A Few Thoughts about Consignment

Trust me, I love a good consignment shop or consignment sale just as much as the next girl, but as this fall consignment season comes to a close, I have some things weighing on my mind.

Choosing a Consignment Shop:

When you are choosing a place to consign your items, there are a few questions you must ask.

1. How long has the shop been in business?

2. When do items go on sale?

(Will the shop run period sales that will cost you to lose a large portion of your earnings?)

3. Do you have the option of picking up any left over items?

These questions are the ones that make or break my decision to sell with a particular shop.

To be honest, most shops fail the test.

I never trust a new shop - unless I personally know the owner. It is dangerous to leave a large amount of items with a shop that has not yet proven themselves trustworthy. Many times, I have seen shops close their doors within a matter a months - as most do not realize how much work running a consignment shop can be. The consignors never receive any money nor are their items returned. "That's not right!", you say. You're right - It's completely unacceptable, but it happens all the time.

Even if a shop is well-established, be sure to ask around and read any available on-line reviews.

If person-after-person has a horror-story, beware!

Before leaving your items with a shop, it is a good idea to browse the store (on multiple occasions), to see what kind of prices they attach to their items. With the percentage they will offer you, are you going to make any more than you would if you were to have a yard sale or sell the items on-line? (I once found brand new Motherhood bathing suits at a Consignment Shop for $10.00 each. Yes, this was a great deal for me - but not a great deal for the person to whom these suits belonged. Are you following me here?) I realize alot of people don't want to deal with having a yard sale or selling items on-line - but if your goal is to make money, you may want to consider another option besides dumping everything at a shop that really is not going to make you all that much dough. If your goal is simply to get rid of your things, there are lots of great charitable organizations that would gladly accept your items.

*If you are from my hometown or my current location, let me know if you'd like some information on great shops in the area.

I worked for one particular shop (in my hometown) that continues to make me money every month.

Kid's Consignment Sales:

While I love attending the biannual kid's consignment sales held in our area, you will not see me leaving these sales with the huge loads of goods I find during the summer yard sale season.

I love observing other moms at these sales! They are wild-eyed desperate hunters in search of bargains, but I can't help but think that oftentimes, they're really not getting that many great deals. They think they are, because yes, the prices they are paying are less than retail; but consignment sales are not the cheapest way to shop. I thought about this alot throughout this past consignment season as it fell on the tail-end of my favorite shopping season.

Throughout the summer, I found yards/garages full of great kid's items for pennies - literally! Just B. Toys for $1.00 each, Janie & Jack coats for $.25 each, Baby Gap & Ralph Lauren Polos for $.50, Baby Boy Nikes/Crocs/Stride Rites - BRAND NEW! in the box for $1.00 each, Melissa & Doug Wooden Puzzles for $.50 each, Scholastic Kid's Books for $.10 each, Kid's Pottery Barn Baskets for $2.00 each, and the list goes on and on and on. It is so worth it for me to get out on a Saturday and scour for truly great deals.

You have to lose the mentality that you can't find great items at yard sales.

Everything I've mentioned above was either new or in perfect condition.

I heard so many moms say, "I'm heading to the consignment sale, because Susie Q. doesn't have a thing to wear this season!" I just can not relate this, and the mindset is boggling to me.  I plan ahead - I buy ahead - and before consignment season arrives, my kiddo is all set with toys, books, and clothes for the next season and beyond. This leaves me feeling a little unimpressed with all of these sales. Yes, I enjoy going. Yes, I find things. Yes, I splurge on items here and there that I "just have to have". Yes, there are deals to be had, but be careful! It's easy to get caught up in the hype of the sale and the competition with other shoppers and leave having spent far more than if you would've just gotten up on a Saturday and attacked browsed a few yard sales.

If Saturday mornings aren't your thing, some yard sales are held on Friday mornings or Friday evenings. Oftentimes, you can also browse seller's items on their Craig's List ad - and most of the time, they'll let you pick items up during the week before the sale even starts that weekend.

