Amanda Krause headshot

I shopped Target’s new Roller Rabbit line. It was chaotic, but now I understand why Gen Alpha loves the pajama brand.

by with No Comment Xpandfy

Saturday morning was cold, rainy, and gray in northern New Jersey. The only place I wanted to be was curled up and cozy with my cat.

Instead, I dragged myself out of bed, drove to Target, and got in line at 7:30 a.m. to shop the retailer’s latest designer collaboration.

Target recently partnered with Roller Rabbit, a lifestyle brand known for its $128 pajamas. If you’re unfamiliar, ask your teen relatives. Gen Z and Gen Alpha are obsessed with its vibrant aesthetic and limited-edition prints.

As a 30-year-old millennial, I only learned about the brand in December when I saw young people flaunting their Roller Rabbit pajamas in holiday gift hauls.

In the name of journalism, though, I embraced the trend and joined fans to shop its Target pieces, which retail between $2 and $250 each, in-store.

The experience was a little chaotic, but also enlightening. I think I finally understand the Roller Rabbit fascination.


Shoppers wait outside a Target store to shop the Roller Rabbit collaboration line.

Shoppers wait outside a Target store in New Jersey to shop the Roller Rabbit collaboration line.

Amanda Krause/Business Insider



The calm before the storm

Despite the cold drizzle, 12 people were waiting in line when I arrived at Target around 7:30 a.m. Within 20 minutes, nearly 30 shoppers (myself included) had gathered.

The crowd mostly included moms shopping for their tweens, a few couples, and a handful of children.

As they talked, it became clear that pajamas would be the hot-ticket item from the collection, which also included swimwear, suitcases, sweatshirts, and more.

“I’m here because I have the real ones, and these are $100 less,” I heard one shopper say.

A Target employee came outside a few minutes before the store opened at 8 a.m. and handed out paper tickets. Each could be used to redeem a free Roller Rabbit shopping bag. I didn’t know there were any freebies available, so this was a nice surprise.


A ticket to redeem a free Roller Rabbit shopping bag at Target.

My ticket to redeem a free Roller Rabbit shopping bag.

Amanda Krause/Business Insider



Slight chaos erupted as Target’s doors opened

When the store opened, some people went straight to the employee handing out free shopping bags, while others rushed to grab the merchandise on their wish lists.

As I approached the small Roller Rabbit section, I heard one mom whisper to her tween: “Run. Go get the pajamas you want.”

There were definitely fewer items available in-store than online. I saw a few racks of clothing, tables covered with accessories, and one cart with extra merchandise.

I was able to snap a single photo before the section was swarmed.


The Roller Rabbit x Target collection.

The Roller Rabbit x Target collection.

Amanda Krause/Business Insider



As expected, pajamas flew off the shelves almost instantly. I saw many people grabbing handfuls and then choosing their sizes.

Their approach seemed to work better than mine. I eyed the rack for a medium and watched sets get snatched up in front of me. In the end, I was only able to grab one pair.

After the pajamas were picked through, customers turned to the line’s other offerings. I saw people grabbing sweatsets, beach towels, and water bottles.

In many cases, I heard people say they were stocking up for friends and family just in case they wanted anything. People seemed to have a “buy now, decide later” mindset.


People shop the Roller Rabbit x Target collection.

The Roller Rabbit section was busy and packed with shoppers.

Amanda Krause/Business Insider



Eventually, I left the crowd and went to Target’s dressing room to try on a few pieces of clothing.

My first impression of the line was positive. I really liked the shape and feel of the $25 terry-cloth pullover, which I could see myself wearing year-round. The $15 boxer shorts were also fun, comfortable, and multi-functional in terms of wear.

I was less impressed by the $45 drop waist midi dress, which I tried on in pink. Numerous stitches were coming apart, the fabric felt cheap, and the sizing was inconsistent. The medium was far too big, and the small didn’t fit either.

Target didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the quality.


Reporter Amanda Krause tries on shorts, a long-sleeve top, and a dress from the Roller Rabbit x Target collection.

I liked the brand’s pullover top and boxer shorts, but I wasn’t a fan of its midi dresses.

Amanda Krause/Business Insider



Then it was time to finally try Roller Rabbit’s famous pajamas.

Personally, I love a matching pajama set, but I’ve never felt the need to spend more than $30 on them. It’s safe to say I wouldn’t likely splurge on regular Roller Rabbit designs, made from 100% pima cotton.

Target’s version of the brand’s PJs cost $25 and are made from 95% cotton and 5% spandex. They fit me perfectly, and I found them to be soft, cozy, and, of course, cute. I loved the little cartoon animals printed across the blue-and-white design.


Reporter Amanda Krause tries on Roller Rabbit pajamas at Target.

I purchased these pajamas and plan on keeping them.

