#LillyLied... Lusting for #LillyForTarget and going CROSS COUNTRY for it!

Before I moved to Florida, I had never heard of Lilly Pulitzer. I learned of her fashion legacy when I was assigned to do this report for WPTV when she passed away at the age of 81. She was a style icon, and to me, her clothing represented sunshine and happiness. As soon as I got a look at her styles, I immediately fell in love!

Since I try to keep my spending under control, I have never purchased my own "Lilly" (her iconic shift dress). My best friend Rikki generously gave me a "Lilly" for a gift last year, and I freaked out and am so grateful... but the likelihood of me ever getting my own was pretty slim.

My one and only Lilly...

Until Target announced a collaboration with Lilly Pulitzer, and I realized this was IT! A once-in-a-lifetime chance to get AFFORDABLE LILLY! I spent the weeks leading up to today's launch studying up on the Lookbook, trying to figure out what I wanted, making my list and checking it twice...

So I showed up at the Royal Palm Beach Target at 7:50 a.m. this morning. Granted, I have a friend who woke up at 3:30 a.m. so obviously I wasn't as committed as she was... but I was still shocked to see the line wrap around the building.

Then once I was inside, I quickly realized it was an #EpicFail for Target, since only the first dozen or so shoppers lucked out. They greedily grabbed EVERYTHING they could, piling their shopping carts high (byotches!). They wiped out the stock within minutes. Literally, five minutes. I know the website crashed overnight... it was just a HOT MESS.

One lady was super-rude, and was flaunting her finds in front of everyone. Then she was loud and abrasive, trying to trade the stuff she had. "I'm trying to trade, I'm ONLY trying to trade items!" is what she was shouting. Ok, we get it! You grabbed everything and left all the other customers hanging and now you're walking around still trying to work the system! Greedy guts.

So I grabbed a nail polish just to say I got something...

...then as I was checking out, I changed my mind because I realized I was too frustrated and disappointed, since I really wanted a DRESS! I will admit, though, that the woman behind me snatched it from me when I told her I didn't want it any more. That's how the shopping experience at Target truly was, so Black Friday-ish!

This is what I Instagrammed and tagged Target and Lilly Pulitzer

Very disappointed customer!

But then my brain started working in overtime... I realized I have family and friends across the country! I started working the phone and texting people, trying to be all casual with it, like, "Oh, hey, do you happen to live near a Target?" The amount of confused responses I got reminded me that the majority of people don't care so much about this particular designer brand, LOL! My Florida girls would know EXACTLY why I asked that question! ;) 

So my awesome friend Carolyn said she would swing by her Target in Virginia, and she Facetimed with me about what they had. She picked me up the Boom Boom print satin jumpsuit-- which I love, because it has pockets!

I even texted my cousin Rob in San Francisco because he actually is a manager at a Target-- but unfortunately it was his day off. I was also randomly texting my Louisiana friends, too! So if you got a text from me asking about Target, now you know why. 

When I spoke with Rikki about our disappointed experiences, she mentioned, "I feel like the only state that would not sell out would be Alaska." I said, "Hey-- I have family in Alaska!" I started texting my cousin and aunt in Alaska!!! HA! I was seriously trying hard!!! My aunt even said she'll stop by her nearest store in Wasilla tomorrow to see if anything is left... but of course I called that store and it's wiped out, too.

Ria, my friend from high school (representing the G/T clique), commented on my Facebook video of the morning shopping madness that she would be happy to go to her Arkansas Target to get me some goods. I was excited-- until I called that Target, and of course they were wiped out. She was shocked, but at that point, I was not surprised.

Then, Jeni, a Louisiana friend that used to work with me at KTVE, messaged me that she was actually at Target and looking at Lilly stuff! She was awesome, going around the entire store and sending me photos-- she finally GOT ME THIS DRESS!

THANK YOU, JENI!!! Yaaaaaaay

Believe it or not, I actually told her not to get it at first because I wasn't sure if I wanted orange. I wore a lot of orange last fall, so I wasn't exactly feeling it when I first saw the dress (although obviously I should have snatched it anyway since it was the last dress and just happened to be my size). But what made me fall in love with it is that I realized that it has GIRAFFES on it! Hello, I work at a zoo! That is absolutely perfect for me.

So although I had to work the phone cross-country to get my Lilly, I'm very happy. Having said that, I just want to have a moment of sympathy for the people who really, really, really wanted Lilly as badly as I did... *SAD*

Now you know what I had to go through to get this stuff, so if you ever see me wearing it, definitely holla. :) Thanks for reading my story!

My friend bought me a Lilly!

Although I agree that "it is more blessed to give than receive," it's undeniable that getting a gift can feel great. That was proven to me today, when I was over the moon for a super-thoughtful present from one of the nicest people ever.

MY BEST FRIEND RIKKI BOUGHT ME MY FIRST-EVER LILLY DRESS!

Here is my reaction face, after immediately putting it on... I literally could not even wait to go upstairs to try it!

Now Mogwai's Lilly collar can match at least ONE of my outfits! He fully approves. Too bad he sat on the dress and I had to shoo him off. "Don't you dare get dog hair on the Lilly! No treats for you if you do!"

Rikki Klaus is a friend I count myself lucky to have, who has been a great role model for me with her kind spirit and positive attitude, even when she faces adversity. I'm proud of her -- I literally just wrote then deleted an entire paragraph about how amazing of a person she is, and this post is supposed to be about her gift instead of her resume, LOL. Although I do want to mention that she is currently reporting and even anchoring in a top 20 news market... I just have to leave that in. 'Cuz that's a big deal, y'all. :) 

And WHAT a gift she blessed me with! As much as I love Lilly Pulitzer style, I have never purchased a "Lilly" (iconic shift dress) because I just couldn't justify the cost. "Children are still starving in the Philippines, so my money would be better spent on them," I would rationalize, despite the secret hankering to wear one of those dresses so I could pretend to be an affluent Palm Beach socialite, just like Lilly Pulitzer herself. 

I could go on and on, but I do want to say that it's not about the actual gift-- though goodness knows it's obvious that I adore it and am super-excited for it. What overwhelmed me was that the extravagant, sweet gesture was so well-thought out. Rikki and I have had many discussions about how much we love Lilly, and she even kindly stopped me from purchasing a yellow Lilly at a gently-used shop because it was too snug ("I'm a size 8! No, really, the 8 fits! Um, I'll breathe later..."). She knows how much I enjoy the designs, but she is also aware that I'm highly unlikely to get my own. So the fact that she got me this present just makes me beyond grateful!

Rikki does everything with flair, even just writing a simple note, and gift-giving is no exception. Last year, I was also so happy because she got me a book I had been admiring, as well as other books that were clearly targeted toward my interests, PLUS a peplum shirt that I still wear to this day. I always tell her how much I like peplums, so she paid attention and remembered that. She obviously puts so much thought and love into her presents, and that can't be measured by a price tag.

I am just glad and grateful that she is my friend, I would never need any gift other than that. But I will admit -- you can expect to see me wearing this dress in some future #LillySelfies. :)