I swore off shopping during my pre-op. I was losing weight pretty quickly (down almost 50 lbs in 3 months) and knew it would just be a waste of money to buy any new clothes. So when the Lilly Pulitzer for Target collection launched, I didn't even wanna look at it because I knew I would shop. Well...that turned out not to even be an issue because before I even woke up that morning, the Target website had crashed and most stores looked like a tornado had come through and picked up all of the Lilly items. So I moved on with my life LOL

I went to Target today for cleaning supplies, face wash, and a trash can. That was all. Of course, I had a Cartwheel for 15% off one of their brands of women's apparel, so I thought whats the harm in taking a look? Maybe I'll find a nice maxi dress to transition around in. I walk by the women's section and see a very familiar print of white and green. Could it be? No...there's no way...is that...that's a piece of Lilly Pulitzer for Target. I'd recognize that cheery print anywhere. It's a jumpsuit I had coveted when sneak peeks of the line started showing up online. I picked it up and found no flaws or marks or tears in it...how could this possibly be here?! I check the tag and it's a standard XL. Well, I usually need an XXL at Target, and that's not always a good fit. I usually have to go to their plus section and I almost never find anything. This item is not stretchy. And it has a zipper. At this moment, I am terrified. Me and zippers don't have a pleasant history.

I take it to the fitting room, hang it up and examine it again. If it doesn't fit AND has a tear, then i'll feel better because I don't want a torn item anyway. There's not a single mark or tear. Suck it up Ashlee. Try it on. I put one leg in...I put the other leg in...I pull it up and it actually passes my hips. I take a deep breath (actually I sucked it in is what I did LOL) and pull it up the rest of the way. So far so good. But does it zip?? I reach behind me the best I can and pull up that tiny white zipper. And it stops. OMG. I KNEW IT. IT DOESN'T FIT. I turn around to see where i've stopped and lo and behold...i've zipped it all the way up. This thing fits. And not only does it fit, it fits damn good! It's a wee bit snug at my chest, which tells me I've got a little room to make so I can wear this thing out properly. Even though I've sworn off shopping, I absolutely cannot walk away without this item.

According to the girl working the fitting room, a woman had returned the item last night and since they no longer have any of the collection in stock, there's no where to properly hang it. So it was mixed in with "similar" colored items. I wasn't even gonna go to this particular Target today, but I didn't feel like going to my usual Target closer to home. So if I had to analyze it, I'd say that the good lord above compelled that woman to return that jumpsuit and then led me to that store on purpose so that I could find it and realize that I have shrunk my way down to standard sizes!

In the words of Ice Cube...today was a good day.

PS if you read that whole story, you're my hero. Sometimes I feel like storytelling.

I know the common advice they give you is to wait until after you bottomed out before buying clothes. But that is not always true. As I was losing weight, I would buy something that was so tight that if I took a deep breath, it would break apart at the seams. But a week later, it would fit like a glove. It was a great motivator. Ahhhhhh, what do they call it? NSV (non scale victory).

I had some jeans I bought in the wrong size 2 years ago. The store had a no returns policy on sale items so I was stuck with them. I decided to make them goal jeans. In those 2 years I got into them once...for a day. I tried them on yesterday and I'm betting I've probably got many another 10 lbs before I'll have to put them in the "goodbyes" pile. Victory indeed!

@@blashlee, first of all you are a great story teller!

And my that looks adorable on you! Keep up the great work. You look fantastic!

Thanks! Storytelling is my favorite, if only someone lingers around long enough to listen LOL there's never a "short" story. Haha

This. Made. My. Day.

That makes two of us!!

Thanks for the kind words everyone! It feels amazing to be killing it on the loser's bench!

Congratulations. Sounds like you were destined to take home that jumpsuit. Now, I want to see a picture of you wearing it out somewhere fun. You have to show off!

Don't worry I will. I think I might have to take a trip to Palm Springs simply so this outfit gets the attention it truly deserves

Nice! I would LOVE it if you fashionistas would tell me about those target releases. I got in on one of thosr designer releases at Target right after goal and still love those dresses and pair of shoes! I just never hear about them.

Nice! I would LOVE it if you fashionistas would tell me about those target releases. I got in on one of thosr designer releases at Target right after goal and still love those dresses and pair of shoes! I just never hear about them.

I truly only knew about this one from the loud colorful commercials that aired on TV. If you follow @targetstyle on Instagram or Twitter they usually announce the collections. Unfortunately, they sell out pretty quickly. Especially this one. This one, people rampaged Target and bought things in mass to resell them at ridiculous mark ups :-/ this particular jumpsuit was $44 and I've seen it online as high as $100. Crazy.

First CONGRATS on your NSV and that outfit does look great on you!!!!

I only found out about that collection last week while watching a youtube video of someone I subscribe to and she had a few pieces from that collection in it. I fell in love with a tank top and when I went online to ebay to see if they had it I was shocked at how much they were asking for the top. If I knew it would fit the way I like it I would have purchased one, but not knowing how it would fit, there was no way I was spending that kind of money on one top.

Awesome story!!! Made me smile.

I am new here but your story made me so happy! I adore L.P. but only my girls wear it cause I'm still huge!

I just happened to have this on my phone and it fit your story!

This is so awesome! Congrats girl!

You look beautiful!