Ah, the power of merchandising

So, I’m at Target yesterday on my weekly visit to my favorite place on earth.
I frequent the same location and have become freakishly familiar with it’s layout.
As I enter, it becomes apparent that the store has been “chrismafied” since my last visit and the merchandise has been updated for the holidays.
I peruse over to the accessories section and immediately spot the first of my “must haves” for this week. There in front of me are the most adorable hat and mitten sets that I have ever seen. I am giddy with excitement and start narrowing down my favorite combinations. Then it dawns on me, like a quick but swift punch to the gut, the reality of the truth leaves me gasping for air.
I live in California god dammit, it’s never going to be cold enough to sport a toque.
In fact, I think the car temperature gauge would self implode if it ever recorded an outside reading lower than 63 degrees.
Damn you Tar-jay and your deceitful ways for actually tricking me into believing that one day, someday, we may experience a deep freeze warranting the wearing of mittens. Oh I know better. And don’t even get me started on the faux fur wraps. Where am I sporting those? People are still wearing shorts and flip flops and the heart of winter is less than a month away!
What’s next?
Are you going to trick me into believing that if I pray hard enough we might actually have a white Christmas?
Guess what, it ain’t going to happen.
Well, maybe up in Mammoth but not here, that’s for sure.

Leaving the accessories behind feeling foolish and ashamed, I glance over at the women’s section just in time for a pair of pants to catch my attention. I inspect the cargo style little numbers and determine that they are very cute and cargo-ee* indeed.
As I am ruffling through trying to find my size I glance at the hangtag and am a little shocked to find that I am apparently shopping in the Juniors section.
Now I have a moral dilemma.
Is it appropriate for a 27 year old women to be sporting a pair of pants designed for tweens?
I decide to let the pants make that decision and after going up a few sizes (since most ten year olds don’t have hips), I head back to the change room pants in tow.

Needless to say I am the proud new owner of a pair of Mossimo labeled Junior Cargo pants and the love affair with Target continues.

*cargo-ee: to be adorned with numerous pockets, buttons, snaps and other accouterment to schlep any cargo my heart so desires.