Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Just Between Friends Sale
I've blogged about the Just Between Friends Sale before see here. Most of you have probably heard of it but for those that haven't it is a children's consignment sale held twice a year at different locations all across the country. The one I attend is where it all started and as I understand is the motherload as far as the size and amount of goods at each sale. The building it's held in is 58,000 sf of space and has over 1,500 consignors with an estimated 200,000 items. It's HUGE!!!
This year was my first year to consign and I am officially hooked!!! Consignors set their own prices for their items and make 65% of the sale of each item. If you volunteer you can make an additional 5% for a total of 70% on your sold items. Which I did this year also for the first time. I only had to volunteer for a 5 hour shift and I received the additional 5%, I got to shop early (which is HUGE) and I also received a skip the line pass for checkout (I didn't even realize how amazing this benefit was until the day of and when I was finally ready to check out and the line was at least 1 1/2 long).
I had 140 pieces that I put into the sale to be sold and I sold all but 9 items. I haven't received my check yet (it's mailed to you within two weeks of the sale) but I made approximately $400!!! Isn't that AMAZING!!! It is relatively simple to prepare your items and they have an online barcode tagging system that makes it very easy. I had a lot to prepare this time because it was my first time and I was doing 3 years worth of clothing. This fall I will have a lot also since I was only able to put clothing for the spring and summer seasons into this sale. But after I consign in the fall/winter sale this year I will have a lot less each time to have to prepare and sell which will be less time consuming. I have already got my bins ready to go and labeled for my fall/winter items. And after the new baby outgrows all of our large baby items, such as strollers, carseats, bouncers, toys I will consign all of those items as well.
This year I was on a mission to buy all of Jackson's spring/summer wardrobe during my shopping trip and also to maybe get a few things for the new baby. I scored big time on Jackson and I also got a book I was wanting to read for the new baby, breast milk storage container, Medela unopened microwave bag sterilizers and a few outfits for the new baby. Here is my haul in the picture below minus the two pair of shoes I got for Jackson and the two new Duo Maternity nursing bras I bought (I forgot to include in picture).
I spent $220.83 on all of it! MAJOR SCORE!!! I would have easily spent double that if I had purchased all of this at retail shops. Some of the clothing items for Jackson and Kate still had the original tags on them and were brand new. The two pair of shoes I got for Jackson were both brand new and would have retailed for at least $50 for just those two items, I paid $11 for both. The milk storage container I bought was only $4 and it looked brand new and it retails for around $20. All the clothes were name brand with the exception of a few Target and Walmart brand play shorts I bought for Jackson that looked brand new. In total for Jackson I got 4 pairs of play shorts, 5 play shirts, 6 pairs of khaki and navy shorts (Gymboree, GAP, Old Navy and Polo), 13 Polo type shirts (8 were GAP, the rest were Old Navy, Children's Place, Polo), and two pair of shoes (Keds sneakers and Kenneth Cole leather flip flops). Most of the items for Kate were Carter's, GAP, Old Navy and a few brand new outfits from Target. Also got a swaddle wrap and the cutest Gymboree bathing suit for her.
I encourage all of you to check out a sale near you. I know that not all of the sales are as large as the one I attend but it would totally be worth your time to check it out. And if you have lots of baby and children's clothing laying around you are wanting to get rid of I would strongly encourage you to think about consigning. You make wayyyyy more money at the JBF sale than you would selling in a garage sale or taking to a consignment store. And if your interested in volunteering, it's totally worth it for the shop early pass (which you also get to do if you just consign, but if you volunteer you get in before all the consignors do) and the skip the line pass. If i hadn't had the skip the line pass this year I don't know if I would have been able to stand for another 1 1/2 in that line because this pregnant momma had literally shopped till I about dropped.
This year was my first year to consign and I am officially hooked!!! Consignors set their own prices for their items and make 65% of the sale of each item. If you volunteer you can make an additional 5% for a total of 70% on your sold items. Which I did this year also for the first time. I only had to volunteer for a 5 hour shift and I received the additional 5%, I got to shop early (which is HUGE) and I also received a skip the line pass for checkout (I didn't even realize how amazing this benefit was until the day of and when I was finally ready to check out and the line was at least 1 1/2 long).
