Consign is the Word

So if you're a kid shopaholic like me, you currently have 5 bins of your kid's outgrown last season clothing sitting in your garage. Ok.... maybe you don't. I do, and the funny part, is I actually feel like I'm LOW on stuff in that department. Maybe because it's bigger sizes now, it's less stuff taking up more space? Let's go with that.
Anyway, I discovered quite accidentally two summers ago when I was garage saling for some more great deals on more kid clothes that I didn't need my friend Kelly and her fledgling business Spoiled Little Rascals consignment. She had been selling out of her garage for about a year, and was just about to have her first big public sale. At the time, I was attempting to sell everything on eBay, and was really more interested in shopping for MORE. Also, it was the first retail outlet opportunity for my hair clips.
Two years later, I've gotten some totally killer deals, sold hundreds of hair accessories, and made Thousands (literally) back out of the clothing I have purchased for my kid over the past 3.5 years, with SO much less work than listing on eBay and shipping.
Kelly's business has grown from 20 moms selling stuff out of her garage to 150+ moms selling stuff out of 3 packed gymnasiums at the Eagan Community center over a weekend three times a year. What I love about her sale that sets it apart from some of the others I've since gotten to know, is she's PICKY about what she lets in. Through my many hours of volunteering these sales, I've seen a few cranky consignors over that fact, but the appreciation from the shoppers speaks for itself. They keep coming back, sale after sale, and bringing more and more friends with them to get great deals on great stuff in great shape.
Clothing, shoes, strollers, swings, toys, movies, books..... pretty much everything kid related except car seats (for safety reasons) that are current styles and in excellent condition. No recalled or 10 year old baby gear. No barfed on onesies. No Gymboree outfits from 1995 for $10.

As a shopper, you get thousands of great values for all of your kids, newborn to teen. As a consignor, you get 70-80% of your sales which YOU price to your liking.

Her next sale has been announced for August 20-23rd at the Eagan Community Center. Go register now to sell your outgrown stuff. Volunteer, and get first dibs on all of the amazing deals to be had!!

Oh, my Flash Sales!!

My new addiction has become flash sales. I've been on Gilt Kids for a long time now and have gotten some great deals there, but I have also discovered that there's SO many more out there... OMG my husband would just DIE if he knew... but a deal is a deal, right??



Here's some of my favorites.... I would love to hear about yours.



greenbabybargains 1 eco-friendly bargain a day 50% off or more. They also have a points system where you earn points with all of your orders, that eventually turn into gift certificates towards more orders.



ecobabybuys 1 eco-friendly bargain a day, typically 40-60% off. Choices are usually pretty limited.



Totsy this one is one of my favorites. It has 4-8 sales going on at once, everything from toys to clothes to accessories, strollers.... up to 70% off retail prices. Eco-friendly, lots of super high end boutique brands.



BabySteals is another good one. Their sale is typicall 40-70% off retail, on items that are HIGH DEMAND brands. Not just random cute stuff you've never heard of. I scored a new style organic ergobaby carrier for less than I could get an old style used one for on Craig's List.



KidSteals is the big brother/sister to baby steals. Features products for your older kids.

MiniSocial is a fun site for more mod, unique and handmade clothing for infants and kids. Several sales at a time.

Zulily is another favorite of mine. Several sales at once, diverse selection of goods from diaper bags to exercise equipment for moms, to boutique clothing to bottles, maternity, toys.... always a bunch of good stuff.

What are your favorites? Now that I'm addicted, might as well add some more...

One Stop Baby Stuff Shop

Now that I'm again on the prowl for everything baby (having kept NOTHING from when L was little) I stumbled across my new favorite, FAVORITE website diapers.com which has so much more than diapers.
I had a revelation that I would like to attempt to cloth diaper this time around even though hubby is adamantly refusing to do so... Since he changed about 3% of L's diapers, I'm not too deterred by his threat but I decided to try and meet him in the middle, and I'm going to go with the gdiapers that have the option of doing cloth OR flushable/disposable inserts. I figure that will be good for him, or just for us being on the go. Anyway, I found diapers.com as I was hunting for discounted (yet not used) gpants which is insanely hard to do - they're practically still full price with someone else's poop stains in them! YIKES!! But they were having a decent sale on the starter pack here, so I bought them!
While there, I surfed around and discovered that while they sell all types of diapers (and accept mfg coupons too!!!) at competitive prices, they sell pretty much everything else baby related from strollers and car seats to formula, baby food, shampoos, clothing, even nursery furniture - not to mention a healthy stock of organics from foods to clothing and bedding. And all orders of $50 or more ship FREE and you get it within 2 business days.
Customer service just seem to be such a rarity these days, and everything this company has shown me so far has been awesome. Good deals, discounts on purchases, the customer comes first. Five stars from this momma.
Here's a nice deal for you - enter code NUFRIEND15 and enjoy $10 off your first order of $49 or more including disposable diapers (or disposable inserts). This is in addition to any sale prices or mfg coupons you send in. Of course this also gets you FREE SHIPPING, AND $5 off your second order. Good through 2010. Give them a try!
Wish I'd found them when L was little....

