be posting the winner of the giveaway on Monday, and the new discussion topic is on its way. Happy weekend!

Target Week: Kristen

"Ooo I love target too! I have so many happy target shopping stories I don't even know where to start. My latest purchase was a lovely dresser.

Granted, I had to put it together myself...and by me, I mean my boyfriend Frank put it together for me. muahaha. Since I don't have a dresser..or a closet..and my clean clothes consist of a mountain of clothes on the floor.. I finally broke down and bought one. The directions were a little sketchy, but I LOVE my dresser..and especially I love being able to find my clothes. We have a brand new SUPERTARGET in a neighboring city which is where I would say 80% of the money I spend goes. I mean who needs the mall when you have a supertarget? You can get groceries, shoes, and a new outfit! Although, I did buy a dress there and wore it to a YSA conference..there were at least 3 other girls wearing it. What can I say? They have great taste. At least I know I'm not the only one who gets their wardrobe from the same place they do their grocery shopping."

Bahaha.

Target Week: Lisa

The heartache caused by a Target void.

"My Target dream is to have.... a Target!!! That's right ladies, the closest Target to me is at least an hour and a half away. Yuck! I lived equidistant from 2 (each about 5 miles away) for 9 months and was in Target heaven!

My favorite part? The bakery! They give each child a free cookie for coming in! What a great way to keep your children happy for at least half of your shopping trip! I also LOVE LOVE LOVE their toy section! Of course, I just love toys in general.

So... in conclusion... Target managers, if you read this, PLEASE send one my way!!!"

Oh man! We are all sending sympathy your way.

Just a laugh

In honor of all our shopping stories...

...I so know the feeling.

Target Week: Melissa

"A little while ago, we decided to try potty training. Note the use of the word 'try.' It didn't exactly work. Anyway, in our attempt to get Brody excited about this, we went to Target to pick out a potty. We found that the cheapest one also happened to be made to look like a frog. Brody insisted on carrying it through the store. That is, until we got to the most crowded busiest aisle. The one in front next to all of the cash registers. And, I should note, Target was very busy at this time. Brody decided he wasn't carrying the potty anymore. Instead, he put it in the middle of the floor and sat it on it. Then, he shouted one of his first coherent sentences: "Look I sitting on the potty!" And he insisted on sitting there for several minutes. It took bribery, in the form of chocolate, to get him to move. I was horrified.

My favorite thing at Target is by far, their pre-marinated ribs. They're expensive, but oh so good."

Target Week: Nancy

"Love love love target. Sometimes when I have had a bad day, I give myself $5 just to see what fantastic treasures I can find. Of course, It is nearly impossible to narrow down a favorite purchase. Although I recently came across composition notebooks for 12 cents a piece, school clearance sale! It was nearly impossible leave without buying all of them. I did buy 20. Anyone need a notebook?

But then it suddenly occurs to me, if I love Target, and I love the things I get at Target, and I love them even more when I get them on sale, well, perhaps the greatest find of my life happened at Target then.

Shoes.

Let's hear it for shoes, sisters!

These shoes happened with perfect timing. It was a late night. I needed shoes to go with a certain outfit. I had a lousy day and I wanted to feel better. I didn't have much money.

But there they were, with that glorious little red clearance tag on them... $5.80.

See how they are t-strap, with a heel, but also, they look a little like a wing-tip saddle shoe? Sigh. Joy.

Oh Target, these moments are the moments that just keep giving, every time I wear them, and people compliment me on them or even when I remember just how much I paid for them, it's just one of those warm fuzzies that can take the edge off a day."

I agree completely, Target shoes= happiness.

Target Week: Katie

Katie's Target Euphoria

"I just had to comment on your Target post...Let me tell you, I LOVE TARGET! We might as well endorse the paycheck right to them. There is no other store like it on earth. The bright lights, shiny floors, helpful staff, and GREAT CLEARANCE DEALS! I have recently become addicted to the coupon craze and along with that I am trying to be a better budgeter and actually save some money. We wont go into how the saving money is going.... let me just say it is a work in progress. Anyways... back to Target. If any of you don't know, Target frequently clears out old product and clearances them with little orange stickers. Most of the time they put these clearance deals on the end caps, away from the main isle. On certain days they clearance different departments, and then every other week they reduce those prices. For instance, in September and January they clearance out all of their toys.... if you can be patient, you can get things up to 75 percent off.

Let me give you an example of one of my recent Target trips. Upon entering the store and getting suckered into the dollar section, I emerge on a mission to find a deal. The first thing I do is go past the checkouts to the cleaning section. I make my way to the unbeaten path along the outside wall and then peruse the before mentioned end caps in search of a deal. By the time I emerge from the Beauty Section I have usually found some treasure, whether it be some mascara for a dollar or body wash for 50 cents. I usually then load up my cart with Diet Pepsi and head to the Seasonal Department. Clearance candy, holiday decor, or school supplies sometimes find their way into my cart. Next I cut across the interior of the store, headed toward the baby/ kids section. Along this stretch I sometimes find some great deals on dish towels or home decor. On one very fortunate day I came across some lamps that were being clearanced out. I have been wanting some lamps for my bedside, but have been too cheap to buy any. When I saw these lamps, my heart leaped with joy, shiny silver bases with dark blue shades. Aaaahhhh! Now to look at the little orange stickers.... what is that, 75 percent off or 15 dollars a piece. I immediatly shoved them into my cart and headed to the register, carefully gaurding my acquistion. As soon as I got in the car, I of course had to call my husband and brag to him that I saved 90 dollars on lamps, to which his reply was, thats nice honey...... Oh if only he could understand the euphoria of the moment. I love my lamps and what I love even more is knowing that I only paid 30 dollars and saved 90. If you ever come across a crazed woman in search of little orange stickers, it may be me. Watch out!"