My goal is not to burst your bubble! My goal is to help you get the best deals you can possibly find for your family. In short, I buy at yard sales and resell at great consignment shops or on-line. This allows me to actually make money on items that Caleb has already worn/used. (Note: Certain items are being saved for the football team of brothers I would like Caleb to have. *smile*) 

*Don't be afraid to buy lots of different sizes, items for varying stages of development, etc. Currently, Caleb is wearing anything from a 12 months to a 3T depending on the brand, style, etc. I'm so glad I didn't just stick to buying him one certain size for this fall/winter season. In buying ahead, he is - for right now - set with clothes up to a size 5T. Shopping this way will truly save you a ton of money as well as the panic of "not having a thing for your child to wear this fall". Think big picture - I promise you, it works! (This approach works with grocery shopping, too, but that's for another post.)

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like to read
Yard Saling 101: How to Shop at Yard Sales:

There is No Magic Formula to Finding Bargains on Saturday Morning

and How Buying Ahead Saves Us Loads of Money:

Follow "All Kinds of Things" on Instagram

Follow "All Kinds of Things" on Facebook

Follow "All Kinds of Things" on Pinterest

Follow "All Kinds of Things" on Bloglovin'

There's No Place I'd Rather Be than at the Shore

If you are a parent, do you ever look back through pictures from your family vacations and think to yourself, "I must be invisible, because I'm not in ANY of these shots!"? David enjoys taking pictures and is a really creative photographer, but when it comes to capturing our family memories, I am typically the one behind the camera. Therefore, it oftentimes appears that I am either invisible or never on the vacations, present at the holiday/event, etc. You get the idea~ David has heard me - time and time again - ramble on about this. So, while we were on our most recent vacation, he worked hard to make sure he snapped lots of pictures that included "Mommy". Now, when Caleb is older, he will have proof that he and Daddy did not travel alone. Hopefully, David will remember to include me in pictures from here on out - unless I'm wearing a bad outfit, or my hair isn't fixed, or my muffin tops are hanging over my pants...I'll stop now and let you enjoy the pictures!

Setting sail for Daufuskie Island, SC~

In order to get to the island, you must take a ferry - There are no road ways.

We love how secluded the island is!

You will find very few cars on the island. If you want to get around, a golf cart or bicycle is required. Caleb loved helping David navigate. 

This is the view from the balcony of the villa. I have a special place in my heart for this tree. I don't know why I love it so much, but it is absolutely beautiful - the beach directly behind it doesn't hurt! 

Here I am on the island last year - very pregnant and suffering from heartburn!

In spite of all that, I was having a great time - even though the maternity capris I was wearing were so tight I could hardly breathe!

(Why didn't David explain to me that the polka dots did nothing to help my rounded shape?)

  

Caleb loves the ocean breeze!

My two beach bums~

 Out for lunch!

Front Porch Rockin'

I love these toes~

I love this boy~

Swingin' beachfront - All smiles!

Be still my heart...

I love the way Caleb is giggling here~

The sand makes for great walking practice! Notice he has the beach completely to himself.

This is typical and one of the 100,000,045 reasons why we love the island!

"Mom, Puhhhlease quit taking pictures of me! I'm exhausted!"

Did I mention that the island is absolutely gorgeous - so natural and untouched in places?

I have done absolutely nothing to enhance this photo!

I only wish you could have seen this sunset with me in person.

More walking practice...

Sand and sun in October! This is how we roll in the south~

Everytime we leave the ocean, we literally walk down to the shore and say "Goodbye!".

Trust me, it is always a very sad goodbye - I could sink my toes in the sand and never leave

(as long as I had a good book and a glass of lemonade in my hand, of course).

Follow "All Kinds of Things" on Instagram: allkindsofthings

Follow "All Kinds of Things" on Facebook: All Kinds of Things

Follow "All Kinds of Things" on Pinterest: All Kinds of Things

Follow "All Kinds of Things" on Bloglovin': All Kinds of Things

Fall is in the Air (and in the Kitchen)

Ladies and Gentlemen, I can not take credit for any of these recipes, but I feel it is my duty to share them with you. It is important that you have them in your arsenal for this glorious fall season. It would be a shame for you to miss out on the following:

Cinnamon Pancakes (I actually did think of this one - Genius! *wink*):

Literally, all you do is add cinnamon (to taste) to your regular pancake batter. That's it! 

