Consigning Time

I know it is still January but I am beginning to hear that famous song in my head - you know the one about BASEBALL (which I sing loudly and WAY off key)!  I am a Mom to two ENERGETIC boys who both have a love for the game - so in our house, January means it is time to begin thinking about baseball.  Now I know many of you will roll your eyes and say "Ugh, baseball is so boring" but I disagree.  To me there is nothing more exciting than to see the look on my son's face when he makes a catch or makes contact with the ball for a hit.  WE LOVE BASEBALL!

Both of my boys play for the Grassland Baseball League here in Franklin.  I am so thankful to have found an organization that believes in teaching children that playing sports is about more than just competition.  It is about learning the game, being a contributing member of a team, and most of all - HAVING FUN!

SO what are you waiting for?  Registrations are open now.  In the Grassland Baseball League, boys and girls from age 5 - 17 (as of April 30th) are eligible to register but each league has their own age restrictions.  Nashville is fortunate to have many wonderful baseball organizations throughout the city - so find one near you and sign those kids up.  LET'S PLAY BALL!

AREA BASEBALL LEAGUES:

Grassland Baseball League - Franklin, Tn

Crieve Hall Baseball - Nashville, Tn

Donelson Baseball - Hermitage, Tn

Goodlettsville Baseball - Goodlettsville, Tn

and many more...

Spring Consignment Season is right around the corner and now is the time to start preparing.  Here are some tips to help get you ready!

1. Register for sales early! Each sale states when they open registration on their sale website. Make a note of registration dates and plan to register early. Many sales will fill up in the first day due to limited space and then go to a waiting list.
2. Sign Up for a New Sale! If you have only done one sale before, why not sign up for a second sale later in the season?  This is a great way to sell more of your items and an opportunity to see how different sales are run.  Ask your friends what sales they participate in or see if there is a new sale being held in your area.  You can see a list of sales organized by area of town on Consigning Time (www.consigningtime.com) - THE Place To Find Consignment Sales in Middle Tennessee.
3. Sign Up to Volunteer! The best way to find the best items is to be a volunteer.  Each sale offers perks for consignors who volunteer to help with the sale.  The shifts range from 4 to 8 hours depending on the sale.  In exchange for your time, you will get to shop before the sale opens to the public in addition to other perks that vary with each sale.  Shopping early is particularly helpful if you are looking for a specific in demand item - like outdoor play items etc.
4. Begin Gathering Your Sale Items! Grab a rubbermaid bin and start to gather items to sell.  It really helps to get your children involved and have them "buy in" to the process.  I ask my children what toys they would like to sell.  If they do not produce enough toys, I then hold up two items and tell them they have to choose which one to keep.  The trick with this is that I rig the choices so one item is one I know they will never want to sell so they have to choose the item that I want to go.  It hasn't backfired on me yet!
5. Create a Consignment Box! I like to keep all of my supplies together in a plastic school box.  Inside I keep - White Index Cards, Sharpies (Black and Red), Scissors, Safety Pins, Rubber Bands, Hole Puncher, Plastic Ties, Ribbon and clear packing tape.
6. Gather Your Supplies!  I always think it is funny that before consignment season I become obsessed with wire hangers.  "Where are my wire hangers?  I need more wire hangers?  Does anyone have any wire hangers?"  The first thing I do is scour the closets and exchange wire hangers for plastic ones.  (You can buy the plastic ones at Dollar Tree to replace any wire ones you have.)  If I don't find enough I begin to beg.  I beg my friends and local dry cleaners.  This usually brings forth a bounty of wire hangers and all is right with the world.  After the hangers are taken care of - I move on to safety pins.  Dollar Tree is a great source for these but many people know that so they sell out right before sales begin so you need to pick them up early or you will end up paying $4 at Walgreens - Ugh!
7. Invite Your Friends To Participate! Part of the fun of consignment is sharing your great finds with a friend.  I rely on my friends to give me the appropriate "oohs and aahs" about items like the Little Tykes playset in mint condition that I found for $30.  My hubby just does not seem to provide me the level of excitement I require at such an accomplishment so I rely on my girlfriends.  It is also wise to have another set of eyes with you when you shop so they will tell you the truth "No, your sweet girl will not look good in the orange and purple polka dotted, ruffled shirt with bows all over it".  That's what friends are for so ask a friend to sign up for a sale with you so you can enjoy the experience together.
8. Get on the Mailing List! Sign up for the each sale’s mailing list so you will be notified of all of their registration dates for future sales.  Many sales add an extra sale during the year to raise money for charity.  Don’t be left out because you did not see the e-mail.
9. Make a Plan! Don’t wait until the last minute to get everything together and begin tagging.  If you are unsure what to price something, check online pricing resources like ebay.  If in doubt, just think what you would be willing to pay for the item at a sale and go with your instinct.
10. Prepare Your Shopping Lists! Walking into a consignment sale can be quite overwhelming.  There is so much stuff that all of the sudden you forget what you need and end up searching through all of the great books for hours.  Trust me -been there and done that.  The best way to fight against this is to prepare a list.  Keep it short and simple.  I usually do it on an index card so I can keep it in my pocket.  (I do not carry a purse when I shop at consignment sales).  Write down the items AND SIZES for each of your children.  Organize your list by sex because that is how sales are organized.  On one side write the "Needs" and the other side write your "Wants".  If you start your list now you should have a really comprehensive list by the time the sales begin.

