Target

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Last Minute Father’s Day Gift Ideas from Target

Last Minute Father’s Day Gift Ideas at Target

A month ago during Mother’s Day, I told the story of how my son and I took the short drive to Target to purchase Mother’s Day gifts. My wife was perfectly delighted with what we picked out for her there.

Undeniably and by default, we are a Target family. We are there all throughout the week. Just a few days ago, I did an Instragram on how I finally spent some of my birthday money there on some good music:

nickshellwritesFinally getting around to spending some birthday money. #target

nickshellwrites Finally getting around to spending some birthday money. #target

Right now I’m thinking of the lyrics from the song “Spend Your $$$”, from Walk the Moon’s CD that I bought: “What do you spend your money on?”

With my wife and I being Dave Ramsey followers, we live by the concept of having designated “blow money”. Everything else goes to pay bills or it goes into our savings, which is how we recently bought a new car and already had the money in the bank.

When I think about it, though, when I do spend my money, I spend a good amount of my “blow money” at Target.

Well, the folks at Target had no idea about any of this; nor were they aware of my Mother’s Day post or about my birthday money Instagram. So it is a complete coincidence that Target reached out to me a few days ago and asked me to do a “Last Minute Father’s Day Gift Idea” post, simply based on the fact I am one of America’s most popular daddy bloggers.

Last Minute Father’s Day Gift Ideas at Target

Merona Men’s Sleep Pants in Black, $14.99

Men’s Accessories Surf Sunglasses in Black, $14.99

Bevel Shave System Starter Kit, $89.95

Nate Berkus Cross Hatch Ceramic Photo Frame, $12.99

Bose® SoundSport® In-Ear Headphone, $99.99

Threshold Wall Mount Bear Bottle Opener, $7.99

A+ Men’s Eddie Sneakers in Tan, $34.99

Merona Men’s Weekender Bag in Navy, $29.99

S’ip by S’well Blue Raspberry Gummy Stainless Steel Water Bottle 15oz, $24.99

Merona Men’s Dopp Kit in Black, $12.99

Merona Men’s Five Link Bracelet Watch in Gunmetal, $19.99

Merona Men’s Bi-Fold Wallet in Black, $12.99

Last Minute Father’s Day Gift Ideas at Target

C9 Champion® – Men’s Softshell Jacket Ebony Heather, $49.99

Men’s Dad/Kid Sock Sets Pair of Thieves, $9.99

Merona Men’s Pique Polo in Grey, $12.99

Merona Men’s Belt in Cognac, $14.99

Merona Men’s Tie in Navy Pindot, $19.99

‘Dad’ Copper Mug, $39.99

Fitbit Alta Activity and Sleep Tracker, $129.99

Room Essentials 3 Piece BBQ Tool Set with Colored Handles, $10.00

iDevices iGrill Mini Thermometer, $35.99

Threshold Bryant Faux Wood Patio Bar Cart, $90.99

Threshold Beer Pint Decal 6-Piece Glass Set, $11.99

They sent me a nice new, classy belt (I desperately needed one!) as well as some leather sneakers (okay, I admit- I own more shoes than my wife, but I can always handle more!).

I say dads are easy to pick gifts for. As for me, I like practical stuff. So if you’re still trying to figure out what to get Dad for Father’s Day weekend, I suggest just go by Target.

As a husband and a dad, I can tell you for a fact that Target is always one of the easiest places for me to spend gift cards. (It’s the main place my wife and I were registered for our newborn daughter.) It really is one of my favorite stores. I consider it an honor they reached out to me to help people figure out what to get Dad for Father’s Day.

Last Minute Father’s Day Gift Ideas at Target

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People Want You To Gossip And Judge Others

Disclaimer: While I do make a strong effort to keep my material family friendly, as the name implies, this post serves as social commentary, citing issues which are not particularly family friendly or G-rated.

It’s funny how no one wants to be judged or to be gossiped about, but in good conscience we are able to read “news” stories and watch reality TV shows that ultimately entice us to judge and gossip about the people involved.

In case no one has yet pointed it out to you yet, allow me to be the first: We as Americans live in the midst of a vibrant culture war.

Polarizing ideas are constantly being reinforced that A) liberals are all socialist idiots whose gay marriage is turning America into the perfect place for God’s fiery judgment; meanwhile B) conservatives are all close-minded, homophobic, racist holy rolling bigots.

It’s an ongoing debate between CNN versus Fox News that we allow to live out all around us. To me, it’s become a parody of itself, like both country and rap music have become.

