Consignment Time

It is hard to believe that fall is around the corner and that means that it's consignment season. The amazing Here Wee Grow Again sale begins Saturday, Sept. 26. In addition to providing a great place to shop for children's clothes, toys, and gear, this year's sale features Divine Consign, a consignment sale for women.

While I am very excited to be part of the sale again this season (this will make my third), I am a bit bummed by the timing. The deadline to get all of my items logged in the system is when we will be in Chicago and the sale begins while we are on our beach vacation. On one hand it's good because it has forced me to get started early. On the other hand it's bad because I won't be able to volunteer or participate in the pre-sale for volunteers and consignors. Hmmm...I bet BeanieDaddy would say that's a plus.

I started pulling out JillyBean's stuff this afternoon and am pleasantly surprised by how few things I felt the need to keep. I am getting much better at letting go, though there are still some items I feel the need to keep. I am also very happy that some of her clothes from last year will more than likely still fit this fall. That's why I love buying stuff from Mini Boden. They're sized in a way that she can get a couple of years out of most of the clothes so I don't feel so guilty spending what I spend there (though their sales are really great). Jilly's coveted pink jeans should still fit this year, which is a good thing because I haven't been able to find anything similar.

New Again

I have become a major fan of consignment sales, especially the Here Wee Grow Again sale that started on Saturday. I had every intention to walk away from the place without spending a dime but, well, it didn't happen. What can I say? I'm a sucker for pique sundresses with rick rack trim. Thankfully I did not attend the pre-sale for consignors and volunteers or the damage may have been worse. But I had plenty of time to scan the racks during my volunteer shift on Saturday and was able to fill JillyBean's closet with some super cute dresses. Seriously, I scored some amazing outfits and didn't pay more than 5 bucks for one. So far I have broke even - I made just as much selling my stuff the first day as I spent.

Now I need to get some bloomies for Jilly to wear under the dresses. I came across Avannabel Baby and these cute boomers that will go with one dress:
I'm in love with this site.

Still, probably the best thing to come out of my volunteer time on Saturday was learning where all of the unsold items consignors want to donate are sent. The Clothing Center is an amazing place here in C'ville that helps people are are in need. It provides free clothing for women who are victims of domestic violence and who are seeking assistance from the local shelter. It provides free baby clothing to moms who can't simply pop over to Wal-Mart or any other store to get necessities. And it allows men and women the opportunity to fill a bag with all the clothes they can put in it for only 3 bucks.

Learning about The Clothing Center is exciting for several reasons. For one, I had wanted to work with the local women's shelter to create a career closet for its clients. They don't have the space to do it on site and since they send their clients to the Clothing Center, I am hoping that I can work with organizers and create something there. Also I have been at a loss finding some place to donate my clothes as well as some of Jilly's stuff. I want to make sure that they go to an organization that helps the truly needy in our community and this place is it. I did a major clear-cut of my closet several months ago and the clothes are still in a pile waiting for a place to go. They're on their way tomorrow.

As for the consignment sale, it continues through Thursday so if you're looking for a deal, head on over. The quality of items is awesome.

Spring Deals

This is just a quick post to let you all know that Janie and Jack is having a friends and family sale. You get 25 percent off your entire purchase Friday through Sunday by using the code JJFRIEND. I love their stuff and it holds up well through multiple washes. Believe me, JillyBean got a lot of use out of tops and shorts last summer and they still looked new when I pulled them out for the consignment sale.

Speaking of the consignment sale, our playroom/study is back to normal and no longer resembles a girls' retail shop. I hauled off tons of dresses, shorts, tops, bathing suits, shoes, etc. last night for the spring Here Wee Grow Again sale. If you're a C'ville resident, you must check out this place. The quality of clothes and gear is heads and shoulders above other consignment sales that I've shopped. The workers who "screen" items at drop off are super picky and make sure that all items are in tip-top shape.

The sale begins Saturday and continues through Thursday, except Sunday. It's located at Aldersgate Church at 1500 East Rio Road (behind the mall).

C'ville Photographer

I am getting ready to book a spring portrait session for Jilly to mark the new season as well as a new year year. It kills me that we're not closer to Auntie April, but if I have to hire a "stranger" then I'm happy to say that I found a great one.

Dominique Attaway did some beautiful spring/Easter pictures of JillyBean last year. I think that Jilly has beautiful blue eyes on their own, but Dominique's photos made them look stunning. Seriously, the kid was dead tired but in the photos she looks so angelic. I'd love to post a picture or two from last year's session but I don't have the rights to do so. Jilly used to be on her website but she's been replaced with newer portraits of other adorable children. However, you can see a couple here on her blog (this should take you to one photo and this should take you to the other, but if not, you have to scroll to March 5, 2008 entry toward the bottom; also these aren't the best of the session. i so wish that i could share them with you).

So, if you're looking for a great local photographer for family or event photos, I highly recommend Dominique.

'Tis (Almost) the Season

I have to give a big thanks to Amanda Soule for her wonderful blog Soule Mama. Not only does she provide great ideas for living a back-to-basics life and how to inspire creativity at home with kids, she is responsible for turning me on to two of JillyBean's Christmas gifts.


Jilly loves to color and draw, so when I came across the post about these crayon rocks, I knew that they would make a great stocking stuffer. (this site does not have them available now, but they are available through other sites). They're made of soy wax and tinted with natural mineral powders, so you don't have to worry about washing out your child's mouth if they end up there. They also come in a cute little pouch so it will be somewhat easy to keep up with them over time.