I had 140 pieces that I put into the sale to be sold and I sold all but 9 items. I haven't received my check yet (it's mailed to you within two weeks of the sale) but I made approximately $400!!! Isn't that AMAZING!!! It is relatively simple to prepare your items and they have an online barcode tagging system that makes it very easy. I had a lot to prepare this time because it was my first time and I was doing 3 years worth of clothing. This fall I will have a lot also since I was only able to put clothing for the spring and summer seasons into this sale. But after I consign in the fall/winter sale this year I will have a lot less each time to have to prepare and sell which will be less time consuming. I have already got my bins ready to go and labeled for my fall/winter items. And after the new baby outgrows all of our large baby items, such as strollers, carseats, bouncers, toys I will consign all of those items as well.
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| Here are some of the things I had laid out while preparing. |
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| Jackson's items minus two pair of shoes. |
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| All of the items minus the shoes and bras. |
I encourage all of you to check out a sale near you. I know that not all of the sales are as large as the one I attend but it would totally be worth your time to check it out. And if you have lots of baby and children's clothing laying around you are wanting to get rid of I would strongly encourage you to think about consigning. You make wayyyyy more money at the JBF sale than you would selling in a garage sale or taking to a consignment store. And if your interested in volunteering, it's totally worth it for the shop early pass (which you also get to do if you just consign, but if you volunteer you get in before all the consignors do) and the skip the line pass. If i hadn't had the skip the line pass this year I don't know if I would have been able to stand for another 1 1/2 in that line because this pregnant momma had literally shopped till I about dropped.
Friday, March 11, 2011
We have a Name and 4-D Ultrsound Pictures
We recently had a 4-D ultrasound and she was lying face down with her face buried in my side during the first appointment but we did get a few good shots of how flexible she is. Her leg was extended all the way up to her head with her toes touching her forehead. We went back a week later and she still wasn't in the best position for 4D pictures but we did get some. She was also doing her crazy flexible moves again at the second appointment which also made it difficult to get great shots. I included a few below.
We have decided on a name for our future little girl and we are all agreed and settled on it...FINALLY! Her name will be Kate Reese. I love it! We were going to use Catherine and call her Cate for short but I really didn't want her to always have to sign things with her legal name and correct teachers on the first day of school and those kinds of things since we would always be calling her Cate. Catherine is also my husbands grandma's name and we loved the idea of honoring her because she is amazing but overall Cate won out. Then the problem was determining how to spell her name. With a C or a K. I liked it with a C because then it would be like my name but I was pretty much the only one so we ultimately went with Kate. Kate is also very special to me because I never really wanted children until my best friend, who is more like a sister to me than just a best friend, gave birth to her daughter back in 2001. The bond I formed with her was amazing and I couldn't imagine how much love I could possibly have for my own child if i felt so much for this child that wasn't even mine. I eventually changed my mind about having children and always knew I wanted to include some part of her name in my future daughters name. So, I am! She is now 9 and she thinks its the coolest thing ever that her Auntie is naming the baby after her. :)
We have decided on a name for our future little girl and we are all agreed and settled on it...FINALLY! Her name will be Kate Reese. I love it! We were going to use Catherine and call her Cate for short but I really didn't want her to always have to sign things with her legal name and correct teachers on the first day of school and those kinds of things since we would always be calling her Cate. Catherine is also my husbands grandma's name and we loved the idea of honoring her because she is amazing but overall Cate won out. Then the problem was determining how to spell her name. With a C or a K. I liked it with a C because then it would be like my name but I was pretty much the only one so we ultimately went with Kate. Kate is also very special to me because I never really wanted children until my best friend, who is more like a sister to me than just a best friend, gave birth to her daughter back in 2001. The bond I formed with her was amazing and I couldn't imagine how much love I could possibly have for my own child if i felt so much for this child that wasn't even mine. I eventually changed my mind about having children and always knew I wanted to include some part of her name in my future daughters name. So, I am! She is now 9 and she thinks its the coolest thing ever that her Auntie is naming the baby after her. :)
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Pregnancy Progress Report-30 Weeks!
How far along: 30 weeks, 70 days to go
Baby's size: About the size of a head of Cabbage (BabyCenter); 15.7 inches long and weighs approx 3 pounds
Symptoms: Still very out of breath, some cramping, pelvic pain-but mainly at night and first thing in morning.Very uncomfortable.