But what about those of us who are in the middle if these two unforgiving extremes? Well, I believe we are the outsiders of our culture.

Because if you’re not taking the bait to either be offended, or to judge others for their lifestyle, you begin realizing there’s really not that much real “news” going on.

For example, check out yesterday’s “Trending Topics” that were featured yesterday on Facebook:

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Target: Ohio Mother Says ‘Girls’ Building Sets’ Sign in Store’s Toy Aisle Shows Gender Bias

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Miley Cyrus: Singer Discusses Coming Out as Bisexual to Her Mother as a Teen in Paper Interview

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The X-Files: Fox Releases Image From Set of Revival of Sci-Fi Series

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Glassdoor: Jobs Site Names Highest-Rated CEOs in 3rd Annual Employees’ Choice Awards

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Joyce Carol Oates: Author Appears to Condemn Photo From ‘Jurassic Park’ Showing Dead Dinosaur

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Bob Costas: Sports Broadcaster Calls Caitlyn Jenner’s Arthur Ashe Courage Award ‘Exploitation Play’

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Robert Gibbs: Former White House Press Secretary Appointed as McDonald’s Executive Vice President

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Holly Madison: Hugh Hefner’s Former Girlfriend Details Life at the Playboy Mansion in New Book

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Librarian of Congress: James Billington Announces Retirement After Nearly 3 Decades in Position

·

#WWDC15: Apple Announces Product Updates at Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco

It’s very clear that in the midst of a few non-sexual headlines, we are being prompted and provoked to make a judgment call on what constitutes as gender bias, as well as to either support or be shocked by Miley Cyrus’s sexuality, then an accept an invitation to either agree or disagree with Bob Costas’ comments on Bruce Jenner’s gender reveal, and then to finish it off with learning some juicy details about life in a house that celebrates pornography.

If nothing else, you can at least judge the author who condemns the “dead dinosaur” photo, right?

Yes, that’s supposed to be “the news.”

That’s not the news.

People want you to gossip and judge others. It’s abundantly evident in the headlines, TV shows, and reality shows in our culture. And we do; that’s how they make money off us.

The Kardashians wouldn’t be famous if we ourselves didn’t keep them famous.

Imagine how many people tune in each week for The Bachelorette/Bachelor; a show that is presented to us under the guise of romantic people trying to find love and marriage, via a polygamy style game show in which the bachelorette/bachelor and the final few contestants have the option of staying overnight in a “fantasy suite” to sexually “try out” each of the people before they marry them.

In other words, by supporting that show, we are contributing to the fact that the bachelor or bachelorette is being pressured to have sex with 3 people they only recently met. We laugh it off as silly, which it is. It’s also people’s actual real lives involving real decisions with actual consequences.

I say it’s impossible to watch shows like this without judging other people for their actions and lifestyles.

Ultimately, it seems virtually impossible to avoid all forms of gossip. But if I can be more aware of it in media, I can make a deliberate effort to step out.

And I can only hope what I just said doesn’t sound like I’m being judgmental of others.

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The Ninja Turtle Pinball Machine: Impulse Buying Infographic

Even though Christmas shopping for my son was pretty much complete a couple of months ago, he recently became fascinated by the concept of owning a pinball machine.

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In fact, it was the only thing he asked Santa for at Bass Pro Shop.

So in an order to help Santa out, I checked out Target. I’d already found a cheap, tiny made-in-China type of thing at a party store earlier that day; the kind you’d find in the bottom of a box of Rice Krispies.

But it was at Target that I found the perfect pinball machine for him:

A Ninja Turtles pinball machine, on sale for about $22 (from $25); which is more money than my wife and I agreed to spend to help Santa out on this.

My wife and I are strict Dave Ramsey followers. Therefore, every dollar is specifically accounted for. But in addition to our shared income budget, she and I also each have an annual stipend consisting of birthday and Christmas money from family to last us all year.

I texted my wife: “I am tempted just to spend my own money to buy this for him!”

It was the perfect opportunity for an impulse buy. He would be so happy and so surprised on Christmas morning to unwrap that!

But I thought about the gifts we had already bought him, and considered the other mysterious gifts he’ll get from others, and decided against buying the pinball machine.

If he really is disappointed with the “cereal prize pinball machine” he’s getting, he can spend his own money on the Ninja Turtle one at Target; though he probably won’t. He’ll probably spend it on Legos instead.

