I once had an overly affectionate love affair with Target. Back when we lived in Fort Worth. I was there weekly. Twice weekly. My husband seems to think that there were times when I was actually there daily. But I can defend that one – there was a Starbucks in it!

But since moving to Utah, I scarcely go. We’re talking maybe every three or so months, I will pop in. The last time we went, as a family, was last Saturday, to load up on supplies for Coco’s birthday party. And as I was whizzing through the aisles, in a rush to get what we needed, get out and get to the airport to pick up my mother-in-law, I ran past a sole pitcher by Orla Kiely. It’s strong, simple, sleek and natural-looking. It’s perfect. Just perfect. And it called my name. But in my rush to get out of the store, I ignored it.

Bad move.

I dreamt about that pitcher all weekend. I looked at pictures of it on Target’s website. It’s out-of-stock at every store within a 50-mile radius of our home. And it’s not for sale on the Target website. And so, I headed back into SLC this morning to pick it up. And it was gone. Gone.

Sigh.

But while I was there, I did come across the last remaining pair of these Mossimo sandals in my size. Sure, they were black and not my preferred brown, but at $14.99, I snagged them. Quickly. These shoes are a near-perfect knock-off of a pair I had years ago, bought at Barney’s in NYC. Only Target’s version costs about twenty times less than the pair from Barney’s. That are long since gone. But not forgotten. And then, for another $12.99, I snatched up this clutch wallet in bright orange. To replace my $250 Commes des Garcons wallet that has turned out, after barely six months, to be an overpriced piece of not-at-all-well-made crap. And lastly, these little pink gladiator sandals for Pea and these little butterfly sandals for Coco. Because even though it is a veritable blizzard out there right now, summer is just around the corner.   

And I learned a lesson: must check Target out monthly. Because otherwise, I am missing out…

(Oh, and in case you’re interested, you can order the Orla Kiely pitcher off of the Target website via Amazon. I have no idea why. But you can. And I’m ordering mine. Now. I’m not missing out on it again.)