Sleep: Still the same as last time: Up every 2 hours to pee and uncomfortable because of pelvic pain so not a lot of sleeping going on. (Note the dark circles in the photo below)
Total Weight Gain: A total of 44 pounds at my 28 week appointment but I lost 1 pound today at my 30 week appointment. So far the increase at each appointment has gone like this...+6 lbs, +4lbs, +9lbs, +10lbs, +14, -1.Hopefully I will not continue to gain much weight from this point on, only the weight the baby is putting on. =)
Maternity clothes: Only maternity clothes. Hated full panel pants and jeans with 1st pregnancy but those are the only kind I can stand to wear this time. The others cut off my belly too much and are really uncomfortable. Love my long tunic shirts.
Best moment this since last update: Jackson was finally able to feel the baby move. He said, "Is that baby Tate?" Which is what he calls her instead of Kate. So cute!
Movement:All the time,very strong kicks, rolls and jabs! She loves my right side and likes to get up high in my ribs just like Jackson used to do. She is very flexible, we had a 4-D ultrasound and she had her leg extended all the way up and her toes were touching her head. Was doing this at two separate appointments. So, we didn't get the greatest images of her face in 4-D.
Food cravings: Last few days it's been sandwiches, raspberry sherbet, and dill pickle flavored chips.
Gender: GIRL....GIRL...GIRL....I'm still so excited about this and can't wait!
Labor signs: Braxton Hicks daily, especially in the evenings.
What I miss:Being able to be comfortable doing simple things like sleeping, bending over, getting dressed, putting on socks and shoes.
What I'm looking forward to:HAVING THIS BABY!!! Also, on a smaller scale, warmer weather so I can start wearing flip flops that are easier to get on and off.
Weekly Wisdom (aka what I learned this week): Flat slip on shoes are a god send for pregnant women. Multiple pillows are a necessity. Drinking lots of water helps many things.
Milestones: Passing my Gestational Diabetes test and entering my third and final trimester.
Emotions:All over the place. We have many things going on right now that could possibly mean big changes coming for our family and a lot of unanswered questions which causes stress so I've been a little crazy lately.
Photo of the week:
Baby's size: About the size of a head of Cabbage (BabyCenter); 15.7 inches long and weighs approx 3 pounds
Symptoms: Still very out of breath, some cramping, pelvic pain-but mainly at night and first thing in morning.Very uncomfortable.
Sleep: Still the same as last time: Up every 2 hours to pee and uncomfortable because of pelvic pain so not a lot of sleeping going on. (Note the dark circles in the photo below)
Total Weight Gain: A total of 44 pounds at my 28 week appointment but I lost 1 pound today at my 30 week appointment. So far the increase at each appointment has gone like this...+6 lbs, +4lbs, +9lbs, +10lbs, +14, -1.Hopefully I will not continue to gain much weight from this point on, only the weight the baby is putting on. =)
Maternity clothes: Only maternity clothes. Hated full panel pants and jeans with 1st pregnancy but those are the only kind I can stand to wear this time. The others cut off my belly too much and are really uncomfortable. Love my long tunic shirts.
Best moment this since last update: Jackson was finally able to feel the baby move. He said, "Is that baby Tate?" Which is what he calls her instead of Kate. So cute!
Movement:All the time,very strong kicks, rolls and jabs! She loves my right side and likes to get up high in my ribs just like Jackson used to do. She is very flexible, we had a 4-D ultrasound and she had her leg extended all the way up and her toes were touching her head. Was doing this at two separate appointments. So, we didn't get the greatest images of her face in 4-D.
Food cravings: Last few days it's been sandwiches, raspberry sherbet, and dill pickle flavored chips.
Gender: GIRL....GIRL...GIRL....I'm still so excited about this and can't wait!
Labor signs: Braxton Hicks daily, especially in the evenings.
What I miss:Being able to be comfortable doing simple things like sleeping, bending over, getting dressed, putting on socks and shoes.
What I'm looking forward to:HAVING THIS BABY!!! Also, on a smaller scale, warmer weather so I can start wearing flip flops that are easier to get on and off.
Weekly Wisdom (aka what I learned this week): Flat slip on shoes are a god send for pregnant women. Multiple pillows are a necessity. Drinking lots of water helps many things.
Milestones: Passing my Gestational Diabetes test and entering my third and final trimester.
Emotions:All over the place. We have many things going on right now that could possibly mean big changes coming for our family and a lot of unanswered questions which causes stress so I've been a little crazy lately.
Photo of the week:
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