John Derian for Target

As if we needed one, the new John Derian for Target collection is yet another reason to lock ourselves in this store forever. Like most women I know, Target is pretty much my version of the Shopping Holy Land. (Well, that, and my own personal hell.  Going in for justoneitem! never works out as planned and the drive home consists of my demons battling it out for victory. But that blanket! That sweater!  But the BUDGET, wife.  Okay, so it’s more my husband and I battling than anything else.)

Anyway.

So, yeah, this conflict has certainly not been assuaged by Target’s recently featured designer: John Derian. Because, have you seen this stuff?

Target has had lots of collaborations with fashion and interior designers lately, but this one is by far my favorite.  John Derian produces some amazing–and amazingly expensive–home goods.  The good news, though, is that this is John Derian for Target. As in, tons of selection at price points around twentysomething dollars. Are you squeeing yet? (It’s okay. I did.)

At this point in my life, with two boys under five, my house is a mish-mosh pit of recycled furniture and strategically placed storage bins. I try not to tempt myself with decorating magazines and the like, because that room featured on page thirty four? Full of pastels and modern angles and witty artwork? That room will not look so lovely with juice puddles and muddy footprints and I don’t even know what that stain is.  Which is why I love. this. collection. While I’m holding off from filling my house with lovely, pricey furniture and accessories, I do want it to feel like a home. Like my home. I want to be surrounded with pleasing patterns and colors and textures that inspire me (and offset the deranged sounding Elmo that haunts my youngest’s room).

My first purchase from the John Derian series was two of the Moth Media Bins. Practical, sure, but what better way to add some life to a room, right?  I love the neutral tones and quirky pattern. It’s a mix of dark brown moths (obviously) and numbers and text that make it look like an old biologist’s field book, all set on a light tan color background.  The inside is lined with a pattern of antique looking script letters, all in the same color palette. And while the fabric concerned me initially (stains!), I decided that the brown in the pattern would be enough of a buffer. After about a month of handling by the members of my family (I store television remotes and game system controllers in them), they look just as awesome. They blend in with the rest of the room while also standing out enough to bring the funk. (In a good way, of course.) Plus they just have a nice weight to them. They’re substantial and sturdy.

But I couldn’t stop there.  After holding off the first day, I went back later to snatch up the Wall Decor, Turning Tree. I’ve lived in the Hudson Valley of New York my whole life and will be moving to Texas next year. So this was perfect for me on many levels. It’s hanging in the hallway and I’m impressed equally by the print as I am the frame itself. I find the art to be simultaneously simplistic and eye-catching.

And while this is the extent of my collection for now, I am still eyeballing the set of stoneware profile mugs.  How CUTE!  And Victorian! (Husband? You reading?)  You can find most of these items at your local Target, or at the home page for the collection.

Going Green With Reusable Shopping Bags

I am always one of the last people to pick up on the latest “going green” trends.  It’s not that I don’t love the earth or want to be more eco-friendly.

It’s that I’m lazy and cheap and like my stuff.

I tend to be suspicious of green products because there’s a lot of overpriced, yuppy crap out there being marketed as “eco-friendly” and therefore “worth this exorbent price tag”.  Thanks, but no thanks.  The Earth and I had a talk and we’ve agreed neither of us wants me to be poor or a pretentious asshole.

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