This is a story about Target…which I just found out ships to Ireland.
And my world is complete.
Do you hear angels singing? I’m pretty sure the angels are singing.
Anyway, this isn’t a story about Target.
It is a story about a basket I purchased at Target though.
A basket that the movers CRUSHED in a box along with my hopes and dreams.
Kidding. Hopes and dreams were intact. I just needed to add that for dramatic effect.
I stalked this basket for a good long while at Target. When your daughter’s room is decorated in lavender, gray and navy, you need this basket. However, I’m too cheap to pay $12 for a basket, but when it went on clearance for $8, I was in. I even bought two.
And yes, the movers crushed both of them. Along with my hopes and dreams. Again.
I’m not exactly sure how to describe this basket other than it is woven and plastic. However, it’s not a rigid plastic…it’s flexible. Hence the crushing.
I tried to fix it by ramming a ridiculous number of stuffed animals in the basket. I thought perhaps if I could make it full enough, then the basket might reshape itself – kind of like my stomach after Thanksgiving dinner.
Despite the countless number of stuffed animals that I shoved in the basket – it was like the magician’s hat of baskets – that method did not work.
I tried swearing at it. I gave it the evil eye. I ignored it…for five long months. Nothing was working. I don’t know why.
Finally, I decided to Google the problem. That didn’t help, but now I know what a Bolga basket is.
I texted a friend – way better than Google – and we discussed the merits of applying heat to the basket. What could go wrong? And the fact that my son was wearing 6 pairs of underwear. What could go wrong?
With my iron set to the highest heat setting (hotter is better, right?) and a washcloth for protection, I started ironing the basket – both the inside and the outside.
Hanging the basket over the narrow end of the ironing board helped to get down to the very base of the basket, which was badly crumpled.
It also helps you see how gross my ironing board cover is looking. Someone should wash that thing.
Stop looking at it!
Please heed my advice. You definitely need some sort of cloth between the basket and the ironing board. Otherwise, you will have a crushed and melted basket.
I’m guessing that’s not the look you are going for…unless it is?
After about 30 minutes of steadily ironing the two baskets, I’m fairly certain I developed carpal tunnel syndrome and a thumb injury.
But look at my newly reshaped basket!
It’s not perfect, but it is 1,000 times better!
Also, no sooner did I set the basket down to find my camera did I turn around to see one of my children wearing the basket on his or her head. Of course.
And there was no way I was going to iron the basket again. Carpal tunnel thumbitis is a real thing.
If you are feeling not-so-happy because a flexible, plastic basket you bought on clearance is now misshapen, then please feel free to use this technique to breathe new life into it. You’ll be glad you did. I was!
P.S. My thumb is feeling much better. Thanks for asking.
Thanks for stopping by! If you have any tips I can use, make sure you let me know!
Until then, feel free to keep reading…
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