The other gift that comes thanks to SouleMama are these adorable slippers from Satch & Sol. I don't think that I'm going to dress Jilly in footie PJs this year because she gets so dad-gum hot as it is at night. However, it can be a bit chilly in the mornings and she really loves wearing slippers and I thought that these were just too cute.

As for the rest of her Christmas, we're all over the place. I know that she'll get a couple of puzzles and I got her this from Melissa & Doug at Nature's Child here in C'ville. I can't wait for Christmas this year because I know that she'll be so excited to see everything, though I know that she won't really "get" it until maybe next year.

Score!

JillyBean is the new owner of a fabulous convertible. Yes, I got to the sale and bought the little car as well as some new jeans and black dressy shoes. And on top of all that, Jilly has this new table chair set that mom scored for a mere 30-bucks (retails for $95). It's in mint condition and is great for her to sit at and color while Mom takes on more writing assignments. Each day we can come down to our joint office and work togehter.

Consignment Time

Beanie Mom has spent a few hours this weekend helping the organizers of the Here Wee Grow Again consignment sale. Sunday was intake day and, well, it's a good thing that I'm selling things because I saw a lot of ways that it's going to get spent. Seriously, there is a lot of super high quality stuff being sold. Too bad JillyBean isn't a bit older because there was a gorgeous dress that would be perfect for Christmas photos. Actually, the only thing that JB is getting is a couple new pair of jeans (I checked in some great jeans today) and an adorable rain coat that one of the volunteers brought on Saturday. If it's still there, she may also get this Cozy Convertible car to play with outside (one of her buddies has one similar and she LOVES it). The sucker retails for $60 and is marked at the sale for $15 and is in awesome condition. Keep your fingers crossed that it's still there when I go tomorrow. Other than that, all of the money we make goes toward Christmas gifts.

For C'ville moms looking for a great deal, head on over to Aldersgate Methodist Church (off Rio behind the mall). The sale opens to the public on Tuesday and goes through Saturday. Here's more information.

Resale Redux

I have decided not to place items in the Lollipop Shop sale because they require all first time consigners to include a large item, which I don't have. I think that it's better this way because the Here Wee Grow Again sale is going to be great and they dish out a better return - 65 percent. Their proceeds go toward the church's missions.



So, here's my PSA for any and all C'ville moms wanting to make some cash: If you want to get in on the Here Wee Grow Again sale act fast. I was told this afternoon that they already have 96 consigners and are stopping at 125. Not too shabby for a first sale.

The sale dates are Tuesday, October 7, through Saturday, October 11, at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1500 East Rio Road.

Consigners must register through their site to get a number and items may be dropped off Sunday, October 5 or Monday, October 6.

Recycling

The old adage that everything old is new again is never truer than when you're trying to clear out closet space or when you need a good deal. C'ville moms who need to get rid of kiddos' clothes to make room for new stuff, earn a bit of cash, or who are looking for good fall clothing deals are in luck.
The Lollipop Shop opens for business September 13 through September 28. Consignment drop-off days are Tuesday, Sept. 2, through Saturday, Sept. 6, at 127 Seminole Court (the same location as the Spring sale).

This is something that we'll be taking advantage of this year. Getting rid of JB's clothes has been a bit of an emotional ride for me. I have two large crates crammed with clothes sized preemie through 12 months. I have weeded some items out the past several months - donating some items to people I know who really need clothes - and selling a few items online. It's hard to let go of a lot of things because it reminds me of the iddy biddy baby that I used to have. I remember how adorable she looked in certain outfits and I'm not ready to let go. But I'm getting better thanks to the limited space we have in this place.

I recently sent a big batch of Fall clothes to Nana to place in a consignment store near her place since I have yet to find anything around here. I guess that I should have held on to them a bit longer because I'll only get 45 percent of the sales there whereas The Lollipop Shop gives you 55 percent of the sale price.

Then, as luck would have it, I have learned about a new sale that is taking place Oct. 6 through Oct. 11 at Aldersgate united Methodist Church. The Here Wee Grow Again! sale pays out 65 percent of sales. Like the Lollipop Shop, Here Wee Grow Again will take place twice a year - Fall and Spring.
After checking out both sites, Here Wee Grow Again has a super easy tagging process. You simply enter all of the information for the items you plan to sell on their site and then print the tags out all together. With the Lollipop Shop you have to create labels to place on index cards then attach to your items. It might be worth placing items in the Lollipop Shop sale first and whatever doesn't sell can go to Here Wee Grow Again since it's new and may not generate as many customers the first time out of the gate.

Superstar

We were so lucky to find an amazing photographer here. Dominique Attaway shot some photos of JillyBean in the Spring - just before Easter - and we could not have been more pleased with them. I received a card in the mail from her promoting a fall special so I ventured onto her site again and low and behold Miss Bean is on there not once but twice. She's under "little people" and is featured in the 3rd and 21st pictures. Dominique's blog is fun to browse through as well.

Even though those pictures hang on our wall, it's crazy looking at them online. She looks so different now, just five months older.

And while I'm doing photo plugs, check out Beanie Auntie's site. It's sad that we aren't close enough to Nashville to take advantage of April's marvelous work but she has done fabulous photos of JB and we can't wait for more (the photo you see here is one she took of Jilly in April when we celebrated her first birthday). April is about to celebrate her studio's first anniversary and is expecting to offer some exciting opportunities for her clients in Nashville.