Going to Target alone is not a good idea for anyone, especially me and my wallet. Example? The other day, I walked in with the full intention of buying groceries when I walked out with nothing but a bright green pencil case that says "things" on the front and a pale pink dry erase board calendar that doubles up as a cork board, all from the dollar section of course. You see, the problem isn't me, it's cute stationary. I have been obsessed with stationary and school supplies since at least fifth grade. The end of July through the beginning of September is my favorite time of year because it is school supply season. I may have grown out of waiting for the latest kiddie school supplies, save for the occasional Avengers folder, but I have not grown out of school supply shopping. Nowadays, I see cute planners and notebooks year round at Target, before the start of a new school year is even a thought in my mind. It's gotten to the point where I've made a rule between my boyfriend and I to never let me buy stationary when we're together. So far, it's succeeded. However, when I'm alone, that's when it gets dangerous. I find myself buying stuff I don't need simply because I have the thought in my head that I'll use it eventually for something, and then it just sits in my room for years. If MTV were to do an episode of Cribs solely based in my room, here are some examples of what they would find: an entire drawer of notebooks and journals, stacks of "Wreck This Journal" books and any other activity book by Keri Smith, a trifecta of pens, pencils, and Sharpies (don't get me started on Sharpies), two mini staplers, some folders that have no use, a pencil holder with a ton of highlighters, pens, and a giant pencil that I still have yet to use, and finally, a "stage manager's kit" filled with paper clips, pens, pencils, folders, binders, Post-It notes and flags, all neatly packed away in their respective bins.
I couldn't tell you why stationary is so fascinating for me. It's the smell of getting new school supplies and the fact that having a clean slate of notebook paper to write in is so riveting. Also, getting new Sharpies just to have new Sharpies is always a plus, and colorful pens are a must in my book. Planners are just fun to have because you can have the idea to plan your entire life out while you're standing in the aisle at Target, but once you get home with planner and pen in hand, you realize you have a lot more work cut out for yourself than you originally thought. However, that's never going to stop me from continually buying new supplies, regardless of how many times I tell myself that I'm going to stop buying new stuff this year. There's always next year, right?
