Shopping

I have a love/hate relationship with Target. Whenever I go there, I spend a lot more money than I originally intended. For today's trip, I planned to buy two new dusters (one for upstairs, one for downstairs), some fun pens (I'm a pen junkie), and bottled water. I figured this would cost around $20. I ended up spending $79 and change; here's what I bought:

• Two dusters


• Two fun pens


• Bottled water


• Diet Vanilla Coke


• Some small cute magnets (they were on sale)


• Some larger less-cute magnets (they were only $1)


• Notepad with a cute cover (it was on sale)


• Cute sign to hang on my front door


• Small journal (it was on sale)


• Magazine with Angelina Jolie on the cover


• Yellow Capri pants


• Coordinating sweater


• Four-pack of votive candles

Some of my weaknesses are obvious from this list. First, I love sales. And the thing about sales at Target is that sometimes you save only about .50 on an item, but whenever I see the red sale sticker, the product becomes instantly more desirable. Go figure. Also, I'm a sucker for cute. Not an obnoxious cute (at least in my opinion), but still cute. And I like Angelina Jolie--I think she's a wonderful actress.

Here's another thing: I do NOT need candles. I have more candles than my cabinets can hold. I have two cabinets just for my candles. But this was a unique scent, and I found myself circling the display three times, so I gave in.

If Target ever goes out of business, it won't be for lack of spending on my part.

Before my afternoon shopping spree, I hopped over to Amazon.com and bought a few books. Apparently I'm in a serious spending mood.

As for book news, I'm finishing For the Love of Nick by Jill Shalvis. It's wonderful--I love a hero who knows what he wants (the heroine) and is single-minded about it.

And one last note: my second column for Romancing the Blog has been very well received. I've enjoyed the comments people have made so far. Now to plan my April column . . .

Alyssa