The Five Year Spouse?

Here at the Pretty, I've confessed my tendency to think in five-year terms.  This odious, rare Type A tendency of mine usually rears its ugly head in the context of achieving those mythical Life Resume Goals, such as going to law school -  "What's the next goal?" I start to wonder, furiously trying to anticipate the future.  "Shouldn't I be out, um, achieving something?"

It shouldn't have surprised me, then, when I recently did the math on how long the Anonymous Husband and I have been together, dating years included, and had a Moment when I realized we are approaching year 5.  I hasten to add - I'm hastening so quickly, I risk injury to my glorious summer handbag here - that this doesn't mean that I am at all unhappy about this.  Quite the contrary - to have found someone willing to put up with my nonsense for five years and beyond, particularly this AH someone, is nothing but a happy, happy blessing.  I mean, I am good looking and all, but even then . . .

As something of a serial monogamist, I've come close to this five year mark before in a dating context.  Those being in non-marital situations, of course, year 5 was anticipated in slightly differently manner; I'm relieved that this milestone with my actual spouse hasn't been sprinkled with that formerly delightful seasoning of subterfuge and passive-aggressive attempts to get the other one to do the breaking up.

Ecstatic as I am about the State of My Union, I can't help but wonder - what changes lay around this mysterious Year 5 corner? I'm mature enough to know - stop laughing - that people do change, even in (especially?) in the context of a marriage, but my mind keeps spinning off in various directions about this.  For example:

What if he suddenly decides to drop out of life and start wearing appalling Christian Audigier tees while dating the 23-year-old daughter of my (future) plastic surgeon?*

*As much I'm trying not to fan the "Plus 8" fires, I mean . . . I mean . . . really?

What if I suddenly decide to drop out of life and start wearing appalling Christian Audigier tees while dating the daughter of my (future) plastic surgeon?

The best that any of us can hope for is to continue to change in the same direction as our spouse, right?  AH, I promise to keep this in mind as we approach the 5-year mark and lay off the "What next?" thinking - so long as you vow never to don the tragic, pre-mid-life-crisis t-shirts, that is.

. . . In Which I Embrace My Shallow Self and Talk Target

For the past 48 hours, I've labored under some mysterious notion that the next post I brought you needed to be DEEPLY IMPORTANT and TREMENDOUSLY MEANINGFUL and CAPS-LOCKY. I say "mysterious" because I certainly haven't written anything like that before, so it's curious why this instinct struck now, but not to worry . . . I've cued up the appropriately self-important, angsty music a la junior high (think George MichaelPearl Jam and Richard Marx* Wagner) and sulked on the couch long enough now that I'm over it.
*Children of the 80s, like you didn't love him & his magnificent mane too? Please.

Hence I'm afraid you're stuck here with me talking new collections at Target shopping, based on a few daily recent visits. I wish it hadn't come to this, but this is all coming from the girl who had to Google "ZOMG"** today, so my quota of useful knowlege for the day is shot. Let's just agree that a smidge of budget shopping is useful for all of us in these times, shall we? Unless you'd like me to wax on about These Challenging Times in serious and stern ways? Anyone??
**I include the link here for my partners in the perpetually lame. You're welcome! I'm so old!

So from the DEEPLY IMPORTANT and TREMENDOUSLY MEANINGFUL Thakoon collection at Target, I bring you the apple of my coat-adoring eye:

(Credit: Target)

For once - hello, Target, PLEASE improve your web photos - this coat actually looks like this in real life. Gorgeous, vibrant pattern that is floral enough for spring, yet the colors are winter appropriate. I'd love it a bit more if it had a belt to cinch in the waist, but at $44.99, it shall be mine. One more note: it's a roomy fit, so you may need to size down as I did.

(Credit: Target)

Love the batik-y print and pockets - let's pause for a salute to the skirt pocket trend, by the way - but the colors and cut are classic enough to pull off in a traditional setting.

And from the equally ANGSTY Hayden-Harnett handbag collection:

(Credit: Target)

I can't explain the odd glass logo hardware you see on the left - perhaps it's a spare, extremely large monocle? - but I love the stud and chain detail otherwise. Very Jordan Catalano-worthy, so long as we're on the angsty self-importance track tonight, and nicely lined and put together in person.

(Credit: Target)

Again, I can't explain the looking glass thingy to you, but I'm convinced that it is DEEPLY IMPORTANT. Plus, from my inspection you can just remove it. This is a nice neutral bag for daytime totage purposes.

Anything else I've missed? Any other questions for me of Earth-shattering significance?