Pardon me while I step upon my soap box...  MANNERS STILL MATTER!  I am thinking of putting that on a t-shirt (if someone hasn't already).  It seems that good manners are becoming as obsolete and hard to find as 8-track players.  I will admit that I am a bit old-fashioned when it comes to this but I think the world would still be a little bit better off if people would remember to say please and thank you.

As a parent, I am trying to teach my boys that using good manners should be a part of who they are.  I don't mind reminding them now because I hope that when they are grown it will be as natural as breathing for them to hold open a door or ask someone if they need help when carrying something.  I can't tell you how many times I have walked behind someone and had the door slam in my face.  Really?  Is it that hard to hold the door for someone?  What about just smiling and saying thank you when someone provides a service for you? I was recently at the drive-thru of McDonald's and I smiled and asked the person taking my money if they were having a good day.  They looked at me like I was completely crazy.  Apparently, people just don't do that very often anymore but they should.  MANNERS STILL MATTER!

So, I will admit that I am going to be THAT mother.  I am going to correct my sons when they forget to say please.  I am going to remind them to hold open a door and i am going to request that they always ask me if I need any help before they walk out of the house before we get in the car.  They may not appreciate it now but I bet their future wives will!

Unbelievable!  My son's pants that I bought in August are already two inches too short.  Seriously.  I think he must be putting Miracle Grow in his chocolate milk.  The only good thing about this growth spurt is that there are still two wonderful consignment sales this week where I will be able to pick up some more pants.  Of course, I will not just be shopping for pants.  I will also be looking for TOYS!  My little boy does not care if I pay $5 or $50 for a toy on Christmas as long as he loves it so I am going to grab some bargains and hide them away until the fat man in the red suit pays us a visit.

In Hendersonville, you can shop Wednesday through Saturday at THAT CONSIGNMENT SALE at the Latham's Lighthouse Event Center on Sanders Ferry Road in Hendersonville.  They will have toys, home decor, Christmas decorations, maternity, formal wear, as well as ladies AND childrens clothing.  They accept cash and debit/credit cards.

In Nashville, you can shop Wednesday through Friday at ONCE AROUND THE BLOCK KIDS at the West End Community Church on White Bridge Road.  All proceeds from the November OABK sale benefit Rejoice Ministries.  You will find TONS of childrens clothing and toys as well maternity wear.  They accept cash and check only.  Credit/Debit cards are NOT accepted.

So, make your list and check it twice.  It shopping time!

The dreaded "C" word - CANCER.  This is not a topic many of us like to talk about but it is right there and closer to us than we want to admit.  Yesterday, I found out that ANOTHER friend of mine's child has cancer.  Yes, I said ANOTHER.  In the past three years I have known three friends who have had their children diagnosed with cancer (leukemia, neuroblastoma, and lymphoma).

