When reality exceeds expectations

This year I have made a big effort to get the children quality and/or handmade toys, made of natural materials, not made in China. This meant that I would be paying more. Given our narrow budget, I would have to be very selective and find just one or two very special items for each of them. I read through catalogs, clicked through the internet. I obsessed over choices. Now these special items are arriving in lovely plain brown boxes. Inside are true treasures. I am so delighted and pleased with the beauty and feel (if that makes any sense) of the things I picked. So much so that when I had to go into Target yesterday I felt completely overwhelmed, almost smothered by the garish display of plastic and junk.