"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." - Ronald Reagan

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

When Target Fails

I love Target. Those big red carts and luscious aisles of stuff make my heart beat faster. I get doe-eyed just thinking about the place. I cover my notebook with "I heart Target" and "Mrs. Jessica Target" all the time. This is more than a crush, this is true love, people! So imagine the heartbreak when Target let me down. Devastating. Like when Edward left Bella in New Moon.

Let me explain.

Da Boo is short. This is my fault. I was always the shortest in my class. She is so short that I am frequently asked if she and the Boy are twins. No, they're two and half years apart! But because she is "vertically challenged," it was rather difficult to find a backpack that didn't hang down to her knees. I even tried the toddler backpacks but it had to be big enough to carry a full-sized folder home and none of those measured up. So I went to Target, because Target always has what I need.

But not this time.

Oh, sure, we found a backpack da Boo loved and immediately clasped to her bosom. It had all of her favorite things: flowers, hearts and poodles. And it was pink. Perfection in canvas form. But just when she declared this backpack to be the very best one she had ever, ever, ever seen, I noticed something. It was the flowers...their centers looked a little funny; not quite symmetrical. That's when I saw what they were: skulls. Seriously. Skulls. On a little girls' pink backpack. Apparently symbols of death are all the rage in grade school because I began to see the hidden skulls on all the other backpack designs. Wha...?

But it was too late. I knew that look in her eyes and unless I wanted a repeat of "Firestarter," I had better slink to the checkout and plunk down my money for those pink skulls. Sigh...

I tried to find a replacement. We even found a sparkly purple nylon backpack that almost had her won over but, alas...no poodles. So I did the next best thing: I got crafty. First, I used a black permanent marker and colored in all the skulls. While it looked better, the skulls were still slightly visible, even after three layers of marker. No problem. I had some glittery pinkish purple puff paint. Success! The flowers now had sparkly centers and were no longer omens of doom.


The finished product! She thought it was lots better than the original backpack and wanted to wear it to bed. That's the ultimate seal of approval here...if it makes it into my kids' bedtime horde.


But, Target? If you ever let me down like that again and make my daughter go giddy over skulls, I'm going to have to leave you. And really, neither of us wants that to happen.

19 comments:

Debi said...

That is simply the cutest little girl backpack I have ever seen! You need to go into the REDESIGN business! :) I'm sure the other mother's would appreciate it. And what in the WORLD are they putting skulls on kids things for anyway???

Thomas said...

I was at Target yesterday so I am still on a "Target high."

Lindy said...

Those pink sparkly skulls seem to be everywhere in the little girls department--on shoes, on shirts and now, backpacks :) Your re-design is fabulous. I can't talk, though, because I found my most favorite sunglasses in all the world and after trying them on and falling in love I realized they had skulls on the inside. Oh well. I'm old enough to sport omens of doom, right?

Nat said...

Skulls? With flowers, butterflies and poodles? What kind of combination is that? The backpack make-over looks great. Good job, and Congrats on Kindergarten! We started another one in K this week too!

Kristie said...

The backpack looks awesome! I can't believe that about skulls!! The next time I need something re-designed, I am calling you first thing!!! :)

Amber said...

Can you believe I went to Wal-Mart today to get a backpack for Kyle and they didn't have a single backpack left- not one! So I'm hoping Target will come through for me.

AmShaZam said...

I share your pain. The skulls are EVERYWHERE! Every other shirt at Old Navy had them in the designs. Even things like argyle sweaters had the skull and crossbones. What is this? A subtle pirate takeover? Die-hard Raiders fans as little girls' fashion designers?

Emma said...

I have noticed the skulls every where too. I love your redesign.

♥miss~mattie♥ said...

That is a cute backpack.
Bye bye.♥☺♥

Amanda said...

The pirate thing is so big now....while I am not a fan of the skull....I don't care too much either way?! It's just bones!!!

But ya did a great job and I laughed and that is hard to do these days:)

Pot barn kids has perfect size packs for P's size.....smaller than full size but fits a full-size folder! I also saw in Lands end kids they have similar things. But ya already have one!

Jillybean said...

You did a great job on the backpack! You are very clever.

I don't understand the connection between the poodles and the skulls.

Might I suggest a rolling backpack? (then it doesn't matter if it fits) They're all the rage at my kids school.

Tim and Angie said...

Way cute!! I would never suspect the skulls hidden beneath the sparkles. I have noticed skulls a lot lately too. At first I thought it was a pirate fetish thing. Maybe it's just a doom thing though.

The Ransoms said...

haha that is hilarious!! Maybe you could hook me up with a skull backpack once I get out there--apparently it's all the rage!

Tausha said...

ok-you are incdredibly such a good mom. I so know that sentance was not grammaticly correct-hope that you don't mind.
Anyway-It looks great! I am so with you on the whole skull thing. It really bugs me. Maybe I am the freak-but I just don't want to wear a bony head on any part of my body!
I hope that you still love target! It's really not there fault-they are just trying to keep up with the trends. Hopefully this one will end sooner than later!

Janell said...

Sparkles are even better than skulls :)

Good job!

Tipi said...

hummm... I kinda like the skulls and daisies, sort of a younger leather and lace thing...
"I'm cute, but can easily be your DOOM!MAwahahaha!"



or not. :)

Very nice redesign. Fun how Back to School shopping can be an adventure all it's own.

Jo said...

And the day was saved by the clever mom. Isn't the end of all the best stories?

Randi said...

I'm still laughing about Mrs. Jessica Target.
Too funny!

Amber said...

Oh man! I saw that backpack- we almost bought that backpack, and then I saw the skulls. I don't get it either- skulls? Really?

Great job on the redesign!

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