As I was laying in bed last night, I was thinking about this and the fear that cancer strikes in my heart when I think of my children.  It is almost like there are these big cancer bombs dropping from the sky hitting the families I know and I am terrified that one of these bombs will strike my house too.  THAT is what none of us speak about.  Yes, I am terrified for the children of my friends.  I pray for them daily, offer their parents support, walk in fundraising walks, and do whatever I can to help but what I don't do is admit how terrified I am this could happen to my children.

Part of me tries to rationalize my fear away with "surely this won't happen to me!".  I lost my Mom to cancer when I was 32 with an 18 month old baby.  My oldest son was born 15 weeks prematurely.  I have already been through the life and death scariness.  Surely this won't happen to me!  This is how I try to rationalize but it doesn't work.  It can happen to me and my kids.  It is scary and it is real.

So today I will pray even harder for Tanner, Aleks and now Cody and their amazing parents.  I will hug my children tighter and do everything I can to help them stay safe.  Most of all I will continue to pray that the cancer wolf stays far away from the door of all those I know and love .

Please help raise awareness for Childhood Cancer.  We have got to find a way to stop this monster from hurting our babies.  For more information and ways you can help, go to http://www.candlelighters.org/

Julie King is mom to two boys and lives in Franklin, Tennessee.  She is the owner of www.consigningtime.com (Consigning Time - THE Place To Find Consignment Sales in Middle Tennessee) as well as a preschool teacher at Bethlehem United Methodist Church in the Grassland area of Franklin.

Halloween Costume? Check.  Winter Coat? Check.  Snow Boats? Check.  Yes, as odd as it seems these will be just a few of the items on my list this July...

I am blessed!  I am blessed in many, many ways but I am specifically speaking of a wonderful place I have found for my children to spend time this summer.  You see, there is this wonderful family who owns a farm in Franklin and last summer they decided to open their farm to area children (ages 3 - 12) so they too could experience some of the wonders of a farm.  Both of my boys went last year not just for one week but for many.  The reason - they absolutely LOVED it!

There are many reasons this camp is wonderful.  It begins with the family that owns it.  From the minute you meet them, you feel like they are long lost friends that you are visiting.  They take the time to know each child and show them individual love and attention.  As a preschool teacher, I find this to be essential for people who work with kids.  They really have to want to get to know them and this family and the counselors they bring on board really do.  It does not end there though. When you drive up, you are greeted by a cheerful banner that says "Welcome to Farm Camp"!  I can honestly tell you that the first time I drove up I really wished that I was going to get to stay and play at the farm.  It has a wonderful homey feel that just makes you want to spend time there.  I am not the only one who feels this way either.  My five year old son should really be their ambassador because he thinks he should get to go to Farm Camp every week all Summer long.

He truly loved being able to spend his days feeding goats, playing in the water, swimming, riding horses, making crafts and spending time just being a kid.  As a parent, it is so hard to find a nurturing and safe environment for your child to be a child.  If you are looking for a great experience for your child then this is it!  I have recommended this to all of my friends and hope that some of my fellow Nashville Parent moms will also take advantage of this opportunity.  You can find out more about this amazing camp on their website  http://idyllbytheriverfarm.com/search.htm

The camp is M - F from 9:30 - 2:00 (except on Friday they dismiss at 12:30 after a wonderful slide show and gathering with the parents).  This is a family owned camp on their own private farm in Franklin and is open to children Age 3 - 12.  They only accept 30 children per session in order to give each child lots of individual attention.  Sessions begin June 6 and continue through the last week of July (there is no camp the week of July 4th).

Hopefully I will see some of you there!

 

 

Just the other day I had someone ask me the question "What is a consignment sale?" and I was so glad they asked because I love to have the opportunity to share about something I am so passionate about.

A children's consignment sale is...

• a seasonal sale lasting a few days where you are able to purchase quality, gently used children's clothes, toys, and equipment for a fraction of the retail cost

• an independently owned sale (either by an individual, a non-profit group, church, or preschool) who invites people (consignors) to sell their clothing and items at the sale for a percentage of the sales (usually 30%) and a publicity fee (around $10 or so).  The consignor prices their own items and picks them up at the end of the sale if they are not sold.

• a place to find gently worn name brand items.  How many times have your children worn an item once before they outgrew it?  These are the best finds at consignment sales.