What? You already knew to do this?! Why didn't you tell me?!

We just figured this out, and our life has forever changed for the batter - I mean better.

Pumpkin Spice Muffins:

Required Ingredients: 1 Box of Spice Cake Mix & 1 Can of Libby's Pumpkin

Directions: Mix together; Fill muffin pans w/ mixture; Bake on 350 degrees for approximately 15 minutes. While the muffins are warm, cover them with butter.

(You don't have to tell anyone about that last step. It can be our little secret.)

I feel like it would be an atrocity to provide you with cooking tips without mentioning the Queen of Cooking herself. You know who I'm talking about here people - my hero: The Pioneer Woman! Check out this recipe that I found on her site!

It's for Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes:

Couple these with a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks, and....wait, that might be too rich.

How about a hot chai?

Would now be a good time to admit that I've been cheating on my healthy eating plan?

I will discuss this further at a later date. Today, I am too ashamed~

Growing Together

At the end of this summer, I signed up for a community Bible study that I had planned to commit to for the next several months. Just a few days before the meetings were supposed to begin, I received a phone call that the childcare was full and we were being placed on a waiting list for the fall. This was disappointing news as I had already planned exactly what my Tuesday mornings would look like for September through May. However, I have taken this opportunity to delve into some other things that I've been wanting to do for a long time. Let me introduce you to them...

#1 - Forgotten God by Francis Chan

Have you read his book "Crazy Love? I loved that one, and I was also really challenged by this one. Here are a couple of portions that stood out to me:

Perhaps you don't need fire from heaven, but peace. Perhaps what you need is wisdom to know which decision to make. Or courage to do the right thing, even though you might lose your job. Or maybe you need love because you feel alone. Or you want people with a similar vision to journey with and support you along the way. Whatever you need, the point is that God is aware of you and your circumstances, and He knows what you really need. He is able to bring these things, people, and circumstances into your life.
He wants to do more than "help out" a bit. He wants to completely transform us. He wants to take a timid heart and set it ablaze with strength and courage, so much so that people know something supernatural has taken place - life change just as miraculous as fire coming down from Heaven. He wants to imbue us with His wisdom because He is the 'spirit of wisdom and revelation'. Even as the Spirit works in us to make us more like Christ, to transform us, He is also patient. This work will not be complete until His kingdom comes in full, though this does not deter Him from working now.
No matter where you live and what your days look like, you have the choice each day to depend on yourself, to live safely, and to try to control your life. Or you can live as you were created to live - as a temple of the Holy Spirit of God, as a person dependent on Him, desperate for God the Spirit to show up and make a difference. When you begin living a life chracterized by walking with the Spirit, that is when people will begin to look not to you but to our Father in Heaven and give Him the praise.

#2 - Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far by Amy Grant

This book has been sitting on my shelf for awhile. I have been meaning to read it for a long time, and while it isn't necessarily a Bible Study book, I love some of the stories, Scripture passages, and quotes that she shares. My favorite quote: The ocean is constant and powerful, and like the love of God, whether we're immersed in it, standing on the shore, or a thousand miles away, it remains. These words especially spoke to me, because I read them while staring the ocean right in the face. Don't you just feel so close to the Creator when you're looking at the ocean? What an incredible place to spend time with Him!

#3 - Ruth from The Living Room Series by Kelly Minter

This is a Bible study that I started in January 2011. The icky feelings that go along with the beginning weeks of pregnancy kept me from feeling like attending the final two weeks of this study, and I just this past week got around to completing the lessons in the workbook. Why did I wait so long? What an incredible study!

God drastically changed Ruth's life. Each stage slowly gave way to the next, her faithfulness and loyalty yielding each new promotion and season of life. What an inspiration to keep going knowing that God will give the increase.

How sad it is when people only 'hear' about God's blessing, but never experience it, because they are not in the place where God can bless them...God's providence was all over Ruth's encounters, yet it was her obedience and work that placed her in the way of such providence.

I used to think that my choice to obey in any given situation was a one-time decision, but I now realize that obedience might mean having to make that same choice several times in a week, month, or year.