Amanda Krause/Business Insider



Sure enough, I left with three out of the four pieces I tried on — everything except the dress. Admittedly, it was mostly FOMO (the fear of missing out) that led to my purchase.

I knew that if I didn’t buy the items I’d found in my size right then and there, my only option would be to buy them on the resale market for double the price. (Many sets are now listed on eBay for prices of $80 or more.) What if I didn’t buy them and regretted it?

Now that a few days have passed, I know that I’ll likely return the long-sleeve top. It was an impulse purchase that I like, but don’t love.

I will, however, keep the shorts and pajamas. They add fun pops of color to my wardrobe and are pretty high-quality considering the low prices.

So, have I been converted into a Roller Rabbit fan? Sort of.

I can’t say I’d buy any $128 pairs from Roller Rabbit’s website. No matter how soft they are, or how exclusive a print is, I can’t justify the price.

A Target collaboration, though, just makes sense. It’s a more accessible version of the Roller Rabbit brand that appeals to both young shoppers and curious minds like mine.

Nostalgically, the line also brought me back to a millennial version of this fad: Bobby Jack and Paul Frank pajamas at slumber parties.

In our modern world of Sephora tweens and kid influencers, it was refreshing to see young people excited about something as simple as pajamas decorated with cartoon monkeys. We’ve all been there.




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Lauren Crosby

My friend and I hold presentation nights. We get to know each other better, and it helps us understand who we are now.

by with No Comment Xpandfy

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rachel Jones, cohost of the “Is It Normal” podcast. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I was recently introduced to Eloisa by a mutual friend who was certain we’d become fast friends.

That friend was right, because Eloisa and I clicked straight away. We shared similar interests — books and art — and had this chemistry that I can’t quite explain. I knew we’d be best friends.

As we began to get to know each other, both of us keen to “dig deep” and understand each other as fully as possible, we would often say things like, “To understand this part of me, you need some context.”

We started presentation nights

Although we would have liked to jump into each other’s histories, we were limited by time constraints.

I work full-time, volunteer, own a house, participate heavily in church activities, and have family and friends I’m already committed to. Eloisa has a husband and is a full-time student. We’re both very busy people, but we’re keen to connect on a deeper level because neither of us wants coffee-once-a-month friendships.

In your late teens and early 20s, forming friendships is relatively easy, as people often have less responsibility and more time. But the older you get, the harder it can be to form meaningful relationships — because there are only so many hours in a day. And yet, when you meet friends at an older age, there is so much more life to catch up on, just not the time to do it.

I’d seen on social media a trending way to get to know friends as adults — presentation evenings. Each person involved gives a short presentation about themselves, which may include both serious and humorous topics.

Typically, people create slideshows with lots of pictures to accompany whatever is being presented. I’d seen a huge range of topics: what’s my love language, favorite books, favorite memories, teenage years, and the list of ideas for these nights goes on and on.

Excited about the possibility, I asked Eloisa if she’d be up for it, and as I suspected, she couldn’t wait.

We started with our childhoods

For our first presentation night, we decided to kick off our monthly series by sharing stories about our childhoods.

Just the process of preparing my slideshow was precious. I went through dozens of photos of my family, reflecting on the significant changes I experienced as a child, and remembering how fortunate I was to grow up in such a close-knit family with my parents and three siblings.


Friendship presentation

Rachel Jones started presenting about her childhood to her new friend.

Courtesy of Rachel Jones



We planned to present after dinner one evening, both allowing each other to share without interruption.

When I’m typically getting to know a friend just through conversation, both of us are lovingly interrupting each other, interjecting thoughts in response to what the other person has said. But in presenting, you’re quiet when it isn’t your turn, so the listener has a chance to fully absorb what the other person says.

I listened to Eloise speak about her childhood, and I immediately could piece together why she is the way she is because of her history.

When I presented, I methodically talked about my birthday, my parents, my siblings, and how I had lived in several houses in multiple countries.

It was a lighthearted theme, but even so, she now understands why stability is so important to me, and why I tend to crave acceptance from people. A lot of that is down to my childhood.

We are hoping to do these monthly

As a visual learner, I found the presentation night so helpful in remembering the people Eloise spoke about. So now, when she tells me about her sister, I can visualize her sister and recall Eloise’s relationship with her growing up. Facts about Eloise get ingrained in my memory because I’ve had photos and so much context.

I expect that as we hold these presentation nights more frequently — we’re hoping to do them monthly — we’ll get to know each other better, both on a serious and a silly level.

As we continue to be friends, carrying on with these presentations, we’ll understand each other’s triggers more and be able to respond better and give informed advice.

It’s the first time I’ve had presentation nights with a friend, but I suspect I’ll bring in other friends to join us on our evenings. I also think it would be a really helpful thing to do with a boyfriend or partner in the future.

The fact that Eloise wanted to have these presentation nights with me felt like a privilege, because it’s someone who wants to know me and invest in our friendship.