• a great way to save money and make money.  Clothes, toys and equipment are usually 1/3 the price of retail.  Many consignors eliminate the clothing line item from the family budget almost completely because they sell as much as the buy each season.  That leaves more money to spend on Mama or to take a much needed family vacation.

• a great way to make friends.  One of the best ways to find the best items is to volunteer to work a shift at a consignment sale (usually 4 - 6 hours).  All consignment sales are staffed by volunteers and volunteers often receive perks for working - including shopping before everyone else!

• NOT a place to walk-in expecting to find exactly everything on your list.  The merchandise will depend on what each individual has chosen to consign.  Say you come in looking for a crib and high chair.  There may be thirty high chairs and only two cribs.  It all depends.  The wonderful thing is that Middle Tennessee has MANY area consignment sales so you can keep looking for what you need at other sales and then as a LAST resort - pay retail.  Yuck!  I hate paying retail.

• NOT a place where you can return an item if it does not fit or does not work well.  Unfortunately, it is just a logistical nightmare to try and make a return at a consignment sale.  Each consignor owns their individual item and has created a tag for it.  There is no way for the sale organizers to know what tag belonged to the item after it has been purchased so returns are not accepted.  BUYER BEWARE.  Look at clothes carefully before you buy them and try out the toys.  Make sure you know your child's correct sizes for the upcoming season.  All consignors submit their items for inspection before they are sold at a sale.  The consignors and the sale organizers want only the best items because they know that is what will sell.  There will always be a few items that get in by mistake but this is the exception rather than the rule.

• NOT a place where you can bring your child and have them try on each piece of clothing.  Trying on items is not an acceptable practice at a consignment sale for many reasons.  It damages the hand written tag created by the consignor, there are not usually dressing rooms, and there is not enough security to help insure items are taken care of properly.  The best way to buy clothes for your child at a consignment sale is to have each child's measurements and sizes written on a note card that you carry in your wallet and then bring a measuring tape to check the clothes against your measurements.

• NOT a place to bring four small children with you and try to shop.  Don't do it!  You will walk in and see all of the clothes, toys, books, and equipment and become completely overwhelmed and the children will as well.  Children MUST stay with their parent at a sale in order to insure the child's safety and to protect the toys and equipment from becoming broken and therefore unsellable.  It is unfair to a consignor to have brought a toy in working order to be sold only to return at the end of the sale and discover their toy was broken and is now unusable.  PLEASE - if your child breaks or damages something at a sale - BUY IT so the consignor is not mistreated.  Be nice to yourself and leave the kids at home when you shop.  It will be so much easier on you.  I promise!

And finally - a children's consignment sale is a great way to help your family in these turbulent economic times.  Your three year old does not care if the dress you just bought her has the tags on it and came from the mall.  Your four year old little boy does not care if his cool new Lightning McQueen toy came from Toys R Us.  He just wants to play with it.  Shopping at consignment sales is a great way to reuse and recycle.

SO - all that to say ARE YOU READY FOR CONSIGNMENT SALE SEASON TO START????  Sales begin in February.  Go to CONSIGNING TIME - THE Place To Find Consignment Sales in Middle Tennessee (www.consigningtime.com) to see a printable calendar of all the upcoming consignment sales with dates, times and links to each sale's website.

My name is Julie King and I am a Consignaholic.  I would really like it if you became one too!

YES!  Spring Consignment Season is right around the corner and now is the time to start preparing.  Here are some tips to help get you ready!

1.  Register for sales early!  Each sale states when they open registration on their sale website.  Make a note of registration dates and plan to register early.  Many sales will fill up in the first day due to limited space and then go to a waiting list.  Go to www.ConsigningTime.com to find out when all of the local sales are being held and directly link to the sale websites.

2.  Sign Up for a New Sale!  If you have only done one sale before, why not sign up for a second sale later in the season?  This is a great way to sell more of your items and an opportunity to see how different sales are run.  Ask your friends what sales they participate in or see if there is a new sale being held in your area. 