Nursing Moms, Grab one quick!!

I don't know how long this deal is good for, but it's too good to pass up if you're nursing, or soon to become nursing. Udder Covers nursing covers are available for basically the cost of shipping. Any available print. Regularly $32 for a cover and $37 for a gift set of a cover, nursing bracelet and nursing pads, get a $32 discount at checkout and pay just $9.95 for shipping.

Great gift for someone who is expecting, too. You may purchase multiple covers at this price, but you must do each in a separate transaction. Enter code BABIES in the checkout.

Double Stroller Mania

So since I'm a whole like, 9 minutes pregnant, laying in bed dying and obviously having a SECOND kid now... I've been spending about 5 hours a day/night surfing the net studying DOUBLE strollers since my 3.5 year old has shown no interest in walking anywhere on her own. I'm still LOVING my BOB Revolution, but obviously both aren't fitting into that. I'm annoyed at Bugaboo for not even attempting to come out with something for two (don't moms in Manhattan have multiple children ever?) But I also expect she'll be done using one within 6 months or so of baby coming.
So... I think maybe the Phil & Ted strollers might be a good idea. Of course I go straight to the Vibe because it looks cooler, and has some sleeker functions than their other models. However, my kid already being 42 inches tall, she's WAY too big for the seat, let alone the little jump seat down below. I've also heard that the kid staying in the stroller the most has to be in the main seat or it tips... yuck. Who between a skippy 4 year old and a crying 6 month old will be in the stroller more???
I pretty much have run into the problem of L's height with every stroller I look at. And since she has ample room in her BOB, I'm going with another one. The Double BOB Revolution. No, I still won't be jogging. But it will be the right size, will accomodate the car seat, isn't a ton heavier than the single even though it's a lot wider, and seems bulkier. It's just as easy to push, has the same great coverage with the hood, and the great cupholders both on the console and inside the seats for the kiddos. Storage basket is larger, but still difficult to get into.
I have a feeling that even without #2 being here yet, we'll get lots of use out of it this summer with L and her buddies. Everyone always is fighting over sitting in her stroller at the zoo and the mall.

Stamped Custom Jewelry

A custom piece Jen did for a friend of mine

A lot of people have asked me where I got my stamped 'Lillian' necklace that I wear (when my chain isn't broken). The original charm I got was purchased at Oh Baby! where I used to work, and yes, it cost $400 from Heather Moore Jewelry.

However, being the etsy savvy shopper that I am, I found an amazing metal worker who was doing something similar, and she was able to duplicate almost identical for me the stuff I had done for SO much less it's not even funny. She has come up with some gorgeous designs of her own since, and she really takes pride in her work. I have been getting stuff from her for almost two years now, and have never heard anything but good from people who have gotten her stuff.

Jen's shoppable site is at http://www.jenerijewelry.etsy.com/ and she is happy to do custom creations, and turns them around really quick. Great gift idea for any mom or grandma.

All I want for Christmas....

So the only thing my kid will play with these days comes in a little plastic tub at the dollar store. We call it goop. Some call it glurp. Some call it putty or alien slime. It is ugly, cold, clammy, sticky goo that for some reason fascinates my kid to no end. I go to the dollar store and buy cases of the stuff, so I can go home, and whip one out whenever I need like, 4 hours to get something done.

I'm all about imaginitive play, so bring it on. She sits there and pours it over her princess dolls, wraps it around her doll house babies like a blanket, and wraps it around her plastic wonder pets like capes. Oh, and lets not forget how amusing it is to pour it all over the table, and enjoy stuffing it back into the bottle and listen to the sick fart noises it bestows. As long as it stays off my carpet... it's the best investment around.

Who needs toys all over their house?