Went to Target this morning to pick up a couple of things–some Easter goodies to contribute to the neighborhood’s [decidedly secular] hunt, a boot tray, an umbrella stand, some small rewards for HL’s potty training, etc. …It didn’t go well for me at all. Can I kvetch for a second?

First, in APRIL in OREGON, Target does not stock either boot trays or umbrella stands. They don’t have them at all.

Second, I tried both the party favor aisle and the toy section and I couldn’t find any small plastic animals for Henry’s teachers to give him when he seals the deal at the potty. (Stickers don’t seem to carry much weight with him these days, alas.) And perhaps worst of all…

THE LIBERTY OF LONDON STUFF IS KILLING ME! Particularly the sleepwear and intimates. So! Pretty! Aaaaand I’m 8 months pregnant. It would be utterly pointless for me to buy anything that would fit me now (assuming I could even find such a thing from LoL) and too risky to buy something in my “regular” size without being able to try it on. So… that sucked.

Pity me?

Last night, Matt’s Iron Man Omnibus was $15 on Amazon–a great deal for a book that usually retails for (I believe) $40. As I write this? It’s $8.24.

Link:
Invincible Iron Man Omnibus, Vol. 1

More Amazon deals (most found courtesy of Chris Sims, btw):
Fraction’s Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia – $15!
Most of the EC Archives – $15!
Criminal (Deluxe Edition) – $15!
Brubaker’s Daredevil Omnibus, Vol. 1 – $8.24!
The Death of Captain America Omnibus – $8.24!

And still more:
The Ultimates Omnibus – $8.24!
Wolverine Omnibus, Vol. 1 – $8.24!
The X-Men Omnibus, Vol. 1 – $8.24!
Fantastic Four Omnibus, Vol. 1 (v. 1) – $8.24!
(Stan Lee) Iron Man Omnibus, Vol. 1 – $14.99!
Madman Gargantua (Madman Comics) – $14.99!
Tomb Of Dracula Omnibus Volume 1 HC Variant (v. 1) – $14.99!
Amazing Fantasy Omnibus HC Brereton Variant – $14.99!
Bone: The Complete Cartoon Epic in One Volume (Vol 1) – $14.99!

Siege (Preorder) – $14.99!
Siege: Embedded Premiere HC (Preorder) – $14.99!
Girl Comics HC (Preorder) – $14.99!

I’m looking for a long 6 drawer dresser in a dark wood for HL and Tallulah’s room. It needs to be at least 16 inches deep in order to accommodate a changing pad.

I prefer a dark wood (but not black) and a modern aesthetic.

Leading contenders so far: http://delicious.com/kellysue/dresser

Any help/links appreciated.

- Happy and sad: Aunt Polly’s gone home (Boo!) but Fraction’s home (Yay!). Aunt Polly’s visit went CRAZY fast. I always feel like such an ass after she leaves – like all I do is work her to death when I really mean to take her out to lunch and relax. I’m not good at relaxing in the ‘sit around and do nothing’ sense of the term, though. And neither, honestly, is she.

- Lots of retail therapy of late. New clothes! I did well, I think. The only thing I bought that I’m not sure about is a black skirt from the gap that’s an A-line. In retrospect, an A-line is not great for my height or my hips. I wonder if I can get it made straight at the tailor’s? Something like this would have been a wiser choice, but I succumbed to the allure of the $30 sale price plus extra 30% off. The only thing I didn’t purchase that I sort of wish I had? This jacket. The big fail was high boots. Found a pair I loved, but I couldn’t zip them up over my 15 inch calves. Feh. Most “wide calf” boots are too big, leaving enough room for me to slip a wallet down in there too, so I’m seriously thinking about calling a shoe repair shop and finding out if they can insert a panel for me or something. Anybody have any experience with that sort of thing? Failing that, I can always put nice legwarmers over ankle boots or maybe go with these.

- As long as I’m soliciting advice, I’m trying to track down bread basket linens for a certain someone on my Christmas list. I have a couple of colorful ones that my mother-in-law got me, but all I seem able to find online are like this. Any ideas? I tried etsy, but maybe I had the wrong search string?

- We need a new printer. We seem to destroy inkjets, so we’re going to spring for a laser printer this time. Ideally, we need something wireless with a scanner that works well with a Mac. Not having a ton of luck. Costco has a Brother multifunction laser printer (mfc-8670DN) that seems the best deal I can find, but I can’t find any reviews. (It’s not wireless out of the box, but my understanding is that if we can make it wireless with an airport. No?) Thoughts/suggestions? There’s this one on the Apple site, but we’d then need to get (and store) another flatbed scanner. It’s also about $100 more than the one at Costco.

I’m coming to terms with the fact that the cold weather is going to be here before I’m back in my size 2s.  Now, I’m too cheap smart to spring for a “quality” transition wardrobe (I’d much rather save that money and buy some nice items when I’m back to feeling like myself again), but I’m going to need some warm clothes in the coming months.  Courtney sent some — I’ve got jeans now, hallelujah!  — and some of my sweaters will still fit.  I’m thinking I’m going to need some warm tights, a couple of warm nursing tops (do such things exist?), a pair of trousers and a coat that will accommodate boobs.

Coat-wise, I’d like something warm — but not bulky — in a red, green or blue, probably.  Black if I have to, but I try to keep my black-wearing to a minimum.  Red or green plaid would make me very happy.  Of course, I don’t want to pay much for it at all.  Thoughts?

(I’m adjusting back to the darker hair color too, which is throwing me off.  I loved wearing chocolate brown with the red hair.  Not as sure about it now…)

I’m thinking I’ll start looking at Old Navy, La Redoute and maybe TJ Maxx.  Any suggestions?