Target Addict: Mark your calendars

Target's new designer collaboration, as was evident in this feature story in the USA Today, debuts this Sunday, May 6th!! As if the Bullseye wasn't fabulous enough, it has teamed up with trendy shops from across the country to create affordable limited-edition goods for The Shops at Target.

The concept:  A savvy retail marketing approach much like more upscale retailers like Saks, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus and Fred Segal, Target will now offer various boutique stores within their store selling specialty goods.  The five collections total nearly 400 exclusive products both in-stores and online.

"The idea came from the fact that we have a lot of people who are out shopping the world all the time, looking for great new ideas, designers, trends," says Target's Home Division senior vice president Stacia Andersen. "As every single group would come back, they would keep saying, 'When you go to Miami, you have to go to The Webster!' or 'Have you been to Connecticut? You have to see Privet House!' It just kept coming back to these shops that we visited and how well-curated they were and how visionary the shop owners were."

In addition to The Webster (Home of Miami's passion for chic fashion) and Privet House (Vintage treasures with a bohemian-chic feel from Connecticut), the other shops include Cos Bar (Cutting edge beauty palace from Aspen) , Polka Dog Bakery (Biscuits and bones to drool over from Boston), and The Candy Store (Rare and wonderful sugary treats in glass jars from San Francisco).

Will you be stopping by to take a peak??

Shown here is one of Target's offerings from high-end Miami boutique,
The Webster: a wallet-friendly shift dress for just $40. 

Got ANIMAL hair??

While the holidays are still a few months away, it's best that you start thinking about what you need to do now to prepare your homes for company. Whether you're having out-of-town guests for a long period of time or just a party for a few hours, there's nothing more embarrassing than having a guest stand up from your couch only to find them covered in your dog or cat's hair.

If you've been searching for the best way to remove pet hair from their floors and upholstered furniture or need to replace your ineffective vac for something with a little more umph, I think I might just have the answer...

The DC34 Animal.

The Dyson DC34 Animal is the perfect handheld vacuum cleaner that has twice the suction power of any other handheld on the market. Powered by the new Dyson digital motor, it is ideal for pet-hair pick-up, tight hard to reach corners in furniture, inside your car and high dirt areas.

How it works: First you must charge it for about 3.5 hours to get the full run time out of it. That’s 15 minutes on normal power, or 6 minutes at ‘max’ power. Once it’s fully charged, you press and hold the red button and … use it like a vacuum cleaner. Because that’s what it is. The DC34 Animal comes with a button on the back that says ‘MAX’. Essentially it’s a booster button, giving you an extra bit o' suction… and noise. In my mind, the bigger the sound, the better it's working.

The first thing that strikes me about the handheld DC34 Animal is it's shape. It's unlike any other handheld vac I've ever seen. It kinda screams ‘I mean business’ and boy oh boy, does it!

What I like best is that it's small and convenient. You can store it in the kitchen cabinet or pantry without any problem. I'm all about the quick pick-up and the thought of having to lug around the heavier vac to pick up a little hair or dirt, makes me irritable. I also like that it's cordless which makes it easy to maneuver and use in your car. Like all Dysons you get to see the crap that gets picked up in the clear-containery-thingy (technical term) so that's always a good visual that your effort is actually doing something.

There are two downsides I see to this product: 1) The vacuuming time vs. charging time is well, a lot. For every minute you charge it, you only get 4.28 seconds of run time. But again, other whimpier handhelds don't have good battery longevity either. 2) It's a pretty penny at $350 (or $299 for the slightly less powerful DC34). But with the fastest, highest power density motor ever developed for a domestic appliance and up to 15 minutes of constant cleaning power, the units are hard-wearing and an excellent value if you can find room in the budget.

Can you afford a furry friend?

Is your significant other or child begging for a pet this Christmas? Are you torn on what to do? You've got a few days left before Christmas to decide what you should do. Of course you want to surprise them and make their wishes come true but the question is - can you afford one?

The amount of money we spend on our pets has nearly doubled in the past 10 years, rising to more than $38 billion, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. That figure dwarfs the toy business ($23 billion) and candy industry ($24 billion). It’s not just the purchase price of a pet that costs money; it’s the feeding, grooming, vet bills, and boarding that can really add up to a lot. Before you bring that lovable critter home for the holidays, there are a few things you should consider. The last thing you want to do is fall in love with something you realistically can't afford. The following is a list of expected annual costs for your new member of the family thanks to the non-profit adoption organization, Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.

Small Dogs: They may be pocket sized and lovable but they're no small cost. While crate costs and spay/neuter fees are lessened, a smaller dog, like a Yorkshire Terrier and Pugs, can still cost nearly $800 annually.

Medium Dogs: Coming in a close second, medium-sized dogs, like Beagles and Cocker Spaniels, are nearly the most costly pets, fetching up to $1,115 annually.

Large Dogs: Big dogs like Golden Retrievers, Labrabors, and Dalmatians may have a special place in your heart but get ready to make room for them in your wallet. Obvious expenses like food and crates for large dogs are high and first year total expenses can reach $1,500.

Cats: Cats can provide warmth and companionship with considerably fewer demands than their canine counterparts. However, every furball comes with a price tag. Total first year costs for a cat can reach upwards of $640.

Rabbits: Rabbits may require even less attention than felines but costs for a floppy eared friend can exceed $800 for the first year. Where a Rabbit may not require walking, litter costs for your pet can more than double that of cats reaching a total of $885.

Guinea Pigs: Though many vets do NOT spay/neuter Guinea Pigs, the procedure is highly recommended for the many health benefits of spaying/neutering. The litter costs for these Guinea Pigs are as high as for that of a rabbit. Costs for a Guinea Pig can exceed $745 in the first year.

Gerbils and Hamsters: Though many vets do NOT spay/neuter Gerbils and Hamsters, the procedure is highly recommended for the many health benefits of spaying/neutering. Gerbils and Hamsters qualify as small mammals and incur the least in costs for quadrapeds. There are other costs to consider, such as cages and litter, which can bring the tab up to $500 in the first year.

Birds: Small birds such as Parakeets or the cheapest pets to keep but that doesn't mean free. One must provide toys and treats and a cage for their feathered friends. That can cost up to $255 in the first year.

Fish: Fish have their own costs and concerns. Tanks, trinkets and playgrounds for your fish can raise costs up to $185.

Obviously, smaller is cheaper. The difference between a large dog and a small one is $720 per year - and that's a lot of kibble. Now, let's just look at the dogs and cats. Let's say each of these pets lives 15 years. Here's the lifetime costs:

Cat - $9,600
Small dog - $11,700
Medium dog - $16,725
Large dog - $22,500

Promise me this - if you do get a pet, don't complain that you can't afford college for your kid! You know your budget. And you know your tolerance. Sure they are cute and cuddly but besides the cost, they are a lot of work. Best of luck in making your decision.