3.  Sign Up to Volunteer!  The best way to find the best items is to be a volunteer.  Each sale offers perks for consignors who voluinteer to help with the sale.  The shifts range from 4 to 8 hours depending on the sale.  In exchange for your time, you will get to shop before the sale opens to the public in addition to other perks that vary with each sale.  Shopping early is particularly helpful if you are looking for a specific in demand item - like outdoor play items etc.

4.  Begin Gathering Your Sale Items!    Grab a rubbermaid bin and start to gather items to sell.  It really helps to get your children involved and have them "buy in" to the process.  I ask my children what toys they would like to sell.  If they do not produce enough toys, I then hold up two items and tell them they have to choose which one to keep.  The trick with this is that I rig the choices so one item is one I know they will never want to sell so they have to choose the item that I want to go.  It hasn't backfired on me yet!

5.  Create a Consignment Box!  I like to keep all of my supplies together in a plastic school box.  Inside I keep - White Index Cards, Sharpies (Black and Red), Scissors, Safety Pins, Rubber Bands, Hole Puncher, Plastic Ties, Ribbon and clear packing tape. 

6.  Gather Your Supplies!  I always think it is funny that before consignment season I become obsessed with wire hangers.  "Where are my wire hangers?  I need more wire hangers?  Does anyone have any wire hangers?"  The first thing I do is scour the closets and exchange wire hangers for plastic ones.  (You can buy the plastic ones at Dollar Tree to replace any wire ones you have.)  If I don't find enough I begin to beg.  I beg my friends and local dry cleaners.  This usually brings forth a bounty of wire hangers and all is right with the world.  After the hangers are taken care of - I move on to safety pins.  Dollar Tree is a great source for these but many people know that so they sell out right before sales begin so you need to pick them up early or you will end up paying $4 at Walgreens - Ugh!

7.  Prepare Your Shoppping Lists!  Walking into a consignment sale can be quite overwhelming.  There is so much stuff that all of the sudden you forget what you need and end up searching through all of the great books for hours.  Trust me -been there and done that.  The best way to fight against this is to prepare a list.  Keep it short and simple.  I usually do it on an index card so I can keep it in my pocket.  (I do not carry a purse when I shop at consignment sales).  Write down the items AND SIZES for each of your children.  Organize your list by sex because that is how sales are organized.  On one side write the "Needs" and the other side write your "Wants".  If you start your list now you should have a really comprehensive list by the time the sales begin.

8.  Invite Your Friends To Participate!  Part of the fun of consignment is sharing your great finds with a friend.  I rely on my friends to give me the appropriate "oohs and aahs" about items like the Little Tykes playset in mint condition that I found for $30.  My hubby just does not seem to provide me the level of excitement I require at such an accomplishment so I rely on my girlfriends.  It is also wise to have another set of eyes with you when you shop so they will tell you the truth "No, your sweet girl will not look good in the orange and purple polka dotted, ruffled shirt with bows all over it".  That's what friends are for so ask a friend to sign up for a sale with you so you can enjoy the experience together.

My name is Julie King and I am a consignaholic.  I also own the website Consigning Time - THE Place To Find Consignment Sales in Middle Tennessee (www.consigningtime.com).

My name is Julie and I am a Consignaholic.  I am also a VERY thrifty shopper and I have decided that I am beginning to have a bit of a problem.  You see - I am married to a wonderful man who dearly loves me and wishes to give me nice gifts on Christmas morning.  The problem is that he has asked me for... a LIST! 

Now, to most of you this would not be a problem but for me it is a problem.  I have been trying to write this list for two weeks and have only one item on it.  I am just not used to paying full retail for things so I have a hard time asking hubby to go spend $40 on a sweater for me when I know I could find one I like just as well and probably pay $10 for it.  I know I should just get over this and make the darn list but I continue to struggle...

It would be SO much easier if he could just read my mind!  Then - I could get back to rearranging the playroom and putting away toys that are no longer played with for consignment season.  I think though another reason I am struggling with this list thing is because it requires me to sit and think about what I want.  Seriously - how often do we as women just sit down and write down what we want?  It is not normal.  I rarely think about what I want.  I am too busy focusing on what everyone else wants or needs.  Perhaps, I should embrace this list making challenge. 

It will probably be good for me.

Confessions of a woman addicted to consignment sales....