Raise your hand if you like to shop at Target.

It’s kind of my happy place.

For years when we lived in Kentucky, I was Target-deprived. That wonderful Dollar Spot and the amazing deals and the cute clothes and incredible pillows and the occasional bunny plate were all an hour away…

…across the state line in Tennessee.

But now?

I live in Texas and I count my blessings every single day.

I am the luckiest duck in the entire world because now I live in Targetville.

Yep.

Five Targets within ten miles.

Isn’t life amazing?

So of course—shopping for a gift for my Pokeno party found me standing in line at the Target self-checkout buying the cutest home decor. And somewhere between scanning the gift and the polka-dot bag and the striped tissue paper…

…the most amazing thing happened.

I was scanning the items one by one when all of a sudden, I looked up and caught a glimpse of myself in the security camera.

Does your Target have those?

Maybe I’ve been under a Target rock, but I have never noticed them before.

Have you?

Just look up next time you are checking out in the self-checkout lane and you’ll see them–security cameras right above where you scan the items.

It kind of startled me at first.

I didn’t know the camera was there until I started scanning my first item, randomly glanced up, and caught a glimpse of myself in the tiny monitor.

Maybe it was the lighting in the check-out lane.

Maybe it was the angle of the camera.

Maybe it was the joy of finding the perfect gift wrap selection.

But at the risk of stating the obvious…

….at that moment my hair looked amazing.

And not just my hair. It was even better than that.

My skin looked 25.

My eyes sparkled and glowed.

My nose looked like it had been contoured by a make-up professional.

What?

How had that happened?

I immediately stopped my scanning to stare at my reflection in wonder and awe.

I turned this way and that way.

I flipped up a curl and twisted it around my finger and smiled at my reflection in pure joy. I made duck lips and sucked in my cheekbones and pushed up the back of my hair with my hands and smoothed out the part and even added a little side flip.

Forgotten was the scanning.

Forgotten was the entire reason for my shopping trip.

Forgotten were the polka dot bags and the striped wrapping paper and the gift for Pokeno.

All of that was replaced with only two thoughts in my brain at that exact moment.

  1. Where had this camera been all my life?
  2. Could I take a selfie of myself in the security camera to post on Instagram?

After all—nothing really happens unless it’s posted on social media.

Right?

I pried my vision away from my reflection for a moment to dig in my purse for my phone. Mid-dig, I heard a discreet cough behind me.

Startled, I glanced up and looked around.

I couldn’t believe it.

Somewhere between making duck lips and admiring my contoured nose and smiling at my reflection and flipping my hair and turning this way and that in the camera…

….AN ENTIRE LINE OF PEOPLE WAS STANDING BEHIND ME WAITING TO CHECK OUT.

And the best part?

I could tell from their grins that they’d seen it all.

Every flip.

Every flirtatious glance.

Every loving wink at myself in that camera.

Right then and there, my hair wilted. My curls hung their head in shame. My side part let out a sigh.  I bowed my head, kept my eyes averted from the line behind me, finished my scanning, paid for my gift, and ran out of the store.

And in my haste and embarrassment, I left without the one thing I needed to make this story even better.

My selfie.

Lesson learned.

Next time I shop at Target…

…I’ll have my phone ready. 🙂

Want to know how to decorate your home for free?
Click here to get my FIVE BEST secrets.

Comments

  1. Image for Linda Linda

    I live in Ohio and I’ve been in lots of Target stores and I’ve never seen furniture, pillows or other items shown in these pictures!! I’d love to know where I need to go to find them!!!

  2. Image for Carrie Carrie

    I love your humor and stories!! Also- how is your daughter’s online store doing? Could you share a Link to her store? Continue Ur to share those funny Target moments…:)

  3. Image for Lorrie Lorrie

    That was cute! I’m sure it was a disappointment that you didn’t get that one photo. Anyway, you put a smile on my face. Thank you!

  4. Image for Claudia A. Claudia A.

    Girl, all of them, I’m sure would’ve understood. Next time go ahead take the shot. Ask for forgiveness later.❣️

  5. Image for Lorrie Lorrie

    That was cute! I’m sure it was a disappointment that you didn’t get that one photo. You put a smile on my face. Thank you!

