Target might have the mainstream market cornered on the whole “go for one thing, leave with a full shopping cart” narrative, but real ones know there’s another store that offers a similar experience—only ten times more eclectic. HomeGoods, brought to you by the same company that owns T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, is essentially a flea market on steroids, minus the secondhand aspect. Customers wander aisle to aisle perusing a random mishmash of bobbles from literally thousands of vendors—a dinosaur shaped dog bed here, a Belgian waffle scented candle there—until they find that one precious item (or, let's be honest, several precious items) to fill those pesky vacant corners of their home. As any HomeGoods devotee will tell you, it’s not so much a shopping experience as it is a treasure hunt, especially since there’s often only one of whatever item you procure. Which obviously makes it much more fun than simply scrolling through Amazon. But words fail to capture the bizarre, yet thrilling HomeGoods phenomenon compared to the video below, posted by Aubrey Gavello. In the hilarious clip, Gavello and her partner basically ask one another if the store might possibly carry some impossibly specific item, only to find out that, lo and behold, HomeGoods does in fact have it. How specific are we talkin’? A snow globe with a small photo of the Golden Girls with the word “squad goals,” a full-sized, half black half white bust of a woman with bubbles on her head and a globe with no countries on it, just an inspirational quote, just to give you an idea. There's even a mannequin with a Christmas tree for a petticoat for the seamstress looking to get into the holiday spirit,”and a “Meowna Lisa” painting for cat lovers who also enjoy art. Truly, there's something for everyone at HomeGoods. @aubreygavelloo Honestly that lanky horse is coming home with us #homegoodsfinds #shopping #holiday #couple ♬ original sound - Aubrey Gavello Of course, HomeGoods aficionados came in quick to defend some of these products. One viewer wrote, “Is it just me or is $9.99 for the Meowna Lisa a steal?” while another demanded “give me that Golden Girls snowglobe right NYOW” Another viewer chimed in to say, “I worked at HomeGoods for 5 years and some stuff we got was so random. Then when you met the person buying it, it just made sense.” Still another wrote, “You don’t go to HomeGoods looking for things. You go to HomeGoods to be found by things. It’s a spiritual journey.” HomeGoods itself (or at least, the official HomeGoods TikTok account) left a comment which read: “sometimes you don’t know what you need until you go to HomeGoods.” @liliannawilde shopping at homegoods be like… maybe we do need gold dusted wooden chickens?? @Sean Kolar #homegoods #homegoodsfinds #couplecomedy #marriage #husbandwife ♬ original sound - Lilianna Wilde @sheawhatnow I cant believe they had everything we were looking for! We ❤️ you @HomeGoods #homegoodsfinds #homegoods #shopwithme #husbandandwifecomedy @Johnny Whitfield ♬ Christmas Is Coming - DM Production @phantom.goats #homegoods #homegoodsfinds #homegoodsthings #shopping #christmas #christmasshopping #trend #trending #funnyvideo #comedyvideo #fyp #foryoupage ♬ original sound - Phantom Goats Thanks to TikTok, highlighting these oh-so random finds is now simply an additional part of HomeGoods culture. Just search “HomeGoods shopping be like” and you’ll find a whole slew of videos just like Gavello’s.And it probably goes without saying, but—while it’s fun to find unique, discounted items, it’s wise to be weary of buying things you don’t actually need. Especially when it comes to super niche holiday items, like the ones featuring in the clip below. @livekindly HomeGoods anti-haul to save you from overconsumption this holiday season! ? Where should we anti-haul next? #overconsumption #antihaul #deinfluencing #homegoods #homegoodsfinds #christmas #christmasdecor ♬ Christmas - JerryJeyy Still, there’s something to be said about the healing retail therapy powers of a good HomeGoods haul. As with all things, there’s a balance to strike. So while maybe you don’t need single use leopard print wrapping paper, that leopard spotted rug you’ll treasure for years to come could be the perfect purchase.

National Geographic released its Pictures of the Year issue, highlighting the 20 best images Nat Geo photographers took in 2024. This year's shots were narrowed down from over 2.3 million photos, 300,000 more than in 2023. They're an eye-opening and thought-provoking glimse into the animal kingdom, various cultures and scientific innovation. “A compendium of the best recent work from National Geographic’s photographers in the field, Pictures of the Year is an annual highlight of our editorial calendar. This year’s selection is timeless and timely,” said Nathan Lump, Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic. “Our 2024 photos are visually captivating, to be sure, but they also bring to life the urgent challenges facing us as well as the ingenuity that’s been sparked in meeting them – from an effort to save rhinos to advances in green technology to adaptations in animal behavior. We hope that these images will stop audiences in their tracks and inspire them to learn more.”Here are some of our favorite photos. Visit National Geographic to see all 20 of 2024's Pictures of the Year. via National Geographic Magazine Cover, Dec. 20241. "A Boom with a View" (Antigua, Guatemala) by Peter FisherFuego Volcano has been erupting continually since 2002. A one-day hike up its dormant twin, Acatenango and across a valley rewards adventurers with a view from Fuego's ridgeline. Eruptions can occur multiple times a day. Fuego Volcano has been erupting since 2002. Photograph by Peter Fisher2. Dining at Dusk (Concan, Texas) by Babak TafreshiFrio Bat Cave in southern Texas is the spring and summer home of approximately 10 million Mexican free-tailed bats. Most nights around sunset, bats fly out in a coordinated stream to feed primarily on moths. “You think maybe it’ll finish in 10 minutes,” Babak Tafreshi says, but their takeoff “continues for two hours.” Frio Bat Cave in southern Texas.Photograph by Babak Tafreshi3. A Hope for Rhinos (Nanyuki, Kenya) by Ami VitaleA scientist holds the 70-day-old fetus of a rhino conceived through in vitro fertilization A scientist holds a rhino fetus.Photograph by Ami Vitale4. Tiny Breakthrough (Konstanz, Germany) by Ingo ArndtIngo Arndt worked with the University of Konstanz to build a nest to observe the breeding behavior of wood ants, typically hidden in forest mounds. Arndt watched female colony workers clean eggs, larvae spin cocoons and hatchlings, like this one, open cocoons with their mandibles before workers helped cut them out. A wood ant hatchling.Photograph by Ingo Arndt5. Shepherding Change (Coceneşti, Romania) by Jasper DoestIntimately familiar with the land his family has worked for a century, Constantin Dăncilă, in a traditional sheepskin coat, has seen significant changes in the environment, prompting him to adapt his farming practices. With less snow in winter to supply streams, grass in the valley has become scarce, so he drives his flock higher into the alpine meadows. A Romanian sheepherder.Phoyogreaph by Jasper Doest6. Taking the Plunge (Atka Bay, Antarctica) by Bertie GregoryA young emperor penguin jumps off a 50-foot cliff for its first swim. The species normally breeds on low-lying sea ice, but some colonies have been found on higher and more permanent ice shelves, behavior likely to become increasingly common with climate change. Left by their parents a month earlier, the chicks must fend for themselves and find food by hunting in the sea. A young emperor penguin in Anarctica takes the plunge.Photograph by Bertie Gregory.7. A Forever Home (Benson, Arizona) by Christie Hemm KlokMacaws are highly social birds that live an average of 40 to 60 years and often exhibit stressed behavior in captivity. This makes them challenging pets, so many end up in the Oasis Sanctuary, which provides permanent care for 800 parrots, including macaws. Here, Janet Trumbule, who runs the refuge, tries to coax them down with walnuts, a favorite food. A bird santuary in ArizonaPhotograph by Christie Hemm KlokFor more on this story, visit NatGeo.com/Photos.