So I did it: I resisted the urge to make an impulse purchase. I’m almost surprised at myself.

I will close with an infographic that explains the psychology behind an impulse buy:

Generation Z Marketings Next Big Audience

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3 Comments Posted on Nostalgia, People, Storytelling, Uncategorized

dad from day one: Honestly, Baby Jack Could Be Born Any Day Now

Thirty-seven weeks.

In a matter of days (most likely no more than 20), dad from day one will no longer be a blog about pregnancy from a dad’s perspective; instead of pregnancy, it will be about a real life baby.  Like the way that the first season of Saved by the Bell was really called Good Morning, Miss Bliss and took place in Indiana, then by the next season Miss Bliss was gone and Zack, Screech, Lisa, and Mr. Belding magically reappeared in California, yet it was still basically the same TV show, only better and livelier.

My work place had a "masculine baby shower" for me, meaning there were no games- just food and a bucket full of gifts.

What this means is that this post of dad from day one could be the last one before “Baby Jack is Born!” is published.  Or, I could easily post two more new ones before he’s born.  No way of knowing.  It’s like waiting for the clown to jump out of the jack-in-the-box while turning the crank.  Any day now, our Jack may pop out of the box!  (Unavoidable metaphor.)

Pork-free soup is hard to find in the South; at least in my office.

His due date is November 11th, on my dad’s birthday, but my wife and I are both convinced that Baby Jack will be born on the 5th.  We met on October 5, 2006.  Our first date was on February 5, 2007.  We got married on July 5, 2008.  And November 5, 2010 will be Week 39, close enough to Week 40- it’s very possible.  Though I love to joke that he will be born on Halloween and he’ll be our Jack-O-Lantern.

Last night we finished our last Lamaze class.  Last weekend we packed the car seat.  This weekend we will make a trip to Target to pick up supplies (snacks) for the hospital stay and finish packing for D-Day.  It’s like preparing for the ultimate first day of school.  But instead of meeting my new teacher, I’m meeting my new baby.

All pictures with the “JHP” logo were taken by Joe Hendricks Photography:

Blog- www.photojoeblog.com

Website- www.joehendricks.com

Pick up a copy of the November 2010 issue of American Baby magazine...

...and on page 13 you just might see some familiar faces.

This being the first time my writings have been featured in a national magazine, I have to compare the experience of seeing the copy for the first time to that great scene in That Thing You Do where The Wonders all hear their song being played on the radio for the first time.  I will never forget; during my lunch break I rode my mountain bike to an appropriately named maternity and baby clothing store in Franklin, TN called Pickles and Ice  Cream.

The issue had just arrived in the store.  The two girls behind the counter watched me anxiously and purposely turning the pages until I found page 13, both knowing something was up.  And though I was still wearing my bike helmet, they realized that the squinty-eyed Italian-looking guy wearing a Tom & Jerry t-shirt in the magazine must be me.

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dad from day one: Where the Wild Things are Tame

Twenty-four weeks.

As my wife and I have begun registering at Babies “R” Us and Target, a major theme I couldn’t help but notice, particular to boys’ clothing, is the fact that wild, vicious animals are strangely friendly and helpful.  Smiling crocodiles.  Laughing gorillas.  Silly snakes.  Chipper tigers.

In real life, there’s no way I would let Jack near any of those animals unless it’s at the zoo. (Nor would I want anywhere near those animals unless I was at the zoo). Crocodiles, gorillas, snakes, and tigers all represent wild and dangerous elements of life.  But to a baby boy, these creatures resemble how he himself is adventurous and “in to everything”.  Of course, in a world where the baby boy is loved by all and has no concept of enemies, these dangerous beings become neutered, tamed, and enchanted to the point that they all want to be his friend.

The irony- as his parents, my wife and I will be Jack’s supreme protectors and guardians.  We will become the smiling crocodiles, the laughing gorillas, the silly snakes, and the chipper tigers: the paradoxical mix of strength and safety with love and happiness.  Even more ironic- Baby Jack won’t understand all this stuff about friendly yet wild animals and how his parents represent them to him.  All these “cute outfits” are for the adults to enjoy.  But we like to pretend Jack is aware of the fact that his shirt has a picture of a goofy blue beast on it with the caption reading “Mommy’s Little Monster”.  My, what imaginations we adults have!

All pictures with the “JHP” logo were taken by Joe Hendricks Photography:

Blog- www.photojoeblog.com

Website- www.joehendricks.com