  6. Image for Betsy Betsy

    I had a totally different reaction the other morning when I looked at the camera! How could I leave the house so early looking like I did ???? It was an emergency run……they only had a few bunny plates left ! 😩

  7. Image for Carol Tucker Carol Tucker

    Author, Blogger, Influencer, Decorator..now Comedian!! You're the full package..love your stories..you bring us happiness !!

  8. Image for Vicki Vicki

    This really made me laugh because it is just so cute! We need more happy/laughter in the world, thanks for being that today!

  9. Image for va in NC va in NC

    Again you brought a much needed smile to my day.....and I am going to check my target for cameras. lol Blessings to you and yours.

  10. Image for Jodena Beale Jodena Beale

    Great hilarious story to tell. Embarrassing for you, but funny for us. One day you get gussied up. Go back to that Target and get that selfie. And as you do this, let Elvis Presley sing in your mind "I DID IT MY WAY". Life is too short to worry about the line behind us. Because what is behind us does not matter, but look at what you have ahead to share with us. Your Selfie. I cant wait. 😊

  11. Image for Mary Ellen Mary Ellen

    Love this story! How many times have we glanced in a store window as we walked by to admire or gasp on at ourselves on any given day! You just admitted to the world what we all do secretly! Thanks for the morning giggle!

  12. Image for Nancy Carr Nancy Carr

    You are so much fun. Love the story. We have a Target opening nearby this summer. I’m excited and will definitely look for the mirror above self checkout.

  13. Image for Karen H Karen H

    As we age,those little glimpses of youth become few an far between. I loved that you relished the moment. Keep calm and camera on....

  14. Image for Diana Clark Diana Clark

    Once again you made me laugh. I made my husband listen to your story too. Any day you catch an unexpected beauty shot take it! Your descrption made me laugh..... duck lips etc. What a hoot you are!

  15. Image for Michele M. Michele M.

    Bwuahahahahahaha ha ha ha ha bwuahahahahaha omgosh you are hilarious! I never noticed them either b/c I have learned to have some self control I go online, order, pay, then go in and pick up my items. Until I purge my old stuff I absolutely positively am not getting new stuff unless necessary. (Lenten season promise at least this year.) KA you are so funny. Weird cuz I need to drop my books off at library - and we have a Target 10 minutes away and I was going to stop by today- then read this. Alleluia to Target cuz it is retail crack, I tell ya! Duck lips. Bwuahahahaha.

  16. Image for AnnTN AnnTN

    HAHAHAHAHA!!! I've seen myself in the camera at self check out at Target.It wasn't pretty now matter how good or bad I looked. Seeing myself once was enough for me.

  17. Image for Linda Scott Linda Scott

    Hilarious!! We need those cameras in MD bc my Target's cameras make look like an angry prison guard!! Haha!!! Thanks for the chuckle!

  18. Image for VALICIA LINN VALICIA LINN

    You make my day every day...I love your Target story..I don't usually get in the self check out lines because they are always the busiest.Now I have to look for the cameras..My favorite store too and I MUST go at least once a week..Find the cutest things there.Oh, and by tte way, Everything you saw is what and who you are.You make me smile when I see your smiling face and hear your 'little girl' giggle, laugh. I love your energy!!!!

  19. Image for Stacy Dantzler Stacy Dantzler

    What time does Target open? I am gonna be there with my phone battery charged up! Thanks for helping a sister out!

  20. Image for Becky Becky

    I wish I had been in that line! Seeing this story unfold in person would have been hilarious. Reading it made me laugh out loud. Thanks for the happy start to my day. You are one of a kind. The best kind❣️

  21. Image for Juliet Juliet

    KariAnne, this made me giggle just picturing you at the check out line. Next time, you'll have to make sure there is no one else in line! Sending long distance hugs and love to you, sweet friend.

  22. Image for Debbie Debbie

    You are the sweetest!!! I sure do love my Target and may just go there tomorrow to buy gum and go through the self checkout and do model poses and smiles in honor of you, my friend.

  23. Image for Stephanie Brown Stephanie Brown

    Thank you for sharing and making me smile! As you know not many stores at all in Webster County KY so enjoy Target.. love their book section.. for your friend in Providence too. Keep shining sweet pea!

  24. Image for Leslie Watkins Leslie Watkins

    How did I miss this one?!! That. Is. Hilarious. 😂😂😂 says one Kentucky girl deprived of a Target! Happy weekend!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.