I understand the euphoria, Katie. Husbands may not, but girls SO understand!

Target Week: Jessica

Target Find: The Perfect Bag!

"I had a good find just last week! I've been looking for a church bag, since my last one got smeared with peanut butter. It was that dorky one they give you at the hospital, anyway. Between school and church, I needed one that was big enough to carry binders in it. I also wanted something that was cute, and not an advertisement for the library, or the grocery store. This should not be hard, right?

I spent weeks looking whenever I was in a store. Bags that were cute couldn't hold binders. Bags that could hold binders were either obnoxious, beach bags, or diaper bags. Every Sunday, I had to face the choice, carry the binder, bring the peanut butter bag, or carry it in a cloth grocery bag?

Last Thursday, I had a few minute to spare before class, so I ran into Target. There, even on clearance, was a cute bag, just for me. It was only $10. But, could it pass the test of holding binders? I took it over to the office section, and started shoving binders in it. It was magic, and actually fit multiple binders. Blissful happiness for me!

I brought it to conference this weekend, packed with activities, books, binders, anything I could fit in there to entertain kids, and a bag of M&Ms for myself. Isn't it funny how much something like a new bag can put a little bounce in our step? Silly girls."

Target Week: Erin

Erin's online shopping excursion = wardrobe decisions for her Chihuahua, Barry Manilow.

"I love shopping for doggie stuff at Target! They have such a good selection and so many clothes! Little Barry Manilow needs a Halloween costume, and I'm having a hard time deciding what he should be.

The sailor outfit was appealing to me, because doesn't everyone dress their kid/dog like a sailor at least once in there life?

I like the taco because he hails from the land of Chihuahua, however I don't want him to feel stereotyped.

The tattoo shirts is pretty funny, but it may be a little too Uceda-ish for my taste (you know what I'm talkin' about Ally).

I might go with the bee though. His nick name is Killer B, because sometimes he attacks me and reminds me of a killer bee. Tough decision.

What do you think ladies? Here are some other choices as well :)"

Giveaways!

Just to make this blog even more fun, every once and a while I will do a little give-away for one lucky participant!

That's right!

For example, I just posted up a Target discussion topic for the week. If you email me your Target story, purchase, or wish list, you might win a $10 Target Gift Card! Think of all the hot chocolate you could buy.

This week, I will select the winner randomly from all who participate. Future giveaways might include a competition, but this week if you participate, you're in the drawing.

Woo hooooo!

Week Two: Target

Okay, after such an awesome and spiritual Conference weekend, I think we need to talk about something frivolous and materialistic. Just to mix it up.

Let's talk Target!Or, as my mom calls it, "Le boutique targ-et".

Are you all as pro-Target as I am? I love that place.

Tell me about an awesome find you got at Target, or tell me something you would LOVE to buy from Target (you can take money out of the equation if you want.) Look online, or visit your local Target, or just look through the aisles of your mind. Let's go shopping!

(email me your target purchase/dream purchase/target story at hotchocolateshop@gmail.com)

Conference Indulgence: Melissa

Thanks to Melissa for sending in her favorite Conference treat.

"Peanut M and Ms. Mmm...it used to be that we just snacked on them, but this year, with Brody being old enough to notice that, we've changed the rules a bit. You get the m and ms every time the choir sings. Which, seeing as President Monson has made a change in music this year by adding more of it, we are still getting quite the sugar rush. Now, this is Matt's and my tradition, which means that we had to introduce my parents to it this time. So, I asked my dad to buy a big bag of them, and he came back with one of thseo bags from Sam's Club. Its called like the XXXXXXXXXL bag or something.

Brody has successfully learned all of his colors in two days. That is, all of the colors that have corresponding M and Ms.

I'm such a good mom!"

Mini discussion top: General Conference

YES! Conference is this weekend, girls! I love Conference. Curling up on the couch with a blanket during the Saturday morning session while listening to the soothing voices and inspiring messages of the church leaders...Ahhh.

Not to mention our infamous Conference fort tradition. We build a fort in our living room after the Saturday morning session so we can watch the rest of the sessions from inside our tent (we make sure the TV is inside the fort)! We bring candles in, we stock up on snacks and settle in for the long haul. Don't believe me?
This tradition began 2 years ago, in Fall of '07. Though we may not be able to do it this year, we certainly plan to continue it whenever possible. It makes things fun.

Oh, and a big breakfast. You have to have a big breakfast at some point during the weekend. Cinnamon rolls, bacon, hash browns. Mmm.

What are some of your Conference traditions? What kinds of food do you make during Conference? If you have kids, how do you keep them entertained and focused? What is your best memory from General Conference?

Hope you all enjoy the weekend and the great talks we are sure to hear. Drink some hot chocolate, while you're at it. :)

Oops Week: Snappy

Miserable fail: Uploading a picture onto Blogger profile.

Ohh this makes me laugh! This is the email I got from Snappy. (For those who don't know, "Snappy" is my mom's nickname. Yeah, my mom.)

"Okay you young whippersnappers with your flying fingers and savvy tech-ways! Wanna know how many times I have tried to put a photo on my profile on hotchocolateshop?????? Too many to count, that's how many! I get the prize for the most recent oops moment, cuz I'm still in it! That little spinning thingy says it gets to 7 of 8 items, then keeps on-a-spinnin....Dang, I hate technology; I was born for paper and pencils and stamps and mailmen and typewriters (on a busy day). So just visualize some pretty pink hydrangeas where that gray head is now sitting by my name. I'm going to lie down and read a book. A paper book."

When you see this:

Just pretend it's this:

Awesome, Mom.