God is working all around us...even in the seemingly mundane; and we must remember how purposeful He is, how intently He carves our paths, authors each stroke, and weaves our courses in each others' lives.

God's divine hand is active in all my unknowing and confusion, threading together every heartbreak and triumph, never wasting a swatch, working all things together for good in the way that only God can...Times of humbling and hardship prepare us for a wealth of blessing we would have otherwise been unable to handle. God will always be found faithful and good.

What He can do with a willing life surrendered at His feet is more than we can comprehend. I just know I don't want to miss it for whatever I'm clutching in my hands. Lord, help me be willing or willing to be made willing. (I can't get that phrase out of my head!)

Laying down our lives for others, for the sake of Jesus, is never wasted.

I could continue to go on and on sharing great things from this book - including some fun recipes that she includes throughout the workbook! I'm really excited to check out some of her other studies!

My little one took extra-long naps while we were away at the beach last week, so I was able to spend lots of time with my nose in these books as well as in THE Book~

It was so refreshing and very much needed!

Two more things, I don't want to forget to mention:

#4 - Jesus Calling - 365 Day Perpetual Calendar by Sarah Young - Are you familiar with this book? When I was teaching, we would oftentimes read portions of this book together during teacher devotions. What a great way to start the day - It never failed to encourage me in some way and there were days when the truths shared changed the course of my entire morning. I have recently picked up the Daily Calendar:

This calendar includes the entire book - only in calendar form, and I'm planning to put this on my bathroom  sink - to help me start the day off right! Have you read any of her other books? I've seen a couple of others that look great - especially her kid's version of "Jesus Calling" - Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions For Kids. Seems like a great guide for family devotions!

#5 - The Husband Project by Kathi Lipp

I've joined up with a few friends, and together, we have committed to "The Husband Project" - using it as a guide for encouraging our husbands and letting God use us to bless our partners in some fun and creative ways. We are all loving this already, and I think it would be a great resource whether you've been married 5 years or 50 years.

Lastly, I just have to encourage you to sign up for some kind of daily devotional that will come through on your phone! Smart phones have enhanced our lives in all kinds of silly ways, but they have also allowed us to literally carry encouragement from the Word in our back pocket (or messy purse - *smile*) at all times. I've recently signed up for a couple of different devotionals that come through daily, and this has provided me with nuggets of Scripture and truth to focus on throughout the day. What a difference that can make in my day.

If you're like me, your intentions to grow in truth are good, but it's so easy to neglect this piece of life. We get busy. We get distracted. We get tired. So, I hope these resources will help you as you seek to be more intentional about growing in your faith - Let's grow together!

What studies have helped you?

What tips do you have for someone who wants to be intentional about focusing on truth, growing in their faith, drawing closer to the Creator?

Sock Monkeyin' Around~ (First Birthday Party)

The theme for Caleb's first birthday was chosen...uh...before he was born. Yes, I am a planner, and I spent the entire year keeping an eye out for things that would work for the vision of sock monkeys that had been dancing in my head. Most everything you see in these pictures (except for the food items and utensils for food, of course) came from thrift stores, yard sales, and flea markets. So fun! My inspiration came from magazines, Pinterest (no surprise there), and my love of all things sock monkey. Enjoy~

 

As part of the birthday celebration, we asked each grandparent and great-grandparent to write Caleb a letter that he would receive on his first birthday but not open until his tenth birthday!

I'm excited to stash these special notes away for him!

On the Menu:

Deep-Dish Pepperoni Pizza (from one of our favorite local spots)

Popcorn & Cracker Jacks

Granna's Famous Cheeseball

G.G.'s Famous Banana Pudding

Coca-Cola & Lemonade

Our goal was to keep things cozy, sweet, and sentimental, and that it was!

What a perfectly fun weekend to celebrate our precious gift~

 APOLOGY:

To my dear, sweet mother-in-law,

Somehow, I made it through the day and did not get a picture of your delicious banana pudding!

I can't believe I missed capturing the yummy birthday party dessert. Please forgive me!

Love,

Liz

Follow All Kinds of Things's board Birthday Parties - All Kinds of Things on Pinterest.