To be known and feel seen is one of the greatest desires we have a humans, and these presentations provide a way to do this in our busy, modern, adulting worlds.




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Santacon London

5 of the most unusual Christmas traditions that non-Americans won’t understand

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SantaCon.

Reuters/Peter Nicholis

  • Every country has its own Christmas traditions.
  • The US is no different, and there are many American traditions that baffle the rest of the world.
  • Hiding a pickle ornament and drinking eggs are some of the most interesting US Christmas traditions.

Christmas is the time for gift-giving, spending time with family, reflecting on the year, and … running around bars dressed up as a drunk Santa?

Like any other nation, the US has its own holiday traditions that might seem confusing to people from other countries.

We’ve chosen five Christmas traditions that are as American as fireworks on the Fourth of July and turkey on Thanksgiving.

Some Americans hide pickle ornaments in Christmas trees, but no one can really agree on how this tradition got its start.
pickle ornament
Pickle ornaments.

Matt McClain for the Washington Post/Getty Images

Many Americans have a pickle ornament for their Christmas tree. Traditionally, the ornament is supposed to be hidden somewhere on the tree, and the first child to find it receives an extra present, but it’s unclear where this tradition started. One website, Why Christmas, points to two potential origin stories.

The first legend goes that two boys were killed by an evil innkeeper, who put their bodies in a pickle barrel, but a passing Saint Nicholas was able to magically revive them.

The other suggests that a German-born soldier in the American Civil War was imprisoned, and begged for one last pickle before he died. A guard took pity on him and gave him a pickle, which miraculously sustained him.

Another theory posits that the pickle ornament got its start in Germany, per The New York Times, though few people there have heard of it. It is more likely that it was a marketing stunt invented by those importing glass decorations from Germany.

Popcorn is another decoration seen on American Christmas trees.
christmas tree popcorn

Marie C Fields/Shutterstock

While Christmas trees as we know them are said to have originated in Germany in the 16th century and brought to German settlements in Pennsylvania, the popcorn garland is an American thing.

As Christmas trees were a relatively new idea, people had to get creative with their décor. Apparently, recently transplanted German Americans favored using fruits and nuts, thus turning to popcorn, which was ubiquitous.

Per The Daily Meal, this practice was originally meant to help feed birds during harsh winters.

However, the rest of the world might have a hard time understanding why everyone’s favorite movie theater snack would appear on a Christmas tree.

Drinking egg yolks is an American tradition that people from other parts of the world just don’t understand.
A glass of eggnog.
Eggnog.

NSC Photography/Shutterstock

According to The Spruce Eats, eggnog has its roots in posset, a punch with ale, raw eggs, and figs, served warm. British monks drank posset all the way back in the 13th century.

It eventually crossed over to America, where it was renamed eggnog. Its first known use dates back to 1775, according to Merriam-Webster.

Eggnog typically consists of egg yolks beaten with sugar, milk, and/or cream and your choice of alcohol. Rum, whiskey, and sherry are all acceptable options.

While eggnog might not seem that strange to Americans — even George Washington had his own recipe — it’s a hard sell to the rest of the world, who might not find drinking eggs appetizing, let alone when mixed with rum.

Getting drunk dressed as Santa is one festivity that’s spread to other parts of the world.
santa con

REUTERS/Seth Wenig

SantaCon’s roots are believed to be in ’70s Danish performance art, according to Vox, but it eventually crossed over to San Francisco in the ’90s, as a protest called Santarchy.

A secret society called the San Francisco Suicide Club was dedicated to pranking the city and generally causing chaos for fun. One of their events, Santarchy, began with members dressing as Santa, sneaking into bars and parties, and inciting mayhem.

Over the years, it became a giant pub crawl. One of the biggest SantaCons takes place in New York City every year, and has been advertised as a charity event.

According to Newsweek, the NYC SantaCon raised over $400,000 in the five years leading up to 2018 by asking participants for donations. The money goes to charities across the city, such City Harvest, The Secret Sandy Claus Project, and The Food Bank for New York City.

Mostly, though, it’s a drunken, debaucherously good time.

Raging bonfires help Santa find his way to homes in Louisiana.
christmas bonfire louisiana
Fireworks explode over a row of fires during the Festival of the Bonfires December 24, 2005 in Lutcher, Louisiana. It is said in Louisiana that the fires from the Cajun tradition help show Santa Claus the way to homes in the area on Christmas Eve.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Christmas bonfires are a Christmas Eve tradition in Louisiana, where tree-shaped bonfires are lit up on the levees that keep the Mississippi River under control.

It’s a Cajun tradition, Cajuns being the descendants of French Canadians driven from French colonies in Canada by the British in the 18th century. The bonfires are said to help Papa Noel (Santa Claus) find his way in the dark.

Hundreds of raging fires up and down the Mississippi River might not be everyone’s idea of an idyllic Christmas Eve.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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